LAKE
COMO
Lake Como wedding venues
the 2027/28 guide, by Marcos Sanchez
A photographer’s guide
Updated for 2027
Baroque villas stepping down to the water, guests arriving by boat and the Alps rising straight out of the lake. Few places in the world are as made for a wedding as Lake Como.
I’m Marcos Sanchez, a destination wedding photographer based in Barcelona. This guide will help you choose a venue and plan the practical side: where to stay, when to go, whether you can marry legally and what a Lake Como wedding really costs.
It’s written from behind the camera, with notes on light, timing and the spots that photograph best. If you’re planning a wedding elsewhere in the country, start with my Italy wedding photographer page.
Lake Como at a glance
Grand celebrations
Villa Erba and Villa d’Este, both in Cernobbio.
A whole weekend
Villa Balbiano and Villa Pliniana, booked for your group alone.
Intimate weddings
Villa Sola Cabiati and Villa del Balbianello.
Legal ceremonies
Possible at Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, Villa Erba and Villa d’Este.
Venue hire
Roughly €15,000 to €35,000 a day, and over €100,000 for a weekend buyout.
Best months
May, June and September.
01
Why Lake Como
Why get married on Lake Como?
Few places combine architecture, landscape and logistics as well as Lake Como. The villas were built by aristocratic families between the 16th and 19th centuries as summer retreats, so they were designed for entertaining: formal gardens, lakeside terraces, loggias and private docks.
It’s also unusually easy for international guests. Milan’s airports are about an hour away, and the lake towns have some of the best hotels in Italy. A Friday welcome dinner, a Saturday wedding and a Sunday boat day can all happen without anyone needing a car.
02
The venues
The best wedding venues on Lake Como
These are the venues my couples ask about most. Guest numbers depend on the space, season and set-up, so treat them as guidance and confirm the details with each venue or your planner.
Ossuccio · western shore
Villa Balbiano
One of the grandest and oldest properties on the western shore, this 17th-century villa has become the venue of choice for high-profile weddings. Frescoed rooms, a formal lawn and topiary gardens face the water, and it is usually rented as a private villa for the whole weekend.
- Best for an exclusive multi-day celebration
- Rooms for around 30 guests
- Photographer’s note: the lakeside lawn and boat dock in the evening light
Tremezzo · western shore
Villa Sola Cabiati
The former summer residence of the Serbelloni dukes, with original frescoes, damask walls and period furniture. It is run by Grand Hotel Tremezzo, so you get the privacy of a home with the service of a five-star hotel.
- Best for intimate, very elegant weddings
- Sleeps a small group, more rooms at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
- Photographer’s note: the hidden Italian garden and pool
Cernobbio · western shore
Villa Pizzo
Ten minutes from Como, with gardens sloping gently to one of the longest lakefronts on the lake. A favourite for medium-sized weddings close to the city.
- Best for 100 to 200 guests
- Guests stay in Cernobbio and Como
- Photographer’s note: the long lakeside walk gives you variety without leaving the villa
Torno · eastern shore
Villa Pliniana
Built in the 16th century around a spring described by Pliny the Elder, set into the rock at the water’s edge, and once host to Napoleon and Lord Byron. Today it is booked exclusively through the Sereno collection.
- Best for a private, atmospheric weekend
- Overnight rooms for a few dozen guests
- Photographer’s note: facing west, it keeps the last golden light
Cernobbio · western shore
Villa Erba
A grand 19th-century villa in a historic park, and the childhood summer home of Luchino Visconti. Its reception rooms make it one of the few places on the lake that can host a large wedding with ease.
- Best for large, black-tie weddings
- No rooms on site, guests stay in Cernobbio
- Photographer’s note: I photographed Elizabeth and Gianni’s wedding here in July 2026
Cernobbio · western shore
Villa d’Este
A 16th-century residence and a hotel since 1873, Villa d’Este is one of the most famous hotels in the world. The Mosaic garden, with its cascading water and statues, is one of Italy’s most iconic ceremony settings.
- Best for classic grand-hotel weddings
- Guests stay in the hotel
- Photographer’s note: the gardens are loveliest early and late in the day
Lenno · western shore
Villa del Balbianello
Perched on a wooded promontory and owned by the FAI, Italy’s National Trust. Its loggia and terraced gardens host intimate ceremonies, including legally binding civil weddings.
- Best for an intimate ceremony, reception elsewhere
- Guests stay in Tremezzina or Bellagio
- Photographer’s note: arriving by boat at its dock is unforgettable
Moltrasio · western shore
Passalacqua
Restored from an 18th-century villa and sister to Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Passalacqua is one of the most celebrated new luxury hotels in Europe, with only a handful of suites.
- Best for ultra-luxury, intimate weekends
- A small number of suites
- Photographer’s note: terraced gardens descending to the lake
Western shore · near Como
Villa Bonomi
A hillside villa with terraces, a romantic promenade, a forest path and a pool, with a large lawn in front of the house that is ideal for a marquee.
- Best for a marquee reception with panoramic views
- Guests stay in Como or Cernobbio
- Photographer’s note: sweeping views from its elevated position
Tremezzo · Varenna
Also worth considering
Villa Carlotta for its gardens and outdoor civil ceremonies, Grand Hotel Tremezzo for Belle Époque glamour and guest rooms, and Villa Cipressi in Varenna for terraced gardens on the eastern shore.
A real Lake Como wedding at Villa Erba
A three-day celebration, a black-tie crowd and a cloudless day on the water.
In July 2026 I photographed Elizabeth and Gianni’s wedding, a celebration across three iconic locations on the lake. It had rained for days beforehand, and even a little during the welcome party, but as soon as everything was ready the clouds cleared. The wedding day itself was hot, bright and without a single cloud.
They married by the water at Villa Erba in front of a black-tie crowd who all looked stunning. There were fashion moments everywhere, from Elizabeth’s custom gown to Gianni’s custom Dior tuxedo. Dinner was by candlelight inside the villa, and the next day everyone recovered at a pool party at the Lido di Cernobbio.
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04 · Getting there
Where on the lake, and how to get there
Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y. Most wedding venues are on the southwestern stretch between Cernobbio and Tremezzina, or in the centre around Bellagio and Varenna.
- Cernobbio and Moltrasio: closest to Como and Milan, easiest for large groups.
- Tremezzina: the heart of the western shore, home to Villa Balbiano, Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta.
- Bellagio and Varenna: the picture-postcard towns, ideal for guest accommodation.
Most guests fly into Milan Malpensa or Linate, both around an hour by car. Once on the lake, private boats and water taxis are the loveliest way to move guests between towns.
05 · Timing
When is the best time for a Lake Como wedding?
The season runs from April to early October. Late May, June and September are the most popular, with warm weather, gardens in bloom and long evenings: at the end of June the sun doesn’t set until around 9:15 pm. July and August are hot and busy, while April and October are quieter but cooler.
The mountains are steep, so the sun disappears behind them before the official sunset.
Villas on the western shore fall into shade earlier in the evening, while the eastern shore keeps the last golden light. I always plan portrait time around the venue’s exact position.
06
Legal requirements
Can you legally get married on Lake Como?
Yes. Foreign couples can have a legally binding civil ceremony in Italy, but it needs paperwork from your home country, usually arranged through your consulate before you travel. On Lake Como, civil ceremonies can only be held at a few authorised venues, including Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, Villa Erba and Villa d’Este.
Many couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony on the lake instead. That gives you complete freedom over the venue, the time of day and the words you say. Your planner can confirm the requirements for your nationality.
07
Investment
How much does a Lake Como wedding cost?
Lake Como is one of the most expensive wedding destinations in Europe. These figures are based on 2026 estimates from planners and venues, so treat them as a guide. VAT at 22% is usually added.
€15,000 to €35,000
A day’s hire of one of the lake’s great villas
€100,000 to €200,000
A wedding of around 80 guests, all in
€250,000+
A multi-day celebration at one of the grandest villas
A weekend’s exclusive use of the grandest villas can exceed €100,000 on its own. Catering, flowers, boats, music and your guests’ stay make up most of the investment beyond the venue, and an experienced Lake Como planner is essential, both to run the logistics on the water and to secure the right villa and suppliers.
Lake Como is a dream to photograph, but it rewards planning.
I build the timeline with your planner around the light, the boat schedules and the venue’s position on the lake, so you have time for portraits on the water without missing your guests. My approach is calm and discreet: I document the day as it unfolds and guide you only when it helps. My work has been featured in Vogue, Brides and Martha Stewart Weddings.
Read more about the experience, or get in touch to check my availability.
09
Questions
Lake Como wedding FAQ
What is the most beautiful wedding venue on Lake Como?
It depends on the size and style of your wedding. Villa Balbiano and Villa d’Este are the most famous, Villa del Balbianello is the most photographed, and Villa Pliniana and Villa Sola Cabiati are favourites for a more private celebration.
Can foreigners get legally married on Lake Como?
Yes. Civil ceremonies are possible at a few authorised venues, including Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, Villa Erba and Villa d’Este, once your paperwork is in order. Many couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony on the lake.
How far in advance should we book a Lake Como wedding venue?
The most sought-after villas are often booked 12 to 24 months ahead for Saturdays in June and September, so start your search as soon as you have a date in mind.
How much does it cost to get married on Lake Como?
For a wedding of around 80 guests, expect €100,000 to €200,000 in total. A day’s hire of a well-known villa is typically €15,000 to €35,000, a weekend’s exclusive use of the grandest villas can exceed €100,000, and multi-day celebrations there go beyond €250,000.
What is the best month for a Lake Como wedding?
Late May, June and September offer the best balance of warm weather, long evenings and fewer crowds than July and August.
Which airport is closest to Lake Como?
Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate are both around an hour by car from Cernobbio. Bergamo and Lugano airports are also within reach.