The Wedding Atlas · Italy · Lake Como
Getting Married at Lake Como
Historic villas, garden terraces and boat arrivals on an Alpine lake. Lake Como holds a dense concentration of historic villas, private gardens and grand hotel terraces along its shores. The market is competitive and priced accordingly, and the settings are hard to match elsewhere in Europe.
Part of the Lake Como destination guide.
- Best months
- May · June · September
Where to marry
Where to Get Married on Lake Como
At Bellagio the lake splits into three branches. The southern basin is broad and close to Milan, and the northern arms narrow into pre-Alpine landscape. The western shore is defined by villa hotels and Belle Epoque gardens, and the eastern shore is quieter and more residential.
Tremezzo and the western shore
A stretch of the western shore with Villa Carlotta and private villas with stepped garden terraces. The light faces east across the lake to Bellagio. Demand is high, and availability at the top tier is very limited.
Photo: Villa Nascosta Bellagio
The point where the three arms of the lake meet and the most photographed town on Como. It has narrow streets, terraced gardens and a few private properties, and for most guests the access is by boat.
Varenna and the eastern shore
Quieter than Tremezzo, with a smaller village scale, fewer visitors and private villas that do not appear in mainstream directories.
Around Como town
The southern basin, closest to Malpensa and the Milan motorway. It is easier for large guest lists, and the logistics are more manageable than on the mid-lake shores.
Find your area
Lake Como on the map
Choose an area to see the venues we list there. Every name is a plain link to its listing.
Lake Como
The 2 venues we list in Lake Como. Choose an area on the map, or tap a pin to open a venue.
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People who work here
The owners, wedding directors, planners, photographers and chefs behind weddings in Lake Como.
Michaela TheodorakakouFounder and creative director, Mitheo Events
Esra ZorFounder and wedding planner, Vera Weddings
Iole CriscitielloFounder, wedding planner and designer, Iole Criscitiello
Angela SalzanoFounder and destination wedding planner, Angela Salzano
Freddie MarquisDirector, The Luxury Travel Book
Patrizia LeonardiFounder and Wedding Planner, Patrizia Leonardi Wedding Planner
Ilaria GuarinoCo-founder, Italian Event Planners
AndreaPhotographer, Andrea & Federica
Lorella GianniniBridal makeup artist, Destination Makeup artist
Viviana FortunatoCEO and Creative Director, Cygnus Events
Cristina VergerFounder and event planner, Cristina Verger Event Planning and Production
Nanya TantapaiboonCo-founder and Destination Wedding Planning Director, The Wedding Bliss, Thailand
The Function BandThe band, The Function Band
Samantha PrettoBridal hair and make-up artist, founder, Samantha Pretto
Glenda MarradiFounder, wedding planner and designer, Il Giorno Perfetto di Glenda Marradi
Barbara ZanonWedding photographer and photojournalist, Barbara Zanon Photography
Maurizio RelliniWedding photographer and co-founder, Rellini Art Studio
Pierpaolo PerriWedding and proposal photographer, founder, Pierpaolo Perri
Rossana SaporiCo-founder, TheKnotInItaly
Antonella ArgiròWedding photographer and co-founder, Ordine della Giarrettiera
Tai AdedayoFounder and wedding photographer, Lovexposed Photography
Tiziana Di MolfettaCelebrante (celebrant), author, Dr Tiziana Di Molfetta
Alessandro MariPhotographer and founder, Alessandro Mari Photography
Sara MazzeiFounder and creative director, Infinity Weddings and Events
JuliaCEO and Wedding Planner, Julia Event
Irene GutanFounder, head planner and designer, High Emotion Weddings
David Christian LichtagDocumentary wedding photographer, David Lichtag Wedding Photography
Stefania SilvestroCEO, wedding and event planner, Stefania Silvestro
Chiara Di BariFounder and wedding planner, Eventilab Weddings
Nino LombardoWedding photographer and studio founder, Nino Lombardo PhotographerVenues in Lake Como Planners in Lake Como Photographers in Lake Como
A Wedding at Lake Como
Villas, Gardens and the Shores of Lake Como
The drama is built in. Belle Epoque villas step down to the water on terraces of cypress, oleander and stone; guests arrive by wooden Riva launch rather than by car; and the light, caught between mountain and mirror, flatters everything it touches. A Como wedding feels grand without effort, because the setting does the work.
Yet for all its glamour it stays intimate. The lake is narrow, the villages close, the great houses private. Couples come here not to fill a ballroom but to gather the people they love on a terrace above the water at the hour the mountains turn gold,.
Couples come here to gather the people they love on a terrace above the water at the hour the mountains turn gold.
The season
When to get married
September is the month planners prefer. The lake is warm, summer crowds have eased and the morning light is clear. July and August are crowded on the lake roads, and water taxis book out weeks ahead. May brings lush gardens and long days, though the weather is sometimes unsettled.
Getting there
How guests arrive
The road network around Lake Como is slow in summer, and the western shore road in particular. Water taxi transfers suit most wedding parties, and most venues have private jetties.
Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the main gateway, with direct routes from North America, the Middle East and major European hubs. Milan Linate (LIN) is the city airport, reached by road or rail, and suits guests arriving on short-haul European routes. Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY) is a low-cost carrier hub that suits guests flying from UK regional airports.
Where guests stay
Under one roof, or nearby
Lake Como has a compact high-end hotel supply concentrated on the western shore between Cernobbio and Lenno, and private villa estates offer an alternative for full buyout stays.
At Cernobbio, a sixteenth-century cardinal's villa has been converted into a grand hotel, with formal terraces and a floating pool on the lake. At Tremezzo, a Belle Epoque palace on the western shore opposite Bellagio has Art Nouveau interiors, a floating lake pool, garden terraces and a dedicated events team. Bellagio has smaller hotels and restored palazzo apartments for exclusive guest stays, and access is mostly by boat.
Photo: Villa SofiaGood to know
Before you book
The lake road is slow in summer. Most venues have private jetties and expect guests to arrive by boat. Private water taxis should be booked for the wedding party, and guest transfers coordinated by boat where possible. In July and August taxis book out weeks ahead, so a planner should reserve early.
Most lakeside municipalities set noise cutoffs between midnight and one in the morning, and sound carries over water. Many venues apply earlier cutoffs. The terms should be confirmed with the venue before the entertainment is planned.
Entering Italy
UK and Canadian visitors may stay up to 90 days in any 180. ETIAS is not yet operating, and the Entry/Exit System has run since 10 April 2026. Check the guidance for your own passport.
Marrying legally in Italy
Checked 5 November 2026The ceremony
A civil marriage at the town hall (the comune) has legal effect. A Catholic ceremony can carry civil effect. A non-Catholic religious ceremony needs a civil ceremony first.
The paperwork
A foreign partner needs a nulla osta, or its embassy equivalent. Documents from outside the EU need an apostille and an Italian translation, and must be under six months old.
On the day
Two adult witnesses with photo ID are required, and an interpreter if a spouse or witness does not speak Italian. Each comune sets its own checklist, so contact the one that will marry you well ahead.
Sources: Italian Ministry of Justice, US Mission Italy, gov.uk, the Government of Canada and the EU travel portal.
From The 5 Star Edit
Stories from Lake Como
Visits, real weddings and planning notes from our editors.
Questions couples ask
Before you decide
What makes Lake Como costly for weddings?
Supply is constrained. The lake has a finite number of waterfront properties, and most are privately owned and not available for events. Those that open for weddings are priced for their rarity and for global demand. Logistics add to the total, including water taxis, boat transfers and the cost of working on a congested lake in peak season.
Which months suit a Lake Como wedding?
September is the usual choice among planners: the crowds are thinner, the roads are more manageable and temperatures suit outdoor ceremonies. May and June bring garden colour and longer days. July and August are crowded and hot, though sunset ceremonies work well.
How do wedding guests get around the lake?
By water. The lake roads are narrow and slow in summer, so private water taxis, small ferries and chartered boats are the standard method. Most premium venues have private jetties, and a planned boat schedule is as important as any other part of the logistics.
How early should a Lake Como venue be booked?
The most sought-after venues book far ahead for June, July and September dates. A couple with a specific property in mind should enquire at once. Couples who are flexible on the property will usually find comparable venues available closer to the date.
Which airport is best for Lake Como?
Milan Malpensa is the main gateway for long-haul and most European routes. Guests from UK regional airports often find Bergamo convenient because of its low-cost routes, and Milan Linate suits short-haul European guests who prefer a city airport.
Meet Aura
A planner who has read every venue in Lake Como
Tell Aura the setting, the season and the size of your day. She shortlists the venues and professionals that fit, and explains why.
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This guide draws on the venues' own published details, official sources and the knowledge of our editors. Entry and legal information can change, so confirm it with the authority that will marry you before you book.