What to Wear to a Lake Como Wedding

Lake Como weddings happen in gardens, on terraces above the water and in villas reached by boat. That changes what works. Heels sink into lawns, stone steps are steep, the breeze on a boat catches hems, and evenings on the water can turn cool. Dress for the setting first and the photographs take care of themselves.

The garden ceremony

Daytime at the lake calls for colour and movement. Printed silk and chiffon look right against water and greenery, and a midi or maxi length keeps you comfortable on uneven ground.

The ceremony dress

Zimmermann Luna

A burst of flowers in chiffon, with petal-like ruffles, halterneck straps and off-the-shoulder sleeves. It walked the label’s SS26 runway styled with a statement necklace.

Sale

Zimmermann Luna Tiered Ruffled Floral-print Chiffon Halterneck Midi Dress £1,860 Was £3,100 40% off at NET-A-PORTER

Quick look

Straight from the runway

Zimmermann Valiant

Silk-chiffon in the olive Toile print, with a wrap bodice tied at the waist and a tiered, ruffled skirt that moves as you walk. As seen on the Fall ’26 runway.

Zimmermann Valiant Tiered Ruffled Floral-print Silk-chiffon Wrap Maxi Dress £2,200 at NET-A-PORTER

Quick look

Lake Como

Lace for a long lunch

Blue corded lace, a slim belt and a view of the water.

Shoes for steps, lawns and boats

This is where most guests go wrong. Choose a sandal that stays on, or a flat you can walk in, and carry a heel for the evening if you must.

For gardens

Aquazzura June

A black suede sandal with a T-bar front and lace-up ankle ties that keep it on your foot on grass and gravel, finished with a gold-tipped heel. Made exclusively for NET-A-PORTER.

Sale

Aquazzura June Suede Sandals £120 Was £400 70% off at NET-A-PORTER

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For the boat

Loro Piana Anton Walk

A tan leather loafer with an almond toe; fold the back down and it becomes a mule. The shoe to change into for the boat and the steps.

Editor's pick

Loro Piana Anton Walk Leather Loafers £735 NET-A-PORTER ↗

Loro Piana Floaty Nubuck Loafers £650 NET-A-PORTER ↗

The black-tie dinner

Evening receptions in the villas are often formal. Go long, keep the lines clean, and bring a layer for the water.

For black tie

Self-Portrait crepe column

Black crepe cut as a column, with a faille off-the-shoulder neckline, an appliquéd flower and an open back. Diamond earrings and a small clutch are all it needs.

Sale

Self-Portrait Off-the-shoulder Open-back Faille-trimmed Crepe Maxi Dress £288 Was £480 40% off at NET-A-PORTER

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What to carry

Bottega Veneta Knot

Brown leather woven in the house intrecciato technique, with room for cards and a lipstick. The evening bag worth owning if you own one.

Editor's pick

Bottega Veneta Knot Intrecciato Leather Clutch £3,830 NET-A-PORTER ↗

Jimmy Choo Cloud Micro Embellished Satin Clutch £1,950 NET-A-PORTER ↗

Planning a Lake Como wedding: who to call

If you are the couple rather than a guest, these are the Lake Como specialists in the Lake Como section of our directory. Every name links to their listing and to their own website.

The venue

Villa Nascosta sits in the hills above Lake Como, a secluded villa built to blend with its surroundings, with wide views over the water.

The planners

My Lake Como Wedding (website) creates exclusive wedding experiences on the lake itself. Patrizia Leonardi (website) designs tailor-made weddings on Lake Como and across Italy. Bianco Bouquet (website) handles everything from the venue and documents to flowers, catering, music and guest activities.

High Emotion Weddings (website), led by Irene from Vienna, plans at fine venues across Europe. Julia Event (website) organises weddings in Italy and Switzerland, and Noemi Wedding (website) specialises in luxury destination weddings in Italy.

Hair, make-up and photography

Samantha Pretto Hair and Makeup (website) brings a bridal hair and make-up team to you, specialising in natural looks. Lorella Giannini is a bridal make-up artist based in Italy in the summer season, with over a decade in Sydney’s luxury beauty scene. Matteo Cuzzola is a wedding photographer based in Milan, close to Lake Como.

The short version

Print and movement for the ceremony, a sandal that stays on, a flat for the boat, a long column for black tie and a small woven clutch. Shop What to Wear to a Wedding or the Black Tie edit.