Lake Como Diary
Lake Como Elopement Package – Symbolic Ceremony, Photography & Film
Lake Como Elopement Package – Symbolic Ceremony, Photography & Film
No payment now. Tell me your date, and I reply personally to every message.
Elope to Lake Como: a symbolic ceremony by the water, just the two of you or your closest people, planned, photographed and filmed. A celebrant, a ceremony setting reserved for you, flowers, hair and makeup, two hours on a private boat, champagne, dinner by the lake, and up to six hours of photography and film.
My husband and I married on Lake Como too, so we know how it feels to say your vows with the mountains and the water around you. I plan your elopement with you, from the place and the light to the words of your ceremony, then we photograph and film it together, so the photographs and the film tell one story. You bring your vows. The rest is planned.
Elopement experience · photography & film · €8,000
Check availability for your date
Three Ways to Elope on Lake Como
- A short wedding session, from €1,000 per hour. Already married at home or at the town hall? Wear your wedding clothes on Lake Como for portraits in Bellagio, Varenna, a garden or on a boat. Most couples choose two or three hours.
- The Lake Como Elopement, €8,000. The complete day described on this page: a symbolic ceremony, a celebrant, flowers, hair and makeup, a private boat, champagne, dinner, photography and film.
- A custom elopement, tailored to you. A legal ceremony, an exclusive villa, a few more guests, a welcome dinner or a second day. Tell me what you dream of, and I will build the package and the price around it.
Your Lake Como Elopement Day
Every day is planned around your story, the season and the light. A typical day looks like this:
- Before the day · The planningThe place, the timeline, the celebrant, your vows, the flowers, the boat and the restaurant, all planned with you.
- Getting readyHair and makeup, the dress, the rings and the quiet moments before you see each other.
- The ceremonyA symbolic ceremony at a setting reserved for you, with flowers in place and a celebrant who leads it with your own words.
- 2 hours · A private boatChampagne on the water, then portraits as newlyweds, with the villas, the villages and the mountains around you.
- The celebrationDinner for two, or for your closest people, at a lakeside restaurant chosen in advance.
What Is Included in the Lake Como Elopement Package
The planning and the ceremony
- Complete planning and coordination, from the place and the timeline to every detail of the day
- A celebrant for your symbolic ceremony, with help writing your ceremony and your vows
- A ceremony setting reserved for you, such as a villa terrace or garden, a panoramic terrace or the boat itself
- A floral setup for the ceremony, a bridal bouquet and a boutonnière
The day
- Hair and makeup for the bride
- Two hours on a private boat after the ceremony
- A champagne toast as newlyweds
- Restaurant planning for a romantic dinner to end the day
The photographs and the film
- Up to six hours of photography and film by my husband and me, from getting ready to the first toast at dinner
- Around 400 edited photographs in a private online gallery, in high resolution and ready to print
- A cinematic highlight film of 3 to 5 minutes
Lake Como Elopement: €8,000
Iconic villas with their own rental fees, such as Villa del Balbianello, are quoted separately as part of a custom elopement.
Symbolic or Legal?
A symbolic ceremony needs no Italian paperwork, so you are free to choose the place, the time, the celebrant and every word. Most eloping couples sign the legal papers at home, before or after, and say their vows on Lake Como.
A legal civil ceremony is also possible for foreign couples, at a town hall or a villa authorised by the local Comune, with documents prepared in advance, two witnesses and an interpreter. If you would like to marry legally in Italy, we plan it together as a custom elopement. Read the steps in the Lake Como wedding guide.
Where to Elope on Lake Como
- A villa terrace or garden reserved for you: balustrades, cypresses and the lake behind your vows.
- A private boat: the most intimate ceremony of all, in the middle of the lake.
- The gardens of Villa Melzi, Bellagio: plane-tree avenues, a Moorish pavilion and a balustrade terrace on the water, for portraits as newlyweds. The gardens do not allow ceremonies or setups, so we hold the ceremony elsewhere and come here after.
- Varenna and Bellagio: stone lanes, lakefront promenades and pastel houses for portraits as newlyweds.
- Villa del Balbianello: the most iconic villa on the lake, with civil or symbolic ceremonies in its loggia, as a custom elopement.
Compare the villas, the rules and the costs in the Lake Como wedding guide.
The Best Time to Elope on Lake Como
May, June, September and October bring the softest light, warm days and fewer crowds than July and August. Weekdays are quieter than weekends at the villas and on the water. For the ceremony and the portraits, I plan around the late afternoon and the golden hour, when the lake is at its most beautiful.
Lake Como Elopement FAQ
How much does a Lake Como elopement cost?
This elopement package is €8,000. It includes complete planning, a celebrant, a ceremony setting with flowers, a bouquet and boutonnière, hair and makeup, two hours on a private boat, champagne, restaurant planning, up to six hours of photography and film, around 400 edited photographs and a highlight film. Your travel, your stay and the dinner itself are not included.
Can we book only a short wedding session?
Yes. Short wedding sessions start from €1,000 per hour, for portraits in your wedding clothes after a ceremony at home or at the town hall. Write to me with your date.
Is a symbolic ceremony legal?
No, a symbolic ceremony is not legally binding, and that is its freedom: no Italian paperwork, and any place you love. Most couples sign the legal papers at home and celebrate their vows on Lake Como.
Can we marry legally on Lake Como?
Yes. Foreign couples can have a civil ceremony at a town hall or an authorised villa. It needs documents prepared months in advance, two witnesses and an interpreter, so we plan it as a custom elopement.
Can we bring guests?
Yes. The package is designed for the two of you or a few of your closest people. For more guests, a welcome dinner or a second day, we build a custom elopement.
Can we write our own vows?
Of course. The celebrant helps you shape the ceremony, and your own words are at its heart.
How far in advance should we book?
Six to twelve months ahead for May, June and September, and earlier for weekends. For a legal ceremony, start at least six months before.
Is video included?
Yes. My husband and I photograph and film the day together, and you receive a cinematic highlight film of 3 to 5 minutes.
What happens if it rains?
Every ceremony has a covered plan B: a loggia, a covered terrace or a later light window. Soft weather can be beautiful on Lake Como, and we adjust the boat and the portraits to the sky.
More From Lake Como Diary
Check Your Date
Tell me your dates on Lake Como, how you imagine your elopement and a little about the two of you. I reply personally to every message, and if your date is free, we will start planning your day together.
