Dreaming of saying “I do” with Lake Como’s sparkling waters as your backdrop? Here are some aspects you should keep in mind before you start planning the wedding of a lifetime in one of the most romantic places on earth!
legal aspects
Since you’re planning a wedding on Lake Como, you’re probably thinking of hosting it in one of it’s iconic villas or hotels. Since many of them are privately owned, they don’t have an “Ufficiale di Stato Civile” to recognise your wedding ceremony as legally binding.
In Italy, to have your marriage be officially recognised, the ceremony must take place in a town hall (comune) or in a church. Sometimes it’s possible to invite an officiant from the comune to your preferred location, but not all comuni allow that and they usually have their own lists of pre-approved venues.
The most common path our couples choose is to hold a symbolic ceremony on Lake Como and get married in their home country either before or after coming to Italy. This reduces a whole lot of bureaucracy hassle!
A symbolic wedding ceremony is basically a fully customisable ritual – featuring your own written vows, music of choice – -that carries meaning for you and your guests but not for the state.
There are plenty of wedding celebrants offering their services around the lake area that can help you plan and direct the ceremony of your dreams, taking into account all the customs, rituals, and traditions important to you. We suggest you hiring a bi- or multilingual celebrant, especially if your guests are coming from different linguistic backgrounds.
If you’re looking to get married in a local church or a comune, or to get your marriage officially recognised by the Italian State, keep an eye out for our upcoming blog post with more in-depth info!
Best time of year to say “I do”
The date you choose for your wedding is more than just a formality – it’s a major factor in the availability of venues, vendors, and even the overall cost of your wedding.
October-April
Off-season. Wintery Lake Como definitely has it’s charm and can offer more affordable prices. Keep in mind that due to high humidity, outside temperature can get chilly – from 0°C to 10°C (32-50°F). Many iconic villas, like Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, Villa Melzi, and Villa Monastero close for winter completely, so you can opt for the famous hotels instead.
July-August
Peak tourist season, so popular venues may be booked up months in advance. Though the lake provides some breeze, opt for a late afternoon or evening ceremony to avoid the heat. We strongly advise not to book a wedding in August! It’s generally the hottest month of the year, and it coincides with Ferragosto, a national holiday when many businesses close for almost the entire month, making logistics way more complicated.
April-June
Spring is one of the most beautiful times to get married on Lake Como. The gardens at villas are in full bloom, and the weather is mild, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). Definitely prepare a backup plan if you’re getting married in between April and May, though – unexpected heavy rains are no joke in Italian spring. May usually marks the start of busy season, so expect higher venue and accommodation costs.
September-October
Early autumn on Lake Como is stunning! Evenings get cooler, but still give that iconic golden light for photos. Combined with yellowing leaves – it’s a dream! Same as for April-May, however, prepare that plan B in case the weather shifts into a full “autumn mode”.
lake como venues
Secure your venue at least a year in advance to avoid disappointment, particularly during peak wedding season! We suggest you to hire a local wedding planner who is familiar with villa-specific requirements and can handle formalities with the Italian-speaking vendors.
This is our non-exhaustive list of the potential Lake Como wedding venues:
| Name | Guests | Accomodation |
|---|---|---|
| Villa del Balbianello | Up to 150 | – |
| Villa Balbiano | Up to 100 | 6 suites for overnight stay |
| Villa Carlotta | Up to 100 | – |
| Villa Cipressi | Up to 160 | 29 rooms for overnight stay |
| Villa D’Este | Up to 200 | 152 suites for overnight stay |
| Villa Erba | Up to 300 | – |
| Grand Hotel Tremezzo | Up to 150 | 80 rooms for overnight stay |
| Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni | Up to 220 | Multiple rooms and suites for overnight stay |
| Mandarin Oriental | Up to 180 | 24 guest rooms, 49 suites and 2 private villas |
| Villa Monastero | Up to 80 | 12 rooms for overnight stay |
| Villa Pessina | Up to 30 | 4 suites for overnight stay |
| Villa Pizzo | Up to 160 | – |
| Villa Pliniana | Up to 200 | 17 rooms for overnight stay |
| Villa Regina Teodolinda | Up to 100 | 6 suites for overnight stay |
| Relais Villa Vittoria | Up to 70 | Various rooms for overnight stay |
| Villa Sola Cabiati | Up to 70 | 6 suites for overnight stay |
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