If you've ever wondered where to elope in Italy — 
the answer is Lake Como.

And if you're asking where on Lake Como — 
the answer is Villa Balbianello.

There are places in the world that seem to exist 
specifically to be witnessed. Villa Balbianello is 
one of them. Perched on a narrow peninsula jutting 
into the lake, surrounded by terraced gardens that 
have been tended for centuries, it is the kind of 
place that makes everything feel significant — 
a breath, a glance, a hand reaching for another hand.

THE DAY

It began in Milan.

A hotel room with a window that looks directly onto 
the Duomo. The city below, unhurried. The light 
coming in the way it does in northern Italy in the 
morning — soft, almost silver.

We shot bridal preparations there, in that light, 
with the cathedral as a backdrop. Then we walked 
to the Duomo together, found our frames, and let 
the city do what it always does.

Then the cars came, and we drove north.

Lake Como arrives gradually — the water appearing 
between hills, the villas beginning to line the 
shore, the air changing. We boarded a small boat 
and crossed to the villa. The approach by water is 
the only way to arrive at Balbianello, and it 
matters — by the time you step onto the stone 
landing, you're already somewhere else entirely.

THE CEREMONY

Just the two of them. A celebrant. The lake.

No guests, no audience — only the decision, spoken 
aloud in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The ceremony lasted perhaps twenty minutes. The 
photographs from those twenty minutes are some of 
the most quiet and complete I've ever made.

After the ceremony we walked the grounds — the 
terraced gardens, the loggia overlooking the water, 
the stone paths that wind between ancient trees. 
We found light. We found stillness. We found 
exactly what they had come for.

WHY VILLA BALBIANELLO

For couples considering an elopement in Italy, 
Villa Balbianello offers something rare: a location 
that is genuinely extraordinary without being 
overwhelming. The scale is intimate. The setting 
is irreplaceable.

It requires advance booking through FAI 
(Fondo Ambiente Italiano), the organization that 
manages the property. Ceremonies are permitted on 
specific days and must be coordinated well in 
advance — ideally six to twelve months ahead.

The venue combines perfectly with a day or two in 
Milan before or after — making it ideal for 
destination couples flying in from abroad.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Venue: Villa del Balbianello, Lenno, Lake Como

Nearest airport: Milan Malpensa (MXP) — 1 hour

Best season: May, June, September, October

Ceremony type: Civil or symbolic

Capacity: Intimate — ideal for elopements and 

small gatherings up to 30 guests

—

As a destination wedding photographer based in 
Paris, I travel regularly to Lake Como and across 
Italy for elopements, intimate weddings and 
editorial sessions. If you're planning something 
similar — I'd love to hear about it.

VENUE · Villa del Balbianello, Lenno, Lake Como
NEAREST AIRPORT · Milan Malpensa — 1 hour
BEST SEASON · May, June, September, October
CAPACITY · Intimate — up to 30 guests

Wedding planning · Dream Day Agency
Ceremony officiant · Lubomir Revera
Photography · Kolesnik Nikolay

Planning an elopement in Italy? Let's talk →