LET’S ELOPE TO LAKE COMO

and Make It Absolutely Unforgettable

By myself Peggy, your elopement photographer at Lake Como

Ready for your italian lake adventure? Eloping to lake como is a unique experience and for sure, the best idea to create unforgettable memories together.

I receive many requests and questions from couples who dream to elope to LAKE Como. Guys, this post is for you! I hope that it will help you to understand what to expect and where to begin.

Step one: choose a spot

for your lake como elopement

Luxury hotels

Lake Como is famous for incredible 5 stars luxury hotels. Some of them allow elopement/wedding ceremony. It can happen that your room has a garden or a terrace that can be perfect for ceremony. Some hotel allows ceremony in their fabulous gardens. My selection of unique hotels on the  romantic shores of the lake:

Villa d’este in Cernobbio “For centuries a residence of the aristocracy – princesses, marquises, sultans and tsars. And since 1873, an elegant and charming five-star resort; one of the most celebrated in the world. Luxury lake views exemplify the art of living well in a suggestive experience that fills the eyes and inspires the mind”. Unforgettable and probably the most famous hotel in Italy.

Mandarin Oriental in Blevio is a real dreamy resort, elegant in all details mixing luxury Italian style & international high level hospitality with a refined Japanese touch. The 19th century Roccabruna villa is “a haven on the romantic shores of Lago di Como, where charming luxury meets scenic views, offering bespoke experiences that enrich every moment”. You can have elopement photos at the Amphitheatre like this one, and exclusive weddings ceremony and dinner. 

Grand Hotel Tremezzo at Tremezzo, an unforgeattable place “where history, tradition and glamour play with a contemporary spirit of independence; a place where the possibilities—like the views—feel endless”. One of my fav hotel at Lake Como (and in Italy). I have a real big fascination for timeless hotels, this one is so elegant, in every single detail. It is like a travel in the past but with the luxury touch of our time. And I always have the music of Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel ringing in loop in my head. Every step feels like being in a movie! The Suites on roof have terraces where getting ready and first look are amazing and the gardens are absolutely perfect for an elopement ceremony. 

Historical villas

Villa del Balbianello in Lenno. A sophisticated and unique location appeared in a great number of films and commercials can be rented for exclusive receptions as civil or symbolic wedding ceremonies, dinners for up to 150 guests. Elopement photoshoots are allowed in these specacular gardens but the locations must be booked in advance.  

Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo. Next to Grand Hotel Tremezzo, built at the end of the seventeenth century by the marquises Clerici of Milan, the Villa offers a wonderful garden on different levels with great views and colorful areas. Ceremony and photoshoot possible.

Villa Monastero in Ravenna. A splendid garden overlooking the lake. Differents areas are possible to book for an elopement photoshoot, Loggia, Tempietto neoclassico, Glorietta Terrazzo. Currently one of the most popular spot on instagram.

Gardens of Villa Melzi at Bellaggio. Fascinating botanical garden conceived in the early 1800s with fab views on the lake. A masterpiece “English-style” garden infused with Italian elegance in its clean, minimal aesthetic. In later eras, the Romantic-era fascination with the exotic introduced botanical and landscape elements from every continent, giving us one of the most captivating gardens in Italy. For flowers lovers!

Alternative ideas

A room with a terrace or free public locations can be used for short ceremony (without guests). Airbnb can also be a great option for a private echange of vows.

For more informations and recommendations for your elopement at Lake Como, contact me: Ciao Peggy

Step two:

book your photographer

LEt the adventure begin!

Hello this is me, Peggy, your personal elopement photographer! I have a great team of vendors ready to build the perfect elopement experience at Lake Como for you.

The best way to begin the planning of your elopement is : pick the area,  choose a date/your week and then hire your photographer.

The couples emails me their dates and we can proceed to realize their dream of eloping at Lake Como..

I offer different packages but typically my couples book me 4 or 5 hours (half day coverage for an elopement is perfect at lake como) and with my expertise, they can understand what works best for them to choose accommodation/location and proceed to book the other vendors.

Elopement videography (With drone) is part of my packages of elopement at Lake Como and we are happy to create together the best experience for our couples.

Based on my experience of shooting several elopements at Lake Como since 2012, I will recommend to you all the vendors that you would need (Celebrant make up artist, hairstylist, boat tour, florist, cake etc.) and I will help you to find the best location for ceremony.

Fee free to contact me for more info about my photographer and videography packages at Lake Como.

My elopement packages are  here.

Step Three:

Choose the date

What’s the best month to elope to Lake Como?

Consider that Lake Como is very green for a reason, the weather can be a bit unpredictable. That’s why I recommend to elope from April to half October. By winter most of great hotels are closed for off-season too. Boat ride is really something to do absolutely to enjoy the full experience of the lake, that’s why choosing nice season is a great option.

April/may/june/September are my fav months for eloping. April/may and early October are lovely because there’s a bit less people and the light is magical.

Pick the month/season and then, it is always easier if you have a few options of dates, if you are a bit flexible on the date. For example you consider to stay one week in North Italy/italian lakes area, any of these days would work.

It will be much easier to book everything!

Step four :

make the day special, your elopement, your way

hire additional vendors

• Get inspired! I’m sharing full galleries of elopements with my new couples when they are beginning to plan their special day because I believe that it is useful that you understand how eloping at Lake Como looks for real and also the final product you will receive with your photos/video. It will give you also ideas of locations and what we can organize for the day.

• Book a boat adventure : My fav to explore is the private boat ride, a great way to have photos with Villas as Villa del Balbianello in the background for example.

• On the road to happiness: Photos with a vintage car can be also a nice activity to get shots on the road (it work better with the 5 hours coverage package) 

• Cake for two please! Yes you can cut a cake! I believe that it is such a lovely moment to share together and makes things special. Cutting of the cake, sharing a piece of it, opening a bottle of Prosecco. Don’t give up your fav ideas, yes cake

• Your elopement, your style, your budget It is difficult to give you an idea of the budget for flowers as it really depends of what you want. It can very inexpensive if you just need a bouquet and a buttonhole. Based on my experience of shooting several elopements at Lake Como since 2012, I will recommend to you all the vendors that you would need (Celebrant make up artist, hairstylist, boat, florist, cake etc.) and I will help you to find the best location for ceremony.

For more informations and recommendations for your elopement at Lake Como, contact me: Ciao Peggy

Budget considerations

Elope WITH guests or just the two of you?

•  A destination wedding/elopement is not the same experience if you travel alone or if you bring parents or a few friends to share it with you. Lake Como is an expensive place so the budget and all the planning of the elopement will be different if you elope without guests or if you elope with guests.
• Most of my couples choose to elope without guests because they love to enjoy this unique occasion together. Mixing wedding and honeymoon together. Then they organize a reception at home later when they are back. Sometimes it is a surprise for their families as they keep the elopement secret. Mainly the difference will be the number, If you are just coming with your parents or a couple of friends (in that case yes it is still an elopement and it won’t change too much for planning, you can organize it alone with my assistance, very easily, without a wedding planner) or if you will bring 20 or 30 people (in that case it is a wedding and you will have to plan it like a regular intimate wedding, with the location, hotels etc most of times it will request the assistance of a coordinator.) 

Budget friendly adventure or full luxury experience 

as an elopement expert, I would say that eloping 

Alternative to lake como: lake garda

Less tourists, less expensive but more incredible colors and so many fabulous locations at Sirmione, Isola del Garda, Riva del Garda, Desenzano, Limone sul Garda, Lake Garda is really a great alternative to Lake Como with a big identity. Let me know if you are interested to have more informations about elopements at Lake Garda.

For more informations and recommendations for your elopement at Lake Como, contact me: Ciao Peggy 

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