In September 2015 I flew out to Lake Como to shoot the beautiful wedding of Caroline and John. Needless to say, I absolutely fell in love with the place. You can see all the photos from their big day here. I’ve spoken to a few people who were looking at getting married out there, so I thought I would put a little post together with some of my experiences of getting around, and my thoughts on getting married out there.

Just half an hour from Milan, Lake Como is a stunning area of tranquillity, a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks. A Wedding Ceremony in Lake Como can be held in one of the numerous elegant locations which are next to the shore.

On the southern shore is Bellaggio, la perla del lago (the pearl of the lake), considered by many to be the most beautiful town in all of Europe. Its narrow cobbled streets, breathtaking views, impeccable homes and glorious villas make it a most enchanting spot to spend your own unforgettable ‘Month by the Lake.’ Get Married in Lake Como to experience the beautiful atmosphere of this area.

There is absolutely no denying the natural beauty of Lake Como. As an English Speaking Wedding Photographer in Lake Como, it is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever shot. Just about everywhere you turn is like a post card. Getting around, I found, was a choice between car or a mixture of walking and catching boats. I found parking to be a bit of a nightmare at times and if you’re of a nervous disposition, the narrow windy road can be a bit daunting. Especially when you have a lorry coming towards you, and you are driving right at the edge of the road

Getting around on public transport is a doddle, although if you choose to stay in some of the small towns away from the larger towns, you might want to check the state of buses in that area, as they don’t service the whole of the lake. There are numerous water taxi stations dotted around the lake, so should you find that you’ve missed the ferries, these are another option. The water taxis are, obviously, more expensive than the ferries.

 

 

The wonderful aspect of Lake Como is the sheer choice of locations it offers.  From 5 star lakeside hotels to cantinas that are off the beaten track, the ease of combining contrasting locations either on the wedding day or over the course of a Wedding weekend, has given Lake Como a unique selling point.  All these different venues can be used to give you a truly unique wedding day. The wedding I was the photographer at, took place at Villa Carlotta, and then moved onto a hilltop restaurant for the reception, which gave stunning panoramas over the lake as the sun set.

Of course, some venues, such as Villa Balbianello, are so one-of-a-kind that you need not move at all.  With many villas having extensive gardens, porticos and grand interiors, designing a captivating flow is just as feasible at one venue. I have to say, having briefly seen Villa Balbianello I feel in love with it myself. It was also in James Bond and Star Wars.

Caroline and John, decided to do something a bit special for their guests. Due to the lake being so huge, there is only one real way to see it all, and that is by boat. From Villa Carlotta, we took a boat and headed out on a journey around the lakes. The prosecco was flowing and it was a beautiful way to see some of the sites that you would miss from the road. One thing I did notice though, was that although they supplied booze, the boat didn’t have any water. So it’s worth asking that question if you book a boat ride, especially if you’ve been blessed with sunny weather

So how easy is it to get married in Italy? Well, it’s not that complicated at all. You can only start the legal side of things no more than 6 months before the wedding.

You need a Certificate of no impediment (usually obtained from a registry office in the UK), a Statutory declaration (a solicitor can do this for you) They then need to be sent to FCO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes, and then you need some of the paperwork translated into Italian.

Its worth checking out this website for more details on how and what you need to do http://www.italianweddingevent.com/wedding-requirements-for-italy/requirements-for-british/

The ceremony itself, will be performed in both English and Italian. It takes a little bit longer than a standard UK registry office wedding, however given the beautiful surroundings who wouldn’t want to be outside a bit more!

 

I think it’s fair to say that I am a huge fan of Lake Como, and indeed Italy itself. Although Como is a popular destination, as a wedding photographer, I would say I found a wedding over there easier to deal with than the experience I had of a wedding in Rome. There are less crowds to contend with, and rather than being a noisy hustle and bustle metropolis, it is a much calmer and tranquil place.

If you are looking for a Lake Como Wedding Photographer, then do drop me a line on the form below. Hiring a destination wedding photographer is not as expensive as you might think, and as an English Speaker, the pre wedding arrangements can be easier to make too. I am also more than happy to offer any advice I can, or put you in touch with some amazing suppliers out there too.

For now, what not take a look at Caroline and Johns wedding, and pop me over an email to talk about your Lake Como Wedding

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