Ste Walker is a UK wedding photographer who has shot multiple weddings on Lake Como. This is what it’s actually like to get married there, the atmosphere, the venues, the light, and the things nobody tells you until you arrive.
Lake Como is unlike anywhere else in Italy
Every part of Italy has its own character. Tuscany has the rolling hills and golden sunsets. Lake Garda has dramatic mountains. The Amalfi Coast has those incredible coastal views, the lemons and the winding roads. Sicily feels raw and organic in its own way.
Lake Como is different to all of them. It has a charm that is entirely its own. The shape of the lake, the scale of it, the way the mountains sit around it, the villas dotted along the shoreline. If Italy were a piece of jewellery, Lake Como would be the diamond at the centre. An odd shaped diamond, but a diamond nonetheless.
Photographing weddings here never gets old. Every time I arrive, the place still gets me. There is something about it that feels genuinely cinematic, genuinely special, in a way that is hard to put into words without reaching for cliches. The closest I can get is this: getting married on Lake Como feels like stepping into a film you never wanted to end.
The moment couples arrive and realise where they are
There is always a moment, usually early in the day, when it really lands for a couple. They step outside, or they get on a boat, or they look up from whatever they are doing and they take in the scale of what is around them. The mountains. The water. The light bouncing off the lake. The sheer size and beauty of the place.
Most couples have seen photos of Lake Como before their wedding. They know it is beautiful. But photos do not prepare you for what it actually feels like to be on a small boat in the middle of that lake, looking at the villas along the shoreline, the mountains rising behind them, the water stretching out in every direction.
I photographed one wedding where the couple got ready at Villa d’Este and then took a boat across to Villa Erba for the ceremony. I put the drone up as they were crossing the lake and got them on the boat with the venue coming into view in the background. It is one of my favourite images I have ever taken. The whole thing looked like a James Bond film. The couple, the boat, the lake, the venue. Everything in one frame. That kind of photograph simply does not happen anywhere else.
The morning of the wedding
Lake Como wedding mornings have a particular energy to them. At Villa d’Este, I have photographed grooms and their friends jumping into the lake on the morning of the wedding. There is something brilliant about that. The day has not started yet, everyone is relaxed, but underneath it all there is this quiet electricity because everyone knows what is about to happen.
Villa d’Este is one of those venues that feels luxurious without trying too hard. The grounds, the lake access, the architecture. When the light is good in the morning, it is an incredible place to photograph people just living in the moment before everything shifts into the ceremony.
If you want to get a feel for how a full wedding day across Villa d’Este and Villa Erba can look, you can read the full story from Lara and Qiao’s wedding on Lake Como.
What the atmosphere is actually like
Weddings on Lake Como feel different to weddings elsewhere, and a lot of that comes down to how the guests feel. Everyone arrives into this extraordinary setting and something shifts in them. They look incredible. They feel incredible. There is a looseness and a sense of occasion that you do not always get at weddings in other places.
The best way I can describe it is that everyone looks like they belong in a film. The venue, the water, the mountains, the clothes, the whole thing. Guests who would normally be shy in front of a camera suddenly look like they have done this a hundred times. It makes my job genuinely joyful because I am photographing people who are already in the best possible version of themselves.
That quality carries through the whole day. The ceremony, the drinks reception outside with the lake behind the guests, the dinner, the dancing late into the evening. It all has a warmth and a luxury to it that feels effortless rather than performed.
The venues
Every venue on Lake Como is beautiful. That is not an exaggeration. You can photograph at almost any of them and the setting will give you something extraordinary to work with. But a few stand out for specific reasons.
Villa Erba is one of the most impressive on the lake. The scale of it, the gardens, the views from the water. It works beautifully for larger weddings and multi-day celebrations. The drone photography from Villa Erba is some of the best I have ever produced anywhere in the world. You can see a full gallery from a wedding there on my Villa Erba wedding photography page.
Villa d’Este needs no introduction. It is one of the most iconic hotels in the world and the setting for wedding mornings is exceptional. The grounds, the lake access and the architecture all give you strong backdrops without having to overthink anything.
Villa Balbiano is synonymous with luxury. The ornate interiors and manicured gardens create a refined setting that suits stylish, elegant weddings perfectly.
Villa Monastero in Varenna is one I love for smaller, more intimate weddings. The ceremony spot looks like it has been lifted directly from a film set. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens that work brilliantly for couple portraits and small family groups. If you want something that feels cinematic and intimate rather than grand and sweeping, Villa Monastero is worth serious consideration.
You can see more about all of these on my Lake Como wedding photographer page.
The light and the weather
The light on Lake Como is one of the reasons photographers love shooting there. When the sun is bouncing off the water and the mountains are catching the afternoon light, it is genuinely beautiful. I have images from Lake Como that I am prouder of than almost anything I have shot anywhere else in the world, and a lot of that is down to the quality of the light.
That said, the weather on Lake Como can be unpredictable. The landscape creates its own microclimate and storms can come in quickly, especially in summer. I have photographed weddings where the weather shifted dramatically during the day.
The thing is, even when the weather turns, it rarely ruins anything. The guests are inside a beautiful venue, the atmosphere stays warm, and sometimes the drama of an incoming storm actually creates a different and equally stunning set of photographs. Moody skies over a lake that size look incredible.
For the best combination of good weather, beautiful light and manageable crowds, May, June and September tend to be the sweet spot. July and August are popular but the heat can be intense and the lake gets busier. If you want more detail on timing, I have written a full guide to the best time of year for an Italy wedding.
Practical things worth knowing before you book
A few things that are worth being aware of when you are planning a Lake Como wedding.
Boat transfers between venues are common and they add enormously to the day. Build time into your schedule for them and do not try to rush them. They are part of the experience.
Peak season in July and August means more tourists around the lake. If you are planning a ceremony near the water or in a public area, the busier months will bring more people into your backdrop. Most of the main villa venues are private enough that this does not cause problems, but it is worth being aware of.
If you are planning a legal ceremony in Italy, you will need to allow time for the paperwork and documentation requirements. Most experienced Italian wedding planners will handle this for you. I have worked alongside a number of excellent planners on Lake Como and would always recommend using one if you are organising from the UK.
And on the subject of photographers: book early. The best dates on Lake Como, particularly May, June and September weekends, go very quickly. Most couples planning a destination wedding there are getting in touch twelve to eighteen months ahead.
Why I keep coming back
Every destination I photograph weddings in has something that makes it special. But Lake Como has a quality that is genuinely hard to replicate. The combination of the water, the mountains, the villas, the light and the atmosphere of the people getting married there creates something that feels extraordinary every single time.
I never take it for granted. Destination wedding photographers all over the world would love to shoot weddings on Lake Como. The fact that I get to do it regularly, and that couples trust me to tell the story of their day in a place like this, is something I feel genuinely lucky about every time I arrive.
If you are planning a wedding on Lake Como and want photography that feels natural, relaxed and true to the day, get in touch and tell me about your plans.
Frequently asked questions about getting married on Lake Como
What is the best time of year to get married on Lake Como?
May, June and September are the most popular months and tend to offer the best combination of weather, light and atmosphere. July and August are busy and can be very hot. Spring and early autumn give you a quieter lake and more comfortable temperatures for outdoor ceremonies and receptions.
Which Lake Como wedding venues do you recommend?
Villa Erba is exceptional for larger weddings and produces stunning drone photography. Villa d’Este is one of the world’s most iconic hotels and makes a brilliant base for the wedding morning. Villa Balbiano suits elegant, intimate celebrations. Villa Monastero in Varenna is a beautiful choice for smaller, more cinematic weddings with incredible gardens for portraits.
Do you need a wedding planner for a Lake Como wedding?
For most couples organising from the UK, working with an experienced Italian wedding planner is strongly recommended. They handle the legal documentation, coordinate with venues and suppliers, and manage the logistics of a destination wedding weekend in a way that would be very difficult to do remotely.
How far in advance should I book my Lake Como wedding photographer?
For peak season dates in May, June and September, most couples are booking twelve to eighteen months ahead. The best dates go early, especially for well-known venues. If you have a date in mind, getting in touch sooner rather than later is always worth doing.
What does a Lake Como wedding photographer cost?
Destination wedding packages for Lake Como start from £4,500 with me, including travel from the UK. Full day coverage, edited images and an online gallery are all included. You can find more detail on the investment page or get in touch directly for a personalised quote.