Your Destination Wedding Guide to the Italian Lakes

All your favorite Hollywood stars own villas there. The most gorgeous landscapes in your favorite films are shot there. And in your dreams of a lavish destination wedding in Italy, you probably imagine a boat ride on one of the Italian Lakes… A silky trip with the love of your life, on your way to say your “I Dos”. 

The 3 biggest and most famous Italian lakes are Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. To make things easier for you, we’ve created this destination wedding guide to the Italian Lakes. 

We will dig a bit deeper into several aspects of your wedding planning: the right timing, how to get there, our selection of wedding venues, and of course, all the fun activities for you and your guests to enjoy!

Timing

The ideal seasons to plan a wedding in the lakes are:

  • Either in spring, between April and June
  • Or in autumn, between September and early October. After that, the risk of sporadic showers kicks in!

These periods offer visitors the best weather with comfortable temperatures, beautiful natural colors, and smaller crowds than the usual tourist rush. July and August are also beautiful months, but the weather can become quite humid which could be uncomfortable for everybody. 

Transportation

The easiest arrival point for international travelers to Lake Garda is Verona. Verona has two airports: Valerio Catullo (VRN), also known as Verona Villafranca, and Verona Brescia (VBS). And they’re both just a short half hour trip from the lake. After landing, you can easily take the bus or catch a train to reach the destination you’ve been dreaming about all year!

If you’re heading to Lake Maggiore or Lake Como, Milan Malpensa (MXP) airport is the closest; It’s only 50 miles from the former and 25 miles from the latter! Either way, you’re looking at no more than just over an hour by car. The easiest way is to rent a car and drive to the lakes. All you need to do is follow the signs on the road and you’ll safely get there.

Wedding locations

In an excellent article, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia created a list of their favorite venues in which to celebrate your destination wedding on Lake Como. Villa del Balbianello and Villa D’Este are just a couple of their ultimate picks! One of our own Como crushes is Bianca Relais. On Lake Garda, the neogothic Villa Borghese Cavazza in Isola del Garda has us falling in love over and over again!

Lake Maggiore, on the other hand, has a few of our favorite places to host your destination wedding in Italy!

  • Camin Hotel Colmegna, is a late 18th century villa on the shore of Lake Maggiore, in the splendid setting of the small, sun-drenched gulf of Colmegna. What makes this venue so unique is the different settings it offers. Every corner of the estate can accommodate a different size wedding. You can wed on a stunning Terrace on the lake, a veranda or even in a tower. 
  • Hotel Verbano is a venue that your guests will be talking about way after your wedding’s over! Located on the picturesque Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island), Verbano is combines romance and elegance for a destination wedding in Italy. 
  • Villa Piceni is a gorgeous estate from the early 1800s in Belgirate, a village in the province of Verbania. The spacious halls overlooking the deep blues of Lake Maggiore, and the lush gardens surrounding the inner courtyard, make this venue a dream to tie the knot in!

Activities

The Lakes area is constantly buzzing with life as the weather stays kind most of the wedding season in Italy. Each of the three turquoise giants has its own range of activities you can do, whether it’s for an outing with family, friends or as a couple. 

  • On the southern part of Lake Garda, you will find the picturesque town of Sirmione. It’s world-famous for its natural thermal spas! Rich is Sulphur and other minerals, the waters have healing  properties. If you want to immerse yourself in nature’s magical powers and let go of your everyday pressures, Hotel Olivi might be the place for you. 
  • One ferry ride on Lake Maggiore can take you to the “Beautiful Island”, or Isola Bella. Mostly known for its Italian-style baroque gardens, the intimate relationship between architecture and landscaping will leave you speechless. The land is dotted with cherub sculptures and obelisks. But the main attraction remains the view from the grand terrace where you can admire Lake Maggiore’s majestic beauty. 
  • For a more scenic experience, get your ticket for the Como–Brunate funicular without any second thoughts! This 7-minute railway trip has been linking the town of Brunate to Lake Como since 1894. You’ll be able to enjoy the gorgeous stretch of Italian countryside and the panorama of Lake Como as far as the Swiss Alps!

A destination wedding in the Italian Lakes area is synonymous with elegance and class. It seamlessly creates the kind of memories that will stay with you all your life! We hope this guide will be the first step towards taking your decision to get married in Italy.

If you’re still not sure, we invite you to visit our Smart Venue Search to start browsing gorgeous Italian venues overlooking some of the most breathtaking landscapes! By filtering out your style preferences as well as your guest list and wedding reception, you’ll be one step closer to choosing the perfect wedding venue for your big day! 

Featured image:

Photo credit: Lost In Love Photography

Planner: The Lake Como Wedding Planner

Wedboard's Logo linked to the website's homepage

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