WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ELOPE AT VILLA BALBIANO, LAKE COMO
We photograph ten weddings a year, and our work has been published in British Vogue, Vogue Arabia, and Tatler. One of our recent days was an elopement at Villa Balbiano on Lake Como. This is an account of what it is like to elope at Villa Balbiano, told in the order the day happened rather than as a venue checklist. For the villa itself, including its light, interiors, and gardens, see our guide to Villa Balbiano wedding photography.
What Is It Like to Elope at Villa Balbiano?
An elopement at Villa Balbiano is a day built around one villa and one stretch of lake. Darian and Andrew started at Grand Hotel Tremezzo, drove to Villa Balbiano, held their ceremony on the lakeside terrace, and returned to Tremezzo by boat. The day had three settings and moved through them in one direction, which is what made it easy to follow and easy to photograph.
Villa Balbiano stands in the village of Ossuccio on the western shore of Lake Como, and its origins date to the 16th century. We leave questions of availability, capacity, and terms to the villa itself, because those figures change and third-party sources do not agree on them.
How Does the Day Begin Before the Villa?
The day begins at the hotel, not at the villa. Darian and Andrew got ready at Grand Hotel Tremezzo, where we photographed the preparation, their first look, and their first portraits together before anyone left for the other side of the lake. That half of the day is covered in our guide to Grand Hotel Tremezzo wedding photography.
The transfer to the villa was by car, a classic white Rolls-Royce. One of the first images we made at Villa Balbiano shows the couple stepping out at the gates, with the pale yellow facade visible through the ornamental ironwork and the mountains across the lake beyond it.
What Happens on the Terrace?
The ceremony takes place on the lakeside terrace, between two ornamental stone pillars, with the water and the forested mountains of the far shore as the only backdrop. Darian and Andrew both read their vows from cards. Andrew then placed the ring on Darian's finger, and the two of them kissed with the lake behind them.
The sky stayed overcast through the ceremony. On Lake Como, that works in your favor: the light is soft and directionless; it holds the beadwork on a gown without harsh highlights, and the mountains stay visible in the frame instead of fading into haze.
What Is It Like to Be Photographed Inside the Villa and Gardens?
After the vows, the villa itself becomes the setting for portraits, and it offers two very different kinds of space. Inside, there is a neoclassical hall of cream marble, gilt-framed mirrors, and a crystal chandelier, with burgundy velvet sofas along the walls. Open French doors there frame the lake, and we photographed the couple in the doorway in black and white, with the bride's veil spilling onto the stone floor.
Outside, the gardens give portraits structure: clipped hedges, cypress trees, ivy-covered walls and stone statues, and a lawn beneath a flowering tree. We photographed Darian and Andrew walking the gravel paths in motion, and standing still against the hedges. Together, they give an elopement a range of backdrops without leaving the property.
How Does an Elopement at Villa Balbiano End?
It ends on the water. Darian and Andrew left the villa by wooden speedboat and crossed back to Grand Hotel Tremezzo. The crossing produced some of the most relaxed images of the day: a kiss in the boat, champagne glasses raised with the hotel facade behind them, and the late-afternoon light on the lake.
If you are comparing Lake Como with other formats, our guide to hiring an elopement photographer on Lake Como explains how we approach the whole day. For other settings on the lake, see our guide to elopement venues on Lake Como.
Is This Kind of Elopement Right for You?
Villa Balbiano suits couples who want one architectural setting and a clear route across the lake. In our experience, it suits them better than couples who want a loose, improvised day, because each leg of the day depends on a car or a boat arriving on time. If you want a ceremony with structure, stone and water, this format delivers it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we book an elopement photographer for Lake Como?
We recommend booking twelve to eighteen months in advance. We photograph ten weddings a year, so our calendar for Lake Como fills early, and an elopement on a villa terrace still needs time to plan around the light, the transfers, and the travel of the people involved. Reach out as soon as you have a season in mind.
How much does an elopement photographer on Lake Como cost?
Our work starts from €10,000. The final figure depends on the length of the day, the number of locations, and the travel involved. For an elopement like the one at Villa Balbiano, which moved from a hotel to a villa and back by boat, coverage runs across several settings, and we scope it with each couple individually.
Is Villa Balbiano suited to an elopement?
It was for the day we photographed. The lakeside terrace, the formal gardens, and the interior hall gave one ceremony and one set of portraits a range of settings in a single property, with the lake always in view. Whether it suits your elopement depends on how structured you want the day to be. Villa availability is for the villa to confirm.
What makes The Lopes Photography different for an elopement on Lake Como?
We photograph ten weddings a year, so every day receives full attention rather than a template. Our work has been published in British Vogue, Vogue Arabia, and Tatler, and we edit with fidelity to the real light and color of the scene. For Lake Como, that means soft overcast light kept soft, and water that looks like the water.
If you are considering an elopement at Villa Balbiano or elsewhere on Lake Como, we would be glad to hear from you. We photograph ten weddings a year and have been published in British Vogue, Vogue Arabia, and Tatler, which means each day gets full preparation. You can read more about how we work on our services page, or begin the conversation through our contact page.
