DARIAN & ANDREW · GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO + VILLA BALBIANO
Darian and Andrew's wedding on Lake Como unfolded across two of its most storied addresses: a morning of preparation within the interiors of Grand Hotel Tremezzo, followed by a drive to Villa Balbiano for a lakeside ceremony, and a boat crossing back to the hotel at the end of the day. Few settings in Europe carry the same combination of scale and intimacy as this stretch of water, framed by forested mountains and centuries-old villas on every side.
Darian wore a beaded gown by Leah Da Glória, sourced through Bridal Reflections New York, paired with Badgley Mischka heels. Andrew wore a suit by Suitsupply. A vintage Rolls-Royce carried the couple from the hotel to Villa Balbiano, and they returned across the lake aboard Lo Schioppo II, a classic wooden boat arranged through Cadenazzi Boats.
Planning and coordination were led by Wedding Events Italy, whose command of the logistics behind a two-venue, boat-linked celebration made the day feel unhurried despite its scale. We photograph a maximum of ten weddings each year, and Lake Como remains one of the destinations we return to most gladly.
Photographing a Wedding at Villa Balbiano and Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Getting Ready at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Grand Hotel Tremezzo, in Tremezzina, has 77 rooms and suites, and its own heritage page begins its story in 1910. Darian got ready with Savannah among marble walls and gilded mirrors, while Rui was with Andrew in an arched doorway against warm ochre walls.
The First Look on the Staircase
The first look took place on the hotel's grand staircase, with its wrought-iron railing and red and gold carpet. Portraits then moved through the period rooms, where tapestry walls and velvet sofas gave a seated portrait of the two of them a quiet, formal frame.
The Drive to Villa Balbiano
A vintage white Rolls-Royce took the couple from Tremezzo to Villa Balbiano, and the car itself became part of the arrival: parked on the gravel among clipped hedges and cypress trees, then at the gates with the two of them beside it.
The Lakeside Terrace
The ceremony took place on the villa's lakeside terrace, between two stone pillars, with the lake and the mountains behind the couple and nothing else in the frame. Andrew read his vows from a card, and the ring exchange was framed by the water behind them.
Interiors and Gardens
Inside the villa, a hall with a crystal chandelier, gilt mirrors and velvet sofas opens through French doors toward the lake. Outside, the formal garden is laid out around a long water canal, with clipped hedges and stone statues that give portraits real architectural structure.
The Boat Back to Tremezzo
At the end of the day, the couple crossed back to Grand Hotel Tremezzo aboard Lo Schioppo II, with champagne on board in the golden light and the hotel's facade behind them. The last portraits were made on the hotel's beach deck, among the orange and white striped umbrellas.
More answers about how we work, from timelines to gallery delivery, are on our FAQ page.
The Super 8 Film · GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO + Villa Balbiano, Lake Como
Two venues linked by a private boat crossing gave this wedding day a rhythm built for Super 8. The grain and warmth of analogue film matched the golden light on Lake Como and the ochre stone of Villa Balbiano, turning the crossing back to Grand Hotel Tremezzo into something that already feels like a memory captured mid-motion.
Vendor Credits
Photographer ⎜ The Lopes Photography thelopesphotography.com
Getting Ready + Dinner Venue ⎜ Grand Hotel Tremezzo grandhoteltremezzo.com
Ceremony Venue ⎜ Villa Balbiano theheritage-collection.com/villa-balbiano
Wedding Coordinator ⎜ Wedding Events Italy weddingeventsitaly.com
Videography ⎜ Veil in the Wind veilinthewind.com
Bouquet ⎜ Viola nei Fiori violaneifiori.com
Bridal Gown ⎜ Leah da Glória (leahdagloria.com) via Bridal Reflections NY bridalreflections.com
Bridal Shoes ⎜ Badgley Mischka badgleymischka.com
Nails ⎜ Nailed it Delaware nailed-it-delaware
Spray tan | On The Glow ontheglowtans.biz
Groom's Suit | Suitsupply suitsupply.com
Groom's Watch | Rolex rolex.com
Groom's Shoes | Louis Vuitton louisvuitton.com
Makeup & Hair | Inna Makeup Italy & Dubai instagram.com/inna_makeup_italy_
Boat | Cadenazzi Boats cadenazzi.it
Car | Rolls-Royce (rolls-roycemotorcars.com) via Vague Luxury Rent vagueluxuryrent.com
Content Creator | Kristi Nechypir instagram.com/kristi_nechypir
Planning a Wedding at Villa Balbiano? Questions We're Often Asked
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Yes. Villa Balbiano is available for weddings. As photographers who have worked there, we are happy to share planning insights during a call.
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Darian and Andrew married in early May, when the gardens at Villa Balbiano were already in full bloom.
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Yes. The combination of historic villas, dramatic mountain backdrops, and classic wooden boats gives Lake Como a rare mix of architectural grandeur and cinematic movement, ideal for both editorial portraits and candid documentary photography. The Lopes Photography has photographed destination weddings across Lake Como and northern Italy.
If you are planning a wedding at Villa Balbiano or elsewhere on Lake Como, we would love to hear from you.
