A wedding at Villa Erba on Lake Como

Villa Erba, a nineteenth century palace on the lake

Villa Erba stands on the western shore of Lake Como, in Cernobbio, a few minutes from the town of Como. It was built at the end of the nineteenth century for Luigi Erba and his wife Anna Brivio, and its pale stone facade still carries all the grandeur of that era.

The villa is also tied to the history of Italian cinema, since the director Luchino Visconti spent the summers of his childhood here. Walking through its salons today, among frescoes, gilded mirrors and crystal chandeliers, you understand where his love of beautiful interiors may have come from.

Its park runs right down to the water, and the lawns facing the lake make one of the most generous ceremony settings on Lake Como. The mountains of the opposite shore close the view, like a painted backdrop behind the guests.

Ivory, lace and white flowers

The whole afternoon was designed in shades of ivory and white, with cascades of roses framing the doors and climbing along the staircase of the villa. Inside, the light of the tall windows fell softly on silk, lace and embroidered tulle, exactly the light we hope for when we photograph the details of a wedding.

Musicians dressed in white played on the steps of the villa while a horse drawn carriage waited in the park. The guests moved from the garden to the terraces and discovered a new surprise at every turn of the afternoon.

From candlelight to a flamingo night

Dinner was served in the frescoed salons of the villa, at long tables lit by candles and covered with white flowers under the chandeliers. Later in the evening the mood changed completely, and the great staircase and the ballroom turned pink with flamingos, pampas grass, mirrored balls and neon.

Few venues can carry two atmospheres so different in a single day, and Villa Erba does it with ease. Its architecture is strong enough to welcome a classic ivory dinner and a bold, playful party without ever losing its character.

Lake Como in October

October is a wonderful month to get married on Lake Como, once the summer crowds have left and the gardens begin to turn gold. The afternoon light becomes lower and softer, which is perfect for an outdoor ceremony by the water.

Evenings also arrive a little earlier in autumn, and that changes the whole second half of the day. The candlelit dinner feels more intimate, and the fireworks over the lake shine even brighter against the night sky.

Our approach

On a wedding of this scale we work as a team, so the details, the architecture and the atmosphere are covered at every moment of the day. Our goal never changes, which is to stay discreet, catch what really happens and give every image the treatment of a magazine page.