Tag Archive for: Wedding locations

Wedding at Villa Erba, Where Luxury Meets Love

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A destination wedding in Italy fosters the ultimate sense of indulgence due to the opulent venues, unique culinary delights, and exceptional service. From the majestic waterside villas surrounding Lake Como to the countryside estates nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany to the colourful shores and cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, couples who tie the knot in Italy know a thing or two about creating unforgettable experiences and romance.

With so many awe-inspiring Lake Como wedding venues, narrowing it down to just one can take time and effort. So, today we’d like to introduce you to one of our favourites – Villa Erba.

A large mansion surrounded by lush green plants, set at Villa Erba, a luxurious hotel on Lake Como, ideal for weddings.

A Luxurious Hotel Nestled On Lake Como

If you are an artistic soul, love majestic places that scream royalty, luxury, and class, and are looking for a wedding venue in Lake Como, then you are at the right place.

The location of Villa Erba is marvellous, surrounded by the lake and a vast botanical garden spreading over more than 100,000 square meters making this Villa one of a kind.

A variety of art can be seen around the property, such as balconies made from stone and different types of colourful frescoes, precise and valuably carved ceilings are just one of the reasons why this Villa is called the Italian Jewel. And can a Villa like this be without gold details? Of course not; on the property, you can find golden gilded decor and golden murals.

This Venue can accommodate up to 450 people for the reception in different areas, such as the old ballroom or the reading room. Unfortunately, the Venue does not offer accommodation on-site, but it can provide you with hotels just a few minutes away from the Venue.

History Of Villa Erba

Carlo Erba, the owner and founder of a pharmaceutical company, built the Villa to show off his wealth. The Villa was designed and established between 1898 and 1901 by Angelo Savoldi and Giovan Battista Borsani. An interesting fact about the whole venue is that the German Commando occupied it during the war; as luck would have it, the composition was undamaged.

Types Of Wedding Ceremonies Offered At Villa Erba

Exclusivity at its finest. Everyone that is searching for something majestic will find it here. In addition, the waterfront wedding venue offers you various wedding ceremonies, such as: on the lawn by the lakeside or right in front of the Villa. 

But please bear in mind if you are considering choosing one of the Lake Como best locations – Villa Erba is only open from April to October, so plan carefully. 

Aerial view of a wedding ceremony in a lush garden at Villa Erba, showcasing a picturesque wedding setup.

The Most Picturesque Wedding Ceremony Location In Italy

Villa Erba is one of the most picturesque, if not the best, locations for outstanding photographs. Its 100,000 square meters garden that overlooks Lake Como is just one of the reasons why people choose this location. The centennial park, palatial botanical patrimony, and countless species of exotic, fancy plants clasp the Villa giving multiple options throughout the year for great photos due to different shades and colours.

The Villa also has the Darsena, known as the boat house where water meets the land, and numerous indoor locations such as the Grand Interior Room. Everywhere you turn, there are beautiful backdrops for your wedding photos.

Wedding Ceremony Locations At Villa Erba

When it comes to Villa Erba, luxurious and elegant wedding ceremonies are their mark. With different types of locations, whether you like it indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather conditions, they will offer you dreamy setups with incredible decorations and give you a true love story to tell your kids.

The Majestic Darsena (or boat house)

Every couple’s dream is to make a grand entrance (or exit) on their wedding day; this Lake Como wedding Venue gives you just that. The Majestic Darsena, as the name states, will provide you with a one-in-a-lifetime, opulent, exclusive entrance by boat. An Ideal spot for a ceremony and magazine cover photographs. You can accommodate up to 200 seated guests in this area.

The Villa’s Gardens

No words can describe the extravagant garden of the Villa Erba. Its immeasurable beauty will suit you best for your romantic, special moment where you will say the words you carefully chose, your vows that will echo into eternity and seal your love path. 

Grand Interior Rooms

One of the things we love the most about Villa Erba is that every room is unique. Let’s start with the design; at the Villa, each window has its own story. Every angle has a different view, making all rooms a different kind of masterpiece. 

Each room has intricate decor, a different colour palette, frescoed ceilings and walls, and original stone, tiled, or wood flooring.

Elegant wedding reception at Villa Erba with a long table covered in white linens and decorated with gold chandeliers.

Villa Erba Wedding Reception Locations

When you’re planning a wedding in Lake Como in a grand, stately chateau in Italy, there will be many beautiful settings for your reception. This is true at the Villa Erba. Here are a few ideas for hosting your wedding reception at Villa Erba.  

Villa Erba Botanical Park

It’s not just the numerous flowers, plants, or trees that make this Botanical Garden – Park special. It is the tradition and what it represents. Just imagine, as “John Lennon” said, having something that has sustained for more than we can remember or that we will ever experience; it is just enviable and yet extraordinary at the exact moment. 

Here you can host up to 200 guests seated in the middle of the colour palette that the garden brings hope for your love and friendship to last as long as the garden itself.

Grand Terraces 

We all know the fairy tales and stories where you meet your forever one at some grand terrace and have the perfect dance along with the forever-lasting kiss; this Lake Como wedding venue will provide you with just that. 

Perfect lake view, outstanding architecture, an ambience vibrating love notes, you, your partner, family, and friends all together making core memories and capturing all the incredible and lovely moments together while dining and having fun.

Elegant and Luxurious Dining Areas

Several locations can be picked for dining at the property. For example, you can choose the Ballroom for your reception if you are keen on chic and luxury decorations and ambience, or the Botanical Park, where you will feel like you are “Alice in Wonderland” with all the precious and remarkable nature traits that the garden is nurturing. 

And there is the “Grand Terrace” with an outstanding lake view that will make a perfect dining area where you can wait for the sunset and enjoy your magical, dreamy, fantastic day.

The Heart Of The Villa – Cathedral Hall

As the title describes it, the heart of the Villa is the Cathedral Hall. Stone balconies make the space remarkable and dramatic. The Cathedral Hall is a mix of modern architecture, extraordinary colour palettes, ravelled decoration details, frescoes, walls with original tiles, and wooden and stone flooring. And next-level lightning and sound gadgets make it a perfect spot for dancing till dawn.

A large mansion surrounded by a lush green field, showcasing the perfect venue for weddings at Villa Erba.

How To Get To The Palatial Villa Erba

Can’t you imagine arriving and entering your wedding ceremony by private boat? You and your partner glide through the lake, the wind caressing your hair and face while your impatient family and friends are waiting for both of you to come up and start the wedding ceremony. 

You step onto the land, and a thunderous ovation starts from the crowd, clapping continuously as you march and arrive, ready to begin your wedding ceremony. Goosebumps!

The wedding is the day when all your wishes must come true! So do not hesitate to make this day one of the best experiences in your life, and where better than in an exotic and classy location such as Villa Erba on Lake Como?

The land of love, Italy, is home to countless wedding locations. However, Villa Erba is the greatest if you’re searching for one that encapsulates Lake Como’s natural beauty, history, incredible décor, luxurious finishes, and an experience no one will ever forget! So give us a call if you’re prepared to begin organizing your Italian wedding!

Most Luxurious Wedding Venue on Lake Como – The Villa Balbiano

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It’s never easy to select the ideal location for your Italian wedding, especially with the wide range of options this great nation offers. Castles, Italian wedding villas, renowned 5-star hotels, and everything in between are among the many incredible venues to choose from. 

We know that narrowing it down to just one is a monumental task, and as a Como wedding planner, we want to make it a bit easier. So, we put together this venue spotlight to introduce you to one of our favorite Lake Como wedding venues. 

Italy is a country rich in history, with a wide variety of natural landscapes, such as the sea, mountains, lakes, and hills, as well as many villages and cities with a long history of artistic production. In addition to this, Italy is renowned for its wonderful weather, mouthwatering cuisine, and top-notch wine. 

Italy has long been associated with having some of the most breathtaking scenery and wedding venues; today, we’ll introduce you to Villa Balbiano. 

Outdoor wedding ceremony at Villa Balbiano, featuring chairs arranged with white flowers in a picturesque setting.

Best Locations For Weddings in Lake Como

Villa Balbiano, located on the picturesque western shore of Lake Como, is the gem everyone is looking for in the best Italian wedding venue. A truly remarkable and majestic wedding setting for your special day. The villa has an exceptional heritage beginning with the famous Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, who created it and lived there at the end of the 16th century, 100 year later, Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini used this hidden gem to host daily festivals, banquets, and dances, etc. 

Today, Villa Balbiano is the most recognizable private residence in Lake Como and further. Located by the lake with 2HA property, with a widespread luxurious garden that was designed by the British Society of Garden Designers. 

The Villa itself possesses an outdoor swimming pool and a private boathouse with a pier. The interior is designed with first-class historical furniture and spectacular 17th-century frescoes created by the Recchi brothers and Agostino Silva that are still spotless on the walls of the Lake Como wedding Venue. 

An Italian Opulence

Weddings in Lake Como, the 3rd largest Italian lake recognizable worldwide for its breathtaking landscapes and picturesque locations, will be perfect for your dream wedding that emits luxury, magic, and class. 

When asked for Lake Como’s best locations for weddings, one of our first choices is always Villa Balbiano. The extraordinary beauty not only of the Villa itself but the whole surroundings, the nature, lake view, and perfect Italian garden. 

A serene garden at Villa Balbiano, highlighted by a fountain and an exquisite architectural house.

Villa Balbiano – An Architectural Masterpiece from the 16th Century

Whenever you hear the word masterpiece connected with the 16th Century, the first thing that comes to mind is the Renaissance and its perfect art creations. Well, fortunately, this Villa has it all. Heavenly statues and fountains squirreled away in the perfectly shaped garden and bring life to the ambiance. 

Wedding Chambers and Accommodation for your Guests

The Villa Balbiano offers exclusive accommodation; the newlyweds can enjoy the Master Suite, which has a king-size bed, sitting area, living room with gorgeous furniture, a walk-in dressing room, a bathroom with bathtub, and a shower, a private terrace with lake views for morning coffee with your loved one.  

The Villa has a total of 14 bedrooms which can accommodate up to 28 guests. Each of these rooms offers an unforgettable, out-of-this-world experience. The chic furniture, the 16th-century frescoes, sculptures and statues, and the lake and mountain views make your stay a complete adventure.

In addition, as an extra service, you can get butler and chef service, helicopter transfers, wines from the cellar, beauty and spa treatments, and so on. What an incredible way to treat your guests to an unforgettable Italian wedding experience.

A boat is anchored near Villa Balbiano, a grand house by the water, creating a romantic backdrop for a wedding.

A Fairytale Wedding

Imagine this, you, your lovely partner, caring family, and dearest friends, all together, at a wedding in Lake Como, on YOUR big day.  Let’s start from the entrance. You will get an elite, one-in-a-lifetime arrival at the villa by boat. A pretty incredible way to impress your guests. As you step off onto the peninsula, you will feel the breeze that leads you to the terraces that hold a miraculous viewpoint over the lake. 

You have a couple of options for your reception. It can be the upper Loggia Segre that can accommodate up to 60 seated guests. Its own private terrace can later be used for dancing, cocktails, or maybe even an after-party.  Your second option can be the lower garden terrace. Its capacity is a maximum of 150 people seated. 

An interesting and unique thing about Villa Balbiano is that it is one of the very few Lake Como Villas and Venues that are “neighbours free,” and that can mean only one thing: partying all night with no guilt.

Unbelievable Wedding Photo Backdrop Locations

In addition to the lake view, boat, and garden photographs, we will give you some insider tips for a perfect photo. Probably the most famous and celebrated spot of the villa will be the three-arched loggias. A truly special place, the spot that gazes north to Bellagio and the mountains in the distance. Across from the mountains is the single island of Como. This spot can be used for a special ceremony like reading your vows or even an intimate dinner. 

Other ideas for photographs can be with the luxury furniture that is all over the Villa. Ancient and historic furnishings, stunning frescoes, and amazing architecture throughout the villa create beautiful photo backdrops. A professional photographer will instruct you on making the perfect pose that will bring out the best version of you.

And, of course, you can never get too many wedding photos with the awe-inspiring and picturesque view of Lake Como. It will emit a vibe from the Renaissance period itself. And lastly, pianos always create a beautiful wedding portrait. The whole ambiance at the villa just complements love and is an unbelievable addition to your love story.

Aerial view of a wedding ceremony in a garden at Villa Balbiano, showcasing elegant decorations and guests in attendance.

3 Main Reasons Why Villa Balbiano Is Perfect For Your Wedding Day

Each couple has unique reasons for choosing a specific location as their wedding venue. And when speaking of the Villa Balbiano, there are a million reasons to think of, but here are just a few reasons why we think it’s a wonderful location to say “I Do” in Italy. 

It is an Architectural Masterpiece

A true masterpiece. Being able to see all of the art that is on the property, art that just speaks for itself, representing the wealthy history and its hard but beautiful tale. Every bit and corner of the whole property just screams luxury, royalty, chic, class, style, elite, and art! The terrace, the two loggias, the peninsula, the Villa itself, the views, the decorations, the nature, the garden…we can just keep on going. The Villa needs to be experienced and not described.

Royalty and Luxury Are Present all the time.

By choosing Villa Balbiano, you will definitely feel like royalty. Starting with the boat arrival, the villa’s service, and perfect and different reception spots, the Villa Balbiano is definitely one of the best Como wedding locations. 

It’s hard to beat the breathtaking views, vibrant green nature, deep blue sky and water, chic furniture, luxurious halls, and interior decor with ancient frescoes that inspire us to dream and wonder, providing truly the best Italian wedding experience.

A wedding reception in a glass house at Villa Balbiano, featuring stunning views of the lake, creating a unique experience.

Uniqueness and a Lifetime Experience

If you’re searching for an Italian wedding venue that will create a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable experience, the Villa Balbiano is it! 

Wedding guests enjoy a unique chance to fully experience Lake Como’s architecture, art, light, and drama at the majestic Villa Balbiano. The entire experience is characterized by flamboyant styling and opulent detail, and two hectares of well-maintained grounds provide innumerable lovely vantage points from which to take in the striking vistas. 

The property may provide a window into the life of the villa’s controversial former owner, Cardinal Durini, who lived there and extended it in the late 18th century. His passion for the arts as a papal nuncio is still clearly visible in the property’s Italianate gardens with their dramatic fountains and thoughtful sculptures, beautiful ceiling frescoes, and a world-class library, which all interestingly contrast with the simple lines of the villa’s Renaissance façade.

It’s important to remember that your wedding story is about the love that you share for each other and joining together as one. And while the Villa Balbiano is a majestic and unforgettable venue, the true experience for everyone in attendance is based on your love. 

Every venue is perfect as long as you and your partner are in it. The couples that marry at Villa Balbiano make it even more beautiful and magical than it already is, the architectural and natural blessings are just supplementary. Are you ready to become part of this palatial villa’s evolving history? We can help you plan it! Give us a call today.