Say your vows under the Loggia Durini, with Lake Como all around you.
I organised my first wedding at Villa del Balbianello in 2006, and I’ve lost count of how many couples I’ve walked down to the Loggia Durini since. Today we’re one of the elopement planners who organise the most ceremonies at the villa, and I know the team who runs it very well. It’s always a pleasure to work with them.
The villa sits on a small wooded peninsula near Lenno, with terraced gardens that drop straight into the lake. You may recognise it from Star Wars: Episode II or Casino Royale, but nothing prepares you for standing there in person. For me it’s one of the most beautiful places in Italy to elope, and it’s no surprise that it’s also one of the most requested.
Bookings for 2028 opened on 5 November 2026. The villa has a limited number of ceremony slots each season and the most popular dates go quickly, so if Balbianello is your dream, my first piece of advice is simple: move early.
The venue fee for 2028 starts from €5,856, VAT included, for a ceremony with 2 to 10 guests, and is €7,000, VAT included, for 11 to 30 guests. It includes the exclusive use of the Loggia Durini for 30 minutes. After the ceremony, you can stay at the villa for another hour and a half to take photos in the gardens, so you’ll have two hours at the villa in total. For example, if your ceremony is at 3 pm, you can stay until 5 pm, an hour before the villa closes at 6 pm.
Getting ready. The most convenient places to stay are Tremezzo, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, and we’ll send you a list of the hotels we recommend. Your day can start right there: your photographer joins you at the hotel to capture the last touches as you get ready.
The boat. Villa del Balbianello can only be reached by boat, so we organise a private transfer from your hotel (more on this below).
The ceremony. When you arrive, we usually go straight to the Loggia Durini, which is yours for 30 minutes. Our celebrant service is included: about 15 minutes for the ceremony, and the other 15 minutes for photos under the loggia, without any visitors around.
The photos. After the ceremony, you have another hour and a half to explore the gardens with your photographer. Photos inside the museum rooms are not allowed, but the gardens give you more than enough beautiful spots.
Back on the lake. When your time at the villa is over, your boat is waiting. If you like, the boat ride can be extended for a few more photos on the water, one of my favourite moments of the day.
After. We can help you organise a romantic dinner by the lake, at a restaurant or a hotel terrace we love.
Thanks to an agreement with the local town hall, you can have a legally binding civil ceremony at Villa del Balbianello on the days the villa is open to the public. A separate municipal fee applies. If you prefer a symbolic ceremony, it can be personalised and celebrated by our in-house celebrant.
For documents and the legal process, read our guide on how to get married in Italy.
There will be visitors. For an elopement, I always recommend a ceremony during opening hours. Yes, there are visitors in the gardens, but the photographers we work with know the villa very well: they know where to stand and which corners to use, and your photos will look like you had the place to yourselves.
The rules are strict, and that’s why the gardens are so beautiful. They’re among the most beautiful gardens in the world, and they stay that way because of very clear rules:
Be on time. The villa runs a tight schedule of guided tours and photo shoots, so ceremony times are fixed. Arriving on time really matters.
Avoid weekends if you can. Weekends are even busier. A weekday gives you a calmer atmosphere.
If it rains. If the rain is heavy, the ceremony moves to the Loggia Segrè, the building at the top of the villa, which is also used for private events and dinners. The boats can always reach the villa, and they’re covered.
If there are no ceremony dates left. You can still include Balbianello in your day with a photo shoot at the villa. Photo shoots can only be booked three months in advance.
Choose a planner and vendors who know the villa. Balbianello has its own rhythm and its own rules. Working with a planner and a team who know it well makes the day feel effortless.
Villa del Balbianello can only be reached by boat. The closest departure point is the small pier in Lenno, near Ristorante Lago, which means the shortest crossing. We organise private boat transfers for you and your guests from wherever you’re staying, whether that’s the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Bellagio, Varenna or Menaggio.
For this reason, we recommend staying nearby, in Tremezzo or Bellagio. If you choose a hotel further away, such as Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, the boat transfer takes around one hour.
Only authorised vendors can reach the villa by car: the road is narrow and steep, and there’s no parking at the upper entrance.
Villa del Balbianello is first of all a museum, and ceremonies are only allowed at Loggia Durini, one of the most recognisable spots on Lake Como. If it rains heavily, the ceremony moves to the Loggia Segrè, the building at the top of the villa.
The Loggia Durini is yours for 30 minutes: about 15 minutes for the ceremony, and the other 15 for photos under the arches, without any visitors around. It’s one of the most magical moments of the day.
The Loggia Segrè, at the top of the villa, is also used for private events and dinners, and it’s a beautiful plan B with views over the lake.
A reception at the villa is possible, but only approved caterers can work on site, using a dedicated area where a professional kitchen is set up. Larger weddings with a full reception usually take place on the villa’s closing days (Mondays and Wednesdays) or after 6 pm.
For elopements and small weddings, I usually suggest having dinner somewhere else. It’s more relaxed, and a reception at the villa can be very expensive. We’ll help you choose a beautiful restaurant or an exclusive venue on the lake for a romantic dinner after the ceremony.
We’ve been organising weddings and elopements at Villa del Balbianello since 2006. The villa has its own logistics, schedule and rules, so having an experienced coordinator with you on the day really makes the difference.
We take care of everything: planning and coordination, the ceremony, our in-house celebrant for symbolic ceremonies, and guidance through the legal requirements for a civil ceremony. We select and coordinate all your vendors, from photography to flowers, and organise the boat transfers for you and your guests.
The cost of a ceremony at Villa del Balbianello starts with the villa’s venue fee. For 2028 it starts from €5,850, VAT included, for a ceremony during opening hours with 2 to 10 guests and the Loggia Durini reserved for 30 minutes. For micro weddings of up to 30 guests, the venue fee varies. For a legally binding ceremony, an additional fee is paid to the town hall.
Other costs depend on the services you choose: planning, photography, flowers, transfers and dinner.
Perhaps your dream is an intimate ceremony just for the two of you, or with a small group of family and friends. We design all-inclusive elopement experiences at Villa del Balbianello, and every one is built around your vision and your style: no two are ever the same.
Our elopement packages usually include:
Hair and make-up, live music and dinner by the lake can be added. If you’d like something more personal or a more complex setup, we’ll create a bespoke proposal. Discover our Lake Como elopement packages.
“Alessandra and Monica made our wedding at Villa del Balbianello a day we’ll always treasure. Alessandra’s knowledge of the area and her relationships with local vendors were invaluable. She guided us to suppliers we trusted completely, and her calm, organised approach meant we could enjoy the lead-up to the wedding rather than worry about it. Monica was our celebrant, and the ceremony she led was one of the most meaningful parts of the day. It felt personal and sincere, and she delivered it beautifully. We’re so grateful to both of them, and we’d recommend them without hesitation to anyone planning a wedding in Italy.”
— Mya & Ravi, Villa del Balbianello, 29 May 2026
In 2028, the villa’s venue fee starts from €5,856 for 2 to 10 guests, with the Loggia Durini reserved for 30 minutes. Planning, photography, flowers, and transfers are added depending on the experience you choose.
Yes. A legally binding civil ceremony is possible on the days the villa is open to the public, with a separate municipal fee.
The ceremony moves to the Loggia Segrè, at the top of the villa.
By boat. The closest departure point is the small pier in Lenno, near Ristorante Lago, and we organise private transfers from Tremezzo, Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio or your hotel.
Yes. Photo shoots can be booked three months in advance.
As early as possible. 2028 dates are now open, and the most popular dates go first.
Bookings for 2028 are now open. Tell us your dates and we’ll check availability with the villa.
For more about the lake, read our complete Lake Como elopement guide.
