Villa Erba wedding photographers

Weddings at Villa Erba, on the shore of Lake Como

Villa Erba stands on the lake in Cernobbio, in a century-old park of a hundred thousand square metres. We have photographed two weddings there. S and P-Y married by the water and toasted under fireworks over the lake. Gabby and Andrian turned the whole villa into a party from The Great Gatsby.

Check your date Weddings on Lake Como

S and P-Y kissing at the end of their ceremony on the shore at Villa Erba, the lake and the mountains behind them

The house of Luchino Visconti’s childhood

The villa was commissioned at the end of the nineteenth century by Luigi Erba. It later passed to his daughter Carla, the mother of the film director Luchino Visconti, who spent part of his childhood here. Today some of its rooms carry his name. For two photographers who take most of their ideas from cinema, it is hard to think of a better house.

Inside there are frescoes, tapestries and chandeliers, a grand staircase and halls that open onto the garden. Outside, the park runs down to the lake. In the park there is also a modern congress centre by Mario Bellini; the weddings we photographed were all in the historic villa.

The lake and the light

S and P-Y arrived by boat with Lake Como Water Taxi and said their vows on the shore, with the lake and the mountains behind them. That day a soft light sat over the water all afternoon and the far shore turned pale blue.

Gabby and Andrian had their portraits on the stone stairs of the garden, her train sweeping behind her. In the evening the light moves inside: candles and chandeliers in the halls, then the villa lit up against the dark water.

S and P-Y at Villa Erba

S and P-Y married in front of their closest friends and family. Relatives and friends gave long, moving speeches and dinner was served in one of the villa’s historic halls, among tapestries, frescoes and chandeliers.

Then everyone went down to the lake for a toast under the fireworks. The party moved to the grand entrance hall, where friends threw fabric hearts over the couple during their first dance.

Planning was by Europe Wedding, flowers by Figli dei Fiori, catering by Sunlake and music by Blunotte Eventi and ASAP Music.