Boat rides, villa gardens and quiet mornings on Lake Como
Lake Como looks like a film still: glittering water, cypress-lined villas and mountain silhouettes in the distance. My role is to plan the timing, route and logistics so you can enjoy the boat, the views and each other – and come home with pre-wedding photographs that feel effortless and very “Como”.
Share your dates and where you’re staying – I’ll reply with a tailored plan, suggested route and a clear quote.
Why Lake Como for your pre-wedding
Why couples fly to Como just for photos
Lake Como is quiet water, steep hillsides and villas that look like a film set. In one morning you can have boat portraits, cypress-lined gardens and a walk through small lakeside towns. It feels relaxed and still looks very grand on camera.
The challenge is to fit everything into the best light and to avoid crowds at the most popular spots. This is where careful timing, boat planning and knowing the villa layouts makes a big difference to the final gallery.
On Lake Como the direction of light matters even more than in the city. I’ll plan your session so that the sun sits behind the mountains when we’re on the water and we can use soft, wraparound light in the villas and gardens. The result: glowing skin tones and a calm, cinematic look in every frame.
Boats and villas each have their own schedules and access rules. I help you choose where to start, how long to allocate for the boat, when to arrive at the villa and how to build a route that feels relaxed without wasting light or spending unnecessary time in transit.
Routes & locations
Designing your Lake Como pre-wedding route
Your story can be centred around one villa, or we can design a route that combines boat, gardens and a walk through a lakeside town. Every couple is different: some want something classic and grand, others prefer a more relaxed, “Sunday on the lake” feel.
Classic Como morning
- Start on a wooden boat at first light for wider lake views and relaxed portraits.
- Arrive at a villa garden while the light is still soft – arches, staircases, tree-lined paths.
- Finish with a short walk through a nearby town such as Bellagio or Varenna.
Villa-focused editorial look
If you love clean lines, architecture and more posed, editorial moments we can focus the session around a single villa. This gives time for outfit changes, interiors and slower, more considered images.
- Tailored timing for villa access, setup and any small ceremony or vow reading.
- Mix of wide establishing shots, close details and quiet, candid moments.
Adding an elopement or ceremony
Many couples turn their pre-wedding into a small elopement: a short ceremony or vow exchange followed by portraits and a celebratory boat ride. I’ll help you plan the flow so that the emotional moments land in the best light and we still have time for relaxed portraits afterwards.
- Timeline suggestions if you’re working with a planner, celebrant or florist.
- Advice on where to position the ceremony for the most flattering backdrop and light.
Logistics & budgeting
What a Lake Como pre-wedding really costs
My Como pre-wedding collections are customised to your schedule, locations and whether you’d like to add a ceremony or elopement.
- Most couples invest between €2,500 and €4,500 in photography for a Lake Como pre-wedding or elopement.
- Includes planning, route design, shoot time and carefully edited high-resolution images.
- Options for extra hours, additional days, film photography, albums and framed prints.
Share a few details about your dates, base and ideas and I’ll send a clear proposal with options – no hidden extras.
Around Lake Como the main variables are boats and villa access. These costs are separate from photography and depend on your choices:
- Wooden boat / water taxi: roughly €300–€900 depending on boat type and duration.
- Villa access fees: some villas include photography, others charge a location fee.
- Hair & make-up, flowers, planning: I can recommend local teams used to early starts.
I’ll help you decide where investing more truly changes the images – and where we can create something beautiful with a simple, elegant plan.
Inspirational galleries
Lake Como weddings & elopements to explore next
These full galleries show how a complete day or weekend on the lake can look – from getting ready at the villa to evening boat rides and candlelit dinners.
Lake Como wedding photographer
A full wedding celebration on the lake – morning preparations, villa gardens, boat ride and evening party.
View this Lake Como wedding
Como elopement photographer
A small, heartfelt ceremony followed by portraits around the villa and on the lake – ideal if you’re inviting only a few guests.
See the Como elopement story
Villa Erba wedding on Lake Como
A grand celebration at Villa Erba with lakefront views, manicured gardens and evening fireworks – perfect inspiration if you’re planning a full wedding weekend.
Explore the Villa Erba weddingFAQ
Lake Como pre-wedding photography – your questions answered
The most popular seasons are late spring and early autumn – usually May–June and September–early October. The light is soft, the weather comfortable and the area slightly quieter than peak summer. Winter can also be beautiful if you love a more moody, cinematic feel.
Most couples book between two and four hours, which gives enough time for a boat ride and one villa or town. If you’re adding a ceremony, multiple villas or a longer boat trip, I recommend a half-day or full-day schedule so nothing feels rushed.
For a simple pre-wedding session you don’t necessarily need a planner – I can help with route and basic logistics. If you’re organising an elopement with a ceremony, flowers, music or dinner, working with a local planner is very helpful. I’m happy to recommend teams I trust.
Como suits chic, simple outfits – think clean lines, fabrics that move nicely in the breeze and tones that complement the greens and blues of the lake. Many couples choose one formal look and one slightly more relaxed outfit. I’ll send a style guide with examples and suggestions for you both.
Yes. Many of my couples book both a pre-wedding session and their wedding or elopement with me, often at the same villa or nearby. This lets us build a consistent visual story and makes you even more comfortable in front of the camera on the wedding day.
Next step
Tell me about your Lake Como pre-wedding plans
Share your dates, base (Como, Bellagio, Varenna or elsewhere) and what you imagine – a quiet morning on a wooden boat, a villa-focused editorial session or a full elopement day. I’ll reply with a tailored plan, timing suggestions and a straightforward quote.