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A glamorous wedding at Villa Erba on Lake Como

A wedding at Villa Erba where a love of fashion met a desire to have fun, without taking everything too seriously. Around forty guests travelled to Lake Como for a celebration with a distinctive character: an all-black dress code, flowers in delicate shades, and a couple who moved effortlessly between editorial portraits and moments of pure spontaneity.

The bride and groom, along with many of their guests, work in fashion and the influencer world. Their shared visual sensibility was reflected in the outfits, poses and carefully chosen accessories, as well as in their willingness to have fun with them. Beyond the beautiful photographs, the pleasure of surprising their guests and drawing them into the celebrations shaped the entire day.

Villa Erba and the allure of a lakeside residence

Overlooking the water in Cernobbio, Villa Erba retains the character of a grand Italian residence, with ornate rooms, sweeping staircases and grounds opening onto Lake Como. Its connection to the family of film director Luchino Visconti, who spent many summers here, adds a cinematic dimension to its atmosphere.

Throughout the wedding, the villa offered a succession of different settings: the rooms where the couple got ready, glimpses of the gardens, the Darsena for the ceremony and the Sala Feste for dinner. Moving from outdoors to indoors followed the natural progression of the day, from the afternoon light to the more intimate atmosphere of the evening.

Getting ready and a gown made for movement

The morning began with the couple arriving in a Porsche. Inside the villa, their preparations became part of the photographic story, capturing accessories, individual portraits and the finishing touches to hair and makeup.

The bride chose a white look for these early hours before changing into her ceremony gown. A full silhouette, a voluminous skirt and richly textured detailing gave the dress an immediate sense of drama. On the staircase and throughout the historic rooms, the movement of the fabric became a focal point of the photographs.

Her compact bouquet of white roses brought a simpler line to the look. The groom, also dressed in white, completed the couple’s portrait, creating a striking contrast with the black worn by their guests.

Lake Como through the couple’s eyes

Before the ceremony, the couple spent time taking photographs in the grounds and interiors of Villa Erba before continuing their portraits on a boat.

Out on the water, the perspective changed completely. The villa’s architecture gave way to mountain silhouettes, the shoreline and the open light of the lake. The gown spilling across the boat, the couple’s closeness and the movement of the water gave this part of the story a more relaxed rhythm.

Carefully composed poses alternated with spontaneous gestures. This balance continued throughout the wedding, making room for both the visual story and the couple’s personalities.

A ceremony in the Darsena among petals and music

Around forty guests were welcomed into the Darsena, where the ceremony took place. An arch covered entirely in flowers framed the lake, while a carpet of petals followed the steps and the bride’s path towards the ceremony.

The palette brought together white, blush pink and creamy shades, with the subtlest warm accents. Abundant flowers created an enveloping setting while leaving the landscape visible through the centre of the arch. The guests’ black outfits made the delicate colours stand out even more.

The entrances also expressed two distinct personalities. The groom walked in alone to Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The bride also made her entrance alone, accompanied by a tenor’s live performance of Caruso. Two very different musical choices, each making the moment unmistakably their own.

Guests in all black and a lakeside aperitif

After the ceremony, the Darsena of Villa Erba became the setting for the aperitif. Live music and toasts introduced a part of the day devoted to conversation, catching up and taking photographs with friends.

The all-black dress code gave the gathering a strong visual identity while allowing everyone their own interpretation. Long dresses, dark suits and accessories turned the guest photographs into a series of fashion-inspired portraits. In the group photographs, the couple’s white outfits stood out against the black silhouettes, the greenery and the colours of the villa.

This attention to style went hand in hand with an easygoing atmosphere. Open fans, smiles and playful poses captured a celebration among people comfortable in front of the camera, but above all delighted to be together.

Dinner in the Sala Feste among flowers and candlelight

For dinner, guests moved into the Sala Feste. Beneath the chandeliers and ornate decorations, round tables and a separate table for the couple preserved a sense of intimacy within the villa’s grand interiors.

Tall floral centrepieces were accompanied by lower arrangements, candles and small pools of light. White and dusty pink echoed the ceremony, while amber glass and golden reflections brought warmth to the tables. The light-toned table settings allowed the flowers and the room’s decorative details to stand out.

The couple entered to Libiamo ne’ lieti calici, performed live by the tenor, turning the opening of dinner into a musical toast. From that moment, the courses alternated with the singer’s performances, speeches and moments led by the MC, creating a rhythm that encouraged guests to join in.

An outfit change and the first dance

During the evening, the bride changed her dress before rejoining the groom for their first dance. The staircase and hall provided a new setting for their entrance. Their chosen song immediately brought a wonderful energy to the room. After the couple’s dance, guests joined in, enjoying a dancing interlude between courses.

That same relaxed spirit continued later when the groom took to the decks for a short DJ set: another way to share his musical taste with friends and put his personal stamp on the party.

Cake cutting with a playful twist

The cake cutting took place indoors, at the foot of the staircase. Flowers at the base and candles along the steps connected the setting to the rest of the wedding design, while the music signalled a change of mood: Benny Benassi’s Satisfactionbrought its unmistakable energy to the scene. The couple wanted to have fun, and their cake cutting was anything but conventional. They cut it with a toy chainsaw!

The bouquet toss and DJ set kept the celebrations going into the night. The villa’s rooms, which had provided the setting for portraits and more formal moments during the day, had become a place for everyone to dance together.