Villa Cipressi is probably one of Lake Como’s best known wedding venues, and it’s situated in my favourite town on the lake, Varenna.
I adore travelling to Lake Como to photograph weddings for so many reasons. One of those reasons is how many iconic wedding venues are on the lake. When planning to travel out to Lake Como for M&H’s wedding in May, we decided to head out a few days early to visit some of the many beautiful venues the lake has to offer, and the team at Hotel Villa Cipressi were kind enough to invite me to visit first thing in the morning, before preparations for that afternoon’s wedding began.
If you step out onto the terrace and follow the sound of the water lapping against the shore, you’ll come across a beautiful spot for your ceremony, framed by two trees, with views out across Lake Como. The Villa is probably best known for its botanic gardens, which are a beautiful oasis to explore, and perfect for some couples portraits after your ceremony. The gardens are so varied, that you could even choose one location for some pre-wedding portraits during your welcome event, and then have an entirely different backdrop for your wedding portraits. It also has a private dock, so is perfect if you decide to arrive by boat, or want some couples portraits out on the water. The terrace at Villa Cipressi is a gorgeous spot for your wedding breakfast, again with views across Lake Como!
Varenna itself is also one of my favourite towns on Lake Como, and it’s easily accessible by boat, road or train. It’s a quintessential lakeside community, where you can wander along the waterfront or get lost in it’s narrow streets. La Passerella is perfect for either a coffee or some homemade gelato too!
With special thanks to Marco and the team at Villa Cipressi for their hospitality