Lina & Richard: An Intimate Lake Como Wedding at Villa Monastero

A beautiful wedding in Italy doesn’t always require an elaborate itinerary, multiple venues, or a long guest list. Sometimes, all you need is a place you love, the people closest to you, and enough time to enjoy every moment without rushing from one location to another.

That was exactly what Lina and Richard had in mind when they travelled all the way from Australia to celebrate their dream wedding on Lake Como.

They chose Varenna, one of the lake’s most picturesque towns, where narrow cobblestone streets lead down to the waterfront, small restaurants overlook the water, and the famous Villa Monastero is just a short walk from the historic center.

Their parents and closest family members joined them in Italy, and everyone stayed in Varenna, making it possible to enjoy the entire wedding day without complicated transfers. The morning began at Hotel Royal Victoria, the ceremony took place in the gardens of Villa Monastero, and the celebration ended with a family dinner at Veranda dei Pescatori.

In between, we made sure there was plenty of time for photographs, a private boat cruise, and, most importantly, the chance to simply enjoy being together.

From Their First Date in Australia to a Wedding on Lake Como

Lina and Richard’s story began far from Italy, in Adelaide, Australia, where they first met through mutual friends.

Richard had moved from Sydney to study medicine, and for a while, their paths crossed only occasionally at parties and gatherings with friends.

He remembers noticing a beautiful, kind, and slightly shy girl. Lina’s first impression was rather less romantic: she saw a tall, lanky medical student wearing glasses and immediately decided he was a bit of a nerd.

Fortunately, first impressions don’t always tell the whole story.

Eventually, Richard started messaging Lina, their occasional conversations became more frequent, and he finally gathered the courage to ask her on a date.

As the years went by, their relationship grew into a life filled with shared traditions, everyday routines, and thoughtful little gestures.

Richard eventually proposed at home, in their own backyard. It was a wonderfully personal and romantic moment, although he did have to make a small adjustment to his plans when he noticed their neighbor standing shirtless in the adjoining garden.

Perhaps that’s why an intimate wedding on Lake Como suited them so perfectly. They wanted something beautiful and romantic, but never overly formal – a celebration where they could be themselves and share an important moment with the people who mattered most.

Why Varenna Is Perfect for an Intimate Lake Como Wedding

When planning a destination wedding abroad, one of the most important things to consider is logistics, especially when you’re traveling from the other side of the world and want to enjoy Italy rather than spend your wedding day moving between locations.

For Lina and Richard, we created a wedding itinerary that kept almost everything within one charming lakeside town.

Varenna is particularly well suited to this kind of celebration. You can stay in a historic hotel, walk through picturesque streets to your ceremony, have your wedding photos taken in the beautiful gardens of Villa Monastero, enjoy a private boat cruise, and finish the evening with dinner at a waterfront restaurant.

It’s also a wonderful arrangement for guests, who can stay nearby, explore the town at their own pace, relax by the lake, and meet the couple at the ceremony without worrying about transportation.

A Relaxed Wedding Morning at Hotel Royal Victoria

The wedding morning began at a leisurely pace.

We deliberately left time for breakfast and relaxation before the preparations began, allowing Lina and Richard to enjoy their surroundings without feeling rushed.

We also arranged a first look and a private moment for the couple to exchange personal words before the ceremony.

We particularly love including these two experiences in an intimate wedding day. Sharing your most personal promises privately creates a memory that belongs only to the two of you, while the symbolic ceremony later gives you the opportunity to exchange vows and rings in front of your family.

After their photographs at the hotel, it was time to make their way to Villa Monastero.

A Romantic Walk Through Varenna Instead of a Wedding Transfer

One of the loveliest details of Lina and Richard’s wedding was that they didn’t need a car to reach their ceremony venue.

Hotel Royal Victoria and Villa Monastero are within walking distance of each other, making it possible to enjoy the atmosphere of Varenna along the way.

Narrow streets, historic buildings, charming little squares, and glimpses of the lake became a natural part of their wedding journey.

For Lina and Richard, this wasn’t simply a walk from the hotel to the ceremony. It was another opportunity to experience the Italian setting they had travelled so far to enjoy.

We built enough time into the schedule for a relaxed stroll, allowing the couple to take in the surroundings while their photographer and videographer captured the moment.

Instead of a lengthy transfer, they enjoyed a romantic walk through one of Lake Como’s most beautiful villages.

A Symbolic Wedding Ceremony on Villa Monastero’s Iconic Terrace

The highlight of the day was Lina and Richard’s symbolic wedding ceremony at Villa Monastero.

For their celebration, they reserved the villa’s beautiful open-air balcony terrace overlooking Lake Como.

It’s one of those rare settings where the architecture and surrounding landscape create a breathtaking backdrop for wedding vows without the need for elaborate decorations.

Behind the couple, the lake stretches towards the mountains, while the historic villa and its gardens provide a wonderfully romantic atmosphere.

For an intimate symbolic wedding, this terrace is particularly special. The setting speaks for itself, and a small gathering of family members allows the ceremony to feel deeply personal rather than formal or theatrical.

Wedding Photography in the Gardens of Villa Monastero

After the ceremony, we set aside time for wedding photographs in the villa’s famous gardens.

Villa Monastero is a particularly beautiful location for wedding photography thanks to its combination of historic architecture, botanical gardens, stone staircases, elegant terraces, and lake views framed by lush greenery.

The variety of settings makes it possible to capture completely different photographs without having to travel anywhere else.

Once the photoshoot at Villa Monastero was complete, it was time for the next part of their wedding day: a private boat cruise on Lake Como.

A Private Boat Cruise and Aperitivo on Lake Como

For many couples, a private boat cruise becomes one of the most memorable experiences of their Lake Como wedding.

From the water, you can admire the charming lakeside villages, historic villas, and dramatic mountain scenery from a perspective that simply isn’t possible from the shore.

For Lina and Richard, we arranged a private boat cruise with an aperitivo and time for wedding photographs.

After the emotions of their ceremony, it was a chance to slow down, take in the beautiful scenery, and spend some time together as newlyweds.

An Intimate Family Wedding Dinner at Veranda dei Pescatori

Lina and Richard’s wedding day ended with dinner at Veranda dei Pescatori in Varenna.

Here, they reunited with their closest family members to continue the celebration in a more relaxed setting.

After the ceremony, a walk through the gardens of Villa Monastero, and a romantic boat photoshoot, it was a natural and lovely way to bring the day to a close.

Instead of a large, traditional wedding reception, the couple chose an intimate restaurant dinner where they could spend the evening with family, share their favourite moments from the day, enjoy Italian cuisine, and celebrate this new chapter of their lives.

Plan Your Own Intimate Wedding on Lake Como

Lina and Richard’s story shows that an intimate wedding on Lake Como can be romantic, elegant, and wonderfully simple when it comes to logistics.

You don’t need to rent an enormous private villa or plan a multi-day celebration to enjoy a beautiful symbolic wedding ceremony in Italy.

Sometimes, the perfect destination wedding is about choosing a charming lakeside town, staying in a lovely hotel, inviting your parents and closest friends, exchanging vows on a historic terrace overlooking the lake, and enjoying a romantic boat cruise together.

At WOWITALY Weddings, we help couples create personalised wedding experiences like this, from selecting the perfect ceremony venue to arranging photography, private boat cruises, and intimate wedding dinners.

Because the beauty of a Lake Como wedding isn’t always about the size of the celebration. Sometimes, it’s simply about spending one unforgettable day with the person you love and the people who mean the most to you.