Where should we consider?
Bellagio
We stayed here during the majority of our trip and when we wanted to explore the surrounding towns, we just took the ferries!
1. Hotel Excelsior Splendide – (to stay) – est. $282/night
We stayed here for one night before our Airbnb, and it was great! They had breakfast included, a pool, and decently spacious rooms almost all with a mini-balcony and waterfront views of the lake! It’s also extremely close to the ferries where you arrive! Also have a bathroom in the lobby so it was nice knowing we had access to a clean bathroom when roaming the streets!
2. The Bellagio Vacation – AirBNB (to stay)
I can not rave about this AirBNB and the host, Elisabetta, enough! SO clean, SO central to town (quite literally in the middle of town) and soooo spacious!
Just a note, if you have heavy luggage you’re going to want to take the route around the sides of town instead of what google maps tells you is quickest…. I had to carry two full size suitcases up the famous stairs fighting tourists and the heat and almost passed out…. so just don’t be like me!
The Host, Elisabetta, is incredible. She was on Whatsapp for whatever I needed! Bride needed a professional steamer? She had local recs! Mom had a really bad muscle spasm the night after the wedding? She had the number of an in-house doctor ready if we needed them to come by! SO Helpful! She also met up with us at the home, let us in early to drop our luggage, had a map on the table with the best local spots but also hidden gem hikes, trails, and towns to visit nearby that weren’t so “touristy”.
Tremezzo
We didn’t stay here, but it’s known for hosting weddings and it’s orange and white pool-side umbrellas! A small ceremony can be planned in the garden at a cost of 700€ + VAT. Then you could arrange dinner in one of the areas of the hotel and the starting price is 1000€. If it’s just the 2 of you, you can possible save some money booking the Sala Contessa!
Grand Hotel Tremezzo – est. $975/night (to stay or elope at)
Villa Carlotta
“Civilly binding ceremonies at Villa Carlotta can be performed on a beautiful panoramic terrace overlooking the dramatic blue lake or in an elegant hall of the villa. If you want to get married in the Italian Lake District don’t miss the unique chance to celebrate your wedding in this luxury villa. A sworn declaration is requested a couple of days before the wedding at Tremezzo’s town hall office. Couples can customize their ceremony by reading their own vows after the civil rite. Villa Carlotta is rented exclusively for civil weddings that can be followed by an aperitif upon agreement with the management. Banquets are not allowed on the premises of the Villa.” (From Exclusive Italy Weddings)
Varenna
This is where the train from Milan comes into and in my opinion is the “home base”.
Villa Cipressi
This is where I actually shot a wedding June of 2024 and it was a DREAM! Here’s some info I’ve found about pricing online:
VENUE RENTAL PRICES
Ceremony area
– € 2,000 if followed by lunch/dinner, front lake view terrace
– € 4,000 if only ceremony, in the gazebo area
– € 8,000 if only ceremony, front lake view terrace
Location fees
Rent of pergola and fountain area € 2,500 (usually used for the reception and aperitif)
Rent of Cipressi terrace € 2,500 (usually used for the aperitif with a large group of guests)
Rent of dance floor € 1,000 (an indoor room usually used for dancing)
EXTRA COSTS
€ 300 – A violin for an hour (the cheapest instrument but you can decide to have whatever you like)
€ 900 – Celebrant for a symbolic ceremony
€ 500 – Bistro-lights over the fountain area
€ 2,000 – Ice cream and sorbet cart (service and dedicated staff)
€ 10,000 – starting price for flowers
Villa Monastero
This is another gorgeous villa that has expansive gardens and a platform/balcony on the water that can be reserved for $3500.
