A Stunning Destination Wedding at Lake Como, Italy
Italian Romance on the Water
A Villa Lario Resort Mandello Wedding on Lake Como, Italy
Given the views you’re about to see—the kind that are so beautiful they almost don’t seem real—you might be tempted to think that the most unforgettable aspect of this destination wedding in Italy was the idyllic Lake Como villa N+J selected as their venue. Here’s the truth: it’s the emotion and connection that flowed through every aspect of this intimate Italian wedding weekend that I’ll always carry with me.
A dream come true in every way.
There’s no other way to describe a forever love story that starts in a setting like this! But before I get ahead of myself, I have to rewind a bit—before the clifftop ceremony, the boating day on the lake, the story-filled welcome dinner and wedding rehearsal—to our European-inspired Adriatica Village engagement session.
Located in Mckinney, Texas, Adriatica Village was the perfect location to capture the essence of the Old World without actually stamping our passports prior to the ceremony. Think cobblestone streets, terracotta roof tiles, narrow cypress trees, wine bistros and authentic pizzerias…a taste of the Mediterranean in the heart of Texas! In addition to visually evoking N+J’s upcoming destination wedding in Italy, the extra time we spent together during their Adriatica Village engagement session laid the foundation for me to capture organic, effortless interactions at their Lake Como wedding a few months later.
And what a wedding it was. Tucked between Lecco and Varenna on the shores of Lake Como, the five-star Villa Lario Resort Mandello was ideally suited for an elegant, intimate wedding weekend. With just nine luxury suites, the grounds felt as charming as they looked. Working hand in hand, AML Weddings and The Garden of Love created a striking ceremony setup that complemented, rather than competed with, the spectacular natural beauty on every side. A relaxed aperitivo hour featuring hand-carved prosciutto, homemade mozzarella, and regional wines flowed into a leisurely dinner, giving guests space to slow down and savor every intentionally-designed moment of celebration.
From Dallas to destinations worldwide, I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to tell love stories like these.
Thank you to the following vendors:
Planning: AML Weddings | Venue: Villa Lario Resort Mandello | Photographer: Stephanie Michelle Photography | Videographer: Shawn Yang Films | Florist: Garden of Love | Hair & Makeup: KH Beauty | Entertainment: Blunotte, Fred Astaire, Piro Arts | Officiant: Lake Como Wedding Celebrants | Rentals & Decor: Nuage Designs, SMAC Rent | Rehearsal Dinner/Welcome Party: Baba Du Lac
Villa Lario Resort Mandello Wedding, Lake Como Italy | Stephanie Michelle Photography
Villa Lario Resort Mandello Wedding FAQ
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
Yes! The venue has its own private dock on Lake Como, making a boat arrival a genuine option for the ceremony or portraits.
Stephanie Michelle Photography, a Dallas-based destination wedding photographer, documented this celebration for N+J.
A five-star, nine-suite lakefront villa with private dock access, its own gardens, and space for both an intimate ceremony and a full wedding weekend.
Most guests fly into Milan first, then continue on by train or car to reach the lake.
By plane: Milan has three airport options — Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), and Bergamo/Orio al Serio (BGY). All three connect onward to Mandello del Lario by train or a pre-arranged transfer; the resort offers airport transfer service from whichever Milan airport works best for your flight.
By train: From Milano Centrale, direct trains run to Mandello del Lario in about an hour, with hourly departures throughout the day. The train station is a short walk from the town center and lakefront — a car isn't required once you've arrived unless you want to explore other areas.
By car: From Milan, it's roughly a one-hour drive north via the A9 toward Como/Chiasso, connecting to the lakeside road along the eastern shore. If you're coming from nearby Lecco, it's closer to 15 minutes.
Once you're at the lake: The resort's own private dock also makes a boat arrival possible from towns like Varenna or Bellagio, this is worth asking your planner about if you want that entrance for guests or for the couple.
