Lake Garda Wedding: The Ultimate Guide
Castles, fortresses, towering mountain vistas and remarkable scenery give Lake Garda its appeal and grandeur that make it so popular for weddings. With its stunning landscapes, easy accessibility, and a variety of options to suit different tastes and preferences, from renaissance villas to mediaeval castles and charming villages, there is so much to choose from.
We’re always here to provide you with everything you need to plan your dream wedding so today we’ll be sharing all the legal information you need to get married in Italy, the best time to get married in Lake Garda and some of the most stunning wedding venues. Let’s dive in!
Why should you get married in Italy?
It’s no secret that Italy is one of the most romantic places on earth and Lake Garda even more so. Not only is the scenery the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos and ceremony, but Lake Garda boasts a great climate, with plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures throughout the year so you can be guaranteed gorgeous weather on your wedding day.
If the weather and scenery aren’t enough, the food and hospitality should be enough to convince you. Think delicious meats, cheeses and delicious pizza and pasta dishes accompanied by the most delectable wines. Italians love luxury and with Italy being home to some of the best wedding suppliers and vendors, you’ll be able to create the wedding of your dreams.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Italy:
If you dream of exchanging vows in the enchanting setting of Lake Garda, it's essential to ensure that your marriage is legally recognized. In Italy, both residents and non-residents, regardless of their gender, can have a legally binding ceremony if they meet the following requirements:
Age: The minimum age to get married in Italy is 18 years. Parental consent is necessary if one or both individuals are between 16 and 18 years old.
Documents: Non-residents must provide valid passports, birth certificates, a Certificate of No Impediment (issued by their home country), and a Nulla Osta (declaration of no impediment) obtained from their consulate or embassy in Italy.
Translation and Apostille: All documents must be translated into Italian and authenticated with an apostille.
The best advice we can offer is to start the legal process well in advance, as the paperwork must be submitted to the local authorities at least a few months before the wedding date. Working with a wedding planner or a local expert can greatly simplify the legal procedures and ensure a smooth experience.
Lake Garda Wedding and Elopement Season
The wedding and elopement season at Lake Garda typically begins in early spring and extends until late autumn with peak season falling between May and September when the weather is warm and the landscapes are in their prime. However, Lake Garda has a unique charm in every season. Spring offers colourful blooms, mild temperatures, and fewer crowds, while autumn boasts a romantic ambiance with its golden foliage. Winter weddings can also be magical, especially in December when the Christmas decorations create a festive atmosphere and you can wear some incredible ensembles.
If you’re not one for weather extremes, it's best to avoid planning your wedding in the coldest months of January and February or during the hottest period of July and August. By choosing outside these months you can not only enjoy a comfortable climate but also benefit from more affordable accommodations and wedding services.
The 10 Best Lake Garda Wedding Venues
Lake Garda is home to a remarkable selection of wedding venues, each offering its unique charm and allure. Here are some of the finest options:
Villa del Balbianello
Nestled on the tip of the promontory of Lavedo, this historical villa showcases breathtaking views of the western shore of Lake Garda and features stunning gardens that provide an enchanting backdrop for your ceremony. If you’re a movie fanatic you’ll be keen to know the villa has been used as a film set in star wars and casino royale.
It’s not only film but art that is a selling point of the villa, with glass paintings and a huge collection of sculptures and artefacts, specifically the sled of a famous Italian explorer who used them to reach the North Pole. This is definitely a venue for couples who love action, adventure and grandeur as the only way you can arrive at the villa is by boat.
Have your cocktail hour amongst the trees on the terraces overlooking the lake and have your wedding dinner on the Loggia Segre or the private terrace that can also be used for your wedding reception.
Isola del Garda
If exclusive use of a venue doesn’t cut it, then your own private island is the next best thing. Isola del Garda is your answer, it boasts romantic gardens, a neoclassical villa, and panoramic lake views and ensures a truly unforgettable wedding experience.
The Loggia is the most beautiful event space with its stunning columns that have been crafted to perfection that shelter guests and provide the perfect terrace to look out over the lake for miles. Once decorated with lighting and flowers the space comes alive and feels truly magical. The space can cater for up to 100 guests.
Better yet, the secluded shores of the lake are also another perfect blank canvas and are the perfect spot for out of this world entertainment from floating firework displays to theatrical scenes and much more.
Malcesine Castle
Perched on a hilltop in the charming town of Malcesine, this mediaeval castle offers a fairytale setting with panoramic vistas of the lake and surrounding mountains. The castle is thought to have been built in 568 AD, standing the test of time with its charming winding streets that lead down to the water. The space in the castle overlooking Lake Garda is breathtaking and can accommodate up to 70 people, whilst the outdoor terrace seats 70 or 100 standing.
If you love the sound and romance of the Italian language, ceremonies here are performed in Italian with a translator. Pair with a string quartet or harp and champagne hour on a boat with your guests and you have a true Italian fairytale wedding.
Villa Giona
This elegant Renaissance villa, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, offers a romantic and intimate atmosphere for your wedding, complete with exquisite interiors and stunning gardens. It is the epitome of true Italian glamour. The staff and the wedding planners who collaborate with Villa Giona are able to provide you with all the solutions to make your wedding day an unforgettable event from the floral designs, menu prep, seating, decoration and the careful selection of the highest quality catering, the most capable barmen, the selection of wines, a trained and professional staff; everything is planned to perfection at Villa Giona.
Grand Hotel Fasano
With its luxurious ambiance, picturesque lakeside location, and world-class facilities, this historic hotel is an ideal choice for couples seeking a sophisticated and unforgettable wedding experience. It has many certificates of excellence from Forbes Travel Guide Awards to Conde Nast Travel Awards and are members of the Leading Hotels of the World. With the hills rolling for miles behind and the lake waters stretching out in front of you, you couldn’t ask for better views all round, they’ll look stunning in your wedding photos.
If the wedding isn’t enough for your guest to experience you can all go on a local wine and olive oil discovery, a historic sailing ship or speedboat lake tour.
Villa Fiordaliso
Overlooking the western shore of Lake Garda, in Gardone Riviera, Villa Fiordaliso is an elegant venue full of charm and history. What once was a private residence until the mid-seventies, was later transformed into the small luxury hotel it is today.
The pink-and-white lakeside Villa is a high quality restaurant, but it has 6 tastefully furnished rooms, some with prime views of the lake. Of the five suites overlooking the lake, two still retain the original 1930s furnishings. The interiors are stunning, with a blend of antique and stylish modern furniture, nicely set off by ornate parquetry floors, cool marble pillars and magnificent gilded and painted ceilings.
It can be easy to be swept up in the beauty of the venue but the delightful outdoor terrace overlooking the lake is ideal for exclusive wedding receptions and lake-side ceremonies.
Pre and post ceremony you can explore the gardens where you can relax, sunbathe, have lunch or swim in the warm waters of Lake Garda.
Villa del Sogno
This exclusive villa slopes down onto Lake Garda and is a truly tranquil haven. The Villa has a Restaurant for unforgettable dinners by candlelight, an American Bar for extremely enjoyable moments of relaxation on the Terrace, a Garden Bar, an open-air swimming pool, a tennis court, a private car park, and a wellness centre. This welcoming establishment is an exclusive destination, featuring impeccable service and elegant guestrooms and suites, each individually appointed so that no two are alike which will be sure to impress your guests.
Cocktails can be organised on the terrace followed by a reception in the inner halls but most prefer to have their reception on the panoramic terrace if weather conditions permit. The restaurant Maximilian can accommodate 60 people on the terrace and in two rooms of 60 and 30 people respectively.
Wedding banquets are prepared by the Chef of the Villa who proposes menus with typical regional products to promote the culinary traditions of Lake Garda which is sure to be a highlight.
Dogana Veneta
Dogana Veneta is a historic building located in the heart of Lazise, one of the prettiest spots on the lake, near the ancient harbour. The interiors feel contemporary yet in keeping with the old nature of the building, and it can host between 40-300 of your guests. Arrive at your wedding ceremony in style by boat, true bond style and enjoy your cocktail hour, reception and cutting of the cake on the stunning lake view terrace. There’s also plenty of accommodation nearby for your guests to stay in so they won’t have to hobble too far home after the late night!
Torre San Marco
This breathtaking venue perches on the gorgeous turquoise lakeside in Gardone Riviera and can hold up to a whopping 1500 people. It is one of the most prestigious locations to host your ceremony and you can host your wedding right on the lake, taking in the amazing scenery the venue has to offer.
This is a venue fit for a fairytale wedding and entertaining guests with its piano bar, elegant restaurant, winery and beautiful gardens. And what could be dreamier than having your reception in the gardens that look out over the lake as the sun sets and your celebrations power on into the night under the stars? You can’t beat that.
The Convent
Whilst the lake is stunning, you might be a couple who appreciates the woodlands more. The Covent is set in a beautiful wild flower filled woodland with a beautiful courtyard and a forest where you can have all your guests seated at one long dining table with the trees hanging over you all creating a really enchanting feel. In the forest of the convent, squirrels, grey herons, golden orioles, foxes, a myriad of butterflies, jays… have returned after years of exile from their natural habitat – with Vogue describing the convent as a place of breathtaking beauty.
The villa is made up of two complementary parts: The estate, with its orchards and cultivated land, and a fully operational organic farm, with organic olive oil as its most important product. The options for decor here are endless, with the ability to incorporate so many gorgeous plants, soft romantic lighting and a range of dining and seating options that will make your wedding so memorable and magical. Ceremonies can be held in the forest, recalling ancient rites, or moments of pastel-shaded romanticism on the banks of the pond, or luxurious and more formal ceremonies can be hosted in the Renaissance garden.
Picked your perfect venue and ready to start planning, we have the ultimate wedding planning checklist complete with a year timeline to help you navigate everything you’ll need. Want to look at some of the weddings and love stories we’ve captured across the globe, you can browse them right here.