A Wedding in Italy; What Does it Really Cost?
Italy—specifically Lake Como—continues to reign as the gold standard for destination weddings. With the Euro currently trailing the U.S. dollar, a dream Italian wedding may offer more value than expected. But what’s the true cost of a wedding weekend in this iconic location?
At LLG Events, we’ve planned and executed countless high-end celebrations across Italy. Here, we break down real-world costs of a Lake Como wedding weekend based on 2023 pricing (excluding 10–22% VAT, which applies to all vendors in Italy).
Venue Costs: The Foundation of Your Wedding Weekend
The first decision in destination planning? If you are looking into Italy, be mindful of their on/off (high/low) seasons. This will impact availability as well as price! There are two ways the villa can be priced; a fee for the event day with separate rates for a buyout of the villa for the other days (non-event days) or a required buyout rate for a certain number of nights. For a wedding weekend, you would pay an event price for Saturday, but for Friday and Sunday, you would pay for the buyout of the rooms (no event fee). Other venues operate as buyouts only, meaning that there is a minimum two to four-night stay required to host an event.
On/High Season (May–September)
Standard Villas: $12,000 – $67,000
Luxury Estates: $103,000 – $155,000
Off/Low Season (October–April)
Standard Villas: $12,000 – $33,000
Luxury Estates: Remain $103,000 – $155,000
Note: Some venues require a 2–4 night buyout, with separate pricing for event and non-event days.
Security Deposit: Typically 30% of the total, ranging $10,300 – $31,000 (refundable post-event, if no damages occur).
Photo Credit: Julia Kaptelova
Photo Credit: Julia Kaptelova
Tent Installations for Larger Guest Counts
Lake Como villas often accommodate 50–70 guests comfortably. Hosting a larger celebration? You’ll likely need a tent build-out:
Clear Top Tent with Lighting, Carpet, Dance Floor (100 Guests): $19,600 – $26,000+
Tent installations require setup the day before and removal the day after. Flooring and premium lighting can increase costs substantially.
Photo Credit: Julia Kaptelova
Photo Credit: Julia Kaptelova
Catering & Culinary Experience
Catering could be another vendor that is exclusive to the property you choose. Packages will most likely be offered at a price per person, similar to those we see in NYC. If catering is through the venue itself, there may be fixed menu options, whereas a catering company can offer a more personalized menu. Most packages, whether through a venue or catering company, include a wedding cake.
Whether provided in-house or through a preferred caterer, here’s what to expect for full-service wedding catering:
Per Person Estimate: $185 – $220
Includes: Hors d’oeuvres, interactive stations, 3-course meal, wine, champagne toast, and cake
The pricing shown reflects a wedding weekend in 2023: Wedding Reception including passed Hors D’euvres, Stations, 3 Course Dinner, Cake, Wine, and Champagne to Toast: $185.00 - $220.00 per person.
Floral Design & Styling
The floral budget is obviously the most variable portion of your budget since it depends on your taste! Italian landscapes provide a natural canvas, reducing the need for heavy floral installs. Most couples invest in:
Ceremony, Reception, and Cocktail Hour for 100 Guests: $35,000+
The pricing shown reflects a wedding weekend in 2023: Ceremony, Personals, Cocktail Hour, and Reception for 100 guests: $35,000.00+.
Photo Credit: Julia Kaptelova
Photo Credit: Julia Kaptelova
Photo Credit: Julia Kaptelova
GUEST Transportation
Transportation on Lake Como is notoriously limited—there are no Ubers, and taxis are scarce. Keep in mind, that pre-booked transportation ensures guests arrive comfortably and on time.
Private Car Services: Minimum $3,000
Lake Boat Transfers: $500 – $1,000/hour (2-hour minimum recommended)
Hotel Accommodations
In the United States, most hotels offer a courtesy block for weddings. A courtesy block usually starts at 10 rooms that the hotel offers at no charge to the couple to reserve in advance for wedding guests. Guests will receive a link to book their hotel stay accordingly and pay for the rooms themselves upon check-out, like normal.
In Italy, many hotels do not offer courtesy blocks as in the U.S. Instead, couples may need to:
Pre-pay up to 80% of the room block
This amount is refunded as rooms are booked by guests
Overall Budget/Total Estimated Cost of a Lake Como Wedding
Based on our average costs across each of the major vendors (Venue, Tent, Catering, Floral), the average cost for a wedding weekend in Lake Como, Italy in peak season is around $160,000.00.
This does not include other crucial vendors like your planner :) photography, videography, or entertainment. Nor does it include additions like Day-Of stationery (which you can always order ahead and bring with you!), a food truck, a cigar roller, or other unique activations!
