Zoe and Charlton at Lake Como

Passalacqua

Zoe and Charlton standing beside the wooden rail of a boat, with mountains and lakeside homes behind them, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Eloping at Lake Como gives you mountains, water and Italian gardens as the setting for a very small wedding. The day itself can be beautifully simple: getting ready together, saying your vows beside the lake, then taking the afternoon as it comes.

Zoe and Charlton travelled from Newcastle, NSW, for their Elopement Collective elopement. Their day brought an Australian celebrant, photographer and hair and makeup artist to northern Italy, with white flowers by Garden of Love and a stay at Passalacqua. Intimate, simple and perfectly at home beside the water.

Lake Como, Lombardy and the Italian Lakes

Lake Como is in Lombardy, in northern Italy’s lake country. Wooded mountains rise behind villages and villas, while gardens step down towards the water. Como and Lecco sit at the southern ends of the lake; Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio offer other perspectives further north. There is a whole region to explore around an elopement, whether you make it part of a longer Italian holiday or settle into one lakeside village.

For Zoe and Charlton, that village was Moltrasio, on the western shore in the province of Como. Passalacqua’s gardens look across the water towards the opposite hillside. In George Bowden’s photographs, that landscape is there throughout: behind their vows, beyond the garden paths and through the open windows of the boat.

It is a lovely place to leave room in the day. A ceremony on the lawn, a walk through the gardens, time on the lake. Zoe and Charlton’s photographs move from the closeness of their vows to wide mountain views, then back to an embrace or a laugh. The surroundings give each small moment its setting.

Eloping in Italy with an Australian team

One of the pleasures of travelling with The Elopement Collective is bringing familiar Australian voices into a place far from home. Josh Withers led Zoe and Charlton’s lakeside ceremony, and George Bowden photographed the day, from the getting-ready details to portraits on the water.

Valentina of Sunshine Brides created Zoe’s hair and makeup. Based on the Sunshine Coast, Valentina began her career in Italy and also works there on destination weddings. Her soft waves and makeup sat naturally alongside Zoe’s draped white dress and veil.

Garden of Love, a floral atelier working around Lake Como and Milan, created the white bouquet and boutonniere. The flowers brought a quiet finishing touch to the day, from the bouquet waiting in the room to the boutonniere Zoe adjusted on Charlton’s jacket.

This is how we like an elopement to come together: a small team, a setting you love and time to enjoy being there. We bring the planning and the people together so you can spend your wedding day with each other.

Staying at Passalacqua

Zoe and Charlton stayed in the Grand Room al Lago with Lake View at Passalacqua. Its terrace garden faces the lake, with two pine trees framing the water and the wooded shore beyond. It is a beautiful base for an elopement built around the lake itself.

Passalacqua also gave their photographs a rich variety of settings: the pale villa, stone steps, climbing greenery, garden paths and the pool overlooking the water. George’s images show how much can unfold in and around one place, from a dress hanging in the room to a champagne toast on the lawn.

And then there is the view from a boat. Polished timber, open windows, the hills passing behind you. For Zoe and Charlton, those photographs became another part of a day that stayed intimate and simple, even in such an extraordinary setting.

If you’re imagining your own Lake Como elopement with an Australian team, explore our European elopements and tell us what you have in mind.

An orange open-top car on a cobbled driveway among terraced gardens and tall trees overlooking the lake, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Wedding rings, ribbon-tied vow books, pointed white shoes, earrings, cufflinks and perfume arranged on a white bedspread, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Black patent shoes, a bow tie, perfume and a white floral boutonniere by Garden of Love arranged on a striped surface, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe smiling in a white robe as her hair is styled by Sunshine Brides beside an ornate gold headboard, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Close view of Zoe’s white orchid and rose bouquet by Garden of Love resting on a woven chair, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe’s white wedding dress with a draped neckline hanging from a wooden hanger against a white door, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Black and white photograph of Zoe adjusting Charlton’s white floral boutonniere by Garden of Love as he looks down at her, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe’s white dress, white bouquet by Garden of Love and bridal accessories laid out on a bed, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe smiling in her white dress beside a window, with softly waved hair and makeup by Valentina of Sunshine Brides, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe holding her white bouquet by Garden of Love in an open doorway framed by climbing greenery, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe carrying her white bouquet by Garden of Love across the lawn, her veil trailing behind her beside a striped garden umbrella, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Celebrant Josh Withers leading Zoe and Charlton’s ceremony on a lawn above the lake, with the mountain slopes behind them, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Wide view of Zoe and Charlton on the lakeside ceremony lawn, framed by the trunk of a tall tree and the wooded mountains across the water, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe reading her vows into a microphone as Charlton listens, with the lake and mountain villages behind them, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe reaching up to Charlton’s face as he reads his vows, her long white train spread across the grass, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton kissing on the ceremony lawn, with her veil falling over the grass and the lake behind them, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton walking away along a path through clipped hedges towards Passalacqua’s pale villa, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe holding her bouquet by Garden of Love beside Charlton and an orange open-top car on the cobbled driveway, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Charlton holding Zoe’s hand as they climb stone steps towards the villa, with her white veil lifting behind her, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton smiling at each other on a garden path beneath tall trees, with her veil drifting to one side, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton facing one another beside green loungers and scalloped white parasols, with the villa behind them, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe resting her cheek against Charlton and smiling, showing her softly waved hair and makeup by Valentina of Sunshine Brides and his white boutonniere by Garden of Love, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Wide view of Zoe and Charlton walking hand in hand across the cobbled driveway beside an orange car, with terraced gardens and the lake beyond, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe smiling from a white upholstered seat inside a wooden boat, with lakeside homes and mountains behind her, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton standing together beside the wooden boat rail with a hillside village across the water, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe standing beside the boat window while Charlton sits on a white bench, with the lake and wooded hills beyond, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton kissing on a white boat seat beneath an Italian flag, with a hillside village across the water, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Charlton leaning close to Zoe as they sit together inside the wooden boat, with the lake visible through the open window, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton laughing together on a white boat seat, with Charlton’s hand resting on the wooden window frame, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

View over the bow of a boat towards blue water, lakeside villages and mountain ridges, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Passalacqua’s pale villa and shuttered windows seen through tall trees and layered garden greenery, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton kissing beside the polished wooden edge of a boat, with open water, a sailboat and mountains behind them, on Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton standing together on a path among terraced hedges and tall trees, with a glimpse of the lake beyond, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe and Charlton walking together along a garden path, with Zoe lifting a hand to her hair and her white train trailing behind, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Black and white portrait of Charlton embracing Zoe from behind as she smiles towards the camera, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Charlton embracing Zoe from behind as they turn towards each other, with Zoe’s softly waved hair and makeup by Valentina of Sunshine Brides, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Full-length portrait of Charlton embracing Zoe from behind on a garden path, with her white train spread out beside the greenery, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

A champagne bottle and two filled flutes beside an open book about Passalacqua on a yellow table among garden chairs, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Charlton spraying champagne beside Zoe on the lakeside lawn as she holds a flute and watches, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Zoe raising a champagne flute as Charlton stands beside her on the lakeside lawn, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

Passalacqua’s outdoor pool, green loungers and scalloped white parasols overlooking the lake and the mountains beyond, at Passalacqua in Moltrasio, Lake Como, Italy, for an Elopement Collective elopement. Photo by George Bowden.

More about eloping in Lake Como All elopements