Lake Garda Wedding Venues
Lake Garda Wedding Venues – Malcesine Castle
Last year I had the pleasure of photographing my first destination wedding at Malcesine Castle in Italy. What appealed to the couple was the “natural and genuine” feel of my photographs. You can see more pictures from Katie and David’s wedding, and read in Katie’s own words about their experience, by visiting their blog post on www.wantthatwedding.co.uk. The Castello Scaligero, built in the 13th-century, dominates the skyline of Malcesine with the Baldo mountains rising steeply above the town. Ceremonies take place in a beautifully secluded part of the castle with views out over the lake. In the unlikely event that the weather takes a turn for the worst there’s also a very attractive room that seats around forty guests. After photographing Katie and David’s wedding, I took the opportunity to stay in Malcesine for a few more days and visit some of the other stunning Lake Garda wedding venues nearby, including Torri del Benaco, Lonato Castle and the Vittoriale Gardens. Each of these Lake Garda wedding venues has it’s own unique charm for couples looking to get married in Italy. If you’re considering a destination wedding in Italy, or any other country for that matter I’d love to hear from you. Check out more of my Lake Garda wedding photography HERE.
Torri del Benaco
One of the nicest things I learnt when visiting the castle at Torri del Benaco is that they allow couples to hold their wedding ceremony anywhere in the castle grounds. For more intimate ceremonies there is the terrace overlooking the lake, and for larger weddings with up to 40 guests, there is the lemon grove, where I was fortunate enough to watch as staff made their final preparations for a wedding later that day. Located at the southern tip of the lake, this small fishing village has a particular charm all of its own. Ceremonies can also be held in the Church of St. John or ‘San Giovanni’ in Italian, a short walk from the lakeside.
Lonato Castle
I got the feeling walking around the grounds of Lonato Castle that this may be among the most popular Lake Garda wedding venues for big Italian weddings. Situated around five kilometres inland from Lake Garda, the castle provides the perfect setting for large celebrations and has the added advantage of being able to cater for the reception as well as the ceremony itself, thanks to a large marquee within the grounds. Ceremonies can either take place outdoors or in one of two rooms, the Sala Lettura which holds up to 20 guests or Casa del Castellano which holds up to 120. With panoramic views of Lake Garda and music and fireworks also able to be arranged, I’m sure many wedding celebrations at the Lonato Castle have carried on long into the night!
Vittoriale Gardens
Weddings in the historic town of Gardone take place in the ceremony room of the town hall and, weather permitting, couples are able to have their photographs in the Vittoriale Gardens. Located on steep slopes a short drive from the centre of town, the gardens are full of surprises at every turn and eccentric architectural details. It’s easy to get lost, but the views over the lake are truly breathtaking. Even if you don’t use the gardens on your wedding day, they’re well worth a visit during your stay.
