When Charlotte from Charlotte Elise Weddings contacted us and said she had clients who wanted to get married at Villa Balbiano, we were immediately excited — this extraordinary baroque estate on the shores of Lake Como had been on our filming bucket list for a long time. What followed was one of the most joyful and visually extraordinary weddings we have ever captured. As Italy wedding videographers, this is exactly the kind of celebration we live to film.
If you are planning a wedding at Villa Balbiano, our full venue guide covers everything you need to know: Villa Balbiano Wedding Videographer →
Watch the Wedding Film
The film below captures Alexandra and Gylfi’s Lake Como wedding at Villa Balbiano in June 2019 — the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, the portraits on the lake, and the full weekend celebration at one of Italy’s most extraordinary estates.
Alexandra & Gylfi’s wedding at Villa Balbiano, Lake Como — HD Moments
Villa Balbiano — The Setting
Villa Balbiano is one of the most iconic and prestigious wedding venues on Lake Como — a 16th-century baroque estate on the western shore of the lake with private gardens, opulent interiors, six luxury suites, and uninterrupted views across the water to the mountains beyond. For a wedding that had been on our filming bucket list for years, it did not disappoint. The grandeur of the architecture, the quality of the light in the gardens in late afternoon, the private boat dock — every element of this estate produces footage of genuine and extraordinary beauty.
For our full guide to filming at Villa Balbiano: Villa Balbiano Wedding Videographer →
Alexandra & Gylfi
Gylfi is a professional footballer — at the time of their wedding playing for Premier League club Everton — and Alexandra is a qualified nutritionist who runs a highly successful wellness platform. Together they chose Lake Como and Villa Balbiano for their destination wedding, bringing their closest family and friends from the UK to one of the most beautiful settings in the world for a full weekend celebration.
Alexandra wore a breathtaking custom-made gown by Galia Lahav — one of the world’s most celebrated bridal couture houses, known for extraordinary embroidery, intricate pearl detailing, and a romanticism that is both spectacular and timelessly elegant. The gown was extraordinary — magnificent in the widest shots, with a level of detail in every close-up that rewards the camera completely.
Gylfi complemented her perfectly in a classic white tuxedo with a smooth black lapel by Thom Sweeney — one of London’s most acclaimed tailors, known for impeccably constructed occasion wear and a refined Savile Row aesthetic.
Alexandra & Gylfi at Villa Balbiano, Lake Como — Galia Lahav gown & Thom Sweeney tuxedo
The Ceremony — With a Very Special Ring Bearer
The ceremony at Villa Balbiano was everything we had hoped for — intimate, deeply heartfelt, and genuinely moving. Alexandra and Gylfi exchanged their vows in the baroque grandeur of the estate, surrounded by their closest family and friends in one of the most beautiful settings we have filmed a ceremony in anywhere in the world.
The ceremony in the baroque gardens of Villa Balbiano, Lake Como — June 2019
The highlight that had every guest smiling from the first moment to the last — Koby, Alexandra and Gylfi’s sweet dog, trotted down the aisle as ring bearer. It was a completely joyful and entirely unrepeatable moment that defined the warmth and personality of the whole day. Koby was, as he deserved to be, an instant crowd favourite.
“Koby trotted down the aisle as ring bearer — and the warmth and joy that followed carried through every moment of the rest of the day.”
— HD Moments, on filming Alexandra & Gylfi’s wedding at Villa Balbiano
The Celebration — A Full Weekend on Lake Como
We filmed not just the wedding day itself, but also the relaxed rehearsal dinner the evening before — guests and the couple gathered together for Italian oven-baked pizza and live music in the warmth of the Villa Balbiano gardens. There is a quality of footage from the night before a wedding that is completely its own — everyone relaxed, anticipatory, completely present. The rehearsal dinner at Villa Balbiano produced some of our most warm and genuinely joyful footage from the entire weekend.
The wedding day itself unfolded with the natural rhythm of a Lake Como celebration at its very finest. We loved capturing Alexandra and Gylfi as they glided across the lake in a classic motorboat — the mountains behind them, the light on the water, and the extraordinary façade of Villa Balbiano receding as they headed out across the lake. It is one of the most beautiful boat sequences we have made anywhere in Italy.
The florals by Verdure Floral Design — a Manchester-based award-winning florist with genuine destination wedding experience — were lush, romantic, and beautifully in keeping with the grandeur of the villa. Photography by Lucas and Co Photography captured the day alongside our footage with sensitivity and real artistry.
The entire weekend was planned and coordinated with exceptional care by Charlotte Elise Weddings — whose warmth, precision, and genuine investment in the couple’s vision was present in every detail across both days.
Planning a wedding at Villa Balbiano or elsewhere on Lake Como?
Why We Loved Filming This Wedding
Alexandra and Gylfi’s wedding at Villa Balbiano was everything we had hoped our first film at this extraordinary estate would be — and more. The Galia Lahav gown in the baroque gardens. Koby trotting down the aisle. The boat across the lake at golden hour. The rehearsal dinner under the stars. These are the sequences that define this film and that we return to with enormous affection.
Villa Balbiano itself exceeded even our high expectations. The quality of the light through the tall windows, the gardens in the afternoon, the private dock at dusk — every space within the estate produced footage of real depth and beauty. It was a privilege to be the first of our two films at this extraordinary venue.
Full Wedding Supplier List
- Venue: Villa Balbiano, Lake Como, Italy
- Videography: HD Moments
- Planning: Charlotte Elise Weddings
- Photography: Lucas and Co Photography
- Florals: Verdure Floral Design
- Bridal Gown: Galia Lahav
- Groom’s Suit: Thom Sweeney
More Lake Como & Italy Wedding Films
Planning Your Own Lake Como Wedding?
If Alexandra and Gylfi’s wedding at Villa Balbiano has inspired you, we would love to tell your story through film. Capturing destination weddings on Lake Como is something we are truly passionate about — and we would be honoured to be part of your celebration. A timeless, emotional film you will treasure for the rest of your lives.
