THE EVENT SPACES

As with most centuries-old palazzos sprinkled across Lake Como, Old World elegance abounds from top to bottom and side to side. There are simply no corners of these sprawling grounds, opulent interiors and Neoclassical architecture that feel tired or unphotogenic, leaving you spoiled for choice when it comes to determining your flow of wedding events. As you can guess from the visual narrative so far, Villa Sola Cabiati carries this torch of aesthetic rigor with pride. 

Arrivals can take place by Venetian water taxi (or any other floating transport of your choice), mooring at the four sets of sycamore-shaped steps designed by architect Francesco Bernardini Ferrari in 1813. Such an approach feels iconically Lake Como, as your guests would step immediately through the monumental wrought iron gates, frosted with gold, and into the manicured Italian gardens so beloved by hopeless romantics and aerial photographers for their mesmerizing symmetry and elegant formality. Fortunatamente, arrivals by car have access to this grand entrance too. These gardens also make for a lovely Cocktail Hour space, speckled with a sundry of lounge vignettes, cocktail tables and bars that can stand guard all the way through dancing in case any of your guests fancy stepping into an enchanting garden at twilight for a splash of cool air or romantic sweet nothings. Long tables can even be set up for dinner in this space, and truly, it's hard to argue against the picture-perfect ambiance of this setting for your sunset wedding feast. 

If you were to walk from these gardens, up to the double glass-paned doors and through heart of the palazzo, you'd stumble right into the official front side of Villa Sola Cabiati. If your guests were arriving to the villa by car on this side, they'd pass through a beautiful set of wrought-iron gates, rampant with natural greenery, that open up to reveal the splendorous villa as if sharing a secret with just them. Flower-bordered steps of pebble + stone create a natural aisle towards the villa's lake-blue door framed by a duo of terra cotta potted topiaries, making this location a prime ceremony option if you want to save the grand Italian garden reveal for Cocktail Hour or Dinner. Of course, this is an equally marvelous dinner, cocktail or welcome drinks space if it's a feeling of grace and intimacy you're going for during this portion of the day or ancillary event. 

This elegant Italian party pad even comes with a mind-soothing pool set inside a Secret Garden corner of the 10-acre estate. Set on a sloping lawn just behind the villa, we like this al fresco oasis of calm for a cocktail style Welcome Reception or casual pool bbq the day after the wedding. You'll already have cushion bedecked sun loungers, a cotton canopied pergola and a massive cabana-style bed at your disposal! 

Inside the villa, the three connecting parlors on the ground floor are often used for dinner + dancing, or as a rain backup option for all wedding events. There's also the poetically designed drawing room on the first floor that opens up into a glorious balcony overlooking the formal gardens + lake. Fanciful pastel hues, frescoed walls, whimsical glass-blown chandeliers... the lavish interiors provide a fitting canvas for a more pared-down table design and color palette. Layered neutrals and refined textures always shine here! 

Photos courtesy of Villa Sola Cabiati and by Stepan Vrzala, Federico Lanuto, Bottega 53, Katie Grant and Julie Livingston