A Lake Garda elopement for two where medieval walls meet autumn lake views
Eleonora was incredibly professional, kind, attentive, proactive, and communicative with us throughout the entire process of planning our wedding. I genuinely don't think the planning process and the day of our wedding would have gone nearly as smooth as it did without her there. I highly recommend selecting her as your wedding coordinator! My (now) husband and I flew from the United States to Italy for our wedding, so relying on Eleonora to coordinate between all of our vendors was crucial. She selected and hired my make-up & hair artists, the photographer & videographer, a florist, and a musician (we selected a cellist) for the ceremony -- all in addition to coordinating and hiring a boat ride for us after the ceremony. I am a "type A" person by nature and like to be in control, but I couldn't have felt more taken care of with Eleonora's choices. I loved not having to worry about anything the day of the wedding, as I knew Eleonora was in contact with everyone and she did not disappoint. Our day was perfect and SO much of that is in thanks to Eleonora!
Callie and Aaron’s elopement in Italy
Some couples need a crowd to make their wedding feel special. Callie and Aaron needed only each other, a historic castle, and the legendary beauty of Lake Garda stretching endlessly behind them.
This US couple flew to Italy's Veneto region at the beginning of September for an elopement that proved weddings without guests can be every bit as magical, emotional, and perfect as traditional celebrations. They exchanged symbolic vows at the terrace of a castle-museum overlooking Lake Garda's shimmering waters, with a cellist playing as their soundtrack.
Early autumn in northern Italy delivered ideal conditions — clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and that soft golden light photographers dream about, without a drop of rain to complicate their outdoor plans.
With Eleonora, their wedding planner in Italy, handling every detail from vendor selection to day-of coordination, they experienced a completely stress-free celebration that exceeded even their high expectations.
From makeup and hair to photography, videography, florals, music, and even a private boat ride on the lake afterward, Eleonora curated an experience so flawless that Callie — a self-described Type A personality who likes being in control — felt completely taken care of throughout.
The venue: A castle-museum overlooking Lake Garda
When Callie and Aaron started searching for the perfect elopement venue in Italy, they wanted something that combined history, beauty, and those legendary Italian lake views. This castle-museum on Lake Garda's shores delivered all three. The medieval fortress sits directly on the water, with cloisters and outdoor spaces offering unobstructed panoramic views across one of Italy's most stunning lakes.
The castle-museum setting provided layers of visual interest that generic venues simply cannot match. Ancient stone walls tell centuries of Italian history. Elegant cloistered walkways perfect for intimate ceremonies.
Multiple vantage points showcasing Lake Garda from different perspectives. The venue's dual nature as both historic castle and working museum meant authentic architecture and atmosphere rather than something recreated or staged for weddings.
What makes this location particularly special for elopements is how it balances grandeur with intimacy. Even with just two people, the setting never feels empty or oversized. The cloisters create naturally intimate spaces while still delivering those sweeping lake views that make Garda legendary.
The Veneto region's position in northern Italy meant easy international access while maintaining that quintessentially Italian character couples travel thousands of miles to experience.
Planning a Lake Garda elopement from the US with Eleonora
Coordinating an elopement in Italy from the United States requires absolute trust in someone local. Eleonora became that person for Callie and Aaron, handling every aspect of planning and execution with professionalism that exceeded their expectations. As Callie shared in her review, flying internationally for a wedding meant relying on Eleonora to coordinate between all vendors was crucial — and she delivered flawlessly.
Eleonora didn't just coordinate logistics. She curated their entire experience, personally selecting and hiring every vendor based on her deep knowledge of Lake Garda's wedding industry. She chose the makeup and hair artists who would prepare Callie for her day.
She recommended and booked the photographer and videographer who would document everything. She found the florist who would create arrangements enhancing rather than overwhelming the castle setting.
She arranged for a cellist to play during their ceremony, understanding that live music would elevate the emotional impact. She even coordinated a private boat ride on Lake Garda for after the ceremony, creating an experience rather than just an event.
Throughout planning, Eleonora remained incredibly professional, kind, attentive, proactive, and communicative. For a Type A bride planning from thousands of miles away, that consistency and reliability made all the difference between stress and confidence.
Why they chose to elope all the way to Veneto without guests
Callie and Aaron's decision to elope alone was deeply intentional. They wanted their wedding day focused entirely on their commitment to each other, without the complexities that come with hosting family and friends. No worrying about guest comfort or dietary restrictions. No managing family politics or seating charts. No performance anxiety from being watched by dozens of people during their most vulnerable moments.
Eloping with just two people offers freedom that traditional weddings cannot provide. Complete control over timing, location, and atmosphere. The ability to be genuinely emotional without self-consciousness. Space to create deeply personal moments that would feel different with an audience.
Their budget focused entirely on what mattered most to them — the venue's beauty, the quality of documentation, the experience itself — rather than splitting resources across guest accommodations, large-scale catering, or entertainment for others.
The Lake Garda setting meant their elopement still carried tremendous significance despite the lack of guests. The castle-museum's grandeur, the symbolic ceremony with live cello accompaniment, the professional photography and videography capturing everything — these elements created meaning and memory without requiring other people to validate the experience.
A terrace ceremony overlooking an enchanting lake in Italy
On a clear September afternoon, with early autumn light softening everything and Lake Garda glittering behind them, Callie and Aaron stood in the castle's cloisters for their symbolic ceremony. The outdoor setting provided everything they needed — ancient stone architecture, panoramic water views, and comfortable weather that defied any concern about Italy's sometimes unpredictable autumn conditions.
September 8th delivered ideal conditions. Clear skies. No rain threatening their outdoor plans. Temperatures comfortable enough for an extended outdoor ceremony without guests or participants feeling too warm or too cold.
Early autumn in northern Italy offers this kind of reliable beauty — summer's oppressive heat has passed, but winter's chill hasn't yet arrived. The light takes on a softer quality perfect for both experiencing the moment and capturing it photographically.
The cellist Eleonora had arranged played throughout, creating atmosphere that recorded music simply cannot match. Live music in outdoor cloistered spaces carries particular resonance, with stone walls and water proximity creating natural acoustics.
A symbolic ceremony for their destination wedding in Italy allowed Callie and Aaron complete freedom to craft vows and a structure that reflects their relationship rather than conforming to legal or traditional templates.
Standing in centuries-old castle terrace with Lake Garda stretching endlessly behind them, speaking words that mattered uniquely to them, accompanied only by live cello — this is what elopements in Italy deliver when planned thoughtfully.
A private boat ride on Lake Garda
After their ceremony concluded, Callie and Aaron experienced another element Eleonora had coordinated — a private boat ride on Lake Garda. This wasn't just transportation or a photo opportunity. It was an experience that extended their celebration and let them absorb where they were and what they'd just done.
Lake Garda from the water offers perspectives you simply cannot get from shore. The castle-museum where they'd just married visible from a completely new angle. The surrounding mountains and lakeside villages revealing themselves as the boat moved across the water. The specific quality of light and atmosphere that makes this lake so legendary, experienced directly rather than just viewed.
This addition showed Eleonora's understanding of elopement couples' needs. Without a reception to transition into or guests to entertain, Callie and Aaron needed meaningful ways to mark and extend their celebration. The boat ride provided exactly that — romantic, memorable, uniquely Italian, and completely focused on their experience together.
The coordination required to arrange this seamlessly — timing it perfectly after the ceremony, ensuring the boat operator knew exactly where and when to meet them, building it into the photography timeline — demonstrated the kind of comprehensive planning that made Callie feel completely taken care of despite being Type A and control-oriented by nature.
The day-of experience: Completely stress-free
On their wedding day, Callie experienced something that Type A personalities rarely feel during major events they've planned — complete peace about logistics. As she shared in her review, she loved not having to worry about anything because she knew Eleonora was in contact with everyone. And Eleonora did not disappoint.
Every vendor Eleonora had selected performed flawlessly. The makeup and hair artists prepared Callie beautifully. The photographer and videographer captured every meaningful moment and the stunning Lake Garda setting.
The florist's arrangements enhanced the castle cloisters without overwhelming their natural beauty. The cellist played perfectly throughout the ceremony. The boat operator arrived exactly on time. Every transition happened smoothly, every detail aligned as planned.
This is what working with an experienced local planner delivers — the confidence that someone who knows the vendors personally, understands the venue intimately, and has coordinated countless weddings is handling everything professionally. For couples who've flown internationally for their elopement, that peace of mind transforms the entire experience from potentially stressful to genuinely enjoyable.
Worth every mile from the United States
Looking back at their decision to fly to Lake Garda for a private elopement, Callie and Aaron got exactly what they hoped for and more. The castle-museum delivered authentic Italian beauty and history. September timing provided ideal autumn conditions with clear skies and no rain. Eleonora's comprehensive planning meant genuinely stress-free execution.
As Callie emphasized in her review, she genuinely doesn't think the planning process or wedding day would have gone nearly as smoothly without Eleonora. The day was perfect, and so much of that perfection came directly from Eleonora's professionalism, vendor selections, and coordination.
For couples considering destination elopements in Italy, Callie and Aaron's experience offers validation. Choose from our Italian all-inclusive wedding packages with venues showcasing inherent beauty that requires no enhancement.
Work with a local planner who knows vendors and venues intimately. Trust that person's expertise even if you're naturally controlling. Focus on experience and meaning rather than production or guests.
The photos speak for themselves. Two people, one historic castle, Lake Garda stretching endlessly behind them. Pure magic without needing anyone else there to make it special.