Real wedding: Rebecca and James in Lake Como
Wedding film at Villa Regina Teodolinda
In the Summer of 2023, I was extremely lucky to be able to film Rebecca and James’ special day at Villa Regina Teodolinda, on Lake Como, Italy. It was very much a ‘pinch me’ moment. As a cinematic wedding videographer, I put a big emphasis on the location and surroundings, and a destination wedding is something that truly brings my style to life. Lake Como is a videographer’s dream, and something I was very excited to be a part of.
Rebecca and James' destination wedding was nothing short of a fairy tale. The picturesque setting, the carefully curated details, and the undeniable love between the couple created an atmosphere that was both magical and unforgettable. Something I felt extremely privileged to be able to film.
Rebecca and James are both English, and live in London. They’re both well travelled, so it was no surprise that they chose Italy and Lake Como as the backdrop to tie the knot. During their travels, they’ve built lifelong friendships, and had guests travelling all the way from America or even New Zealand for their big day. Their decision to host a destination wedding allowed them to curate an intimate guest list, which made their day even more special as only their their closest loved ones were there.
Villa Regina Teodolinda
Villa Regina Teodolinda in the Lombardy region - Lake Como, Italy
When you think about a Lake Como wedding, your mind instantly goes to a beautiful, exclusive villa that overlooks the Lake and the Alps. That’s precisely what this exclusive wedding venue provides. As soon as I entered the Villa, it became clear that this is no ordinary place — it is a dream location for a destination wedding. You can feel its heritage and history.
It’s not everyday you get to film someone’s special day in Lake Como. I couldn’t miss this opportunity to capture drone footage of the venue and the Lake — something that really elevates the look and feel of the end product, and makes the wedding look like an actual film. The opening scene of their wedding film instantly draws you into this amazing scenery: water and mountains. Pure bliss.
Villa Regina Teodolinda drone footage
Villa Regina Teodolinda is based in Laglio, a little village located in the southern branch, and one of the narrowest points of Lake Como. It has a beautiful jetty, so lakeside access is really easy if you want to travel to and from the Villa by water. This is something I integrated throughout their wedding film. I feel strongly that I have to incorporate the local nuance, as this is what makes the location unique. In this particular case, with the venue overlooking this beautiful backdrop, I captured boats navigating the waters of Lake Como. This instantly adds motion to the film, and keeps reminding you of this special place.
Boat captured from inside the villa
Wedding breakfast overlooking Lake Como
The Villa has multiple ‘levels’, which means you can have a difference experience throughout the day. All of them are portrayed in the film, at different points. I wanted to tell a story from each and every location within the Villa, like a film would.
Whether it’s the suites for bridal preparation inside the Villa, the main terrace for the wedding reception, the garden for the wedding ceremony, or the jetty for couple portraits. All play a different role in telling the story of Rebecca and James’ day.
For more information about this wedding venue, head over to the Villa Regina Teodolinda wedding videography page on my website.
Morning preparation
Rebecca’s bridal preparation at Villa Regina Teodolinda
Rebecca’s bridal preparation took place in one of the 7 amazing suites at the Villa, which is captured in their wedding film. The morning was really calm and relaxed, and it was amazing to think that you could see views of the Lake from every window.
Rebecca wore the most beautiful wedding gown from Prea James Bridal, a dress that really suited her and the vision she had for the day: timeless elegance in Italy.
During the morning preparation, I kept navigating the different levels of the Villa, constantly capturing small details of the venue, James and his groomsmen, or him welcoming guests as they arrive.
A few of Rebecca friends came up to the suite to see her during bridal prep, some of which were speechless at the sight of their lifelong friend in her stunning wedding dress.
Rebecca’s bridal preparation at Villa Regina Teodolinda
The ceremony
Rebecca, bride, during the wedding reception at Villa Regina
James, groom at Villa Regina Teodolinda
The ceremony took place in the Villa's picturesque garden, adorned with flowers in a palette of soft pastels. The couple incorporated personalised touches into the ceremony: Rebecca and James’ long term friend held the ceremony, which was perfect as he crafted a beautiful speech that felt personal and intimate. It was a true insight into what Rebecca and James are like, both as friends, and as a couple: loving, adventurous, caring. A truly special moment, surrounded by their nearest and dearest.
Wedding reception on Lake Como
This felt like a magical time for me. Against the backdrop of the lake and surrounded by towering cypress trees, Rebecca and James exchanged their vows which, naturally, I captured in their wedding film. I wanted to film their ceremony as if I was a guest, but with this extra creative and artistic touch. For this reason, I positioned a camera at the back of the aisle, which is essentially the view that most of their guests will have had: the couple, holding hands, with nothing but mountains and blue sky behind them.
Guests enjoying a drink after wedding ceremony
The Reception
Wedding breakfast at Villa Regina Teodolinda
Following confetti and drinks, the reception unfolded on the villa's terrace, offering guests a front-row seat to the breathtaking sunset over Lake Como. The tables were adorned with elegant floral arrangements which set the stage for a night of laughter, heartfelt toasts, and joyful celebration.
Rebecca had orchestrated everything, and her vision was stunning. Understated, but elegant and stylish. It really was perfect, as she let the venue and surroundings do the talking.
Wedding breakfast views of Lake Como
The menu featured a curated selection of Italian delicacies, paying homage to the local cuisine. Guests savoured every bite while sipping on fine wines, embracing the flavours of the region.
As the couple and their guests enjoyed their dinner, I saw this as a final opportunity to get creative, and capture their day from a different perspective. So, of course, I decided to fly my drone one last time. Sometimes, in a wedding film, you need that one shot, that one frame that connects the different parts of the day, or transports you from one location to the next. So I filmed the venue from up top, essentially adding an extra dimension to the wedding reception, without it being too intrusive.
Couple Portraits
Couple portraits on the jetty
Following the wedding ceremony, and after they’d had time to see their guests, we borrowed the couple for about 15mn to capture couple portraits. They had elected not to hire a private boat, as they wanted to ensure they had time to enjoy their guests.
However, to incorporate this amazing scenery into the wedding film, I felt we needed the couple on the jetty, with nothing but water and boats behind them. The frames I selected for their film tell a story of love: the stolen glances, the touch of hands, the gentle kisses on the head. All those small moments, against a picture-perfect backdrop, helped me craft a narrative that was unique to them.
The wedding film
When discussing their vision for their wedding film with Rebecca and James, we spoke about timeless Italian elegance. They didn’t want a quintessential British wedding. They wanted the film to encapsulate the unique location they had chosen for the day, with them at the center of it.
As a Destination Wedding Videographer, I also felt like I needed to let Lake Como do the talking. Rebecca and James are both adventurous and fun, so their film needed to be romantic, but not soppy. It needed to have energy, but also be refined.
The choice of music was key. I wanted to keep within the Italian theme, so naturally I elected a Classical, Cinematic soundtrack with cello and violin. Instruments that align with the local culture.
Their wedding film delivers on their vision: a story of love and friendship, that embraces the destination.
“Where to start. The video is just amazing, unbelievable, watching it back feels like it was a dream.”
Couple overlooking Lake Como
Team on the day
Film: Joce - Lune de Miel Studio
Photographer: We.wedding photography
Venue: Villa Regina Teodolinda - Lake Como
Dress: Prea James Bridal
MUA: Laura Webb Makeup
Florist: Figli Dei Fioricomo
Catering: Sunlake Catering
Stationery: The Kids Press Company