Grace & Sam's Lake Como Wedding (and Why I'm Still Not Over It)

I'm just sad it's all over, to be honest.

Grace and Sam's Lake Como wedding is one of those memories that can make me really happy or really sad, depending on which way my brain's facing that day. Sad, because I'll never get to film that wedding again. Happy, because I got to film it at all.

How it all started

Grace is friends and colleagues with Lizzie, a bride whose wedding I'd shot a couple of years earlier (Lizzie & Jordan's Wedding Blog). Lizzie and Jordan loved their films, wrote me a glowing review and clearly spread the word. Then Grace got in touch to ask the question.

At the time my website said absolutely nothing about destination weddings (because I'd never done one), so I think she was just checking I'd be up for it. Reader, I was up for it.

Excitement, then the fear

It was one of those things you get incredibly excited about, right up until the nerves and anxiety move in and take over. Filming a wedding is a high-pressure gig at the best of times. Now add airlines, airport parking, security, customs, insurance, car rental and hotels. Plus all my camera gear, lights and tripods in the hold. Oh, and let's not forget how much airports hate drones.

Suddenly it was a logistical nightmare. A nightmare I was fully prepared to take on, mind. In a former life BC (Before Cameras) I was a project manager, so this was all very doable. People do this stuff all the time. It was just a first for me.

So I made the plan, got the insurance, registered my drone with the EU, and booked the flights, apartment and car. Then I packed up my cousin and my best friend (they agreed to caddy for me in exchange for tagging along, and were completely invisible at the wedding, of course) and off we went!

Milan, motorways and the first glimpse

We landed in Milan two days before the wedding. I wanted some contingency time in case anything went sideways while travelling. Of course, nothing did. We arrived on time, picked up the car and headed north towards Como City.

Driving in Italy was absolutely fine. The motorways are easy, and thanks to data roaming, Google Maps did the heavy lifting. Como City (about 45 minutes from the airport) had major one-way-city-driving energy, but we were only passing straight through towards the lake, so no drama.

Okay. So. There's a point where you turn a corner and get your first glimpse of the lake. It's breathtaking. The only things I can compare it to are seeing the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. It makes you stop and appreciate how stunning this planet is. It's still far enough away that it doesn't look real, but close enough that you know it is. Weird feeling.

This isn't a small lake, either. When I think "lake", I picture something a local council once discussed: "Well, it's too big to call a pond, so shall we just put 'lake' on the form?" Lake Como, on the other hand, is one of the deepest lakes in the world. It could swallow the Empire State Building. Not exactly your typical English country park.

This is also the point where the roads stop being easy.

As far as I can tell, there's one narrow, windy road that loops the lake. Drive it carelessly and you will crash, scrape your car or, worst of all, go off a cliff. Shout out to Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell's character in The Morning Show), who literally drove off a cliff at Lake Como. In the series. Not in real life.

Lezzeno: a proper locals' village

I digress. We pulled up in a little village called Lezzeno, after stopping for a glass of red Lake Como wine in George Clooney's local on the way.

Lezzeno is a small locals' village, just before Bellagio (yes, the Bellagio the Las Vegas hotel is based on). I imagine most tourists drive straight through it without stopping. Bellagio is much bigger and more built up, all glamorous hotels and restaurants, so it's the complete opposite of Lezzeno. Personally, I love being outside the tourist areas. Surrounded by locals, eating local food and navigating the language barrier is far more my thing! And yes, the wedding was in Lezzeno, if you hadn't already guessed.

Grace's family are from the village, so a few businesses (the post office, the pharmacy and so on) share her surname. Proper locals' village. It was an honour to be there, I must say.

Once we'd settled into the apartment, we went off to explore and find some food (and a couple of beers). We ended up meeting a few of the wedding guests that night, which was a lot of fun.

The next day, Grace and the girls returned from Como City after her hen party. That evening, Grace, Sam and all their guests got together for pizza and drinks at The Aurora, the hotel hosting the reception. I joined in, got to know a few people and ran through the plan for the following morning.

The big day

On the morning of the wedding I was up early, sending the drone up from my balcony to grab some incredible shots of the village and the lake just after sunrise. Then I got dressed, packed up my gear and walked down to meet Sam, who gave me a quick tour of the church and where he'd be getting ready.

Next, I met Grace and the girls to start filming. They were having a great time, with an impressive breakfast platter and an even more impressive view of the lake.

The lads, meanwhile, were loosening up down the road in a wine cellar that must have been there for hundreds of years! They resurfaced for a couple more beers while they waited to walk up to the church.

Then Grace was ready to bring the girls to tears with her dress reveal. She looked amazing, and after a few shots of them all, she was ready to go.

Sam was at the church with all the guests, waiting for Grace's grand arrival. She travelled to the church by boat with the girls and her dad. I was at the church following them in with the drone, giving Sam and the groomsmen the signal to get inside and be ready.

Grace arrived at the absolutely stunning church to a choir singing majestically, as Sam caught his first glimpse of his bride.

The ceremony was beautiful, albeit in Italian and Latin. Sometimes you don't need to understand what's being said to know what it means. It was truly special.

The newlyweds were showered with confetti as they left the church after signing the paperwork, and the whole wedding party walked back to The Aurora, where the drinks were ready and waiting!

The sun was out. It was hot, but not too hot. The views were spectacular, the drinks were flowing and the music was on point. Honestly, I can't think of much that would have made this day any better!

After the food came the speeches. Every one was unbelievable, but I want to give a particular shout out to Sam's brother, Tom. Watch the video and you'll know what I mean.

Tom was also first on the decks once the sun had set, playing some chilled classics!

They cut the cake, had their first dance and then threw an incredible party!

By 9pm, Grace and Sam had pretty much ordered me to put the camera down and join the party. An order I could not refuse. (I kept the camera in hand, though. Just in case!)

Would I shoot another destination wedding?

Ummm... yes. In a heartbeat!