A bride-to-be has divided opinion after she revealed how much she paid to book her dream wedding venue in Italy's stunning Lake Como.
Liz Inglisa, 25, from Chicago, and her fiancé are due to tie the knot in August 2024 and have rented an Italian venue called Villa Balbiano to say their ‘I dos’.
Viewers of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones or Casino Royale will already be familiar with the iconic space, which is situated on the western shore of Lake Como.
Once belonging to Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, the 16th-century house is now exclusively available to hire for private events such as weddings and for Hollywood blockbuster film sets.
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Inglisa, who got engaged on a private cruise at sunset on the Amalfi Coast, is one bride-to-be who has successfully secured the venue for her nuptials next year.
Opening up to her 29,600 followers about the price, the 25-year-old said in a video: “I have never been asked a question more in my life so let's get into how much our Lake Como wedding and venue cost.
“Villa Balbiano is probably one of the most sought-after wedding venues on the entire planet probably because of this view.”
After showing breathtaking photographs from the house, Inglisa admitted that she had wanted to get married there since she saw a picture ‘about five or six years ago’.
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After discussing the iconic backdrop, the Chicago-dweller dived into the price she paid to hire the venue.
“So the venue can either be rented for the entire weekend - Friday through Sunday, two nights, three days - for €100,000 (£86,000)
“Or you can rent it for one day but you can only rent it one day on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and the cost of that is €40,000 (£34,000).
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“Another question I keep getting is ‘What is included in the cost of the venue?’ and the answer is absolutely nothing.
“The €40,000 euros or the €100,000 euros is just the price of the venue and absolutely nothing else,” she added.
After admitting the price of the Italian venue, viewers have come out in their droves to give their opinions.
One TikTok user said: “As someone who works weddings, this price for one day is so reasonable and what a lot of US venues charge as well (that aren’t as pretty!!)”
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A second said: “I’m so beyond jealous but congratulations. This is my dream wedding.”
“Worth it if you have the budget for it! Como is amazing & lots of hidden gems, but if you want VB you pay VB,” commented a third.
However, not everyone was so forgiving in the TikToker’s comments section.
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One wrote: “I really hope it works out for you. Spending $100k for a 50/50 proposition is courageous.”
“I regret spending $ on a wedding, now we need IVF & the wedding would have covered the cost. Beautiful venue though. Love it,” said another.
A third replied: “I cannot understand how anyone is willing to pay so much for one day, I'd rather have a tiny wedding and go on a long honeymoon.”
Topics: Money, Travel, Wedding, Sex and Relationships
Ella Scott