Brittani and Anna traveled all the way from Chicago to Lake Como and were looking for someone to take engagement photos for them while they were in town. They wanted to live the real Lake Como experience, so I planned for them to meet for a stroll on the beach, followed by a boat ride on a Riva motorboat and a walk around the gardens of one of the most exclusive villas, Villa del Balbianello.
Riva’s history dates back to 1842, when Pietro Riva began building boats on Lake Iseo. By the 1930s the company was a leading manufacturer of small racing boats and pleasure boats, then in the 1950s Carlo Riva transformed the business creating wooden boats of such exceptional style and elegance that surpassed anything their competitors produced. Through a great deal of hard work, and some very clever marketing, the Riva brand became a worldwide legend courted by screen stars, royalty and businessmen alike. Famous owners included Brigitte Bardot, pictured on her Super Florida, Sophia Loren, Peter Sellers and many more besides. The Ariston (the one we used for the photos) was the boat that Carlo Riva was most fond of. A smooth yet sporty ride, this boat was made for Lake Como.
Sun, sea and joy of life, was the slogan of one of the most famous models in the range. So what could be better than a ride on a Riva boat early in the morning? The light is fantastic, the lake is still quiet and the Riva darts like a missile: picture perfect!
Location: Villa del Balbianello in Lenno | Riva Ariston: Como Classic Boats (special thanks to Fabrizio for the lovely boat ride and to Mattia that drove me around the girls letting me take all the photos I had in mind!)