Destination Wedding in Venice
If you are booking a destination wedding in Venice then you are now officially my favourite people. We have to be best friends. Weddings in Venice are like no other. It is the most romantic and picture perfect destination for weddings, and I want to be there with you. I have travelled a lot and have a rule to never go back to the same place twice. Then I went to Venice and the rule was well and truly broken. To say I love this city would be an understatement. It owns part of my heart.
Having been to Venice many times, I thought I could offer some pointers for planning your destination wedding in Venice. A round up of places to get married and where to go for those all important wedding photos.
If you are planning a large wedding in Venice then I would recommend a wedding planner, however, if you are planning an elopement to Venice, then you could be brave and plan things yourself. So here is a little guide to help you plan your destination wedding in Venice.
Get me there already!
Getting to Venice is fairly easy but only once you know what to expect, after all there are no roads, so that hire car you paid a small fortune for, just won’t cut it . My favourite way would be to arrive by train to the Santa Lucia Train Station on the North Western edge of the city. It is magical and I am a bit of a romantic at heart, ultimately it’s a train station so it’s not really glamourous. I just always wanted to arrive there on the Orient Express, stepping on the platform in a silk ball gown and have people carry my bags. I think I am pushing my luck with that.
There’s also a bus terminal and parking garages nearby, at Piazzale Roma. Venice also has the small Marco Polo Venice Airport, and from there, you can take a bus or boat into Venice. You could always fly to Milan and take the 3 hour drive. I did this once and the scenery was stunning.
The official part, The Wedding Ceremony
As tempting as it is to walk the streets of Venice taking in its beauty and stopping for gorgeous photos, if you are planning to have your wedding in Venice, you will want a ceremony.
You can celebrate all types of weddings in Venice. Religious ceremonies of all types are held in various churches and cathedrals spread among the islands of this unique city.
With all weddings, abroad or at home, there are some legal aspects that you will need to consider. I recommend a little research on this before you start looking, just so you know what to expect. A relatively new law for Civil Unions has been active since May 2016 in Italy. Same-sex couples can now apply for a Civil Union Ceremony in Italy. Well that is progress that I can get on board with . A great source for a more in depth read, is Italian Wedding Event. The link for documentation information is here https://www.italianweddingevent.com/wedding-requirements-for-italy/requirements-for-british/
Civil Ceremony Locations
A huge number of Civil ceremonies, are held at Palazzo Cavalli (town Hall). Palazzo Cavalli has a hall on the first floor with a with venetian window called “quadrifora”. From the balcony, you can capture a breath-taking view over the city which is perfect for your wedding photos. https://www.comune.venezia.it/it/content/matrimonio-1
If you fancy something else, equally as beautiful, then you could look into a civil ceremony at Ca’ Vendramin Calerg.. https://www.casinovenezia.it/it/wedding If you are looking for an option of an outside ceremony then this could be it.
Another option for a civil ceremony in Venice is the beautiful Ca’ Loredan. Located along the Grand Canal and a short distance from the Rialto Bridge.
Looking for a Catholic ceremony? Then St Marks Basilica offers ceremonies most days apart from Easter and Lent, if the priest agrees. This is normally after 5pm when it closes to the public.
Best Wedding Venues in Venice
It wouldn’t be much of a guide if I didn’t include some beautiful venues in which to immerse yourself and you can get an idea of what’s on offer for your wedding reception. The prices do vary (massively in some cases) but I love looking at different places and can quite happily loose an hour or so planning my next wedding in Venice, much to my husband’s disappointment.
Hotel Danieli
The Hotel Danieli is by far my favourite hotel in Venice, mainly due to it’s gorgeous staircase, I do love a staircase shot. But I also love the film “The Tourist”. If you have not seen it go watch it. Will make you fall in love with Venice even more (if that is actually possible). Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie have got me through many a dark night dreaming of Venice. The second I walked into this hotel I fell in love. You can find out all the info you need here https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/event-planning/wedding-planning/vcelc-hotel-danieli-a-luxury-collection-hotel-venice/
Ca’ Sagredo
If your dream is to say “I do” in a Venetian Palace… Ca’ Sagredo has it all! The hotel has 42 rooms and offers three spaces for weddings (the Music Ballroom, Portego Hall and Rooftop Terrace) and it can hold up to 110 guests. https://www.casagredohotel.com/wedding/
Belmond Hotel Cipriani
If you would like to hold a symbolic ceremony you could visit Belmond Hotel Cipriani. This beautiful hotel can accommodate large wedding parties of 250 or smaller ones on the Terrace with around 50 guests.
Best locations for wedding photography in Venice
I can hardly talk about my favourite city without mentioning my favourite spots for wedding photography. Every corner you turn will provide you with another view, another bridge another building. Each as beautiful as the last. It would be easy to loose yourself in amongst the canals and cobbled streets. From experience 3 hours can feel like 3 mins and whoosh, your time has gone! Finding your must have wedding photo locations in Venice before you go, will ensure you don’t miss that iconic shot. Imagine running out of time for that big showstopper shot you were dreaming of. Nope not on my watch. These are a few of the must have locations.
Famous Locations in Venice
St Mark’s Square and Bell Tower
St Mark’s Square and Bell Tower is probably the most iconic backdrop in Venice. It is by far the busiest. If you want some wedding photos here without any tourists, you are going to have to get up early and have a pre wedding photo shoot. The images you see, with couples in a romantic embrace in a deserted square, do not happen by chance, they are pre planned and executed long before the big day. If you don’t fancy an early start on your wedding day, you could embrace the chaos (and the pigeons) and incorporate that into your photos.
Once when I was drinking coffee in St Mark’s Square (yes, I did pay a small fortune for it, but I also had a man playing Pachelbel’s Canon in D on the piano on a hot summers day, I could not have been happier, worth every penny). I saw 4 separate couples in wedding attire within an hour. It is really busy but walking through dressed in your wedding outfits, you will feel like royalty. Everyone will want to congratulate you, it is pretty special.
Riva Deglli Schiavoni
This is also a hugely popular spot for wedding photos in Venice. The promenade runs along the waters edge and is a perfect location for sunset shots with gondolas in the background, and one of my all time favourite photos was taken here. The photo is not much to write home about, but it is how it makes me feel when I look at it that makes it special. It encapsulates all that Venice is for me. Again it’s a busy spot so be prepared either to have people in your shot or have a photographer who is more than happy to stop the crowds for you… I am that photographer.
What about those Bridges?
The Bridge of Sighs
One of the most famous bridges in Venice and the world for that matter. When you think of images of Venice I bet this one will come up. It is a popular spot for Wedding Photographers in Venice but be prepared to have to hold people back from getting in your shot. Legend does state that “If you kiss on a gondola whilst passing underneath the Bridge of Sighs you will have eternal love” well worth a try on the wedding day!
Rialto Bridge
If I were to show you a photo of this bridge, even if you didn’t now the name of it I am pretty confident you would know it was somewhere in Venice. It’s kind of a big deal. Instantly recognisable. Photos near it or passing underneath, whilst on a gondola would work much better. This way you get to have the bridge in your shot. Standing on it for photos is great but not as dramatic. There is a lovely photo of me standing on the Rialto Bridge, my hair is great, I look slim, I look happy, I look tanned, but it just looks like any old bridge. Pretty average. The photos I took with the Rialto Bridge in the background look awesome. If you go to a nearby wooden jetty and stand there, the photos will look epic.
Accademia Bridge
This is one of 4 bridges that cross the Grand Canal and offer the most spectacular views of Venice from both directions. Wedding photos in Venice should definitely include a shot from here. One of my all time favourite spots to take photos.
So I think we can take it that I love Venice. I think we have established that I love being a destination wedding photographer and I am pretty certain that if you are planning a wedding in Venice, I am absolutely 100 % the girl you need to hire to take your wedding photos. I mean we did agree that we are best friends now, so it would make it awkward if I wasn’t there.
My passport is always in date, I know Venice pretty well and I can take rather lovely photos. Click this link to send me an enquiry https://www.sarahcarterphotography.co.uk/contact-me/