Help in arranging a wedding in Rome for 2009

[HelenMW]

Although we got married in tuscany rather than Rome we organised it ourselves & found the British Consulate staff in Florenece (though I believe at least one of them is now in Rome) were very helpful. We hired a local translator for both the ceremony & to help us with odd bits & pieces but found it simple to sort photographers & cakes ourselves

[KarenR]

Yes it is the same Gabriella and I endorse everything said. She certainly was more like a good friend than a paid helper. We were married in an ex monastery near to the colasseum (beautiful) - Gabriella will have all the details. At the time we were married she had a japanese magazine interested in her work and we were asked if they could interview us (no pressure, actually said no to start with as wanted quiet wedding but then decided it would be nice to do someting for Gabriella as she had been so good to us) - we actually ended up in the Japanese magazine (they were very polite and unobtrusive) and we had one of Japans most famous make-up artists at our wedding (glad I didn't know that until after - worried enough about my shiny nose). Pino the photographer was great and put us at ease - he actually had 3 haselblad (spelling!!) cameras on a frame clicking within seconds of each other, thus some amazing photos.

[Postmac]

Hi congratulations on your choice of country. Italy is a magical country to get married in.

I'd agree with Cathnmike though - Rome can be a bit of a conveyor belt. There are lots of fabulous towns and areas to get married in and you'd probably feel a lot more like the centre of attention in a smaller place. The locals might even make a fuss of you.

Also food accomodation etc are likelier to be cheaper outside of Rome. You could do a Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes on it and head for Lake Bracciano! Or a friend of mine got married in Rome and then had their reception in Tivoli (not that far from Rome - I know but still a bit away from the madness!)

Wherever you decide to go I hope it all works out perfectly for you.

[snowhazey]

Yes the 'conveyor belt' situation is certainly something that worries both myself and my partner (especially as we prefer the busier Campidoglio Wedding Hall) and before we went down the line of getting married in Rome this was the one thing that cosistently put us off marrying in other places. On the other hand, Rome is an amazing and romantic city and we loved it there the first time we stayed there. I suppose we are kind of hoping that by marrying in such a wonderful and memorable location, that the short and sweet ceremony wouldn't bother us so much. Putting all things into consideration for those of you who have already been there and done it - was the queing up to be married a bit of a disappointment and would you have rather married in a quieter location? This is the only doubt we have about Rome.

[English teacher]

It was short and sweet, and we were happy to have it that way. The whole day was wonderful, and the ceremony was memorable because it didn't go on forever, the official was kind, and the location was fabulous - very atmospheric.

It's what you make of it. The couple before us had all the bells and whistles (major dress, lots of attendants and so on). Then we came along with our two witnesses, but no photographers. After us was a very nervous bride having a last-minute fag. Her groom finally turned up in the police car, minder in tow. I presume they got married ok, though we didn't linger!

[snowhazey]

Well, since reading a few of the responses to my post, my partner and I who were certainly set on Rome, now have a small doubt eating away at us... So, we have decided to look into smaller towns and villages (as suggested by Postmac) preferably not too far from Rome, though this is not set in stone, where it may feel a little more intimate i.e not a queue of brides and grooms waiting to be married. If anyone has any ideas of somewhere very special where we could have our wedding, your recommendations would be very welcome indeed - especially if you have had first hand experience of your wedding there. We just want to at least exhaust all our options before making our final decision so we don't regret the choice we make!
Thank you!

[snappersass]

Hi we are English wedding photographers living in Italy..if you mail me on capturelavista@hotmail.com with an idea of you budget for photos etc we maybe able to help!!!
our website address is Capture la vista, Digital photo holidays in Puglia with Steve & Sarah Barney our style is reportage we have over 30 years experience between us, we are a husband & wife team enabling us to cover your day to the max! We also freelance for the BBC for music festival so this will give you an idea of our standard of work!

I hope we can be of help to you on your wedding day :)
sarah & steve
Capture la vista, Digital photo holidays in Puglia with Steve & Sarah Barney

[KarenR]

Maybe we were fortunate; it's just got busier since we married in 2006 or it was down to Gabriella's fantastic planning, but there was no queue of brides and grooms where we got married - no sight of another couple anywhere in fact. We pulled up in our limousine in the quiet tree lined street to be met by no more than Gabriella, Pino (photographer) and the Japanese photographers. The car door was opened for me, we posed for photographs briefly and then very serenly I was escorted by my cousin(who gave me away) into the beautiful ex-monastery. I felt like royalty. The service did not feel at all quick or rushed, in fact much longer than an English civil ceremony. My guests were already seated in the monastery waiting for us, along with the 2 Carabinieri who stood behind the lady conducting the service and Garbriella (plus other officials). At the end of the service we left via a side door into a courtyard/garden where we were showered by rice and rose petals and had some more photographs taken. Again no rush and no sign of others to be married. We chose Rome as like you we have some very fond and special memories of the city and certainly would not have changed it for some quiet little village, however pretty. Although I did have flowers I was also presented with a bouquet of orchids from the sindico at the end of the ceremony. I have attended many weddings in many places (and as the bride previously!) but none were so amazing as this.

[cathnmike]

Hi there again

It didn't spoil our day - nothing could have done that, it was just wonderful - but it was definitely noticeable. By the time I arrived the previous wedding had ended but they were having photos taken outside; when we came out there was another one waiting to go in. It was actually quite nice as we all wished each other well! - but it's definitely only a short service and you can't alter or add to it. That was our only disappointment as we would have liked to have some readings and maybe our own vows.

Would I do it again in Rome? Yes in that we just loved Rome and we had a wonderful meal - and the photos are just spectacular (we chose the Trevi Fountain to have our main ones done and it looks like we were the only ones there! - Pino just cleared everyone away!).

But, like you, I would now be torn because I know more about Italy and I've seen other possibilities. It really depends on what you feel in your heart you want. I might go for a more relaxed approach now, and invite a few more family members, because I know I could make accommodation arrangements for them in Le Marche which would be exceptional and because I know a wedding there would be traditional, more relaxed, and more rural Italian.

So - you takes your money and you makes your choice ... Again, let me know if I can help any more, wherever you decide to have your day. Wherever it is, it will be special.

Love

Cath xx

[Skichi]

Originally Posted by KarenR

... In the end though we decided to use a photographer that she recommends having seen some of his work (he's a fashion photographer rather than a wedding snapper).

So you fell for that old chestnut then! Half the photographers in italy call themselves fashion photographers. It's more of an image thing than anything to do with practical ability. A bit like comparing a fast-jet pilot to a 747 captain really: similar principles to the job but vastly different in practice and either crossing over into the other's territory could be disastrous. Most haven't shot so much as a fashion magazine spread in their lives however!

We shot a wedding at the Caracalla followed by the reception at the famous Hotel Hassler just a few weeks ago. The presidential suite there is around 4000 Euro/night (without breakfast!) However, it has a fantastic roof terrace all to itself over-looking the Spanish Steps. It makes for a lovely intimate setting for a meal if you can take the hit on the room rate. Tom & Katie had it for a week before their own wedding. Some images on our blog: Gareth & Alisa: The Hassler, Rome Wedding Photographers: Italy & UK - iMAG1NE bLOG