How to Elope in Rome | Full Elopement Guide for 2025

Ever since I visited Rome for the first time, it’s been calling my name. . . so I decided I had to tell you all about it in case you’re looking for the perfect place to elope in Italy. From incredibly beautiful ancient ruins to exquisite cuisine, Rome is a dream destination for eloping couples—and in this guide, you’ll learn everything there is to know about planning a Rome elopement. Have fun (or in this case, divertiti) exploring!

Where is Rome?

Rome is the capital city of Italy, located in the central region of the Italian Peninsula. Nicknamed the Eternal City for its timeless beauty and abundance of ancient ruins, Rome is most famous for its historical sites including the Colosseum, the Vatican City, the Pantheon, and SO much more. Thousand-year-old churches, stunning monuments and sculptures, cascading fountains, massive Roman ruins. . . this city is truly like no other.

Rome Fun Facts

A few fun facts that’ll help you get to know this incredible part of Italy:

—The city of Rome actually has a small country inside of it: Vatican City! Rome is technically the capital of both Italy and Vatican City.

—Currently, Rome is home to more than 2,000 fountains and over 900 churches (more fountains AND churches than any other city in the world)

—A lot of locals love to ride Vespas around the city, and prefer them over cars due to high taxes on gas

—Rome has the largest number of catacombs in the world, which are these wild underground tunnels where Christians used to bury their dead

—Rome just so happens to be the perfect place to elope in Italy for couples who are fascinated by history, love exploring ancient sites, and getting a mix of both urban conveniences + stunning landscapes!

How to Get to Rome

There are a few different ways to get to Rome, depending on where you’re coming from:

If you’re traveling from another European city by train, you’ll arrive at the Rome Termini station downtown. If you’re flying in, you’ll arrive at the Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport, and can then book a rental car, take a taxi/Uber, or take the high-speed train to the central part of the city.

When is the Best Time of Year to Elope in Rome?

In all the excitement of planning your travels, booking your activities, and picking your locations, it can be easy to forget just how important the date of your Rome elopement really is. That’s why I’ve dedicated an entire section to helping you decide when to elope in Rome to avoid crowds, spend less on your travel + accommodations, and experience the best weather possible.

While there are a whole lot of factors that go into choosing your elopement date, the overall best time to elope in Rome is the shoulder seasons: specifically, April-May and September-October. These times offer the best of both the peak and off-peak seasons—cooler temperatures, and slightly fewer crowds.

Peak season in Rome lasts from June through August, with these months seeing the highest temperatures and the largest number of tourists filling the city. But honestly, I’d recommend avoiding this time of year if you can, simply because of how HOT it can get. Average highs are usually in the 80’s, but with the increasing impacts of climate change, Rome has seen summer temperatures of 90-100°F in recent years. Those temperatures, plus the humidity of the area, makes for some pretty unpleasant conditions to be walking around in!

This is why spring and fall are your best bets: you won’t be wandering around in crazy hot temperatures (and going back to a hotel room that likely doesn’t have air conditioning, yikes), or avoiding tourists every step you take—conditions are much more comfortable and you’re likely to find more privacy as you check out the city. May is an amazing time to elope in Rome due to the warm temperatures that are comfortable without getting super hot, and it’s kinda the calm before the storm that is summer tourism! Same with September—it’s a gorgeous time to visit after the biggest crowds leave.

Best Places to Elope in Rome

When choosing a place to elope in Rome, there are a few major things you’ll need to consider:

What type of ceremony you’re having: If you’re having a legal marriage ceremony (whether civil or religious), you may be limited to certain locations. I’ll be touching more on this in the next section of this guide!
Whether any permits are required: Certain locations around Rome may have photography restrictions, such as the Sistine Chapel, where no photos are allowed whatsoever. Other locations may have permit requirements for wedding photography—but typically, you shouldn’t run into many issues taking elopement portraits around the city. It’s always a good idea to double check for historically significant landmarks, though!
Crowds and tourists: Rome is obviously a huge tourist destination, so you’ll either need to pick a time to elope that is less crowded, or be okay with tourists around you as you explore the city! Most touristy locations in Rome are at their peak during the summer months, from June-August, as well as spring, from April-May. I’ll be covering this in a later section of this guide, and giving you my best tips on how to avoid crowds during your elopement.

Now, let’s dive into a few of my favorite spots I visited during my time in Rome that would be AMAZING locations for eloping couples to add to their itinerary!

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain obviously has to be at the top of this list, given that it’s one of the most historically significant and well-known landmarks in all of Italy. The 18th-century Baroque fountain has been an icon of Rome since the late 1700’s, and is now a hub for tourists who want to see the world-famous architecture for themselves. Featuring a variety of intricate sculptures and incredibly beautiful details, including the main sculpture of Oceanus front and center, Trevi Fountain is known for a myth about tossing coins in the fountain and meeting your future Italian spouse next time you travel to Rome. . . although I’m not sure that’s quite relevant in this case, since you’ve already made it to Rome with the person you’re about to marry 😉

The Colosseum

Another obvious addition to this list is the Colosseum! After all, it IS one of the new 7 wonders of the world, and is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Rome, eloping or not. This ancient amphitheater is by far one of the COOLEST things I have ever seen, located in the center of Rome and holding the title of the largest standing amphitheater in the world—despite the fact that it’s literally almost two thousand years old. Even though the original structure is now in ruins, the architecture is still astounding to witness, with towering columns and arches made of travertine stone, and decorations featuring various styles from Tuscan, to Ionic, to Corinthian. Such a freaking cool backdrop to have in your elopement photos!

The Pantheon

Clearly, Rome has a never ending supply of ancient buildings that I’m obsessed with and that have made their mark on our modern world as incredibly famous landmarks. The Pantheon is an ancient , 2nd century Roman temple turned Catholic church, famously recognized for its massive dome (featuring the “eye of the Pantheon,” or the oculus), large granite columns, and obelisk that stands atop a fountain out front. Fun fact about the Pantheon: the original building had actually burned down and rebuilt TWICE, once after a random fire and again after being struck by lightning!

Temple of Hadrian

Named after the Roman Emperor Hadrian who led Rome to peace, the Temple of Hadrian is a spectacular temple located just a few streets over from the Pantheon. While you unfortunately can’t go inside of the temple, the exteriors are breathtaking enough to enjoy from Piazza di Pietra, featuring 11 soaring Corinthian columns and a rectangular building made up of Proconnesian marble—a distinctive grey and white type of marble that originates in northwestern Turkey. 10/10 recommend stopping by to admire the temple while you’re walking around the streets of Rome, especially since it’s so close to the Pantheon as well.

The city streets

Speaking of walking around the streets of Rome, that might be all you need to do in order to find beautiful locations for your elopement photos! Simply wandering the streets will have you passing by all kinds of cute doors, walls, alleyways, and colorful Vespas parked along the sidewalks. Rome is often referred to as an “open-air museum,” since you can pretty much just walk through the city and see so many incredible, historical monuments and landmarks without even having to pay a museum entry fee. There are so many adorable bars and eateries, too, plus you HAVE to stop at a cafe to enjoy a cappuccino, prosecco, or an Aperol spritz (or all three)!

Can Americans Get Legally Married in Rome?

Short answer: yes, Americans can get legally married in Rome!

Long answer: while you can get legally married in Rome as Americans, it may be easier to opt for a symbolic ceremony, instead. Let’s go through your three options when it comes to the types of marriage ceremonies you can have in Rome, shall we?

First thing’s first: for either a civil or religious marriage ceremony in Rome, you’ll need to do the following:

Obtain an affidavit, or a “Dichiarazione Giurata” from the U.S. Embassy in Rome, and have it legalized by the Legalization Office of the Rome Prefettura
Obtain an Atto Notorio
Schedule an appointment with the marriage office at Rome City Hall
Present all required documents and make the Declaration of Intention to Marry
Obtain the Apostille on your marriage certificate

You can find further information about legal marriage in Rome as US citizens here.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies in Rome

The first type of ceremony available to Americans (and anyone) in Rome is a civil ceremony, which has to be performed by either a mayor or a mayoral deputy. This ceremony does NOT involve any religious elements, and requires two witnesses over the age of 18 to be present. You may also need to get an interpreter to help you communicate with your officiant.

The reason why I don’t recommend having a civil marriage ceremony for your elopement in Rome is that you’re limited to certain locations: most civil ceremonies in Rome are performed at the Complesso di Vignola Mattei, but they can also take place at the City Hall in Piazza del Campidoglio on weekends.

Religious Marriage Ceremonies in Rome

The second type of ceremony is a religious ceremony, which is performed by a Roman Catholic priest, who then registers your marriage with the civil authorities. In order to have a religious ceremony, you’ll need all the documents I listed earlier as well as certificates showing your baptism and confirmation from the Roman Catholic Church.

Symbolic Marriage Ceremonies in Rome

This is the one I’d recommend opting for, because it’ll make your life a heck of a lot easier throughout the process. A symbolic ceremony is one that doesn’t require any legal procedures, because you’ve already completed the legal paperwork to get married back home before traveling to Italy. It’ll be wayyyy less stressful if you can travel to Rome to celebrate without having to worry about scheduling various appointments and meetings with local offices to obtain the proper paperwork—and instead, can simply exchange vows, gifts, or words in a symbolic ceremony that takes place in Rome!

10 Unforgettable Rome Elopement Ideas

Trying to figure out how to fill your Rome elopement itinerary? Luckily, there are ENDLESS incredible sights to see throughout the city—below are 10 awesome activities I’d recommend including in your schedule!

1. Take a food tour through Trastevere

2. Stroll through the Villa Borghese Gardens

3. Take a cooking class with a local

4. Visit the Basilica di San Clemente

5. See world-famous art at the Vatican Museums

6. Ride around the city streets on a Vespa

7. Take a tour through the Borghese Gallery

8. Visit the Roman Forum

9. Meander through the halls of the Capitoline Museums

10. Take the Scavi tour below St. Peter’s Basilica

Final Tips for Your Rome Elopement

Before you head off to plan your dreamy Rome elopement, I’ve got a few final travel tips for ya on the more practical side of things.

Wear comfortable shoes: You’re going to be walking around Rome for HOURS on end, so I recommend prioritizing comfort over fashion when it comes to the shoes you wear!
Don’t try to do everything at once: Because there is SO much to see around Rome, it’s really easy to pack wayyy too many things into one day. I recommend only trying to see one, maybe two major landmarks (museums, historical sites, etc.) per day to give yourselves time to rest, relax, and really enjoy everywhere you go.
Dress appropriately: Some churches around Rome require you to have your shoulders covered, so be sure to have a jacket or scarf with you, especially if you’re walking around in the summertime.
Avoid peak times at popular sites: Yes, you’ll def want to see places such as the Vatican Museum, but the crowds at historical sites like these can be insane. Weekends are typically busiest, as are Mondays and Fridays.
Buy museum tickets in advance: Trust me, it’ll save you a lot of hassle if you can just walk into a museum like the Vatican and avoid waiting in long lines to buy tickets!

Hiring Your Rome Elopement Photographer

After my recent trip to Rome, I’ve completely fallen in love with everything about the ancient city and can’t stop envisioning how magical of an elopement destination it would be. You could start your morning off with a cappuccino on the patio of a local cafe, explore one of the (many) famous landmarks to check off your bucket list, find a private spot in an alley to say your vows, spend the evening wining & dining & Aperol-spritz-ing, and stroll beneath the city street lamps back to your Airbnb. The dream.

Having the right photographer there with you is key to making sure you’re able to preserve every wonderful, beautiful, epic memory you make during your time in Rome—especially one who has experience traveling around the city. I’m Sarah, and I may be just the gal for you!

Learn all about my all-inclusive Rome elopement packages here, and fill out my contact form at the bottom of this page to get in touch. Can’t wait to sip on glasses of prosecco after your ceremony + stroll through the romantic city streets with you!

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I’m Sarah, an elopement photographer traveling around the United States in my campervan.

I spend months at a time at each location I travel to, diving deep into the local elopement market in that area, so I can bring the important information to you from the comfort of your home.

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