Ultimate Venice Elopement Guide | Best Locations + Inspiration

There’s nowhere more romantic to elope than the iconic island of Venice, with its vibrant blue waters, classic canal rides, charming alleyways, and gorgeous architecture & design galore. After traveling to Venice myself recently, I knew I had to put together a Venice elopement guide for those of you who might want to tie the knot on this idyllic island in northeastern Italy!

I’ll be covering everything you need to know to elope in Venice, including my top travel tips, must-see locations, all the important legal stuff, and more. Cheers (or as they say in Venice, saluti) to the Italian adventure of your dreams 🥂

Where is Venice?

Venice is actually part of a group of over 100 islands in the Venetian Lagoon of northeastern Italy, home to around 51,000 permanent residents (and plenty of tourists).

Venice Fun Facts

Venice is such a unique island with so many charming little qualities to it. Here are a few fun facts you might not have known about the world-famous island:

—There are more than 400 (!!) bridges across the 118 islands

—There are 177 different canals in Venice, the biggest being the iconic Grand Canal

—The first pasta factory in the world opened in Venice! So you know you’re getting the good stuff every meal.

—Venice was also home to the very first coffee shop, in St. Mark’s Square.

—Cycling, rollerskating, and skateboarding are banned in Venice—only traveling by foot or water is allowed.

—Not as fun of a fact, but Venice is slowly sinking into the sea due to the way it was constructed. Visit and enjoy it while you still can!

How to Get to Venice

To get to Venice, you can fly into the Marco Polo Airport, and then take the Alilaguna ferry or another water bus/shuttle to Venice. Easy peasy!

How to Travel Around Venice

There are no cars in Venice, so there’s no need to worry about budgeting for gas! You can either walk or take a form of water transportation, such as the canals through the main island itself, or the water taxis that offer rides to surrounding islands. Though I’d say gondola rides are more for a one-time tour of the canals than an actual, practical mode of transportation, since they’re SO expensive. Using the vaporetto system (essentially water buses) is definitely a better way to travel around Venice and to nearby islands, and at a lower price since you can get multi-day passes!

Why Elope in Venice?

Also known as the “Floating City,” Venice is undoubtedly one of the most romantic and beautifully-designed cities in the entirety of Europe—as you explore, you’ll see all kinds of old architectural styles, ranging from Byzantine to Renaissance, including the unique Venetian Gothic style that the island is so famous for. The towering arches, marble structures, and enormous amount of bridges make Venice feel like a museum in itself! Truly an architectural masterpiece. You can simply walk around and experience so much beauty, noticing the little details and textures of the walls around you, admiring the beauty of the buildings, the rooftop terraces, the churches. . . ugh, I love it so much.

When you need a break from walking the cobblestone streets or exploring the many bridges around the island, you’ll have no shortage of incredible food and drinks to choose from. Venice is known for its amazing seafood (especially everything you’ll find at the famous Rialto Fish Market), as well as its bakeries and cafes full of steaming cappuccinos, flaky cornettos, and mouthwatering calzones. One of my favorite parts of traveling is enjoying local dishes and trying every possible local restaurant/cafe I can fit into my schedule, and with how walkable Venice is, this is super easy to do on the island! Grab a pastry here, a cup of gelato there, an Aperol Spritz over there. . .

And while you’re at it, take in the views around you! The beauty of the Adriatic lagoon you’re floating on is easy to take for granted when you’re surrounded by the hustle and bustle of tourists, but every corner of Venice is incredibly stunning. Especially if you find a good viewpoint around sunset, and get to watch the golden glow of the sun slowly shine on the buildings above the sparkling blue waters of the lagoon.

Most Beautiful Venice Elopement Locations

Honestly, the beauty of Venice is that you can simply walk around and be met with so much beauty—in the architecture, the alleyways, the little shops and boutiques, a random door here and there that looks really picturesque; there’s no bad place to stop and take a look around.

This list of Venice elopement locations that I’m about to give you is super subjective, and what I’d recommend to you personally would depend on the time of year you elope, the time of day, what activities you want to do, etc.

Just keep in mind that some of these spots are huge tourist locations, and may not necessarily be good for ceremonies, but would be amazing for gorgeous portraits! I have a few hidden gems up my sleeve that I’d love to show you for a quieter, more private vow exchange.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

Ahhh the ever famous Piazza San Marco, the main public square in Venice that is a must-see during your time on the island. I would not recommend having your ceremony here as it’s super busy with tourists most of the time, but it would feel wrong to elope in Venice without grabbing some beautiful portraits in the square! With St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace in the background, it’s probably the most iconic place in Venice and would make for the perfect Italian elopement portraits.

Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)

I know I said that St. Mark’s Square was the most iconic location in Venice, but I might have to take that back for Rialto Bridge. This picturesque, stone arch bridge is the oldest of the four that span the Grand Canal, right in the heart of Venice. It was actually built between 1588-1591 after both Michelangelo & Palladio submitted designs for the bridge (but lost out to Antonio da Ponte), originally as a wooden bridge but since replaced with stone after a couple of collapses. I can just see it now: the two of you snuggling up at the top of the bridge, while I snap the most enchanting photos from down below on the docks—talk about a total dream come true. It’ll be like you’re in your own little fairytale world (especially dressed in your elopement attire)!

Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

All my architecture lovers are going to freakkk when they see this one. . . Palazzo Ducale is an absolute stunner of a palace, set in St. Mark’s Square. Featuring wildly beautiful Gothic architecture that I could stare at for ages, this palace used to be the political heart of Venice, featuring government offices, a jail, and the actual home of the former leader of the Republic of Venice. It’s not somewhere where you’d want to have a ceremony, but I definitely recommend buying tickets beforehand to make sure you’re able to see this absolute masterpiece of a building.

Bridge of Sighs

Just down the canal (the Rio di Pilazzo, to be exact) from Palazzo Ducale, you’ll find the Bridge of Sighs: a small but stunning limestone bridge that connects the palace to old prisons. Legend has it that if you kiss your partner as you pass underneath the bridge via gondola, your love will be eternal—not a bad place to take a few romantic couples portraits in your elopement attire, am I right? 😉

Grand Canal (Canal Grande)

I’ve already mentioned the Grand Canal, but I figured it deserved its own section! You could stop along literally any part of the canal and find a beautiful spot for photos, I swear. It’s the largest channel in Venice, with four bridges that cross it (including Rialto Bridge) and views for dayssss. From the canal you can see the lagoon stretching out into the Adriatic Sea, endless lines of amazing and colorful buildings along the water, the top of Palazzo Ducale, and breathtaking sunset colors at night. You’ll definitely want to spend some time meandering along the canal, either by food, boat, or gondola!

Legalities of Getting Married in Venice

If you want to tie the knot in Venice, here’s what you need to know!

Can Americans Get Legally Married in Venice?

Yes, American citizens are allowed to get legally married in Venice (and the rest of Italy)! However, if you don’t want to go through the process of obtaining your Italian marriage license, you can always opt for a symbolic ceremony instead.

Requirements to Get Married in Venice

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you would need in order to get legally married in Italy while you’re there:

Valid U.S. passports
Birth certificates (originals or copies)
“Dichiarazione Giurata” – an affidavit sworn before a U.S. consular accredited in ITaly
“Atto Notorio” — a declaration to get married from your nearest Italian embassy or consulate in the U.S.
A declaration of intention to marry at the town hall where your marriage will be performed
A civil ceremony performed by the mayor, or a religious ceremony performed by a Roman Catholic priest

While you can definitely do this if you want to, I’d honestly go with a symbolic ceremony to keep things easier and less stressful! You’ll go through all of the legal requirements to get married in your hometown in the U.S., and then have a symbolic vow exchange once you’re actually in Venice. It takes a lot off your plate when you’re already so busy planning for your trip, booking your travel, etc.!

Best Airbnbs & Hotels for a Romantic Stay in Venice

Venice has a TON of little Airbnbs to fall in love with, so you won’t have any trouble finding one to fit the vibe you’re looking for! There are endless hotels, rentals, and boutiques around every corner, and down every alleyway—plus, most of them are super cute + designed for tourists. I highly recommend seeing if you can find a place that has a rooftop terrace, or at least a balcony, so you can spend time enjoying the views of Venice while you sip your morning coffee, take an afternoon break/siesta, etc.

Below are a few of the highest-rated Airbnbs and hotels around Venice, including cozy little studio apartments, Venetian-style suites, and historic luxury hotels. Keep in mind that you’ll get a better break from the crowd if you stay further away from the main area with St. Mark’s Palace and Rialto Bridge.

Charming Airbnbs

—Rialto Sky Terrace & Spa

—Casa Manina sul Ponte

—Norah Studio

—Elegant Canal-Side Apartment

—Vendramin

—Apartment Palazzo Raspi

Romantic Hotels

10 Unforgettable Venice Elopement Ideas

It’s so hard to pick just a few things to recommend, because there are so many amazing ways to spend your time in Venice! Whether you want to keep your trip pretty low-key and go with the flow, or you want to pre-plan everything in advance, here are some of the must-do’s during your time on the island:

Ride a gondola around the classic Venice canals at sunset
Try as many gelato shops as you can find
Book a stay with a rooftop terrace to enjoy the views
Sip an Aperol Spritz (or better yet, a spritz made with local Select instead of Aperol)
Visit the glass blowing factory an island over on Murano
Take a day trip to explore Burano or Torcello
Wander around the alleys and cobblestone streets
Visit the Rialto Fish Market
See historic artifacts inside the Palazzo Ducale
Go up the tower at San Giorgio Maggiore

Click here for more bucket list adventures you should consider adding to your elopement itinerary!

Final Tips for Your Venice Elopement

Lastly, I wanted to leave you with a few key travel tips that you’ll want to keep in mind when planning your Venice elopement!

Fall is definitely the best time to elope in Venice if you want to avoid major crowds, hot weather, and high prices. April, May, June, and September tend to be the busiest months on the island, when it’s difficult to avoid tourists, so I’d recommend eloping between October-November for the best elopement experience!
Avoid crowds by eloping at sunrise, on a weekday, or at a less popular location. Trust me, the hotspots get PACKED during the day pretty much all year-round, so you’ll have a hard time finding privacy with a mid-day elopement.
Pack comfortable walking shoes, because walking is by far the best way to explore Venice like a local. Flip-flops or high heels definitely aren’t the way to go!
Don’t stick to just Venice—include some time in your itinerary to take trips to nearby islands such as Murano! There is SO much unique beauty on each of the different islands, and adjacent islands are often less touristy than the central part of Venice.
Take your time exploring. Don’t just book a one or two-day trip, because although you could technically see all the major landmarks in that time, you won’t really get to experience it like a local. You definitely want time to explore the little alleyways, check out new areas, travel to other islands, etc. and really get to know this charming part of Italy.
Book popular activities in advance. Certain places, like the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Palazzo Ducale, require a ticket in advance—or at least offer a speedier experience with a ticket, rather than waiting around with tons of other tourists.
Prepare to cover your shoulders/knees if you’re entering a church, such as St. Mark’s Basilica.

All-Inclusive Venice Elopement Packages

Destination weddings and elopements have been my jam lately—I’ll take literally any opportunity to travel around the world with a rad couple in love, whether it’s somewhere I’ve never been or a place I’ve visited 10 times. Italy will always have my heart, from the turquoise waters of the Amalfi Coast alllll the way to the cheesy gondola rides around Venice! It’s truly the dream place to elope: it’s warm, welcoming, incredibly scenic, and full of memorable ways to spend your time.

Plus, my all-inclusive elopement packages offer the perfect way to elope in Venice: a completely done-for-you experience where I help you plan everything from your vendors, down to the hotel you stay at. Reach out here to get a custom quote for your Venice elopement, and to start dreaming up your magical, magical Italian adventure! ✈️

Not sure where you want to elope yet? Here are a few of my all-time favorite elopement destinations around the world + planning guides to go along with each one:

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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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