Getting Married in Venice · 6 min read
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In brief
A civil wedding in Venice is a legal ceremony celebrated by the City of Venice (the Comune), most often at Palazzo Cavalli, its wedding hall on the Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge. Foreign couples can marry there with a nulla osta or equivalent documents, two witnesses and, if needed, an interpreter; fees depend on citizenship and timing. It's one of the options in our complete guide to getting married in Venice.
Below we cover the venues the Comune offers, what it charges at the time of writing, the documents, how the ceremony unfolds and how to plan the photographs around a fixed ceremony slot.
Where civil weddings take place
Palazzo Cavalli is the standard venue: a Renaissance palazzo on the Grand Canal whose bright wedding hall has a wall of windows over the water and a painting by Luigi Nono. A smaller adjoining room looks straight at the Rialto Bridge.
For a supplement, the Comune offers more exclusive halls: the Sala degli Stucchi at Ca' Farsetti and the Sala del Consiglio at Ca' Loredan (the town hall itself), and the Sala Cuoi d'Oro at Ca' Vendramin Calergi, the palazzo of the Venice Casino. Away from the centre there's Palazzo Persico in Malamocco on the Lido, and an outdoor space at Villa Querini in Mestre from May to September.
The Comune has also authorised three private locations: the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista and La Pagoda at Des Bains on the Lido beach.
What the City of Venice charges
The Comune publishes its fees. At the time of writing, a ceremony during office hours (Monday to Saturday, 8:45–13:00) costs €700 for EU citizens and Italian non-residents and €1,700 for non-EU citizens; evenings, pre-holidays and holidays cost more (for non-EU couples, €2,100 on weekday evenings up to €3,600 on holidays). Residents of Venice pay less.
Exclusive halls add a supplement — €9,000 for the Sala degli Stucchi, €3,500 for the Sala del Consiglio, €5,000 for the Sala Cuoi d'Oro, €1,000 for Villa Querini or Palazzo Persico — and the authorised private locations cost €10,000 all-inclusive. Optional services include an interpreter (€300) and live streaming (€150), and bookings within seven days carry an urgency fee. Fees change, so always check the Comune's official tariff page before booking.
Documents you'll need
Each foreign partner must prove they are free to marry — usually with a nulla osta (certificate of no impediment) from their own authorities, or for some nationalities a sworn declaration at their consulate plus an atto notorio. Add passports, and proof that any previous marriage has ended. Foreign documents generally need an apostille or legalisation and an Italian translation. Our nulla osta guide explains each document.
A few days before the wedding you'll meet the marriage office in Venice to confirm your intention to marry. You also need two witnesses aged 18 or over, and an interpreter if either of you doesn't understand Italian.
The ceremony
A civil ceremony in Italy is short — usually around 20 to 30 minutes. The officiant reads the articles of the Civil Code on the rights and duties of spouses, you declare your consent, exchange rings if you wish, and sign the register with your witnesses. You can add readings or music within the Comune's rules.
Arriving by gondola at Palazzo Cavalli is, as the Comune puts it, the most emotional option — and a beautiful sequence of photographs.
Booking the ceremony step by step
1. Choose your hall and a shortlist of dates. 2. Contact the Comune's marriage office (the Comune's call centre is +39 041 041) to check availability and the documents required for your nationalities. 3. For the authorised private venues, dates are requested through the Comune's online booking platform and confirmed by the marriage office after checks. 4. Gather and send the documents. 5. Attend the appointment in Venice a few days before the wedding.
Popular spring and summer dates go early, and office-hour slots — the cheapest — are the most sought after. If your date is flexible, ask which days are free before fixing flights.
Choosing between the halls
**Palazzo Cavalli — the standard hall, bright and elegant, a few steps from Rialto: the right choice for most couples. Ca' Farsetti and Ca' Loredan — the town hall itself, more formal and exclusive. Ca' Vendramin Calergi — Renaissance grandeur with a garden on the Grand Canal, in quiet Cannaregio. Palazzo Persico — a Gothic village hall on the Lido, far from the crowds. Villa Querini** — outdoors in a park in Mestre, May to September.
For the most flexibility on time and atmosphere, the authorised private venues — the Misericordia, San Giovanni Evangelista and La Pagoda — let you hold the legal ceremony and the celebration in one place.
Making a short ceremony personal
The legal core of the ceremony is fixed, but you can usually add a reading, a short personal promise and music. Ask the marriage office what is allowed in your hall. A bilingual reading helps international families feel included.
What to bring on the day
Passports for both of you and your witnesses; the rings; any printed readings; the interpreter's details if you're providing your own; and a small bag for the certificate afterwards. Arrive 15–20 minutes early — slots are tightly scheduled.
Guests, flowers and décor
Guests are welcome within the hall's capacity; ask the marriage office how many can attend. Bouquets and buttonholes are fine; rules on decorations, confetti and rice vary by venue, so ask before planning them.
After the ceremony: where to celebrate
From Palazzo Cavalli, many couples walk to a nearby restaurant around Rialto or San Marco, take a gondola to a hotel on the Grand Canal, or board a launch to an island venue. Plan the transfer before you book the ceremony slot, so lunch or the aperitivo follows naturally.
Requirements by nationality
The documents are similar for every foreign couple, but each country issues them differently. We have step-by-step guides for US citizens, UK citizens, Australians and Canadians.
Planning the photographs
Civil ceremonies run to fixed slots, so the photography plan works backwards from the ceremony time: arrival, ceremony and signing, family photos outside, then portraits nearby. Around Palazzo Cavalli, the Rialto Bridge and the quieter canals of San Marco are a few minutes away; an office-hours slot in the morning means lower fees, while a late-afternoon slot gives warmer light.
Our Palazzo Cavalli civil wedding collection is built exactly around this sequence, and can be extended into a sunset session.
Official source
Civil marriage in Venice
The City's official page for civil weddings: venues, booking, fees and required documents (in Italian).
Comune di Venezia — Civil marriage in Venice ↗Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners have a civil wedding in Venice?
Yes, with the documents the Comune requires — typically a nulla osta or equivalent — two witnesses and an interpreter if needed.
How far in advance should we book Palazzo Cavalli?
For popular dates in spring and summer, contact the marriage office as early as possible — many couples book 6 to 12 months ahead.
Is a civil wedding in Venice recognised at home?
A legally celebrated Italian marriage is generally recognised abroad; you'll register it with your own authorities using the Italian certificate, often with an apostille.
Can we have a civil union instead of a marriage?
Yes. Civil unions, including for same-sex couples, are celebrated in the same halls.
Can we choose the time of our civil ceremony?
You choose among the Comune's available slots; office hours (Monday to Saturday mornings) cost least, while evenings and holidays carry higher fees.
Do we need an interpreter at Palazzo Cavalli?
Yes, if either of you (or your witnesses) doesn't understand Italian; the Comune can provide one for a fee (€300 at the time of writing).
Can our photographer move around during the civil ceremony?
Usually yes, discreetly; we agree positions beforehand so we never distract from the ceremony.
Do we receive the marriage certificate on the day?
The marriage is registered by the Comune; ask the office how and when to request certificates or international extracts.
Can we throw rice outside Palazzo Cavalli?
Ask the Comune about its current rules; many venues in Venice restrict rice and confetti in public spaces.
How many guests can attend a civil ceremony?
It depends on the hall's capacity; the marriage office can tell you for your chosen hall.
Is Palazzo Cavalli accessible?
Ask the Comune about access for guests with limited mobility, including arrival by boat.