Morning slots (office hours, lower fee) or late afternoon for golden light by Rialto
In brief
Palazzo Cavalli is the City of Venice's main venue for civil weddings and civil unions: a 16th-century Renaissance palazzo at San Marco 4136, on the Grand Canal close to the Rialto Bridge. Ceremonies take place on the piano nobile, in a bright hall whose whole wall of windows looks onto the canal.
Best for couples who want a legal civil wedding in Venice with the Grand Canal as the backdrop — and an easy walk to Rialto for portraits afterwards.
Getting married at Palazzo Cavalli
Palazzo Cavalli is where most legal weddings in Venice happen. The City of Venice uses this Renaissance palazzo, at San Marco 4136 on the Grand Canal, as its main hall for civil weddings and civil unions, for Italian and foreign couples alike.
The wedding hall
Ceremonies take place on the piano nobile, the main floor. The Comune describes the hall as very bright, with a whole wall of tall windows facing the Grand Canal. It is decorated with a 1909 painting by the Venetian artist Luigi Nono, Le nozze d'oro. A smaller adjoining room looks straight at the Rialto Bridge and works well for the first quiet minutes after the ceremony.
What happens during the ceremony
An Italian civil ceremony is short, usually around twenty minutes. The officiant reads the articles of the Civil Code on the rights and duties of spouses, you each give your consent, and you and your two witnesses sign the register. Exchanging rings and short personal readings are optional. If either of you doesn't speak Italian, an interpreter translates throughout.
Palazzo Cavalli wedding photography
Indoors, the light comes from the canal side, so the best ceremony photos are taken from the window wall facing you. That gives soft, even light on your faces and guests in the background. We agree positions with the officiant beforehand so that nothing interrupts the ceremony.
Arriving by gondola
The palazzo faces the Grand Canal, and the Comune itself calls a gondola arrival the most emotional option. We photograph the boat approaching from the waterfront, then move inside before you step out. For guests, the Rialto area is a short walk away.
Portraits after the ceremony
Family photos work best on the landing stage or in a calle just behind the palazzo, away from the busy Riva. Then we walk to the Rialto Bridge and into the quieter canals of San Marco. With a late-afternoon slot the Grand Canal turns gold, which is the warmest light Venice offers.
Planning a civil wedding at Palazzo Cavalli
Fees and time slots
The fee depends on citizenship, residency and timing. At the time of writing, non-EU couples pay €1,700 for a ceremony in office hours (Monday to Saturday, 8:45–13:00), and more for evenings, the day before a holiday and holidays. EU citizens and Italian non-residents pay €700 in office hours. An interpreter costs €300 and live streaming €150. Fees are set by the Comune di Venezia and change from time to time, so always check the official tariff page before you book.
Documents and booking
Book the date with the Comune's marriage office first, then plan the rest of the day around the slot. Foreign couples need documents proving they are free to marry, usually a nulla osta or its equivalent, legalised and translated as required. Our civil wedding guide and the explanation of the nulla osta go through each step, and our Palazzo Cavalli civil wedding collection is built around the fixed ceremony times.
A civil wedding day at Palazzo Cavalli, step by step
- Getting ready in a hotel near Rialto or St Mark's, with the details photographed by the window.
- Gondola or water taxi to the palazzo, timed to arrive a few minutes before the slot.
- The ceremony and signing in the hall on the piano nobile.
- Congratulations on the landing stage, then family photos in a nearby calle.
- Portraits at the Rialto Bridge and in the quiet canals of San Marco.
- Lunch or dinner at a restaurant or palazzo on the Grand Canal.
Receptions after Palazzo Cavalli
Because the ceremony is short and central, it combines easily with a reception almost anywhere in the city: a Grand Canal hotel such as the Gritti Palace or Aman Venice, a palazzo like Ca' Sagredo, or a relaxed canal-side restaurant for a small group. Many couples arrive by gondola and leave by water taxi, which makes the transfer itself part of the celebration.
Planning tips for Palazzo Cavalli
- Confirm the ceremony slot with the Comune before you book flights, hotels or a planner's day.
- Office-hour slots cost less; a late-afternoon slot gives warmer light for portraits on the Grand Canal.
- Choose two witnesses who will be in Venice on the day — they need valid ID.
- Plan portraits at Rialto early or late: the bridge is crowded from mid-morning.
- Same-sex couples form civil unions in the same halls — see our same-sex wedding page.
Palazzo Cavalli: frequently asked questions
Can foreigners get married at Palazzo Cavalli?
Yes. Foreign couples can marry or form a civil union there if they present the documents the Comune requires, such as a nulla osta or its equivalent, and use an interpreter if they don't speak Italian.
How much does it cost to get married at Palazzo Cavalli?
At the time of writing, the Comune charges non-EU couples €1,700 for an office-hours ceremony and EU citizens €700, with higher rates for evenings and holidays. Check the official tariff before booking.
How long is a civil wedding ceremony in Venice?
Usually about twenty minutes. Allow an hour at the palazzo in total, including arrival, signing and the first photos.
Do we need witnesses for a civil wedding in Venice?
Yes, two adult witnesses with valid ID. If you elope, a planner can usually help find witnesses.
Can we arrive at Palazzo Cavalli by gondola?
Yes. The palazzo faces the Grand Canal, and a gondola arrival is one of the best-loved moments of a Venice civil wedding.
In-depth guides for Palazzo Cavalli
Civil weddings and civil unions booked through the Comune's marriage office
San Marco 4136, on the Grand Canal near Rialto — on foot or by boat to the palazzo
Renaissance palazzo, a wall of windows onto the Grand Canal
The area around Rialto is busy from mid-morning; the hall itself is private
Civil wedding collection, or an elopement with a civil ceremony
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