Wedding Photography in Venice, Italy

If you are planning on getting married in Italy, let's celebrate! It's one of the most romantic destinations, especially in the years to follow, when you will be reminiscing memories while going through the wedding photos.

You will certainly not regret this move, especially if you're having Venice in mind. It is filled with plenty of beauty and the architecture is man-made, but also man-sized, that is, designed to beautify everything around humans in a soulful way.

This makes it easy for you [and me] as your local photographer to bring it all together.

Made of Light Photography is proud to bring over a decade of experience to the wedding day and help you make stunning memories that will last for a lifetime. In case you'd like to check whether we're available, get in touch here.

Just to give you an idea of what kind of special and timeless photos you'd be investing in, here's a quick fact:
If you see any old painting of Venice, even if it is almost 500 years old, the places you will visit will likely still look almost identical from the outside, since the city has not changed in terms of roadways, architecture, look, and feel. Most of the buildings look absolutely identical.

This fact will make you feel very special about your wedding photos.

But let's look at what you are going to find in this article:

First, we will outline a few locations that may be good to keep in mind when selecting the right spots for the most epic shots of the wedding day. If you come all the way to Italy to get married, you may as well organise it well enough so that you have less pressure on the day. That way we make sure to plan enough time for each location (+transit time) and it makes everyone (including the photographer) more relaxed on the day.

Then, we will look at what you will need in order to get married here if you are a foreigner, which includes all the documentation and bureaucracy to keep in mind in one place; a complete guide.

Note: If you're looking for the best wedding photographer in Venice and would like to get in touch as soon as possible, we have a contact form at the bottom, and we'll get back to you shortly.

Rialto Bridge

If the name doesn't ring a bell, the picture below will surely do the trick. It is Venice's most famous bridge, even though it's not the classical, narrow, and tucked-away bridge. Still, this fact does not take away any of its splendour though, as it is marvellous to look at, with all of its natural white stone that makes for a perfect backdrop when walking along either side of the canal.

Interestingly, this is one of the few areas that has been re-modelled since it's initial construction. I have added a photo below to show what it looked like only 60 years ago.

It is the oldest of the four bridges built across the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It has been rebuilt several times since its first construction in 1173. Now it is a significant tourist attraction in the city.

Ask me where you can find a relatively quiet spot for great pictures, like in the below shot.

Picture of a bride, standing in front of the Rialto Bridge with a gorgeous airy dress.

Picture of the Rialto Bridge, Venice – taken on film in the 1970s

Piazza San Marco

This public square (piazza) is Venice's biggest square and is visited daily by thousands of people to admire its beauty. It is no wonder, then, that historically important figures, such as Napoleon, called the piazza "The Finest Drawing Room in Europe".

As a backdrop you have that beautiful "campanile" which is a bell tower made of bricks, just like most of Venice. The contrast in colours makes for more stunning wedding pictures.

In most of Venice's alleyways and sheltered corners it should be possible to take pictures even throughout the day, however Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square) is different and needs to be thought through if chosen as a location to take your wedding photographs.

Because of the open space and the sheer size of the square, it is wise to plan the photoshoot around sunrise or sunset, to avoid the harsh sunlight from above.

If you'd like to organise your best shooting time, get in touch here; I will be more than happy to assist.

At this point it may be wise to mention that, if the summer season is avoided, the sun will never be perpendicularly above us, which plays to our advantage. You may want to consider planning the wedding between September and April.

Ca' Sagredo Hotel

This is a gem not many outsiders will have heard of, before visiting the Made of Light Blog.

The Ca' Sagredo Hotel has real ancient fresco paintings on the inside, which are surrounded by stunning architecture, such as the stairway in the picture below.

Because of its very nature, this tends to be a reasonably private spot in which one can take intimate couple shots, just with the bride and groom.

The upstairs area has a beautiful, moody high-tea-like room that has a very royal atmosphere to it.

And here's another tip:

If you'll get the chance to talk to the manager, you will likely get access to the rooftops, some of which will give you unique sights of the Venice Canal and of the city in general. Asking is free, they said... so, give it a shot!

In case you need me to make a couple of phone calls, let me know here. We may get access to special spots!

Gondolas

The most iconic of means of transport in this semi-submerged city is certainly the Gondola. If you'd like to see a whole stack lined up, with little piers for you to take pictures on, right next to Piazza San Marco you'll find a "wharf/jetty". It is in front of the Palazzo Ducale, another beautiful architecture to capture in picture and video.

And while we're on the topic of "submerged"... You'd want to make sure that the wedding is not in the "acqua alta" season, which roughly translates to "high water", another expression for 'flooding'.

Yes, you read that right. The water rises, regularly, to levels that make many areas of this city basically inaccessible, if not with rubber boots. You may want to keep a pair of them handy, just in case! I've added a picture below, to show how crazy some places can be during the acqua alta, like the above-mentioned Piazza San Marco.

More locations

There are plenty more places that would make for entire articles themselves, so I'll list some that will certainly be a great add-on to your list of photography locations during your wedding or engagement shoot.

• Palazzo Contarini Del Bovolo - This is a famous tower with absolutely beautiful steps and facade. All of it make for stunning photography.

• Ponte Chiodo - There are many bridges that will lend themselves for photography, but this one in particular is unique, in that it has no railings or wall built on its sides. This allows for the wedding dress to be displayed in all of its beauty.

• Most of the alley ways, called calli in Venice. There is something about the architecture that makes for an intimate and romantic atmosphere, with its pink bricks that create the perfect natural "filter". If you're looking for the narrowest calle in Venice, it's Calle Varisco, with roughly only 50 cm in width!

• Sina Centurion Palace - When on a Gondola, there are some things you may want to have as a backdrop, such as this beautiful, iconic hotel with a stunning facade.

• Burano - There is an area that looks totally different to the rest of Venice, because it is made up of houses of all different colours.

• Libreria Acqua Alta - There is a "floating" library where even the steps to a beautiful view are made up of books! It will make for a fun shot, especially for the bookworms among you.

• Ponte Dei Sospiri - Translates into Bridge of Sighs. Even though the name is not as inviting for a wedding day, it is a stunning bridge that connects two buildings, which is said to have been the pathway leading to life in prison for convicts, hence the sighing. This bridge was built by a descendant of the Rialto Bridge.

But let us talk about it in person or via phone/video call. Fill out the contact form below to get in touch, we’ll be happy to help you out wherever we can!

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How To Get Your Paperwork Ready For Getting Married In Italy

If you’re wondering about all the paperwork needed and what kind of timing you’re looking at, or to see whether there’s time left to squeeze it in before this season is over, don’t worry, we’ve got you sorted on this one. We’ve compiled a list of things to do to get your wedding day organised in Italy in a single blog post here.

If you’re ready to talk business, please fill out the contact form below, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.