Information about Catholic Weddings in Rome

The Sacrament of Marriage is an ancient tradition. As early as the fifth century, Christian couples would come to church to have the priest give them a blessing. Later, the priests added the gesture of joining the couple’s hands together or putting a garland over them. Today at the Church of Santa Susanna, couples come from all over the world (the United States, Canada, Ireland, England, and Australia) to be married.

Many Catholics want to marry in Rome. Perhaps it is because this is the city of St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers. Perhaps it is because this ancient city has always been associated with romance. The Paulist Fathers here in Rome can assist English-speaking couples who wish to be married either at the Church of Santa Susanna or, on occasion, at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Chapel of the Choir (Cappella del Coro).

Please be Advised:
The following is provided as a service. It does not obligate us to arrange, provide specific services for, or perform your wedding. This decision occurs only after direct consultation between a priest at Santa Susanna and the wedding couple. Until a contract has been arranged, the Paulist Fathers and the Church of Santa Susanna do not assume any responsibility for your wedding! Please, please do not send us documents or paperwork unless you have first contacted us!

Please remember that Church weddings can only be planned through appropriate Church institutions and not through travel agencies! The licensing procedures in the State of Italy (i.e., Santa Susanna, or any church in Rome) are different from those in the Vatican City State (St. Peter’s Basilica), and the civil procedures can be very different depending on the couple’s country of origin.

The most important step couples need to take is to begin the process with their own pastor. It all begins with your home parish where you worship. All marriage preparation, initial interviews and documents come from there. The couple needs to mention any previous marriage (please note that an annulment may be required even if one of the couple is not Catholic, and even if the first marriage was in a civil setting only.) It is a good idea to begin the process at least one year prior to the desired wedding date. Most parishes (world-wide) require a waiting period of at least six months before the intended wedding date to determine whether there may be impediments to the marriage, and whether it is appropriate for the couple to be married in a Catholic ceremony.

After the parish priest completes all the documentation, the local chancery (diocesan office) must give a Nihil Obstat in order for the wedding to take place here. Requests for weddings at St. Peter’s must be submitted a full four months before the desired date (a date can be fixed early with a specific letter from your pastor (see the St. Peter's section), but cannot be approved until all the documentation has been approved by the Parochial Office of St. Peter’s), but no earlier than six months before the wedding. For Santa Susanna Church, two months is sufficient. However, to avoid disappointment, it is best to plan early, to establish schedules well in advance and to check with the Paulist Fathers that all procedures are in order.

For more specific information, please contact us and we will send you our guidelines, along with a letter for your pastor, outlining specific requirements that may be different from your own diocese. As we say at the end of our full information packet: “We have tried to inform you of as many details as possible, regarding marriage in Rome. However, there may be some particulars relating to you or to your intended spouse, that may cause difficulty, or even make the process easier. During our initial telephone conversation, we will be happy to discuss your particular circumstances with you.” As you can see from some of our wedding photos, getting married in the Eternal City can be a very special experience, and if we can, we would like to help you fulfill your dream!

Please read through the following information. If you have any additional questions, you can call us at (+39) 06.488.2748 or send us an email through this website (Fr. Greg Apparcel at rector@santasusanna.org

Renewal of Wedding Vows: For special Anniversaries, we do offer the renewal of wedding vows (for couples who have been married in the Catholic Church) after the homily at the 6 PM Mass, Monday through Friday, at Santa Susanna Church only. We usually only have one couple at any given Mass. We are not able to assist you with renewing your wedding vows at St. Peter's Basilica due to our own pastoral schedule. If you are interested in renewing your vows at Santa Susanna, please contact Fr. Greg After setting a date, we ask that you send us by fax (011.3906.474.0236) or email a copy of your Catholic Church wedding certificate and a letter from your pastor stating that you are parishioners at his parish. We also ask a 50 Euro donation to be given on the day of the Renewals. If you have any further questions, please let us know.

The Paulist Fathers Recommend the following Wedding Services and Agencies in Rome:

Wedding Consultants (planning, paperwork and documents):

Please note: While the Paulist Fathers perform weddings only at Saint Peter's or Santa Susanna, the following wedding consultants may also assist you with weddings in other places in Italy!

Eletra Latour: Tel: (+039) 347.941.4667, Website:www.weddings-by-latour.com Email: eletra@weddings-by-latour.com

Eletra has nearly 13 years experience of wedding experience in Italy and is wonderful at assisting couples with their Roman civil documentation: That extra part of the process that can be so difficult and frustrating if not done right! However she can also assist you with weddings at Saint Peter's Basilica and with finding just the right location for your reception, flowers, musicians, hairstylists, and even weddings outside of Rome.

Gabriella LoJacono: Office phone: (+39) 06.4390678, cellular phone: (+39) 348.517.4184, Website: www.wedding-in-rome.com E-mail: lojacono@wedding-in-rome.com

Gabriella can assist you with weddings in Rome, Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast. She works with government and religious offices and serves as a general coordinator for the total experience. The scope of her services include photographer, videographer, flowers, musicians, hairdresser and make-up artist, reception venue, transportation and even more. Visit her website for more information.

Brenda Babcock: Website: www.italiacelebrations.com, Email: italiacelebrations@yahoo.com Tel: (+39) 333.483.9553

Brenda assists foreigners to marry in Italy, particularly central Italy from the Amalfi Coast to Florence, as well as weddings in Rome and in the Vatican. Living in Rome, she also organizes other events on demand, offering very personalized and high quality services. Prior to working in Rome, Brenda worked for Vera Wang in New York City and has been planning weddings and events in Rome for three years.

Daniela De Luca: www.dolcevitaweddings.com Email:info@dolcevitaweddings.com. Tel: (+39) 340.598.0936; Fax: (+39) 06.722.2168

Daniela specializes in weddings in Rome, offering advice and on-site coordination to foreign couples wishing to get married. Services include flowers, transportation, photos and video, beauty services, music and wedding venues. Daniela was born in Rome and lived her whole life here except for a year in London. She always tries to meet every couple's requirements to help make their dreams come true.

Wedding Tour Packages

Romolo provides every final detail of your wedding experience: travel plans, hotels, receptions, tours and honeymoon.

Photographers (still photography and videography):

• Luca Bellocchio: Foto Bellocchio, Via del Mascherino 25, (near St. Peters) Tel: (+39) 06.686.5365 email: bellocchioluca@inwind.it
• Vincenzo Modica: Agenzia Fotographica: Borgo Pio 106 (near St. Peters) Tel: (+39) 06.686.7490 Fax: (+39) 06.6880.6008 email: fotomodica@hotmail.com
• Pino Rostellato: Via Marco V. Corvo 10 -- Tel: (+39) 06.765050, Fax: (+39) 06.7610079, www.rostaf.it email: info@rostaf.it

Wedding Receptions:

AliSal: "The Style of Italian Hospitality":  Party, Event and Wedding Planning.

For reservations or information, please contact: Giampaolo Scarfi, Manager, Via Federico Nansen, 54, 00154 Roma. Tel/Fax: (+39) 06.841.1474, Cellular: (+39) 338.366.7252, www.alisal.it, email: alisal.vbi@alice.it

Roof Garden at the Forum Hotel:

A beautiful site for a wedding reception here in Rome, overlooking the Roman Forum. Via Tor De Conti 25/31 (+39) 066.792.446, Fax (+39) 066.786.479. Website at www.hotelforumrome.com

Vivendo at the Saint Regis Grand Hotel:

A wonderful new restaurant at the newly refurbished Saint Regis Grand Hotel, directly across the street from the Church of Santa Susanna. Tel: (+39) 06.47092736

You can contact them through their website: www.stregis.com/grandrome

Hotel Eden:

Breathtaking panoramic views of the city of Rome from their roof bar, and an elegant restaurant! Via Ludovisi 49, near Via Veneto, Tel: (+39 ) 06.478.232, Fax: (+39) 06.482.1528.

Hotel Hassler:

At the top of the Spanish Steps, a great rooftop restaurant and a wonderful atmosphere. Piazza Trinitá de' Monti 6, Tel: (+39) 06.699.341, Fax: (+39) 06.678.9991, Website: www.hotelhasslerroma.com Email: events@hotelhassler.it

"Toula" :

Via della Lupa, 29/b Tel: (+39) 06.687.3489 Fax: (+39) 06.687.1115 toula2@libero.it www.toula.it The Manager, Aldo Arrigoni, is a brava persona and a great host! You will have an exceptional meal.  This is a wonderful restaurant for a wedding reception or a large party.