So the couple ended up in the Eternal City. It is the very heart of Italy, not only because of its geographical central location and capital status but also due to its incredible history, culture, architecture, and the art of love and enjoying life.

Alexandra and Vincent turned to our team for help organizing a church wedding in the Catholic tradition. A Catholic wedding ceremony in Italy is equivalent to an official marriage registration and does not require additional registration at the civil registry office.

However, organizing such a wedding requires thorough preparation and planning:

1. You must complete pre-marriage courses with the priest, which last at least 2 months

2. Prepare documents for the wedding with the priest

3. Obtain a Nulla Osta certificate in Italian

4. Provide birth certificates and baptism certificates

5. For Vincent — a certificate of first Holy Communion (Certificato di cresima)

6. For Alexandra (as she is Orthodox) it was necessary to give written consent to raise future children in the Catholic faith

 

 

Given that the couple had “residences” in different cities and countries, and due to limited preparation time, we had to worry together, battling with the bureaucratic delays of France, Italy, and Russia simultaneously. But we emerged victorious in this “battle”💪

Wedding coordinator WowItaly Weddings Marina managed to do the almost impossible – to arrange the wedding ceremony of Alexandra and Vincent at one of the most beautiful churches in Rome, where wedding dates are booked almost two years in advance. This church is the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Italian: Santa Maria in Aracoeli), located in the heart of Rome, on the top of the Capitoline Hill. The basilica was built in the 9th century on the site of a Byzantine abbey that existed since the 6th century, and its foundation was laid on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple of Juno, where the famous geese who saved Rome from the Gauls in the 6th century BC were kept.

In the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, where the wedding of Alexandra and Vincent took place, priceless artworks by great masters of the 13th–18th centuries are kept: Donatello, Pietro Cavallini, Benozzo Gozzoli, Pinturicchio, Jacopo Torriti. In front of the main altar, you can see a small chapel with the relics of St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.

And at the central altar, there is an icon of the Blessed Virgin, believed to have been painted by the evangelist Luke. The image is considered miraculous.

It is no surprise that this church is loved by VIPs from Italy and all over the world. Celebrities such as the legendary footballer of “ROMA” Francesco Totti, Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida, and many others have been married here.

 

 

Alexandra and Vincent chose a pink color palette as a bright accent for their celebration. They gave ties to all male guests and charming hats to the women. As for the church, they decided to decorate it with just a few flowers, as being a true masterpiece of art, it didn’t need a “bulky frame”…

After the wedding and following the Italian tradition, the newlyweds were showered with rice for luck and prosperity. Afterward, Alexandra and Vincent went for a photo walk around Rome in the luxurious Excalibur Tiffany.

A photoshoot in the Eternal City promises magic and beauty in every shot, as Rome is one of the most majestic and romantic cities in the world.

Rome is a place where modern architecture and historical buildings meet to create a breathtaking and stunning atmosphere. Here, it’s easy to get lost in cozy streets surrounded by ancient temples and monuments with over 2000 years of history.

 

 

Numerous guests from different corners of the world were waiting for the newlyweds at a villa near Rome, recording cheerful congratulations for Alexandra and Vincent, enjoying aperitifs, and watching the magical sunset.

The celebration was just beginning… as was the happy family life of Alexandra and Vincent, full of moments of love, mutual respect, and warmth.

Be happy always, dear ones!