Wedding traditions of Rome
Roman weddings are held in churches of great age, and the toss of rice, a long lunch and sugared almonds follow.
Italy recognises civil and religious weddings. Rome has hundreds of churches and civil venues, and many couples from abroad come to marry there.
A wedding here
A Catholic couple must complete a marriage preparation course. The ceremony is followed by a long lunch with many courses, music and the cutting of the cake.
Confetti and favours
Confetti in Italy means sugared almonds, given in an odd number, usually five, for health, wealth, happiness, fertility and long life. A bomboniera is a small keepsake handed to each guest.
Wedding customs of Rome
Also part of it, and being written: Confetti (Sugared almonds as favours.), Bomboniere (Small wedding gifts to guests.), Wedding (Italian traditions.), Same-sex marriage in Italy (Civil unions since 2016; marriage is not legal as of 2026.).
A wedding trail idea for Rome
- Campidoglio and Palazzo Senatorio A prestigious civil venue on the Capitoline Hill.
- Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere A well-loved church for weddings.
- Villa Borghese Gardens for photographs.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Wedding superstitions: Anonymous Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Italy: G.dallorto, Attribution, source
- Contubernium: Mark Landon, CC BY 4.0, source
- Lenten veil: Plutowiki, CC0, source
- Weddings in ancient Rome: Meister der Aldobrandinischen Hochzeit, Public domain, source