Swedish Church, Rome city elopement
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Julie and Jacob travelled from Denmark to Rome for their elopement day in this ancient city.
They picked the Swedish Church in Lukasgarden as their location for their elopement ceremony. The Swedish Church in Rome is a beautiful church located near the Vatican City. It was originally built in the 9th century but was later renovated in the 16th century. The church is known for its stunning Baroque architecture and its connection to Sweden.
How did they choose the location?
Julie and Jacob’s very first trip together was to Italy. In the following years, they returned here often and enjoyed many romantic vacations in cities like Milan, Bologna, and Rome. They particularly fell in love with Rome since their first visit there together. They tossed a coin into the Trevi Fountain and joked that the next time they would return, they would get married there and so they did!
The symbolic ceremony was held at Lukasgarden – Swedish Church in Rome, the couple was married by the Swedish priest in Rome, so they didn’t need any special permits. The photoshoot took place in public areas and in the Swedish church, so no permission was required for that either.
The couple was married at the town hall in Denmark before they left. No one was present except them – it was just formalities so they wouldn’t have to go through the Italian public authorities. So, they were married/blessed by the Swedish priest and they consider that day to be their wedding day. The location is easy to access but there are a few steps to get in and get out the place.
How did the couple meet?
They met at a very young age, around 16 years old, at boarding school, where they were prom partners. A couple of years later, at a Danish festival, they happened to meet again, and the rest is history. They’ve been inseparable ever since. As of now, they’ve been together for 9 years, and they’re currently in New Zealand celebrating their honeymoon and awaiting their first child.
They eloped because neither of them wanted a big wedding with attention, speeches, and songs. They wanted a wedding that was only about them, where they only had to consider their own wishes. In fact, they didn’t tell a soul that they were going to Rome to get married. Their friends and family were very surprised when they sent them a little video-greeting from Rome three days later. For the couple It was absolutely fantastic just being in their own little private bubble of happiness, where they did everything exactly as they wanted.
In their eyes, Rome is the most romantic city in the world. The architecture, the food, the culture, the weather, and the atmosphere – they love it all. Plus, Rome is filled with good memories for them.
Do You have any advice you’d Like to share?
From Julie, the bride: It’s crucial to choose the location carefully. It should be a significant and memorable place to frame such an important and emotional event.
If you elope, you can leave a few more things to chance, which adds more spontaneity than a planned wedding. Be open to more unexpected experiences that will make it even more memorable and special.
For example, we found our bridal bouquet at the very last moment at a small family-owned florist who didn’t speak English. We had to find a picture and explain from there. It ended with the whole family gathering the bouquet together. We also forgot to order a taxi to the church in good time, as we had overlooked that Rome was hosting the final stage of the Giro d’Italia that very day, so we ended up taking the metro in our wedding dress and suit. Many people congratulated us along the way. It was truly magical.
Hire a good photographer – there is great value in the memories you will have and which will subsequently be shown to friends and family.
The vendors:
Photography: Cristiana Fiorini Photography
