Wedding Photographer & Videographer at Villa Aurelia, Rome
Villa Aurelia sits on the Janiculum Hill, above the rooftops of Rome, with views that stretch across the city towards St. Peter’s and the Trastevere neighbourhood below. It is one of the most extraordinary wedding venues in Italy — not because of spectacle, but because of atmosphere. The gardens, the architecture, the particular quality of the light in the late afternoon. There is a sense of remove here, of being above the city without leaving it, that makes every wedding feel genuinely significant.
We have had the privilege of documenting a wedding at Villa Aurelia, and it is a venue we think about often. The way the golden hour falls across the gardens. The scale of the interiors. The quiet that descends between the ceremony and the dinner, when guests are wandering and the celebration is finding its rhythm.
About Villa Aurelia
Villa Aurelia is a 17th-century patrician villa on the Janiculum Hill in Rome, currently home to the American Academy in Rome. The villa and its gardens are available for private hire for a limited number of events each year, making it one of the most exclusive and sought-after wedding venues in the city.
The property includes formal Italian gardens with panoramic views over Rome, a grand villa interior with frescoed ceilings and historic reception rooms, and an outdoor terrace that provides one of the most extraordinary ceremony settings in Italy. For couples seeking a venue that combines genuine historical significance with visual grandeur, Villa Aurelia is without equal in Rome.
Wedding Photography & Videography at Villa Aurelia
Villa Aurelia rewards a patient, cinematic approach to photography and film. The light on the Janiculum Hill in the late afternoon is extraordinary — warm, directional, and rich with atmosphere as it moves across the gardens and the stone facades of the villa.
The venue offers a remarkable variety of settings within a single property — from the open panorama of the terrace and the formal structure of the gardens, to the intimate atmosphere of the interior reception rooms, to the drama of the city view after dark. Every space has its own character, and we move through all of them with the same attention to light, composition, and timing.
Our wedding coverage at Villa Aurelia typically includes:
- Full wedding day photography coverage
- Cinematic wedding film with curated sound and pacing
- Pre-wedding or engagement session at the villa or in Rome
- Multi-day coverage for destination wedding weekends
- Coverage of welcome dinners and rehearsal events in Rome
- Drone footage where permitted
Who We Are
We are Vanessa & Ivo, a destination wedding photography and videography duo based in Europe. We work together on every wedding, bringing a consistent visual style across both photography and film — editorial, cinematic, and deeply personal.
Our approach is unobtrusive. We observe, anticipate, and document your day as it unfolds naturally, without interrupting the atmosphere of your celebration. Our work has been featured in Brides, and we have documented destination weddings for couples from across the world at some of Europe’s most extraordinary venues — including Villa Aurelia.
Planning a Destination Wedding in Rome
Rome is one of the great destination wedding cities in the world — and Villa Aurelia is its most compelling private venue. For couples planning a multi-day celebration, the city offers everything a destination wedding weekend requires: extraordinary restaurants and bars in Trastevere and the historic centre, iconic monuments and piazzas for portraits and pre-wedding sessions, and an energy that is unlike anywhere else in Europe.
Villa Aurelia’s position on the Janiculum — a short drive from the city centre but entirely removed from its noise and crowds — makes it ideal for a celebration that feels both immersed in Rome and apart from it. Guests staying in Trastevere or the historic centre are 10 to 15 minutes away by car, and Leonardo da Vinci Airport is approximately 40 minutes from the venue.
Our Work at Villa Aurelia
We documented the wedding of Monica and Hal at Villa Aurelia — a celebration defined by extraordinary fashion, golden hour in the gardens, and a night of dancing that stretched late into the Roman evening. Monica wore three dresses throughout the day, each one a different statement. The light in the gardens during the ceremony was among the best we have ever worked with.
See the photography → Watch the film →
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you have experience shooting weddings at Villa Aurelia specifically?
Yes — we have documented a wedding at Villa Aurelia and are familiar with its spaces, light conditions, and the rhythm of a celebration day at the venue. Knowing a venue well makes a significant difference on the wedding day, allowing us to anticipate the best moments and move confidently through the space.
Q: Do you cover both photography and videography?
Yes — we are a dedicated photography and videography duo. Your wedding is covered with a single, consistent visual style across both formats, with no need to coordinate between separate teams.
Q: Is Villa Aurelia available for destination weddings for international couples?
Yes — Villa Aurelia regularly hosts destination weddings for international couples. Its exclusivity — with a strictly limited number of events per year — makes early booking essential.
Q: What is the best time of year for a wedding at Villa Aurelia?
Late spring and early autumn are ideal — May, June, September, and October offer warm temperatures, extraordinary light, and comfortable conditions for outdoor ceremonies in the gardens. The golden hour light over the Roman skyline in September is particularly remarkable for photography and film.
Q: How far in advance should we reach out?
We recommend getting in touch at least 12 to 18 months in advance. Villa Aurelia books quickly due to its exclusivity, and early communication allows us to confirm availability and begin planning together.
Q: Do you travel throughout Italy for weddings?
Yes — we are based in Europe and cover weddings throughout Italy, including Rome, Lake Como, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and Venice, as well as destinations across Europe and beyond.
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Let’s Talk About Your Wedding at Villa Aurelia
If you are planning a wedding at Villa Aurelia and are looking for a photography and videography team with experience at this venue, we would love to hear about your plans. We document destination weddings across Italy and Europe and would be honoured to capture your celebration.
Venue: Villa Aurelia, Janiculum Hill, Rome, Italy Location: 10–15 min from Trastevere · 40 min from Leonardo da Vinci Airport Services: Wedding Photography · Wedding Videography · Destination Weddings in Rome
