Sama and Lewis chose Villa Aurelia for their wedding in Rome, bringing together friends and family from the UK and the Middle East. They wanted a party without covering the villa in flowers or turning the day into a long production. It was also Sama’s birthday, so there was more than one reason for everyone to stay late.
They used the villa like this: a garden ceremony, aperitivo outside, dinner in the formal rooms upstairs, then a party downstairs. With around 65 guests, there was room for the day to move without anyone needing to be bused between venues or held in one place for hours.
The wedding at Villa Aurelia
- Couple: Sama & Lewis
- Venue: Villa Aurelia
- Where: Rome, Italy
- When: May
- Guests: Around 65
- Ceremony: Symbolic blessing in the garden
- Planner: Sabrina Carbone, The Extraordinaire
Getting ready at the villa
Sama got ready in the villa with her friends, while Lewis arrived with his group later in the morning. They were in black tie. The scale of the entrance, the formal rooms and the high interiors suit it.
Before guests arrived, we made a few photographs with Lewis and his friends. Sama finished getting ready while he joined the welcome drinks.
Light on the spiral staircase
There are a few parts of the villa I look for early in the day. The entrance with its columns is one of them. The spiral staircase is another, but only while the light is still coming in from that side of the building. Later in the afternoon, the sun moves around and the staircase becomes much darker.
In the morning, there are small patches of light on the stairs that work well for a few photographs. You do not need to take over the whole staircase or spend an hour there. A couple of good frames are enough.
A blessing in the garden
The symbolic blessing took place outside in the garden. Afterwards, everyone moved to the Lemon Garden in front of the villa for aperitivo.
Sama and Lewis had kept the floral design minimal. Villa Aurelia has a lot going on already: stone, columns, high ceilings, formal rooms and gardens. The flowers framed the day rather than competing with the building.
Five minutes for portraits
Sama and Lewis did not want a long portrait session. They wanted to get back to their guests, and that was sensible.
We took five minutes. That was enough.
Villa Aurelia gives you useful places a short walk from each other: the columns at the entrance, the staircase earlier in the day, the garden and the rooms upstairs. You can make a small set of photographs without taking the couple away from their guests.
Dinner, surprise singers and Sama’s birthday
Dinner was held in the formal reception rooms upstairs. With the flowers kept restrained, the rooms remained part of the table setting rather than disappearing behind a large installation.
During dinner, singers who had been posing as guests stood up and began to perform. It was a proper surprise, and it changed the energy in the room immediately.
After dinner, Sama changed into her third dress of the day. The cake was cut downstairs, doubling as her birthday cake, before everyone moved into the dedicated event space for the party. There was a full bar, a DJ and no reason for anyone to go home early.
Planning a wedding at Villa Aurelia?
If you are planning a wedding at Villa Aurelia, or a day like this in Rome, write to me. I’ll tell you if I’m free and send a quote.
