When people picture getting married in Venice, they sometimes imagine a massive production with hundreds of guests—like when George Clooney and Amal celebrated their wedding at Palazzo Cavalli on the Grand Canal. What many couples don’t realize, however, is that that exact same 16th-century palace is one of the warmest, most welcoming places in Europe for a quiet two-person elopement or a small family wedding.

Over my 14+ years working as a wedding and elopement photographer in Venice, some of my absolute favorite ceremonies at Palazzo Cavalli have involved just the couple, or couples who already have children and decided to turn their wedding into an unforgettable family trip to Italy.

bride groom & Rialto bridge

Why Couples With Kids Love Getting Married at Palazzo Cavalli

Many of the couples who reach out to me are celebrating a long partnership and bringing their children along as their guests of honor. If you have ever attended a traditional two-hour wedding with young kids, you know how quickly little ones get restless!

Palazzo Cavalli solves that effortlessly for three reasons:

• A Sweet-Spot 30-Minute Ceremony: The official civil wedding inside Palazzo Cavalli lasts right around 25 to 30 minutes. It is heartfelt, meaningful, and legally binding, yet short enough that children stay engaged and smiling from beginning to end.

• Boats Right Outside the Window: As soon as the rings are exchanged and the register is signed, everyone steps out onto the palace balcony overlooking the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. Kids love watching the gondolas and water taxis glide past below while we capture natural family hugs and portraits.

• A 100% Car-Free City: Once we step outside Palazzo Cavalli into the quiet courtyards and campi (squares),there are zero cars or traffic to worry about. Children can hold your hands, run safely across the stone squares,and even stop for a celebratory gelato while we walk!

Making Your Entrance: Water Taxi, Gondola, or a Morning Stroll

Whether it is just the two of you eloping, your immediate family, or a group of 20 close friends, arriving at Palazzo Cavalli feels like a scene from an Italian film. You can walk through the quiet backstreets from your hotel, glide silently up to the palace water gate in a traditional gondola, or arrive together aboard a sleek wooden water taxi across the Grand Canal.

How We Balance Romantic Portraits With Your Guests’ Comfort

If you are inviting family and friends to Venice for your civil wedding, you never want them standing around waiting while you take couple photos. Thankfully, Palazzo Cavalli is located in the heart of the city right near the Rialto Bridge.

Right after we take your celebratory group photos outside the palace, your guests can sit down at one of the charming canal-side bars just steps away for an authentic Venetian aperitivo toast. That gives the two of you 30 to 45 minutes of relaxed, private time with me to capture romantic portraits on the bridges and hidden alleys around Rialto—before rejoining your group refreshed and ready to head to your reception restaurant.

Need Help With a Makeup Artist, Planner, or Town Hall Details?

While municipal reservations are managed through the City of Venice Civil Weddings office, you don’t have to figure out the local details alone. Whenever my couples need a reliable English-speaking hair and makeup artist who comes straight to their hotel room, or a local wedding planner to handle the legal paperwork and interpreter requirements, I am always happy to share my trusted local contacts.

Explore more real stories in my Venice wedding galleries and family photography portfolio, and reach out to me hereto start planning a relaxed, joyful wedding day in Venice!