A CATHOLIC WEDDING IN ROME: EMMA & GILBERTO

Emma and Gilberto reached out to us in the final days of September, leaving us with just under a month to plan their celebration. Determined not to postpone their dream until the following year, the couple decided to move forward and hold both their civil and religious ceremonies at once.

Fortunately, Italy offers a beautifully streamlined option for this: the matrimonio concordatario (Concordat marriage). This legal framework allows international couples to celebrate a traditional Catholic wedding that is simultaneously recognised as a legally binding civil marriage, all within a single ceremony.

For their venue, Emma and Gilberto chose one of the most breathtaking and historically significant sanctuaries in the Eternal City—the Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli. Situated on the highest summit of the Capitoline Hill, this majestic church has hosted the nuptials of renowned figures from across the globe. The couple, who visit Rome frequently and hold a deep affection for the city, were utterly captivated by the basilica’s awe-inspiring beauty and welcoming atmosphere; marrying there had long been their dream. Their love story is a truly international one. Gilberto is from Albania, while Emma, originally from Armenia, lives in Moscow. Their paths first crossed in London, but it was the enchanting, timeless beauty of Rome that ultimately united their hearts and destinies forever. The wedding day itself was nothing short of a fairytale. Emma was a vision of delicate, graceful elegance. Beside her stood Gilberto, like a gentle giant—quietly modest, yet breaking into the most radiant, unmistakable smile the very moment his eyes met hers.