Rome is our home, and it's a strange city to plan a wedding in. Everything is beautiful, so the problem is never finding a nice place. The problem is choosing among so many Rome wedding venues, and then getting a hundred guests across town on a Saturday evening without anyone missing the ceremony.

These are the venues couples ask me about most, grouped by type, with a few honest notes on each. Capacities and conditions change, so always check the details with the venue directly.

Rome wedding venues: villas on the hills

Villa Miani. On Monte Mario, the highest hill in the city, with a lawn that looks straight at the dome of St. Peter's. It's one of the largest venues in Rome, with a ballroom for big dinners, and the view at sunset does half the work for us. We filmed a wedding at Villa Miani and photographed part of Tania & Valentin's weekend there.

Villa Aurelia. On the Janiculum hill, run by the American Academy in Rome, with gardens and one of the most beautiful views over the rooftops. It hosts one event a day, which gives it a very private feeling.

Casina Valadier. A neoclassical villa inside the Villa Borghese park, with terraces overlooking Piazza del Popolo. Perfect for a dinner with a view in the green heart of the city.

Palazzi in the historic center

Palazzo Brancaccio. A grand nineteenth-century palace near the Colosseum, with gilded halls and a large garden. One of the few places in the center that can host a really big wedding.

Palazzo Colonna and the noble palazzi. Some of the aristocratic families of Rome still open their palaces for private events. Frescoed galleries, family portraits, courtyards with fountains. Availability is limited and every palazzo has its own rules, so this is where a well-connected planner makes the difference.

Hotels and rooftops

Bulgari Hotel Roma. On Piazza Augusto Imperatore, with terraces above the rooftops and some of the most elegant rooms in the city. We photographed Tania getting ready in the Presidential Suite, and her welcome dinner at the hotel. See the full story.

Hotel de Russie and Hotel de la Ville. Two classics of the center. The first, near Piazza del Popolo, has a secret garden on terraces; the second, at the top of the Spanish Steps, is loved for its rooftop. Both are ideal for welcome drinks or a smaller wedding.

The hotels on Monte Mario. Big hotels on the hill above the city offer large ballrooms and gardens with a panoramic view, and they make life easy when most guests are staying on site.

A castle less than an hour away

If your dream is a castle, you don't have to leave Rome behind. Castello Odescalchi rises above Lake Bracciano, less than an hour from the center, and it's one of the most spectacular castles in Italy. We've photographed more than one wedding there, including Roxana & Kyle's, featured in ELLE.

Legal ceremonies in Rome

Civil weddings in Rome are traditionally celebrated on the Capitoline Hill, in the historic halls of the Campidoglio designed around Michelangelo's square. It's an extraordinary place to say yes, and then walk out into the city as a married couple. For the paperwork, read our guide to getting married in Italy as a foreigner.

Practical tips from a Roman

• Traffic is the real enemy. Choose hotels close to the venue, book shuttles and add half an hour to every transfer on a Saturday.
• The historic center is a limited traffic zone. Wedding cars and vans need permits or a short walk at the end.
• For portraits at the Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps, go at sunrise. By nine in the morning they're full.
• Summer evenings are hot. Late ceremonies, shade for guests and plenty of water make a big difference.
• The sunset over the domes is Rome's best decoration. Build your evening around it.

Planning a wedding in Rome? Have a look at our luxury wedding photography in Rome, or if you'd like something more intimate, at our elopements in Rome. And of course, we'd love to hear from you.