Civil Elopement Wedding in Bologna with Alice and Jeremie
Bologna is one of those Italian cities that quietly stays under the radar, yet offers some of the most authentic and emotional wedding experiences in Italy. Alice and Jeremie’s civil elopement wedding in Bologna was the last wedding I photographed in 2025, and it felt like the most honest way to close the year.
Their day was simple, intimate, and deeply personal. No big production, no pressure. Just the two of them, their closest friends, and the historic heart of Bologna as the backdrop.
The ceremony took place at the Comune di Bologna, a beautiful historic building filled with chandeliers, warm tones, and centuries of stories. Civil weddings in Bologna have a unique atmosphere: elegant but never stiff, formal yet human.
Alice and Jeremie were calm, present, and fully focused on each other. That’s what makes elopements and civil weddings so powerful. When the guest list is small, emotions take up more space.
I documented their day using a mix of digital and 35mm film photography. Moving between the two allowed me to capture both the immediacy of the moments and the slower, more tactile feeling that film brings. The grain, the tones, and the unpredictability of film felt perfectly aligned with the intimacy of their elopement.
Even though it was December, we were lucky with the weather. Soft winter light filtered through the streets and inside the ceremony hall, creating a quiet and cinematic mood. Bologna in winter is slower, more intimate, and perfect for couples who want a meaningful experience without crowds.
Winter elopements in Italy are often underestimated, but days like this prove how beautiful they can be.
One of the highlights of the day came completely unplanned. While we were walking after the ceremony, a police car slowly approached us. For a brief second, everyone felt a bit nervous. Then the window rolled down and the policeman smiled and said, “Congrats!”
Small moments like this are impossible to plan, and they’re exactly why elopements feel so real. They belong entirely to the couple and the city around them.
Why Bologna Is Perfect for an Elopement Wedding
Bologna is ideal for couples who want an authentic Italian wedding without the clichés.
Historic architecture without overwhelming crowds
Warm colors, porticos, and elegant interiors
A real local atmosphere, not a tourist stage
Easy civil wedding process
Perfect for intimate weddings and elopements
As a wedding photographer in Bologna, I focus on documenting these elements naturally, without forcing moments or poses.
My Approach as an Elopement Photographer in Bologna
I work with couples who want their wedding day to feel real. No stiff posing, no performances. My role is to observe, anticipate, and document what truly happens, whether I’m shooting digitally or loading a new roll of film.
Alice and Jeremie’s wedding was exactly that: emotional, quiet, joyful, and honest. These are the stories I care about telling.
I’ll also be photographing their wedding celebration again in summer, and I already know it will be another chapter of the same story, just in a different season.
If you’re planning a civil wedding or elopement in Bologna and you’re looking for a photographer who values emotions over perfection, Bologna offers everything you need for a meaningful experience.
Whether it’s a winter elopement with a few friends or a summer celebration, what matters most is that the day feels like yours.
