Renewing our vows in Venice
 

Hi my husband and I will be married 25 years this coming July. We will be going to Venice and I would love to renew our vows, can anyone suggest a wedding planner? I want to surprise him possibly renew our Vows in St marks Square or the Rialto bridge. Any and all suggestions would be much appreciated.

Angie

I can't think of any places worse than the Rialto or Piazza San Marco to renew wedding vows in July.

Both places are more crowded in July than Rockefeller Center on the evening they light the Christmas tree.

The most beautiful church in all of Venice is Santa Maria dei Miracoli.

Thin

What Thin says. Standing outside surrounded by thousands of tourists in the middle of summer would not be my idea of romantic.
Renewing vows is an American thing, not common in Europe. I'm sure someone will take your money for planning this, but many locals won't know what you're talking about.

I agree with Pepper.von about the Rialto and the Piazza. In July, one almost has to stand in line to cross the Rialto, and the Piazza sees tour groups with as many as sixty people trailing along.

Santa Maria dei M is indeed beautiful, the finest marble interior. I visited in mid-June, and the church was empty except for me and a couple of others. It is rather out of the way, but still only ten minutes walk from the Piazza.

What Tulips said, they will not understand but they will plan it for you

Nobody in Venice is going to have any trouble understanding your request. Hundreds of such ceremonies are performed every year in Venice. You can even book online for a vows renewal ceremony on a gondola in Venice.

http://www.getyourguide.com/venice-l...venice-t28171/

http://www.uniglobeone.com/renew-you...n-gondola-trip

or on land if you prefer

http://www.italy2wed.com/wedding_des...f_wedding_vows

However what can be done inside Catholic churches is strictly controlled by the Catholic church so I would surprised if you could book that venue above board. But there are no end of scenic spots and if you would like St Marks or the Rialto Bridge with a crowd well-wishers, why not? (Worse than the Rialto bridge, I would think, would be the Bridge of Sighs.)

Ironically, I have just finished my trip report for Venice and included the same core website that sandralist did. I have two daughters, and no matter where I go, I think about wedding locations. The Santa Maria dei Miracoli was the PERFECT wedding location. You can arrive (and leave) by gondola.

But Sandralist's point that Catholic rules control your use of the church is quite apt.

On the same website, I thought the link for "symbolic ceremonies" was a bit better than their actual renewal link:
http://www.italy2wed.com/wedding_pla...ding_in_venice

Definitely nix the Rialto or St. Mark's Square. You'll be lucky if you can see each other in the massive crowd let along hear each other to your vows. We were running (literally) into marriage ceremonies all over Venice, and people kept getting jostled as they posed for pics on all the bridges.

Nothing says "renewal" better than roll-on luggage in your wedding pics.

The view of Venice from San Giorgio Maggiore is gorgeous, and we saw one bride take advantage of it: she had her photos taken at the entry end of the aisle of the church.

Unfortunately, church services were going on. :)

Sorry - but agree that those places would work for vow renewal in July only if you get there at dawn - otherwise will be elbow to elbow and "your" event will have dozens of strangers moving in and out of the middle of it.

Definitely pick a much quieter place where you will be able to at least hear each other speak.

Actually, my wife and I were alone in St Mark's Square once, shortly after midnight. It was very romantic as the soft drizzle softened the lights. And it was in November.

"I want to surprise him.."

Are you confident this would be a happy surprise for him?
Maybe he finds the first set of vows to be sufficient?