Carmen and Emanuele were married at the Abbazia di Sant'Andrea in Flumine, in Ponzano Romano, on the hill overlooking the Tiber valley north of Rome. A religious ceremony in the abbey church, sunset portraits in a freshly cut wheat field, an arrival at the party on a red Vespa and a dinner in the garden under strings of lights.
It is a wedding that shows clearly why this abbey appeals so much to couples looking for a wedding venue near Rome: ceremony and reception are in the same place, and all around there is nothing but countryside.
Getting ready
Emanuele got ready with his friends and family around him. Bow tie, braces, the waistcoat buttoned in front of the mirror, and then his mother pinning the flower to his lapel: a scene that lasts ten seconds and that I always photograph from one step back.
Carmen was with her bridesmaids, all in long sage-green dresses. They helped her fasten the dress, button by button, laughing. The bouquet was in shades of peach, dusty pink and burgundy, the same colours picked up later in the ceremony and table arrangements.
During the preparations I ask for one thing only: curtains open and artificial lights off. Window light is enough, and it is what makes the portraits look real.
The ceremony in the abbey church
The church of Sant'Andrea is the reason many couples choose this place. It is a Romanesque church with a Cosmatesque floor of inlaid coloured marble, a medieval ciborium above the altar and ancient frescoes on the walls. It doesn't need much decorating: a few flower arrangements along the nave, and the stone does the rest.
The page boys and the youngest bridesmaid opened the procession along the avenue. Carmen came in through the portico, with Emanuele already waiting inside. The exchange of rings, hands held in front of the celebrant, and then the exit onto the churchyard under a shower of rice and confetti, with the guests gathered in front of the façade.
In church I work without flash. There is little light, but it is the real light: I raise the sensitivity, use fast lenses and move along the sides of the nave, so that no guest finds a photographer standing in front of them.
Portraits in the wheat field
After the ceremony we went a few minutes away, to a freshly harvested wheat field below the abbey. The sun was low, almost horizontal, and the golden stubble bounced the light back up from the ground: my favourite conditions for couple portraits, because faces are warmed without needing anything else.
I didn't ask for poses. They walked hand in hand, stopped, laughed. Twenty minutes in all, away from the guests, and those are the Italian wedding photos couples end up hanging at home.
Arriving by Vespa and the party in the garden
They arrived at the reception on a vintage red Vespa, Emanuele driving and Carmen behind him, to the applause of the guests waiting on the lawn.
Dinner, by International Catering, was laid out in the abbey garden: round tables on the grass and above them a ceiling of string lights, the starry-sky installation that completely changed the atmosphere once it got dark. Then the live band, the cutting of the cake, the first dance on the lawn and a dance floor that only emptied late at night, with flower garlands around necks and the groom at the microphone with the musicians.
Getting married at the Abbazia di Sant'Andrea in Flumine: what to know
If you are considering this venue for your wedding, here is what I learned working there. For dates, capacity and quotes, the venue always has the final word.
Where it is
The abbey is in the municipality of Ponzano Romano, in the province of Rome, on high ground above the Tiber, between Monte Soratte and the Sabine hills. This is Lazio, a few kilometres from the border with Umbria. From Rome it is less than an hour's drive on the A1 motorway, which also makes it convenient for guests landing at Fiumicino or Ciampino.
The ceremony
The abbey church is consecrated, so a religious ceremony is held on site, a few steps from the garden where the reception takes place. For a civil or symbolic ceremony, ask the venue directly which spaces are available.
The spaces
Church, portico, stone courtyards and a large garden with tall trees: ceremony, aperitivo, dinner and party follow one another without anyone needing a car. For guests it is a convenience; for the couple it is two hours of the day won back.
The best season
From May to September the garden can be used until late at night. If you like the portraits in golden fields like Carmen and Emanuele's, the right moment is early summer, when the wheat is ripe or has just been cut.
How I photograph a wedding here
- Getting ready. Window light and bright rooms. I arrive early, so the last minutes before leaving are not a rush.
- Ceremony. No flash in church. From the back of the nave you can frame the Cosmatesque floor, the ciborium and the couple together: the picture that says straight away where you are.
- Exit. The churchyard is small and intimate, and the rice toss works best when guests stand close on both sides.
- Portraits. Half an hour before sunset, in the fields around the abbey. It has to be planned ahead, in agreement with the caterer.
- Evening. The string lights give a warm atmosphere that I keep as it is, working with slow shutter speeds instead of flattening everything with flash.
To fit these moments into your schedule, see my guide on what to expect on the wedding day, with a timeline.
The suppliers at this wedding
- Venue: Abbazia di Sant'Andrea in Flumine, Ponzano Romano (Rome)
- Catering and lighting design: International Catering
- Photography: Manuel Diamanti
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married at the Abbazia di Sant'Andrea in Flumine?
Yes. The abbey hosts weddings and has a consecrated church for religious ceremonies, as well as a garden and courtyards for the reception. Carmen and Emanuele held their ceremony and their celebration in the same place.
Where is the Abbazia di Sant'Andrea in Flumine?
In Ponzano Romano, in the province of Rome, on a hill above the Tiber valley, near Monte Soratte. It is in Lazio, on the border with Umbria, less than an hour's drive from Rome.
How far is it from Rome?
Less than an hour by car, heading north on the A1 motorway. It is one of the easiest wedding abbeys to reach from the capital.
Can the reception be held outdoors?
Yes, the abbey garden hosts dinner and dancing. Carmen and Emanuele's took place entirely on the lawn, under an installation of string lights.
How much does it cost to get married at the Abbazia di Sant'Andrea in Flumine?
Costs depend on the season, the number of guests and the services you choose: ask the venue for an up-to-date quote. For the photography side, I have written a guide to wedding photographer costs in Italy.
Why choose an abbey for a wedding?
Because it brings together an ancient church and the spaces for the party, with no transfers. And because stone, courtyards and gardens photograph well in any light. Another example is the wedding at the Abbazia San Pietro in Valle, in Umbria.
I live in Terni, about an hour from the abbey, and I often work between Umbria and northern Lazio as a wedding photographer in Italy.
If you are thinking of getting married here, look at the portfolio and the other wedding stories, or tell me about your wedding: I answer every message personally.
