tell me more …
Q: why choose a sweet & simple wedding?
The perfect wedding is out there for everyone, and couples come to Ciao Bella for many practical and emotional reasons. A Sweet & Simple wedding with us allows you to move forward with matters like military housing or health care access without having to wait because of financial or family pressures. Couples planning a destination wedding or a big celebration later can have a reliable, discreet legal service and a sweet memory. We’re the perfect solution for military couples, extended and blended families and so much more. Take the stress and expense out of your wedding plans with everything you need in one place and enjoy touches of a luxury event with everything designed for our intimate setting, all for less than 10% of the cost of an “average” wedding.
All Weddings at Ciao Bella Include:
Planning. We work with you directly once you book. Details for your elopement or wedding are captured with advance visits, e-mail, messaging and/or phone calls as needed.
Officiant. Our licensed officiants work with you to conduct your ceremony as you wish, serve as your legal witness and file your marriage license from anywhere in Virginia for certification. A Spanish-speaking interpreter is available.
Deejay. We use a legal music streaming service and help with music selections for your ceremony and first dance as part of every wedding package. Trouble choosing your processional, recessional and/or first dance song? Our Playlist has over 1,000 suggestions!
Flowers & Decor. Your wedding includes use of our Sola Wood and silk bouquets and boutonnieres, props and signs for your ceremony and photos. Our venue has neutral décor that’s easy to personalize with use of arbors, chairs, tables and linens included.
Add the following to Any Ceremony Package:
Professional Photography. We offer award-winning photography with unlimited non-commercial use and a flash drive with your finished images. Coverage includes ceremony, formal photos with family and friends and a romantic couples’ session in beautiful historic Old Town Warrenton.
Champagne Toast. Soft drinks and bottled water are included with all wedding packages, and we offer beer, wine, champagne and a mimosa bar at reasonable rates.
Wedding Cake. We offer cakes that serve 15-25 from $75-140, and our Hors D'oeuvres selections start at $20 per guest.
q: how many guests can we invite?
Our Little Wedding Chapel & Venue is designed to accommodate the couple and up to 25 guests. Guest limits are determined by local safety and health regulations and must be strictly enforced. Our weddings are designed and priced for specific blocks of time and group size, so additional fees apply, and your ceremony may be delayed, if more guests arrive than expected. For offsite officiant services at your home, park, or other venue you can invite as many guests as the location permits.
do our children count as guests?
Yes, all guests count except the couple and kids under 2. This little sweetheart got to join Mom & Dad’s wedding free of charge.
our photographer?
Yes, everyone you invite or hire is a guest.
our wedding party? our kids?
Yes, everyone.
q: How Much Does It Cost?
Our exclusive online booking system shows exactly what your wedding will cost as you decide on a ceremony package and/or additional services. Click or tap Save Your Date to start and use the guideline below as you make your selections. When you’re ready to book, you can pay online or select “Invoice Me Later” for anything except a non-refundable retainer to secure your date and time. We invoice any remaining charges as your wedding date approaches, with everything to be paid in full before you arrive.
Do You Offer Special Discounts?
Our Sweet & Simple Weddings offer exceptional value for everyone, making them unnecessary.
Why do Value-Added Services show 5 minutes?
Our booking provider doesn’t allow service selections with zero time to be visible online. All our value-added services are managed within the time slot for your chosen wedding package.
q: how do we get our marriage license?
Ciao Bella Celebrations can accept your valid marriage license from any county or city Circuit Court in Virginia.
You don’t have to be a Virginia resident to be legally married in Virginia if you get your license and have your wedding in the commonwealth within 60 days. Licenses are issued by a Clerk of the Circuit Court, the process varies by jurisdiction and many have changed their rules since the pandemic.
Q: what happens if we’re late?
Our wedding packages are designed to provide sufficient room for all activities (getting dressed, ceremony, photos, cake cutting, first dance, etc.) within your allotted time, with a short buffer for late arrivals, etc. and to complete everything without feeling rushed. Activities can be rearranged as needed within reasonable limits, and the couple can purchase extra time, however we often perform multiple weddings in a day and cannot violate agreements we make with other couples. Because of this, our departure times must be strictly enforced.
can we livestream?
Yes, our Little Wedding Chapel has free Wi-Fi and tripod stands you can use with your phone or video gear. Our weddings are viewed by family and friends from all over!
Q: ARE YOU LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY?
Yes! We believe in Marriage Equality for All and recognize that placing someone you love before yourself keeps you humble, while having someone who places you first brings safety, security and confidence. We welcome couples in love from all walks of life with love, warmth and dedication to service as you celebrate one of life’s great moments. ❤️
My wife and I were married on June 27, 2021.
Doing some research, we found Ciao Bella Celebrations and immediately scheduled an appointment to see the place. The moment we saw the place, it took us back in time and remembered the movie "The Notebook“ lol. Dan and Mona were so incredibly amazing, very accommodating and easy to work with. Making everyone comfortable especially since we're a LGBTQ couple. They really make sure that our wedding is all we ever wanted, and to top it off they take amazing photos.
Thank you so much Dan and Mona for making our wedding so fun and memorable. I highly recommend Ciao Bella Celebrations for your future events.
Aloha & Joyce - Facebook
Q: do you conduct religious ceremonies?
Our officiants were sworn in at the Fauquier County circuit court to operate in Virginia as Civil Celebrants. We’re not clergy, but we welcome and respect all people of faith and you’re welcome to use someone you prefer or include prayers and traditions in your ceremony as you wish. We serve as legal witness and check “civil” ceremony on all licenses we file for certification.
Q: can you conduct multilingual ceremonies?
❤️ Yes - Love is our Universal Language! ❤️
We’re happy to work with bilingual or multilingual family members or arrange for an interpreter ($150), and we have a technology solution that allows us to conduct your ceremony in dozens of languages including Spanish, Japanese, Danish, Italian, Portuguese and many more!
q. can we get ready at your venue?
Yes, but we recommend that you arrive 30-45 minutes before the ceremony with hair and makeup done to leave plenty of time to get dressed, take care of final touches and greet your guests. Too much time in the dressing room can affect timing for your ceremony, family photos and celebrating.
q. can we bring …
our own flowers ?
Yes! There are lots of options for flowers including our local partner Village Flowers. Our Chapel is designed with neutral colors to make it easy to personalize in a matter of minutes.
our own photographer / VIDEOGRAPHy ?
Yes! We offer reliable quality photography, or you can invite your favorite. Please note that any hired assistants count as guests.
what’s your photograpy LIKE?
Every wedding photo on this website was taken and retouched by us from real weddings. Anyone who purchases a photo package from us receives finished photos with unlimited non-commercial use, to be delivered within 30 days of your wedding.
our own food ?
Yes! To bring your own food we ask a $75 service fee which includes assistance with setup and cleanup, use of chafing dishes and service-ware, disposable plates & napkins.
We also offer appetizers for your guests at $20 per person, made fresh at our venue and available when you book.
our own CAKE ?
Yes! If you bring your own cake we ask a $25 service fee which includes use of a cake stand and cutlery, disposable plates & napkins and a picture of your special moment. We also offer Sweet and Simple cakes when you book.
our own alcohol ?
Sorry but No, our insurance and ABC licensing do not allow it. We offer beer, wine and champagne at reasonable rates and a mini-mimosa bar can be purchased in advance. You and your over-21 guests are welcome to purchase (or not) a drink at your leisure.
q. can we bring our dog ?
Only licensed service animals are permitted in our venue because of insurance and health code standards, but you’re welcome to bring your dog for photos after your ceremony. A wedding in a park or backyard (which we’re happy to officiate) is usually best for animal-friendly weddings.
q. how doeS my wedding unfold?
Your Sweet & Simple Wedding begins and ends according to your booked arrival time and the package you’ve selected.
Our Sweet & Simple weddings are designed to ensure you can celebrate without feeling rushed. Most ceremonies start 30-45 minutes after you arrive and typically last no more than 15 minutes, even with personal vows or special readings. Photos with family and guests usually start right after the ceremony, lasting 15-30 minutes, beginning with a group photo of everyone and then moving to smaller groupings. You can also take romantic photos together whenever it works best, perhaps when your guests leave for a dinner reservation or reception at home. The toast and cake-cutting usually take 10-15 minutes. This means the major events of your wedding take place within 60-90 minutes—less for elopements—leaving you plenty of time for arrivals, getting ready, and more.
To make sure everything goes smoothly, prepare, relax, and leave a small buffer for unexpected delays like late guest arrivals. For example, if you have guests from out of town, ask them to arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony to account for traffic. Have your hair and makeup done beforehand (grooms should arrive ready) and allow time for last-minute touches, a mimosa, and some mingling. Take a moment to breathe deep and enjoy the moment. Allow a few minutes at the end to change clothes if you wish, ensure you have everything, and give yourself enough time to get to your next destination.
The final thing to take with you, regardless of the wedding you choose, is to remember why you’re getting married in the first place and accept the love you’ve found with joy in your heart. Do this and everything else will fall into place.