Amore a Roma: Sarah and Marius's Dreamlike Elopement at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in the Heart of Rome

In this article

Quick Facts
How did you meet?
Tell us about the proposal.
Describe your wedding attire.
What was your wedding shopping experience like?
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
What is the best memory from your wedding?
What is the best advice you can give to engaged couples?
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Sarah and Marius whisked themselves and their closest loved ones to Italy for their intimate elopement at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in the heart of Rome!

Sarah and Marius’s worlds collided in Oslo, Norway at the city’s first-ever wine festival in 2021. Marius was working and Sarah was visiting.

About one year later, they traveled to the island of Seychelles, La Digue. One evening as the sun began to set, painting the sky with golden oranges, surrounded by breathtaking beaches and swaying palms, Marius got down on his knees and proposed to Sarah.

Without a doubt, it was the absolute perfect wedding proposal.
– Sarah

With its unique blend of Nordic style and Roman charm, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Rome was the perfect pick for Sarah and Marius’s destination elopement wedding. Not only did it offer an intimate space for their ceremony, but its prime location allowed them to wander as they pleased and take photos near iconic historical landmarks, like the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, and the Giardino degli Aranci, resulting in dreamlike photos, brimming with romance and wonder.

Sarah and Marius incorporated subtle details from each of their cultures, Pakistani and Norwegian, through their jewelry, ceremony location, and by surrounding themselves with close loved ones from home.

Sarah’s advice…

Elope! We would not have done anything differently… We had the beautiful, warm, and congratulating people of Rome as our audience. We felt like celebrities for our very special day.

Learn more from photographer, Silvia Coscarella, and see the romantic details of their elopement below!

Couple: Sarah & Marius
Wedding date: 05/02/2024
Wedding location: The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Rome, Italy

Quick Facts

Gifts for the wedding party: Corsages were given to the grooms.
Gifts for each other: Jewellery – A diamond-covered gold band for Sarah and a gold necklace for Marius.
First dance song: ‘Ti Amo’ – Vennlig Hilsen, Sarah Arshad

How did you meet?

We met at the very first wine festival ever hosted in Oslo back in 2021. Marius was working and I (Sarah) was visiting.

Tell us about the proposal.

One year later, we traveled to the Seychelles. Marius proposed to me at the breathtaking Seychelles Island, La Digue. Surrounded by beautiful beaches, from Anse Source D’Argent, Grand Anse Beach, and Anse Reunion, Marius went down on his knees as the sun was starting to set, the colors of the sky and the ocean shifting from ice blue to glowing orange. Without a doubt, it was the absolute perfect wedding proposal.

The big day kicked off at Hotel San Anselmo, a boutique hotel on Aventine Hill. The hotel is surrounded by art and has a lovely historic charm, which made it the perfect place for the couple to prepare for their wedding.
Silvia Coscarella (Photographer)

Describe your wedding attire.

Marius wore a black tuxedo. I wore a princess-style, off-shoulder gown with a detachable embellished over-skirt and a three-meter-long train.

What was your wedding shopping experience like?

The shopping experience started with multiple visits to various bridal stores, both in Norway and Greece. However, the wedding dress I absolutely fell in love with was totally out of budget (advice: don’t try wedding dresses outside your budget, disappointment is guaranteed).

However, at my last try-out, I invited my bridesmaids to the local bridal store and found my style. Luckily, I’d also seen the same dress pre-used, and since the former bride had only worn it for wedding pictures, It was as good as new. Sustainability conquered and I bought my dress and veil pre-used, saving money – and the planet! The shoes were bought from the English brand Dune.

Marius bought a new tuxedo made by an Italian designer as he had always wanted a high-quality tuxedo if he was to get one, preferably from Italy. However, he did not find the right one until the week before our departure to our wedding destination! However, the retailer made it happen, and he got everything including the shirt, shoes, and bow tie from them just in time!

In total the shopping experience was exciting, but let’s be honest and state that the groom got the whole “He found his tuxedo” – experience rather than the bride!

Sarah looked radiant in her princess dress, its intricate details making her look like she’d stepped out of a fairy tale. Meanwhile, Marius, looking sharp in his suit, was eagerly awaiting the moment he’d see his bride…When that moment came, it was pure magic. Marius was moved to tears when he saw Sarah, radiant with beauty and love.
– Silvia Coscarella (Photographer)

Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?

We included subtle elements from our cultural background. Sarah wore Pakistani gold jewelry inherited from her mother and grandmother.

Marius had his family gathered with him before the ceremony and had his son be his best man. His brother was our witness. We also wanted our day to capture the Italian vibe, hence our wedding pictures in Rome!

The ceremony at the Norwegian Embassy was small and emotional, perfectly capturing the essence of their unique bond…This one-of-a-kind location was the ideal selection for Sarah and Marius, a dynamic couple celebrating their Pakistani and Norwegian heritage.
– Silvia Coscarella (Photographer)

What is the best memory from your wedding?

One of the most memorable moments was our wedding dance.

We decided to end our day with a drink at a local tavern right by our hotel. Surprisingly, no one was there but us and the waiters when we arrived. Sarah decided to ask the young boys if they would play “Ti Amo” on the outdoor speakers so she could have her wedding dance with her newly wedded husband. We danced into the night in our wedding attire, with drizzling rain in the veil, under the blue star-filled sky of mesmerizing Rome.

Another was the ceremony. It was way more special and personal than we expected, given it was a civil ceremony at the Royal Norwegian Embassy. They made us feel like we had a full-on ceremony with our officiant being present and making it very personal.

After the ceremony, the couple set off on a romantic trip to Rome. They kicked off their Italian adventure at the Giardino degli Aranci, strolling beneath fragrant orange trees…As they strolled through Rome’s narrow streets, it was impossible not to smile along with them.
– Silvia Coscarella (Photographer)

One of the day’s most moving moments came at the end. A young girl, captivated by Sarah’s striking appearance, whispered to her mother, “She looks like Princess Jasmine!” Sarah’s warm smile at the sweet compliment perfectly captured the joy and magic of their wedding day.
– Silvia Coscarella (Photographer)

What is the best advice you can give to engaged couples?

If you want a destination wedding with all your friends and family in attendance, start at least one year in advance. You will also need a planner who can get the right vendors according to your budget.

Elope! We would not have done anything differently. We got to do it exactly how we wanted and got to spend our whole day together. The two of us and our incredible photographers got to wander the streets and monuments of romantic Rome. We had the beautiful, warm, and congratulating people of Rome as our audience. We felt like celebrities for our very special day.

They finished off their tour with a tasty treat, authentic Italian gelato! It was a great way to end the day, sharing laughs and sweet moments over some delicious, creamy scoops.
– Silvia Coscarella (Photographer)