Dolomites Elopement Guide
If you’ve done any research on the best places in the world to elope , you’ve probably come across the Italian Dolomites more than once. This mountain range in the northeastern corner of Italy is one of the most incredible places you’ll ever visit!! When it comes to elopements, I’m a big advocate for building an experience around your day and if there’s any place to go to for the experience of a lifetime, it’s the Dolomites! The scenery in this region ranges from the obvious epic mountain peaks to turquoise lakes to sprawling meadows. The views are endless, even if you’re just driving around or walking through town. A place like this is a worthy choice for something as significant as your elopement day.
In this blog, I share all the info you need to get your planning process started.
Can you legally get married in the Dolomites?
If you’re considering a Dolomites elopement, you might be curious if you can actually get married legally in Italy as a foreigner. The short answer to this question is yes you can! However, it will require a bit of extra steps and things to consider - like getting all your documents translated to Italian and submitted a few months in advance, possibly hiring an interpreter for your ceremony, making an in person visit to the town hall in Italy, etc. If you’re planning your elopement well in advance and would like to legally get married on your trip to Italy, you can read about all the requirements here.
If you prefer not to deal with all the legal stuff and want more flexibility with your plans, I recommend taking care of the paperwork at home and having a symbolic ceremony for your elopement day! Many of my eloping clients do this even if they aren’t traveling internationally for their elopement.
Can LGBTQ+ couples get married in Italy?
Sadly, same-sex marriage is not yet legal in Italy. Hopefully this changes soon, but for now, a symbolic elopement ceremony is the only option for LGBTQ+ couples - all the more reason to just take care of the paperwork at home. If you do wish to have a legal ceremony, you can consider getting married in the Austrian region of the Dolomites!
Getting to and around the Dolomites:
The Dolomites are located in the northeastern corner of Italy, straddling the Austrian border, and the best way to get here is by flying into a nearby airport and renting a car.
The closest international airport to the most visited spots in the Dolomites is the Venice Marco Polo airport, 2 to 3 hours away depending on where you’re staying. While you can take public transportation to some of the main towns in the mountains, you’ll be really limited if you rely on it for the rest of your trip. I highly recommend renting your own car so you can travel on your own time and explore more freely.
Best time to elope in the Dolomites
The best time to elope in the Dolomites will depend on your personal preferences when it comes to scenery, crowds, activities, and overall experience. Each season has it’s pros and cons so think about why you chose the Dolomites and go with what will allow you to have your dream day!
Summer: July and August
The summer months in the Dolomites are the most versatile in terms of accessibilty. The trails will be clear from snow, the cable cars will be running, the mountain huts will be open, and restaurants and local business will be open. Because of this, it’s also the busiest time of year. There are ways to avoid crowds, even in the summer, but if you can, I recommend planning your elopement during the shoulder seasons instead.
Fall: September and October
In September and October, most places are still accessible, but crowds will begin to thin out, so this is my personal recommendation for when to elope in the Dolomites! Mountain huts and cable cars do start closing mid-October, so if you’ll want to pay attention to dates for those if you plan to visit certain locations. The fall colors in the mountains are a huge highlight of visiting the Dolomites in the fall!
Winter:
With winter comes the holidays and ski season, meaning more crowds, higher prices, and less access to locations that are impacted by snow - you likely won’t be able to visit higher elevation trails and drive through some mountain passes. Earlier in the winter, before the busy holiday and ski season, you may also run into businesses having limited hours. I personally don’t recommend eloping in the Dolomites in the winter unless you’re a skier or you specifically want a snowy elopement.
Spring:
Spring is the season of blossoming! Temperatures warm up, snow begins to melt, mountain trails become accessible, and flowers start to bloom. This could be a really beautiful time to elope in the Dolomites depending on your location priorities. Earlier in the spring, there may still be snow in higher elevation areas, so I’d recommend aiming for later in the spring. June would a good shoulder month between spring and summer to get the most accessibility, better weather, and fewer crowds.
Best elopement locations in the Dolomites:
The locations listed below are some of the most iconic, well-known spots in the Dolomites. Although their popularity tends to bring crowds, there are plenty of ways to visit these places and still have an incredible experience.
Here are my top tips for avoiding crowds and having a more privacy during your elopement.
Travel during the shoulder season. I talk about this in the section above, but avoiding the summer busy season will make a world of difference when it comes to crowds! I did my first Dolomites trip in early October and I don’t think I could have picked a more perfect time.
Plan your ceremony for sunrise. Early in the morning is almost always going to be quieter and much less crowded than sunset.
Elope on a weekday. While tourists do still travel during the week, weekends will always be busier. I recommend eloping mid-week.
Pick a location that requires a little hiking. The more effort it takes to get there, the less crowded it usually is, especially when paired with other factors from above (i.e. a sunrise hike during the middle of the week in shoulder season).
If hiking isn’t your thing, consider booking a private helicopter to drop you off at an epic location. This is almost guaranteed to give you a spot all to yourselves.
If you have your heart set on a summer elopement or you aren’t able to implement all the strategies above to avoid crowds, don’t be discouraged! As long as you come prepared and manage your expectations, you will still have a beautiful experience even if other people are around. I’ve found that most travelers are super excited to see couples dressed up in their wedding outfits at these kinds of beautiful places!
Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee)
This beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by mountains is probably the first place in the Dolomites that I ever came across a photo of - and in turn, sparked my desire to travel here one day. As insta-famous as it is now, seeing it in person is truly a magical experience!
Getting here is super easy as there are multiple parking lots to park in with just a short walk to the lake. Most people tend to hang out by the boathouse, but there is a trail around the lake you can walk as well to see it from different vantage points.
Because it’s very accessible, this location does get very, very crowded. I only recommend visiting at sunrise, and even then you should not expect total privacy. I think the photos would be totally worth it though! A couple of other fun things to do while you’re here is stop at the little cafe by the parking lot for some pastries and rent one of the canoes at the boathouse and paddle around the water.
Seceda Ridgeline
The views at this location consist of the famous rocky mountain ridge and contrasting grassy, green sloping meadows. It’s easily accessible by cable car, making it a pretty busy location, but a few ways to avoid the crowds are to hike up early before the lift opens or stay after it closes and hike down after dark. You can also take a private helicopter here after hours if you want to skip hiking altogether.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (also calle Drei Zinnen) are a group of three distinct rocky peaks that rise up on the edge of an alpine plateau in the Italian Dolomites. You can get a pretty amazing view with just a short walk from the parking area, but if you wander further along the 6+ mile trail, you have the chance to get away from the crowds a bit and see more of the surrounding scenery.
Cadini di Misurini
Cadini di Misurini is another iconic group of mountains in the Dolomites characterized by its sharp peaks shooting up from the valley below. This spot is especially popular for elopements and photographers in general because of the unique viewpoint at the end of the trail. The viewpoint is basically a narrow ridge that slopes upward and once at the top, you have an incredible view of the Cadini mountains before you. If you’re looking for epic mountain shots, this is the spot!
Getting to the viewpoint requires a little over a mile of hiking and it’s considered moderately challenging, with quite a bit of incline at the beginning of the trail. If you take your time, it’s well worth the effort. I wouldn’t try to have your ceremony on the actual viewpoint as space up there is limited and there tends to be a line of people waiting to get photos, but it’s totally worth stopping here for sunset photos. There are lots of spots nearby where you can have a more private vow reading and still have stunning views.
Alpe di Siusi
Alpe di Siusi (aka Seiser Alm) is the largest high-alpine pasture in all of Europe — imagine green rolling meadows with a backdrop of mountains. Cows and horses grazing in every field and biking trails in all directions. Very big Sound of Music vibes! This location feels really romantic and can be a little quieter than some of the other spots in the Dolomites. I recommend driving up early to catch the sunrise! Between 9 am and 5 pm the road is closed to private traffic so you’ll have to take the cable car or bus if you visit during that time.
Passo Gardena
Passo Gardena is a mountain pass in the Dolomites, known for being one of the most scenic drives in Italy. Some of the trails in this area have scenic views that would make the perfect elopement location.
Cinque Torri
Cinque Torri is a group of tall rocky towers uniquely situated together across a grassy hillock. These can be easily accessed via cable car or with a bit more effort by hiking from the base of the cable car — an option worth considering if you want to catch the sunrise here and avoid crowds.
Where to stay for your Dolomites elopement
For your elopement day, I’d prioritize a place to stay that adds to your experience and that you feel really excited about. A balcony with awesome views could be a nice idea for sipping coffee before you get ready or maybe you’d enjoy a hot tub soak when you get home from hiking. Other things to look for while picking out your accommodation is lots of natural light, clean design, neutral colors, and enough space so you don’t feel crowded while you get ready - especially if you have large suitcases with you and if you invite someone over to do your hair and makeup. There are a variety of accommodation options throughout the Dolomite area from airbnb, to mountain chalets, to luxury hotels and resorts, and even mountain huts if you’re planning a more adventurous day.
Where you end up staying will likely depend on your location choices for your elopement, but two great areas to look in are Cortina D’Ampezzo and Val Gardena.
Things to do before, during, and after your Dolomites elopement
Your elopement day doesn’t have to only consist of saying your vows and taking portraits - just like an elopement anywhere else in the world, I recommend thinking about how you want to spend the WHOLE day, from start to finish, and make it a memorable experience. This doesn’t mean the whole day has to be nonstop activities or a full day photoshoot, though. It just means being intentional about how you want to spend your time together.
Below are some things you can do on your elopement day in the Dolomites. You can also do any of these activities on the days before or after your elopement!
walk to a local coffee shop or bakery for breakfast
watch the sunrise at a scenic viewpoint
have a professional hair and makeup artist come to your airbnb and enjoy getting pampered while listening to your favorite tunes
take a cable car to a mountain restaurant for lunch with a view
book a row boat tour at Lago di Braies
explore the town you’re staying in or the town near your ceremony location
have a wellness day at a spa
hang out on your balcony in the morning and write your vows in a special vow book
pack a picnic to enjoy at the end of a hike
book a helicopter tour to see the mountains from above and land in a private location for your ceremony
hire a private chef to prepare a delicious post-elopement meal
visit one of the many alpine lakes along your drive or in the mountains
book a fancy dinner at a local restaurant
stop for gelato or desert between adventures
read letter from friends and family as you soak up the last of the sunset
spend a day or two post-elopement exploring Venice
continue your trip with more hikes in the Dolomites or venture off to another part of Italy or even Austria or Germany or anywhere else in the world you want to add onto your trip!
Why hire me to photograph your elopement in the Italian Dolomites?
As a destination elopement photographer, it’s literally my job to travel around the world and document couples in beautiful places! When you hire me, you’re not just getting me during the time we’re taking photos on the day of your elopement - I’m here to support you throughout the entire process. From brainstorming ideas together to picking your locations, navigating travel logistics, and finalizing details, I’m here for you every step of the way. Planning an elopement is a little different than planning a traditional wedding, so having someone who specializes in planning and capturing these types of experiences is especially helpful! I’ll send you questionnaires to make things as personal as possible along with tons of other resources to guide you along the way as you craft a day that’s as intentional, unique, and adventurous as you want.
FAQ: Can you legally work in Italy?
Yes! I’ve consulted the Italian embassy in regards to this and have confirmation of the requirements needed to work here legally.
Dolomites Elopement Photography Packages
Pricing starts at $8,500 and includes:
An in-depth questionnaire to get to know you & personalize your experience
Location Assistance
Vendor & Accommodation Recommendations
Custom Timeline
All travel fees
Online gallery with high-resolution images and print store
