Dolomites Elopement Guide: How to Elope in the Dolomites

There are a lot of reasons that eloping is an incredible way to celebrate your love – and one of those reasons is that you have more freedom and flexibility with where you get married! The Dolomites, with their towering peaks, dazzling alpine lakes, and endless breathtaking views are an incredible backdrop for an elopement, so if your dream wedding includes jetting off to Italy to tie the knot, this Dolomites elopement guide will tell you everything you need to know.

How to Get to the Dolomites

To elope in the Dolomites, you’ll need to get there! The mountain range is located in northeastern Italy, so they’re a little more remote. To get there, the Venice Marco Polo Airport is the closest international airport, but you can also fly into Milan, though the drive will be farther. If you’re already in Europe, options via train are also plentiful and quite frankly the ideal way to experience Europe.

Having a car is ideal for exploring the Dolomites, and allows you to have more freedom during your elopement adventures! While there is some public transportation available, a car is the best way to get around, so I recommend renting one. Keep in mind that most of Europe, and Italy is no exception, favor manual transmission. While you can find automatic vehicles at the major airports, they do tend to slightly up charge for the service. Lastly, roads in the Dolomites are extremely narrow and winding- think no shoulder, no passing lanes, and ‘loosely enforced laws’ about motorcylces and cyclists. So be prepared for some aggressive driving experiences!

Dolomites Elopement Locations

There are countless gorgeous locations in the Dolomites, so every couple will find the perfect one, whether you want an easily accessible view or you want to take off on a difficult hike, or anything in between! All of which can be loosely based around cities, or something extra special and remote. Here are a few of the best elopement locations in the Dolomites.

An Alpine Lake

Some of the most amazing sights in the Dolomites are the alpine lakes. The blue water makes for a gorgeous backdrop, and you can even take a canoe out to explore! Cadore Lake is a human made lake along the Piave River, nestled in the valley and surrounded by mountains. Lake Carezza is another gorgeous spot, and it’s easily accessible! You can also walk around the lake for more views.

One of the best gems in the Dolomites is Lago di Braies Lake, an alpine lake known for incredible turquoise water and the mountains surrounding it. The gallery pictured above is taken from this lake- and the couple was able to rent out the boathouse for ~$450 for 2 hours. This was incredibly helpful because Lagi di Brais is one of the most visited locations in the Dolomites, so it can be incredibly busy. If this sounds like fun to you, reach out now and lets get that stunning lake to ourselves!

A Hike

There are so many gorgeous hikes in the Dolomites, from short trails to strenuous treks! If you want to celebrate your wedding day with a view, hiking is a great way to get to some beautiful places that are often more secluded. If you want an easy adventure, Seceda is a popular loop. A cable car will take you up (which is a fun adventure in itself), and then there’s a 0.8 mile hike – it’s short, but pretty steep – that takes you to an incredible ridgeline towards the jagged peaks. Some of the cable cars do operate on limited hours, so keep that in mind when thinking about privacy as they get very busy.

Another great Dolomites elopement location is the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, where three jagged, rocky peaks tower over the landscape. The hike is a 5.5 mile loop, perfect for couples who want a bit of a challenge! This location is hands down one of the most scenic locations in all the world! The jagged mountains and the incredible granite outcroppings are STUNNING. This location should not be missed! This Dolomites Elopement Guide is meant to give you inspiration for how your wedding day can look – but rest assured that there are SO many options out there!

The Puez-Odle Altopiano trail is one of the most rewarding hikes in the Dolomites, with truly jaw dropping views of the peaks. This hike is 10.6 miles long, but it’s definitely worth the effort!

Some of the best elopement locations are the ones that fewer people know about! So when it comes to finding the perfect elopement location, my job as a photographer is to help you find a place that fits your vision for the day and works for your dream wedding. My agenda tends to focus on seclusion and privacy for your vows. I’ll create a personalized list of recommendations, so you just have to choose the one that feels right! Its something that I take pride in, and you can see more examples of it from my work in Iceland as well!

The Best Time for a Dolomites Elopement

Choosing a date for your elopement is important, and will definitely affect the experience you have in the Dolomites!

Summer is typically the most popular time for couples to elope, as it’s warm and sunny! It’s a great season for outdoor adventures, but because of the good weather, there will be more people around. One important thing to keep in mind is that snow usually lingers in the mountains until around mid July!

As summer turns to fall and the leaves change, the colors of the Dolomites are truly incredible. Early fall can be a really amazing time to elope, because the summer crowds die down, the weather is cooler but still comfortable, and the scenery looks amazing covered in oranges and reds. 

Snow starts accumulating towards the end of fall, and the winter ski season begins. You can definitely elope in the winter if you love the snow, and it’s a good time for exploring mountain towns, skiing, and snowshoeing. 

Spring is pretty quiet, so eloping during this time means you’ll have more privacy. There’s usually still snow on the ground, but it can be a good time for adventures at lower elevations!

Things to Do When You Elope in the Dolomites

Eloping is all about making the day you get married unique and special to you, and the Dolomites hold so many adventures! Here are a few ideas for things you can do during your Dolomites elopement.

• Take a Boat on an Alpine Lake
  • The views from the shorelines are beautiful, but there’s something so magical about being on the water of a turquoise blue lake. There are a lot of lakes where you can canoe in the Dolomites, and Braies Lake has rowboat rentals!
• Ride in a Cable Car
  • There are several cable car routes in the Dolomites, and a few of the hikes require a cable car ride to get to the trailheads! This can be a really unique experience and will give you an incredible bird’s eye view of the mountains.
• Go Hiking
  • There’s no shortage of hiking trails in the Dolomites, and hiking to a beautiful location can be a really amazing way to get married. It can also take you to more secluded places that aren’t as popular, which is great for exchanging vows!
• Eat All the Food
  • Italy’s reputation is not shy about it’s food, and the Dolomites are no exception. Traveling throughout Italy, you will get a first hand experience on what homemade pasta, pizza, wine, gelato and mozzarella tastes like. You can indulge in all of the glorious foods that Italians are so rightfully famous for, and quite frankly it should be a major motivator for coming to Italy in the first place!

Hiring a Dolomites Elopement Photographer

Not to toot my own horn, but an elopement photographer is a huge part of not just your wedding day, but also of the entire journey! In this Guide to a Dolomites Elopement, I hope that you can see and feel the joy that this experience will bring you. My job is to help you create a unique, perfect-for-you experience, and to make sure you have an incredible adventure. That starts with location, vendor, and lodging, recommendations, and I’ll be there the entire way to help you plan! If you’re ready to elope, contact me to learn more about Dolomites elopement packages!