Dolomites Elopement — A quiet kind of wild in the Italian Alps

An elopement in the Dolomites has a particular kind of magic.
Two people, vast landscapes, and a day that unfolds at its own rhythm.

This Dolomites elopement took place in early August, when summer still lingers in the Italian Alps and the mornings feel cool and clear. Over the course of one day, we moved through some of the most beautiful places in the region: from a mountain chalet to Lago di Braies, Cadini di Misurina and Passo di Giau.

Each location added its own atmosphere to their story.

Getting ready in a mountain chalet in the Dolomites

The day began in a wooden chalet tucked between the peaks. Soft clouds drifted past the windows while warm light filled the room. Coffee brewed and quiet anticipation settled in.

Somewhere between getting ready and packing their bags, a pillow fight started. Laughter echoed through the chalet, feathers floating through the air. A small, playful moment that instantly became part of their elopement story.

This is what I love about photographing an elopement: space for moments to unfold naturally, without pressure or performance.

Lago di Braies elopement photos at sunrise

We arrived at Lago di Braies early in the morning, before the crowds and just as the first light touched the lake. The water was completely still, reflecting the surrounding mountains like a mirror. The entire valley felt calm and untouched.

The bride & groom during their Dolomites elopement standing on the wooden dock at Lago di Braies at sunrise, surrounded by traditional rowing boats and mountain reflections.

They stepped into one of the wooden rowboats and drifted quietly across the lake. Surrounded by mountains and soft morning light, they moved slowly over the water, taking in the silence and the reflections around them. It felt intimate and cinematic at the same time - one of those moments that belongs entirely to an elopement day.

After returning to shore, they walked along the edge of the lake, hands intertwined, letting the morning unfold around them. These are the kinds of moments that define an elopement; quiet, intentional, and deeply connected.

As an elopement photographer, this is where I focus on presence rather than posing, allowing couples to simply be inside their day.

Cadini di Misurina elopement vows

High up in the Cadini di Misurina, the landscape became more rugged and dramatic. Sharp peaks rose into the clouds while the wind moved gently through the rocks.

This is where they read their vows.

A couple exchanging their vows on a narrow mountain ridge in the Cadini di Misurina during their Dolomites elopement, surrounded by dramatic peaks and soft alpine light.

Their voices carried softly across the mountains. Words spoken with care, emotion rising naturally. When a tear rolled down the bride’s cheek, the moment felt intimate and grounded, shaped by the vastness of the Dolomites around them.

Just two people, their promises, and a landscape that holds everything.

Passo di Giau sunrise elopement shoot

The following morning, we met again before sunrise at Passo di Giau for some couple portraits. The mountains were still quiet, the air crisp, and the light just beginning to stretch across the ridges.

As the sun slowly rose, soft pastel tones spread through the sky and over the peaks. Wrapped in jackets and close to each other, they stood in the middle of this vast alpine landscape, letting the first light of the day settle around them.

A sunrise elopement shoot carries a different kind of energy; calm, reflective, and full of space to breathe. After the intensity of the vows the day before, this felt like a gentle closing chapter to their elopement story.

Why choose a Dolomites elopement

An elopement in the Dolomites allows couples to move through multiple breathtaking locations in a single day - lakes, mountain passes, dramatic peaks and hidden trails - while staying grounded in what truly matters.

This day felt exactly like that:
rooted in connection, shaped by the landscape, and guided by intention rather than tradition.

Planning your own Dolomites elopement

If you are dreaming of a Dolomites elopement - whether at Lago di Braies, Cadini di Misurina, Passo di Giau or somewhere in between - I would love to help you shape a day that feels true to you.

You can find more information about elopements in the Italian Alps and how I work as an elopement photographer on my elopement page, or get in touch to start planning your own story.