Elopement At Seceda in The Dolomites

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Krista and Tristan originally planned to elope in New York, and only about 5 months before their elopement day, they decided to instead pursue a spontaneous dream to exchange vows / have a symbolic ceremony during their honeymoon trip in Italy! Their elopement day came together seamlessly, from landing on their ideal location right away (Seceda in the Dolomites), to planning a relaxed morning timeline that allowed them to explore these dramatic landscapes and also enjoy some time sipping coffees at Baita Sofie.

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Why did you choose to have an elopement in The Dolomites?

From Krista, the bride: We chose to elope in The Dolomites on a pure whim. We knew we wanted to be outside, surrounded by nature and in the mountains somewhere. We originally planned to elope in upstate NY, but a few months later we saw a photo of the Dolomites and fell in love. We knew we had to make it happen.

We were so nervous to ask Juliana if she would go to Italy with us since we already decided on NY state. We sent an email to her seeing if this was something we could talk about. She responded so quickly and was essentially like, “Absolutely, I’m ready to book a plane ticket.” Best photographer ever. She is always up for an adventure.

Did You Have A Civil (Legal) Ceremony, or A Symbolic Ceremony?

Our ceremony on the mountain top was a symbolic ceremony

Do You Recommend This Time Of Year (July) For Getting Married on Seceda?

From Krista: Yes, absolutely! We were in love with all of the sunshine and wildflowers. In fact, if you want to get married on Seceda, this seems like the best time of year. Less than a month before our wedding date it was covered with snow, and a little less than two months after it was covered in snow again.

From Juliana: Best time of day: as early as possible! Not only to avoid crowds, but also to get that beautiful morning light. Best time of year: Krista & Tristan were in the Dolomites from the end of June until very early July, which still felt quiet enough to have a peaceful elopement experience (paired with heading to the summit as early as possible). However, for an even greater chance of privacy, June or September.

What Are the Best Tips for Planning a Destination Wedding or Elopement in this Location?

From Kirsta, the bride: Hire Juliana as your photographer ☺️ But seriously, we saw one photo of Seceda and she made the rest of the day happen. We didn’t look anything else up or plan a thing. She knew of all of the trails, good photo spots, places to eat, etc. We put all of our trust in her and would do it a million times over again.

From Juliana, the photographer: Be flexible! You truly never know what type of weather the mountains will throw at you, so it’s best to prepare for anything. Also, planning for either early morning or late evening in this location is best. That might even mean hiking one way (or both ways) when the cable car is not running, all to ensure you have a peaceful and private experience.

How did you personalize your elopement day?

Getting married in the mountains felt like us to our core. We always knew our wedding would be small and outdoors, we just didn’t know we would travel halfway across the world for it. We made our wedding day personal by only doing things we loved, and having it be completely easy and care free. All we had planned about the day was the time we were going up the mountain, and that was it. It was so amazing.

What were the most memorable moments from the day?

Tristan: After the ceremony, we sat next to the wild flowers on a hill and looked over the mountains and meadows. It was unreal. To sit there with Krista, my now wife, was a magical moment I’ll never forget. It was the perfect place to begin the rest of our lives.

Krista: One of the most memorable parts of the day was reading our vows to each other next to the mountain side. It truly felt like we were in another world in this scenery, and it also felt like we were the only two people in the world. I’ll never forget feeling the sun shine down on us next to a giant mountain, surrounded by bright wild flowers, becoming husband and wife.

Did you face any challenges while planning your elopement in The Dolomites?

We thankfully did not! Juliana made the process so incredibly easy for us. The hardest part for us was waiting for the day to come after we decided to elope in the Dolomites because we were so excited.

What Advice Would You Give to Others Planning an Elopement in the Dolomites?

Soak it all in! Stare at the mountain for hours, go grab some food at Sofie, and definitely bring a jacket, it can get so chilly up there.

Why Is The Dolomites One of the Best Places to Get Married in Europe?

From Krista: The scenery at Seceda is breathtaking. It truly felt like we were looking at a green screen the whole time. It was secluded, quiet, and beautiful. That’s everything we could have asked for.

From Juliana: The drama of the jagged peaks in contrast with the rich green mountain meadows. The setting itself feels like something out of a fairytale.

Why did you choose to elope?

We always knew our wedding would be outside in nature. We toyed with a small wedding vs eloping for what felt like forever. Anytime we tried to plan a wedding, it quickly didn’t feel like us. Someone gave us great advice, which was to try and recreate one of the best days we’ve had together. That day for us was when we got engaged. It was just the two of us on top of a mountain. The rest of the day was so care free. We felt like it was just the two of us in the world. We knew we wanted to recreate that for our wedding day. As soon as we decided to elope, we felt so stress free and excited. It was truly the best day ever and we would do it again in the heart beat.

Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

If you’re not sure about whether to make the jump into eloping, we say do it 🥰 Your day can be completely custom to you. There is no right or wrong way to do it, so don’t be afraid to make the day truly yours. You won’t regret it one bit.