Dolomites Elopement Planning Guide

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The Dolomites, a striking mountain range in Northern Italy, have become an increasingly popular destination for couples seeking a memorable elopement. While the region’s dramatic limestone peaks and alpine meadows offer undeniable visual appeal, it’s crucial to approach your plans with a clear understanding of the realities. This UNESCO World Heritage site balances natural splendor with the challenges of being a sought-after tourist destination. From crowded viewpoints to concerns about environmental impact, eloping in the Dolomites requires thoughtful planning.

This guide will provide an honest look at organizing your wedding in this magical landscape, covering everything from finding less-frequented locations to navigating local regulations and considering the sustainability of your choices. We’ll help you craft an elopement that honors both your dreams and the delicate alpine ecosystem you’ll be visiting.

We asked some of its most experienced local elopement vendors (including our founder and editor-in-chief Cat) to share their years of expertise to help you plan a safe and sustainable elopement in this magnificent mountain region.

Why Elope in the Dolomites?

There are a number of reasons why more couples are choosing the Dolomites for a destination wedding or elopement. Some of the popular reasons include:

• Breathtaking landscapes
• Easily accessible locations
• Lots of outdoor and adventure activities to do

Best Times to Elope in the Dolomites

When it comes to the best and worst times to visit the Dolomites, a lot depends on how you want to experience the area. While it’s possible to visit at any time of the year, there are certain seasons that are more suitable for planning a wedding or elopement than others.

Here’s what local planners Jlenia & Gemma said about the best time to visit:

There are different ways to consider seasons in the Dolomites:

• Warm/Sunny/Hiking season (April to October)
• Colder/Snow/Ski season (November to March):

And within these two main seasons, you have:

• Low season
• Shoulder season
• High season
  (this applies to both warm and cold seasons)

Pros & cons of getting married during low season (April & May + October & November):

Pros & cons of getting married during Shoulder season (June & September + December & March):

We think this is the best period, but it’s also the most requested one in the warmer months (June + September).

Pros & cons of getting married in high season (July & August + January & February):

The only pro is that these are the periods when people usually get time off from work. Otherwise, it’s mostly cons, especially the high prices and crowds.

I wish people knew that not every location is accessible all year round, but there are many different options and opportunities to capture the Dolomites’ beauty, not just at the most popular spots.

Naty Lizzy – Dolomites Photographer

Top 5 Most Popular Elopement Locations in the Dolomites

With the growing fame of the Dolomites on platforms such as Instagram, there are certain locations that aren’t only tourist hotspots. They are also becoming popular elopement locations. The most famous, and most popular locations are:

Lago di Braies

Lago di Braies (also known as Pragser Wildsee, Lake Braies or Lake Prags) is perhaps the most famous location in the whole of the Dolomites, with the charming wooden boathouse sitting on the edge of the turquoise blue lake with the mountains creating a picturesque backdrop. It’s possible to visit all year round, and it’s easy to reach, making it a good option for anyone with a mobility or physical disability.

Seceda

Seceda, or more accurately, the Puez-Odle mountain group, is known for its sharky ridge-line, with green meadows on one side, and steep cliffs on the other. Seceda can be accessed during the day by a cable car and a short walk or by sleeping overnight at one of the mountain huts in the area and hiking up. In high season, the cable car transports around 3000 people up here per day, and with many newly erected fences, most people congregate in the same areas.

Alpe di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi (or Seiser Alm) is a high alpine plateau, famous for its grassy meadows and quaint little wooden huts with the magnificent Sassolungo & Sassopiato mountains as the backdrop. The area is easy to access, but there are restrictions. During the day it’s accessed by cable car from the valley below. It is possible to drive up to one of the villages when the cable car isn’t in operation, but parking can be problematic. Another option is to stay in one of the hotels up on the plateau.

Cadini di Misurina

We’re willing to put money on it that you’ve seen images of some really jagged mountains that look like something from Lord of the Rings. That’s the view of the mountain group Cadini di Misurina. While this location is visible from a nearby hilltop, many people want “that” famous photo on the viewpoint – however, be prepared to wait in line!

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Tre Cime di Lavaredo (also referred to as the Drei Zinnen) are those three rock towers you’ll also have seen on photos. Very close to Cadini di Misurina, both can be accessed from the same trailhead – a car park at the end of a toll road from Misurina.

Why you shouldn’t Choose a famous location for your elopement

If you go to New York you want to see the Empire State Building, but you wouldn’t get married there while it’s full of tourists, would you? It’s the same for Lake Braies, Cadini di Misurina, Tre Cime, Alpe di Siusi and Seceda.

If you absolutely want to have your wedding in one of these spots, find a way of it being as less crowded as possible (visiting during low season, for instance).

Our advice: visit those beautiful spots on the days before/after your wedding, and have your ceremony somewhere more secluded and private. The Dolomites are full of stunning spots 😉

Gemma, Dolomites Wedding Planner

When you are planning your Dolomites elopement, it can be so tempting to look at photos from these famous locations and want to go there too. I don’t blame you – they are really beautiful. But they are also starting to suffer from over-tourism. That means you need to expect:

• Car parks to fill up fast
• Crowded trails with a lack of privacy
• People asking constantly to take your photo
• Sharing the locations with other elopement couples or influencers
• Environmental damage to the sites

Visit spots that aren’t just the 5 tourist hotspots you’re finding all the time on blogs and social media. Be part of the solution to overcrowding and exploitation, not part of the problem

Ellen – Dolomites Photographer

Instead of choosing one of these popular elopement locations, work with a local planner and/or photographer to create an elopement itinerary that takes you to some equally beautiful but less crowded spots. That way you can enjoy more peace and privacy during your elopement, whilst also reducing your impact on the natural environment.

Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Italy

The good news is there aren’t residency requirements for getting married in the Dolomites, so it’s possible for couples from overseas to get married here. The bad news is that it’s a lot of paperwork.

Depending on your countries of citizenship and residence, you may need the following:

• Passports or ID cards
• Birth certificates
• Certificates of divorce/widowed if previously married (women need to be single for at least 300 days)
• Nulla Osta (a certificate of no impediments to celebrate the wedding)

Because of the added expense and stress of obtaining these documents, as well as the restrictions on where you can get married if you’re having a legal ceremony, many couples choose to legalize their union in their home country and celebrate their marriage in the Dolomites with a symbolic ceremony instead.

Planning Your Dolomites Elopement: Step-by-Step Guide

Choosing the Right Time and Location

Not all locations are accessible all year. One of the first steps when planning your elopement in the Dolomites is to narrow down the time of year that you want to visit. If you’ve got a specific location in mind already, then you will want to make sure you plan your date to align with the best times to visit that location.

If you’re unsure of the best times, or you want expert help choosing your location, we recommend booking your primary local vendors first, and letting them advise you on the best times and locations for your own unique vision.

Hiring Local Vendors

When you’re planning a Dolomites elopement, there are a number of vendors you might want to consider. These include:

• Elopement planner
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Hair & Makeup
• Celebrant/officiant (for non-legal ceremony)
• Flowers
• Private chef
• Cake baker

Because photography is usually one of the biggest aspects of an elopement, we recommend booking your photographer first. In some cases, you may also want to work with a local elopement planner. Your photographer or planner can then recommend other local vendors to you based on your needs.

Despite being a relatively small area, there are some incredible wedding vendors in this region. Make sure you’re supporting local businesses and working with a local team.

Have someone local help you plan the experience. That will not only ensure a stres-free planning but also deep knowledge of the area and efficient last-minute problem-solving. Having local vendors is also preferrable. Specially a photographer that knows the area well and has previously photographed the Dolomites/mountains.

Gemma – Dolomites Wedding Planner

Finding Accommodation

The Dolomites has accommodation for almost every taste and budget. And while it might seem like a relatively small area, the geography of the landscape means that it can take hours to travel between different areas. We recommend not booking your accommodation until you’ve chosen your elopement location, as you don’t want to spend half of your day in the car!

Transportation Logistics in the Mountains

Getting around in the Dolomites is relatively easy and straightforward, but traffic on the small mountain roads and parking at trailheads is becoming an increasing problem. While you will probably want a hire car to reach the Dolomites, we recommend trying to limit driving while you are here. Choose your elopement location and accommodation so that you can minimise the time you’ll spend driving.

Crafting Your Intimate Ceremony

Once all the main vendors are booked and the logistics are planned out, it’s time to think about your ceremony.

If you’re having a legal ceremony, it’s a standardised ceremony, so there isn’t much you can do to personalize it. However, if you’ve opted to have a symbolic ceremony instead, there are a number of ways you can choose to celebrate your commitment, such as:

• Reading handwritten vows to one another
• Exchanging rings
• Having a celebrant create a ceremony for you

Check out these additional guides we’ve published:

What to Wear

When you choose to get married in a mountain environment, it’s important to take that into consideration when planning what you are going to wear.

Whatever your style (whether you’re wearing a dress, a suit, a jumpsuit, or something else entirely), the most important thing is freedom of movement. Make sure you can move easily and comfortably, including taking bigger steps. The last thing you want is your clothes to rub, restrict you or feel uncomfortable as you move around.

In summer, light fabrics can be more comfortable in warm temperatures than heavy ones. In the winter, you may want to consider longer sleeves and full coverage to cover up any redness or goosebumps from the cold.

Footwear

One of the most important choices you’ll make is what footwear you choose. Remember that most mountain terrain isn’t flat. It’s often uneven, and might be muddy or with loose stones. We recommend waterproof hiking boots with a good tread profile if you’re going to be doing lots of moving around. If you’re only walking shorter distances, a supportive outdoor shoe should be ok (as long as it has good tread). If you’re unsure, as your photographer or planner, as they should be local experts and will know what the terrain is like. You can always bring a second pair of shoes to change in to if you want a smarter look for some of your photos.

Suitable Outdoor Clothing

Whilst wedding clothes are certainly not suitable outdoor clothing, you can spend the day in them. But because mountain weather can be unpredictable, you shouldn’t leave without spare layers, such as a warm, long-sleeved midlayer and a wind & waterproof jacket.

Activities and Experiences in the Dolomites

The Dolomites is a paradise for those who love adventure, no matter in what form you take it. Here are some of the most popular activities that you can do around your Dolomites elopement:

Adventurous activities

• Hiking
• Cycling – mountain biking and road cycling are really popular here
• Climbing – single pitch sport routes, multi-pitch trad routes and via ferratas are all around the Dolomites
• Paragliding
• Winter sports – skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and tobogganing are all popular here

Cultural Activities

• Try the local cuisine at a mountain hut
• Eat at one of the Michelin-star restaurants
• Visit a local cheese maker

Ellen’s top things you should do when in the Dolomites:

1. At least one, even easy hike to enjoy our mountains at their fullest
2. Have lunch in a mountain hut after a hike or other sports activities, and try out food like Knödel, Schlutzkrapfen and Strudel
3. Try one of the most common activities to do in the mountains, such as a mountain bike tour, hiking tour in summer and skiing or sledging in winter

Naty Lizzy’s top recommendations:

1. Hiking: Explore the network of trails that wind through the Dolomites and offer breathtaking views of the mountains and surrounding valleys.

2. Skiing and Snowboarding: Experience world-class skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of the Dolomiti Superski area, which offers over 1,200 kilometers of pistes.

3. Scenic Drives: Take a scenic drive along the Great Dolomites Road (Strada delle Dolomiti), which offers stunning views of the mountain peaks and drive through the most beautiful passes, charming villages and natural landmarks.

4. Cultural Exploration: Visit historic sites such as the ancient castles of South Tyrol, museums showcasing local art and history, and attend cultural events and festivals to learn more about the region’s heritage.

5. Food: Eat the local traditional food, a mix between Italian, Austrian and German culinary.

Sustainable Elopement Practices in the Dolomites

Support Local Businesses

While you might think the Dolomites is an idyllic place to live, the increasing tourism demand is impacting the lives of local businesses. Choose local vendors, locally-owned accommodations, restaurants, and shops to support the local economy (and minimise the carbon footprint of your trip).

Work with locals – they know how to respect the region, landscapes and where to take you to make your day enjoyable and private. And actually listen to their tips. If they say some spots aren’t a good idea, they really aren’t!

Ellen – Dolomites photographer

Follow Leave No Trace

Following leave-no-trace guidelines is important in the Dolomites, not only to protect the natural environment from getting destroyed beyond recognition, but also for your own safety too. This includes:

• Stay on marked trails
  There is such an incredible network of hiking trails across the Dolomites. Please stay on them. Wandering across meadows to get some cute photos might seem harmless, but so many people do it and it damages the ground.
  
• Climbing over fences
  Every year more fences are being put up to stop tourists going into areas that they shouldn’t. Sometimes for their own safety, sometimes to protect the land from being damaged, and sometimes because it’s someone’s property and they don’t want people there.
  
• Flying Drones
  It’s not allowed to fly drones in many areas in the Dolomites, including over private property, in built-up areas and in protected areas (Naturpark).
  
• Avoid Geotagging
  We understand that you want to share your photos and adventures with people. When it comes to sharing them online, we prefer it when you don’t geotag exact locations, as many spots are not just becoming overcrowded, but also damaged beyond repair.

Don’t “Decorate” Nature

We love the Dolomites for its natural beauty. If you want an elaborate wedding with decorations and furniture, then please book a suitable wedding venue.

Nature is our biggest and most treasured asset. We respect it and try to be as low impact as possible. Events that compromise nature are not welcome.

Gemma – Dolomites Wedding Planner

Tips for being a responsible tourist

Use Public transport

Traffic can be a huge problem in the Dolomites, especially in the summer months. Walk, take buses and gondolas where you possibly can, and leave your car at the hotel.

Respect Nature

Follow the designated trails while hiking, skiing, or biking to minimise environmental impact. Leave no trace by taking your trash with you and respecting wildlife and their habitats.

Always think that the Dolomites aren’t a stage for the photographs and something to exploit as you prefer. Recognize the fact that it is a hiking region, not an Instagram show-off kind of land. The nature is to be respected.

Ellen – Dolomites Photographer

Respect the locals (and other tourists)

Don’t forget that people live and work here. Be respectful. The meadows with long grass and little wooden huts aren’t for tourists. They are people’s livelihoods. Try to keep noise to a minimum, don’t play music while you’re hiking, and remember to take all your waste with you.

Respect the signs, don’t fly drones, don’t walk onto the farmer’s land, don’t just jump the fences, don’t park anywhere, don’t do wild camping (it’s illegal to camp in not designated areas in the Dolomites).

Naty Lizzy – Dolomites Photographer.

No Trespassing

Just because everything seems so easily accessible, it doesn’t automatically mean you have the right to access it. Much of the land is private property, often used as farmland. Unless it’s a marked hiking trail, assume you don’t have the right to be there.

Be mindful:

• of where you park your car
• of where you step. For instance, no stepping on meadows that are growing long grass or crops!
• of animals. Don’t pet or feed animals (cows, horses, sheep, deer, marmots etc)
• of fences – do not cross fences. They are there for a reason.

Gemma – Dolomites Wedding Planner

Stay Longer

If you really want to enjoy your time in the Dolomites, and be a more sustainable tourist, stay for at least 5 days and embrace slow travel. Many of the problems the area is facing are because of people who only stay for a couple of days, so they drive everywhere, contributing to the traffic and parking problems on the mountain roads.

Check The Weather & Be Prepared

Mountain weather, especially in summer, can be “predictably unpredictable”. Never go out into the mountains without checking the forecast and being prepared for the weather to change. A large number of mountain rescue callouts aren’t for real emergencies. They are for tourists who go out under prepared – such as not having enough water, food, inappropriate footwear or no rain protection.

Cultural Considerations – It’s Italy, but not as you know it

The Dolomites region, while politically part of Italy, has a complex cultural and linguistic history that isn’t fully represented by the label “Italian.” Much of the area, particularly the province of South Tyrol (also known as Alto Adige in Italian), was part of Austria-Hungary until 1919. After World War I, it was annexed by Italy, leading to decades of tension and cultural assimilation efforts.

Many residents of this region, especially in South Tyrol, identify strongly with their Austrian and Germanic heritage. German is widely spoken, often as a first language, and there’s a strong sense of Tyrolean identity. Additionally, some valleys in the Dolomites are home to Ladin people, who speak their own Rhaeto-Romance language and have a distinct cultural identity.

As a result, simply labelling the entire region as “Italian” can feel reductive to many locals. It doesn’t acknowledge:

1. The region’s multicultural nature
2. The historical context of its incorporation into Italy
3. The ongoing efforts to preserve local languages and traditions

For many residents, their identity is more nuanced – they may see themselves as South Tyrolean or Ladin first, with complex feelings about their relationship to the Italian state.

Understanding this context can help you approach the region with more cultural sensitivity. It’s a reminder that national borders don’t always align neatly with cultural and linguistic identities.

Respect local customs, traditions, and languages. Learn a few basic phrases in Italian and German, the main languages spoken here in the region, and be mindful of cultural differences.

Naty Lizzy – Dolomites Photographer

Budget Breakdown: Costs of Eloping in the Dolomites

An elopement in the Dolomites can be possible for almost any budget. The more extravagant your plans are, the more you might spend.

It’s possible to have a simple and beautiful elopement that lasts just a few hours for less than €10k (including flights, accommodation, your outfits and a photographer). However, the sky really is the limit. You might choose to have a multi-day celebration with a full vendor team, a luxury chalet, and private helicopter tour. In which case, you might be looking closer to €30-40k.

Dolomites Elopement Packages and Services

When planning your elopement, you can choose to book an “all-inclusive” elopement package that includes everything you might want, or you can work with a local team create something completely unique and tailored to you.

Expert Tips from Local Vendors

Be Flexible!

An adventure wedding does not always go like planned. If outdoors, weather can play a big role (more on the weather topic further on); hiking paths can be closed due to works in progress, a gondola might be undergoing technical check ups and be closed,… Luckily, the dolomites are vast and beautiful; so don’t be scared of putting a plan B into practice! – Gemma, Dolomites Wedding Planner

Don’t Stress About The Weather

Probably the most dreaded aspect in the Dolomites. And our advice is: Don’t worry! (Or try not to!) & be prepared. – Gemma, Dolomites Wedding Planner

The climate is alpine, so it can be warm during summer days (up to +30°C during hotter days), but it gets chill as soon as the sun hides behind the clouds (fast down to 15°C). From November to March, you can count with snowfalls, and temperatures that range from +5°C to -20°C. The Dolomites region is in general quite sunny and has friendly weather most of the year. – Ellen, Dolomites Photographer

Don’t Rush

Enjoy the beauty that’s around you, look where you are, don’t rush. Enjoy every moment and just feel how alive you are!
The mountains make us feel so small by showcasing the grandeur and vastness of nature, reminding us of our place in the world. – Naty Lizzy, Dolomites Photographer

One of the biggest mistakes I see is couples rushing around and charging from one hotspot to another. South Tyrol, The Dolomites and the Ladin valleys are cultural and historical treasures! There’s so much more to discover than just spots to take pictures. – Ellen, Dolomites Photographer

FAQs

What language do they speak in the Dolomites?

Depending on which area you visit, the primary language spoken might be German, Ladin or Italian.

Where are the closest airports?

Depending on the area you plan to visit in the Dolomites, the closest airports are Venice and Innsbruck. Slightly further away you also have Milan and Munich.

Do you need to be a hiker to elope in the Dolomites?

You definitely don’t. There are so many easy to access locations all across the region. Although if you are willing to do a bit of hiking, you’re more likely to be able to get away from other people and enjoy more privacy.

What’s the best way to pay my wedding vendors from overseas?

Overseas bank transfers can be costly and include hidden fees for both parties. We recommend using Wise for handling overseas transfers, as well as getting a Wise Visa card to use while you’re travelling in Europe.

Read the article: Tips for paying your wedding vendors abroad

Meet Your Local Dolomites Experts

Thanks to the local Dolomites vendors who contributed to this article:

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