Dolomites Elopement Photographer
An elopement is a wedding that belongs to you alone: the two of you, perhaps a handful of loved ones, a place in the mountains and a day without rushing.
I grew up in Val Gardena, and I don’t just come along with a camera. I help you choose the place, plan the light and the timeline with you and recommend the people who complete your day, from the florist to dinner at a mountain hut.
The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also my home. For an elopement that means wide alpine meadows, sheer rock faces, small chapels and huts, often just minutes apart.
From sunrise to dinner.
This is what a full summer day could look like. Shorter versions, such as just sunrise or just evening light, work just as well.
Sunrise on the ridge
When the first rays colour the rock, the trails are still empty. It is the calmest light of the day and often the most beautiful moment for your vows.
Breakfast & time for you
Back in the valley: arrive, breathe, get changed. No schedule pushing you along.
Getting ready
Hair, make-up, details. I photograph the quiet preparations that say so much later on.
Ceremony & portraits
A symbolic ceremony on an alpine meadow or at a chapel, followed by pictures in the warm evening light.
Dinner at a mountain hut
To close the day, a wood-panelled parlour or a terrace overlooking the valley, with the people who matter most to you if you like.
Places I know well.
And what you should know before getting married there. Rules for cable cars, roads and lakes keep changing, so I’ll tell you what applies to your day.
- SecedaBy cable car from Ortisei; in high season with time slots booked in advance. A legal wedding isn’t possible on the summit, but a symbolic ceremony is, with consideration for other visitors.
- Alpe di SiusiEndless meadows and huts with views of Sassolungo and Sassopiatto. The access road is closed to private traffic during the day, so we plan arrival and timing accordingly.
- Gardena PassRock, larches and wide views, easy to reach. Ideal if you’d like to combine several places in one day.
- Val di FunesQuieter than the famous viewpoints: meadows, farms and the church of Santa Maddalena in front of the Odle peaks.
- Lago di BraiesOne of the best-known lakes in the Alps, very busy during the day and with access restrictions in summer. For quiet pictures we go at sunrise.
Symbolic or legal?
Many couples have the legal ceremony at home and then celebrate their vows in the mountains, without any paperwork abroad. The symbolic ceremony can then take place almost anywhere: on an alpine meadow, by a lake, at a mountain hut.
If you’d like a legal wedding in Italy, you’ll need the required documents and an authorised location, usually a town hall or a selected venue. I’m happy to explain which route suits you and put you in touch with people who handle the formalities.
More than photos.
- Place & lightWe find the place that suits you and plan the time around the light. There is always an alternative for bad weather.
- TimelineA relaxed schedule with buffers, travel times and moments where you simply get to be there.
- RecommendationsFor accommodation, hair and make-up, flowers, music and a dinner with a view, I recommend people I love working with.
- Access & rulesCable car times, road closures, permits: for every place I’ll tell you what applies.
The big question in the mountains.
Planning to propose on the Alpe di Siusi, at Seceda or somewhere only the two of you know? I’ll help with the place and the timing, stay out of sight and capture the moment. Right afterwards, we take your first pictures as an engaged couple.
Plan your proposalQuestions about eloping.
What exactly is an elopement?
A wedding for two or with just a few loved ones, where the day itself is the focus, not the programme. How long, where and with whom is up to you.
How many hours should we plan?
For sunrise or evening light with a ceremony and couple portraits, four hours are often enough. If you’d like the whole day told, from getting ready to dinner, plan on eight to ten hours.
Do we need a permit?
For a symbolic ceremony in nature, usually not. Some places, such as huts, private land or protected areas, need the owners’ consent or have rules for groups and drones. I’ll tell you what applies for every place.
When is the best time?
June and September offer stable light and meadows in bloom or turning gold, October is quiet and colourful, and winter is the most peaceful season. Weekdays are more pleasant almost everywhere than weekends.
Can you help with accommodation and vendors?
Yes. I’ll recommend places to stay, florists, make-up artists and restaurants I enjoy working with.
Your day in the mountains.
Tell me when and where you picture your elopement. If you don’t know yet, we’ll find the right place together.