The dolomites are an amazing elopement location. The vast and diverse landscape can bring you so many different things, such as the crystal clear alpine lake, cliffside towns, and stunning hiking trails within the mountains. This is one of my favorite places to shoot elopements. This guide is going to go over everything you need to consider, such as locations, crowds, seasons, and permits. Read on to find out exactly how to elope in the Dolomites and see the most beautiful Dolomites elopement locations. If you want to read my entire guide on eloping in Italy, you can find it here

Where are the Dolomites

The dolomites are a mountain range in Northern Italy. When getting to the dolomites from the United States, you will want to pick the best airport to fly into. Bolzano Airport is the closest airport to the Dolomites, but it smaller and has limited flight options. The Venice Marco Polo Airport is about 3 hours from the dolomites, however it has a ton of flight options!

When to Elope in The Dolomites

The best time to elope in the Dolomites is going to be in the Summer or Fall. However, each season brings different things to the mountains. You should look into each season, and see what would suit you and your partner the best for your elopement. Here’s what each season looks like in the dolomites:

Spring

In early spring (March and sometimes April), higher elevations may still have snow, especially on north-facing slopes. As temperatures rise, the snow begins to melt, revealing lush green valleys and alpine meadows. Spring is a gorgeous time for an elopement in the dolomites, however, you can’t totally know when snow is going to melt on certain trails. If you’re looking into a high elevation elopement locations, you should have a plan b location that is in lower elevation. Another time spring is a good time is there are less crowds than in the summer!

Summer

Summer in the dolomites is a beautiful time of year, normally within the high 70’s on sunny days. There’s lush greenery, and you can visit watefalls such as Cascate del Rio Pisciadù, and all the alpine lakes, since all the trails are accessible in the summer. The downside is there will be more people this time of year. However, you can look into trails and locations that have less foot traffic if you want more privacy!

Fall

Fall in the Dolomites offers a magical blend of vibrant colors, less crowds, as well as trail accessibility. If you visit before new snowfall (in September to mid October) you’re likely to still be able to access all of the locations in the dolomites. This is an amazing time to have more privacy at iconic locations, with mild weather during the day and cooler weather at night and mornings.

Winter

Winter in the Dolomites, typically from December to February, transforms this mountainous region into a winter wonderland offering a variety of snowy activities and breathtaking landscapes. There’s a decent amount of tourism in the mountains in winter, but you can still get solitude away from the resort, and find cozy chalets for lodging. Remember, a lot more locations won’t be accessible due to snow.

How to Get Legally Married in the Dolomites

You do not need to be a resident of Italy to get married here, and you have two different options for this. First, you can go the simple route. This includes going to your local courthouse prior to your elopement, and doing the paperwork there. This ensures that you’ll be legally married, and can simply celebrate your union in Italy!

However, if it’s important to you to do the legal bits abroad, here is how to get a marriage license in Italy:

First, you must prove that you are legally free to marry. In Italy, this is typically done by obtaining a “nulla osta” (certificate of no impediment) from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You will need for this, an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry. Obtain an affidavit from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Italy, declaring that there are no legal impediments to your marriage. You need to make an appointment for this at the Embassy or Consulate. Here are the Documents Required for the Affidavit:

• Valid U.S. passport.
• Birth certificate.
• Proof of termination of any previous marriages (divorce decree or death certificate)
• The affidavit needs to be translated into Italian and legalized with an apostille from the Secretary of State from the U.S. state where it was issued.

Next, you will need to book the ceremony! You will need to contact the town hall (comune) where you plan to marry to book the date and time for your wedding ceremony. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Passports.
• Nulla osta.
• Banns (if applicable).
• Additional documentation as required by the local comune.

Finally, after the marriage, the officiant will register your marriage with the local vital records office. You should obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate! Request a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the town hall (comune) where the marriage was registered. And if you need the marriage certificate for use in the U.S., have it translated into English and legalized with an apostille.

How to Elope in The Dolomites

You plan a Dolomites elopement in similar ways as you’d plan any adventure elopement. There are a few major steps, and you can read about those here on my thorough guide on how to elope. For this Dolomites elopement guide, I’m going over the major things you’ll need to consider!

1. DECIDE IF YOU’RE HAVING GUESTS

This is an imperative part of the planning process for elopements. This is because some guests won’t have the hiking ability, some might not want to drive on steep roads, and others will be apt to altitude sickness. Choosing a location will be much easier once you’ve determine who you’re inviting, and how many guests total you’ll have.

2.HIRE YOUR DOLOMITES ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

This might feel early in the planning process, but bear with me. Elopements don’t have wedding planners. Most elopement photographers have taken it upon themselves to help couples with some of the planning. Many actually help you find your location! And they will think of things you might not have considered, such as: lighting, elevation, difficulty in hiking in a dress, permits, and so much more.

Each elopement photographer offers something different. Personally, I send my couples a customized list of locations based on their preferences, hiking ability, who they want to invite, and what they want to see. I also help them determine lodging options, get permits, get their marriage license, recommend vendors, and create a comprehensive day of timeline, and offer unlimited guidance calls for any questions along the way.

The being said, hiring your dolomites elopement photographer early is going to take a massive amount of planning stress off of your shoulders. Wanna chat? Contact me here!

3.DETERMINE WHAT WEATHER YOU WANT TO BE IN

This is going to help you choose a date and location. Some areas are more mild year round, while some get very hot or very cold. Determine what type of weather you want to be in, and research what each season brings, and this will greatly help you determine a time of year for your elopement, as well as a general region. 

4.PICK YOUR DOLOMITES ELOPEMENT LOCATION

Once you’ve decided on how much you’d like to hike, how many guests are coming, your ideal weather, and the landscapes you want, you’re ready to deep dive into researching dolomites elopement locations. Finding the perfect spot will be a lot simpler after considering all of your needs and logistics.

This is information I collect from my couples through a questionnaire, and then use to make a customized list of dolomites elopement location options for them.

5.HIRE VENDORS

Once you have your location, it’s time to consider if there’s anything you need vendors for. Do you need any event rentals? Do you want a friend or family to officiate, or do you want to hire an officiant? Will you go out to eat, or do you want something catered, like a meal at an Airbnb from a private chef?

Figure out what extra services you may want, and hire your vendors in advance!

6.GET YOUR PERMITS

You will need to get the correct permits for your elopement. These are usually “special use” permits that you apply for on the National Parks website, or National Forest/BLM website.

Personally, I get all permit information for my eloping couples that hire me. With that, all you need to do is fill out the application when it’s sent to you and pay the fee. Fee’s vary, but are usually around $150 or less.

7.CHOOSE ADDITIONAL ELOPEMENT ACTIVITIES

Activities are such a fun part of an elopement. When you choose to elope, you’re opening yourself up to having a wedding day celebration that feels unique and resonates with you. Incorporate things that will elevate your elopement day experience. Here’s just a few ideas to get you brainstorming:

• Going on a hike
• Having a bonfire
• Having a picnic on a mountain top
• Star-gazing or astrophotography
• Swimming in alpine lakes
• Visiting waterfalls
• Camping
• Glamping
• Hiring a private chef
• Hot air balloon ride
• Helicopter tour (landing on glaciers, mountains, etc)
• Kayaking
• Sightseeing
• Scenic driving with time to stop for pictures
• Visiting hot springs
• Exchanging gifts
• Reading letters from friends or family

8. MAKE A DAY-OF TIMELINE

Making a timeline is an important part of any elopement. It strings together all of your locations, activities, and lets guests know where to be and when. Creating a well thought out timeline will help you feel relaxed during the day, instead of stressed or rush. Make sure to include drive times as well as buffer times between each “event.”

Here are the things I include in the timelines I make for my couples:

• All addresses
• Sunrise time
• Sunset time
• Drive times
• A linke to Accuweather
• A list of all names for group shots
• Vendor info
• Emergency contact info
• A packing list

Lodging in The Dolomites

Lodging is important when it comes to elopements. A lot of couples incorporate their lodging into aspects of their wedding day. For example, getting ready + getting ready photos, a first look, an intimate reception with friends, a dinner made by a private chef, etc. Once you’ve decided what you’ll incorporate in your day, pick a location that will allow everything you want to include.

If you want to host an intimate reception, I highly recommend a vacation rental such as a cabin or an Airbnb. You can also stay at hotels, resorts, chalets, campgrounds, etc. Here are some amazing lodging options near The Dolomites:

• Croce Bianca
• Hotel Pareda
• Hotel Astoria
• Hotel Villa Rosella
• Leitlhof Hotel
• List of Chalets in the Dolomites
• List of Airbnbs in the Dolomites

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in the Dolomites

Obtaining the affidavit and certificate from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate can cost around $50-$100, translating documents into Italian and obtaining apostilles can cost approximately $50-$200 per document, and the cost of the marriage license and registration at the town hall varies by location but is typically between $50-$200. So technically, it’ll cost around $500 to get married in Italy. That being said, most couples spend an average of $5000-$25,000 on destination elopements. This includes flights, lodging, permits, vendors, wedding attire, meals, and anything extra a couple might want.

Dolomites Elopement Locations

There are endless amounts of Dolomites elopement locations to choose from. From mountains, alpine lakes, snow capped peaks and more. As an elopement photographer, I make a customized location list for my couples based on their needs, this includes: landscape, drive times, how much they do or don’t want to hike, ideal weather, and guest count. For now, here are some of the top stunning elopement locations in the Dolomites:

Lago di Braies

Prato Piazza

Val Fiscalina

Alpe di Siusi

Seceda

Passo delle Erbe

Passo Gardena

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Cadini di Misurina

Lago di Sorapis

Dolomites Elopement Packages

Elopement photography by Emilee Setting Photo, and everything included in my packages:

• Explore anywhere within Italy, all travel fees included in the price!
• Packages from half day elopements to multi-day elopements
• Receive a customized location list
• Help finding lodging that suits your needs if you’re having an intimate reception
• Included comprehensive timeline design
• Help obtaining your permits
• Help obtaining your marriage license
• A planning checklist
• Unlimited planning and guidance calls 
• All of your stunning photos delivered under three months
• Day of polaroid sneak peeks

Dolomites elopement packages starting at $8800. Want more information on my pricing and what’s included? Click here

Ready to Elope In The Dolomites?

This Dolomites elopement guide is a way to get you excited about all the possibilities of what your day could look like. Although, this amount of information can be overwhelming. I’m here to help. I can answer any and all questions you have on a complimentary low pressure consultation call. If you then choose you’d like to work together, I’ll do all of this planning right by your said to alleviate any stress, and bring your Italy elopement vision to life. We can chat here!