Dolomites Wedding Packages

Mountain weather changes quickly, so layers are essential! For your ceremony outfit: Bring a warm cover-up or jacket for before/after photos—temperatures can be 5-10°C cooler at high altitudes than in valleys. Consider practical footwear: hiking boots or sturdy shoes if hiking to your ceremony spot (you can bring elegant shoes separately for photos), or comfortable flats/low heels for easier locations. Long gowns look stunning in mountain settings but consider a shorter hemline if hiking. For the day: Sunscreen and sunglasses (mountain sun is intense), layers including a warm fleece or down jacket (even in summer, mornings and evenings are chilly at altitude), rain jacket just in case (weather can shift quickly), water bottle if hiking, snacks for energy especially for sunrise shoots. For photo props: Your marriage license or vows written on nice paper, champagne or Prosecco for celebration shots (we provide one bottle with Gold+), picnic blanket for sitting/cuddling photos. Don’t forget: Comfortable “hiking outfit” to change into after portraits if doing adventure activities, phone charger, any medications needed at altitude. Paola sends a detailed packing list specific to your season and chosen location once you book!

Most Dolomites elopements follow this timeline, though we customize based on your package and vision. For sunrise ceremonies (highly recommended for best light and privacy): 4:30-5:00 AM wake up and get ready, 5:30-6:00 AM arrive at location (e.g., Lago di Braies or Tre Cime trailhead), 6:00-6:30 AM start ceremony as sun rises, 6:30-8:30 AM photography session exploring the location in golden morning light. For Silver package (2h photography), you’re done by 8:30 AM and can celebrate with breakfast! For Gold/Diamond packages (4h coverage), continue with a Mercedes chauffeur tour to a second location (like driving to Seceda or Val di Funes), 9:00 AM-10:30 AM more portraits at second location, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM celebration lunch at a mountain rifugio or hotel terrace. Afternoon/evening ceremonies are also beautiful—typically starting 2-3 hours before sunset (around 6:00-7:00 PM in summer) to capture golden hour light. The exact schedule depends on season (sunrise times vary dramatically!), your chosen location’s accessibility, and whether hiking is involved. Paola creates a detailed timeline specific to your day.

We recommend booking 6-12 months in advance, especially for weddings during peak season (June-September) or popular dates like September weekends when fall colors peak. This gives you the best choice of dates and ensures availability of our top photographers and Paola’s coordination services. However, we’ve successfully planned beautiful elopements with just 2-3 months’ notice during shoulder seasons (April-May, October-November). Last-minute weddings (less than 6 weeks) are sometimes possible if we have availability, but options for ceremony times and photographer selection may be limited. Accommodation in popular towns like Cortina books up quickly during peak season—hotels often fill up 3-6 months ahead for summer dates. If you’re planning around the Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (February 6-22, 2026), book even earlier as the region will be extremely busy. For maximum flexibility and peace of mind, reach out as soon as you’ve decided on the Dolomites—Paola can hold your preferred date with just a deposit while you finalize travel plans.

Not at all! English is widely spoken in the Dolomites tourism industry, and all our services are in English. Your officiant, photographer, videographer, and Paola (your coordinator) are all fluent English speakers. The Dolomites region is officially bilingual—in South Tyrol (Südtirol), many locals speak German as their first language, then Italian, and often English. Hotel staff, restaurant servers, and shop owners in tourist areas like Cortina, Ortisei, and around Lago di Braies typically speak good English. Your ceremony will be conducted entirely in English with your personalized vows. All legal paperwork (for symbolic ceremonies) is provided in English. Menus at restaurants usually have English translations, and road signs are in both Italian and German. If you’re planning a legal wedding (which requires significant paperwork in Italian), you’d need to hire official translators—this is why most international couples choose our symbolic ceremonies and handle legal paperwork at home, where it’s simple and in their own language.

Each season offers unique beauty! Summer (June-August) has the most reliable weather (15-25°C/59-77°F), longest daylight (sunset around 9 PM), and all locations fully accessible—it’s peak wedding season but also busiest for tourism. Autumn (September-October) is our favorite: golden larch trees transform the mountains, fewer crowds, crisp air perfect for photos, and more comfortable hiking temperatures. September is ideal; by late October some high-altitude cable cars close. Spring (April-May) brings wildflowers and snowmelt waterfalls, but weather is unpredictable—high passes may still have snow, and rain is common. Budget-conscious couples love spring for lower accommodation rates. Winter (November-March) offers magical snow-covered peaks and a completely different aesthetic. With Cortina hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, winter weddings will be extra special! However, cold ceremonies (often below freezing), limited location access, and need for 4WD vehicles make winter more challenging. Most couples choose June-September for the best balance of weather, accessibility, and scenery.

These three towns serve different purposes for your Dolomites wedding stay. Cortina d’Ampezzo is the luxury mountain resort option—glamorous, upscale, with high-end hotels, restaurants, and boutiques. It’s hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, so it’s buzzing with energy. Best for: couples wanting sophisticated après-wedding dining and luxury accommodation. Closest to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (45 min) and Lago di Braies (35 min). Ortisei (Val Gardena) is a charming, traditional alpine village with German-Italian culture, excellent for authentic mountain atmosphere. More budget-friendly than Cortina with cozy family-run hotels and excellent local restaurants. Best for: couples wanting traditional alpine charm and easier access to Seceda (15 min) and Alpe di Siusi (20 min). Bolzano is a larger Italian city with urban amenities, the most affordable option with great restaurants and wine bars. Best for: couples wanting city comfort as a base, then driving to mountain locations (30-45 min to most spots). Paola can recommend specific hotels in each town based on your style and budget.

Lago di Braies is the most visited Dolomites location, especially in summer (June-August), but with smart planning, you can have an intimate ceremony! The secret is timing: Early morning ceremonies (6:00-8:00 AM) offer the most privacy, with soft sunrise light and mirror-like water reflections before tour buses arrive. Late evening ceremonies (after 7:00 PM in summer) also work well as day visitors leave. During peak season (July-August), the lake is busiest 10:00 AM-6:00 PM. Shoulder seasons (May, September-October) have significantly fewer tourists. We’ve photographed over 50 ceremonies at Lago di Braies and know the quiet spots away from the main boat dock—a 10-minute walk along the shore brings you to more secluded areas. If you prefer total solitude, Paola can suggest equally beautiful but less-known locations like Lago di Sorapis (requires hiking) or smaller mountain lakes. The trade-off: Lago di Braies is iconic for a reason—its turquoise color and dramatic setting are unmatched!

Absolutely! All our packages are fully customizable to fit your specific vision. Many couples add extras like hair and makeup services, extended photography hours, drone footage (weather and permit permitting), additional floral arrangements, or intimate dining experiences at mountain rifugios after the ceremony. The Infinity package (starting at €6,600) is designed for complete customization and can include multi-day experiences such as rehearsal dinners, post-wedding hiking adventures with your photographer, helicopter transfers to remote locations (weather permitting), accommodation coordination at luxury mountain hotels, or private access to exclusive venues. Paola, your dedicated Dolomites coordinator, will work with you to understand your dreams and create a personalized celebration that reflects your style and budget. Contact us to discuss your unique ideas!

Prices may vary by €100-€260 per package depending on your chosen location’s accessibility. Standard locations like Lago di Braies town, Cortina center, or Val di Funes viewpoints use the base package price. Moderate-distance locations requiring cable car access (like Seceda summit or Alpe di Siusi) typically add €100. Remote high-altitude locations like Tre Cime di Lavaredo rifugio or Cadini di Misurina, which require significant travel time and sometimes hiking for our vendors and photographer, may add €160-€260. This covers the extra transportation and logistics for our team. Paola, your Dolomites coordinator, will provide exact pricing once you’ve chosen your specific ceremony location, so there are no surprises. The investment is worth it for truly spectacular, private mountain settings.