Lago di Braies, also known as Pragser Wildsee and Lake Braies, is one of the most iconic destinations of the Italian Dolomites. This mesmerizing mountain lake is located at an altitude of 1496 meters. Rugged limestone mountains surround the lake and are reflected in the emerald green water. A wooden boat house with dozens of rowing boats nearby completes this picturesque view. You can hardly find a more romantic place! That’s why I believe that Lago di Braies is a perfect choice for an adventure elopement.
Getting married in Italy
Italy is one of the countries that was hit very hard by the pandemic of covid-19. Strong restrictions lasted longer than in many other european countries. Therefore many couples had to change their wedding plans. So did Samanta and Federico. They had a civil ceremony earlier in 2021, then celebrated their wedding day later on.
Samanta and Federico is a young, beautiful and warmhearted italian couple. Driving to one of the locations, we were chatting about lots of things. I asked them why did they get married at such a young age, and Federico gave me the most romantic answer:
- I found the love of my life, and had to act on it!
And during the day filled with romace and adventures, I could see how in love with each other these guys are!
Lago di Braies elopement
Samanta and Federico started their elopement day with a first look early at the boat house at Lago di Braies. They had a few intimate and emotional moments on the quay before they went to explore the lake and the surroundings.
If you want to have some privacy for your elopement on Lago di Braies, it is essential to start the day very early (before sunrise). You’ll also need to rent the boat house to get private access to the place and chance to row a boat without other tourists rowing on the lake at the same time. We rented the boat house for two hours and it was enough time for the ceremony and a boat ride. After we delivered the key, they opened the boat house to the public. The lake got filled with tourists in boats disturbing smooth surface of the lake. At that time we went to wander around the lake and explore beautiful surroundings.
Timeline for a fall elopement in Italian Dolomites
Are you wondering about how to create a timeline for your elopement on Lago di Braies? Here is an example for a fall elopement, but be aware that it would look different for other seasons.
- 05.00-06.00 – Wake up and get ready for your amazing elopement day
- 06.00-07.00 – Drive to Lago di Braies
- 07.00-07.30 – Get the key from the boat house and fresh up/do the last preparations
- 07.30-08.30 – First look and elopement ceremony on Lago di Braies
- 08.30-09.30 – Romantic boat tour on the lake
- 09.30-10.30 – Breakfast and coffee at a café nearby
- 10.30-11.30 – Explore surroundings near Pragser Wildsee
- 11.30-12.30 – Drive back to your chalet
- 12.30-14.30 – Relax or take a nap
- 14.30-15.30 – Luncn break
- 15.30-16.30 – Drive to the second location
- 16.30-18.00 – Explore the place and soak in all the beauty of the Italian Dolomites
- 18.00 – Drive to a village nearby and have a fine dinner at a restaurant to celebrate your amazing elopement day
Dolomites mountain elopement
In the middle of the day we took a break and relaxed a little bit. Usually, it’s a good idea to split the elopement day in two parts and try to catch both the sunrise and the sunset. This way you can explore two (or more) different locations and have a chill in the middle of the day.
In the afternoon we were ready for some more adventures. If you think that Lago di Braies is mindblowing, wait until you are on a mountaintop. When we arrived to the second location, we faced such a breathtaking mountain view! I swear, I could stay there all day long and photograph in every corner! But even with elopements you have to stick to some sort of timeline. Even though our hike up the hills was short, we felt the impact of thin air as we started at a high altitude (above 2.400 m). But we took it easy and explored the area in a slow pace.
If you want to make your elopement day even more special, bring a bottle of champagne to pop up in the mountains or a blanket and a picnic basket. This way, you can sit down and enjoy the quiet nature and the incredible views. Or use all the time that you have to hike around and explore as much as you can of the fantastic Italian Dolomites! This will be a lifetime experience!
Packing list for your elopement on Lago di Braies and in the Dolomites
This list is suitable for summer and fall elopements
- Plenty of water to keep you hydrated throughout the day
- Snacks
- Good hiking shoes
- Extra change of clothes – just in case
- Wind- and waterproof jacket and wool underwear
- Cardigan or fur/leather jacket that will keep you warm and look pretty on photos
- Headlamps for you both and extra batteries
- Portable charger for your phones (fully charged, of course)
- Map & compass – because you never know…
- Sunglasses & sun screen
- Pocket knife and a lighter – just in case
- Plastic bags to store trash, because we are not leaving any traces
- First aid kit & especially blister-patches
- Visibility west (in case of injury, you must be visible from a distance)
- Your wedding attire
- Handheld mirror, makeup, hairbrush/comb
- Flowers, vow books and ring box
- Champagne to celebrate!
Would you like to see other adventure elopement and wedding stories? Check out these blog posts: