Lago di Braies Elopement
Lago di Braies is one of the most recognisable places in the Dolomites, but photographing an elopement here taught me that the reality of working in the mountains matters just as much as the scenery.
I photographed Karassa and Bryan here as part of their three-day Dolomites elopement. We were based in Cortina and travelled between mountain locations over several days, including Tofana di Mezzo, Lago di Braies and Cadini di Misurina.
The experience gave me a much better understanding of how traffic, timing, weather and the popularity of these locations can affect the photography plan.
If you are planning something similar, you can also see my main Dolomites wedding photographer page for the complete story and my approach to photographing weddings in the mountains.
A Real Elopement At Lago di Braies
Karassa and Bryan travelled from Florida for their wedding in the Dolomites. Rather than planning everything around one traditional wedding venue, they wanted the landscape and the experience of being in the mountains to be a major part of the trip.
Lago di Braies became one of the locations we photographed during their three-day elopement.
They were an adventurous couple and came prepared for being outdoors, including proper walking boots alongside their wedding clothes. That might sound like a small detail, but it makes a big difference when you are moving between mountain locations rather than walking around a traditional venue.
For me, that is part of the appeal of an elopement like this. It does not have to follow the structure of a normal wedding day.
What We Learned About Getting To Lago di Braies
One of the biggest lessons from this trip was not photographic at all. It was about travel time.
We had originally planned to head towards Cadini di Misurina, but the traffic became so heavy that it stopped being realistic. Rather than spend hours forcing a plan that was no longer working, we changed direction and headed towards Lago di Braies instead.
That is something I would now factor into any Dolomites wedding photography timeline.
A location might look reasonably close on a map, but that does not mean the journey will be straightforward on the day. Popular routes and locations can become extremely busy.
If one particular place is important to you, I would rather leave extra time in the schedule than build a timeline that only works if everything goes perfectly.
Timing Matters At Lago di Braies
Lago di Braies is not a private wedding venue. It is a famous place that other travellers, hikers and photographers also want to experience.
That means I would never plan a wedding here assuming you will automatically have the lake to yourselves.
Instead, I think it is better to build the day around reality.
An earlier start can give you more flexibility. Allowing extra time protects you if the roads are busy. And if conditions are not what you expected, being willing to adapt is far better than spending the whole day stressed because the original schedule has slipped.
That was one of the biggest lessons from Karassa and Bryan’s wedding.
Is Lago di Braies Right For Your Elopement?
I can completely understand why couples are drawn here. The lake, the mountains and the scale of the landscape make it an extraordinary place to experience together.
But I would choose Lago di Braies because you genuinely want to spend part of your wedding there, not simply because you have seen a photograph of it online.
Think about how you want the day to feel.
Are you comfortable getting up early?
Are you happy spending time travelling between mountain locations?
Are you comfortable adapting if traffic, weather or access changes?
Do you actually want to hike and explore, or would you prefer a slower and more relaxed wedding day?
There is no right answer. The important thing is making the photography fit the experience you want rather than building the entire experience around photographs.
My Approach To Photographing An Elopement At Lake Braies
Even somewhere as visually dramatic as Lago di Braies, I do not want the entire experience to become a photoshoot.
My approach is documentary led. I will help when direction is useful, particularly with light or composition, but I want the photographs to come from the experience rather than constantly interrupting it.
For Karassa and Bryan, that meant spending time together, exploring the landscape and letting the photographs develop around what they were doing.
I think that balance is especially important on an elopement. With fewer people and less of a traditional wedding structure, it would be very easy for photography to dominate the day.
I would rather you remember what it felt like to be there.
Lago di Braies As Part Of A Wider Dolomites Wedding
One thing I particularly liked about Karassa and Bryan’s wedding was that Lago di Braies was not expected to carry the entire experience.
Their wedding took place across several days and several parts of the Dolomites.
That gave us the freedom to photograph different landscapes without trying to squeeze everything into a few hours.
If you are planning something similar, I would consider whether a multi-day structure might actually make the wedding feel more relaxed.
You can see the full three-day story on my Dolomites wedding photographer page.
You can also explore more of my destination work on my Italy wedding photographer page.
Planning A Lago di Braies Elopement?
If you are planning a wedding or elopement at Lago di Braies and want photography that feels relaxed, natural and connected to the experience, I’d love to hear what you are planning.
I’m based in the UK and photograph destination weddings throughout Italy and Europe.
Tell me your date, where you are thinking of staying and whether Lago di Braies is the main part of the wedding or one location within a wider Dolomites trip.
Oh my word what a dream wedding! That opening shot just captured the drama and sheer scale of the place. You’ve caught the atmosphere of this wedding perfectly.