If you’ve ever searched for the perfect Dolomites elopement location, chances are Lake Braies popped up right away. This emerald-green lake surrounded by dramatic mountains is one of the most iconic places in northern Italy — and a dream come true for many couples planning an elopement in the Dolomites.

But here’s the truth: while a Lake Braies elopement is absolutely magical, it also comes with challenges. Crowds, strict rules, and tricky booking timelines can make it stressful if you don’t plan it right.

That’s why I’ve created this guide — to show you everything you need to know about eloping at Lake Braies, the pros and cons, the best times to go, how to reserve the boathouse, and even how I make the process smoother for my couples with built-in flexibility.

Why Choose Lake Braies for Your Elopement? (The Pros)

• Iconic scenery — emerald waters, mountain peaks, and a fairytale boat dock make Lake Braies a breathtaking elopement backdrop.
• Rowboats — rent a wooden boat and float across the lake for unforgettable vows and portraits.
• Easy access — no hiking required. You can drive directly to the lake, which is great if you want epic views without a trek.
• Dreamy atmosphere — Lake Braies has a cinematic vibe that feels straight out of a storybook.

Challenges of a Lake Braies Elopement (The Cons)

• Tourist crowds — this is one of the busiest spots in the Dolomites. Privacy is impossible during peak season and hours. During the day in the summer there are literally thousands of people all around the lake making it difficult to walk freely, take photos without everybody else looking and you and waiting in line.
• Booking rules — to have a private ceremony or photoshoot, you must reserve the early-morning slot at the boathouse (€450). There is only one slot like this every day. This includes possibility to have a ceremony on the docks and two boats on the lake (one for you, one for you photographer) without anybody else being on the lake at the same time.
• Limited reservations — bookings for this private early morning option open every year on February 1st, and popular dates are gone fast, within hours even.
• Lack of flexibility — the booking of the early morning option is not refundable and you can not change the dates later. You usually book your photographer months before the 1st of February arrives. Your photographer also has booked just this one day for you. You might not get the reservation for the boathouse for the date you have already booked your photographer. Read more below how I differ and give you the flexibility that is needed in a situation like this 😊

Best Time for a Lake Braies Elopement

• Season: Late May through early October offers the best conditions. Winter usually means a frozen lake and no boats. In winter it is possible to walk on the lake (see photos of this below).
• Day of the week: Weekdays are far better than weekends for avoiding heavy crowds.
• Time of day: Sunrise or early morning is the only way to get some peace and soft light.
• Off-season months: May and October are quieter compared to July and August, making them ideal for a more intimate elopement.

The Booking Reality at Lake Braies

Here’s where things get tricky. Couples usually hire their photographer and vendors long before the February reservation date opens. My couples usually book me 9-14 months ahead.

When you book the photographer, you pay the retainer. And now, you are waiting for the reservations for lake Braies to open up on the 1st of February, but the best time slots get booked fast, within hours… It really is that competitive. If you do not get the wished date… What then? Your photographer has booked just this one day for you. Rescheduling or cancellation of the photography service will cause you not getting your retainer back.

With many clients and photographers, this creates stress. There is no flexibility from photographers’ side. They hold just this one day for you. If you don’t get to secure the boathouse slot, your Lake Braies elopement dreams may suddenly not be possible.

My Solution: Stress-Free Flexibility

This is where I work differently. Instead of just one day, I block off four full days just for you. I have 4 days booked for each and every one of my clients where I do not serve anybody else. This is what I usually use these days for:

Day 1/4:

I arrive at the location earlier and I will go through all the locations on our itinerary myself before I bring my couples there on their elopement day. On this day I scout out more specifically all the spots we will use for ceremony, portraits and activities. During this day I also make sure there will be no obstacles or bad surprises on the elopement day. Especially in the Dolomites where accessibility rules are changed every now and then to manage the over tourism. If pivoting is needed due to accessibility changes or weather forecast, I will also go through my back-up plan locations. This takes me one full day, sometimes a little bit out of the second day, too.

Day 2/4:

The day before the elopement I meet my couple to go through the final elopement plan based on the latest weather forecast and everything I’ve discovered during my location scouting the day before. On this day I also prepare all my gear and pack all necessary things into my backpack. This day is also aimed for me to get some rest before the most important day of your lives so that I could show up energetic, with my full attention and ready to take all the mental overload of the wedding day onto myself so that you wouldn’t need to worry about anything at all!

Day 3/4:

Elopement day! All stress-free and chill, emotional, beautiful, but definitely a lot of fun, too!

Day 4/4:

The day after the elopement, I will not go back home nor start serving somebody else yet. This is the back-up day. In case the weather on the elopement day is horrible (not rain, fog or wind, but more like thunderstorms, mudslides, etc), then we can postpone the elopement by a day. Usually this day is not needed, but I love having this day for each of my couples to be prepared for all kinds of scenarios. If we do not use this day, this is the day when I make ready the sneak-peek photos and you will get them already on the next day!

How does this flexibility serve you?

So, as you can see I have 4 full days reserved for each of my couples. Of course, we decide which day we want to have the elopement on. But it might happen on rare occasions that something happens that prohibits us having the elopement on the chosen day. For example if we do not get the lake Braies early morning reservation on the day we wanted to. But since I have 4 days for you, we might get the reservation on one of the 3 other days without any of my other clients being influenced by this.

• If your first-choice date isn’t available, we can pivot to another within those four days. No rescheduling is needed, no new retainer is applied.
• No other clients are impacted, since I only work with one couple at a time, sparing several days for each couple.
• You can relax knowing that your Lake Braies elopement has backup options built in.

This flexibility makes a huge difference for couples who dream of Lake Braies but don’t want to gamble on “what ifs.” Most of the photographers have just this one day for you without flexibility. But this is not me. I want to be prepared for scenarios like this. This is what makes me different.

This is what makes me THE PHOTOGRAPHER for you if lake Braies elopement is a MUST for you and you do not want to pivot to any other location if you shouldn’t get the reservation you were hoping for.

Should You Elope at Lake Braies?

If you’ve been picturing those turquoise waters and wooden boats in your wedding photos, then yes — Lake Braies can be worth it. Just know it’s not the most private spot in the Dolomites. If seclusion is more important than iconic views, I can recommend hidden-gem locations nearby that most tourists never see.

But if Lake Braies is the place that makes your heart skip a beat, it is possible — with smart planning, early booking, and a photographer who builds flexibility into the process.

Your only job? Enjoy the views, love your partner, and let me take care of capturing those magical moments!

✨ Planning your Lake Braies elopement?
I’d love to help you create a stress-free, flexible experience. Reach out here →

Other blog posts you might be interested in:
How I help couples make their elopement day true to them
How long does it take to plan an elopement?
Splurge or Save: Where to Invest in Your Elopement
What you need to know about last minute elopement in Italy