I want to address the elephant in the room. There is a war going on in Europe right now. Is it safe to elope in Italy right now? It’s a question many couples from the US and Canada are asking. With a war going on in Europe, it’s natural to feel uncertain about traveling overseas for such an important celebration. I want to address this openly, share the reality of what’s happening from my perspective living just half an hour from the Russian border, and explain why Italy remains a safe and beautiful choice — plus the backup plans we’ll have in place if things change.

Reading the news can be scary. Drones being shot down in Poland, Russian jets flying into the airspace of Estonia etc… And not being from Europe, it is very easy to think that the war is basically everywhere. With this blog post I want to paint a picture of what it is like here in Europe right now (September 2025). As a person who has been to Italy a lot of times during the war. As a person who lives just a half an hour from the Russian border.

Life in Europe Right Now

The war has been going on for over 3 and a half years. It is only in Ukraine, no other countries are involved. Yes, Russia is testing NATO’s eastern borders, but NATO is doing everything on its side not to make the war escalate. I come from Estonia, which has been occupied by Russia and Soviet Union for way too many years. We here in Estonia know, how the Russian playbook works. And the fact that they are playing with the Eastern borders of NATO is a sign that they want NATO to pull their weapons onto the eastern border so that they would help less in Ukraine. It’s just war tactics.

I also want you to know this: life here continues. People are still going to work, traveling, celebrating, and yes — getting married. In fact, the hard times have actually made people value their close relationships much more, which is why marriages are on the rise. Love and connection matter now more than ever. Having intentional marriage celebration is more important than ever before. One more reason to opt for an adventure elopement!

The situation is calm. Yes, sometimes there are some incidents (only in the countries bordered with Russia), but that is part of being rather close to a war. These are war tactics. If anything, it affects my life here in Estonia living so close to the Russian border, but it does not affect mid-European (such as Italy) or Western European countries that are very far away from the war and frontline.

How Close Is Italy to the War?

When you look at the map, Italy is very far away from the areas currently affected by war. To give you an idea: the Dolomites, where many couples come to elope, are over 1,200 km (750 miles) from the Ukrainian-Russian border. That’s about the same distance as New York to Chicago, or Vancouver to Calgary. There are a lot of other countries in between Italy and Ukraine.

The conflict has been going on for more than three years, and the frontlines have not moved much. On this image below (source) you can see that the frontlines throughout these years have only been to the South-East side of Ukraine.

Even if NATO were to get more involved, Italy itself is not a conflict zone. Yes, Italian troops would be participating since they are part of NATO, as would all troops from many other countries. But there would still be no war on the Italian soil. The frontline would still be way more East. Besides, NATO is doing everything in their power not to get involved and not to let the war escalate.

I’ve been to Italy many-many times during the entire war and I can assure you: life in Italy is calm. Cafés are buzzing, tourists are exploring, and couples are saying their vows surrounded by the mountains, lakes, and historic cities. I haven’t seen anybody worry about political conditions during their trip as nothing even remotely gives reasons to concerns.

If the conditions were more serious, my family would be out of the country already. But we are still here in Estonia. We haven’t had the need to go. It’s calm. All is good 🙂 And if it is still calm here at the border, it is much more calm in central and western Europe 😊

What Happens If the War Escalates?

I hope this will not happen and I don’t see it happening. But in case it does, this would basically invoke the Force Majeure clause in my contract. And what that means in simple words is: we’ll find a solution together. If that were to happen, we’ll discuss what kind of solution you’d like.

This could mean either:

• Doing your elopement on another date within the next 12 months
• And/or moving your elopement to another safe location
• Or, if conditions allow, still doing your elopement on the same date in Italy

Even if Italy is part of NATO, that doesn’t mean the war would suddenly be happening here. As we’ve seen in the last 3.5 years, it takes a lot of time for a frontline to move — and within those years it has not even gotten to the the western side of Ukraine.

Of course, I will be monitoring the situation, keep you up to date and I’ll let you know if pivoting is needed.

My Flexibility for You

I want you to feel calm knowing that I am not just a photographer — I’m also someone who cares deeply about your experience. I take on no more than 20 elopements per year, which gives me the flexibility to reschedule or relocate if needed. Unlike photographers who take on 40-60 weddings per year, I actually have time to pivot with you to another date or location. I’m here to help you find solutions for whatever comes our way, so you don’t have to stress about the “what ifs.”

I am writing this blog post knowing that it is a question you have in your mind, but something you may not necessarily ask about. It is part of my job to take care of you and answer the questions you might not even know you have. Your experience is at the very core of everything I do. This is why I have a lot of flexibility built into my service. And it can be needed in a political situation we are having right now.

I do not think the war will be escalating any time soon and I personally feel confident that we can have your elopement in Italy. If something truly drastic happens (e.g. active combat in region), we’ll re-evaluate. But everything we see now makes that extremely unlikely.

Other Locations If You Prefer

If you still feel uncertain about eloping in Italy, I also offer my services in other beautiful destinations.

For example, I already have elopements coming up on Madeira Island in Portugal. Madeira is often called the “Hawaii of Europe” — lush nature, cliffs, ocean views, and incredible food. Portugal is neutral, calm, and very far away from any conflict. It’s actually one of my top recommendations if you want total peace of mind.

Thailand is another dream destination — tropical beaches, dramatic landscapes, kind people, and mouth-watering food. And here’s the best part: while my service fee is higher outside Europe, the cost of accommodation and food in Thailand is much (like a lot!) lower than Italy. So in the end, your total budget often balances out.

So if Italy feels too close for comfort, know that there are other equally magical places where we can make your elopement dream come true! If you have a good travel insurance, it will also cover the pivoting to another location or date if the war were to escalate.

Final Thoughts

I completely understand the fear and unknowingness of these times. I live very close to the Russian border myself, and if things were to escalate, I’d personally need to leave quickly. But Italy is not close to the border. It is calm, safe, and continues to be one of the most beautiful places in the world to celebrate love.

So if you’re dreaming of an Italian elopement, I want you to know: it is still possible, it is still safe, and I will do everything I can to make your day stress-free, flexible, and magical. And if Italy doesn’t feel right for you, we can explore other incredible destinations together.

At the end of the day, the world may feel uncertain — but your love doesn’t have to be. Your elopement deserves to be celebrated fully. ❤️