Dreaming of eloping in the Dolomites? ✨ Financial questions, understandably, come in to your mind as one of the first thing and you start to wonder how much does it cost to elope in the Dolomites? Whether you imagine exchanging vows by a peaceful alpine lake or in front of the dramatic peaks of Dolomites, it’s important to know what costs to expect when planning your adventure.
Here’s a breakdown of typical costs involved in eloping in the Dolomites — so you can plan wisely and create a day that’s unforgettable (without too many surprises). Also, bear in mind that you probably won’t need all of those things! Prices shown are in USD.
How much does it cost to elope in the Dolomites: breakdown by type of costs
✈️ Travel Costs
Flights: Vary widely depending on your departure country and season. Booking early can help save costs. You should fly to either Milan or Venice. Both cities have multiple airports.
Travel Insurance: Highly recommended, and the price depends on the provider and length of your stay.
Car Rental: If you want the freedom to explore, rental prices range around $50–90 USD/day. Full insurance coverage is recommended!
💍 Wedding Essentials
Rings: From $200 to several thousand, depending on style and materials.
Wedding Dress:$250 to several thousand, depending on designer and style.
Suit:$250 to several thousand, depending on designer and style.
✅ Tip: Keep in mind shipping times for dresses — some orders can take several months.
🌸 Floral & Styling
Bridal bouquet + boutonniere:$250–300.
Additional floral arrangements (optional):$1,500–4,000 for arches, altars, or ceremony décor.
ExperiencedHair and Makeup Artist:$600-1200 (includes travel and early morning fee if getting ready during the night for a sunrise adventure)
🏡 Accommodation & Food
Hotels/Airbnb: Starting from $200/night for two people for charming, conveniently located places. More luxurious options, usually with amazing views, are around $400-700/night
Meals: Delicious Italian food can be very affordable! Expect around $15–25/person/meal. You can splurge or save, depending on your dining style.
🚤 Fun Experiences & Activities
To make your Italian elopement even more unforgettable, you might want to add a few activities:
Lake Braies reservation for 1,5h (private ceremony on the docks, 2 boats for rental): Around $700.
Private hot air balloon ride over the mountains:$900–1,300.
Private helicopter ride:$2000–2,600.
✅ Tip: Eloping in April, May, June, September, or October is ideal for great weather and fewer crowds. July and August tend to be extremely hot and busy!
📸 Photography and Videography
This is one of the most important investments for your elopement. Hiring an experienced elopement photographer (not a traditional wedding photographer) often costs around $6,000–10,000 for a full day.
A specialized elopement photographer helps:
Plan and customize the day to your wishes and needs
Scout epic locations for ceremony, portraits and all other activities
Build timelines with enough buffer time so that you wouldn’t feel rushed
Support you every step of the way with all questions you may have
Some (like me) even offer all-inclusive options where the photographer books, pays and coordinates other vendors for you.
🎥 Adding a videographer (optional, but highly recommended!) can capture your emotions, vows, and moments in motion. Videographers’ prices vary from $3000-6000. Cost of hiring a videographer when you elope in Italy does increase your needed budget, but it is totally worth it, I promise!
If you want to legally marry in Italy, there’s quite a bit of paperwork involved and you’ll need to start the process at least 3 months in advance.
Many couples opt to legally marry in their home country first and have a symbolic ceremony in Italy (which is much easier and allows more flexibility).
📋 How much does it cost to elope in Italy: overview as a checklist
Category
Estimated Cost
Flights
Varies (by location and season)
Travel Insurance
Varies (by provider)
Car Rental
$50–90/day
Wedding Rings
$200–2500+
Wedding Dress
$250–2500+
Suit
$250–2500+
Bridal Bouquet + Boutonniere
$250–300
Additional Florals
$1,500–4,000
Hair and Makeup Artist
$450–800
Celebrant (optional)
$1200-1700
Accommodation
From $200/night
Meals
~$15–20/person/meal
Lake Braies private reservation
$700
Hot Air Balloon Ride
$900–1,500
Helicopter Ride
$2,000–2,600
Photography (Full Day) with planning help and vendor coordination
$8,000–12,000
Videography
$2500–6,000
Legal Marriage Paperwork
Varies (~start 3+ months in advance)
Parking fees
$5-40 per parking
Examples of two elopements and their costs
EXAMPLE 1: One week stay, full day elopement, photography, one fun activity on elopement day (the most common version of adventure elopements)
Flights to Italy and back for two = $1,750
Travel insurance for two for one week = $500
6 nights at a decent accommodation = 6 nights * $200 = $1,200
7 days of car rental = 7 days * $60 = $420
7 days of food, breakfast included in accommodation price, eating out 2 x day = 7 days * 2 persons * 2 meals per day * $20 per meal per person = $560
Wedding attire for two people = Approximately $1,500
Rings for two = $750
Bouquet = $250
Hair and make up artist = $1000
Photographer (who also helps with planning and vendor coordination) for the entire day = $10,000
Lake Braies reservation = $700
Parking fees = 50
This example brings the total to around $18,680.
EXAMPLE 2: Two weeks stay, photography and videography, additional flower arrangements, two fun activities
Flights to Italy and back for two = $1,750
Travel insurance for two for two weeks = $1,000
13 nights at a very good accommodation (amazing views, great location, breakfast included) = 13*400 = $5,200
14 days of car rental = 14*60 = $840
14 days of food, breakfast included in accommodation price, eating out 2 x day = 14 days * 2 persons * 2x per day * 20 per meal per person = $1,120
Wedding attire for two people = Approximately $2500
Rings for two = $1000
Bouquet = $300
Additional bigger floral arrangements for ceremony = $1,500
Celebrant for the ceremony = $1400
Hair and make up artist = $1000
Photographer (who also helps with planning and vendor coordination) and videographer for two days = $12000 + $5500
Lake Braies reservation = $700
Hot air balloon ride for four = $1500
Parking fees = $80
This rather luxurious elopement example brings the total to around $37390
And as I said before, this are all approximate. It is always possible to get things done more affordably and it is always possible to spend more. But generally speaking, you can have an epic stress-free elopement in Italy with amazing vendors with the budget between $16,000 – 40,000.
Final Thoughts on the Cost of Eloping in the Dolomites
Eloping in Italy is an adventure you’ll never forget. From the mountains to the coast, every corner offers romance, beauty, and magic. 💛 By understanding the costs upfront, you can focus less on stress and more on creating a day that feels truly, wildly, you. Whether you try to have a luxury elopement or be more on budget, having an overview of how much does it cost when you elope in the Dolomites and which cost you need to take into account, is essential.
Need help planning your dream elopement? Reach out HERE and let’s make it happen! ✨
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