Moody Fall Vow Renewal in the Dolomites

ELOPEMENTS

WITH EVA

As co-written by the bride herself, Paula from pinwithpaula.com

Originally, we got married at a courthouse in 2020. It was the beginning of the pandemic. Borders were closed, our original wedding plans crumbled. I wore a simple blue dress from an online store. My friend took a few photos. They were okay, I suppose, but something about the day never quite settled right in my memory. It felt rushed, and quiet in the wrong kind of way.

It was what we could do at the time, and honestly, I’m still glad we did. But we hoped that one day we’d do it differently, and five years later, we got to do it our way! The Dolomites gave us that. The misty peaks, the quiet lakes, the crisp September air… it was the perfect moody fall vow renewal day for us to promise forever to each other all over again.

Why We Chose the Dolomites for Our Vow Renewal

When we started dreaming about where to renew our vows, we wanted nature, mountains, and something that felt like an adventure, but didn’t need to hike 10 miles uphill. We live in Latvia, and the Dolomites were a short flight away, offering cinematic views that, thankfully, didn’t require an athlete’s stamina.

Eva, our photographer and planning bestie, helped us figure out where to go. We’d talked about Lake Braies, but she warned me it can get packed even in the off-season. So she suggested Lake Dobbiaco instead since it has similar views and fewer people.

We also stopped at Lake Misurina for lunch and ended the day at Passo Giau, where the peaks were brushed with snow and covered in clouds. The weather flipped every half hour or so. There was fog, drizzle, moments of clarity, and a bit of sunshine. And through it all, Eva kept things flowing perfectly! She knew when to drive, when to wait, and when to pull over because something just looked too good to miss.

Notes from Eva:

“I knew Lake Braies was one of the places Paula had her eye on, but even off-season, it’s often too crowded for a ceremony unless you book the docks + boats early in the morning (you can learn more about it in my Lake Braies elopement guide here!)

Lake Dobbiaco offers similar views and is much quieter, with the added charm of swans gliding across the water. Privacy makes a big difference during vows, and in the Dolomites, timing is everything. Even in fall, some spots are packed at midday, so I always plan the day around lighting and avoiding the crowds.”

Why Choosing the Right Photographer Matters

You spend the entire day with your photographer. Hours in the car, quiet moments, all the nerves and laughter in between. If it’s not someone you genuinely enjoy, it’s going to feel weird.

Your photographer will be part planner, part guide, part emotional support system, and if you’re lucky, part comedian too. Eva was all of that for us! She helped me into my dress, handed me tea, carried things I forgot, and made us laugh so hard we had to stop driving.

She listened to every little thing we mentioned (even the casual comments during planning calls) and crafted a day that felt completely like us! Which is another important thing. Book the photographer who truly SEES you for who you are and whose photography style you love, because that will really make the biggest difference to your day and your photos!

Notes from Eva:

“Trust is what makes the photos come alive. If you’re comfortable with the person behind the camera, you stop performing and just exist in the moment. That’s where the good stuff happens.”

Here’s my guide on how to choose your elopement photographer to help you with the process!

The Contrast Between Our Courthouse Elopement and Dolomites Vow Renewal

When I think back to our courthouse elopement, I remember fluorescent lights and beige walls. It just didn’t feel as special as I knew it could have.

I’d bought a “real” wedding dress with my mom, but I didn’t wear it. I told myself I’d save it for later for the “real” wedding. Five years later, it didn’t fit anymore, and it didn’t feel like me anymore either. So I bought a new one. A dress I loved, curls out, bouquet in hand, the kind of look I used to blog about for other people but never imagined for myself.

Standing at Lake Dobbiaco, I kept thinking, THIS is what it was supposed to feel like.

Planning the Vow Renewal

One of the best parts of this whole experience was how stress-free it felt. I’m a Type-A overthinker. Usually, I’m the one who double-checks everything twice. But Eva took over everything. From scouting the perfect Airbnb (a cozy cabin with a mountain-view balcony) to sending us packing lists, weather updates, and plan B ideas, she thought of every detail.

She even packed extra things like hand warmers, a blanket, clear umbrellas, and a thermos of tea — all the little comforts that made a moody fall day feel cozy instead of inconvenient. All we had to do was show up and swipe the card!

The Beautiful, Moody Dolomites Vow Renewal Day

We chose late September for our vow renewal, which was the perfect time when the summer crowds had gone and fall colors started creeping in. The weather was… well, very Dolomite-y. Cloudy, misty, unpredictable, and beautiful all at once.

We started the morning at Lake Dobbiaco, with swans and calm water, framed by forest and mountains. It felt private, quiet, and cinematic. While we did see some people along the way, everyone was very kind and smiley, and congratulated us, which was so sweet!

Afterward, we stopped for lunch at Lake Misurina, then drove toward Passo Giau, where the peaks were dusted with snow and occasionally covered by the rain clouds moving about the area. Somewhere along the way, it also rained, but we always managed to be in the car for the worst of it.

We had our first dance next to another beautiful alpine lake, and ended up needing to whip out those clear umbrellas after all, for some of the final moments of the day, before heading to Dobiacco (a cozy mountain town) for dinner and a late evening stroll. We even saw some cats along the way!

Notes from Eva:

“In the Dolomites, just like in every other mountain area, the weather can change fast, and it can be very moody. Or the weather can be absolutely perfect. You never know. You need to be prepared for everything that the weather may bring. That week we got sunshine, rain, wind, snow, fog, and clouds… And you also need to have backup plans because some things are not doable in specific weather conditions.”

Dealing with Any Weather

Many blogs I’ve ever written for other photographers said something along the lines of, ‘If it rains, dance in the rain.’ But actually doing it is a little bit harder when your fingers are cold, haha. Or if you still have an entire day to spend outdoors and you are in a wet dress.

We were as prepared as we could be with good boots, jackets, layers, everything. Still, it’s not fun covering your beautiful dress with a puffy jacket, even though it looked cute in a different way.

Still, the moody weather gave our photos so much depth and emotion. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing because the images feel like pure poetry.

We even had a few backup days planned in case the weather was too bad, and we ended up choosing the best one of the bunch. Because the weather turned so quickly, it started snowing in the following days!

What It’s Like Being Photographed

Being photographed by Eva was a dream. She knew exactly when to guide us and when to step back. She was giving us privacy during our vows, and still somehow capturing the most beautiful moments and all the emotions from the bushes. She never posed us stiffly, but encouraged us to move, laugh, and be ourselves.

Seriously, I still can’t believe it is us in the photos! She even managed to perfectly capture my husband’s face the moment he saw me in my dress. It was one of my fave photos, just so funny!

What I Learned From Our Vow Renewal / Elopement Experience

Hire someone you actually like. You’ll remember how you felt around them more than what the timeline looked like.
Bring layers and buy good boots!
Book an Airbnb that feels beautiful enough to be Plan B.
Trust your photographer. When the weather changes or something goes off-plan, a good one will pivot so smoothly you won’t even notice.

You could say that technically our vow renewal day didn’t go exactly as originally planned. However, it went better! We skipped the evening hike because of the weather and ended up in a tiny restaurant instead, surrounded by locals, with steam on the windows and pasta bowls the size of our heads. That’s how the day was supposed to end, even if we didn’t know it then. The evening felt even more like us, because that is how we’d normally spend our evenings at home — being cozy and enjoying some good food!

And if you’re considering whether or not you need a vow renewal? Just do it! Especially if your original wedding day or elopement wasn’t what you hoped for. You will not regret it!

Planning Your Own Vow Renewal or Elopement in Italy?

If you’re dreaming of a day that feels completely like you, you’re in the BEST hands with Eva! She’ll plan everything from A to Z, help you find the best hidden spots in the Dolomites, and make sure your day flows naturally, no matter what the weather brings.

Learn more about her Italy elopement packages here!

Written by the bride Paula 🤍

Itinerary

07.00 – 8.30 Getting ready at apartment, Eva taking detail photos and getting ready photos

08.30 – 9.30 Writing vows and having breakfast separately

09.30 First look on balcony

5 min Drive to Lago di Dobbiaco

10.00 – 11.30 Lago di Dobbiaco: ceremony, photos

11.30 – 12.00 Drive to lake Misurina

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch at lake Misurina

13.00 – 14.00 Drive to Passo Giau

14.00 – 15.30 Passo Giau exploring, photos with lanterns in forest

15.30 – 16.30 Drive to Lago di Landro / Dürrensee with laughter breaks

16.30 – 17.30 First dance at the lake, photos with umbrellas

18.00 – 19.30 Dinner at a restaurant, Tiramisu as wedding cake

19.30 – … Cosy evening at the apartment

Full gallery

You can access their full gallery HERE.

Review

“I highly highly recommend Eva for your elopement photos and the whole experience!! We had a vow renewal in the Dolomites and Eva took care of us from start to finish. She planned everything from A to Z after getting to know us and hearing our vision. I never once needed to worry about anything, I didn’t even make any travel arrangements until Eva had fully figured out the best place for us to stay, things to do for our mini-moon after the special day. She left no stone unturned and I didn’t have any worries.

On the day she guided us through everything beautifully, so we always knew what happens and where to go. She took the most gorgeous photos and stepped back a bit when needed. Also the weather forecast on the day (and whole week we were there) wasn’t the best. But Eva had all many ideas to pivot and make it work! Luckily exactly on our special day, the weather was clear for most of it and we only had a light drizzle in the evening. But we still were prepared for everything thanks to her and felt safe and supported throughout. Seriously, everything was awesome from start to finish and the photos are absolutely stunning! Love love love. Highly recommend Eva to help you plan the most beautiful and most YOU day and get great photos while you’re at it 🤍 Thank you so much again for everything 💖”