When people think about eloping, they often imagine something simple. Just the two of you, a beautiful place, maybe a photographer… and that’s it.
And yes, your day should feel simple and effortless. But what most people don’t see is everything that happens behind the scenes to make it feel that way. Because the truth is… a seamless, relaxed elopement doesn’t just happen by accident.
Behind every elopement I photograph, there’s a whole other story happening. One that starts weeks before the couple even packs their suitcase, and ends after they’ve flown home.
So I thought I’d pull back the curtain a little and show you what actually goes into your elopement and what you don’t have to worry about at all. 😊 This is the story told through Francesca and Pablo’s two-day winter elopement in the Dolomites, because I think it’s the best way to show you what I actually mean when I say I take care of everything.
The Planning Begins
It all starts with my elopement planning questionnaire. Not a generic “what’s your vibe?” form, but a really detailed one. I want to know what locations and activities you dream about. How do you feel about long hikes versus scenic drives? Whether you need a power nap in the middle of the day, or whether you’re big coffee people who need several cups a day to function. Also, whether anyone has food allergies that I need to consider when choosing restaurants.
For Francesca and Pablo, I learned everything I needed to know, like their wish for snowmobiling, frozen lakes, mountain scenery, and privacy. I took all of that and built their entire itinerary around it. Commuting times between locations, buffer time for spontaneous moments, bathroom breaks, getting-ready, all of it goes into the plan.
Then I also put together accommodation recommendations, sourced a local hair stylist, reached out to the florist, the bakery, and the snowmobile operator. All of this is coordinated by me, so the couple doesn’t have to send a single email to a vendor they’ve never heard of.
Speaking of emails, I want to be very transparent about what vendor coordination actually looks like, because I think people assume it’s a quick message or two 😊 This is often underestimated. And it is not only about the amount of emails, but you also have to make a lot of decisions, too.
- For the florist alone — 6 emails and 34 WhatsApp messages. Confirming availability, agreeing on the exact flowers, the bouquet style, pick-up time, location, invoice, and payment.
- For the bakery — 21 emails and 34 WhatsApp messages. Every detail of the cake: the design, the filling, the size, pick-up logistics, and payment.
- For the hair stylist — 21 emails and 25 WhatsApp messages. Her availability, the style Francesca wanted, where and when to show up, what time the hair needed to be finished by, retainer, and final payment.
- For the snowmobile operator — 175 WhatsApp messages. Route planning, choosing photo stop locations, food intolerances for the picnic they were providing, logistics, and payments.
- I also had two phone calls with their hotel to confirm breakfast times, room service possibilities, infinity pool photo permissions, and to make sure they know that there will be a photographer with their guests. All of this so I could build an accurate itinerary before presenting it to the couple.
Most of the communication with vendors was done in German, since that is their native language in the Dolomites area, and I am fluent in it, making things even smoother! And all that is before a single photo has been taken.
As you may have noticed, I mentioned making payments in the list. Those were handled by me, too. Six international money transfers in total for four vendors. For couples coming from the US or Canada, international transfers are genuinely a bit of a hassle, because you’re not just putting in a name and an IBAN, you’re filling in full addresses, registry numbers, all kinds of codes. It takes time, and it’s confusing if you’re not used to it. From my end in the EU, it’s simple, so it just makes complete sense for me to take all six of those off their plate entirely 😊
I also looked at photos of their attire once they’d chosen it and started building a Pinterest vision board with the kinds of photos that would suit their personalities, outfits, and locations.
Preparations The Week Before
A week before the elopement, I reached out to every vendor to confirm that everything was still on track. I checked the weather forecast and watched live cams in the area. For Francesca and Pablo, I was specifically checking the conditions at Lake Braies, looking at recent stories and posts on Instagram to see what the ice was doing.
Then I packed! Two cameras, four lenses, loads of memory cards, a laptop, a hard drive, charging equipment, batteries, hand warmers, see-through umbrellas, and layers of clothing for myself. Because everyone needs layers in the mountains!
Arriving in Italy
I arrived in the Dolomites a few days before the elopement. My first stop was the snowmobile operator. We ended up having a three-hour meeting to go over the route, the best viewpoints, where to stop for photos, and how to time everything with the light.
The next day, I went to scout all the locations planned for their elopement.
Francesca and Pablo had originally wanted their ceremony at Lake Braies. When I got there, I could see the ice was starting to melt with wet patches forming on the surface. With two more warm, sunny days before their elopement, I made the call that it wasn’t safe enough. I wasn’t prepared to have them standing on uncertain ice during their vows. So I went straight to Lake Dobbiaco to scout for an alternative. I found a beautiful rocky beach with solid ground, a more private atmosphere, and stunning mountain views. Actually, in many ways, even better than the original plan 🥰
While I was scouting, I also found a large flat rock by the water. Cleaned it up and stored it for the very special maiden-name sending-away tradition.
I also checked out the hotel. I walked the premises, checked out the infinity pool and from which direction the sun comes from different times of day.
The day before the elopement, I drove out to collect the bouquet, then picked up the wedding cake. That route took almost three hours on curvy mountain roads. This way, I spared the couple many extra hours on the road.
That evening, I met Francesca and Pablo for dinner, and we walked through the plan for their elopement days. We discussed pivoting the ceremony location to Lake Dobiacco, went over the weather forecast and what to expect, and talked through their to-do list for the night (steaming their wedding attire!).
I also brought album cover and paper samples so we could design their heirloom album together right there over dinner.
Elopement Day One
I arrived at their hotel room and immediately got to work creating an atmosphere where everyone would feel relaxed and stress-free.
The dress had been steamed, but they forgot about steaming the veil. It was a very large veil, so I steamed it myself while they got ready. That took about 30 minutes. Not a problem, because that’s just what needs doing 😊
I helped the hairstylist find the best spot in the room that would work well for her to work and also look good for photos. I also organized a better chair from the hotel for Francesca to sit on and ordered her room service for a meal before heading out.
I kept Pablo and Francesca separated until the first look. When we drove to the lake, Francesca hid her dress under a coat so he still wouldn’t see the full look until that moment.
At the ceremony, I walked them through everything. How the first look works, what it means, and how to be present in it. At the ceremony spot, I explained how to hold the rings during the exchange so I could capture that moment properly. I gave them the structure — let them know when to begin their vows, guided them gently into the ring exchange, cheered them on, and called out the best line of the day: “You may kiss the bride!!” 😊
Then we took portraits around Lake Dobiacco and drove to Lake Braies for blue hour and lantern photos. I made sure nobody got cold in the evening, so I had handwarmers ready. And then we returned to the hotel, where the staff had decorated the room!
Elopement Day Two
I met them at 1 PM after a slow morning, breakfast and lunch. We started with photos at the infinity pool, and then headed to the snowmobile meeting point I had already checked out in advance.
On the snowmobiles, I sat backwards on the guide’s vehicle. I must say I am very sure not every photographer is willing to take photos in such difficult conditions! My legs were wrapped around the back of the seat. I couldn’t balance with my hands because I had 3 pound of camera equipment that needed to be held with two hands. I did not see any curves, ascents, or descents coming because I was going backwards. It was very difficult, and my legs hurt a lot the next day, BUT I found it hilarious and so much fun!! I’d do it again in a heartbeat! 🥰
During our driving the tour guide and I were discussing the photo stops and he wanted to make many-many more stops. I gently reminded them that I can get more than enough stunning photos from the driving snowmobile and our few designated stops. It is after all about the experience, not about getting a lot of photos.
At the mountaintop, I put on the couple’s chosen song from my speaker for their first dance, and had the tour guide film it while I photographed it. I brought lanterns out as the sun went down, and we all sat around with the charcuterie picnic listening to music and chatting until it was time to head back.
After the Elopement
The next morning, sneak peek photos landed in their inbox at lunch time. Because after a day like that, waiting weeks for a single photo just isn’t right 😊
Once the full gallery is ready, I’ll send it over, and they can order prints directly from the gallery. I’ll design their heirloom album based on the choices we already made together at dinner, let them confirm it, and have it printed and shipped straight to their door. Not a single errand for them to run.
I also share the photos with every vendor, with personalized feedback about how their service contributed to the day. Because good vendors deserve to know they did a great job 🥰
So, What Do My Clients Have to Do?
- Sign their contract and pay their retainer. Fill in the planning questionnaire. Have a call with me to confirm the itinerary.
- Book their flights and accommodation (but I do make my recommendations!), as well as travel insurance, and get an IDP from AAA, and rent a car. This is the one thing I can’t do on behalf of the couple, for that I’d need to be a travel agency, which I am not 🙂
- Choose their attire and rings. Send me inspiration photos for the cake, the bouquet, and the hair. Make the final payment. Decide on their album cover.
And then on the day? Just show up. Hold each other’s hands. Take it all in.
That’s it. That’s the whole list ❤️ I’ve got everything else covered!
Ready to Have a Stress-free Elopement?
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this, it’s that you don’t have to figure any of this out on your own. The vendor emails, the location scouting, any last-minute pivots, and driving in the mountains, that’s all me! All you have to do is show up, be present with each other, and enjoy every single second of your day.
If you’re ready to hand it all over and just enjoy your elopement, I’m ready to make it happen 😊 Let’s chat ❤️
Other blog posts you might be interested in:
How the All-Inclusive Option Makes Your Elopement Stress-Free
How your photographer’s approach defines your entire experience
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