are you ready for your

wild connections

Experience?

The Benefits of working with a

local photographer
& certified guide

When I first visited the Dolomites, long before they gained their widespread fame, I instantly fell in love. Choosing neighboring Tirol as my home fills me with everlasting gratitude. My affection for this region runs deep. It’s why I became a local guide. I consider it a great honor to share this love with couples who decide to elope in this corner of the Alps. While Tirol still manages to fly relatively under the radar of many tourists outside of the ski season, the fame of the Dolomites has skyrocketed due to social media. And this doesn’t come without consequences.

The Dolomites especially exude a mesmerizing and powerful charm that attracts people from all walks of life, including elopement photographers. It’s no surprise that many have added this region to their bucket lists.

However, because it is so desirable, there are a lot of people who:

  • Advertise themselves as local photographers through deceptive web pages, despite not being genuinely connected to the region
  • Have never actually set foot in the Dolomites and rely solely on second-hand (often incorrect) information from the internet
  • May have visited the region a few times but are primarily motivated by receiving a “free trip to the Dolomites” or using your elopement to enhance their portfolios. Unfortunately, this approach is not only detrimental to your experience but it also exploits the region

Supporting local photographers, who live and breathe life in these mountains, is crucial. By doing so, you can help contribute to the well-being and preservation of the area and the local communities, rather than simply exploiting its beauty.

This is my biggest priority, always. I hate seeing other photographers put couples in potentially dangerous situations because it looks good on a photo, or because of their lack of education in safe travel in alpine environments.

Part of being a certified guide is doing a risk assessment for every elopement I do. I evaluate aspects such as the conditions of the trails, any potential hazards and the weather, to make the final decisions of whether the route is safe. Trail conditions can change a lot throughout the year, and some are simply not safe if the conditions aren’t right (such as if there’s been heavy rain or there is still snow on the trails).

Working with a local photographer is the most sustainable option for a number of reasons. Firstly, you’re not flying someone in, so the carbon footprint of your elopement is much smaller. Then there’s the fact that locals pay local taxes, and these contribute to really important things like road and trail maintenance.

Over-tourism is also becoming a huge problem, and to help reduce your impact (and make your day more enjoyable), I’ll help plan an itinerary and give you suggestions that help us minimize our impact.

Many photographers try to give the impression that they are local to get a free holiday by creating pages on their sites with guides to eloping in the Dolomites (thankfully Tirol is less well known). Much of this information comes from travel blogs and Google, or from a couple of short trips to the area, and it’s sadly often incorrect. The risks are that they may have visited in the off-season, or on a day when the weather wasn’t great and they just got lucky that it wasn’t busy.

I’ve seen a number of posts describing “secret locations” or “hidden gems” that were actually anything but! Locals will know which locations are busy, and will be able to give you realistic advice on what to expect if you want to go there, and plenty of other equally epic options, should you decide you’d rather visit somewhere more quiet to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Not all locations are accessible all year round. Many locations don’t become accessible in the summer until the snow has melted, and this can be different every year depending on how the winter was (some locations aren’t accessible into late June).

A local will know how the conditions were over the winter, and what times of year different locations become accessible, and will have a number of safe backup options in the bag in case you need to revert to plan B.

One of my biggest pet peeves with non-local photographers in the Dolomites is the illegal flying of drones in protected areas, climbing over fences to get better photos and general disregard for nature, private property and the local inhabitants. They see these places as just pretty backdrops to be used and abused.

Locals will never support this kind of behaviour, because the consequences hurt us, our home and potentially you too, as locations we love get closed off, bigger fences get put up and areas become irreparably damaged.

I’m Cat, Your elopement photographer & Local Guide

Your experience matters

I created Wild Connections for couples like you because when I got married, I didn’t know there was another way. We spent money on shit we didn’t care about and tried to please other people, when all we really wanted to do was spend time adventuring by ourselves.

I get it. You’re not traditional and you would choose to be alone in the wild over a crowded room full of people any day (even if they are your favorite people).

I’m here to give you permission to be free, throw traditions and expectations out of the window, and get married on your terms in a location that’s more beautiful than any venue.

I’ve been an elopement photographer since 2015, I’m a former ski & snowboard instructor and I’m also a certified mountain hiking guide. I know the Tirol & the Dolomites like a local and I want to help you create a truly bespoke elopement experience in the Alps.

TELL ME MORE

Tailor-made elopements include

Photos

A curated gallery of high-resolution images, professionally edited in my signature style with unlimited downloads and sharing.

Custom itinerary

A customized timeline created together around the best light, locations, and activities to ensure your day is stress-free and fun.

guiding

As a local hiking guide, you get access to my knowledge & services. And because I only work locally, there are no additional travel fees to pay.

Location Selection

I’ll help you choose the perfect locations, and advise on trail conditions, weather, and seasonal accessibility restrictions to make sure the day goes by without a hitch.

planning support

Planning guidance & resources including local, sustainable vendor recommendations and tailored packing lists to help you prepare.

Backup days

I keep Monday – Friday of the week of your elopement free for you in case we need to change the day due to inclement weather.

THE DETAILS

Tailor-Made Elopements

Available Locations: Italian Dolomites & Austrian Alps

Tailor-made elopements are my most popular, hands-on service. Perhaps you’ve seen the Dolomites online and you already have some idea of the scenery you’d love for your elopement, but you want to work with a local expert to avoid the common tourist traps and discover the best off-the-beaten-path locations.

For tailor-made elopements, I’ll work with you to create a bespoke itinerary for your elopement based on your wishes.

One-day adventure

€9,500

Short and sweet, get the knot tied your way.

Perfect for couples who want:

A curated gallery of photographs in my signature style

Support finding beautiful, sustainable locations in the mountains.

A simply fun, memorable wedding day that feels like you.

A stress-free, expectations-free elopement.

MOST POPULAR

Two-day
adventure

€13,000

Whether you envision an overnight stay in a mountain hut, celebrating one day with family and one day just for you, or having a relaxed elopement day followed by an alpine day, a two-day adventure offers many possibilities.

Perfect for couples who want:

A curated gallery of photographs in my signature style from both days

Support realizing your vision for your wedding among all the noise from the industry and pressure from loved ones.

To both elope in a beautiful place and have an alpine adventure in one trip.

An epic wedding experience that feels true to them as individuals and as a couple.

A hiking guide, living travel guidebook, and photographer all in one.

Three-Day
Adventure

Hiking elopement at San Martino di Castrozza in the Dolomites by Wild Connections Photography

€16,500

For the most adventurous couples, multi-day elopements can include hut-to-hut hikes or an elopement followed by a few days of guided hiking in the local area. This is where we really get creative!

Perfect for couples who want:

A curated gallery of photographs in my signature style from the whole adventure

A partner to take their ideas, and apply their local knowledge to bring their dreams to life.

Support planning a complex adventure that is rich in local beauty, history, and geology.

A local expert who is committed to both sustainability and an incredible experience.

A true alpine elopement in a unique, remote location that speaks to their adventurous spirit, love of the outdoors, and care for the planet.

An unforgettable,  once-in-a-lifetime experience that feels true to them as individuals and as a couple.

This could be you…

During our elopement we never expected to feel so relaxed and at ease on our wedding day. Cat allowed us to relax, have fun and be in the moment. She executed a three day elopement that exactly fit our profile of being in the high mountains, away from crowds and with spectacular scenery.

We have just seen our full photo gallery and are blown away with the quality and the magnitude of what she can capture. The photos reflect all the adventure, remoteness, excitement and intimacy all in one.

We consider ourselves blessed to have worked with Cat. We would recommend her very highly to anyone

Ben & Sai

June 2023

There are not enough words in the world of languages to describe how absolutely incredible Cat is. From the first e-mail sent asking about her services to even today, after our trip, Cat has been sheer perfection. She got to know us as couple to understand what we wanted to achieve with location choices and photos to capture our memories.

Her humbleness and professionalism are incredible. We wanted to capture some formal images for our elopement but also be able to capture our personalities in what we love to do, which is to be outdoors and experience new things together. The results were perfection in our eyes. What an amazing experience it was to work with her and I hope other couples are as lucky as we were and get to experience the same. If I could give an infinity star rating and write a review the length of War & Peace I would!

Bailey & Joseph

April 2022

Winter elopement on the Krippenstein mountain in Hallstatt Austria by Wild Connections Photography

There is honestly not enough amazing things I can say about working with Cat. Not only is she just an awesome person, she is fantastic at what she does. Her professionalism and enthusiasm during the entire process of planning our elopement, from start to finish, was perfect.

She was extremely communicative, put together an EPIC plan for the day, which was amazing given we had never been to that area before, and was so fun to work with on the day of. And I have to mention, given the unexpected snowstorm on the day of our ceremony, Cat revised our plans a bit, and it was absolutely PERFECT.

Anna & Jon

December 2019

Are you a hell yes?

The process

01.

Say Hello!

Fill out my contact form and let’s set up our first Zoom date. Call it our meet-cute.

This initial call helps me to learn all about your ideas and for us both to see if we’re going to make a great team.

02.

Save the date

Choose the week you want to elope and get booked in.

To reserve your date, you’ll sign a contract and pay a retainer.

Then we can get to the good stuff…

03.

The Fun Begins

As soon as you’re officially booked in, we’ll start creating a plan for your adventure.

Every elopement adventure is designed especially for you, as a team.

04.

alpine start

Enjoy every moment of your one-of-a-kind wedding and re-live the memories with breathtaking photos that capture your incredible adventure.

FAQS

Still have some questions? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about my elopement services in the Dolomites and Tirol area:

Yes. I believe in transparency and hate hidden fees. Because I only work locally, I don’t need to charge travel fees. Even for multi-day elopements in a mountain hut, the rates advertised include my overnight costs.

I’m a certified hiking guide (Bergwanderführer). That means I can officially guide you in mountain hiking terrain that’s classified as “moderately difficult (red)” within Tirol and South Tirol (Dolomites). I can’t take you climbing or into technical terrain, such as on glaciers or scrambling.

If you want to explore more technical terrain or try your first via ferrata for your elopement, I recommend hiring a local IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide. Just because I can’t guide you for these activities, it doesn’t mean I can’t still come along to photograph it!

For boring legal reasons, I’m not allowed to act as a wedding planner, which means I can’t book anything for you.

In all of my packages, I will assist you with the planning of your elopement, which includes the following: assistance finding a location for your ceremony/photos, planning and guiding hikes, creating a timeline, planning advice around what to wear, how to prepare, how to make more sustainable choices, and sharing my contact list of other vendors you might need, such as wedding planners, florists, hair & makeup artists, videographers etc.

If you want a planner who can assist you with booking your wedding and travel arrangements, I can connect you with fantastic local planners who I’ve worked with for many years.

No matter if you book me for one day or multiple days, I always keep the whole week of your elopement (Monday to Friday) available for you so that we have the flexibility to work around the weather if needed.

I’ll always be prepared to shoot in any conditions, as long as it is safe to do so. I have professional-grade equipment that I’ve personally tested in some pretty harsh conditions. But if it’s just a bit of wind, rain, or fog, don’t let that put a downer on your day. Some of my favorite wedding days were bad weather ones, and most of the couples wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

If we need to create an alternative plan for your elopement due to weather conditions, I’ll do this in the days leading up to your elopement, based on the actual trail conditions and satellite weather data. Usually, I have a selection of backup options, and you can choose which one you like the best.

Don’t worry – this is completely normal. Many couples have never even considered that their elopement could last multiple days, and until you know what options are open to you, it’s hard to make a decision.

I create bespoke itinerary suggestions for every couple and can include some options for additional days if you’d like to know what’s possible. If you’re on the fence, I recommend booking single-day coverage which saves your date, and adding additional days during the planning process if you want to make the fun last more than one day.

Unlike many photographers, I don’t charge you a higher rate if you upgrade at a later date. The prices will always stay locked in at the rates when you book.

Because sustainability is one of my core values, I want to encourage couples to slow down and spend more time engaging with nature and the local culture.

That’s why I only offer full-day and multi-day coverage to a limited number of eloping couples each year.

Because my availability is limited, I don’t offer smaller photoshoots but I can happily put you in contact with some other local colleagues in the area who specialize in proposals and couple shoots.

Ok, now stop putting yourselves down!

I’ve never worked with a couple who hasn’t said this to me before. It’s completely natural to be a little apprehensive about having someone with a camera hanging out with you all day, but honestly, after a while, you’ll forget the camera is there. Plus, my focus is always on making sure you’re just having a great time, and when you are, the photos are always banging!

This is also why I make sure to speak to you over a video call right from the first enquiry, and have regular check-ins. By the time your elopement comes around, you’ll feel like I’m an old friend, which means you’ll feel so much more relaxed. While most of the pictures I take are unposed, I’ll still be there to guide you and bring the cringy jokes so that you don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable.

Enter some confusing & pretentious photographer jargon…

Essentially, I try to shoot everything as true to life as possible and create a gallery that is a true representation of your day. If it’s bright and sunny on your wedding day, your pictures will be brighter than if it was dark and cloudy.

I work primarily in a documentary style, which means I try to capture things honestly and let as much unfold in front of me as possible. In other words, I’m there to capture your day as it happens. I’ll only give you some direction if it means placing you in better light or if something doesn’t quite work for the camera.

My priority is always to give you space to have the experience and the adventure that you want to have, without feeling like you’re on a photoshoot.

Great question! And the answer is: it depends. The number of images in your final gallery depends a lot on the timings of your day as well as the number of people attending, and how much time is spent traveling between locations (either by foot or in the car). I don’t have a minimum number of images I deliver, but it averages around 500 for a single day and around 800 for 2-day coverage.

You’ll get a small preview of your pictures no later than 1 week after your wedding day and the full edited gallery delivered to your inbox within 60 days from your wedding date.

All photos that are selected for the final gallery will be post-processed to show them in their best form. This includes color correction, and optimizing brightness and contrast in line with the style of images you see in my portfolio. I do not use Photoshop to alter images. I believe that there is nothing more beautiful than two people in love. I am there to capture your day as it happens, in an honest and real way. Of course, if you woke up with a red spot on your chin, I will take that out for you.

I don’t give out unedited images. I have a legal obligation to deliver a final gallery that is representative of the work you see on my website (and unedited images look rubbish!). So much of the magic that makes up an image happens in post-processing and it’s also how I will create images that match my signature style.

I don’t take bookings more than 18 months in advance, however, as soon as you know that you want to plan your elopement in this magical corner of the world, then get in touch.

Many couples don’t have a date in mind when they contact me. Together we’ll work out the best time of year for you to come based on the type of adventure you want to have.

The booking process starts as soon as you fill out my contact form. Once I’ve got your enquiry, you’ll receive an email from me with my full pricing guide, as well as an invitation for a Zoom call. When you are ready to book your date, I’ll send you a contract to sign as well as an invoice for a €1500 booking fee. Once both of these are completed, your date is reserved and we’ll start the planning process.

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