Want to Elope in the Dolomites in Winter? Read this first

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The Dolomites have become one of the most popular elopement destinations in Europe in the past few years, and it’s not hard to see why. With their breathtaking limestone walls, crystal clear lakes, and lush alpine pastures, they draw in nature lovers from around the globe. But in winter, the Dolomites completely transform. From December until April, the Dolomites transform into a winter lover’s dream when a white blanket of snow covers the mountain landscapes. You’ll find world-class skiing and snowboarding, as well as countless other fun winter activities such as dog sledding or tobogganing. There’s also something pretty wonderful about cosy wooden chalets, enjoying a hot drink by a cracking log fire (my favourite is glühwein) or warming up after a day in the mountains with a steamy hot sauna.

I’ve written a comprehensive guide to eloping in the Dolomites, but in this guide, I want to specifically address the additional challenges (and opportunities) that come with planning an elopement in winter.

Best Winter Elopement Locations in the Dolomites

Things don’t just look different in winter in the Dolomites. Access to locations changes too.

While the ski lift infrastructure makes accessing more locations a possibility, many of the ski lifts are only open to skiers and snowboarders. If you’re not planning on skiing/snowboarding on your elopement day, you’ll need to know which lifts are open to foot passengers.

It’s also important to know that many of the famous summer locations are not accessible in winter (or look completely different). Some mountain passes are closed, other locations, such as alpine lakes may be frozen and covered in a blanket of snow.

I typically recommend that couples looking to have a winter elopement in the Dolomites stay in one of the main ski resort areas: Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Cortina d’Ampezzo, or the Sexten Dolomites (Sesto, Moos, Dobbiaco). From there, I help you choose the perfect spots for your intimate ceremony, photos, and celebration based on my local knowledge of the area.

Winter Elopement Safety Considerations

Safety also has a large impact on which locations are suitable for your elopement in the Dolomites during the winter months, and as a Tirolean Mountain Hiking Guide, I am perhaps more sensitive to this than many photographers.

In the winter, when we’re planning your locations, timeline, and logistics, one of the key things I’m always thinking about is safety. This includes understanding the terrain and avalanche conditions, as well as having a solid back-up plan.

Winter Driving in the Dolomites

In the summer, it’s common for couples to plan their elopement around a few different locations, usually driving between them. However, in winter, I recommend keeping driving to a minimum.

Not all of the mountain passes in the Dolomites are open in winter. Many of the mountain passes are regularly gritted and kept clear of snow, but not all of them are. And especially on days when the snow is falling quicker than they can clear it, knowing how to mount snow chains and drive in winter conditions is vital.

Tip: If you are renting a car, make sure your rental comes with winter tyres and snow chains. These are a legal requirement for driving in the Dolomites from mid-November until mid-April.

When to Elope in Winter (Weather + Timing)

Planning a winter elopement in the Dolomites is slightly harder than planning a summer one. Most people who want a winter elopement choose winter because they want to elope with a snowy winter backdrop. However, in recent years, climate change has made the winter more unpredictable. The snow is coming later, and some years there isn’t a lot of it.

While December is often thought of as the perfect winter backdrop, the reality is that it’s not guaranteed that things will be white in December. Most ski resorts will be open, thanks to modern snowmaking technology, but the towns, villages, and valleys may not have snow.

January and February tend to be the best months for snowfall, with March also being good (but typically warmer). Many ski areas operate into April, but be prepared for slushy skiing on the slopes and often fairly muddy conditions on the hiking trails in the valleys.

Key Dates to be aware of

There are a few big events that happen in the Dolomites in winter that can influence the availability (and cost) of accommodation, as well as location access in some areas.

Below is a breakdown of the major events and high-season holidays for your 2027 elopement planning.

Major Winter Events (2026/2027)

These events bring thousands of spectators, road closures, and resorts reaching full capacity:

Event	Location	Approx. 2027 Dates	Impact on Elopements
FIS Ski World Cup	Val Gardena & Alta Badia	Mid-December 2026	Huge crowds in the Val Gardena/Gran Risa area.
Three Peaks Christmas	San Candido / Innichen	Dec 2026 – Jan 2027	High charm, but very crowded village centers.
International Snow Sculpture Festival	San Candido & Marebbe	Mid-January 2027	Art-focused; beautiful for photos, but busy.
Marcialonga (XC Skiing)	Fiemme & Fassa Valleys	Jan 31, 2027	Major road closures between valleys.
Cortina Audi FIS World Cup	Cortina d’Ampezzo	Late January 2027	Cortina becomes nearly inaccessible for private events.
Sellaronda Skimarathon	Sella Massif	Mid-March 2027	Night race; impacts mountain passes around the Sella group.

Major European Holidays (High Season)

In the Dolomites, “High Season” in winter isn’t in a single block. Instead, it comes and goes, aligning with the major European school holidays and religious days:

• Christmas & New Year (Dec 20, 2026 – Jan 6, 2027): This is the busiest period of the year. Most locals are on holiday, and the “Settimana Bianca” (White Week) tradition brings families from all over Europe.
• Carnival (Martedì Grasso): Falls on February 9, 2027. The week leading up to this is a major school holiday in Italy, Germany, and Austria. Expect high numbers of tourists and “Carnevale” parades in Ladin villages.
• Fasching / Semesterferien: Various weeks in February 2027. This is the peak “ski holiday” month for Dutch, German, and Austrian tourists.

The “Sweet Spot”: If you want snow but fewer crowds, aim for the second or third week of January 2027 (after Epiphany on Jan 6 but before the late-month ski races) or mid-to-late March 2027.

What to Wear for a Winter Elopement in the Dolomites

You can still wear wedding clothes for your winter elopement in the Dolomites, but one of the most important aspects of keeping comfortable in winter is having lots of layers.

I recommend choosing outfits with as much skin coverage as possible. Having a dress with long sleeves won’t really keep you any warmer, since the material is typically too thin. However, what it will do is help protect your bare skin from the cold. Especially if you’ve got fair skin, the cold air makes your skin red and causes goosebumps pretty quickly.

When choosing your wedding outfits, think about how you might layer underneath them, as well as over the top. Underneath your wedding clothes, I recommend wearing thermal underwear (merino is great). If you’re wearing a dress or skirt, another great option is fleece-lined leggings/tights, as these are really warm and often can be found in skin-tone colours.

Over the top, you can look at some cute accessories, such as a wrap or wool jumper. However, don’t expect these to keep you warm. For good warmth, you’ll also want a good winter jacket (such as an insulated ski jacket or a down/puffy jacket).

For other accessories, gloves are essential. Sunglasses are also pretty important, as the sun’s glare off the snow can cause snow blindness. Hats are recommended, but if you’re worried about your hair, earmuffs can help protect your ears from a cold wind.

When it comes to footwear, you want waterproof footwear with a good tread profile to help you have grip on snow. I recommend hiking boots, as anything without a high ankle runs the risk of you getting wet feet, as snow can fall in.

Winter Elopement Ideas + Activities

Yes, the Dolomites are home to some world-class ski resorts, which is one of the main reasons a lot of couples choose it for their winter weddings, combining their elopement with their annual ski trip. But the Dolomites isn’t only for those who can ski or snowboard. There are so many activities on offer. Here are just a few of my favourites:

Skiing & Snowboarding

This is what most people travel to the Dolomites for in winter. Not only does the Dolomites offer world-class downhill skiing, but it’s also got some amazing options for Nordic (XC) skiing, as well as ski touring.

Snowshoe hiking or winter walking

There are lots of amazing winter walking trails in the Dolomites. The official winter walking trails are great for elopements because the trails are checked and maintained throughout the winter and are generally closed if there is any avalanche danger.

For couples who want to be a bit more adventurous (or if there happens to be lots of fresh snow), you may opt for a snowshoe hike. Snowshoes let you walk more easily through deeper snow and reach locations that may be too tricky in just hiking boots in winter.

Dog Sledding

It’s not only in the Arctic north where you can enjoy dog sledding with huskies. Now it’s also possible to do it in the Dolomites, with options both in Alta Badia and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

Is there anything more winter wonderland fairytale than riding a horse-drawn carriage through a snowy winter landscape? If you’re looking for a winter activity that’s more relaxing than adrenaline-fueled, this could be the perfect option for you.

Helicopter Tour

Helicopter flights aren’t just something for summertime. Some of the landing locations are different to summer, but the experience is just as epic.

Enjoying food and drinks at a mountain hut or Apres ski Bar

Mountain huts can make the perfect place to take a break from the cold and warm up with a hot chocolate or glühwein, or even enjoy some local dishes. Or on sunny days, why not enjoy an Aperol Spritz on a sunny terrace or get the party started at an apres ski bar overlooking the slopes.

Planning a Timeline for a Winter Elopement in the Dolomites

Typically, winter elopement timelines are shorter than summer ones, usually lasting between 8-10 hours. This comes down to a few main influencing factors: daylight and temperature.

During the shortest days, it gets light around 8 am, and starts to get dark around 4 pm. That means that most of your elopement is going to be planned during these daylight hours.

The weather also influences the shorter elopement timelines in winter. Being much colder, I usually try to break up the outdoor elements of the day into shorter chunks, with time to warm up in between. Spending longer periods of time outside is usually only possible if you are dressed in suitable winter clothing rather than wedding clothes.

Here’s an example timeline from Bart & Daneesha’s winter elopement in January:

• 7:30 am – Hair & Makeup
• 9:30 am – Bart gets dressed and waits in separate room
• 10 am –  Daneesha gets dressed
• 10:15 am – First look at hotel, then walk to get coffee
• 10:30 am – Coffee at a local cafe
• 11:45 am – Take the ski lift up to Seceda
• 1:30 pm – Lift down, walk to car, drive to 2nd location
• 2:30 – 4:30 pm – 2nd location: hike, vows, picnic
• 5 pm – Drink at an apres-ski bar. Back to hotel.

For couples who want to have a more relaxed elopement day followed by an adventure day, a 2-day elopement is perfect.

Winter Elopement FAQs

Want some more inspiration? Check out these winter elopements