Lago di Braies Elopement Experience: Best Location to Get Married in 2025
Lago di Braies Elopement Guide 2025/2026
Dreaming of eloping surrounded by unique landscapes and authentic moments (like a dreamy private boat ride on the alpine lake, how cool is that?!)—then Lago di Braies elopement should be at the top of your list.
This informative guide is here to help you plan the Lago di Braies elopement or wedding. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from how to get there and where to stay, to the best spots for your ceremony and all these Pinterest-like photos. Let’s make your dream destination elopement a reality!
Scroll down to read our best tips about eloping here and a story about a couple who flew from another side of the globe (yes, from Australia!) to have a unique Dolomites elopement and see the amazing photos of their dream day!
Everything you need to know before eloping at Lago di Braies
Planning Your Elopement
Just imagine eloping at Lago di Braies, with its crystal-clear blue waters, deep green pine forests, and majestic peaks around! So, it is no surprise that this incredible lake has become a dream elopement location for couples from across the whole world.
Pragser Wildsee (the name of the lake in German) recently got the nickname “Pearl of the Alps” due to its skyrocketing popularity among tourists. That being said, tourism had become excessive when in 2020, over 17,000 people visited the area on a single day! In the summer of 2023, all vehicle access was restricted because of overtourism.
That’s why you need help from local professionals like ourselves, who can create a custom timeline of the day to escape crowds flocking in the background during your vow ceremony. Because that’s not what anyone expects on their dream wedding day, right?!
Most Asked Questions about Lago di Braies
Where the hell is Lago di Braies?
Lago di Braies, also called Pragser Wildsee, is a breathtaking alpine lake in the Dolomites mountains of Northern Italy. Situated right in the heart of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, it’s a dreamy spot of unique beauty, which we find just perfect for an unforgettable wedding day in the north of Italy.
How to Get to Lago di Braies?
By Car
Driving is the easiest and the most straightforward way to reach Lago di Braies.
From Bolzano, it’s a 2-hour drive. If you’re coming from Milan, the drive takes about 4.5 hours. From Innsbruck (a popular air hub of the region) it’s about 2 hours to drive to Lake Braies.
There are a couple of parking lots to park at Lago di Braies (all of them are paid ones), with “Parcheggio P4” being the closest parking lot to the lake. Alternatively, if you decide to stay at Hotel Lago di Braies, you’ll get the parking lot by the hotel at their guest parking lot.
By Plane
If you’re a fan of traveling by plane, the nearest to Lake Braies airports are:
- Bolzano: A small regional airport about 1.5 hours away by car.
- Innsbruck (Austria): Approximately 2 hours away by car.
- Venice Marco Polo: A larger airport with many international connections, around 3 hours by car.
- Milan Malpensa or Linate: Both Milan airports are about 4.5 hours away by car. From Milan, you can also take a train to Dobbiaco or Villabassa and continue by bus or taxi.
By Train and Bus
Public transport is another option for getting to the lake. Take a train to either Dobbiaco or Villabassa station, both well-connected via Italy’s regional train network. From there, local buses run directly to the lake, especially in the summer and early autumn. It’s a fairly affordable option, but definitely not the most comfortable one to travel around the region.
Where to Stay Near Lago di Braies?
We’ve created a comprehensive list of the best hotels near Lago Di Braies. Starting from lakeside retreats to cozy mountain chalets, there’s something for every couple looking to celebrate their love in style.
We’ve visited each of these hotels and Airbnb, so we’re happy to share our experience with you.
Our personal top of hotels & Airbnbs to stay at Lago di Braies:
Hotel Pragser Wildsee / Hotel Lago di Braies
Skyview Chalets Toblach Lake
Silentium Dolomites Chalet
Gailerhof Hotel B&B Superior
Majestic Hotel & Spa
What to Do When Eloping at Lago di Braies?
- Exchange Vows by the Lake: Start your day by staying your vows to each other right at the edge of the lake, surrounded by the emerald waters and dramatic peaks.
- Go for a Romantic Rowboat Ride: Rent one of the iconic wooden rowboats and glide across the lake for incredibly intimate moments and truly jaw-dropping photographs.
- Plan a Picnic: Pack a cozy blanket and some breakfast treats to enjoy a picnic. In fact, it’s much more exhausting than you may imagine, so some treats will be so deserved!
- Take a Scenic Walk Around the Lake: The trail encircling Lago di Braies is easy to follow and offers stunning views from every angle. Hold hands, take your time, and have a walk for the outstanding wedding photographs by the lake!
- Capture Stunning Photos: Dedicate time (as wedding photographers, we recommend at least 3 hours) to your wedding photoshoot by Lago di Braies. The lake can propose such unique elopement locations as the wooden pier of the Boathouse, the lakeshore with the old pine forest, and the tiny old chapel right by the lakeside.
- Visit the Chapel of Lago di Braies: This quaint and charming “Lago di Braies” chapel, built in 1904, is perfect for enjoying the unique architecture or as a backdrop for your elopement photos.
- Enjoy a Candlelit Dinner: Spoil yourselves with a romantic dinner at a local mountain lodge. Or why not even go for a private chef experience who can serve delicious Alpine dishes with a special twist?!
- Watch the Stars Together: End the elopement day by staying overnight by the lake, so grab a blanket and head outside to stargaze. The lake and mountains create a stunningly quiet atmosphere under the night sky. Trust me: the night sky by Lago di Braies is HUGE! You can see so many stars being far from towns and cities high in the mountains.
What is the best time to get married at Lago di Braies?
We think the best time to travel or elope at Lago di Braies is definitely early summer all the way to late fall, which is the mildest and most comfortable season of the year. The best months of the year we recommend for getting married are the end of May to the beginning of July + the second timeframe we recommend is the end of August to mid-October. Following this advice you’ll get the most comfortable weather, clear skies with beautiful light especially at the sunrise, and the best part of it – you’ll skip the most crowded season of the year (the middle of summer).
If crowds are a concern for you and you’d better prefer to have a more intimate elopement experience, it’s best not to plan an elopement in Italy from July and August (and better elope in Norway or the Faroe Islands, for example), when Lake Braies attracts a huge amount of tourists from all across the world.
How much Does it Cost to Elope at Lago di Braies?
The average cost of an intimate wedding or elopement is around €8,000 (around $8,500USD), which includes:
- Marriage license (symbolic ceremony): €0
- Accommodation per 2 nights: €400
- Boathouse rental: €450
- Car rental: €200
- Hair + make-up: €0 (DIY)
- Attire: €1000
- Bouquet: €200
- Fancy celebration dinner: €250
- Photographer (6 hours coverage): €5,500
Lago di Braies Wedding & Elopement Locations
The Boathouse and the Dock
The La Palafitta Boathouse and its old wooden dock are definitely the most unique wedding location at the lake! If you’re planning to have a wedding ceremony at Lago di Braies, our best advice would be to book exclusive access to the dock for the unique elopement experience.
Lakeside Shore
A hiking path has a length of 3.7km and circles the whole lake, which means there’s such a huge amount of spots for your wedding photos even in the busiest moments of the day! The most popular lakeshore spot is the area right by the hotel, so if you go a little aside, you can get almost complete privacy. The earlier you arrive at the lake – the higher your chance of having the whole lake just for yourselves you’ll get. Just look at the picture – doesn’t it look like a frame of some romantic movie?!
Capella Lago di Braies
This old and charming historic chapel of Lago di Braies, built in 1904 right by the lake, can offer a beautiful option both for a spiritual or symbolic ceremony. It’s situated literally within a 5-minute walk from the Parcheggio 4 and the hotel, which makes it a very easy-to-reach lake elopement location. The chapel is surely in our top 3 wedding locations in the area.
AlpINe Meadows
After 12:00, the amount of tourists at the lake becomes massive, so to escape them and have a more private setting, head to the high alpine meadows with stunning mountain views not far from the lake. The walk is less than 1 hour of walking from the hotel, and there’s even a mountain restaurant called Malga Foresta where you can enjoy snacks and have a breath.
I mean, just look at these endless, lush fields, which burst into a flower bloom at the end of June, making the whole area just out of this world!
Lago di Braies Boathouse
The Boathouse at Lago di Braies is probably the most unique and iconic place in northern Italy. Are you looking for the unique experience of a lifetime on your wedding day?
Then look no further! I mean, just imagine rowing together with your lover across the emerald green waters right after tying the knot in one of the most jaw-dropping locations on the planet?!
Booking the Boathouse and Vintage Boats
Start your day with a touch of magic! Imagine having the La Palafitta boathouse all to yourself—just you, the still morning air, and the shimmering lake. For only €450, you’ll get 1.5 hours of exclusive access before anyone else arrives!
It’s your chance to feel completely present and calm during your ceremony, and take stunning photos in the silence when everyone is still asleep! Don’t just visit—make it yours!
You can check the working hours, and availability and book your date at the official website of the Boathouse.
Best Tips for Getting Married at Lago di Braies
Pick the Right Time of the Year
The lake is stunning year-round, but for a quiet, romantic vibe, go for late spring or early autumn. Summer is crowded, and winter, while magical, can be logistically tricky with snow and freezing temps.
Hire Local Vendors
A local vendor who knows the region and Lago di Braies will guarantee your seamless experience. As a North Italy elopement photographer duo, we can help you navigate permits, find the best spots, and connect you with other local vendors to help you plan your best day!
Legal Requirements
Let’s keep it simple: most American couples we work with go for a symbolic ceremony in Italy and handle the official paperwork back home. Why? Because it’s easy, stress-free, and lets you focus on the fun stuff (like saying “I do” with a view!).
But if you’re set on making it legal in Italy, no problem! We’ve got two words for you: wedding planner. A local wedding planner is like your paperwork superhero, cutting through red tape and making sure everything’s sorted so you can enjoy every moment without a headache. Trust us, they’re worth it!
Book Your Stay Nearby
Accommodations near Lago di Braies are limited, so book early not to drive to the lake for your ceremony even before the sun gets up – trust me it’s sometimes tiring!
Respect the Nature
Keep decorations minimal—this location is already one of the most beautiful we’ve ever been to. Use eco-friendly materials, or even skip decor at all, and make sure your wedding leaves no trace to preserve the natural beauty for future generations.
Lago Di Braies Elopement Photographers
We are Jane & Anton Iskra – a creative photography duo serving Lago di Braies, the whole region of Northern Italy, and more.
Welcome to our world of photography! Here, you can explore our vision and style, and if it resonates with you, we’d be thrilled to be part of your special day. Let’s capture the emotions, the laughter, and the love through stunning, timeless photos that you’ll treasure forever.
The story of the Couple and their Elopement at Lago di Braies
Katrina and Lachlan are from Australia. They are big nature lovers and avid travelers, they decided to elope at the stunning Lago Di Braies lake (also called Pragser Wildsee” in German) ever since they engaged at Mt. Fuji in Japan (how cool is that?!).
The couple first inquired and booked their elopement when the world had just fully opened since the pandemic at the very end of 2022. They always dreamed of having a sunrise ceremony somewhere surrounded by mountain peaks or at an alpine lake. That’s why we chose the Lake Braies as their picturesque elopement location and started planning the timeline of the day and creating the mood board for the photoshoot to get inspired and prepared.
I wish we could tell that it was an easy elopement day planning, but it wasn’t – that’s the reality of modern-day tourism. We’ve been preparing for the elopement day very thoroughly (it was quite a challenge even for us, being experienced experts in elopements in the Dolomites for years), tried to do our best to escape crowds, and have some intimate moments for the couple.
And in the end – everything turned out perfectly great! The beautiful photographs below speak for themselves.
Local Elopement Expert Tip: You should also check out these incredible hiking elopement photos at Cadini di Misurina & other jaw-dropping ceremony spots in the Italian Alps. Despite Lake Braies’ incredible beauty on wedding photos your personal experience of visiting may be quite different. Even with early starts to avoid crowds, it still can be challenging to feel privacy, so it’s important to be mentally prepared if you decide to visit this popular spot.
From a Boathouse Dock Session on the Alpine Lake To Hiking in the clouds,
this Is How To Plan a North Italy Elopement
That morning, we all woke up very early (at 4 am). The couple planned to have their vow ceremony at Lago di Braies and we had an incredible sunrise, backlighting the snow-white mountain peaks surrounding the emerald waters of the lake. We managed to escape 90% of the crowds, and in fact, for most of the shoot, we were completely alone, which gave the couple an amazing elopement experience.
After having a beautiful private session at the dock, rowing wooden boats, and having some more epic photos with the pine forest and the magnificent views of the towering mountains around the lake, we had a good, relaxing break for some rest, good breakfast and some nice sleep to gather power for the fantastic sunset hike.
Later in the evening, we drove to the beginning of the trailhead, leading to the stunning mountain viewpoints for some more epic photos. Although hiking in a dress is a challenge not for everyone, Katrina nailed it and it was SO WORTH IT!
The views were breathtaking, and the mountains gave us a priceless present of super low skies covering the mountain peaks, which made the blue-hour photographs with the lanterns even more magical!
Can it be a unique present from the mountains, when you walk above the clouds high in the mountains with your beloved one?!
Katrina & Lachlan, congratulations, and thank you for all the trust!!!
– Jane & Tony
Some kind words from the couple:
“Not only did they capture breathtaking moments, but they also made us feel incredibly comfortable throughout the shoot. Their guidance and genuine enthusiasm ensured that every photo reflected the depth of emotion we felt that day. The photos surpassed our expectations; each frame was a work of art, encapsulating the raw beauty and the intimacy of our elopement. The memories they’ve frozen in time for us are priceless.”
Get In Touch
If you’re looking for a photographer and you connect with our work, we would love to hear from you! Please allow 48 hours for a response.
Together with Tony Iskra, they are ISKRA Photography - a husband & wife duo shooting in Iceland and beyond.
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