Most mountain weddings do not fail because of the weather. They fail because of the last cable car, high heels on gravel, and guests who are freezing at three in the afternoon because it was still 28 degrees down in the valley. All of it is solvable. You just need to know about it in advance.
How high do you actually go?
The difference to the valley is bigger than many people expect. Rule of thumb: it gets about half a degree cooler for every 100 metres of altitude. If you leave Merano and marry on Passo Sella, that is almost 2,000 metres of difference.
Three kinds of mountain wedding
Hut with road access
- Car or shuttle right to the door
- Good for older guests and children
- Celebrating into the night is possible
- Often not quite as spectacular
By cable car
- Big arrival, big view
- No walk for the guests
- The last ride down sets the end
- Check timetable and season in advance
On foot
- The most beautiful, quietest spots
- Ideal for an elopement for two
- Dress, shoes and luggage have to go up
- Not for a big party
Places worth considering
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) and the Sciliar (Schlern): Europe's largest high-altitude meadow, lush green in June, golden in September. During the day access is often restricted, so plan timing and transport. Val Gardena: cable cars and huts with panoramic terraces beneath the Sella and the Sassolungo. Val Badia and Alta Badia: quieter, Ladin, with terraces right in front of the rock walls. Kronplatz above Brunico (Bruneck): by cable car, with a 360-degree view. And the Renon (Ritten) above Bolzano when you want it uncomplicated: a few minutes by cable car and you are up.
More huts, castles and wineries are in my overview of 30 wedding venues in South Tyrol.
How to plan the day
- Getting ready in the valley or at the hutA hotel is more comfortable. At the hut you already have the mountain view in the first photos.
- Going upPlan a buffer. Cable cars have queues, mountain roads have bends and cows.
- CeremonyIn high summer rather not in the late afternoon, that is when the thunderstorms come. In September the afternoon is perfect.
- Meal and partyA long table on the terrace, the dining room as plan B.
- Couple portraits in the last lightTwenty minutes is enough. I take you away from the party briefly, and you are back before anyone asks where you were.
- For the brideA second pair of shoes for the walk, flat and comfortable
- For everyoneA jacket or shawl, it gets cold quickly up there in the evening
- For everyoneSunscreen, the sun is stronger at altitude
- For plan BNice umbrellas. They look great in photos, by the way
- For the guestsClear information on when the last cable car runs
I am often asked what happens if it rains in the mountains. Honestly: the most dramatic pictures usually happen when clouds move over the peaks. A bit of mist is not a problem. A thunderstorm is, which is why you need a plan B.
Gabriel Höllrigl, wedding photographer in South TyrolFAQ
Can we have a civil wedding on a mountain pasture?
In Italy the civil ceremony only takes place in venues the municipality has approved, and a mountain pasture or hut rarely is one. That is why most mountain weddings in South Tyrol are symbolic ceremonies, with the legal part done beforehand.
How do older guests get up to a mountain hut?
Choose a hut that can be reached by car, shuttle or cable car. Check the time of the last cable car down, because it often decides how long you can celebrate up there.
When is the best time for a mountain wedding in the Dolomites?
June to September, when huts and lifts are open. In June everything is lush and green, in September the light is warmest and the weather is often more stable. Some huts and lifts only open in the course of June.
What happens if there is a thunderstorm?
In high summer thunderstorms often build up in the afternoon. In July and August it is better to hold the ceremony before early afternoon, in September later is fine. And have a covered terrace or a dining room as plan B.
Do we need a permit for wedding photos in the mountains?
For normal wedding photos usually not. Drone footage is subject to its own rules in Italy, and some places such as lakes or nature parks restrict access. I check this for your location when we plan the day.