For Cheryl and Merrill, an autumn elopement in the Dolomites did not need elaborate decor or an extensive list of wedding details. The landscape was more than enough.
They traveled to the Italian mountains during one of the most beautiful times of year, when the changing larches brought warm autumn color to the already dramatic scenery. With locations intentionally chosen to showcase the season, their elopement photographed by Shawna Rae Photography unfolded in two distinct chapters: a quiet morning at Lago di Braies followed by a sunset adventure high above the mountains at Cadini di Misurina.
In between were private vows, a romantic boat ride, a mountaintop outfit change, and one long golden sunset that slowly faded into pink.
Autumn larches set the palette for the day
Timing played an important role in planning Cheryl and Merrill’s Dolomites elopement.
With the couple visiting in autumn, their locations were selected specifically to highlight the beautiful larches at that time of year. The seasonal landscape provided all the color and texture the day needed, allowing Cheryl and Merrill to keep everything else intentionally simple.
Rather than adding decor to already spectacular surroundings, they let the changing trees, mountain peaks, and natural light create the atmosphere.
The morning began at Lago di Braies
Cheryl and Merrill started their wedding day at Lago di Braies, where they had secured a coveted boathouse booking.
The morning was chilly, but the quiet lake and surrounding mountains created an intimate setting for the first part of their celebration. With few traditional wedding details competing for attention, the focus remained on the couple and the landscape around them.
It was here, beside one of the Dolomites’ most recognizable lakes, that Cheryl and Merrill exchanged their vows.
Private vows followed by a romantic boat ride
After reading their vows to one another, the newlyweds climbed into one of Lago di Braies’ wooden boats for a ride across the water.
The boat ride gave them time to simply be together after exchanging their promises, turning an iconic Dolomites experience into part of their wedding day rather than treating the lake solely as a backdrop for photographs.
Their approach throughout the morning was deliberately uncomplicated. They had each other, the lake, and the surrounding mountains, and very little else was necessary.
A sunset hike to Cadini di Misurina
After taking a break in the middle of the day, Cheryl and Merrill set out for an entirely different Dolomites experience at Cadini di Misurina.
Getting there required a hike, but the couple was fully committed to the adventure. They even carried a pop-up tent with them so they could change outfits once they reached the top of the mountain.
The extra effort allowed the second half of their elopement to feel completely different from the quiet morning at Lago di Braies, trading still water and a romantic boat ride for dramatic peaks and an expansive mountain landscape.
You may also like
Tips to create an adventurous & iconic Italian mountain elopement
An Italian mountain elopement for $100 with a “to-die-for” view
An elopement in Sicily that ended on a yacht
A mountaintop outfit change
Rather than hiking back down or searching for somewhere more conventional to change, Cheryl and Merrill simply brought their own solution with them.
The pop-up tent made an outfit change possible right on top of the mountain, allowing them to transition into another look without interrupting their sunset plans.
It was a practical detail that also captured the spirit of the entire elopement: adventurous, relaxed, and willing to embrace a little unpredictability in exchange for an unforgettable experience.
Golden light faded to pink over the Dolomites
At Cadini di Misurina, Cheryl and Merrill stayed long enough to watch the mountains transform with the setting sun.
Warm golden light initially washed across the landscape before gradually fading into softer shades of pink. Instead of rushing through sunset portraits and immediately beginning the hike back, the couple took time to enjoy the changing light and the experience of being together in the mountains.
Eventually, they began their descent with lanterns in hand, closing out a wedding day that had started beside a cold alpine lake and ended high among the peaks.
Cheryl and Merrill’s elopement was proof that an extraordinary setting does not always need an extraordinary amount of styling. There were no elaborate installations or layers of carefully coordinated details. Instead, there were autumn larches, still water, handwritten promises, a wooden boat, a challenging hike, and a sunset that shifted from gold to pink.
By keeping everything else simple, they left room for the parts of the day that mattered most: each other, the adventure, and one remarkable autumn day in the Dolomites.
Continue to next story
