Snowy March Engagement in Passo Gardena

March in the Dolomites is a bit of a wild card. It might feel like spring in town, but head up into the mountains and you’re knee-deep in snow wondering if winter ever plans on leaving. Connor and Skylar leaned all the way into that energy, and honestly, I loved them for it.

They reached out wanting guidance on where to go for their engagement session. We chose Passo Gardena, tucked between the peaks above Val Gardena. In March, it’s a snow globe up there. The road is (usually) open, but everything else feels hushed and frozen in time. Massive walls of snow line the pass, and the peaks rise up sharp and moody behind it all. It can be hard to find parking because all the snow from the road has been piled up in the lots.

Flexibility Is Key

If you’ve ever planned anything in the mountains, you already know this: the weather does not care about your plans. Originally, we had a set date, but the sky had other plans. So I looked at the forecast, checking conditions and weathercams, and waited for the right window.

Connor and Skylar were completely open to shifting plans, and that trust made everything smoother. When couples are willing to adapt to mountain conditions instead of fighting them, the experience feels lighter and the photos always benefit.

Skylar had forgotten her snow boots at their hotel. Whoops. So when we met each other at the parking lot and they told me this, I lent her my snow boots. Luckily I was wearing my cute ones!

Snowy, Quiet, and Completely Worth It

There was snow everywhere. Not decorative snow. Real alpine snow that you sink into the second you step off the cleared road. It slowed everything down in a way that felt grounding. They naturally leaned into each other for warmth, laughed when they misjudged a step, and moved through the landscape instead of just standing in front of it.

I guided them the whole time, helping them use the curves of the snowbanks, the lines of the pass, and the dramatic peaks behind them. They never felt stiff or overly posed. They just needed direction and space to be themselves, which is exactly what an engagement session should feel like.

Afterward, they told me how comfortable they felt, even in full winter conditions. That is always the goal. You do not need to know how to pose, or need to worry about where to stand. You just need to show up ready to experience it; that is what makes for the best photos. But, of course, I’m always there to step in when need be!

Why March in the Dolomites Is Underrated

Most people get married or engaged here in the summer. Of course, winter is not everyone’s vibe, and I get that. When they do come in the winter, though, they usually choose the end of December or January. There are lots of people, and honestly sometimes not as much snow as we’re hoping for.

Enter: March! The beginning of March can actually quite a great time. By then, there’s snow for those winter vibes, there are less people around, and we get a bit more daylight to play with. If it were my winter elopement, I’d choose March for sure.

If you are considering a snowy Dolomites engagement session and want help figuring out where to go and when to go, that is exactly what I am here for. Send me a message and let’s have a chat!

Check out more of their session below.