Sunset Proposal on Alpe di Siusi in the Dolomites

If you’ve never been to the Dolomites before, planning a proposal here can feel a little overwhelming. The mountains are huge, weather changes quickly, and there are hundreds of possible locations to choose from. That’s exactly how Sal felt when he first reached out to me through my website to start planning his proposal on Alpe di Siusi.

He knew he wanted something outdoorsy and meaningful for him and Julia, but since he had never been to the Dolomites before, he needed help figuring out how to actually make it happen without giving away the surprise.

Over the next few weeks, we planned everything together behind the scenes through sneaky calls and texts while trying to keep Julia from catching on too much. She definitely suspected something was happening, but not the exact moment or place.

Why He Chose Alpe di Siusi for Their Proposal

Julia and Sal are very outdoorsy, so a traditional proposal in a city or at a fancy restaurant never would have felt like them. They wanted a place that felt adventurous, peaceful, and connected to nature.

Alpe di Siusi (also called Seiser Alm) ended up being the perfect fit.

Spring in the Dolomites is such an underrated time for a proposal. It was too late for snowy winter landscapes and a little too early for the summer wildflowers, but the weather was lovely and the mountains were much quieter than peak season. The rolling green alpine meadows had just started coming back to life, and the soft evening light made everything feel calm and intimate.

One thing we knew immediately was that sunrise was off the table because Julia is not a morning person. So instead, we planned everything around sunset when the light would still be beautiful, but the experience would feel relaxed rather than rushed.

Planning a Surprise Proposal in the Dolomites

One of the biggest parts of my job as a Dolomites proposal photographer is honestly helping couples with logistics and planning, especially when someone has never visited the area before.

For Julia and Sal’s proposal on Alpe di Siusi, I helped with:

• choosing the exact proposal location
• figuring out the best timing for sunset
• creating weather backup plans
• transportation logistics
• hiking advice
• outfit guidance
• proposal strategy
• keeping the surprise believable

A lot of people imagine they can simply pick a random mountain location from Pinterest and show up, but the reality is that the Dolomites require a bit more planning than that. Certain areas are difficult to access, parking can be confusing, weather changes fast, and some spots become extremely crowded at certain times of year.

Because Sal had never been here before, we spent a lot of time narrowing down locations that would feel adventurous without becoming stressful.

Their 5* Google Review for Me:

“Shawna is simply the best — if I could give her 100 stars, I absolutely would without hesitation. My introduction to Shawna came about, funnily enough, through ChatGPT. About a year ago, my partner and I started planning a trip to Italy for her birthday (what better way to close out your 20s than with a 3-week adventure around the country).

It was during this, that I started to plan a surprise engagement and the Dolomites, specifically Alpe di Siusi (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), seemed the perfect place! The challenge was finding the right photographer who was familiar with the area, matched our desired photography style, spoke our language (given that my Italian is rudimentary at best and my knowledge of German is non-existent), and who could be patient with me while I worked on the intricate details of a surprise engagement.

Shawna’s name popped up at the top of the list, which was convenient, but I instantly gravitated toward her galleries. After sending in an inquiry via her website, she met with me over a video call and, rather than speaking solely about herself and her process, she asked about us as a couple. She really wanted to understand our love story so that she could help to curate the perfect experience, which felt special and personal.

On the big day, she devised the perfect innocuous cover story to hide in plain sight and, because of it, she got some incredible shots with the iconic Alpe peaks in the background. She was communicative, professional, patient, directive, creative, and supportive!

I could go on and on about the experience but really what I want anyone reading this to take away from this review is that Shawna Rae Photography is unbeaten; the absolute best Dolomites photographer (and really the only one of two that are actually local to the area — many will say they are “local”, but are actually based in Austria).

Thank you, Shawna, for an incredibly comfortable and truly unforgettable experience!”

The Proposal Moment

When the day finally arrived, the weather was not that clear blue sky we hoped for, but it wasn’t too bad. The sky stayed mostly sunny, with soft clouds gathering low on the horizon as sunset approached. I loved some good cloudage, so long as it stays away from the horizon :’)

I arrived ahead of them and positioned myself far away with my long lens so the moment could unfold naturally without Julia noticing me. That’s usually my favourite way to photograph proposals because it allows everything to feel genuine and uninterrupted.

Meanwhile, Sal was trying to act normal while also remembering the exact plan we had coordinated beforehand through texts and calls.

The two of them hiked through Alpe di Siusi wearing simple hiking outfits, which honestly suited the entire experience perfectly. Nothing felt overly staged or formal.

Eventually, they reached the spot we had chosen together, surrounded by the rolling alpine meadows and mountain peaks glowing in the evening light. And there, with the Dolomites surrounding them, Sal proposed.

Thinking About Planning a Proposal on Alpe di Siusi?

Planning a proposal in another country can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve never visited the Dolomites before. That’s why I help couples with much more than just photography.

From choosing locations and building timelines to backup plans and figuring out how to keep everything a surprise, I help guide couples through the entire process so they can actually enjoy the experience instead of stressing over logistics.

And honestly, that’s exactly what made Julia and Sal’s proposal feel so effortless in the end. Behind the scenes, there was a lot of planning, sneaky coordination, and careful timing. But once they arrived in the mountains together, all they had to do was enjoy the moment.

So go ahead and fill out my form! I don’t bite, and our first consultation call is free. Let me tell you how I can help plan your perfect proposal.