Ann Marie + Dan
Elopement at lake braies, alpe di siusi, cadini di misuriina by helicopter
Some love stories take the scenic route. For Ann Marie + Dan, that meant meeting in college, drifting apart for a decade, then finding their way back to each other. Once they reconnected, they were inseparable. Renovating their lake house, taking boat rides, and chasing sunsets on the water. So when it came time to elope, the Dolomites made perfect sense.
Their day wove together everything they love: alpine lakes, wide-open meadows, champagne pops, and even a helicopter ride into the sunset.
Updated: December 05, 2025
Elopement & Vows at Lake Braies
Check out their elopement photos at Lake Braies below.
Ann Marie and Dan
I’d spent hours looking into photographers, getting quotes, and doing intro calls. Shawna stood out right away. She was relaxed, friendly, and felt like someone we’d actually want to spend time with — which was important, since we were with her for most of the day.
Their Elopement Story
The day began at dawn, with the glassy stillness of Lake Braies. Ann Marie + Dan had their first look on the dock of the boathouse, the soft light spilling across the water. They read vows through tears, exchanged rings, then pushed off for a boat ride across the emerald lake. Popping champagne in the rowboat felt right, and made for cool photos.
Back at their hotel, Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus, they fueled up with breakfast and took a breather. Between cuddly bunnies hopping around the property and a quick splash in the iconic glass-bottom sky pool (yes, I took photos under the pool!), the morning was perfect.
By afternoon, we headed to Alpe di Siusi where the meadows were bursting with summer wildflowers. They laughed their way through a champagne pop (round two) and fully leaned into frolicking; not something they expected to be good at, but with my guidance, they became pros by the end.
The grand finale? A sunset helicopter ride with Elikos to Cadini di Misurina. High above the crowds, they had an entire mountaintop to themselves. With Tre Cime glowing in the background, they shared one last champagne toast as the sun slipped behind the peaks. Truly, the perfect ending to their storybook Dolomites elopement.
Back at their hotel, Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus, they fueled up with breakfast and took a breather. Between cuddly bunnies hopping around the property and a quick splash in the iconic glass-bottom sky pool (yes, I took photos under the pool!), the morning was perfect.
By afternoon, we headed to Alpe di Siusi where the meadows were bursting with summer wildflowers. They laughed their way through a champagne pop (round two) and fully leaned into frolicking; not something they expected to be good at, but with my guidance, they became pros by the end.
The grand finale? A sunset helicopter ride with Elikos to Cadini di Misurina. High above the crowds, they had an entire mountaintop to themselves. With Tre Cime glowing in the background, they shared one last champagne toast as the sun slipped behind the peaks. Truly, the perfect ending to their storybook Dolomites elopement.
Elopement Photos at Alpe di Siusi
Check out their elopement photos amongst the wildflowers
FAQ
Why Lago di Braies?
They have a lake house at home, so starting the day on a boat was deeply personal.
Do you need a permit for Lago di Braies?
Sort of: to have a private boathouse dock for sunrise, couples should book directly via the La Palifitta website.
Can you really swim at Hubertus in your wedding attire?
Heck yes. The sky pool is iconic, and the glass bottom makes for unreal photos. We would just need to do it early enough that no one else is swimming.
Why a helicopter ride?
Cadini di Misurina is stunning but crowded. A helicopter ensured privacy at sunset, plus insane aerial views.
Best months for this exact itinerary?
June + July for wildflowers and long days. September + October if you want fewer crowds.
They have a lake house at home, so starting the day on a boat was deeply personal.
Do you need a permit for Lago di Braies?
Sort of: to have a private boathouse dock for sunrise, couples should book directly via the La Palifitta website.
Can you really swim at Hubertus in your wedding attire?
Heck yes. The sky pool is iconic, and the glass bottom makes for unreal photos. We would just need to do it early enough that no one else is swimming.
Why a helicopter ride?
Cadini di Misurina is stunning but crowded. A helicopter ensured privacy at sunset, plus insane aerial views.
Best months for this exact itinerary?
June + July for wildflowers and long days. September + October if you want fewer crowds.
Sunset Helicopter ride to Cadini di Misurina
Check out their elopement photos at Cadini di Misurina below.
"We booked Shawna for our elopement in the Dolomites and honestly, she was amazing. From the start, communication was super easy — she was quick to reply, really familiar with the area, and had great suggestions for how to structure the day. I’d spent hours looking into photographers, getting quotes, and doing intro calls. Shawna stood out right away. She was relaxed, friendly, and felt like someone we’d actually want to spend time with — which was important, since we were with her for most of the day.
We ended up booking 6 hours with her and split it into three different parts: a private shoot at Lago di Braies, a picnic shoot at Alpe di Siusi, and a helicopter ride to a remote mountain spot. She helped with all of it — finding the helicopter company, giving advice on booking the lake, and even choosing the picnic location to make the timing work. She also stopped by our hotel for a few extra shots, which was a nice bonus.
Spending the day with her felt super natural. No awkward posing or over-the-top direction — just us hanging out, being ourselves, and she somehow captured it all perfectly. We laughed a lot, had fun, and it never felt like “work” to be in front of the camera."
The photos are next level. They bring back so many real moments from the day, not just the big scenic ones but the quiet in-between stuff too. She brought a drone, and her husband joined during the helicopter part and filmed some video clips, which was a fun surprise and really added to the experience."
Testimonial by Ann Marie & Dan
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