Aimee + Matthew
Moody Autumn Elopement at Lago di Braies
Mountain elopements in the Dolomites hold a special kind of atmosphere in October. The air feels crisp, the forests shift into deep golds, and the skies often carry a dramatic softness that makes the whole landscape feel like a painting. Aimee and Matthew chose this exact season for their elopement at Lago di Braies, knowing the moodier weather would wrap their day in something undeniably romantic. And it did.
A few days later, they met me again on Lake Garda for a sun-warmed honeymoon session, giving their Italian adventure a perfect two-part arc: misty alpine romance followed by golden lakeside ease.
As an elopement photographer who spends a lot of time guiding couples through these areas, this story was such a heartfelt reminder that moody weather and meaningful details create some of the most unforgettable days.
Updated: November 30, 2025
Getting ready at the La Palifitta Boathouse at Lago di Braies
A Moody Morning Wrapped in Autumn
When we arrived at Lago di Braies, the valley was wrapped in a soft, moody sky. The water was a perfect mirror, and the air held just enough chill to make the moment feel grounding and intimate. It was the kind of weather couples often hope for without knowing it’s what they’re hoping for. Clouds can give you an incredible vibe; more emotion than the perfect sunrise.
Before anything else, we took a few minutes to settle in and get ready. The lake was still, the boats were resting against the dock, and the surrounding larch trees had turned warm shades of amber. It felt like the Dolomites themselves were leaning in to this incredible morning.
Aimee + Matthew
Shawna is not only an incredible photographer, but also an amazing person and if we could give her higher than 5 stars, we would!! From our first video chat until the day we finished up, we feel like she went above and beyond for us.
Their elopement on Lago di Braies
Intentional Details That Told Their Story
Aimee and Matthew brought some of the most thoughtful elopement details I’ve ever photographed. They travelled all the way from America with a curated selection of stationery, ribbons, accents, and little trinkets that reflected their life together. Every piece felt purposeful.
One of the most touching elements was the set of digitally painted portraits of their dogs, Coco and Nova. They would have loved to bring them along, but instead chose this beautifully personal way to make sure their pups were still part of their day. The portraits sat softly among their details, appearing in flatlays and woven into the story in a way that felt grounded.
They also carried a dried bouquet from home; simple, elegant, and full of meaning. Seeing something so personal set against the wooden boats and cool alpine tones added so much depth to their gallery.
Hair and makeup that morning was done by Alexis Zocatelli, who is always incredible at creating looks that feel natural and refined, especially in weather that changes minute by minute. Aimee looked effortlessly glowing, even with the gentle October mist drifting around the lake.
Check out their honeymoon session at Lake Garda
A Honeymoon Session on Lake Garda
A few days later, we met again on Lake Garda for a second session. We were again greeted with clouds for sunrise, but it was still quite a magical vibe. The village lights lit up the lakefront and made for some beautiful portraits.
They wandered through lakeside paths and cobblestone corners, letting themselves sink fully into the joy of being newly married. It was relaxed, warm, and playful; a perfect addition to the moody mountain atmosphere of their elopement. These sessions always feel like the closing chapter of a love story trip, and theirs was especially sweet.
"Shawna is not only an incredible photographer, but also an amazing person and if we could give her higher than 5 stars, we would!! From our first video chat until the day we finished up, we feel like she went above and beyond for us. We were traveling from the US to Italy for a private elopement and we could tell immediately from our first video chat that she was who we wanted to capture our experience because she was personable and very knowledgeable about the area with great ideas for locations to include exactly what we were envisioning. She was flexible and created a custom package to accommodate our trip and was willing to travel to two or three different locations to get a variety of shots. Throughout the process, communication was excellent and she was easily reachable for any and all questions. She always responded quickly and sent useful reminders and information leading up to our date, including making alternate plans in the event of rain or bad weather. Her private elopement guide was also helpful for finding vendors and services since we did not have an elopement planner and did not know where to even start looking.
On the day of our elopement and photo shoot, Shawna made us feel comfortable in front of the camera, even though we are super awkward in real life and we had only taken professional photos together once before. Though she had shot at the same location many times, the experience felt special and personalized just for us. She gave great directions and we had so many funny and silly moments that we ended up having more fun than we thought we would. Shawna put a lot of thought and effort into making sure our photos would be awesome by scouting the locations (Lago di Braies and Lake Garda) beforehand to know where we should take pictures and she had it all mapped out to get the best shots."
Testimonial by aimee & matthew
© Shawna Rae Photography 2025
say hi
hello@shawnaraephotography.com
follow along @shawnaraephotos
shawna rae
photography