The Italian Dolomites is my favourite part of Italy, after the iconic Amalfi Coast. The trouble is, I’ve only been there twice and I don’t ski… which is why I love receiving submissions of ski adventure weddings in the Dolomite mountains! This UK couple had a dreamy wedding day on the slopes and their photographer, Ellen Alfreider, captured every moment it perfectly. Here, Ellen tells us the story of this fun-filled day.
Adventure Microwedding in Alta Badia
Claire and Steve decided to get married differently and wanted to go skiing in The Dolomites on their wedding day. They came from the UK to Alta Badia for the first time, so they decided to hire a local Wedding Planner, Jlenia Costner, to help plan their microwedding in the Dolomites. (Side note: I’d recommend to every couple getting married abroad (and especially in places they have never been before), to hire a local wedding planner!) So this cute wedding couple wanted to have a very intimate and easy-going experience. They wanted to ride our amazing slopes on their wedding day at the end of March. That was a lovely choice because the weather was wonderful and there were many hours of light for a winter wedding.
First thing in the morning, we met at Hotel Tablé where the couple were staying and got to know each other a little better. We drove to the courthouse right after they got ready. Claire was so beautiful and happy. And I loved her bright blue hair! After the short marriage ceremony at Corvara’s courthouse, we had a quick photo session and then immediately went up to Funivia Pralongià, which is situated on the Passo Campolongo. We put on our ski-boots and changed our clothes. Jlenia was so well organized! She put everything we didn’t need in her car so that she could drive off with it later, while we went skiing.
We took the cable car all together and rode down 2 slopes to get to the hut where we would have lunch. It was so much fun! So many people looked in awe at Claire skiing expertly in her wedding dress. Of course, it doesn’t happen very often to see a bride on skis. I mean, have you ever seen one?
On arrival at the Pralongià Hut, Claire and Steve’s four wedding guests went for an authentic Italian-style aperitivo. It’s very common in Italy to have an aperitivo before lunch or dinner and I think it’s part of the experience, even if you want to keep it simple. Whilst they enjoyed the sun and the prosecco, we went for another short photo session. It’s often very windy on Pralongià, and that day was no exception. The wind had almost blown away Claire’s veil, hair and panties too… However, we could find the fun in it and in the end, we all enjoyed the experience. Afterwards we all had a lovely á la carte lunch in the hut, whilst Jlenia went back down to the car and reached us in Armentarola (San Cassiano) again, where Claire and Steve would have their wedding dinner. We all could do a change of clothes again. God blesses the wedding planner’s super organization!
We then had another lovely slope ride down to Hotel Armentarola. Again, the guests had some prosecco, whilst the wedding couple and I went for a carriage ride across Armentarola’s woods. When we came back the couple enjoyed the company of their guests and had a prosecco too, finally. Theoretically, the day for me was almost over, but I was so inspired by the environment and the weather that was turning bad, that I asked the couple to take another few photos in the brown and white meadows around the hotel.
The Italian aperitivo had some great side effects - Claire and Steve were super relaxed. Of course now there was no wind that we had earlier on Pralongià. The outcome was very nice too.
This wedding in the Dolomites was definitely a great experience and I’d love to accompany more couples getting married in such an altenative way - in total freedom!
Credits
Photography - Wedding Photographer Dolomites
Planning - Jlenia Costner