Valerie and Jeff first inquired and booked their elopement with photographer Henry Tieu when the world was still shut down and they didn’t even have a location picked! The two had originally dreamed of having a destination wedding in a chateau in France but when travel became restricted due to the pandemic, they had to put their plans on hold. They chose the Italian Dolomites as their new destination elopement location and had faith that it would happen!!
Leading up to the big day, Valerie, Jeff, and Henry still didn’t know for sure if they could actually hike the trail in the Italian Dolomites because of a road closure. In fact, the day before the elopement, the verdict was still unknown!! Talk about suspense!
But as always, life comes together in the most unexpected ways and allowed the trio to experience what they were meant to experience at exactly the right time! They ended up tracking a total of 14 miles for Valerie and Jeff’s Dolomites elopement but along the way, they tracked a whole lot more love and laughter over stories the three shared with each other!
Among the Mountaintops
The inspiration for the day was being outdoors in nature and hiking, which is one of the couple’s favorite pastimes, plus they had always wanted to visit the Dolomites!
A Snowy Vow Exchange
This couple shared their vows with the most breathtaking backdrop we’ve ever seen! Need to know how to write your own vows? We have a great template for you to follow!
Welcome to the newlywed’s club you two!
Valerie searched multiple boutiques and after trying on 10 plus dresses, she finally found the one at Galia Lahav!
Finding the dress of her dreams was a bit of a rush and a hectic process because alterations had to be expedited and no one was sure it would be finished before the departure for Italy… thankfully stars aligned and her dress made it in the knick of time!
Jeff looked great in his neutral-colored suit!
Comfort was key considering there was some hiking involved to get to their ideal destination! These two remained comfy in socks with adorable puppy faces on them!!
Fun fact! Valerie is an emergency veterinarian!
Memories That Will Last a Lifetime
This is giving us Kiss the Girl vibes from Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’!! Too precious!
The most memorable moment of the wedding day was enjoying the pristine waters of Lago di Braies from our row boat.
Sweet Endings
How adorable is this cake made by Racca Pasticcer?! And another nod to their cute pups!
Drinks with a view? What could possibly be better?!
For adventurous couples like V + J, big elaborate ceremonies don’t always make sense! These two wanted an intimate experience they could remember and cherish forever and an elopement was perfect for their outdoorsy and mountainside afternoon.
Keep an open mind and go with the flow. Things can change at any point in time and there is no point in stressing because some things are out of your hands. On the wedding day, make a point to take a deep breath, enjoy the moment and enjoy all the hard work you've done to get to this point.
Pop the champagne because Jeff and Valerie are married! Congratulations you two, we wish you years of health and happiness together!
photography: Henry Tieu Photography // wedding dress: Galia Lahav // cake: Racca Pasticceri