Captivating Sunrise Elopement at Seceda

Sometimes I feel like a broken record writing about how magical elopements are and how amazing our couples are…but seriously, that’s how Scott and I feel after every adventure. ⁠
⁠
MG + Tom’s sunrise hiking elopement at Seceda was simply spectacular. It’s not often we get to spend hours under the stars with our couples, so this night hike was a real treat. Making it all the more fun, the pair had strung twinkle lights to their backpacks which added such a unique flare as we snaked up the trail under a moonless night. ⁠
⁠
At the top, we watched the sky slowly get brighter, eating snacks and sipping on something warm. Witnessing the landscape reveal itself as dawn breaks is a surreal experience.⁠
⁠
MG + Tom shared first looks, and then we climbed a little higher to their picturesque ceremony location. While the night had been chilly, as soon as the sun broke over the mountainside, we were immediately warm. Golden light bathed the cliffsides around us as the pair exchanged vows. ⁠
⁠
We’re always surprised how quickly time flies by on an elopement day, but especially on sunrise adventures. When the chairlift opened, we rode down the mountain and drove back to their hotel. There, we met their immediate family for a ceremony and cake. We finished just in time, too! As we said our goodbyes, afternoon thunderstorms begin to roll in. ⁠
⁠
This day was one for the books, and also a massive shoutout to MG+T for absolutely *crushing* the hike. The early start and vertical gain were no joke, and they made it look like nothing. ⁠

Important Information About Eloping at Seceda

One of the most popular places to get married in the Dolomites is Seceda. This cable-car-accessible mountain is known for its jagged summits rising above grassy slopes. While you may see couples frolicking through seemingly endless meadows on top of the mountain, what most don’t tell you is that large sections of the mountain are fenced off (please, don’t jump over the fences!), and two, the hillsides are *very* steep, making slips and falls easy. 

For eloping couples that have their heart set on Seceda, you should consider one of the following options:

• Staying overnight in a rifugio and hiking the rest of the way up the mountain for sunrise (best option!)
• Book an evening helicopter ride with a landing at Seceda. 

It’s worth noting, in 2025, a turnstile was temporarily installed at the start of the Seceda Ridgeline trail as locals protested mass tourism in the area. The turnstile was removed, but there has been talk of it being reinstalled again.

In addition to the turnstile, the local tourism board is in the process of implementing a slot system for visiting Seceda. This would require visitors to pre-book their time, and a limited number of tickets will be available. It is also possible that higher prices will be charged for peak seasons and hours.

You can check out our Dolomites Elopement Guide here. In it, you’ll find info on the most popular vs. the best places to elope in the Dolomites.

Elopement Day Timeline

This micro-wedding in the Dolomites included two locations. The first was sunrise hiking at Seceda, and the second was an easy-access spot to celebrate with family nearby. You can check out MG + Tom’s Dolomites elopement timeline overview below. 

• 1:45 am – Arrive at the trailhead and double-check all gear before hiking up
• 2:00 am – Begin Hiking. 45 minutes built in for star photos and star video en route.
• 6:00 am – Arrive at the top
  • Snack break, warm drinks
  • Change into wedding attire/freshen up
• 7:00 am – First looks and short walk to ceremony location
• 7:30 am – Sunrise Vow Exchange, exploring on the mountain, and photos.
• 9:30 am – Chairlift partway down the mountain, then catch the cable car the remainder of the way down.
• 11:00 am – Meet families nearby trailhead of ceremony location.
• 11:30 am – Symbolic Ceremony with family including ring warming and champagne toast. Family photos.
• 12:30 pm – Cake with family
• 1:00 pm – Wrapping up and saying goodbye

Real Seceda Elopement Experience: A review from our couple

”I don’t know how else to express this – you’re making the right decision picking Scott and Christine. They are some of the best people we’ve ever met, and they are amazing at what they do. Our experience began when we were searching for wedding photographers overseas. We contacted them maybe a year ahead of our elopement date and, while they are not wedding planners, they were amazing with guiding us through the whole process. We could tell they had real passion, patience and spent time with us every step of the way. We were impressed with how quickly we clicked with them, they felt like real friends to us from the moment we met them (and even to this day). Scott and Christine were in constant communication with us, helping us select the perfect place, route, time and all the smaller details we couldn’t figure out ourselves overseas; like where to buy our bouquet and wedding cake. As things progressed, we had some changes to accessibility for one of our wedding guests and Scott and Christine were adaptable, kind and understanding. Before we knew it, we had that last minute wrinkle completely ironed out. Everything on the wedding day went off without a hitch. They met us at midnight, brought their personal car and we all drove together to the trailhead. As we took our journey to the top of a mountain together for sunrise, we cracked some jokes and told stories as if we had been friends our whole lives. They made us feel so comfortable and well prepared on a day where some people might fall apart with the amount of stress – they became our two new friends, guiding us through all of it. And that isn’t just a metaphor either, they literally guided us up a mountain in the dark for four hours. It’s been a year now since our elopement and we still look fondly at their photos and video to this day. It was difficult to choose just a few photos to even post on socials. To this date, people still comment on how amazing the photos and video turned out. They truly made our elopement memorable. Overall, Scott and Christine are absolute gems. They were professional, thorough, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and very personable. We absolutely recommend them for your special day!”

You can see this review, along with many others by viewing our Google Business Listing here.

Seceda Elopement Video

MG + Tom booked photo and video coverage for their Seceda elopement in the Dolomites. You can check out their highlight film below.

Check Out MG + Tom’s Sunrise Seceda Elopement