Eloping in the Alps: An Adventurous Love Story in Slovenia's Triglav National Park
Get to know the beauty of a multiple day-hike Elopement
Meet Ashara and Shane who travelled all the way from Australia to elope in Europe. When they contacted me, they knew they want to get married in the mountains and go on a long hike!
My dream of a multi-day hiking elopement came true. Join me on a true adventure through the Slovenian Alps.
Finding the Perfect Elopement Spot in Europe
Both Ashara and Shane are passionate hikers and didn't shy away from a long trek. They got married in August, and maybe you know it already, this is high season in Europe. I was initially concerned they would choose famous spots like the Dolomites or Mont Blanc, but they opted for Slovenia as their destination. Where to go in Slovenia? The answer is Triklav National Park, it's the only national park in Slovenia, and it's named after Triklav, the country's highest mountain at 2,864 meters. It's located directly in the beautiful Julian Alps in the north of Slovenia. It is home to unrivalled nature with numerous glacial lakes, high alpine plains and dense forests, where around 300 - 500 brown bears still live today. We didn't meet one, but we saw a huge paw print in the mud.
But let me start from the beginning.
Meeting the night before near Lake Bohinji, Triklacv National Park
Lake Bohinj feels like something straight out of a fairy tale. With crystal clear water nestled among the mountains, it's perfect for exploring by canoe or stand-up paddleboard. We met the night before the elopement for a typical Slovenian BBQ, oh boy that was a lot of meat!
We talked about the two elopements days and when to start, since the weather forecast wasn't entirely in our favor. Rain and thunderstorms were predicted—ideal conditions for a 1.5-day hike! :)
Hiking the 7 Lake Trail in Triklav National Park for Your Elopement
We started our hike from the parking lot, aiming for the first hut, Planina pri Jezeru, which was reachable within 45 minutes.The initial part was quite steep and got our hearts racing. The trail was lined with beautiful flowers, and we spotted a large paw print in the mud, too big for a dog's! I swear!
The first lake, with its charming hut Koča na Planini pri Jezeru, is surrounded by traditional wooden huts once used for milk production. After a snack and photos by the lake, we decided to walk in the opposite direction to the hiking loop because the path looked more appealing! The climb between the trees and rocks was steep, but every time we turned around, the view of the lake where we'd been sitting became even more stunning.Our next stop was a wonderful little hut with cows running around, it was time for a sip of water- or maybe a beer and schnapps?
We ended up having a schnapps, because a local hiking group recommended it. The roots of the blue gentian are native to the mountains here. We all clinked glasses together. As we laced up our hiking boots again and said goodbye to the cows, the predicted rain came. We put on our rain jackets and carried on, but in between it cleared up again, and we were able to enjoy the wonderful views. We wandered through larch forests, showing hints of yellow, making me wonder how beautiful it must be in autumn. In the next valley, we enjoyed the fruit and snacks we had brought with us. It’s a fact that those snack taste a thousand times better when you are walking through the mountains.
This was followed by a wonderful panoramic section where we could see the mountains opposite to us Unfortunately, the rain started to fall a little more heavily and when we arrived at the next two lakes we could only enjoy them in the rain. Yet they were so incredibly beautiful and the mist and rain gave the whole thing a very mystical feel.
Arriving at Dvojno Jezero (Double Lake) andLlunch at Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih
At the end of the two lakes, Dvojno Jezero, we found the hut Koča pri Triglavskih Jezerih, which we chose for our lunch spot. Here in the text it actually sounds like we just ate, haha.
Many day hikers turn back at this point as the trail is a loop, making it incredible to do, especially when the sun shines! Before enjoying a delicious Slovenian stew, we removed our wet jackets and slipped out of our smelly hiking boots—shoes had to be taken off inside the hut, and I've rarely experienced such a pungent anteroom.
A quick weather check, unfortunately the weather forecast for the next day was not good, to be more precise it was forecast to rain continuously. However, for the evening, we couldn't believe our eyes—it was forecasted to be sunny. We decided to postpone the wedding ceremony until the evening, opting for sunset vows instead of sunrise.
The Beauty of Eloping, Adapting to the Weather, and Being Spontaneous
At that moment, it didn't seem like it was going to be sunny, and we continued on in the rain. There was a mini mini lake in the back of the house, more like a pond, but the crystal-clear water captivated us, and we almost slipped.
We moved on and met some other hikers and despite the slight rain, everyone was in a good mood. Then, suddenly, the tree line came into view, revealing a valley with the next beautiful lake, Veliko Jezero (also known as Jezero v Ledvicah, or Kidney Lake), the largest lake in Triglav Lakes Valley. It was quite large, and we had a stunning view from above.
We continued hiking, and the next valley came into sight, green and hilly. I swear i was just waiting to meet a Hobbit. Despite the pattering rain on our hoods, the view was beautiful, and rays of sunshine pierced the clouds, making the scene look even more surreal. Massive mountain peaks rose to the right and left, making us feel small. We crossed the valley and at the top there was another “lake”, more like a small pond with fascinating algae in it. From there, the directions became illegible, and according to the map, there were two ways to our hut. We chose the left one, which turned out to be the wrong decision.
Unsuspectingly we hiked on our wrong path, and passed another incredible lake and I almost forgot to mention it, it had stopped raining. We reached the hut Zasavska koča na Prehodavcih (2071 m) and realized that we wouldn't make it to our intended hut. However, this one was on the west side, and the sun bathed it in beautiful light.
In the end, it couldn't have been better, as our actual hut was on the east side of the mountain, perfect for a morning ceremony. But we had decided on an evening ceremony. The surroundings were breathtaking, with deep gorges running down directly behind the hut and sharp mountains rising into the sky on the other side. My photographer's heart began to beat wildly—a breathtaking backdrop plus sunset. Fortunately, they still had places for us to sleep.
In the softening light, both Ashara and Shane wrote their vows and changed.
Getting Ready 2,071m Above Sea Level in the Alps
Shane looked beautiful in his beige suit against the green mountains. Ashara changed into her wedding dress, undid her hair, and put on a flower crown. She added the perfect bridal shoes, hiking boots, one look in the mirror and she left the hut. Other guests who had gathered for the sunset were taken by surprise as the bride walked past them. Whispers and wide eyes followed—"Are they getting married now?"—"YES!"—"Wow, that's possible?”
We went behind the hut where Shane was already waiting for the first look.
What can I say—the first look was incredible! The surroundings and the setting sun couldn't have been better. As the sun slowly set, Shane and Ashara exchanged vows. I was so moved behind the camera that tears flowed. My heart brimmed over, witnessing two incredible people from Australia come to Slovenia to have the wedding day they truly wanted. A memory that will last forever, with the freedom to say what they wanted to each other, wear what they wished, and express whatever emotions arose. After exchanging rings and a kiss, we heard cheering in the distance. We turned around and up at the hut, everyone had gathered to cheer. Nature gifted us with magnificent evening light. Personally, I adore the soft colors after the sun has set more than the actual sunset.
We used this wonderful light for couple photos, and the two of them swayed in their wedding bliss against the magnificent mountain backdrop. At the hut, we toasted with companions we had seen again and again throughout the day.
We marveled at a huge thunderstorm visible in another mountain range—a magnificent light show, and we were all grateful it wasn't with us.
Day two of a multiple-day elopement
Early the next morning, before sunrise, I walked out of the cabin and saw Shane and Ashara wrapped in blankets, awaiting the first light. We met inside for breakfast, and at 7, we set off again. The rain wasn't far behind, making the previous evening feel like a miracle. We saw mountain chamois and thousands of black salamanders. Nevertheless, we decided to take a different route on the way back. Despite a bit of clatter, we were rewarded with an incredible view of the hut and lake from the previous day. We walked past cows, descending further and further. On the way back, we saw signs to our actual destination/hut. We all smiled, realizing fate had been on our side. Had we not chosen to go the first loop the other way around, we would never have experienced this incredible ceremony with a sunset.
After a hearty lunch at the last hut Koča pri Triglavskih jezeri, we arrived back at our car.
The two of them would be able to catch their plane to Italy in the afternoon.
One last photo of us all together at the parking lot and we drove back to Lake Bohinji.
Wow, seriously what an experience and what a hike. Despite the rain, it was overwhelmingly beautiful. This Elopement will live in my heart for ever!
My tip: Don't plan the time around the Elopement Day too full, then you can also see if you can postpone the event by a day if the weather is not suitable. That's what I did with Jackie and Darrel in Norway.
Plan your Mountain elopement with me
Contact me with your ideas and dreams. Can’t wait to meet you
