The Complete Guide To Eloping In Austria

Okay guys, after this, you're going to want to elope in Austria. PROMISE! I have never been to a place more freaking magical and epic. The amount of cuteness and GORGEOUSNESS that is packed into this tiny country is incredible, and I'm here to tell you exactly how you can plan your perfect elopement here! Not sold yet, keep reading.

Where Do We Go?

Summer is awesome for hiking, via ferrata, climbing and mountain biking in Austria. From July to September, most of the mountain huts (Alpenvereinshütten) are open, giving you almost endless opportunities for adventures. For multi-day hiking elopements, following sections of some of the famous hiking trails such as the Adlerweg can be an epic way to start your adventure into married life together. There’s nothing quite like hiking up to a mountain hut the night before and waking up for a sunrise vow ceremony with the epic views all to yourselves. Even if you don’t fancy hiking to the top of the mountain, there are many cable cars that run from May until October that will also bring you to some incredible spots. I knowwwwwww that Hallstatt is adorable in photos and on the top of everyone's list, but it kind of sucks. Its so crowded, often seeing 8000 tourists a day, and the tiny city is PACKED with people all trying to get the same photos as everyone else. (There's also no legal place to get married in Hallstatt!) I'd definitely check it out, but if privacy is what you're looking for on your elopement day, I'd suggest avoiding Hallstatt.

So there's so many gorgeous places in Austria, mountain lakes, hikes in the alps, waterfalls, valleys, the list is endless! If you're looking for a great lake, Hintersee is my fave! Riegetal – Großsee – Hochzeiger is also a gorgeous hike in the mountains and would be the perfect backdrop for your elopement. The Untersberg Is a giant mountain pretty close to Salzburg with great hikes to the top! If you weren't up for a hike that day though, you can also take a cable car to the top for the same views! Salzburg and Vienna are tourist hotspots, but are also charming cities and must sees! Vienna has the only airport that has flights in from outside of Europe, but there are airports in Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Vienna as well!

So When Do We Go?

So you gotta decide whether you want to go during the summer or the winter! The summer is PERFECT for hiking (my fave!) and many other outdoor activities. July to September is when the mountain huts are open and if you're planning a multi-day hiking adventure, this is the perfect time to go. Imagine hiking up to a mountain hut and waking up for your sunrise ceremony! You'll have the mountain alllll to yourselves! AND if you're not a hiker, but still want those VIEWS, there's tons of cable cars that can carry you to some equally as epic views. If you want to go during the winter, January- April is the time for you! The alps are obviously perfect for anyone yearning for a snowboarding elopement or just a winter wonderland! Everything looks a little more magical with a dusting of snow, and you can snowshoe to a beautiful view, have your ceremony in the snow with a gorgeous mountain backdrop, then head back to the lodge for some hot chocolate! NOTHING COZIER!

How do we get married?

So I would SUGGEST getting legally married in your home country before heading to Austria to read your vows. In Austria it IS allowed for foreigners to get legally married here, but the ceremonies are usually conducted in German, and are pretty short and formal. They last around a half of an hour and aren't really able to be personalized. To be married, you must present the local standesamt with proof of your eligibility to marry and proof of no impediment and you must do this 2-6 months before your requested wedding date. You will be issued a certificate of marriageability and its valid for 6 months! If you don't live in Austria, you must submit via the Standesamt in charge of the First District of Vienna! Approval can be quick (2 weeks or so!) but in the larger cities, it can take up to 6 weeks!

What Time Of Day Should We Elope?

So that is totally up to you! Do you see yourselves sleeping in, spending the day adventuring before ending the day with a sunset ceremony? Or would you rather beat the heat and the crowds and get married as the sun rises? Both ways are awesome, and also might depend on the location that you want to elope at. If you want to elope at a mountain lake, it might get the best light at sunrise, depending on the direction its facing. The same with certain hikes, that may be in the shadows during sunrise or sunset depending on the mountain peaks. I'd suggest picking a time based on the best lighting for your specific location!

Who Should We Hire?

Wellllllll, ME as your elopement photographer OBVIOUSLY. Haha but if you're uncertain of who to book for floral arrangements or dinner reservations, you can totally hire a planner! (Most ski resorts and chalets have people that you can hire to help you organize your trip!) A hair and makeup artist can help you look your best day of and prepare your glam to withstand the heat or cold of the day as well! The only thing I would say is DO NOT book a package deal from a hotel or a resort. These places are notorious for hiring inexperienced people and you might end up with a botched makeup look or subpar photos if you do! The main people I would hire are: photographer, hair and makeup artist, and a florist for your bouquet!

Where Should We Get Ready?

I always suggest booking your accommodation through Airbnb, I was able to find some amazing deals on chalets and the lighting and the privacy are usually better than in a hotel or a resort!

How Do We Get Around?

So I would totally suggest renting a car! Public transportation is actually amazing in Austia, but just so you are able to travel freely on your own schedule and carry all of your luggage with you, a car is the easiest way to go! You can totally take public transport around the cities and save some money on parking!

So there you have it! You are well on your way to planning your dream Austrian elopement! I want to help you in any way I can so reach out if you think that we'd be a good fit!