How to Have a Stunning Wedding in Austria

From the snow-peaked drama of the Alps to the elegant manors, Austria is an enchanting place to get married. Amber and Charlie’s wedding in Austria is a perfect example of how to make the most of a destination wedding experience. Their emotional day was full of refined details inspired by their beautiful surroundings.

A bride and groom stand at an altar with the Alps behind them at a wedding in Austria.

Amber and Charlie’s Stunning Wedding in Austria

Amber and Charlie chose to get married in Upper Austria. One of the best decisions they made was to have group activities in the days leading up to their wedding at Villa Bergzauber. It gave people a chance to acclimate to the breathtaking scenery and reconnect before the wedding day. If you’re going to have a destination wedding, you might as well make the most of it.

A group of wedding guests swim in a lake surrounded by mountains before an Austrian destination wedding.

Traditional Austrian dancers perform for wedding guests.

A bride laughs and dances with guests at a destination wedding rehearsal dinner in Austria.

Having a wedding in Austria will be beautiful regardless of the time of year you choose. You can head there in wintertime for a snowy wonderland. Austria is known for its winter sports, after all. Travel is easiest in summer, though. Amber and Charlie got married in June when the average temperature is in the low 70s. The whole landscape turns lush and green. It was perfect weather for hiking and swimming in the days leading up to the wedding.

A bridesmaid helps a bride put on her wedding shoe.

A bride and groom pose on a porch with the Alps behind them before their wedding in Austria.

A bride and groom laugh during their outdoor wedding ceremony.

A bride and groom kiss at the end of their wedding ceremony surrounded by colorful floral arrangements.

What You Should Know about Getting Married in Austria

Any time you’re planning a destination wedding, it’s typically easier to have a legal wedding at home before heading abroad for your celebration. If you have your heart set on doing your legal wedding in Austria, here’s what you need:

Passport
Birth certificate
A document with your residential address (like a drivers license)
Proof of divorce or annulment for any previous marriages
U.S. marriage license

Wedding guests gather for cocktail hour outside Villa Bergzauber in Upper Austria.

Wedding guests speak with a bride and groom during cocktail hour at an outdoor wedding.

A bride leans on a groom's shoulder and wipes away a tear during a wedding toast.

A wedding cake sits on a table surrounded by champagne and colorful desserts.

Once you’ve collected all of these documents, you need to get them translated into German. Then you can take them to the Vital Statistics Office to pay a fee and schedule your wedding date.

A bride and groom walk up a staircase past a large window in Villa Bergzauber.

A bride and groom run through a field after their wedding in Austria.

A bride and groom walk through a field with a bouquet.

A couple laughs as the sun sets behind them after their wedding in Austria.

From start to finish, the application process takes a minimum of two weeks. This is another reason why it’s helpful to take care of the legal part of getting married at home. You can learn more about the process here.

A couple clinks their glasses at an Austrian wedding reception.

Amber and Charlie dance in a restaurant as wedding guests watch.

Amber laughs and presses her cheek to Charlie's while they dance.

Of course, working with an experienced photographer always helps! I absolutely loved documenting Amber and Charlie’s dreamy wedding weekend. Would you like me to photograph your wedding in Austria? Reach out to me!