Snowy Mountain Top Elopement Wedding in Austria

Why did you choose your location?


Joe had always imagined us exchanging vows in a woodland or mountain setting, with snow and a lake as the backdrop.

Jiaqi, The Sound of Music fan, was excited when Joe suggested Austria - an unconventional choice for a destination wedding.

After some research, we discovered Wild Connections Photography. Upon seeing the stunning photos and chatting with Cat, we knew Innsbruck was the perfect place for our wedding - it just felt right.



What was the most daunting part of planning your wedding?


Jiaqi: It was completely out of the ordinary for me, and I had to figure out what to do without the usual traditions or wedding routines.

I wasn't sure what to expect with just the two of us on our wedding day. Without the typical wedding woes as the usual guidelines, I wondered how the elopement would unfold, what we should do, and if there would be moments of awkwardness - where we found ourselves standing around, unsure of what came next.


Joe: The uncertainty of the weather, culture, logistics, and locations was daunting, as it was our first time travelling to Europe.



What part of your wedding were you most looking forward to?


Our Vow Exchange



How did you both spend the day/night before your wedding?

We went to the Top of Innsbruck to experience the cold and prepare for the weather on our wedding day.

Afterwards, we stopped at Restaurant Seegrube for lunch and to write our vows. As animal lovers, we also took time to explore the Alpen Zoo.

That night, while preparing the things for the wedding, Jiaqi noticed a few accessories on the wedding gown had come loose and quickly fixed them.

Later, Jiaqi managed to get some rest, while Joe, too excited and anxious, couldn’t sleep a wink.



How did you start off your wedding day?


We started the day by tidying our hotel room and checking our equipment/accessories.

Joe brought some light breakfasts before being sent out to the hotel reception.

The hotel manager kindly welcomed him at the restaurant and offered him some coffee to help calm his nerves.



What was the most exciting part of your day?


Our vow and ring exchange, followed by the hike to our destination - we definitely underestimated the difficulty of the trail.



What food did you choose?


We were so filled with adrenaline that we skipped lunch as planned. Instead, Cat had prepared a picnic for us - Alpen tea with elderflower syrup, along with delicious homemade gluten-free chocolate banana muffins & lentil chips.



Did you have any guests, or was it just the two of you?


Just the two of us, surrounded by beautiful nature - romantic snowfall, a frozen lake, and snow-capped mountains.



How did you include personal details?

We customised our vow cards with tulips (Jiaqi’s favourite flower) on the front, since we decided to forgo a wedding bouquet for practicality.

Although our fur-kid, Theodore, couldn’t join us, I had his portrait painted on my nail and surprised Joe with a custom-made pocket square featuring Theodore’s likeness.

Our ring box was calligraphed with our names, and I wore hair accessories given to me by my best friend.



Did anything unexpected/funny happen? 


We didn’t expect such warm and heartfelt greetings from the Austrians.

Their kindness truly touched our hearts, and some were even intrigued by our elopement.

Our plan was simple: hike to a spot to exchange our vows. Little did we know, this so-called "beginner" or "old-people" hike was far more challenging than we had imagined.

We found ourselves panting and moving slower than a 14-year-old pug named George.

Along the way, we playfully joked, “Whose brilliant idea was it to have a white wedding by the lake?”


We lost count of how many times we nearly face-planted in the snow, saving each other repeatedly and laughing until our sides hurt. 



If you could do anything differently, what would it be?


Jiaqi: I wish I had felt more at ease in front of the camera, especially during shots where I had to look directly into the lens.

Looking back, I also wish I had practiced a few more twirls in my wedding gown though, despite nearly stepping on it and almost losing my balance, it made for a fun and memorable moment!


Joe: Nothing. It was perfect.



Do you have any planning advice or tips for other couples?


Jiaqi: It is best to hire local vendors when planning a destination wedding.


Joe: Stay calm and relaxed—everything will fall into place. And do your best to get a good night's sleep before the big day!



Did you stick to your budget?


Yes we did. 



Do you have any words of advice you'd like to share?


Joe: Dress warmly for the cold weather!


Jiaqi: Set aside wedding traditions and outside opinions. Focus on what feels right for you both as a couple, after all, it’s your wedding, and that should be your only priority.


Both: Embrace the adventure and enjoy every moment!



Did you go on honeymoon and where?

Yes, we did! Our elopement wedding doubled as our honeymoon. We spent it exploring Innsbruck and Vienna, and two days after tying the knot, we went paragliding! It was our first gift exchange as husband and wife - an adventure we’ll never forget! (P.S. Joe is terrified of heights!)



What’s your happiest memory from the day?


Jiaqi: Our first look. My heart was filled with an overwhelming wave of happiness and love, and despite my best efforts, I couldn’t hold back the tears.

As I gazed at Joe, a flood of memories from the past 16 years rushed through me - every high, every low. I was completely overwhelmed by the journey we had shared and the incredible love that had brought us here.


Joe: Our first look. In that moment, I couldn’t help but be in awe, knowing that such a beautiful woman would soon be my wife - the woman I’ll spend the rest of my life with.

I felt an intense sense of gratitude and joy, truly the luckiest man in the world to have her by my side forever.