Inspiring Adventure Wedding in Switzerland

This destination adventure wedding in Switzerland has to be one of my favorites. Brenna and Garrett had the dreamiest day getting married at the Oeschinensee. From fresh snow on the mountain tops to brilliant sunshine, and moody skies, their wedding had a unique mix of weather. 

While the pair experienced some challenges leading up to their Switzerland destination wedding (not limited to: missing luggage, overbooked hotels, and even a no-show HMUA), in the end, everything turned out perfectly. Days like theirs help you realize what matters most: Your partner and those you choose as family. The rest is icing on the cake (which they definitely got!).

An Important Update to Oeschinensee Elopements before diving in:

Couples cannot get married at the Oeschinensee as of 2024 onward. The Oeschinensee is dealing with mass overtourism, leading to environmental degradation. The cable car operators and local landowners request that couples and photographers respect these rules, the community, and the environment by getting married elsewhere. Yes, even elopements are currently banned at Oeschinensee, even if it is only the couple without guests.

On the Oeschinensee FAQ page you can also find the following information under these two section, ”Are events such as weddings or similar permitted in the Oeschinensee area? No, Oeschinensee is located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is surrounded by various protected areas, including plant conservation areas, dry meadows and wildlife rest areas. Due to these special protective measures, all (commercial) events and drone flights are prohibited by law. Compliance with these rules is monitored by rangers.”; and ‘‘What outdoor guidelines apply when dealing with social media? Only post activities that are permitted. Publishing prohibited activities can have legal consequences. Remember that content on the internet remains visible for a long time. Only publish photos, videos or quotes on websites and social media from people who have expressly given you their consent to do so (personal rights). Commercial photo shoots are also not permitted at Oeschinensee .’‘ Please note, any type of photo sessions including influencing, couples photography, elopements, weddings, or other paid work, is considered commercial work.

Adventure Micro Wedding Timeline

Brenna and Garrett’s adventure wedding took place at the Oeschinensee, in Kandersteg, Switzerland. You can check out their wedding timeline overview below. 

• 7:00 am – Meet at Hotel for Getting Ready, breakfast with families 
• 9:30 am – Leave hotel for cable car
• 10:00 am – Take cable car up the mountain. Men will take the first cable cars and hike ahead of the group. 
• 10:15 am – Arrive at top of the cable car. Men hike ahead to the lake. 
• 10:30 am – Bride is giving gifts to mother & mother-in-law, then begin hike to the lake. 
• 11:15 am – Grab snacks
• 11:30 am – Bride doing first look with dad and sharing a gift with him
• 11:45 am – Ceremony
• 12:15 pm – Group photos & champagne pop 
• 12:30 pm – Lunch break at mountain huts
• 1:30 pm – Bride & Groom heading out for a paddle on the lake 
• 2:00 pm – Hiking + Portraits with bride and groom
• 4:00 pm – Hike back up to cable car
• 4:30 pm – Take cable car back down the mountain
• 4:45 pm – First dance & exploring town
• 5:30 pm – Coverage ends. Meeting with family for dinner + cake. 

Brenna + Garrett’s Switzerland Adventure Wedding Video

For Brenna and Garrett’s elopement, they booked both photo and video coverage of their Switzerland Wedding. You can check out their highlight video below. 

Pre-Ceremony Getting Ready, Gift Giving, and First Looks in Kandersteg

Kicking off, Brenna and Garrett’s elopement day began by meeting up for getting ready coverage at the Hotel Blümlisalp. Brenna, Garrett, and their families had arrived the night before, so everyone was bustling to prepare for the day. Outside, it was raining, and the clouds hung low. Despite the moody weather, everyone was prepared to party outside. 

Eventually, everyone was ready to go, so we drove in a couple of cars the short distance to the cable car. Brenna planned to do a first look with her dad, and make Garrett wait until the ceremony for the big reveal. Because of this, we kept the groups apart. The men stayed with my husband, Scott. The women followed shortly afterward in a group with me. 

In the cable car, Brenna put the final touches on her vows. As we were transported higher up the mountainside, the cable car was enveloped in a thick cloud. To be honest, we weren’t sure how much of the view we’d be able to see!

Once we exited the cable car, Brenna presented her mother and mother-in-law with letters and beautiful bracelets. It was a heartfelt and thoughtful expression. During this moment, suddenly, the clouds begin to lift, revealing peeks of blue sky and towering summits. 

On the short hike to the lake, a few people stopped for pretzels. Once we reached the first group, we pulled Brenna’s dad aside, so they could have a private first look together. Here, Brenna also presented her father with a small gift. 

Oeschinensee, Switzerland Wedding Ceremony

By the time we were ready for Brenna and Garrett’s wedding ceremony at the Oeschinensee, the clouds had fully lifted. Fresh snow glittered on the mountaintops, and the lake’s colors sparkled in the sun. The conditions were some of the most beautiful I’ve ever witnessed here. 

Unique Elopement Ceremony Idea

Brenna and Garrett’s unique elopement ceremony lasted about thirty minutes and included each family member in attendance. Brenna’s Grandpa led the ceremony, and then Garrett’s mom stepped in to organize the hand-fasting ceremony. Other family members read letters of advice, or shared funny marriage anecdotes. A different family member brought over the rings. 

While the group had initially had this spot on the lake shore to themselves, eventually, people began to show up due to the improving weather. Everyone stood back, watching. Bystanders cheered at the first kiss. 

At the end of the ceremony, Brenna and Garrett popped champagne, and then we took group photos of everyone. Garrett’s dad even decided to cool off his legs in the icy lake!

Rowboat Vow Exchange on the Oeschinensee

Brenna and Garrett opted to share their vows privately, instead of with their families. They thought, what is a better way to get married than on a rowboat out on the Oeschinensee?

We planned for this private vow exchange after their family time and a lunch break at the hut. In the early afternoon, we rented a boat and paddled onto the water. Brenna and Garrett in one, Scott and myself in the other. 

While paddling, dark gray clouds formed, casting beautiful shadows on the cliffsides that surrounded us. The scenery was inspiring. Brenna and Garrett’s rowboat vow exchange on the Oeschinensee was so peaceful. 

When we arrived back on dry land, it was time for some portraits around the lake. Brenna had especially hoped to see cows during their wedding. Imagine her excitement when we got to see the annual trip of the cows being brought down the mountains at the end of summer! Adorned in flower crowns and wreaths, the cows followed their owners down the trail. 

First Dance in a Swiss Alpine Meadow

Before meeting up with family for the rest of the night, Brenna and Garrett wanted to share their first dance in a Swiss alpine meadow. In front of one of Kandersteg’s small churches, the setting was idyllic. These two had so much fun frolicking through the tall grass.  

Before we knew it, the day was over. We met everyone back at the hotel, where they’d all share a celebratory dinner and cake together. We had such a blast photographing this inspiring adventure wedding in Switzerland. 

Tips for Your Adventure Wedding in Switzerland

Here are my five top tips for your destination adventure wedding in Switzerland. 

1. Only invite guests to your micro wedding who will be 100% supportive of you and your partner’s decisions on how to celebrate. This is *your* day. 
2. Adventure weddings come in all shapes and sizes. My general guideline is this:

• If you’re planning to hike with your guests, make sure to choose a location that everyone can comfortably access. Base your location on the abilities of the least experienced member in the group. 
• If you’re planning on more than 8-10 people, need seating for your event, or want decorations, you’ll need to plan on renting a small venue. There are numerous mountain huts and restaurants that can be rented for weddings. 

3.  Don’t try and pack too much into your day. Everything typically takes longer with guests, especially if you’re trying to fit in multiple locations. 
4. Make sure to carve out alone time for you and your partner. I suggest every couple take at least a couple of hours to explore on their own (especially during portrait time). 
5. Remember, you can always split your wedding into a multi-day experience if you’d like. One day for celebrating with friends and family, and another day for just the two of you. 

Real Switzerland Micro Wedding Experience: A Review from our Couple

‘’Christine and Scott went over and beyond to help us create a magical elopement. We are over the moon with the quality, communication and overall experience working with Made in the Mountains. From the beginning stages to the delivery of our gallery + wedding video, Christine and Scott were fantastic. With us living in Colorado and them living in Germany they worked with our schedules to ensure that we would be able to meet with them and go over all the logistics. They are incredibly dedicated to their craft and clients. Everyone who was present during our elopement absolutely adored Scott and Christine and commented on how friendly, kind and professional they were. They were incredibly knowledgeable on the area and everything we needed to know about getting to our destinations. It was super helpful especially since we had people in our group who weren’t used to traveling overseas. If you are looking to get married in Europe I would highly recommend reaching out to these two. They are beyond amazing and will help bring all of your dreams to life.’’

-Brenna + Garrett

Want to start planning your adventure wedding or elopement in Switzerland? You can view my Alps Elopement Pricing + Packages here, or contact me to get started.