Wilder Kaiser Elopement in the Austrian Alps – McKenna & Bo
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How did you get engaged?
We got engaged on a hike in the lake region of the Austrian Alps (the Salzkammergut) in November of ’22. After a peaceful day of hiking, we landed at our destination (a lake with a beautiful mountain backdrop) where Bo proposed. This was our first trip to Europe, so we maximized the trip and visited Munich, Vienna, Hallstatt, and some other towns as well. Funny story, he brought our camera and tripod with the intention of using self-timer to capture the proposal (pretty standard for the non-selfie photos taken during our adventures), but when he set the camera up, he realized he broke the cardinal rule of charging the battery the night before. Luckily, we were able to get a video of the proposal before the battery died, but poor Bo had a mini panic attack just prior to popping the question.
Any funny stories leading up to your wedding day?
Oh boy… We flew into Munich, but my luggage didn’t make it on the flight (a reminder to always pack essentials in your carry-on). Thankfully it made it on the following day’s flight, but on the same day we managed to get a flat tire (2 days before our ceremony). Seven hours later in the middle of nowhere on the side of an Austrian road, we were finally rescued by OAMTC, (the Austrian version of AAA for any Americans reading this). With no car we were panicked that we wouldn’t be able to secure a replacement vehicle since our wedding was the following day. After much stress and a few taxi rides, Bo was able to lock down another rental vehicle through a different vendor to ensure we could drive to our venue (approx 2.5 hrs away). Because of the car dilemma, we were not able to secure a bouquet or shop for any groceries to prepare for our elopement. Unlike American shops, most of the grocers are closed on Sundays in this area, so we were really stressing! Fortunately, we found an open gas station (where we cobbled together breakfast/lunch for our ceremony day) and a random flower shop. The florist was kind enough to make our bouquet just 10 minutes before they closed. When we finally made it to our chalet and prepared for the following day, all we could do was laugh at the sequence of events that had unfolded thus far!
How did you decide on your location?
We knew we loved the Austrian Alps, and because we got engaged here, the Alps already had the special/sentimental value. We originally thought we wanted to get married in the Dolomites, but after a “scouting” trip, we decided we wanted to be somewhere that balanced the rocky mountain faces with more plants and greenery.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in planning your wedding/elopement?
It was definitely challenging planning our elopement from essentially the other side of the world. As a recovering control freak/perfectionist, I had to accept that this day was going to be special and perfect it its own way (regardless of the weather and elements out of our control).
What is your favourite moment/memory from the day?
The entire day was so perfect and stress-free. Cat did such an excellent job of just ensuring the day felt organic and not like a photoshoot. Our day was everything we imagined and then some. We can’t emphasize enough how seamless everything was; it was truly a breath of fresh air, and Cat was great company. We did exactly what we wanted unapologetically, and we would do it again exactly the same 1000x over!
Is there anything you are really glad you did? Or didn’t do?
I’m glad that we mixed some traditional aspects into an otherwise untraditional ceremony. We are adventurous but really wanted to have the best of both worlds. We were able to do first look, cake cutting, vow exchange, and champagne pop/toast, all while being surrounded by the Alps’ panoramic beauty. And we made it back to our chalet in time for a good dinner and a romantic evening cozied up by the fireplace where we reminisced on the day.
What advice would you give to other couples planning their wedding?
Do it your way. Don’t ask permission and don’t feel bad about hurting anyone’s feelings. Although initially difficult, it was empowering to tell our families that this was OUR day. We were able to plan it together our way (over many weekends with many bottle of wine) without having to include dozens of others’ opinions.
What was your favourite thing about working with Cat?
Cat’s passion for photography and the outdoors is so evident – she is truly a master of her craft. Bonus, she is so genuinely kind – it’s uplifting just being around her. Everything was tailored to our vision, unlike many of the pre-built/template packages that so many other photographers offer. She was so easy to work with, and never minded the extra/extended calls or plan changes. We had a difficult time settling on a location because there are so many beauts in the region, and we were looking for a very specific feel. She did not waver on the search, and gave us the space/comfort to speak openly when locations weren’t quite what we envisioned. We are thrilled that the memory of our day will always contain Cat. Her professionalism and attention to detail are unmatched and we are so so happy we decided to go with Cat at Wild Connection Photography.
