Winter elopement on the Krippenstein mountain in Hallstatt Austria by Wild Connections Photography

A Winter Elopement in Hallstatt – Anna & Jon

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Anna & Jon’s winter elopement in Hallstatt was one of the most intimate and romantic celebrations of love and their adventurous spirits. Nothing was going to stop them from saying their vows to each other outside in the snow. Not even a snowstorm!

Anna & Jon’s Winter Elopement in A Snowstorm in Hallstatt

 

Anna & Jon both went to the same college but they didn’t meet until they studied abroad in Australia where they were roommates and became really good friends. They stayed close friends after they moved back to the USA. When Jon asked if he could crash on Anna’s couch whilst looking for a job in LA, a few weeks turned in to 1.5 years of living together, rescuing 2 dogs and going on lots of adventures as friends. When Jon moved to San Diego, Anna couldn’t work out why she was so upset. After all, they were still just friends. The years passed, and Anna & Jon remained best friends, moving across the country but still keeping in touch and visiting each other often. After 6 years of being best friends, they both finally realized that they stronger feelings for each other than just friends, and a few months later Jon moved to NYC to finally be with Anna as more than just friends. Anna’s favourite part of this story isn’t just that she and Jon finally got together, but also that their dogs were reunited and continue to be the cutest best friends to each other (and Anna & Jon) to this day.

Anna grew up never really dreaming of being a bride or of a big wedding. And as got older this didn’t change. The idea of a big wedding simply didn’t excite her. As she & Jon got more serious and started to think of how they would want to get married, and the idea of a big wedding, with all the showmanship, not to mention the insane cost of it all, didn’t sound romantic or fun, so they knew they wanted to get married in their own way without the spectacle. In all of their adventures together, their most treasured moments happened when they were surrounded by the mountains. Before they were engaged, they had already booked a trip to visit Berchtesgaden, Hallstatt & the Dolomites from Christmas until New Year, so after Jon proposed, they started thinking of where they could elope. It was then that they found my Instagram page and they knew it was perfect. They already had a trip booked to Austria and immediately knew that it was there where they want to exchange their vows and rings.

When I asked them to describe their dream wedding day, they told me that they pictured themselves on the top of a mountain, standing in the snow exchanging vows and rings, drinking beers to celebrate, exploring on snowshoes and visiting the fairytale town of Hallstatt. They even said “if it’s snowing, we’ll take pictures in the snow.” So together with their wedding planner Nadia from Amulet Events, we started planning the perfect winter elopement in Hallstatt.

They chose the beautiful mountain hotel The Lodge on the Krippenstein mountain as their base for exploring. The day before their elopement was beautiful clear skies, so they decided to use that weather window to explore the snowshoe trails on the Krippenstein before the sunset, hiking out to a beautiful lookout with views down over Hallstatt and the Hallstättersee lake. We spent the evening together, playing cards and drinking beers as the wind outside picked up and brought in the snow. Missing their dogs, Anna & Jon shared pictures and stories with us about their adorable pups. Their videographers Isa & Natasha (aka Belle & Sass) happened to have their handsome whippet Kenzo with them at the Lodge, so it made Anna & Jon’s night when Kenzo joined them after dinner for cuddles. In fact, he even came back to visit on the morning of their wedding, as Anna & Jon decided he could be their emotional support animal for the day!

On the morning of their wedding, the epic mountain views from their suite had been replaced with a complete white-out. The Lodge was surrounded by clouds, and snow was falling pretty heavily outside. After a pretty short discussion, Anna & Jon decided that they had come to Austria to get married outside in the snow, and that’s exactly what they were going to do, weather be dammed! As Anna had her hair & makeup done, Jon sat with her playing cards and drinking prosecco. After helping each other to get dressed, it was time for their outdoor ceremony, but not before a quick beer at the bar for some Dutch courage.

Originally they had planned to have a celebrant to conduct their ceremony, but she had broken her leg a month earlier and wasn’t able to walk through the snow. After discussing whether or not to find a replacement, they settled on conducting the ceremony themselves. And personally, I think it worked out much better that way. As the stood in the snow, they each read their vows to each other. They quickly took gloves off to exchange rings and to celebrate they opened their “Mr & Mrs” hip flasks and toasted with some Austrian pine schnapps. As the embraced after their ceremony, Anna looked at Jon covered in snow and said: “This is how we’re going to look when we’re old, and you’re going to be a silver fox!

After a quick warming up break in The Lodge, we all headed down in the cable car to explore Hallstatt. Even on a rainy day in December, the town was bustling with tourists, so Anna & Jon decided to have a quick look around but were pretty excited to get back to The Lodge to celebrate the rest of their evening in the warm sauna with some cold beers.

Dachsteinbahn cable car in Obertraun. Photos by Wild Connections Photography The Krippenstein mountain near Hallstatt. Photos by Wild Connections Photography The Suite at The Lodge am Krippenstein. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon snowshow on the night before their wedding. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Engaged couple showshoe to 5 fingers lookout near Hallstatt. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Engagement photos at sunset on the Krippenstein monutain near Hallstatt. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Pre-wedding beers at the Lodge am Krippenstein. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Playing cards against humanity in a ski lodge with piste bashers grooming outside. Photos by Wild Connections Photography A winter bouquet on a vintage snowshoe. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Wedding ring photo in the suite at the Lodge am Krippenstein. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom getting ready in the suite at the Lodge am Krippenstein. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Wooden wedding vow books and personalised hip flasks. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom play cards on the morning of their wedding. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon playing cards in their hotel room. Photos by Wild Connections PhotographyBride and groom help each other get ready in their hotel room. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Final getting ready touches for the bride and groom in their hotel suite. Photos by Wild Connections Photography The bride and groom order a beer before their wedding ceremony. Photos by Wild Connections Photography A snowsy elopement ceremony on the Krippenstein mountain. Photos by Wild Connections Photography An elopement ceremony in a snowstorm in Hallstatt Austria. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom read their wedding vows on the top of a mountain in a snowstorm in Austria. Photos by Wild Connections PhotographyAn intimate elopement ceremony, the bride and groom read their handwritten vows to one another in a snowstorm. Photos by Wild Connections PhotographyAnna & Jon exchange wedding vows in the snow. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon's first kiss as husband & wife. Photos by Wild Connections PhotographyThe bride and groom exchange wedding rings. Photos by Wild Connections Photography The bride and groom take a celebratory drink of schnapps from their hip flasks after their elopement ceremony in the snow. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon celebrate their marriage by cheering. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom embrace, covered in snow, after their outdoor winter elopement ceremony in Austria. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Winter elopement on the Krippenstein mountain in Hallstatt Austria by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon explore the winter landscape of the Krippenstein mountain on their wedding day. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom take shelter from the wind behind a wooden mountain hut. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon cuddle behind a wooden mountain hut on the Krippenstein mountain in Hallstatt. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom walk through deep snow on their wedding day in the Austrian Alps. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom holding a "We Eloped" sign. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom in the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Snow covered cliffs in the Dachstein mountains. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom kiss in a vintage cable car in Hallstatt Austria after their elopement wedding. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Pictures of Hallstatt Austria. Photos by Wild Connections PhotographyBride & Groom walk through Hallstatt with an umbrella to shelter from the rain. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon enjoy views across to the town of Hallstatt in Austria on their wedding day. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Swans swim on the lake behind the bride and groom after their elopement in Hallstatt Austria. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom dance in the rain after their elopement in Hallstatt. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & John kiss by the Hallstatt Lake on their wedding day. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom walk past a souvenir stand in Hallstatt Austria. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom shelter under an umbrella in the rain. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Swans swim up to the bride and groom after their Hallstatt wedding in Austria. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon walking up stairs in the rain. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Anna & Jon climb up stairs to get the best view of Hallstatt. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom walk up the stairs in Hallstatt on their wedding day. Photos by Wild Connections Photography A bride and groom kiss on the stairs of Hallstatt in Austria on their wedding day. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom kiss on the steps above Hallstatt. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom recreate a scene from the notebook, kissing in the rain. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Bride and groom walk through Hallstatt in the rain. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Sign for Hallstatt beer. Photos by Wild Connections Photography Christmas lanterns in Hallstatt Austria. Photos by Wild Connections PhotographyHallstatt Austria in the rain. Photos by Wild Connections Photography

Vendor Credits

Photography – Wild Connections Photography
Wedding Planner – Amulet Events
Location – Lodge Am Krippenstein
Videographers – Belle & Sass
Hair & Makeup – Lena Marie Makeup Artistry

 

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3 Comments

  1. These are absolutely stunning! I love the whole feeling of the two days, and various winter terrains. The images are both intimate and cozy, and bold and adventurous! I love it!

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