Winter Wedding Challenge? Challenge accepted!

The vision

Patricia and Frank dreamed of a winter wedding in the Graubünden mountains. The free wedding ceremony was to be celebrated outdoors in the snow, the aperitif enjoyed in the sun, and the dinner including the wedding party then celebrated in a warm location.

The Start of the Wedding Day - Challenge 1

The day started for us at 6:00 AM with a rumble of thunder - we were relieved. Why? The rumbling was the detonations of avalanche blasting, and after a call to the railway, it was clear: We can carry out the planned ceremony at the lighthouse on the Oberalp Pass. In winter, the Oberalp Pass is only accessible by train. Due to heavy snowfall the day before, it was uncertain whether the railway line to the Oberalp Pass would be open. We had considered this challenge early in the planning and, in addition to Plan A - good weather, and Plan B - bad weather, we also planned a Plan C - avalanche danger.

The Ceremony in a Snow Sports Area - Challenge 2

After the first look and bridal couple shoot, the guests arrived at the Oberalp Pass. The transfer was coordinated by us - at the departure point in Disentis, the guests were looked after by Olivia, and on the Oberalp Pass, Andrea was the contact person for the bridal couple and the service providers on site. Challenge of a ceremony in a snow sports area: many snow sports enthusiasts want to watch the ceremony. It was our task to ensure, in a charming way, that the wedding party could enjoy this intimate moment without additional guests.

The Suitable Locations in the Winter Wedding Season - Challenge 3

The aperitif was held by a ski hut located in the ski area. Next challenge: in the middle of the winter wedding season, locations often don't have additional resources to accommodate an aperitif or dinner. This must be taken into account when researching a suitable location. So that the guests could go straight to bed after the wedding party, we organized appropriate accommodation. The challenge with a winter wedding here is to find hotels that allow bookings without multi-day minimum stays during the high season.

Tips for a winter wedding

A winter wedding without challenges? Would be boring. Here are our tips on what to look out for:

• Accessibility of ceremony location, aperitif, dinner, and party location: How do we get up the mountain and back down late at night? What are the winter road conditions? Are there road closures?
• Winter temperatures and bad weather alternatives: What are our alternatives to sunshine? Do we have blankets and warm drinks for the guests?
• Ceremony location: Can we handle strangers watching our ceremony?
• Minimum stay for accommodations: Do we possibly switch to another (lesser-known) region with hotels without minimum stays?

Are you looking for a wedding planner with proven experience in winter weddings? Then you've come to the right place.

Photo credit: Aileen Melucci Fotografie