With the city splendour of Vienna and Salzburg and the jaw-dropping Alpine loveliness a mere stone’s throw away, a destination wedding in Austria is full of so many possibilities.
In part 2 of our intimate wedding destination in Europe series, Elopement and Adventure Wedding Specialist Nadia from Amulet Weddings & Events, takes a closer look at the options available for couples thinking of getting married in Austria.
With mountains of experience, Nadia works with adventurous couples who like to go “off piste”. Below, she shares her favourite ceremony venues, the legal guidelines for getting married in Austria and ideas for pre/post wedding day activities.
No matter if you’re eloping, having a larger affair or simply considering Austria as your Adventure Wedding Destination, this mini guide is a must read.
At a Glance – Why Get Married in Austria
With its range of breath-taking scenery and beautiful cities, Austria makes a wonderful intimate destination wedding and elopement location.
- It is a year round wedding destination
- There are no residency requirements
- It offers legalised same sex weddings (since January 2019)
- It is known as the cultural capital of Europe
- It is an adventure wedding location with wide range of activities
- The food is sumptuous and decadent
- The people are warm and welcoming
- It offers the chance for spectacular wedding photos
- You won’t be able to get enough of those views!
Getting to Austria
Austria is located in central Europe, sharing land borders with eight countries: Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy, Switzerland.
Direct flights to Vienna from London are regular and the simple journey is only 2 hours 15 minutes! Or if you’re not in a hurry, you can experience a beautiful rail journey to get to Austria: nipping across from London to Paris via the Eurostar, then to Zurich on the TGV, and finishing your travel with the Austrian Railjet train through the scenic Arlberg Pass to Vienna.
Austrian Wedding Ideas
Austria is the perfect destination for couples looking for the best of both worlds.
For the perfect fairytale wedding steeped in royal history choose one of Austria’s schlosses or castles to officially exchange your vows. Many of these grand buildings date back to the Habsburg Monarchy. Take a short pony trap ride up to the gates and walk down the aisle with traditional edelweiss in your bouquet. Sounds heavenly, right?
Warmer Months:
In the warmer months, you could say “I do” on a paddle steamer on one of the pristine lakes, or head to Tirol and step into the beautiful meadows for a peaceful ceremony surrounded by nature.
Snow Season:
During the snow season, sip champagne and get married in a panoramic cable car, or you could wait until you’re up on the mountainside and ski to your intimate ceremony out in the snow. Allow your photographer to capture your special moments together in the glistening light, before heading back to the chalet for a fireside hot chocolate and an Austrian feast!
Ceremony Venues
Ceremonies usually take place at the Standesamt (registry office), that being said Austria has some of the most beautiful official locations in Europe for wedding ceremonies. They range from incredible frescoed rooms, beautiful palaces, rustic chalets with breathtaking views to the highest registry office in Austria, Cafe 3440 which sits on top of Pitztal Glazier and is perfect for those adventure wedding couples.
It is also possible for a ceremony to take place outside of the official offices, however you must pay an additional fee. Unusual ceremony locations include Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel, at one the approved locations from “The Sound of Music” or you can hit the slopes for a Ski / Snowboard wedding in the Alps.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Austria
One of the greatest advantages about getting married in Austria is that couples from all over the world can legally marry, with no need to be residents of the country.
Registration for civil ceremonies in Austria can be done at the earliest 6 months before the wedding. Ideally, couples should contact their wedding planner at least 9 months before their desired wedding date, to ensure that the paperwork can be processed in time and the preferred venues secured.
You have the option to personalise the ceremony with your own vows and readings. The ceremony will be conducted in German and translated into English by an official interpreter. You can find out more about the legal requirements and documentation required for getting married in Austria here.
Pre and Post Wedding Day Activities in Austria
This is where Austria stands out from the crowd! Renowned for being a cultural and adventurer’s paradise, Austria offers an incredible year round variety of options for pre and post wedding day celebrations. You and your guests will be spoiled for choice.
What to Do:
- Winter wonderland adventuring of skiing and snowboarding
- Snowmobile and guided sled tours
- Cycle or hike across the Alps, taking in the spectacular views and capturing that #nofilter view on camera!
- Visit the world famous white horses at the Spanish Riding School
- Sample the local cuisine and sip sumptuous Viennese hot chocolate
- The colourful Christmas Markets (The December Market in Vienna dates back to 1298)
- Take a Danube River cruise
- Guided tour of the imperial city of Vienna and Salzurburg’s UNESCO sites
- Watch the fabulous traditional Austrian dancers
What to Eat:
This is definitely a country for foodies – you’ll find Weiner Schnitzel, and Sacher Torte are delicacies that need sampling. And you cannot leave Austria without trying Mozartkugeln – a scrumdiddlyumptious sweet treat named after the famous composer!
Fun Facts about Austria
- 62% of Austria is covered by the spectacularly beautiful Austrian Alps
- Austria has the oldest zoo in the world, Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, founded in 1752
- The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the world
- It’s the home of the polka, Swarovski and Schrodinger
Whatever your dreams are, with a Wedding Planner who specialises in Austrian elopements and intimate weddings; you can go beyond ordinary to create incredible memories for you and your entire wedding party.
All images by Wild Connections Photography.
What can Amulet Weddings offer you?
Specialising in small, personal weddings of around 50 guests or fewer, Amulet Weddings and Events would love to help you plan your ideal nuptials. If you’re dreaming of a destination wedding in Europe, in the sunshine or snow – with a little adventure and exploration thrown in – then they would be delighted to create a tailor-made trip just for you!
Get in touch today by using the form below and book your free consultation with Amulet Weddings & Events now!
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Further Reading:
In Part 1, Nadia looks at the advantages of having a small intimate wedding abroad, how to choose and your destination and shares her favourite top 5 countries in Europe.
In Part 3, Nadia discusses the wow factors that a wedding in Iceland can deliver and gives us her top venue picks.
In Part 4, in the final part of the series, Nadia looks at Slovenia and what it offers as a intimate wedding and elopement destination.
Find out More
To ask a question about having an intimate wedding abroad, please use the form below and Nadia from Amulet Wedding & Events will be more than happy to answer your questions.
