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Gabrielle and Austin’s beautiful celebration in Switzerland was the perfect blend of romance, adventure, and unforgettable moments. From their emotional vow exchange at the iconic St. Charles Hall to a dreamy private boat ride on Lake Lucerne, every detail was thoughtfully planned to reflect their love story.

St. Charles Hall in Meggen, Switzerland, is a dream wedding venue known for its breathtaking views, elegant architecture, and serene ambiance. Located near Lucerne, it offers a picturesque setting with a backdrop of Lake Lucerne and the majestic Swiss Alps, creating a magical atmosphere for weddings.

Why Did the Couple Choose Switzerland for Their Elopement?

Gabrielle & Austin: Switzerland was our number one destination on our list of places to travel to for many years given its natural beauty, charm, and simplicity. We couldn’t have thought of a better place to have our intimate elopement.

Originally, we found ourselves getting increasingly stressed and overwhelmed during the process of planning a wedding given the costs, events, guest lists, and overall decisions that we had to make. This made it extremely hard to identify and plan what WE wanted to do versus what OTHERS may enjoy. After planning and paying deposits for two different weddings in two different countries, we both decided to elope in Switzerland together and merge our wedding and honeymoon into one big trip. The second we made this decision, all of the stress disappeared immediately! We still to this day talk about how glad we are that we decided to make the hard decision and stick to our gut feelings to elope.

What Makes Switzerland Special for Elopements?

Gabrielle & Austin: We chose Switzerland given the country’s natural beauty, dramatic landscapes, charm, simplicity, privacy, and endless activities it has to offer. We decided to not only have our wedding there but to spend just under three weeks for our honeymoon there as well! It truly felt like we were living in a fairytale the entire time we were there.

Can You Get Legally Married in Switzerland?

Gabrielle & Austin opted for a symbolic ceremony.

What Sustainability Considerations Were Made (if any) For This Elopement in Switzerland?

Gabrielle & Austin: Given Switzerland’s dramatic landscapes and the beauty of the venues we decided to hold our elopement events at, we did not have to purchase any decorations or floral arrangements with eliminated waste and excess costs.

What Was the Couple’s Experience with Getting Married in St. Charles Hall During the month of August?

Gabrielle & Austin: We absolutely recommend it! From our opinion, August was a perfect month to get married in Switzerland. The weather was great; low chance of rain, sunshine, and temperatures averaging between 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Visiting Switzerland this time of year allowed us to enjoy all of our post-ceremony events outdoors to soak in all of the natural beauty offered on Lake Lucerne, including a beautiful boat ride and an intimate dinner for two by the lake.

What Are the Best Tips for Planning an Elopement in Switzerland?

Gabrielle & Austin: First finding a region or specific location within the country that really appeals to you and basing the rest of your planning around that. For us, we knew that we wanted to have our elopement in close proximity to a lake and fell in love with the region of Lucerne. After we pinpointed our location, we found that we were able to quickly find a venue for our symbolic ceremony, a photographer, hair and makeup artist, and florist through our research on social media. Instagram was our best friend!

Youri, the photographer: hire a professional wedding planner with experience and local knowledge.

How Did the Couple Personalize Their Elopement?

Gabrielle & Austin: When planning our elopement, we decided to keep it slow and simple. We had a very present morning together, an intimate ceremony where we exchanged rings and shared vows, a very relaxing boat ride, and a private dinner for two on a terrace overlooking the lake where we were able to reflect on our special day.

What Challenges Did the Couple Face While Planning Their Elopement in Switzerland, and How Did They Overcome Them?

Gabrielle & Austin: Although we always kept in the back of our mind that something may go wrong on our special day, we were blessed that everything went smoothly and worked out perfectly.

What Were the Most Memorable Moments from This Elopement?

Gabrielle & Austin: Our favorite moment from our special day was the boat ride on Lake Lucerne following our symbolic ceremony. This moment really allowed us to reflect on the ceremony together, soak in and process the fact that we were now husband and wife (symbolically of course), and be nothing but present together.

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