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While many couples who dream of a hiking elopement hope the trails are snow-free, for Ben & Sai, they wanted the opposite. They wanted to elope in summer, but still have that high-altitude feel. They wanted high mountains, glaciers and snow. However, their chosen elopement date ended up having too much snow, which lead to a last minute pivot and a brand new location – that turned out to be perfect!
Their elopement spanned across three days. On the first day they got legally married at the registry office in the Pitztal Valley. The next morning, we met up early at the trailhead and hiked to the mountain hut where we would all sleep that evening.
They wanted to spend as much time outside and surrounded by the mountains as possible, so that evening they exchanged letters that they had written to one another. The following morning, they got up early to catch the sunrise, where they exchanged their personal vows and rings.
Why Did they Choose the Austrian Alps for Their Elopement?
Ben & Sai are both avid mountaineers. After getting engaged on the summit of Mont Blanc, they knew they wanted to return to the Alps to get married. Since the laws in France made it impossible for them to get legally married there, I suggested the Austrian Alps to them instead. After showing them some locations, they chose the region of Tirol, and the valley of Pitztal for their elopement.
Can You Get Legally Married in Pitztal?
Yes – you can! Austria allows non-residents to get married here, making it one of the best countries in the Alps for a destination wedding or elopement. In Pitztal, civil marriage ceremonies are conducted by the local Standesamt (registry office) at their main offices. Depending on the time of year, couples can also get married at Cafe 3440, the highest registry office in Austria. The couple enlisted the help of local wedding planner Stephanie to aide them with all of their paperwork.
Because Austrian civil wedding ceremonies are pretty “official” (read: they are quite matter-of-fact and don’t leave much space for personalisation), Ben & Sai wanted to exchange personal vows on the top of the mountain after their civil marriage ceremony.
What Was the Couple’s Experience with Getting Married in Austria in June?
Sai & Ben chose their wedding date because they wanted to get married on an auspicious date in the Hindu calendar. However this made things particularly challenging when it came to selecting a location. They knew that they definitely wanted to spend the night in a mountain hut, however in June there are very few mountain huts open.
The original location in Pitztal was one of the few mountain valleys in Tirol with a mountain hut that was due to open the day before their elopement. However, due to a large amount of late-season snow, I was worried that the trails would be too dangerous. As a hiking guide, it’s my responsibility to make sure that the route is safe for the whole group (as it was me, the couple, a videographer and makup artist who would be hiking up to the hut). One week before, I went to test out the hike, and decided it was too risky. So I then had to find another hut that was open – and safe to hike to.
That led me to the fantastic Neue Regensburger Hütte in the Stubai Valley. The hut was open, the trail to it was free of snow, but there was still plenty of snow around to feel like the high Alps.
Tips for Visiting a Mountain Hut in the Alps
Did you know that there are mountain huts all across the Alps? Many of these high alpine refuges were build over a hundred years ago to provide shelter to mountaineers and hikers. While many have been modernised, their essense is still very much the same. You’ll find a bed, warm local food and views to die for.
Don’t Expect A Hotel
Mountain huts shouldn’t be confused with mountain hotels. They are more like a hostel or backpackers. You book a bed, not a room, and will often share your sleeping quarters with other weary hikers. The accommodation is basic but it’s clean and more than enough to rest your weary head (and feet) after a day on the trails.
Some are easy to reach while others require experience & fitness
There are a small number of mountain huts that can be reached via cable car (or with just a short hike) but the majority require at least 2-3 hours of hiking to reach. Most of the time these hikes are not difficult for anyone with a good level of fitness. However there are a few that require additional technical skills and mountaineering experience, with challenges such as via ferrata, scrambling or glacier crossing to reach them.
Embrace The Adventure
Mountain huts may not be glamorous, but they offer something that’s incredibly special – the option to sleep in remote locations deep in the mountains. While you might need to sweat a bit to reach them, once you are there you can simply enjoy the incredible surroundings. Exchanging vows at sunrise, when the first rays of light touch the peaks around you, is a truly magical experience.
How Did the Couple Personalize Their Elopement?
The choice of location was the main way that Sai & Ben personalised their elopement – choosing to get married in the Alps over having a big wedding at home. However, because their wanted to feel their families presence on the day, they stuck photos of their family and friends into their vow books so that it felt like they were there with them.
What Challenges Did the Couple Face While Planning Their Elopement in Austria?
Due to the snow, we needed to find a new location that still fit with what Sai & Ben envisioned for their elopement. Having Cat, a local photographer and hiking guide, the last minute changes to the itinerary were all
We are glad that we didn’t get emotionally attached to our location – our location changed 3 days before our elopement. Ironically due to the snow we wanted! Cat executed her backup plan seamlessly and by embracing the entire experience without any preconceived ideas it didn’t stress or affect our enjoyment or happiness on the day.
Sai & Ben were worried that their families would not be supportive of their decision to elope, but they knew deep-down that this was the right choice for them. They decided therefore, not to tell their families about their plans. Instead, they decided that they would share the news with them once they returned home – along with their incredible photos and film. When they did share their news, their families were all incredibly supportive.
We are actually so happy and proud that we didn’t tell family beforehand – this allowed us to keep the experience so personal and intimate. It allowed us to be present and we totally immersed ourselves in each others company and in the mountains.
What Were the Most Memorable Moments from This Elopement?
Sai – Stepping onto the snow at 4.30am for sunrise vows and watching the sunrise over the distant mountain peaks. Hearing my fiancé read his vows in Tamil (my mother tongue). I also loved that it was minus 5 degrees and I was wearing a strapless dress!
Ben – Seeing my fiancé for the first time in her incredible dress, surrounded by the mountains in their sunset Alpenglow was absolutely incredible and something I will never forget.
Why are the Austrian Alps One of the Best Places to Get Married in Europe?
- The Austrian Alps offer so many incredible locations in the mountains. From alpine meadows to glittering waterfalls and magnificent glaciers to turquoise mountain lakes – there is so much incredible nature here.
- It’s not only quieter than it’s popular neighbours, the Italian Dolomites and the Swiss Alps, but it’s also more budget-friendly.
- Austria supports marriage equality.
- There are beautiful locations that can be accessed by all ages and abilities.
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