Romance Author Kandi Steiner Elopes in the Austrian Alps

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How do romance authors get married?? Bestselling romance author Kandi Steiner embarked on a love story straight out of one of her novels, exchanging vows with her partner Jack in a breathtaking elopement set against the majestic backdrop of the Austrian Alps. Opting for an intimate ceremony away from the traditional fanfare, the couple immersed themselves in the serenity of the alpine landscape, surrounded by dramatic peaks, vibrant wildflower meadows, and shimmering lakes. Their special day perfectly reflected their adventurous spirit—capturing both the beauty of nature and the essence of true love. This unforgettable elopement is a testament to Kandi’s belief that sometimes, the most powerful moments in life are the simplest, shared quietly with the person you love most.

The combination of Austria’s stunning scenery and Kandi’s effortless boho-style made this elopement a unique event, blending romance, adventure, and storytelling into a day they’ll cherish forever.

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What made you decide to elope?

When we were visiting venues and looking at the cost to host a wedding with all the people we would want to invite, we were overwhelmed by how much it would cost and how involved the whole process would be for one day. Having gone to quite a few weddings together, we saw how the couple often has a hard time enjoying their wedding day because they are rushing around and being pulled in a million different directions.

Jack was the first to joke about eloping, but a joke quickly turned into something we were excited about. We shifted gears and began thinking about how we could use the same amount of money or less to have our dream vacation and to have a more intimate ceremony where we could spend the day together celebrating our love as opposed to trying to make everyone else happy.

Tips for Eloping in the Austrian Alps

Decide if you want a legal or a symbolic ceremony

Austria allows non-residents to legally marry here, but that doesn’t mean the process is stress-free. For many couples the document and translation requirements take the joy out of eloping, so they decide on a symbolic ceremony or vow exchange instead.

Set date nights each week for planning. Taking it all on at one time can be so overwhelming, but breaking it up bit by bit and working on it each week while also spending time together and making a date of it is so fun and something to look forward to. Also, be open and flexible to things changing — because they absolutely will!
Kandi – The Bride

Work With Local Vendors

There’s a lot of valuable knowledge that comes from living in the mountains. Different areas have different seasonal trends, some spots may be more popular than you expect, and locations may become inaccessible or unsafe at certain times of the year. Local vendors will be able to guide you into planning an itinerary that aligns with your vision and helps you avoid the pitfalls that those who are unfamiliar with the area might fall into. It’s also supporting the local economy.

Choose Your Location Before Your Accommodation

Nobody wants to spend 3 hours in a car on their wedding day when they could be doing something much more fun! Sometimes it’s tempting to book an incredible chalet or spa hotel (because there are so many amazing options in Tirol), but then when you’re looking at locations for your ceremony, realize that it’s incredibly inconvenient (as driving distances in the mountains can often take much longer). Instead, work with a local planner or elopement photographer to narrow down your favorite locations, and ask them to suggest the most convenient places to stay for those locations.

Be Flexible

Mountain weather can be extremely unpredictable, no matter what time of year you choose. Be prepared for plans to have to change, and trust that you local vendor team will create something equally magical for you, even if you can’t do what you originally planned.

We are both really happy that we were flexible and open to going with the flow of the day. It was pouring rain early that morning, so we pushed everything back a little, but it ended up being GORGEOUS. And then, with the time push, we decided to cut out a bit of what we had originally planned. But by doing that, we had more time to just hike and relax and be together, and it was such a CHILL day which we both loved!
Kandi – The Bride