A Complete Guide to Eloping in Austria: Where to Go, What to Do, and How to Plan It [Updated for 2025]
Last Updated: September 17, 2024 | Published On: September 17, 2024
Planning an Elopement in Austria
For couples looking for adventure, spectacular vistas, and an unforgettable wedding experience in the Alps, look no further than eloping in Austria.
This guide is for any couple looking for a comprehensive guide on how to elope in the Austrian Alps. As a leading adventure elopement photographer in the Alps, I’m sharing my best tips and tricks with you. From laying out the legalities of getting married in Austria, the best places to elope in Austria, and step-by-step how to elope in Austria, you’ll find all the bases covered.
What’s an Elopement?
Depending on whom you talk to, you’re likely to hear a lot of ideas about what an elopement is or isn’t. One of the reasons it’s hard to pinpoint a definition is because elopements come in a variety of experiences and sizes.
We’ve seen couples elope just the two of them, or surrounded by close friends and family. Some couples get married in the mountains, while others explore a city. Elopements can be a single-day adventure, or spread over multiple days and places.
Ultimately, an elopement is a type of wedding that allows couples to strip away all the preconceived ideas of what people believe a wedding should look like, and instead opt for building an experience full of connection and intention on the day they say, ‘’I do’’
At Made in the Mountains Photo, we primarily focus on adventure elopements in the Alps. An adventure elopement is exactly what it sounds like – an elopement experience but with an element of adventure involved. This can look like hiking, paragliding, boat rides, stargazing, overnight mountain hut stays, and everything in between.
Reasons to Elope in Austria
If you’re looking for a reason to elope in Austria, we’ve got *five* that we’re sharing below! Keep reading to find out why you should get married in Austria.
Breathtaking Scenery
The Austrian Alps are incredibly diverse in scenery, making it a great destination for any nature lover. From countless glittering lakes (there are over 25,000 to be exact!); sweeping meadows, tall mountain peaks that rival Switzerland in beauty, and tumbling glaciers…needless to say, eloping in Austria is simply breathtaking.
Stunning Architecture and History
While Austria is full of mountains waiting to be hiked, you don’t want to miss out on the culture, history, and old architecture. Salzburg, Vienna, and Innsbruck are all worth exploring during your elopement trip.
Eloping in Austria is cost-effective
Austria’s nearby neighbor of Switzerland is one of the most popular Alps destinations to elope to, but it’s also one of the most expensive places to travel to in the world. When you elope in Austria, you’re not only making a more cost-effective choice, but you also get to experience out-of-this-world scenery and fewer crowds. Don’t miss out on eloping in Austria!
Incredible Skiing
Ready to hit the slopes and enjoy some Après-ski? With over 400 ski resorts and 7,000 kilometers of groomed terrain to be discovered, it’s hard to go wrong with a winter wedding in Austria. Hintertux even boasts year-round skiing!
Centrally Located
Another reason to plan an elopement in Austria is that the country is centrally located to some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery. Within a few hours, you can visit Germany’s mountains and castles, the Slovenian Alps, or head south toward the Italian Dolomites and coastline. After your destination wedding in Austria, there’s no shortage of honeymoon spots nearby.
Unique Wedding and Elopement Activities in Austria
For adventurous couples, Austria offers no shortage of unique elopement activities to make your day unforgettable. Here are a few of our favorite adventure elopement experiences available in Austria.
Overnight in an Austrian Mountain Hut
Across the Austrian Alps you’ll find traditional mountain huts and berghotels (mountain hotels) nestled deep in lush valleys and atop mountains. Huts can range from rustic to lavish, and offer a unique way to experience the mountains.
Paragliding
If you’ve dreamed of soaring up close to the mountains, paragliding is an activity you’ve got to try. Throughout Austria, you’ll find companies that offer tandem-paragliding experiences so you and your partner can go with a professional guide.
Helicopter Weddings in Austria
For those who want to see and go places, few can, opting for a helicopter wedding excursion may be the perfect choice. Helicopter flight-seeing tours occur across Austria, but Hubschrauberflug.at offers some of the best options around St. Anton and Kitzbühel. Chartering a private helicopter for weddings generally costs between €1,500-€2,200 ($1,600-$2,500 USD). You can check out our helicopter elopement guide here.
Take a Cheese Tour through the Mountains
Austria’s alpine cheese is some of the tastiest out there. For cheese-lovers, consider checking out the Bregenzerwald Cheese Road. Here, you get to walk through the mountains and stop by local dairy farms to taste local cheeses and see how it’s made. Looking for wine? In Eastern Austria, you can also bike along the Eastern Styria Roman Wine Road, stopping at local wine farms.
Visit a Thermal Spa
Austria has some luxurious thermal spas which could make a great addition to your alps elopement trip. The Aquadome is one of our favorites due to it’s outdoor pools in a scenic setting.
Rent a boat
From row-boat rides to boat tours, Austria’s crystal clear lakes are an amazing place to enjoy a day out on the water. Some of our favorite places to do this include the Plansee and Achensee.
Marriage in Austria as a Foreigner
After reading about how epic getting married in Austria is, one big question you may have is, ‘’Can I get married in Austria as a foreigner?’’. Yes, you can!
If you’re traveling abroad and would like to get married in Austria, there are a few things you need to consider. Marriage laws for foreigners vary, but if you’re an American traveling to Austria, you can legally wed in the country.
Even if you cannot legally marry in Austria, anyone on a tourist visa can still hold a symbolic ceremony. Below you’ll find an outline of what you need to consider as a foreigner for civil, religious, and symbolic wedding ceremonies in Austria.
The Best Places to Elope in Austria
Where are the best places to elope in Austria? Whether you’re looking for a romantic castle along a lake, mountaintop views, or an idyllic meadow surrounded by a forest of fall colors, you’re bound to find it in the Austrian Alps.
With that being said, we don’t believe there’s a ‘’best place to get married in Austria’’ because there is no one-size-fits-all location. Every couple has a different vision of how they want to spend their day. Because of this, I give all of my booked couples in-depth location help by creating custom location guides. Those guides take into account what types of scenery you want, how little (or how much) you want to walk or hike, overall accessibility, the season, and more.
In this guide, you’ll find great locations that are designed to be a jumping-off point as you start planning your Austrian elopement. If you’re looking for more in-depth help, location-scouting assistance is something we include in all of our elopement packages (and it’s one of our unmatched skills!).
Elope in Ehrwald, Austria
Elope in Ehrwald, Austria if you’re looking for a beautiful hiking destination with unique mountain lakes, and plentiful wildflowers. This small town straddles and the German and Austrian Alps, making it great for cross-border adventures.
Stubai Valley Elopements
The Stubai Valley (or Stubaital) offers some incredible elopement locations year-round for a variety of ability levels. Whether it’s skiing in winter, an overnight hut stay in summer while soaking up alpine lake views, or a cozy adventure among fall foliage, Stubai is a great place to start.
Elope in Innsbruck
Innsbruck is a unique city for adventure elopements because you can easily have a city and nature experience within a day. From great food and colorful architecture to mountain-top cable cars such as the Nordkette, Innsbruck offers a little bit of everything.
Elope on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Mountain pass elopements are some of our favorites because of the easy access to high-alpine scenery. Whether you elope at sunrise, sunset, or go stargazing, eloping on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a great option. Here you have a chance to experience everything from mountain tops to glaciers and meadows. We highly recommend staying at one of the hotels on the mountain pass for the full experience.
Seefeld in Tirol Elopements
Seefeld in Tirol is the perfect Austrian Alps elopement location for couples dreaming of standing on top of a mountain. We love the cable cars here that give everyone the experience of high-alpine views, without a hard uphill hike.
Vorarlberg Elopements
Vorarlberg is a lesser-known part of Austria for many travelers, but you’ll find no shortage of breathtaking panoramas here! Vorarlberg offers unique off-the-beaten path options just across from the Swiss border. Two places worth considering for your Vorarlberg elopement are Silvretta Pass and the Lünersee.
Elope in the Tannheim Valley
Named ‘’the most beautiful high valley in Europe’’, the Tannheim Valley (or Tannheimertal) is an idyllic corner of the Austrian Alps perfect for elopements. Easy-access lakes, a large nature preserve, waterfalls, and a well-marked trail system make Tannehim a place we just can’t get enough of.
Achensee Elopements
The Achensee is Tirol, Austria’s largest alpine lake and a great jumping-off point for adventure elopements. Here you can sail, swim, or hike to your heart’s content. One mountain range in Austria, the Karwendel, towers around the lake and is absolutely spectacular. Nearby valleys such as the Gern Alm make a perfect for a side trip.
Dachstein Elopements
Dachstein is known for its skiing, making it a popular winter elopement destination. Year-round though, you’ll find beautiful hiking, climbing, and cable cars to help you experience the Austrian Alps to the fullest. Don’t miss eloping at the Gosausee lakes during your Dachstein wedding.
Getting Married in the Salzkammergut
While there are plentiful lakes across Austria, one of the country’s most famous regions is the Salzkammergut. For couples who want to spend as much time out on the water as possible, all while surrounded by rolling peaks, don’t pass up getting married in Salzkammergut.
Elope in Hallstatt
Hallstatt is one of Austria’s picture perfect towns you’ll find on postcards everywhere. With the quaint houses lining a scenic lakeshore, it’s hard not to see why. Here, you’ll also find unique salt-mine tours and other activities. With all that being said, Hallstatt is one of the busiest, most touristed places in Austria. For that reason, we do not recommend couples plan their elopement in Hallstatt. There are countless other beautiful towns worth visiting instead. I only mention this location because Google expects me to mention it at some point 🙂
Beautiful Wedding Venues in Austria
If you’re planning on bringing along close friends and family to your elopement (whoohoo!), here are some beautiful Austrian Alps wedding venues to check out. While it’s possible to hold a micro wedding in Austria without a venue (and some of my couples do hike with their guests), you’ll want a wedding venue if you need seating, or want to have tables, decorations, etc. We recommend couples have a small venue arranged for groups of 8 or more. This can also relieve stress if you’re worried about the weather.
When to Elope in Austria
Eloping in Austria is beautiful any season, but here’s what you need to know about when is right for you.
Winter Weddings in Austria
Winter weddings in Austria are a fantastic time to take advantage of skiing, ice skating, or sledding along a 14km groomed track. Getting married during the winter also is a great excuse to stay at a cozy chalet in the mountains and relax in your own personal hot tub or sauna.
Months: Late-December, January, February, early March
Spring Weddings in Austria
Austria’s spring climate widely varies, so be sure to plan appropriately for your wedding. By late May, you can expect many of the lower alpine regions to be melted out and green. Higher up in the mountains, the ski season is still going. Late spring is a fantastic time for a lakeside Austrian Alps wedding, as the blue colors are vibrant from the glacial melt during this time. The snow-capped mountains of the Austrian Alps are also unforgettable in the spring.
Months: Late-May to mid-June
Summer Elopements in Austria
Summer is my favorite season for elopements in the Austrian Alps. By this point, the wildflowers are in bloom, all the hiking trails are open, and the weather is beautiful. Austria’s high alpine regions have generally mild temperatures during the summer months, but it’s not unheard of to experience a handful of 30 °C/86 °F days. Summer is a great time to explore, and Austria’s many glaciers sparkle deep blue. Afternoon thunderstorms aren’t uncommon during the summer months, so planning a morning-elopement can be a good choice.
Months: Late-June, July, August, early-September
Fall Elopements in the Austrian Alps
Fall is one of the best-kept secrets for planning an Austrian Alps elopement. By this time, the busy tourist season has slowed down, but the weather can still be beautiful. For brilliant fall colors, the middle of October is best. This is when the larches change from green to vibrant yellow and orange. It’s absolutely INCREDIBLE!
Months: Early to mid-October
Key Steps to Planning Your Elopement in Austria
Ready to start planning your elopement in Austria? Below you’ll find my simple process for making your Austrian Alps elopement a reality. As part of your Austria elopement photography and videography team, my husband and I are here to help you throughout each step.
We recommend couples allot 9-12 months to plan their Austria elopement or destination wedding. It is possible to plan on much shorter time frames though, and we’ve helped couples make their adventure a reality in as little as two weeks.
Choose an Elopement Date
Before you can dive deep into planning your Austria elopement, one of the first things you need to do is set a date. Setting a date will allow you to start booking the vendors that can help make your dream come to life!
Book Your Austria Elopement Photographer (and Videographer)
Hiring your Austria elopement photographer and videographer is one of the most important steps in the planning process. The right photographer or photo/video team will be a key player in helping guide you through the process of getting married abroad. They’ll also be sure your day is not only documented beautifully but also that you have the experience of a lifetime.
As one of the Alps leading adventure elopement photo and video team, we specialize in helping couples craft unique, awe-inspiring, outdoor-centered wedding experiences. We know the alps like the back of our hands (seriously, we’ve done 200+ peaks in just the last four years), and use our expertise to help you each step of the way. If you’re up for an adventure, contact us now!
Visualize What You Want Your Day to Look Like
If you don’t have a vision of what you want your Austria elopement to look like yet, that’s totally ok! This step is where you’ll really want to start thinking about what is most important to you as a couple, and how you want to honor that on your intimate wedding day.
Whether it’s spending the night stargazing before catching the sunrise from a beautiful location and exchanging vows, or enjoying breakfast in bed before a morning-first look, and an afternoon helicopter tour, the possibilities are endless.
Our booked couples receive an exclusive guide that goes over prompts and questions that can help them find clarity in the dreaming process.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our Portfolio. There, we have multiple elopement days blogged that include real timelines, helpful info, and more.
Pro-Tip: During this step, you may realize you have a dream so big, you need a little outside help. This would be a great time to book an Austrian elopement planner! If you want to know more about hiring an elopement planner, we have a free guide you can find here about hiring an elopement planner.
Decide on an Elopement Location in Austria
Choosing your elopement location in Austria is an exciting task that we love helping couples with. When choosing a location, you’ll want to consider:
- What time of year are you eloping in?
- How popular is the location?
- Are there any restrictions on the location?
- What time of day has the best light?
Your Austria wedding photographer (hey, it’s me, Christine!) will have advice for all of this. Location scouting is one of my biggest strengths (beyond taking stellar photos and making sure you have an amazing experience). This is something I help our booked couples extensively with.
If you are planning an elopement with guests or a micro wedding, you may want to consider hiring a wedding planner to help with securing a venue or permission to hold your ceremony at specific locations.
Book Your Austria Travel & Lodging
Now that you know where you’re eloping in Austria, it’s time to book your travel and accommodations.
How to Get to Austria
Austria is a major travel destination, making it easy to get to. We recommend flying directly to Innsbruck, Austria for the most direct access. You can also fly into Munich, Germany which will get you to the Austrian Alps within a couple of hours via car or train.
Getting around Austria (Trains and Buses)
Like most countries in Europe, Austria has an extensive train and bus network that makes traveling quite simple. Most towns have bus connections, and from Innsbruck, there are plenty of trains to take you across the country. Because Austria is mountainous though, you’ll find driving the easiest and most efficient way to get around. We especially recommend renting a car for the elopement portion of your trip.
Accommodation in Austria for your Elopement
Austria offers a wide variety of lodging options, from upscale hotels and ski lodges to quaint bed and breakfasts in the villages. Airbnb and similar rental property options are also popular. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s a place where you can relax and isn’t too far from your elopement location.
Lodging Pro-tip: Choose a location with great natural light and that is clutter-free for the best getting-ready photos! If you want a “first look” where you’re staying, also keep in mind what scenery is nearby and how everything will look.
Book Your Austria Wedding Vendors
Are you booking more than a photographer and videographer for your Austria wedding or elopement? Some couples may opt to include a wedding celebrant/officiant, hair and makeup artist, a private chef, or maybe even a mountain guide.
Vendor Pro-Tip: We provide every booked couple with our exclusive English-speaking vendor suggestion guide.
Plan Your Elopement Day Activities
Activities are what help make your Austria elopement into an experience! This is a great time to consider what small (and possibly) big things you may want to do to level up your day. Some activities may include reading letters from family and friends, stopping by a mountain hut for lunch, renting a boat, going for a swim, stargazing, embarking on a helicopter tour, or booking a guided via-Ferrata tour.
Once your locations are selected, and activities booked, this is the time to put it all on paper and build a timeline of your Austrian Alps elopement. That way, you know there’s room for everything. We’ve helped countless couples build custom timelines of their adventures (including multi-day ones!).
Gather Any Necessary Wedding and Travel Documents
The documents you may need to bring for eloping can really vary, depending on where you travel from. Some documents you may need for your elopement include:
- Passports
- Drivers Licenses
- Confirmation of booked flights
- Hotel/Lodging confirmations
- Any legal documents needed if you plan on having a civil ceremony
Pro-Tip: Be sure to have a list of everything you need, print out the documents, and keep them together in a folder. If you’re flying, be sure these stay with your carry-on luggage.
Packing for Your Austria Elopement
Are you wondering what else you need to pack for your Austria elopement? We have a free guide and downloadable checklist with tips and tricks you can find here. One thing we encourage every couple to do is make sure to pack any important wedding details (paperwork, attire, and rings) into your carry-on luggage.
Elope in Austria!
Your elopement day is here! After all of your dreaming and excitement, it’s finally happening. Soak up every second and remember- these memories will last forever. Your photographer and videographer (oh hey!) will be sure you have amazing photos to help document the experience.
What Does it Cost to Get Married and Elope in Austria?
The average cost of holding a traditional wedding in the US is around $35,000. If you plan a destination elopement in Austria though, the average cost is closer to €9,050 (approximately $10,000 USD) and you can wrap your honeymoon into the trip too. This cost covers the expenses associated with food and lodging, wedding attire, professional photography coverage that includes planning assistance, and marriage licenses.
Below, you’ll find some approximate numbers of the cost of eloping and getting married in Austria (based on the expenses of two people). Please note, these numbers don’t include flights and transportation costs, since these can widely vary, depending on where you’re coming from.
Despite the average budget, there is still a lot of flexibility in how much couples spend on eloping in Austria.
For example, some couples may find wedding attire that costs less than €200 and suits them perfectly. Others may opt out of having professional hair and makeup since they’d rather do it themselves atop a mountain. When it comes to desserts, Italy has no shortage of bakeries, and it’s easy to pick up a few slices of delicious, already-made cake for under €15, or get something custom-made for well over €300. Lodging can range from cozy mountain chalets to luxury wellness resorts.
When choosing how much to spend on your Austria elopement, make sure you invest in what’s most important to you. Whether it’s photo and video, having your dream dress or custom-made suit, or splurging on a helicopter ride, don’t be afraid to create the day you’ve always dreamed of.
At the end of the day, how much or how little you choose to spend on your elopement in the the Austrian Alps won’t matter. What will count is how you choose to intentionally connect with your partner and honor what you value most.
Below, you’ll find some approximate numbers of the cost of eloping and getting married in Austira (based on the expenses of two people). Please note, these numbers don’t include travel and transportation costs, since these can widely vary, depending on where you’re coming from. Lodging and food have been averaged for two nights.
At the end of the day, how much or how little you choose to spend on your elopement in Austria won’t matter. What will count is how you choose to intentionally connect with your partner and honor what you value most.
Austria Budget Wedding Cost
The cost of a budget elopement in Austria is €5,970.
Expenses may include:
| Marriage License (Free for symbolic ceremonies) | €0 |
| Lodging | €200 |
| Food and Drinks | €150 |
| Wedding Attire | €600 |
| Hair & Makeup (DIY) | €0 |
| Wedding Dessert | €20 |
| Photographer (4 hours coverage) | €5,000 |
Austria Mid-Range Wedding Cost
The cost of a mid-range elopement in Austria is €9,050-€14,500.
Expenses may include:
| Marriage License (free for symbolic ceremonies) | €0-€300 |
| Lodging | €450 |
| Food and Drinks | €250 |
| Wedding Attire | €1,000 |
| Hair & Makeup | €600 |
| Small Wedding Cake | €100 |
| Flowers (Bouquet) | €150 |
| Photographer (8 Hours Coverage) | €6,500+ |
| Videographer (8 Hours Coverage) | €5,000+ |
Austria Luxury Wedding Cost
The cost of a luxury micro wedding in Austria is €22,350+
Expenses may include:
| Marriage License (free for symbolic ceremonies) | €0-€300 |
| Lodging | €1,000 |
| Food and Drinks | €500+ |
| Wedding Attire | €2,000+ |
| Hair & Makeup | €1,000 |
| Wedding Cake | €200+ |
| Flowers (Bouquet) | €300+ |
| Venue | €1,000+ |
| Wedding Planner | €5,000+ |
| Wedding Celebrant | €2,500+ |
| Add-On Activities such as a helicopter ride | €1,500 |
| Videographer | €6,000+ |
| Photographer | €7,000+ |
Austria Elopement Packages
Are you ready to start planning your destination wedding or elopement in Austria? If so, why not start with your Austrian Alps elopement photographer and/or videographer? You can view our Austria wedding packages here, or contact us to get a more detailed pricing guide.
We help guide each couple through the eloping process and make sure they get the epic coverage their day deserves.
Alps Wedding Inspiration
Austria Elopement Photos and Videos
Want to get a glimpse into what your adventurous Austrian Alps elopement can look like? Check out our portfolio of blogged galleries which include timelines, tips, and more.
Download Your Free Adventure Elopement Planning Guide
Not sure how to start planning your elopement? Download your free adventure elopement planning guide + checklist to get my insider tips!
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Hey, we’re Christine and Scott, and there’s nothing we love more than capturing rad couples’ adventures in the places and spaces that matter most. Love what you see on the site? Hit the contact button below to start making your adventure a reality!
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