Dreamy Winter Wonderland Elopement in the German Alps

Can you guess how long we took to plan this winter wonderland elopement in the German Alps?

*Less than 72 hours*. Yep, you read that right- under three days!

Meredith + Steve reached out, quite literally, from the airport on their way to Germany. While the pair had been planning to elope for nearly eight months, they didn’t have a destination picked out. Instead, they had a week blocked out that they knew they wanted to make it happen during. Steve is a pilot, and Meredith is a pilot in training, so they wanted to hop on a flight wherever the airline would let them. And that’s how they started their adventure! While the pair thought they might wind up in Hawaii or Australia…instead, they got the German Alps.

From our first video call shortly after they landed, we quickly jumped into planning mode. They shared what types of scenery they were interested in, how far they were willing to travel, etc. and I came up with a few itineraries some gorgeous spots I know well. I suggested they travel down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen where there are plenty of beautiful places to elope and activities to enjoy. Once their location was settled, I sent over hotel recommendations, arranged flowers, and put together a timeline.

The night before their elopement, a small storm blew through, dropping the perfect amount of snow to coat everything in a winter wonderland. When I met them in the morning, we were all filled with excitement, basking in the beauty of the fluffy white trees and glittering landscape.

Meredith and Steve got ready together in their hotel overlooking a small lake. Afterward, they shared a prayer on their balcony, and then first looks. From there, we went to the Eibsee, a beautiful mountain lake that’s famous for its view underneath Germany’s tallest peak, the Zugspitze. While the Eibsee is often quite busy, on this off-season weekday, it was perfectly calm. The deep blue lake and snowy forests sparkled in the scenery, and we couldn’t help but keep stopping to say, ”wow!”.

After enjoying our time at the Eibsee, Meredith + Steve had a faith-centered marriage ceremony with traditional vows next to a small church in the mountains. Honoring their Faith and their union with God was something they both expressed being key to their day, and I was happy to help support them in that. Before we knew it, Meredith + Steve were saying ”I do” as clouds rolled in and more snow began to fall. A perfect way to end their snowy mountain elopement in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

I’m so grateful these two reached out with their wonderfully wild idea and for the memorable experience it made. While many of our booked couples reach out 8-12+ months in advance, I’ve helped couples elope on far shorter times.

Elopement Day Timeline

This elopement included a couple of stunning, easily accessible locations in the German Alps. You can check out Meredith + Steve’s elopement timeline overview below. 

• 8:30 am – I arrive and capture the final parts of getting ready. 
• 9:15 am – First looks on the hotel grounds by the lake
• 9:45 am – Leave the hotel and drive to the lake
• 10:00 am – Arrive at the trailhead parking lot. Exploring at the lake + photos. 
• 12:45 pm – Leave the the lake and drive to your ceremony location
• 1:15 pm – Arrive at the ceremony location trailhead and make short walk up to the spot.
• 1:30 pm – Ceremony and a toast
• 2:30 pm – Walk back to the car, wrap up, and say goodbyes.

Real German Alps Elopement Experience: A review from my couple

”My husband and I traveled very last minute to Germany from Texas to get married! Christine and Scott made our dreams come true within 72 hours of contacting them! The photos are absolutely stunning. However, our experience and memories are priceless. I could not recommend them more!”

You can see this review, along with many others by viewing our Google Business Listing here.

Check Out Meredith + Steve’s Bavarian Alps Adventure Elopement