Dazzling Off-the-Beaten-Path Hiking Elopement in the Alps

After working with adventurous couples for almost five years, one of our biggest takeaways is that opting for the more private, lesser-known spots can make all the difference in your experience.

Both personally and professionally, our favorite places have always been the ones that were quiet and somewhat secluded. When couples trust us to go somewhere that they’ve never seen blogged as a ”must visit spot”, and likely, no other wedding couple has been to before, that is *the best* feeling.

When Amanda and Philippe inquired with me about their Switzerland adventure elopement, that was exactly the type of experience they were looking for, and we immediately clicked. We all share a love for the mountains, glaciers, and scaling peaks, which made narrowing down the exciting location options so challenging. Ultimately, we moved forward with centering their day around a small, hiking-only accessible lake nestled above a tight valley. A location away from cable cars, the hustle and bustle.

When their elopement day came, the stoke was high. Before hitting the trail, we popped by a bakery. After that, the steady uphill descent began in the early afternoon heat. As we climbed higher and higher, epic 4,000-meter peaks rose into view. At the crest of the trail, we stopped for snacks while admiring the magnificent panorama. We were grateful that the temperatures had begun to cool on the unusually warm summer day. Our trek continued onward, and before we knew it, we had reached the lake. I had been to this location once previously, and once again, I found my jaw on the floor. Amanda and Philippe’s jaws were too.

The pair freshened up before sharing a fun first look. Amanda and Philippe couldn’t stop grinning- their energy was infectious. That energy carried the two to explore all over the hillsides and hop between the rocky creeks that dotted the landscape.

Eventually, day was fading to night and the sun had dipped below the mountains. Just before sunset, the peaks began to glow orange and pink. The breeze had also calmed to reveal a picture-perfect reflection in the lake. At the same time, a shepherd was bringing their sheep back to a secured area for the night, and we saw hundreds of tiny white dots move across the distant landscape and heard their tinkling bells. The shepherd came down to greet us, along with one of her fluffy dogs which we were allowed to pet. There’s no other way to describe this moment than like a fairy tale.

The perfect way to end our time before hiking back to the cars under a sky full of stars.

Elopement Day Timeline

You can check out an overview of Amanda + Philippe’s laid-back, hiking elopement timeline below.

• 1:30 pm –  Meet at Airbnb. Stop by the bakery in town.
• 2:15 pm: Drive to trailhead
• 2:30 pm: Arrive at the trailhead, double-check gear, and begin hiking. Stop along the way for views and snacks.
• 5:30 pm: Arrive at the lake. Freshen up and change into wedding attire.
• 6:30 pm – First look and dinner break
• 7:30 pm – Ceremony + Champagne Toast
• 8:30 pm – Golden Hour and sunset portraits
• 9:15 pm – Sunset, change back into hiking attire, and take headlamp photos.
• 9:45 pm – Hike back to cars. Stop to stargaze
• 11:45 pm – Arrive back at cars, say goodbyes.

Check Out Amanda + Philippe’s Elopement Below