They Married by a Frozen Alpine Lake – Then Dined at Sunset on a Swiss Mountain Top

When Mallory + Hayden reached out about getting married in the Alps just before Christmas, I immediately steered them toward St. Moritz. Thanks to being a high-altitude destination, St. Moritz has some of the most reliable snow in the region. It also has great micro wedding options, both in terms of things to do, dining, and accommodation. 

While planning Mallory + Hayden’s elopement, it was important to the pair to have fun with their family, get married somewhere beautiful (ideally with forest + snow-capped mountains), and enjoy a great celebratory meal. Bit by bit, each part of their day came together, and soon, we had created a fun timeline. 

One aspect of Mallory + Hayden’s elopement we had all been looking forward to was sledding down a groomed run a few miles long. This December was exceptionally dry in the Alps, though, so ultimately, we were forced to pivot plans as not quite enough snow was covering the route. Despite this, we were happy St. Moritz looked as wintery as it did, while many other alps mountain towns looked nearly like spring. 

On the day of their wedding, I met Mallory, Hayden, and their families at the hotel. Everyone was excitedly moving from room to room, each getting ready and layering up for the day. Mallory + Hayden chose a unique way to do their ceremony. Since they didn’t want to read their personal vows with an audience, they chose to write each other personal letters to read in private just after getting ready. 

The pair was excited to share first looks in town before meeting back up with family. From here, we all walked to their lakeside ceremony spot together. The lake wasn’t completely frozen over yet, so we had the prettiest reflection of the mountains in the background. Hayden’s aunt led a heartfelt traditional ceremony, and afterward, everyone shared chocolates from a local shop. 

Post ceremony, I was able to take Mallory + Hayden to a secondary nearby location to explore. On the walk, we passed by an area where you could get bird feed and feed the local birds from your hand. Mallory is a wildlife biologist, and it’s safe to say, feeding the birds ended up being a real highlight of the day. The ultimate Disney princess moment. 

Time flew by, and the day was beginning to wind down. For our final stop, we took a funicular up the local mountain. While most of the day had been overcast, just a few minutes before sunset, we were graced with the prettiest glow across the sky. At the top of the mountain, there’s a restaurant where Mallory + Hayden had a dinner reservation in a private room with their family. Toasts were made, and everyone warmed up, basking in the adventure of the day. 

It was an unforgettable winter wedding, and I’m so grateful for the fun memories made with these two and their families!

St. Moritz Winter Wedding Timeline

This winter wedding in St. Moritz included visiting a few easy-access locations with both their family and exploring on their own. They got everything from valley views to mountain top vistas. You can check out Mallory + Hayden’s elopement timeline overview below. 

• 8:15 am – I arrive for getting ready coverage!
• 9:15 am – Hair + makeup wraps up. Both partners and finishing getting ready.
• 9:30 am – All dressed + ready to go. Mallory + Hayden read letters from each other.
• 10:00 am – First looks in town, a quick bakery stop for post-ceremony treat, and meeting with family
• 11:00 am – Meet with family. Everyone walks to the ceremony location together.
• 12:00 pm – Ceremony with family, group photos, and couples portraits and a second, nearby location.
• 2:00 pm – Everyone heads to mountain top location.
• 2:30 pm – Champagne toast with family, exploring and sunset portraits on the mountain.
• 4:00 pm – Dinner begins at the mountain top restaurant. Toasts and speeches.
• 4:30 pm – I say goodbye, and you all continue enjoying your celebratory dinner with family.

Real St. Moritz Elopement Experience: A review from our couple

”We cannot recommend Christine and Scott enough. From the very beginning, Christine went so far above and beyond what we expected from a wedding photographer. We are from the U.S., and this was not only our wedding but also our first time in Europe — and the first international trip for many of our family members. Having 11 people traveling through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland could have been overwhelming, but she made the entire experience feel seamless and exciting.
Leading up to the big day, she was incredibly helpful with travel tips, recommendations, timelines, and honest advice that truly made us feel confident and prepared. It felt like working with someone who genuinely cared about our experience, not just showing up to take photos.
On the wedding day itself, she and Scott were absolutely amazing. They coordinated our families effortlessly, helped guide us to the most beautiful ceremony and photo locations, and kept everything calm, organized, and joyful. Even with a larger group, they both made sure everyone felt comfortable and included while still keeping the focus on us as a couple. Their presence was grounding, reassuring, and fun — exactly what you want on such an important day.
One thing couples should absolutely know is that Christine does so much more than photography. She is a guide, a planner, a problem-solver, and a huge support system, especially if you’re getting married abroad. We truly could not have imagined doing this without her.
And yes — we LOVE our sneak peek images. They are stunning, emotional, and perfectly capture the beauty of Switzerland and how special the day felt. We are even more excited to see the full gallery.
If you are considering hiring her, do it. It was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding.”

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

Check Out Mallory + Hayden’s Winter Wedding in Switzerland