Wedding in Austria

With its sheer natural beauty and its cities steeped in history and culture, Austria is a stunning location for a wedding abroad.

From a magical winter wedding in the snow to a stylish and classical wedding in some of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe, Austria is definitely a destination that should make your short list.

We think it’d be fair to say that the vast majority couples plan their weddings around warmth and sunshine, praying that the heavens will not open on their special day. However, we think there is something incredibly romantic about a winter wedding, think roaring open fires, the soft glow of candle light, snow capped mountain peaks, rich colours and a warm and ambient environment.

Why a Wedding in Austria

If the idea of a cosy romantic winter wedding abroad appeals to you, then look no further than having your wedding in Austria. Vienna is wonderful at Christmas time with traditional Christmas markets and festive lighting all over the city and the Austrian Alps offer many unique locations where you can combine your wedding with a spot of skiing.

Although, Austria isn’t just beautiful in the winter. If you are looking for a wedding destination that combines history and culture, then Vienna is a fairytale setting that has its own unique charms in every season. And the natural beauty of the Alps, Austria’s meadows, pine forests, crystal clear lakes, rushing streams and fast flowing rivers will not disappoint the nature lovers in the warmer months.

Having been captivated by Austria on a recent visit we would whole heartedly recommend it as a wedding destination.

Good to Know

• There is no official minimum residency requirement for those planning a civil ceremony.
• Same sex weddings in Austria were legalised in January 2019.
• A civil ceremony is the only legally binding type of ceremony possible in Austria
• Wedding ceremonies usually take place in at the Standesamt (registry office), however for an additional fee it’s possible for a ceremony to take place outside of the official offices.
• Austria has some of the most beautiful official locations in Europe for wedding ceremonies.
• You may only have a religious ceremony after a civil ceremony has taken place, either in Austria or in your own country.

Top Tips from Austrian Wedding Experts

• Austria makes a fantastic year round wedding destination – it’s ideal for both winter and summer weddings. Elopement and Adventure Wedding Specialist Nadia from Amulet Weddings & Events, takes a closer look at the options available for couples thinking of getting married in Austria.
• Get the legalities right – it could be disastrous if you find 3 weeks before the wedding that you can’t get married and people have booked flights and accommodation. Registration for civil ceremonies in Austria can be done at the earliest 6 months before the wedding. Ideally, couples should contact their wedding planner at least 9 months before their desired wedding date, so that all the paperwork can be done in time and the preferred venues secured. The earlier the better, but High Emotion Weddings also finds optimal solutions for spontaneous requests.
• With choosing Austria for your destination wedding Stressfree Weddings by SandraM believe you have already done the first step as nowhere else in the world unites elegance, nature and history as much as the beautiful backdrops of Austria’s cities, The Alps, castles, wineries and most importantly the Austrian hospitality.

Our Hot Tips for a Wedding in Austria

• Austria makes an ideal adventure wedding location with a wide range of activities.
• Plan ahead, some of the more popular wedding venues can be booked up 12 to 18 months in advance.
• As soon as you know your wedding date, book your photographer and videographer.
• Have a welcome dinner or cocktails in a local restaurant or bar.
• Organise a post wedding day brunch or activity.
• For those planning a DIY wedding, use our Wedding Abroad Planning Tool Kit to help you stay on track or book a 90 Minute Personalised Planning Consultation.
• Provide guests with as much information as possible. Read our Guest Information Guide, and download our Guest Information Checklist which covers everything from guests expenses, to creating a personal wedding website.
• Send out a list of potential properties to guests as soon as possible (if you can go and view them first) and get flight details from all your home airports.
• Don’t expect things to work the same way as they do in your home country. Ask as many questions as many times as you need to in order to make sure you get the answers you need.

Austria Wedding Suppliers, Legalities, Advice & Tips