After getting engaged, Kelsey Row and Ali Reed felt reluctant about internet hosting a giant marriage ceremony, so after they stumbled throughout a photographer who specialised in Alpine elopements, they jumped on the probability. The couple packed marriage ceremony outfits and mountaineering boots, invited their sisters, and set off for a weekend within the mountains…
DAY BEFORE WEDDING
Ali (left) and Kelsey
Kelsey: The day earlier than our marriage ceremony ceremony, we took a protracted hike to a few completely different alpine lakes. Our photographer Cat helped coordinate our elopement — she requested us what we envisioned, advisable hikes, and located an incredible bakery. It was good to be working with somebody who knew the terrain so nicely.
Kelsey: We thought, Why not get married with our sisters by our sides? The 4 of us are across the similar age, fairly comparable in some ways, and really shut. It felt actually particular.
Kelsey: I felt loads of hesitancy to get within the glacial lake. It was freezing however tremendous enjoyable.
Ali: Then we had lunch at a restaurant on the mountain and stored mountaineering.
Ali: Earlier than we got here to Austria, we figured there was no method it could possibly be as stunning as it’s in footage. But it surely was much more stunning in particular person.
WEDDING DAY
Kelsey: We stayed in an condo within the metropolis of Innsbruck, Austria. Considered one of my favourite elements of the day was preparing collectively. We’re not morning individuals, so we slept till 9, did one another’s hair and make-up, and had mimosas with our sisters. It was good to not have a good schedule and fear about lots of friends.
Ali: We completed preparing individually, so we might do a correct first look.
Ali: I discovered a jumpsuit with a cape for $98 and joked that I used to be yielding the remainder of our costume price range to Kelsey. She had me guess beforehand what I assumed her costume would seem like, and I used to be completely flawed. I used to be pondering lacy and boho, and he or she had silk goddess vibes. It felt superior to show round and see her.
Kelsey: After our first look, we met up with our sisters and hiked to a lake for the marriage ceremony and a picnic.
Ali: Since our mother and father weren’t bodily there with us, we requested each units to jot down one thing, after which our sisters learn their letters aloud. We laughed, then cried, after which laughed at the truth that we had been crying.
Kelsey: Then Ali and I mentioned our vows.
Ali: We took a couple of lengthy pauses to only soak within the second. It felt like the entire world stood nonetheless.
Kelsey: Hilariously, I forgot to carry water when packing for the picnic, so we solely had Champagne to drink.
Kelsey: Ali and I coated our sister’s bills, after which, after the marriage, all of us took trains collectively round Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Two weeks with 4 individuals in Europe — a once-in-a-lifetime journey — was nonetheless less expensive than the quotes we had been getting for bigger weddings within the U.S.
Ali: Getting legally married in Austria was sophisticated, so we signed our marriage certificates with Kelsey’s sister at a random airport bar earlier than we flew overseas. Now, each time we’re on the airport, we’ll cross the bar and be like, ‘That’s the place we formally received married!’
P.S. A marriage at residence, and how would you make your marriage ceremony really feel true to you?
(Wedding ceremony images and planning by Wild Connections Pictures.)
