“We want something very simple: just a nice place by a lake”. We hear this sentence so often from our bridal couples and it always surprises us. In this blog, we’d like to show you why the “very simple” at first glance is often the most complicated and what challenges await you at a wedding in a beautiful spot in nature. First things first: We love weddings in unusual venues in nature and we love challenges! There’s no such thing as impossible – with a little flexibility and without fear of additional effort, (almost) anything is possible.
Pinterest and Instagram are full of dreamy photos of romantic weddings in nature. The wedding ceremony by a clear mountain lake, a long banquet table beautifully decorated in an idyllic forest or a wedding reception in a spacious meadow with a view of the mountains. There are thousands of ideas, and photos too. But the fact that these are often created at so-called “style shoots” and are not real weddings is unfortunately rarely mentioned. For real weddings, a few challenges have to be overcome first.
Anyone dreaming of a wedding or ceremony on a lake generally needs a permit first. Especially if it is a “well-known venue”, such as Lake Oeschinen. Obtaining this is often difficult or even impossible. And let’s be honest, it’s not completely incomprehensible: the wonderful nature in our beautiful Switzerland should be accessible to everyone and offer relaxation and tranquillity. For reasons of nature and animal protection, “mass tourism” is not encouraged. Special events or exclusive use by private groups are therefore often not permitted in such places.
However, if you still manage to find a place in nature where a wedding ceremony or wedding reception is permitted, this is only the first step. The effort involved in holding the ceremony at such a venue is considerable. It is often not easy to get to a mountain lake or a remote meadow, and access by car is either not possible or only possible to a limited extent. In addition, there is usually little or no equipment and little infrastructure available. It is therefore important to think carefully about how furniture, electricity, decorations, food and drink, possibly sanitary facilities and, last but not least, the wedding party and the bride and groom can be transported to the venue.
It should also be noted that it is rarely possible to close off such a venue exclusively for the wedding celebration. Such venues are generally open to the public and everyone is allowed to visit. It is therefore possible that strangers will be “present” at your own wedding. They are often understanding and happy about the special occasion and are therefore happy to watch. This should also be considered for the wedding photos, in which an “uninvited guest” may appear.
And now one last but very important point: the bad weather option. Everyone loves outdoor weddings and every bridal couple hopes for nice and warm weather on their wedding day. Nevertheless, a bad weather option must also be planned. It is often only possible to decide at short notice which option to choose. Therefore, it may well be that both options have to be planned down to the last detail and sometimes even paid for.
At the wedding from which these wonderful pictures were taken, the “bad weather option” for the ceremony and also the definitive banquet venue for the dinner and party was a very special one: the venerable Waldhaus in Flims, which unfortunately had to close its doors temporarily after this wedding weekend.
As mentioned at the beginning of the blog, we love challenges and outdoor weddings in crazy venues. We have already been able to organize several weddings in very special locations. If you also want a wedding ceremony and/or wedding reception in nature, we advise you to get a professional to help you. They will help you find the right location and overcome hurdles such as permits, transportation, infrastructure, furniture, etc. We are happy to support you and look forward to hearing from you!
