Europe Weddings

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[field title=”Wedding Colors”]Soft blues and light greens with white[/field]
[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]

My parents have spent a lot of time in Switzerland since I was young. They have a house about 5 minutes away from the wedding venue. While we were dating, Jeff and I would fly over to visit my parents every summer and explore. I’m happy to say that Jeff loves this beautiful mountainous hidden gem of a country just as much as my family and I do. It had always been my dream to get married there, and thankfully Jeff and his family loved the idea. We were encouraged to reconsider a destination wedding, but I’m so glad we were able to have our dream wedding. Special things are worth waiting for. My very talented wedding florist, Tabea Maria-Lisa, described my vision as “a boy’s baby shower”; I laughed and said that I felt confident that she understood my vision! She tweaked and embellished my ideas and created the most lovely whimsical garden for our ceremony. I wanted a long table with lanterns and candles for our wedding party, and she gave me everything and more! It was spectacular. Holly Hollon created the most beautiful bespoke letterpress invitation suite with a gorgeous crest for our wedding. It included an accordion folding card with a beautiful illustration of the lake and venue that listed the events of the weekend, a detailed map of relevant destinations around Lake Luzern for our guests, as well as a welcome booklet with various watercolor illustrations.

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[field title=”Proposal Story”]Jeff proposed on December 27, 2019 just a few days after Christmas. He had just been gifted a drone and spent those two days mastering his pilot skills so he could propose and record us all at the same time! He’s a very quick learner. Anyway, we were driving up to meet all the Rapp’s in Lake Placid for the New Year, and we decided to stop at the Rapp Family Lake House to stretch our legs (something we frequently did on the long drive up from Boston). As I was throwing snowballs for our Labrador, Moose, Jeff was suddenly proposing to me with my mom’s ring! It was exactly right. Just Jeff, Moose and me (plus the drone footage for the families & Instagram).[/field]
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[section title=”The Fashion”]
[field title=”Wedding Gown”]

I had no idea where to start with this! All the blogs said to go to Pinterest, so that’s what I did! Slowly, I started to notice a trend and pattern in the dresses I would pin, and that’s how I found the genius who is Berta. I fell in love with the Berta collections online, so I did some searching and I found a store in Miami that carried the designer. Five bridesmaids and I piled into my SUV and drove an hour and a half for a Berta Trunk Show at Chic Parisien in Miami. We had such a fun day shopping together and I was lucky enough to find my wedding dress! Months later, my mom and I returned to Chic Parisien to try on a second dress that we had seen in a campaign for a newer collection. It was the perfect “second dress” and I became a two-time Berta Bride. My wedding shoes were sparkly white Christian Louboutin heels. My earrings belonged to my aunt and were also worn by her daughter on her wedding day. My engagement ring is my mom’s original engagement ring, and my wedding band belonged to my maternal grandmother. I had all of my most important women with me in some way.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]I had 9 bridesmaids and they divided perfectly into 3 groups of 3: 3 childhood friends, 3 college friends, and 3 sisters-in-law. I envisioned all my friends in one shade of blue, and then my sisters in a complimentary blue/green shade. I also wanted my Maid of Honor to stand out, so we went on a special shopping endeavor to find her the perfect beaded blue dress. I love how all the dresses blended together to create a cohesive bridal party look.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]

Jeff wore a floral Dazi bow tie and Swiss suspenders. His tuxedo was made by Blank Label in Boston. He changed into a white smoking jacket for the reception, also made by Blank Label. He wore Stubbs & Wootton velvet slippers. The groomsmen wore tuxedos organized through the BlackTux. It was a simple classic look that I was able to add some flair to with Swiss suspenders and colorful bow ties. Similar to the women, I had the 5 friend groomsmen wear Dazi bowties in a soft blue and the brother groomsmen wear ciel blue bowties from the Tie Bar. The fathers of the bride and groom also wore Swiss suspenders and matching floral bow ties.

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[section title=”The Details”]
[field title=”Food & Drink”]Amongst the things we had for dinner:
– romana salad hearts with roasted sunflower seeds, thyme grissini, air-dried Grand Cru ham and apple balsamic vinaigrette
– homemade truffle ravioli with fava beans, artichokes and parmesan foam
– creamy poultry soup with truffled dumplings
– brüggli salmon trout from saddle with Ticino polenta and spring vegetables
– tarte au citron with meringue and mango sorbet[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]My vision was blue hydrangeas and white roses!

Tabea did an incredible job creating a garden-feel, with lots of greenery and plenty of florals.

My bouquet had white roses, light blue hydrangeas, and seasonal flowers in different
shades of white, ivory and light blue.

The shape of the bouquet was round but with a lush look and tied in a structured way. Stems were tied with hand-died silk ribbons in blue tones.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]

We had a 5-tier cake with 3 tiers of different flavored cake. The cake was white with a waterfall of white roses, blue blowers, and greenery. At the top sat a little figurine of our dog Moose.

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[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]It was a generally secular ceremony with splashes of religion that we felt were important to us. Jeffrey is Christian and I was raised Jewish. To honor my Jewish heritage, I had my mom read the 7 Hebrew Wedding Blessings (in English), and Jeffrey broke the glass after we exchanged vows and rings.

A string quartet played at the ceremony, we had “Wildest Dreams” played when the
bridal party entered and the classic “Canon in D” when I entered.

Our first dance song was “Jackie & Wilson” by Hozier. Jeffrey didn’t have too many super strong opinions about our wedding plans, but when I asked if he had any thoughts on what our first dance song should be, he announced that he’d picked it out years ago. I thought it was so sweet and fully accepted his choice.

The father-daughter song was “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys, while the mother-son song was “Mama Said (There’d Be Days Like This)” by the Shirelles.[/field]
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I think we both agree that the vows were the most important part of the day to us. We had been legally married since October of 2019….so this was finally our chance to voice our commitment and individual promises to each other. Saying our vows was like putting the final stamp on our marriage in front of all our loved ones. My brother Lance was our officiant and he did such an amazing job. It was really special having him play such a big part in our wedding day. Our ring bearer was our dog Moose ! He wore a fancy Swiss leather dog collar embossed with gold metal Edelweiss. He looked quite handsome and was a perfect gentleman. He made his way down the aisle with poise and then took a seat by the groom’s feet. The most touching moment was probably when I hugged my other brother Jonathan after the ceremony. He and Jeffrey were both so emotional! It was very sweet. Jonathan has always been my best friend, and seeing the emotional impact our wedding had on him meant a lot to me. He also gave the greatest speech at our reception. Not a dry eye in the place!

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[field title=”Special Detail #2″]Another very special detail: the surprise boat ride my parents planned for us. I think the photos from the boat are some of the most beautiful photos from the whole day, so I am very grateful for that. Mailys got right on the boat with us and took so many wonderful photos!

My dad also surprised us with the most amazing fireworks I have ever seen. It was just another way for my parents to express their shared excitement and joy with us and it was absolutely breathtaking.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]About our honeymoon: we originally wanted to go to Indonesia, but it was not an option due to Covid restrictions. Instead we went to Santorini, Greece for 5 days, followed by 5 days in Split, Croatia, and then back to Switzerland to pick up our dog from my parents house. Santorini was so beautiful and romantic! We had the best time and Jeffrey planned the best activities for us! He took me horseback riding through the caldera, wine tasting at a local vineyard, and sailing on a romantic sunset catamaran cruise. Once we were fully relaxed in Santorini, we were ready to sightsee our way through Split! It was the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure.[/field]
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Photography: Maïlys Fortune Photography | Videography: 2Become1 | Wedding planner: ToGather Weddings by Valerie | Floral Design: TML | Tabea Maria-Lisa | Stationery: Holly Hollon | Band: K-Trio Jazz | Venue: Vitznau | Bridal makeup & Hairstylist: Sinem Yavsaner | DJ & Singers: Kudos Sound | Fireworks: Feuerwerkszauber | Photobooth: Photobooth System | Rentals: Options | Sound & Lights: Spark Events

When Momento Cativo Photography planned this Switzerland bridal inspiration session, they originally imagined a sunny, cloudless morning, but when the day of the shoot arrived, rain was in the forecast. Instead of abandoning their shoot, they reimagined it to capture beauty in the unexpected and in the imperfect – and with cloud covered mountains and the foggy forest, the end result is pretty dreamy. Get some serious gray day, bridal inspiration right this way…

From Momento Cativo Photography… When we imagine the perfect wedding, we think of a beautiful bride and groom over the moon, a landscape that takes our breath away, the blue sky with the sun shine kissing our skin, and toasting to love!

When we first planned this styled shoot on our trip to Switzerland, we envisioned a cloudless day, but we must confess that although a few times we thought of giving up on our vision before we realized that no matter if rain appears and persists, we can’t change that, and it will still be a truly special day. So we changed our plan and decided to capture the moment in a unique way, accepting what the gods had give us. We created something unexpected and imperfect but so beautiful and so improbable.

Although the rain didn’t stop for a moment during our shoot, we believe that even in a storm, with the motivation and support of those we love, we can be happy and complete! We hope we can inspire and motivate all brides and grooms to see in their grayest day in a different perspective.

The true inspiration was the blue of Lake Blausee, the magic of the snow-capped mountains hidden in the fog, and the beauty of a peaceful country surrounded by nature. All vendors who worked on this project are Swiss.

Photography: Momento Cativo | Floral Design: TML | Tabea Maria-Lisa | Wedding Dress: Caroline Castigliano | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture | Jewelry: MEL | Hair and Makeup: Carolina Teles | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab | Model: Gloria Amelia | Wedding Dress Boutique: Boutique Belle En Blanc

Although summer is my favorite season, this bridal session by Anna Tereshina Photography in Switzerland has me swooning over the romantic, snow-covered mountains – just look at that dreamy lighting! Two gorgeous gowns, a vibrant blue and white bouquet, and the prettiest calligraphy complete this winter wonderland. Get transported to the mountains in the film by Monica Salcedo, then check out the gallery for more images so beautiful, they’ll give you the chills.

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From Anna Tereshina Photography… Imagine how your dream location for your bridal portrait session would look like. Would it be a sunny beach with tall palms and white sand? Or would you prefer to be in a historical centre of a small European town, surrounded by tiny houses, blooming trees, and old architecture? For some of us, the most inspiring landscape is in the mountains. Huge, monolith, breathtaking, and pure in their beauty. Close your eyes and imagine a morning, still and quiet, and this wonderful feeling, harmony with nature. You can hear only wind playing with your hair and some birds flying by.

Photography: Anna Preisig Photography | Cinematography: Monica Salcedo | Floral Design: Blumen and Sterne | Wedding Dress: Mery's Couture | Stationery: CHORRI design | Hair Accessory: Naturae Design | Model: Marina Daniela

Many cultures came together for this gorgeous countryside celebration that I’ll be staring at all day long. The red pops of color are my favorite, taking it from sweet and rustic to chic and modern – all thanks to the talented work of Floresie and Majenia Design. Anna Tereshina captured all the colorful beauty and the loving moments between this darling duo – see them and more in our Vault right this way!

From the Couple… The delightful garden of the Château d’Eclépens gave us the chance to create the ceremony we dreamt of and bring together our family and closest friends. A place filled of romanticism, where the natural state of trees and flowers make us feel free to wander everywhere, in intimacy.

The whole ceremony was in the image of the garden and of course, in the image of all of our family and friends: colorful, emotional, and authentic. Simplicity and elegance, that’s what we wanted to give to our guests. Two rows of chairs, each embellish with a touch of gypsophila welcomed the guests; at the very end of the main aisle, a splendid vegetal arch, sublimed with hydrangeas, peonies and roses was to be admired.

During that beautiful day, we were constantly overwhelmed by sincere affections from family and friends.

As a multi-cultural couple (Vietnamese, Swiss and Italian origins), we wanted to have a wedding reflecting this cultural exchange and mix of traditions, values, languages and colors. The traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai, worn by Asian and European women that day, brought so much different and very lively colors; the flowing movement of the dresses in the wind gain the attention and gave a glance of elegance.

How could we think that such a day would bring our love and affection to each other in such a strong and indescribable feeling of fullness. The caring and complicity, which build our relation, enable us to carry out the celebration. We hope that they will continue to lead us in this great life together.

From Majenia Design… The style of Elsa and Sébastien’s wedding was thought as a chic countryside wedding, in coherence with the venue, a castle from the 18th century with cute red shutters hosting a vineyard, surrounded by cereal fields and large park.

This aspect was emphasized by creating some special areas in the castle’s park with vintage indoor type of furniture brought outside: a cozy couch corner, a little iron bed for the couple to sit on during the ceremony, a vintage wood table for the Photo Booth area.

The countryside feeling came with the surroundings relayed by seasonal or local “gourmandises” such as the own castle vine served during the day, honey as guest favor, seasonal fruits to pick freely from the dinner table and a double caterer: a traditional French dinner served in parallel with… a Thaï buffet!

The later was chosen to complement the event with notes coming from Elsa’s Asiatic origins, just like the traditional Vietnamese gowns of the bridesmaids and touches of red used in the color palette throughout the day.

From Floresie… When I met Elsa and Sebastien for the first time to discuss about their dream flowers, we met on site at Eclepens’ castle. They were dreaming about a chic modern countryside wedding, and it was clear to them that they wanted a lot of foliage and contrast in color and textures. The green surroundings of the swiss castle, the large trees in the park were very inspiring to me and I was delighted when they explained that they were thinking about a large arch for the ceremony to be installed among the centennial trees in the park.

We therefore, designed a very bold arch, massive enough so as to find its place among the vast trees. We never defined exactly what kind of flowers would be on it, Elsa and Sebastien just told me they’d love to have flowers with touches of blue on too and not just foliage. Actually the wedding happened beginning of July and I was lucky enough to find amazing red charm peonies which were perfect in the color palette but that I was not even hoping for as the season could have been already over. It’s been a very good surprise for Elsa who’s so in love with them!

So red charm peonies have been the principal flower linking the ceremony to the dinner party. Then came garden roses, mainly red pianos from my favorite grower near Paris that harvest them fully opened, with their vibrant red color that can illuminate any design.

Foliage again for the diner, in the air, a 100 feet ruscus garland welcomed the guests at the entrance of the dinner tent. Foliage again, mixed with peonies, garden roses, artichoke, apricot and cherries, seasonal products only on the table… and I heard the guests loved them and cherries did not last long that night.

Photography: Anna Preisig Photography | Event Design: Majenia | Floral Design: Floresie | Wedding Dress: Delphine Manivet | Invitations: Allons-y Alonso | Bride's Shoes: UGG Australia Jules | Makeup: Rachel Roggo | Hair: Thu Trinh Nguyen | Groom's Attire: Confident | Venue: Château d'Eclépens | Groom's Shoes: Septíème Largeur | Signage: Acaciapiks

You know how we feel about backless wedding gowns. Seriously, is there anything more stunning? Pair that with the stylings and images by one of our favorite Swiss photographers favorites, Anna Tereshina, and you’ve got this inspiration shoot. Head to The Vault for more minimalist chic at its very best.

From Anna Tereshina Photography…This is a bridal shoot I’ve created being inspired by St. Paul’s Church here in Basel, where I live. It’s been built end of 19th century and I love how romantic yet minimal does it look. I wanted to create really clean and minimal look, using neutral palette, supported by green natural tones. I wanted to show contrast between different textures and surfaces. The model Monique is one of my favorite make-up artists to work with.

The concept, styling, papers, calligraphy and flowers are made by me. I believe that being a wide range artist helps me to create unique view of what I call modern wedding photography.

Photography: Anna Preisig Photography | Floral Design: Anna Preisig Photography | Wedding Dress: Victoria Rüsche | Bride's Shoes: Bella Belle | Hair + Makeup: Monique Eigenmann | Venue: St. Paul's Church in Basel | Calligraphy + Stationery: Anna Tereshina | Event Planning + Event Design: Anna Preisig Photography | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab | Model: Monique Eigenmann | Ribbons + Runner: Orchidee De Soie

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Even More Backless Beauties

If the first half of this wedding sent you into a full on pin-fest, part two is guaranteed to do the same. It’s the finale to a decade-long love story set in the heart of Switzerland, with Peaches & Mint taking wedding photography to a whole new level. Emotion Worx filmed the entire fête, and we’ve got each and every image just waiting to be found in The Vault.

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From Peaches & Mint…What could be more romantic than celebrating 10 years with the love of your life? After 9 wonderful years together Lorenz asked for Susanne’s hand on an autumn morning. Her heart skipped a beat, tears followed and for days Susanne couldn’t stop looking at the ring on her finger!

The couple had a very clear & beautiful vision of their special day, which couldn’t have worked out any more perfect, thanks to the stunning locations & professional vendors they picked. Their Zurich wedding was inspired by Susanne’s impeccable taste, a luscious grey color scheme, selected vintage elements and lots of thoughtful details – picked & designed by the bride herself.

Pia Clodi of Peaches & Mint felt incredibly honored and happy to be among the first vendors Susanne & Lorenz booked for their day – together with the stunning works of talented florist Fiona Seidl of Flowerup, she created timeless and artistic images, which were captured fully on film. Bridal makep was by Sinem Yavsaner and stationery design was by the bride herself. Bridesmaids wore Twobirds dresses alongside details like Frou Frou Chic ribbons, Melinda Rose and Gibson Bespoke headpieces and a stunning Inbal Dror dress. The rustic Adlisberg was their immediate first choice when it came to venue – very Swiss and yet very fresh, it provided the perfect space for their laid-back celebration.

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Photography: Peaches And Mint | Cinematography: Emotion Worx | Floral Design: Flowerup | Wedding Dress: Inbal Dror | Stationery: Susanne Bühler | Ceremony: Kulturhaus Helferei | Reception Venue:Adlisberg | Bride’s Shoes: Sergio Rossi | Engagement Ring: Gübelin | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Twobirds Bridesmaid | Hair And Makeup: Sinem Yavsaner | Bride’s Headpiece: Gibson Bespoke | Bridesmaid’s Headpieces: Melinda Rose | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab | Getting Ready: Hotel Europe | Getting Ready Dress: Asos | Ribbon: FrouFrou Chic

I count myself as one of the luckiest girls on earth to write about weddings for a living, but it’s days like this it really, truly hits me. Because this Zurich love story shot by Peaches and Mint? It’s everything. I’m talking a sea of neutral grey on grey design, a European backdrop drenched in old world charm and an Inbal Dror gown so pretty it could bring you to tears. But even more than that, it’s the sheer joy captured in every last image. Sit tight for part two coming up this afternoon!

From Peaches & Mint…What could be more romantic than celebrating 10 years with the love of your life? After 9 wonderful years together Lorenz asked for Susanne’s hand on an autumn morning. Her heart skipped a beat, tears followed and for days Susanne couldn’t stop looking at the ring on her finger!

The couple had a very clear & beautiful vision of their special day, which couldn’t have worked out any more perfect, thanks to the stunning locations & professional vendors they picked. Their Zurich wedding was inspired by Susanne’s impeccable taste, a luscious grey color scheme, selected vintage elements and lots of thoughtful details – picked & designed by the bride herself.

Pia Clodi of Peaches & Mint felt incredibly honored and happy to be among the first vendors Susanne & Lorenz booked for their day – together with the stunning works of talented florist Fiona Seidl of Flowerup, she created timeless and artistic images, which were captured fully on film. Bridal makep was by Sinem Yavsaner and stationery design was by the bride herself. Bridesmaids wore Twobirds dresses alongside details like Frou Frou Chic ribbons, Melinda Rose and Gibson Bespoke headpieces and a stunning Inbal Dror dress. The rustic Adlisberg was their immediate first choice when it came to venue – very Swiss and yet very fresh, it provided the perfect space for their laid-back celebration.

Photography: Peaches And Mint | Cinematography: Emotion Worx | Floral Design: Flowerup | Wedding Dress: Inbal Dror | Stationery: Susanne Bühler | Ceremony: Kulturhaus Helferei | Reception Venue: Adlisberg | Bride's Shoes: Sergio Rossi | Engagement Ring: Gübelin | Bridesmaids' Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid | Hair And Makeup: Sinem Yavsaner | Bride's Headpiece: Gibson Bespoke | Bridesmaid's Headpieces: Melinda Rose Design | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab | Getting Ready: Hotel Europe | Getting Ready Dress: ASOS | Ribbon: FrouFrou Chic

I adore each and every post on SMP Living, but the it’s our travel features that truly tug at my heart strings the most. Blame it on my never ending case of wanderlust. And when I get to see a new place through the lens of someone like Molly Zaidman, consider my entire day (ok, maybe my entire week) made. See just what I mean here.

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Photography: Molly Zaidman | Film Processing: Carmencita Film Lab

I hadn’t realized how gorgeous and romantic Switzerland was until I began going through these stunning photos by Amanda Nippoldt. She was lucky enough to experience this elegant wedding firsthand and with her photos and the beautiful work of Soda Films, I’m left day dreaming of the Swiss countryside and lace veils blowing in the wind. The Swiss chocolate and cheese doesn’t hurt either.

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From The Bride… I first met Patrick when a mutual friend hosted a dinner party and set us up. Patrick is from Texas, and the first thing I said to him was that I didn’t care much for Texas because I had just moved from there. Luckily, he saw that as a challenge to prove me wrong. He spent the rest of the night convincing me that only the best men come from Texas. Luckily, he was very convincing.

Patrick decided to seal the deal while we were visiting my family in Europe over the holidays. Patrick and I flew to Switzerland in December to spend Christmas with my family. We took a couple’s trip over the weekend to Zermatt. Patrick decided to wait until our very last night in the city to pop the question. That evening he took me out to an amazing dinner at the foot of the Matterhorn, and he started telling me how much he loved me and then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was incredibly romantic! He had already told the wait staff that he was planning on proposing so they came out with champagne and dessert for us!

When it came to finding our venue, we were very lucky to have found our venue almost immediately after we got engaged. While we were still in Switzerland the week after our engagement, we went up to the Uetliberg in Zurich with my family. The location is famous for its incredible 360-degree views of Zurich and the Alps. Naturally, Patrick and I immediately fell in love with the hotel and couldn’t wait to share such an incredible location with our incoming guests.

Since Switzerland is famous for it’s the Alps, chocolate and cheese we wanted to find ways to tie all of them together, so we “treated” our guests to local delicacies, and used the phrase “love is sweet” to describe our celebration. Guests arrived to find “Welcome” letters and bags filled with local Swiss chocolates and even tried out some fondue at our cocktail hour!

It was also important to us to incorporate my Swiss heritage and my future husband’s home state, Texas. In keeping with the American South traditions, we had a bridal cake for both of us, but then Patrick had a “Groom’s Cake” that came in the shape of Texas. In keeping with our elegant vision, we went with white flowers that were all locally grown in Switzerland at the time of our wedding, so none of them had to be imported…dahlias, hydrangeas, sweet peas, roses, and of course—edelweiss!

Overall our wedding day was very personal and romantic. Patrick and I were very lucky to have shared our day with so many friends and family abroad and wouldn’t change a thing!

Photography: Amanda Nippoldt Photography | Videography: Soda Films | Coordination: Switzerland Wedding | Floral Design: Blumen Fitze | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Cake: Lienert Konditorei-Confiserie | Ceremony Venue: Kirche Enge | Reception Venue: Uto Kulum Hotel On The Uetliberg | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Maggie London | Hair And Makeup: Janine Scheidegger | Bridal Shoes: Ivanka Trump

Intimate and personal, this stunning celebration of love is just so incredibly special. With the snowy Swiss Alps setting the scene, this couple spent their big day skiing and saying I do, while the super talented Stefan Hellberg captured every magical moment. It all leaves us with a collection of images that almost seem too good to be true, and you can see them all here.

From Stefan Hellberg…I got the chance to spend a fantastic day in the Interlaken area doing what I love the most, skiing and photographing awesome people in love. This was a very intimate wedding with just a few guests. We went skiing in Mürren, apparently the most romantic village in the Swiss Alps. I did not get the chance to see much of it though as is was snowing like CRAZY.

Photography: Stefan Hellberg | Ceremony Venue: Schloss Interlaken | Shoes: Toms | Rings: Mersmann | Skiing: Mürren | Tulle Skirt: Alexandra Grecco | Tweed Jacket: Day Birger Et Mikkelson

Every now and then I long to indulge in a little taste of wedding luxury. The black tie, gilded details, extravagant cakes, fine champagne…you get the idea. And when Sandra Marusic shared her latest inspiration shoot involving all of the above, we knew it was just the ticket to spoil our dear SMPers. So what are you waiting for? Live like a queen for the day (or longer!) in the full gallery right here.

From Sandra Marusic… Our inspiration shoot in Zurich was a perfect match between luxury companies and amazing Swiss vendors. Dream venue, Zunfthaus zur Meisen was built in 1757 in the French style and in the tradition of a baroque city palace with a small cour d’honneur. It dates back to Zurich’s high period characterized by Bodmer and Breitinger and has the reputation of being the most beautiful guild house in the City of Zurich.

My inspiration was “le parfum” by Ellie Saab plus the breathtaking, gold dress by Mery’s Couture Zurich. One of my favorite elements was the absolutely gorgeous engagement ring and I also LOVED all Lele PyP’s shoes!

We used the colors combinations of peach and gold with black and white throughout the shoot. Moët & Chandon were also an extraordinary plus for our details!

Photography: Sandra Marusic | Styling: Milena Zeloni | Florist: English Rosarium | Shoes: Lelepyp | Engagement Ring: Sutter Winterthur | Bride's Gown: Mery's Couture | Cake & Desert: Confiserie Spruengli | Decor: Idylle By Eva Graschi | Fine & Vintage Champagne: Moët And Chandon | Groom Suit: Mery's Couture | Hair & Make-up: Kathrin Tollas | Headpieces: Jannie Baltzer | Location: Zunfthaus Zur Meisen | Models: Aqua Models | Nailpolish: Estée Lauder Companies | Perfume For Her: Elie Saab | Perfume For Him: Tom Ford | Photography - Assistance: Sandra Marusic | Styled Invitation: Jupiter And Juno | Video: Francesco Corsini

Switzerland has long been on my list of vacation destinations I need to visit ASAP.  And even though I have been obsessed with the idea of cozying up in a little Swiss cabin for as long as I can remember, it just hasn’t happened yet.  This, my friends, is my friendly little reminder that my ticket needs.to.be.booked. Because if one week in a Swiss paradise is anywhere near as awesome as this lovely little day captured by Celine Chhuon Photography, my life will be complete.  Join me in the gallery for all of the pretty.

From Celine Chhuon Photography… Sarah and Nicolas got to know each other during a one-year around the world trip. Both are fans of trecking and it was after a long climb to reach on of the highest mountains of Mount Cook region in New Zealand that Nicolas proposed to Sarah! And was then naturally that they decided to seal their love at 1,600 meter high in a nice Swiss chalet on top of a mountain in Switzerland where they’re both from. They both wanted something rustic and simple, decoration was subtle and they chose to have lots of wild flowers as main decoration. The couple spent months to hand-decorate hundreds of vases with lace, pearls, raffia and hemp strings to hold the flowers on the guests tables. Table cloth were hand-sewn too. Sarah and Nicolas are very close to their parents so they wanted to celebrate their own parents’ love by displaying their vintage photographs that they spent months to look for in the attic archives!

The day ended by lanterns in the Swiss sky with mountains as a backdrop, and a song sung by the groom for the bride!

Photography: Celine Chhuon Photography | Event Planning & Design: The Bride & Groom | Flowers: Les Capucines, Monthey, Switzerland | Dress: Rembo Styling | Ceremony Location: Monthey City Hall, Switzerland | Reception Location: Chindonne, Switzerland | Bride's Shoes: San Marina | Suit: The Kooples | Groom's Shoes: Clarks

A Swiss countryside wedding just sounds like a dream come true, and after pouring over all the gorgeous images of this Swiss soiree from Claire Morgan, I can tell you it’s even better than a dream. With beautiful scenery, a beautiful bride and some inspiring DIYs – this gallery is as good as they get. See it all here.

From Claire Morgan…Lidia told me she was addicted to SMP during her wedding planning process. She is half Spanish and half Croatian, and Stefan is half Italian, although both are born and raised Swiss. Therefore it was a 4 nationality wedding.

They got married in Blausee (which means Blue Lake), one of the best-known mountain lakes in Switzerland is located in the midst of a small nature park. It has a very special color and crystal-clear water, which has its source in subterranean springs. It is also a trout farm so one can see fresh-water trout swimming freely in the small lake.

Lidia and Stefan fell in love with the location and loved how everything was conveniently located so that everything could take place within one location. The hotel and restuarant are located on the shore of the lake and they had an outdoor ceremony just outside the hotel. We took our time for a lovely portrait session just before the sun disappeared behind the mountain in the forest and the evening was enjoyed with a 4 course meal served by the hotel which I can honestly say was some of the best food I ever tasted.

Photography: Claire Morgan Photography | Floral Design: Bltenmeer | Wedding Dress: Cymbaline | Invitations: Sweetcookie - etsy | Shoes: Rachel Simpson | Wedding Venue: Blausee | All Other Stationery: DIY by Bride | Lemon Butter Jam: DIY by Bride + Sister | Lemoncello: DIY by Sister-in-law

As if I needed a reason to pack my bags for Switzerland (I didn’t) Del Castillo Photography has given me about a hundred. This wedding is absolutely stunning – from the gorgeous couple, to the fabulous decor, to that view – and I will be living out my Swiss dreams in the gallery of ridiculously beautiful images for the next few hours!

From the gorgeous bride… Today I’m getting married! The Morning of July 20, 2013 is an awakening full of emotions. It’s a hot summer day, the sun’s rays warm my skin and I feel immensely happy.

My stunning Jenny Packham dress is hanging at the entrance, waiting for me. With Mara, my wedding planner, we thought of every detail to make this day a hymn to love and joy of being together. The small wedding bags for ladies are ready; they contain rice, soap bubbles, a ‘waiting for the bride’ cookie and a fun to cool off under the afternoon sun. The doors, hand-made with my father in low, are positioned for my entrance, they are a symbol of this new step, this new life with my husband, together.

The day goes fast, my father comes to pick me. He’s wearing cufflinks custom that we did do for dads, the witness, and of course for the groom! Devis is excited and moved, the Protestant ceremony is outdoors, on the lawn. The breeze coming up from the lake carries the pastor’s words in our hearts, and it excites us. Glass balls hanging from the branches, the big white pillows under the trees, the white lounge on the lawn hosts the refreshments between many laughs and photographs.

And it’s dark now. Dinner is served, the table is so romantic and full of roses all around! There is the menu that I wrote by hand, after a calligraphy class.

We cut our wonderful cake surrounded by tiny lights suspended magically around us, and a sweets custom buffet accompany the evening. Our last dance, to the tune of Chris Isaak, and we let go floating lanterns in the lake, as a symbol of hope to always believe in our dreams. To never lose the magic of life.

Photography: Del Castillo Photography | wedding planner: mara Cirillo | floral design: rattiflora | Wedding Cake: Arte nei Dolci Gaby e Flavia | Reception Venue: Centro Dannemann | catering: Giubiasco | DJ: TM records | furnitures: Kairos allestimenti | sweets buffet: Barbara

Moving around the world to be with your sweetheart sounds straight out of a Hollywood movie. So does walking along the waters edge in Zurich complete with a starlet dressed to the nines. Those shoes! That veil! And the pop of red on her lips that completed this stylish ensemble. What stands out above all is Andrea Kuehnis catching the bride’s mega-watt smile as her and her groom left the courthouse. It’s hands down the best accessory. See more of this beaming couple in the full gallery.

From Andrea Kuehnis Photography… U.S. Brides just have a flair for a stylish wedding outfit! Kate, originally from the U.S., met Lukas a Swiss Banker in NY and fell in love. That love brought her to Switzerland where she lives since a couple of years. The two got married with their closest family in the beautiful Stadthaus in Zurich. Kate made me stunned, I love birdcage veils and with her perfectly matched dressed, the lovely hairdo and her sexy shoes she looked like beauty from a 50’s Hollywood movie. Congratulations Kate & Lukas!

Wedding Photography: Andrea Kuehnis Photography / Ceremony Venue: Courthouse in Zurich, Switzerland / Reception Venue: Milchbar in Zurich, Switzerland / Floral Design: Blumenhaus Nordheim / Wedding Dress: “Zarita” Dress by Diane von Furstenberg / Bride’s Shoes: Something Bleu via BHLDN

 

If I’m not here on Monday it’s because I’ve moved to Switzerland. And if I’m not there, chances are I’m still curled up on my bed with a box of tissues lost in the gorgeousness of this film by Living Cinema. Yet again, Curtis and his team have transported me to another bit of wedding heaven… this time to an elegant European soirée. The bride is absolutely stunning, but what really kicked up the melt-factor were the men. The father-of-the-bride, so sweet. And the groom?!? Oh-my-goodness, the way he looks at his bride… pure joy. Need a bit more of this lakeside love-fest? Sit back, relax, and get lost in the beautiful work by Living Cinema, then it’s off to the gallery you must go!

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From Living Cinema: Geraldine and Felix celebrated their wedding in Ascona, Switzerland. Close friends surrounded them along with even closer family for a two-day celebration that shared lots of joy and merriment. Their celebration began with a civil ceremony in the courtyard of the Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo. Following the civil ceremony, guests partook in a delicious lunch on the promenade looking out towards Lake Maggiore. While guests rested and relaxed in the beautiful weather, the groomsmen accompanied their groom on a small boat trip to the reception site on the largest of the Brisaggo islands on Lake Maggiore. After Felix completed his inspection and tour, it was time to celebrate with a welcome dinner at the Eden Roc Marina. Guests feasted upon barbequed local fish and meats and drank some of the finest wine in Switzerland. Once the welcomes were made and the foods consumed, it was time to rest for the big event.

Geraldine and Felix were married at the Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Ascona. The groom and groomsmen walked to the church together along the promenade while Geraldine was driven there in the same make and model car that Felix’s mother rode to meet her groom in years before. After the ceremony, the bride and groom, along with their guests, danced down the small streets of Ascona to the music of a New Orleans brass band. The wedding ceremony was followed by a gourmet buffet at the Hotel Eden Roc where guests then rested for the formal reception.

For the reception, guests were ferried to Isola Brissago, an island off the coast of Ascona. Here they dined on a five star dinner, danced to live music, enjoyed cigars, and relaxed in the Moroccan chill out lounge until the early hours of the morning. The entire wedding weekend had the personal touches and style of both Geraldine and Felix throughout. Lastly, the weekend concluded with a traditional brunch, where their beloved friends and family congratulated Geraldine and Felix one last time before departing home.

Cinematography: Living Cinema / Photography: Jonny Donovan  / Flowers: Marianne Di Giorgio at the Hotel Eden Roc / Event Design & Planning: Sebastian Rogalla and Tatjana Meyer at Hotel Eden Roc / Ceremony Location: Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo, Ascona / Reception Location: Isola Brissago / Invitations: Ilona Bridges at Paper Sherbet / Shoes: Amina by Jimmy Choo / Dress: Pronovias “Balear”

The amount of style and creativity oozing from this Switzerland wedding has my heart beating overtime. The “industrial BBQ” soiree was branded with the cutest ampersand logo I ever did see and every single element was completely representative of the super chic-and totally adorable-bride and groom! If you’re anything like me, your entire morning will be spent loving on the full gallery of images from Miguel Varona!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Even though we’ve lived in Zurich for three years, we decided to get married in Basel, where we both were born. We lived in Basel, which is a pretty small town, next to each other without meeting for about 25 years. He moved to Spain to study and met my friends from Basel, who were on an university exchange program in Spain. When I decided to visit them in sunny Alicante, we met and fell in love. Two years of long distance relationship followed, and in October 2009 he moved back to Switzerland. As both countries, Spain and Switzerland, were very important to us, we decided to have our civil wedding in Basel and the ceremony in Spain.

Usually civil weddings are quite small in Switzerland, but we decided to throw a big industrial BBQ party for all our friends. And as my husband is such a creative person, almost all decorations were made by us at home. He even created our logo with the three hearts representing our union, our families and love for each other. In Switzerland we decided to keep all decoration in blue tones, whereas in Spain we opted for orange hues. As we had guests from all over the world at our reception, we wanted all of them to see the most beautiful part of our hometown: the Rhine. We organized a boat tour on the Rhine before arriving at our venue right at the border between France and Germany. The wedding was designed to be an industrial wedding with many surprises for our guests: lots of cocktails, great BBQ, an awesome band that made the guests dance before dinner was even served and a casino. The atmosphere was simply amazing, and we danced until the break of dawn.

Wedding Photography: Miguel Varona / Ceremony: Ostquai in Basel, Switzerland / Reception: MS Laellekönig in Basel, Switzerland / Transportation: Christoph Wirz of DeLorean Automobile / Casino: Casino Diamond (Germany) / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal + Customization / Bride’s Shoes: Modissa / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: mint&berry / Groom’s Attire: Felix W. in Zurich (044 709 19 29) / Groom’s Shirt: Zara / Groom’s Bow Tie: The Tie Bar / Groom’s Shoes: Navyboot / Groom’s Sunglasses: Persol “PO3028S” / Groom’s Suspenders: Topman

We’ve got a fabulous little film by Joshua Brown to share with you today, highlighting a gorgeous winter wonderland wedding in Switzerland. I know, it’s amazing! Everything about this wedding is so gorgeous and dreamy that I wouldn’t be surprised if you watch it over and over again. I know I did!

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From the Bride… Sean and I live in Los Angeles, California, but decided to have a winter wonderland wedding in Switzerland! I always wanted a destination wedding, loving the idea of having close friends and family on an adventure together to celebrate love and marriage. We decided on Switzerland for a number of reasons — my family originated from there, the Alps are stunning, and we love cheese and chocolate.

The day of the wedding was a fairy tale. I wore a feathered dress by Manuel Mota and Hunter boots to keep my feet nice and toasty. The bridesmaid’s bouquets and groomsman’s boutonnieres were also made of feathers. My bouquet, weighing about five pounds, was made of crystals and beads by my talented sister-in-law. The ceremony took place at the LDS temple in Bern, Switzerland. It was small, intimate and very special. Upon exiting the temple, more family and friends were waiting and cheering as two alpenhorns played in our honor.

After the ceremony we all traveled to Interlaken, Switzerland for the wedding reception at the Victoria-Junfrau Grand Hotel. The Salon Napoleon III ballroom was absolutely stunning, with beautiful gold leaf engravings and a Venetian hand-blown glass chandelier. Candelabras lined the room to create a warm and romantic ambiance. We chose to have one big long table for our 27 guests, just like a family dinner. The food was spectacular, complete with bretzel and ratatouille. The wedding program consisted of touching toasts from every single guest, a special musical number by the me and groom, parent dances, a first dance and a little cake cutting (fight). Even with the small group, we still boogied on the dance floor. The entire day was magical. Switzerland provided the most incredible backdrop imaginable for such a special day. Everything was perfect, especially my groom.

Wedding Cinematography: Joshua Brown / Ceremony: LDS Temple in Bern, Switzerland / Reception: Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, Switzerland / Bride’s Bouquet: DIY by the Groom’s Sister / Wedding Dress: Manuel Mota for Pronovias / Bride’s Boots: Hunter

This week happens to be a nice, short work week but that doesn’t mean we are going to deprive you of any wedding pretties. In fact, we have a ton of gorgeous inspiration up our blogger sleeves and we are going to be laying them all out today, one fabulous wedding at a time. We’ll give you a snippet of each wedding and all you have to do is click on the gallery of the weddings you are dying to see more of. We have a feeling you are going to be checking out each and every gallery but that isn’t so bad, is it?

Switzerland is starting things off this morning with an elegant affair shot by Adam Ludwik and Joanna Siwiec. And of particular note, the bride’s shoes and the groom’s bowtie are in full on harmony. Now THAT is a whole lot of fashion greatness. See more of the gorgeous photographs from this Swiss beauty in the gallery.

see more from this Swiss masterpiece here!

From the Bride:

The formal part of the wedding ceremony took place on the top floor of a two century old townhouse in the heart of Lucerne, overlooking the river Reuss. The wooden parquet, the walls cluttered with dark portraits, and the enormous chandeliers gave the place an ancient atmosphere. After vows were spoken and rings exchanged my husband carried me in his arms down a spiral stairs, and we were greeted by a blue sky and the joyful faces of our guests.

The drive to a wedding reception from Lucerne offered the international guests the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Switzerland’s picturesque scenery, the far stretching lake of Lucerne, with tiny villages situated at its borders, and cows pasturing peacefully in the green valleys further away. We stopped at a pier in Brunnen for a photo session with stunning mountain scenery as backdrop. The guests were subsequently greeted by saxophone music for the cocktail hour before the dinner party started. Our wedding venue was a beautiful tent set at the foot of a hill, which offered a panoramic view over the lake of Zurich and the Alps. Floral decorations inspired by us and Style Me Pretty designs consisted mostly of white orchids, peonies and roses while matching paper lanterns played them out on the ceiling of the tent. We selected the two Polish photographers Adam Ludvik and Joanna Siwiec for our wedding, who did a splendid job in capturing the emotions of the celebration.

Photography: Adam Ludwik and Joanna Siwiec / Ceremony Location: Rathaus Lucerne, Switzerland / Reception Location: Restaurant Luegeten, Switzerland / Menu Cards: Bella Figura / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang / Groom: Costume National