Are you wondering what is the best season to elope in switzerland?
What a brilliant idea! Switzerland has truly fantastic sceneries and can accommodate your perfect elopement all year round, depending on your vision and dreams. So let me help you find out what is the best season to elope in Switzerland!
To make sure you have the best chances on a successful wedding experience, you will find below a few elements to be added in your thought process as to decide when and where to marry in Switzerland.
Each season has its perks, so lets break it down below:
Winter
Perks: Dreamy landscapes – snowy ambiance above ~1’000 m. A massive perk is that there are usually less (or zero) people on the trails if you are considering snowshoeing to your perfect location.
Switzerland has also lots of ski resorts, so why not include some fun skiing/snowboarding on your day? You could say your vows on the top of the mountain and ski down to your party (unless your friends love to ski as well – oh wow, imagine your whole bridal party skiing down the slopes in their attire! What a bliss!)
What about a tour on sledge pulled by huskies? Winter is also the perfect season to try a traditional Swiss Cheese fondue (think big pot of melted cheese with white wine). What about saying your vows in an icecave or on a glacier? Winter is probably my favorite season for gorgeous sunsets !
On the down side: You should not mind cold temperatures, the days are shorter, a lot of hiking trails will not be accessible during winter season. Be aware of the avalanche danger depending on your choice of location. Always ask the local tourism office and/or consider hiring a mountain guide if you are dreaming of a remote snowshoe hike location.
Spring
Perks: In the spring, the snow melts at lower altitudes, the pastures turn into bright green and lots of trees and bushes start to bloom. It’s a slower season for tourists, particularly in March and April, so it may be an optimal time of year to find quieter places for your elopement.
If you are dreaming of a snowy elopement, March could also be an option if you want to avoid the super freezing temperatures.
Around beginning-mid March, the cherry and abricot trees are in full bloom with their romantic soft pastel pink flowers. Waterfalls will be at their fullest around April-May. Some hiking trails start opening again early May, and the big perk is that you won’t see many people hiking at that time of the year.
On the down side: the cherry/abricot blooming season is very short (about 1-2 weeks). – so if you are dreaming of photos under a cherry tree, your window of opportunity is small. Most hiking trails are still closed (or the avalanche risk is to high), make sure to make enough research on the trail you wish to head for.
Summer
Perks: Mid June to August is full on summer season! Think warmer long days, swimming in lakes, epic mountain trails and so many options of activities. From paragliding, biking, hiking, stand up paddling, climbing, via-ferratas, ziplines, boat tours, and so much more.
For those of you who want to explore, we have many mountain cabins if you want to hike from hut to hut. You can also imagine booking a helicopter flight to say your vows on top of a glacier!
On the down side: this is high tourist season – try to aim for a mid-week day if you want to avoid the weekend crowds on the trails. July in Switzerland can be quite rainy and is thunder storm season in the mountains. Should you wish to go hiking, allow yourselves some “buffer days” in case the weather forecast is bad. Usually summer storms do not last long, but be prepared and do not take any risks.
Autumn
Perks: September – mid October is probably one of the best seasons for mountain elopements! Nature is changing its apparel into magnificent warm fall colours, and some higher mountain tops may get the first snow that looks like powder sugar. It is also the season of golden larch trees and colourful forests.
The temperature is usually still warm during the day, and cooler at night. In October you might get some first snow above 2’000m of altitude. November on the other hand can be quite rainy and grey, but can still provide some very nice moody ambiance.
Since autumn is low tourist season, you will have more availabilities in accommodations and venues and fewer people on the trails.
On the down side: well there are not many downsides, apart from more rainy weather by the end of Autumn…
My advice to choose the right season
I would recommend taking some time with your partner to think of what is the most important to you for your wedding day.
What type of landscapes do you want to be in when you celebrate your union? Do you want to be on a 3’000m secluded summit or are you happy with a lower altitude landscape?
Do you want warm autumny colors, snowy landscapes or warm summer vibes?
Also, what activities do you envision yourselves doing on that day? Do you want to hike, or take a gondola up to a panoramic view? Do you want to paraglide, or take a ride on a sledge? Have a laid-back sunset picnic?
Why not make this exercice into a date night? Sit down, brainstorm your ideas and write them down.
what type of landscapes would you like to be in?
what type of activities would you like to include on your day?
How many people will join you? Can they do these activities or do you need a second location?
Finally, my last advice in choosing your date would be to stay flexible and aim for weekdays if you want to avoid crowds, no matter the season. This will also help with vendor’s availabilities.
Have fun brainstorming!
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