Alex & Mary, forever
Some weddings feel like they were plucked straight from a dream — Mary and Alex’s elopement at Oeschinensee in Kandersteg, Switzerland was one of them. After doing the long-distance thing for years (with plenty of FaceTime and airport hugs), these two are now settled in a cozy home on the East Coast with their two adopted pups. When it came time to plan their wedding, they knew a big traditional event just didn’t feel like them. So they chose to elope in Switzerland — just the two of them, the mountains, and a whole lot of love.
A Quiet Morning and a Forest First Look
I met Mary and Alex early that morning, before the crowds rolled in. They’d asked for somewhere private and peaceful to exchange their vows — something that felt tucked away, almost like the world had disappeared for a moment. I scouted a quiet forest clearing near Kandersteg that morning, and it turned out to be pure magic. The kind of place where the light filters through the trees just right, and you can hear your heartbeat over the birdsong. They shared a first look next to a bubbling little creek, followed by vows under the perfect evergreen canopy..
Gondola Views and the Hike to Oeschinensee
After some portraits in the forest, we took the gondola up into the mountains and hiked down toward the lake. If you've never been, Oeschinensee is one of Switzerland’s best-kept secrets — a glacier-fed lake tucked into the Alps with that unreal turquoise water that looks photoshopped. Mary and Alex were still riding the high of their vows, holding hands and laughing like kids on summer break. It felt like we had the whole mountain to ourselves.
A Picnic by the Water and Letters from Home
Down by the lake, we spread out a little picnic blanket, some pillows and popped some bubbly, and toasted to their new chapter. But the part that really got me? They brought handwritten letters from their closest friends and family — words of love and celebration from across the ocean. They read them together, passing the pages back and forth, tears in their eyes, laughter between the lines. It was such a simple, intimate way to include their people in this very personal day. If I'm not mistaken, someone even added some festive confetti to their envelope! I also got to present my own wedding gift to them at this point- new dog tags with the coordinates of where we were sitting so the dogs could be with us in spirit!
Rowboats, Sunlight, and Saying Goodbye to the Lake
To wrap it all up, we rented a rowboat and paddled around the lake — sun on the water, mountains in the background, not a single sound but the soft splash of the oars. It was slow, gentle, and so full of joy. Later, we made our way back down to Kandersteg and found a quiet spot for a drink, to cheers one more time to Mary and Alex: two people who chose presence over pressure, nature over noise, and love — in its purest form.
