Elope in Appenzell · Alpstein Elopement Guide 2026/27

Elope in Appenzell: Seealpsee, Äscher or Säntis – Celebrate at Hof Weissbad and on the Schwägalp

By Chris & Alina, Alpstein Fotograf · wedding and elopement photographers in Au SG · updated 11 September 2026

Elope in Appenzell: bridal couple on the ridge at the Saxerlücke at dusk, the Kreuzberge behind

Eloping in Appenzell: Our View as Wedding Photographers

If you want to elope in Appenzell, you have come to the right place. The Alpstein is our home: we know the meadow above the Ebenalp, the light at the Seealpsee at six in the evening and the moment the doors to the garden open at the Hof Weissbad. Two things up front: only the registry office can marry you legally – in the village of Appenzell, or in Herisau for the Schwägalp. Up on the mountain you celebrate your symbolic ceremony, and that can be anywhere.

This guide is for couples who want to celebrate with 20 to 120 guests at one of the three big venues – Hof Weissbad, Säntis – das Hotel on the Schwägalp, Gasthaus zum Gupf – and for couples who go up the mountain just the two of them. Seven places for the ceremony and the couple portraits, three venues for the party, months, costs in CHF, three timelines and a checklist.

We are Chris and Alina, wedding photographers from Eastern Switzerland, 30 minutes from Wasserauen. We have been photographing in Appenzell for years – traditions, customs and weddings. You will find more lovely wedding venues across the whole of Switzerland in our guide: Elope in the Mountains – Our Switzerland Guide. The Säntis in detail: Getting Married on the Säntis and the Schwägalp.

An Appenzell Elopement at a Glance

  • The mood: alpine meadows, rock faces, a sea of fog – and villages straight out of a picture book
  • Suited to: small to large wedding parties with up to 120 guests or an elopement for two. Couples who love being in the mountains.
  • Best months: June, and mid-September to mid-October
  • Mountain inns and cable cars: May to October; in winter Schwägalp, Hoher Kasten and Kronberg (longest toboggan run in Eastern Switzerland)
  • Golden hour (for couple portraits): June 20:00–21:00, September 18:30–19:30, December 15:30–16:30

Getting There & Places

  • Car: from Zurich about 1½ hours, from St. Gallen 30 minutes to Wasserauen
  • Train: via Gossau or St. Gallen to Appenzell, Weissbad and Wasserauen; PostBus via Urnäsch up to the Schwägalp
  • Mountain railways: Ebenalp from Wasserauen, Hoher Kasten from Brülisau, Staubern from Frümsen, Kronberg from Jakobsbad
  • No hike needed: Ebenalp, Hoher Kasten, Staubern, Schwägalp, Kronberg
  • Everything close by: the Ebenalp cable car, the Seealpsee and the Hoher Kasten are 15 minutes apart by car

Legalities & Deadlines

  • Civil ceremony: in the Kanzleigebäude, the chancellery building in Appenzell (up to 10 people, Monday to Friday), or in Herisau
  • Symbolic ceremony: not legally binding, on the Ebenalp, in the garden of the Hof Weissbad resort, and, if it’s just the two of you, also possible in more secluded spots.
  • Church wedding: Wildkirchli cave next to the Äscher (cave chapel), Schwägalp mountain chapel, St. Mauritius church in Appenzell, St. Josef church in Schlatt
  • Dates: Appenzell 6 months in advance at the earliest, Herisau up to 1 year ahead

Plan Your Elopement in Appenzell in 7 Steps

  1. Choose a venue and ceremony location
  2. Choose a month
  3. Decide on a civil, symbolic or church ceremony
  4. Set a budget in CHF
  5. Plan travel, mountain railways and guests
  6. Build the timeline around the light
  7. Book, check, pack – the checklist

Why Appenzell – and Where We Love to Photograph Most

The Alpstein is small, and that is exactly its trump card: cable car, lake, mountains and hotel are not far apart. You don’t have to earn a beautiful view with a day-long hike – you can reach the summit comfortably with one of the seven mountain railways. Even the fog is no unwelcome guest here – especially in autumn and winter, when thick fog often lies in the valley, the sun shines above a sea of clouds at the higher-lying spots in Appenzell. That often makes for the most beautiful pictures of the year. The most beautiful photo backdrops in Appenzell:

  • View from the Berggasthaus Äscher at dawn, the moon above the Alpstein ridges, Appenzell
  • Bride and groom beside rowing boats on the shore of the Seealpsee – elopement in Appenzell, Switzerland
  • Eloping couple on the ridge at the Saxerlücke beside the Kreuzberge rock towers at dusk, Switzerland
  • Bride and groom with a lantern on the hillside below the Berggasthaus Schäfler at dusk – elopement in the Alpstein, Switzerland
  • Elopement couple standing on a narrow ridge above the Alpstein at sunset, Switzerland
  • Couple stepping out of a small shingled wooden chapel in the forest, bouquet in hand – elopement in Appenzell, Switzerland

Where to Elope in Appenzell: Three Hotels, Seven Places

Three Hotels for Celebrating and Staying Overnight with Your Wedding Party

1. Hotel Hof Weissbad

  • Weissbad, Appenzell Innerrhoden · 90 rooms and suites
  • hofweissbad.ch

Our venue for getting ready in the morning and the party in the evening: the railway station two minutes’ walk from the hotel, ten minutes to Wasserauen and the Ebenalp cable car, a garden for your first look at each other, a spa for the day after – and a kitchen with 16 GaultMillau points. Couples who marry in Appenzell with guests usually end up here.

  • Celebrating: Restaurant Flickflauder for around 60 to 100 guests, conservatory (November to March) up to 120, smaller dining rooms for 8 to 60
  • Staying overnight: 90 rooms and suites, 4-star superior, spa area
  • Ceremony: symbolic in the garden or up on the Ebenalp; civil at the Kanzleigebäude (chancellery building) in Appenzell, ten minutes away
  • Our tip: getting ready at the Hof Weissbad, ceremony on the Ebenalp, back for the apéro in the garden – everything within a 15-minute radius

2. Säntis – das Hotel, Schwägalp

The largest venue for celebrations among our three hotels, right beneath the Säntis north face: getting ready in the morning, ceremony in the mountain chapel next door, apéro on the alpine meadow, dinner in the Festsaal Hungbühl and all the guests sleep in the hotel. From 2027 the new cable car will run up to the summit again – then you get married at 2’502 metres and celebrate down below. Everything else is in the Säntis guide.

  • Celebrating: Festsaal Hungbühl for up to 120 guests at the banquet, Schwingerstube for smaller groups
  • Staying overnight: 68 rooms and suites, spa, breakfast with a view of the north face
  • Ceremony: church wedding in the Schwägalp mountain chapel, symbolic ceremony on the chapel forecourt or on the alpine meadow, from 2027 in the Saal Churfirstenblick on the summit; civil in Herisau
  • Winter: snow in front of the north face, Laternliweg (lantern trail), fondue – our winter option, accessible all year round

3. Gasthaus zum Gupf, Rehetobel

  • Rehetobel, Appenzell Ausserrhoden · Panorama over Lake Constance
  • gupf.ch

An Appenzell house on the hill with a view over Lake Constance all the way to the Alpstein, a legendary wine cellar and a kitchen people travel a long way for. Twenty minutes from St. Gallen. The Gupf is the place for the wedding dinner with the family, for the small celebration – or for dinner the evening before, ahead of heading up the mountain the next day.

  • Celebrating: wedding dinners and small celebrations, banquet on request – ask the venue
  • Staying overnight: double rooms and suites in the hotel, further rooms in the Dorfhus Gupf
  • Ceremony: symbolic ceremony in front of the venue with a view over Lake Constance; civil at the Vorderland registry office in Rehetobel
  • Our tip: couple portraits on the hill at golden hour, then the wine cellar

Seven Places to Elope in Appenzell – or for a Pre-Wedding Shoot for Two

A symbolic ceremony is possible at all seven places, with guests or just the two of you. What you need to know about the cable car and the mountain inn, in one line per place – we’ll check times and prices for your date.

  • Ebenalp & Äscher. Six minutes by cable car, then the meadow above the top station for the symbolic ceremony, through the Wildkirchli caves to the Äscher on the rock face. The best-known place in the region – come during the week or stay overnight. (Mini Elopement // 4 hours incl. a hike, e.g. to the Seealpsee – CHF 1’850)
  • Seealpsee. An hour on foot from Wasserauen, then the Säntis is reflected in the lake. Rowing boat, meadow at the end of the lake, evening light on the water – the most beautiful couple portraits at sunrise in Appenzell are taken here. (Mini Elopement // 4 hours incl. a hike, e.g. to the Seealpsee – CHF 1’850)
  • Schäfler. An hour’s hike from the Ebenalp, then you’re standing in front of probably the most impressive mountain panorama for miles around. The Berggasthaus Schäfler is perfect for a pre-wedding adventure with beautiful pictures at sunset, under the starry sky and in the first light of morning. (Overnight Elopement // 10 hours incl. an overnight stay, e.g. in a mountain inn – CHF 7’400)
  • Meglisalp. An alpine hamlet in the heart of the Alpstein with a small chapel, reachable only on foot. For couples who are hiking anyway and want to spend the night up there. (Overnight Elopement // 10 hours incl. an overnight stay, e.g. in a mountain inn – CHF 7’400)
  • Staubern & Saxerlücke. The small cable car from Frümsen, the mountain inn on the ridge, the world-famous Kreuzberge. A wonderful view over the St. Gallen Rhine Valley – at sunset. (Full Day Elopement // 6 hours incl. a long hike, e.g. to the Schäfler – CHF 3’600)
  • Hoher Kasten. Eight minutes by cable car from Brülisau, revolving restaurant, step-free circular trail. The place for guests who don’t hike – and for the sea of fog in autumn. (Mini Elopement // 4 hours incl. a hike, e.g. to the Seealpsee – CHF 1’850)
  • Schwägalp & Säntis. Alpine meadows below the north face, the mountain chapel, the hotel with its banquet hall – and from 2027 the cable car up to the summit again. Quieter than all the others: the Kronberg from Jakobsbad. Trails and viewpoints: Photo Spots & Hikes in Appenzell. (Couple Portraits // 1 hour, e.g. at Lake Constance or on the Schwägalp, no hike – CHF 480)

The Best Time of Year to Elope in Appenzell – Month by Month

When everything in the village is green, there is still snow on the Ebenalp.

Couple at the Seealpsee in spring, Alpstein, Appenzell, Switzerland

Spring (April to June)

  • Soft light, fresh green, still snow higher up; golden hour in April 19:00 to 20:00, in May and June 20:00 to 21:00
  • April: Ebenalp annual maintenance closure 7–24 April; the Seealpsee restaurant opens mid-April; the lake still murky from meltwater
  • May: Äscher from 1 May, Meglisalp from early May – few people, flowers in the meadows
  • June: long evenings, sunset around 21:20 – three hours after the last ride down on the Ebenalp cable car; haymaking: stay on the paths
Elopement couple in an alpine meadow in summer, Alpstein, Switzerland

Summer (July to September)

  • Long days, all mountain inns open; golden hour in July and August 20:00 to 21:00, in September 18:30 to 19:30
  • July and August: thunderstorms in the afternoon – schedule the ceremony early; weekends crowded, during the week the mountain belongs to the two of you
  • Sunrise: only with a night in a mountain inn (Schäfler, Äscher, Meglisalp, Staubern) – no cable car runs before sunrise
  • September: clear air, soft light, fewer people – our favourite month
Chris in a red jacket on a rocky Alpstein ridge, the sun low over the peaks

Autumn (October to November)

  • Our second choice: golden larches, sea of fog below the summits; golden hour in October 17:30 to 18:30, in November 15:45 to 16:45
  • October: mountain inns open until the end of October, Seealpsee and Meglisalp until 1 November; Hoher Kasten and Staubern above the fog
  • November: Ebenalp closed for annual maintenance, Staubern on request only – Hoher Kasten, Kronberg and Schwägalp stay open
  • The weather can turn quickly – have a plan B ready
Groom lifts the bride in the snow in front of an alpine hut, winter elopement on the Schwägalp, Switzerland

Winter (December to March)

  • Snow, clear air, sea of fog; golden hour 15:30 to 16:30 – ceremony by 15:00
  • Open: Schwägalp with its mountain chapel, hotel and Laternliweg (lantern trail); Hoher Kasten and Kronberg; Ebenalp from Christmas
  • Closed: Staubern from January to March, the Seealpsee restaurant and the mountain inns in winter
  • Avoid March: snowmelt, slush and the annual maintenance weeks on the cable cars

In short: you marry legally at the registry office; everything on the mountain is symbolic.

Civil Ceremony: In the Village of Appenzell or in Herisau

You open the marriage preparation procedure at your place of residence; after that you have three months for the ceremony, and you need two witnesses. The fees are set by the federal government: approx. CHF 325. Marriage for all has been in force since 1 July 2022, with the same procedure. What applies Switzerland-wide is covered in the Switzerland guide.

The Appenzell I.Rh. registry office (Marktgasse 2, +41 71 788 95 85) holds ceremonies in the Kanzleigebäude (chancellery building) in the middle of the village, Monday to Friday, with up to ten people – the walk out beneath the painted façades is already the first picture. Appointments no earlier than six months in advance.

For the Schwägalp, the Hinterland registry office in Herisau is responsible (+41 71 354 54 49), with appointments up to a year in advance; for the Gupf, the Vorderland registry office in Rehetobel (+41 71 878 70 31); for the Staubern, the Werdenberg registry office in Buchs.

Our recommendation if you have guests: civil ceremony on Friday with ten of you in the village, then the symbolic ceremony on the mountain with everyone on Saturday.

Bridal couple on a narrow ridge above the Alpstein at sunset, elopement in Switzerland
Eloping couple on an alpine meadow in summer, Alpstein, Switzerland

Elopement in the Mountains

An Appenzell elopement for two is symbolic and therefore possible anywhere: on the meadow above the Ebenalp, at the Seealpsee, on the Schäfler, on the summit terraces of the Hoher Kasten. But be aware: alpine meadows and mountain inn terraces are private land – so stay on the paths and be respectful of animals and surroundings. In our experience a celebrant costs CHF 800 to 1’500; you can also rope in your best friends.

Church Wedding and Mountain Chapels

A church wedding may only take place after the civil ceremony. For smaller wedding parties we recommend the Schwägalp mountain chapel at the Säntis north face, the St. Josef church in Schlatt or the St. Mauritius church in Appenzell. Truly adventurous couples can also marry in the Wildkirchli cave chapel next to the Äscher. You’ll also find small chapels on the Meglisalp and near Lehmen – the Ahorn mountain chapel.

Bridal couple stepping out of the small wood-shingled chapel in the forest by the Seealpsee, Appenzell
Chris with a tripod on an alpine meadow above the sea of fog at sunrise, Alpstein

Permits, Drones, Special Rides

Drones have been banned in the Innerrhoden part of the Alpstein – Ebenalp, Seealpsee, Meglisalp, Hoher Kasten – since November 2020 (CHF 150 fine); we don’t fly here. June and July are haymaking time: stay on the paths, no confetti, no balloons or the like. The cable cars offer special rides outside the timetable for wedding parties on written request.

What It Costs to Elope in Appenzell – in CHF

A classic wedding in Switzerland including the wedding party costs on average between CHF 30’000 and 40’000. An elopement for two is cheaper. Here are three examples we work with in Appenzell:

Three Sample Budgets

  • Elopement for two, Seealpsee: hike to the lake for sunrise, vows on the meadow at the end of the lake, rowing boat ride, breakfast at the mountain inn. Our Mini Elopement package, 4 hours – CHF 1’850, plus flowers approx. CHF 100 and the boat: around CHF 2’000.
  • Elopement with a night in a mountain inn, Schäfler: cable car up to the Ebenalp, along the ridge to the mountain inn, vows in the evening light, starry sky, sunrise before breakfast. Our Overnight Elopement package, 10 hours incl. an overnight stay – CHF 7’400, plus cable car and flowers: around CHF 7’600.
  • Celebration with 60 guests, Ebenalp and Hof Weissbad: civil ceremony on Friday in the village, symbolic ceremony on the Ebenalp, party at the Hof Weissbad – cable car for everyone around CHF 2’000, registry office 325, our 8-hour package from CHF 4’800, plus food, rooms, flowers and music: expect CHF 25’000 to 35’000.
Check your date
View from the Berggasthaus Äscher in Appenzell at sunrise

Getting There, Mountain Railways and Guests

The last ride down determines the day – here are the rules, the logistics for your guests and plan B.

Chris photographing above the sea of fog in the Alpstein, Appenzell

The Last Ride Down as Your Fixed Point

The Ebenalp cable car runs until 18:00 or 19:00 in summer and until 17:00 in winter; the Staubern until 22:00 in summer; the Hoher Kasten until late afternoon. Sunset on the Ebenalp therefore means: sleep up top or ask for a special ride outside the timetable. We check the exact times for your date.

  • Plan your ride down two hours before the last cable car – and give all guests the time of the last ride down in writing
  • In storms or strong wind, the mountain railways do not run – have an alternative
  • Special rides outside the timetable and group rates are available on many cable cars – on written request only
Bridal couple in the evening light below the Berggasthaus Schäfler, Alpstein, Switzerland
Chris on a grassy ridge above the Alpstein peaks, the sun low on the horizon

Hiking on Your Wedding Day

You can reach the Ebenalp, Hoher Kasten, Staubern, Schwägalp and Kronberg without a hike. On foot: Seealpsee 45–60 minutes, Schäfler one hour from the Ebenalp top station, Meglisalp around two hours. In wedding attire, allow double that.

  • For the trail: sturdy shoes, even with the dress – the nice shoes go in the backpack and you change into them at the top
  • Weatherproof jacket: a warm layer, because as soon as the sun disappears behind the ridge, it gets chilly, even in high summer

Plan B for the Weather

Plan B belongs in the booking, not on the wedding morning – and it can be beautiful: the conservatory at the Hof Weissbad, the hall at Säntis – das Hotel, the parlour at the Berggasthaus Ebenalp or at the Äscher. When there is fog in the valley, the sun is often shining on the ridge.

  • Think plan B through when booking, not only on the wedding day
  • Weather forecast in the mountains: SRF Meteo, the MeteoSwiss app and the cable car webcams at 06:00
  • Look at the three-day forecast and discuss it with the venue and your photographer
Wedding party with a view of the Säntis, Appenzell

Three Timelines for Your Elopement in Appenzell

Three Appenzell days as we would plan them – with the last ride down as the fixed point.

A – Celebration with 60 Guests: Ebenalp and Hof Weissbad (September)

  • Friday: civil ceremony in the Kanzleigebäude (chancellery building) in Appenzell, walking out beneath the painted façades, dinner at the Gupf
  • Saturday, 10:00 – getting ready at the Hof Weissbad, an unhurried start
  • 13:00 – Ebenalp cable car for everyone, symbolic ceremony on the meadow above the top station
  • 14:00 – apéro at the Berggasthaus Ebenalp, group photos with the Säntis behind you
  • 16:00 – ride down with everyone, back to the garden of the Hof Weissbad
  • 18:30 – couple portraits in the golden hour above Weissbad, then dinner and party in the Flickflauder
  • Night – all guests stay at the hotel, brunch on Sunday

Our tip if guests are travelling from further afield: make a weekend of it. A ride up the mountain together the day before, ceremony and party on Saturday, brunch on Sunday – that turns your wedding into an experience they will still be talking about years later.

Symbolic ceremony with guests against a mountain backdrop, Eastern Switzerland
Appenzell elopement on the Seealpsee: bridal couple in a small rowing boat with the Säntis reflected in the water

B – Elopement for Two with a Night in a Mountain Inn on the Schäfler (July)

  • 15:00 – Ebenalp cable car up; you won’t need the last ride down today
  • 16:00 – hike along the ridge to the Berggasthaus Schäfler, check into your room, the dress comes out of the backpack
  • 18:00 – dinner with a mountain panorama, then 19:30 vows out on the ridge and couple portraits in the golden hour
  • Night – a starry sky above the Alpstein, the kind you never see down in the valley
  • Morning – sunrise for the two of you, breakfast, a leisurely descent to the Ebenalp and a visit to the Berggasthaus Äscher.

    Price: our Overnight Elopement package – 10 hours incl. an overnight stay – CHF 7’400 (+ cable car / flowers)

All Alpstein locations with hiking times: Photo Spots & Hikes in Appenzell.

C – Pre-Wedding Shoot for Two: Winter on the Schwägalp (December, January)

  • 13:00 – check-in at Säntis – das Hotel
  • 14:00 – getting ready, details of the dress and suit including professional make-up (photographed)
  • 15:30 – couple portraits in the snow in front of the Säntis north face, last light at half past four
  • From 17:00 – Laternliweg (lantern trail) and fondue at the hotel
  • The next day – brunch and spa at the hotel.

    Price: our Mini Elopement package – 4 hours – CHF 1’850 (+ flowers / overnight stay)
Bridal couple in front of the Christmas tree at Säntis – das Hotel, winter wedding on the Schwägalp
Snow-covered Säntis summit with the transmission tower in the blue hour, Schwägalp in winter

Checklist: 12 Months to 3 Days Before

Venue and photographers first, then the registry office, mountain inn, celebrant, hair, flowers, shoes.

  • 12 months ahead: secure the venue (Hof Weissbad, Säntis – das Hotel or Gupf) and photographers – the good September dates go early. Herisau registry office: appointments up to a year in advance.
  • 6–9 months ahead: Appenzell registry office (six months in advance at the earliest), confirm the celebrant, reserve rooms at the mountain inn (the Äscher from 1 March, the Schäfler early for summer weekends), rooms for guests.
  • 3–4 months ahead: submit the marriage preparation procedure – the 3-month period runs from the confirmation. Get cable car times and special rides confirmed in writing, set the menu.
  • 1 month ahead: finalise plan B, send out the guest info: meeting point at the valley station, last ride down, sturdy shoes, a warm layer for the evening.
  • 3 days ahead: discuss the weather forecast with us – webcams at 06:00, then a calm decision on plan A or plan B.

Appenzell Elopements and Weddings We Were Lucky to Be Part Of

Three weddings from our archive – each shows a different side of Appenzell; all the stories are in the wedding blog.

Elopement for Two at the Saxerlücke

See the story
Bridal couple on the ridge at the Saxerlücke at sunrise, the Kreuzberge behind – elope in Switzerland in the Alpstein

Sunrise on the Säntis

To the Säntis guide
Bridal couple in evening light on a rocky ridge in the Alpstein, small mountain lake below, elopement in Switzerland

Winter Wedding on the Schwägalp

See the story
Winter wedding in the Swiss Alps in the snow

Elopement Photographer in Appenzell: What to Look For – and Who We Are

What to Look For

The light changes fast in the Alpstein: fog in the valley, sun on the ridge, thunderstorms in the afternoon. Whoever photographs your elopement in Appenzell has to know the walking times, the last ride down and the plan B rooms. Five questions separate the mountain photographers from the rest:

  • Have you photographed on the Ebenalp, at the Seealpsee or on the Schwägalp before – and may we see a full gallery?
  • Do you know the last ride down on our cable car – and what do you do if it’s stopped because of wind?
  • Where is the sun at 18:00 in September at the Seealpsee?
  • Will you carry your gear for an hour along the ridge?
  • What happens if there’s fog in the valley – and what does your plan B look like?
  • Warning signs: no experience in alpine terrain, no clear answers on weather and cable car times, only the best images instead of a full gallery.
Bridal bouquet and flat bridal shoes – shoes for a mountain wedding
Chris and Alina, elopement photographers from Au SG, in the Appenzell hills, Switzerland

About Chris & Alina

We live in Eastern Switzerland, 30 minutes from Wasserauen, and have been photographing weddings, customs and traditions in the Alpstein for years. We know the region and its most beautiful spots and have been out with our clients in all weathers. Our photo studio is in St. Gallen; from there we’re happy to advise you by video call and put your package together with you.

Write to us – we look forward to hearing from you!

What Our Packages Include

Couple Portraits 1 h CHF 480 · Mini Elopement 4 h CHF 1’850
Full Day Elopement 6 h CHF 3’600
Overnight Elopement 10 h CHF 7’400

Wedding with guests up to 10 h: Wedding Photographer Prices & Packages · Inquire

  • Preliminary consultation on the location, light and cable car times
  • Advice on suppliers, florists, celebrants etc.
  • Online gallery after 4 to 6 weeks
Mountain inn on the Ebenalp, Appenzell Innerrhoden

Elope in Appenzell

Your Questions

  • How Much Does a Wedding or Elopement in Appenzell Cost?

    A classic wedding with 60 guests – civil ceremony in the village, symbolic ceremony on the Ebenalp, celebration at the Hof Weissbad or at Säntis – das Hotel – costs around CHF 25’000 to 35’000 including food, rooms, cable car, flowers and our 8-hour package (from CHF 4’800).

    A Mini Elopement, for example at the Seealpsee, costs CHF 1’850 for 4 hours, plus flowers and a rowing boat. An elopement with a night in a mountain inn on the Schäfler costs around CHF 7’600 with our Overnight Elopement (CHF 7’400).

  • Which Wedding Venue in Appenzell Has Room for 100 Guests?

    The Hotel Hof Weissbad (Restaurant Flickflauder for 60 to 100 guests, conservatory up to 120), Säntis – das Hotel on the Schwägalp (Festsaal Hungbühl up to 120 for a banquet) and the revolving restaurant on the Hoher Kasten (banquets from 25 people). On the mountain itself, things stay small: the Staubern event room up to 50, Äscher and Schäfler for a wedding for two or with just a handful of guests.

  • Can We Have an Outdoor Civil Ceremony in Appenzell?

    No. In Appenzell the civil ceremony takes place in the Kanzleigebäude, the chancellery building (up to ten people, Monday to Friday); for the Schwägalp, in Herisau. On the mountain, a symbolic ceremony is the right choice – with a celebrant or with your friends. Our recommendation: civil ceremony on Friday, symbolic ceremony with everyone on Saturday.

  • Can We Get Married on the Mountain?

    Yes, but only as an elopement for the two of you. Our Mini Elopement (4 hours, CHF 1’850) covers, for example, a morning at the Seealpsee, and the Overnight Elopement a night in a mountain inn with sunrise, for example on the Schäfler.

  • How Do Our Guests Get Up the Mountain?

    Straight up by cable car: Ebenalp 6 minutes, Hoher Kasten 8, Staubern 7; you reach the Schwägalp by car or PostBus. Ask about the group rate and put the meeting point and the last ride down in your guest info.

  • When Is the Best Time of Year to Elope in Appenzell – and Does Winter Work Too?

    June, and mid-September to mid-October: open mountain inns and fewer people. July and August work well for long evenings, ideally on weekdays. Winter works too: the Schwägalp with its mountain chapel, hotel and Laternliweg (lantern trail), the Hoher Kasten and Kronberg above the sea of fog; the light ends around half past four. Avoid March: snowmelt and annual maintenance closures.

  • What Happens If the Weather Doesn’t Play Along on Our Wedding Day?

    Mountain weather changes quickly, so every wedding plan needs a plan B: in strong wind the cable cars stop running.

  • Do We Need a Permit to Elope in Appenzell – and Can We Fly a Drone?

    For the two of you and the photographer on public paths: no. Drones have been banned in the Innerrhoden part of the Alpstein – Ebenalp, Seealpsee, Meglisalp, Hoher Kasten – since November 2020 (CHF 150 fine); we don’t fly here. Alpine meadows and mountain inn terraces are private land; we arrange the spot with the innkeeper. Special rides on the cable cars are chargeable and must be requested in writing.

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Your Elopement Photographer in Appenzell

Tell us what makes your relationship so special. What would your perfect photo shoot in Appenzell look like?

Book your 2027 elopement photographer now

  • Appenzell farmer in traditional dress smoking a pipe
  • Boy in Appenzell costume leading a goat, a girl with a branch behind him
  • Chris with a tripod photographing the Hoher Kasten summit station in red evening light, Alpstein
  • Portrait session in our photo studio in Au SG
  • Our photo studio in Au SG
  • Wedding photographer couple in the Appenzell hills

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