To ask for help with a ski wedding

[Bodear]

Just posting here for traffic.

My boyfriend and I are getting married and really like the idea of a ski wedding. There will be both skiers and non-skiers on the guest list and I wondered if the collective wisdom of mn could give me any advice or tips.

Thanks in advance :-)

[Artandco]

Do you have a huge budget? As presumably you will need to be paying for ski passes, hire and accomadation and flights for all guests

[LIZS]

You need to check the licensing rules of wherever you are thinking. Many European countries involve a low key civil ceremony and you need to be there for a period beforehand.

[Maverick66]

Putting your guests to a lot of expense? Never a good idea.

[User543212345]

DH was best man at one around 10 years ago in Canada and still raves about how good it was.

I assume you'll go for Europe though as easier for travel? My to tips would be go to somewhere that there's stuff for non-skiers to do, maybe one of the Alpine spa towns? Also somewhere within striking distance of a major airport rather than a local overcrowded one - looking at you Grenoble. I've no experience of weddings there but St Gervais/Megeve is a linked resort around 45 minutes from Geneva and the town is at the bottom of the mountain so there's lots more going on than in one of the purpose built resorts up the hill for your non-skiers. I'm sure if you go outside peak season you could probably get a great bulk deal on some linked chalets or hotels. You may need to do the legal stuff at home though as I'm not sure about the rules in France.

[HerRoyalNotness]

Do you mean get married somewhere that you all stay on at for a week? And ski?

We kind of did this (but got married elsewhere), went to whistler for a week with friends. We paid for the houses (2 of) and a wedding dinner one night at the fair mont there.

Organised all long distance. There were about 20 of us irc. Bummer was we were split between 2 houses in different neighbourhoods, so wasn't as good as it could have been.

[Floppityflop]

Why not just have a ski-themed wedding reception with that kind of food and drink (fondue, Kaiserschmarren, Glühwein) and go skiing on your honeymoon?

[FreshHorizons]

Not a good idea- too much expense for guests.

[FreshHorizons]

Those who ski won't want the resort and week chosen, or take time off the slopes, and those who don't won't like it at all.
Luggage will be a problem, fitting in wedding clothes with bulky salopettes etc.
Have a winter wedding with FloppityFlops idea.

[Bearbehind]

It depends what you mean.

If you mean a ski 'theme' then crack on.

If you mean actual skiing involved then you have to accept the non skiers are very likely to decline any invite and even the skiers may not chose to attend avenue of your choice.

Essentially, asking anyone to give up significant time, holiday allowance and money for something that is entirely your choice means you run the risk of alienating people.

The longer and more expensive your choices, the more people will get pissed off.

[SunshineInMySprocket]

I'm not a skier but love the idea of a ski wedding! Presumably it won't be a huge affair but family and close friends. I think it sounds fab.

[SunshineInMySprocket]

I'm not a skier but love the idea of a ski wedding! Presumably it won't be a huge affair but family and close friends. I think it sounds fab.

[SunshineInMySprocket]

I'm not a skier but love the idea of a ski wedding! Presumably it won't be a huge affair but family and close friends. I think it sounds fab.

[LordoftheTits]

I really wouldn't, but I'm dead against destination weddings on the whole. I would never pay ££££ and use at least a week of my annual leave to go on a holiday of someone else's choosing to save the bride and groom money. I say this as someone who got married in New York but the difference is we didn't take any guests at all.

[NicknameUsed]

Non skiers won't want to go, and skiers probably want to ski at a resort of their choice at a time that suits them.

I don't ski and if I was to do a cold, winter holiday I would want to go to Norway or Iceland and have half a chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

I'm not sure you would get many guests at a wedding like this for the reasons given above and for the huge expense imposed on them. Don't expect any wedding presents either.

[Crispbutty]

Dont have it too close to christmas or you may get a lot of people who really wont be able to afford to go. March may be better, and Bulgaria is meant to be very good and cheaper than many places.

[Pineapplemilkshake]

I think it sounds nice in theory but the expense would exclude a lot of guests unless you are planning to cover their flights, lift passes etc. I would be annoyed at potentially having to miss out on my own family holiday if I had to shell out a fortune to attend something like this.

[purplefox]

Not a skier so I wouldn't go.

[TheCrumpettyTree]

As a non skier what would I be doing for a week for entertainment?

Expect people not to go if you're getting married abroad. Its expensive.

[Thymewarp]

Go for it. I've been to several. No one will expect travel and passes paid for! People aren't nearly this miserable in real life. Those that are hard up won't be able to go but presumably most of your circle ski and will be delighted. I second using an easy location and a major airport. Somewhere with things to do for non skiers. Do mind the altitude of elderly relatives will be going. Enjoy!

[CruCru]

I went to a marvellous one in Lech. Some pointers:

• I expect you'll have to get legally married (registry office) in the UK beforehand. My friends said it was really complicated to do it legally in Austria.
  
• Tell the guests to wear hiking boots at the actual do and give them little cloth bags to carry their smart shoes in.
  
• Yes, it's going to be an expensive wedding for your guests to attend. You'll need to be kind and gracious to those who don't come.

[Bearbehind]

People aren't nearly this miserable in real life

It's not a case of being miserable, it's a case of choosing not to spend a huge amount of time and money on someone elses nuptials.

I'd love to know the thought process behind those people who chose to do things like this- what convinces you that your wedding is so important people will be happy to give up holiday allowance and spend a fortune on it?

[BikeRunSki]

If you do this abroad, you need to be prepared for many people to come. It's a lot of money and annual leave to invest, and the timings may not be convenient for others to take trips abroad. But I do like the idea!

A UK wedding and a "piste and feast" reception at a snow dome could be good though.

[Artandco]

Thyme- we ski often. For Dh, myself and two children it's roughly £4-5000 for a week someone decent. It's not just ' if they haven't go money. Like others said I also would t want to spend £1k each min in a location I didn't choose

[AuntieStella]

If you mean a wedding abroad in a ski resort, then only invite those you can afford to subsidise. You do have to be very realistic about who will come when you pick an expensive option which also require leave from work etc.

France will be out because of the residency requirements before you can marry there.

[displacementofwater]

It's a lovely experience getting married in the snow. I got married in Lake Louise, Canada. It's a glacier resort and was breathtakingly beautiful with snow laden trees, and we had photos on the frozen lake next to an ice castle.

It was just us and our collective children though as we wanted a quiet affair. It would have been too expensive for anyone else to join.

Austria has plenty of spa resorts that would have things for non skiers to do and, IIRC, you don't need to spend any particular length of time in the country to be able to get married there but you'd need to check.

Also speak to tour operators like Crystal, Thomson, Inghams, Iglu. They should be able to provide information about facilities for non skiers.

Good luck with your planning!