Ennsegg Castle, Enns, Austria Elopement Photo Story Award

A castle marriage picture of bride and groom from an intimate elopement ceremony

The happy couple exchange their heartfelt vows, beaming smiles and intertwined hands at their special day

The bride and groom stand hand-in-hand, exchanging vows at the Ennsegg Castle in Enns, Austria, surrounded by their loved ones.

The couple had been planning their big wedding for 2020 for some time. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the plans were constantly changing and there were more uncertainties. Government regulations were changing on a weekly basis, often with only a few days' notice.

In September, the couple had a solid plan to have a small wedding with 40-50 people at the venue they had booked. Everything was ready to go, until new regulations came into effect two days later. 

Only ten people were allowed at the wedding ceremony, plus the officiant and photographer. Despite the fact that the venue was not allowed to open, the couple chose not to cancel, as they had been eagerly anticipating this day for a long time.

The couple's friends stepped up and decided to host the wedding reception party in their own apartment. They cooked a fancy dinner for the whole group, ordered a smaller wedding cake, and fewer flowers, making the day possible.

For the first dance, the bride and groom danced in the rain on their terrace, accompanied by two friends playing the guitar and singing. I'm so glad that they still chose to include me and have the day captured, as it was one of the most beautiful and joyous days.

The groom with his best man at apartment getting ready prior to the start of the wedding ceremony

The groom shared a moment of calm conversation and a drink with his best man prior to the start of the wedding ceremony

The groom enjoyed a relaxed talk with his best man before heading to the ceremony.

At Schloss Ennsegg, Enns, Austria, best friends played their roles as musicians and friends

On this chilly October day, guests bundle up to attend the ceremony, where many of them take on multiple roles, from best friends to musicians

Guests are arriving at the ceremony location on this icy-cold and windy October day. Almost everyone had more roles than one on this day, like best friends also acting as musicians. The initally booked musicians had to be scratched from the list because of the limitation on allowed attendees.

At the Castle Ennsegg in Austria, bride and groom are ready to welcome their select few guests

The couple stands proudly ready to welcome their select few guests to the picturesque Castle Ennsegg in Austria

The couple is ready to greet their few guests at the ceremony location,  Castle Ennsegg in Austria.

The newlyweds looked out over their guests at the castle wedding ceremony during a song

The newlyweds share a special moment as friends serenade them with a heartfelt song

After saying their vows, they stood there facing each other, looking at their guests, taking it all in - for one whole beautiful song.

At a private apartment in Enns, Austria, the couple celebrated with an intimate wedding reception dinner party

The newlyweds celebrated their special day with an intimate wedding reception dinner party in their best friends' private apartment in Enns, Austria

The reception was held at the private apartment of their best friends. It felt like I was invited to a family Christmas celebration, only it was a wedding. So heartwarming and intimate.

Pictue of bride and groom in a romantic first dance in the rain, with a guitar and singing

The couple shared a romantic first dance on a terrace in the rain, with a guitar-strumming friend and a warmhearted host-cook capturing the moment

The couple had their first dance on the terrace, in the cold rain, but with warm hearts. They were accompanied by a guitar played by a friend, with another friend - aka the host and the cook - coming out from the kitchen to also capture this moment.

In Enns, Austria, the couple cut their adorable and little wedding cake

The couple shares a special moment as they cut their adorable and festive wedding cake in Enns, Austria

The cutest little, but super festive wedding cake.

With stars and a light shower of rain, bride and groom danced to music, illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns

Under a blanket of stars and a light shower of rain, the newlyweds swayed to the music, illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns

They put up some lanterns for the couple to dance in - not caring about the cold and rain.