Wedding in Flims, Graubünden
A winter wedding in an idyllic mountain chalet
When J&F reached out asking me to photograph their wedding at the end of January, I was absolutely thrilled. I have a special love for winter weddings – and even more so in my home ski resort, where I’ve been on the slopes since childhood. J&F had already married at the registry office a week earlier; this celebration was simply about gathering the people closest to them. The venue was Ustria Startgels – a mountain restaurant and alpine hotel in the middle of the Flims Laax ski resort, with sweeping views over Flims and down the valley towards Chur. A nostalgic, breathtakingly beautiful mountain retreat.
Before the wedding, the bride had sent me mood boards and visual inspiration. They wanted a documentary, candid style – and for the party, direct flash. Exactly my thing.
First Look at Startgels
At 2 pm, I stood with the groom and his best man by a beautiful fir tree, waiting for the bride. He was visibly nervous, quietly lost in thought – absently touching his wedding ring. A still, intimate moment.
Then she appeared. White dress, beaming from ear to ear. She walked towards him and gently touched his shoulder – he turned around. I wasn’t quite ready when she came to him, but I didn’t intervene and let the moment unfold on its own. They laughed and held each other close. First Look – a moment like no other.
Honestly, we’re so happy — we absolutely love them. Every single one is incredibly beautiful. THANK YOU
Honestly, we’re so happy — we absolutely love them. Every single one is incredibly beautiful. THANK YOU
Couple’s shoot in the middle of the ski resort
The day before the wedding, I took the gondola up to Startgels to scout the best spots and plan the light precisely. I’d asked J&F whether they were happy to walk through around 40 cm of snow – no problem at all, they arrived in sturdy winter boots, heels safely tucked in a bag.
Their Spotify playlist was playing, the mood was relaxed and easy. Just before the sun disappeared behind the mountain ridge, we shot a series of photos with spectacular backlight – the light was so beautiful that looking through the viewfinder gave me goosebumps. At 3:30 pm the sun was gone – and our shoes were soaked.
Apéro and wedding dinner at Ustria Startgels
At 6 pm, the 60-strong wedding party gathered at the Flims valley station, and we all rode the gondola up to Startgels together. J&F were waiting for their guests on the terrace – he in an elegant wedding suit, she in a chic white ski suit.
Inside, the bride changed into her wedding dress. She entered with her father – applause. The father’s speech was deeply moving; both bride and groom had tears in their eyes. The wedding dinner was a culinary highlight, and the evening was filled with heartfelt, touching contributions from family and friends.
Let’s party!
At most weddings, I wrap up after the cake cutting. Here I got to stay until the very end – and it was so much fun. Flash on the camera, straight into the crowd: I became part of the celebration, right in the middle of it all, not just an observer on the outside.
At 1 am, we all rode the last gondola back down into the valley together – looking out over a mystical sea of fog. What an evening.
Thank you, J&F, for letting me document your wedding celebration
it was such a joy! Wishing you many exciting adventures on your journey together.
Would you like me to be your wedding photographer as well?
FAQ – Hochzeit in Flims Laax
Flims Laax bietet einige der schönsten Hochzeitslocations in Graubünden. Besonders reizvoll sind alpine Bergrestaurants wie die Ustria Startgels – erreichbar nur mit der Gondelbahn, was dem Fest einen ganz besonderen Charakter verleiht. Auch das Waldhaus Flims, das Hotel Schweizerhof, Laax-nahe Hotels und Lokale am Caumasee eignen sich hervorragend für Berghochzeiten.
Das Skigebiet Flims Laax verwandelt sich im Winter in eine Bilderbuchkulisse. Tief verschneite Wälder, klare Bergluft und das besondere Licht der Alpensonne – dazu eine Gondelbahn-Anfahrt für die Gäste. Winterhochzeiten sind seltener als Sommerhochzeiten, was ihnen automatisch etwas Exklusives verleiht. Wichtig: gute Logistik, warme Kleidung für das Shooting – und am besten einen Tag früher die Locations scouten.
Ich empfehle ca. 60 Minuten, besonders im Winter, wo das goldene Licht kurz ist und der Sonnenstand genau eingeplant werden muss. Als Hochzeitsfotografin besuche ich den Ort immer einen Tag zuvor, um die besten Spots und den optimalen Zeitpunkt für das Shooting festzulegen. Bitte an warme, bequeme Schuhe denken – High Heels können gerne in der Tasche mitgenommen werden!
Die verschneiten Wälder und offenen Hänge rund um Startgels sind traumhaft für natürliche Winterfotos. Der Caumasee in Flims ist ein weiterer Klassiker – je nach Jahreszeit mit spektakulärem türkisblauem oder gefrorenem Wasser. Auch die Dorfkerne von Flims Dorf und Laax bieten schöne Kulissen mit alpinem Charme.
Ja, sehr gerne. Ich begleite Hochzeiten in der ganzen Region – in Chur, auf der Lenzerheide, in Arosa, Davos oder im Engadin. Graubünden bietet unzählige traumhafte Orte für authentische, natürliche Hochzeitsreportagen. Auf Anfrage dokumentiere ich auch Hochzeiten in der übrigen Schweiz oder im Ausland.