An Otherworldly Winter Wedding in Zermatt Switzerland

Set in the ethereal town of Zermatt, Lauren and Brayden’s wedding unfolded as a study in contrast — playful nostalgia paired with cinematic restraint. Initially hesitant about Switzerland, the couple fell for Zermatt’s storybook charm: a car-free village cradled between snow-dusted valleys, anchored by the iconic Matterhorn.

The celebration began at Alphitta, a mid-mountain chalet where guests arrived in vintage après-ski attire. With fur-draped benches, champagne chilled in snowbanks, and the Matterhorn standing sentinel, the ceremony was intentionally pared back — letting texture, light, and landscape take center stage.

Dinner at Chalet Hotel Schönegg, a Relais & Châteaux property, shifted into something more intimate. Held within the warm wood interiors, the candlelit reception was dressed with white linens, gauze runners, and over 350 pounds of pillar and taper candles. Guests dined on a four-course meal, culminating in a heart-shaped cake crafted by the in-house pastry chef.

Lauren wore two gowns: a clay-toned lace Saint Bridal dress with a tiered Parisian veil for the ceremony, and a customized Reev Bridal look with Jimmy Choo Saeda heels for the reception.

Our Story

Names / Brayden Irwin & Lauren Howe

Location / Zermatt, Switzerland

Wedding Date / January 25, 2025

Guest Numbers / 52

How We Met

We met at the exit doors of an event one rainy afternoon at the beginning of summer. It was the kind of downpour where everyone rushed for cover, trying to catch a shuttle or call a ride. Somewhere in that chaos, we started talking. A playful bet about the Raptors game sparked our first real conversation. For the sports fans out there, it happened to be the night of the now-iconic Eastern Conference clincher: the “Kawhi Shot.” A surreal moment in Toronto’s history — and somehow, the start of ours.

Our Engagement Story

Our engagement was quiet, intimate, and deeply meaningful. It was a warm Sunday afternoon in the summer, and Brayden had planned everything so thoughtfully to take me by surprise.

Just a few weeks earlier, I had lost my grandmother. She was the woman who had essentially raised me, and it meant a great deal to her to know that Brayden was serious about our relationship. After just six months of dating, she was already teasing him about when he was going to propose.

With plans already in motion — and as her health began to decline and she entered palliative care — Brayden had the ring expedited. He brought it to the hospital so he could share a quiet moment with her and show her the ring in person.

One of the most meaningful details was that he had a small stone from her original engagement ring set inside mine, so that a part of her would always be with me. It is a gesture I will never forget.

The Setting

Wedding Location

We chose Zermatt, Switzerland. Why Zermatt? I mean… it’s an iconically romantic town and a bucket-list ski destination. The Matterhorn — the town’s primary mountain — is absolutely stunning (it’s literally the Toblerone chocolate mountain). The town itself is car-free, nestled between two valleys, and just so picturesque.

For my ACOTAR girls out there, it’s even suspected that Zermatt inspired “Velaris.” Jokes aside, I was initially all over the place, sending emails to venues across Europe. We actually avoided Switzerland at first due to its reputation for being expensive. Many ski towns don’t allow weddings during the ski season, but the venues here were responsive, kind, and wonderful to work with — especially considering the time of year.

Aesthetic

Our goal was to let the locations speak for themselves — whether through the surrounding landscape or the architecture of the venues. Any styling or décor was simply meant to enhance the natural beauty, not overshadow it. For the vows and elopement, the aesthetic was ethereal, historic, and raw. The ceremony embraced a vintage ski theme inspired by the unapologetically fun energy of the ’80s and ’90s — playful, nostalgic, and full of character. In contrast, the reception shifted to a more refined tone: black tie, candlelit, cinematic, moody, and intimate. We aimed for a sense of drama and warmth with soft textures, classic tailoring, and an atmosphere that felt suspended in time. (Also, candlelight is incredibly flattering for nighttime images.)

Preparation

Brayden and I got ready together. I changed into my dress in the upstairs private bathroom of the restaurant, which was half open to the public. Two of my best friends helped me get ready. There was a small window overlooking the terrace — it was a core memory to be with them, putting together the final touches and soaking it all in.

Photography

Rebecca Rees’ work immediately caught my attention (funny enough, via an article on The Lane). Her work felt like a beautiful blend of documentary and editorial. Brayden isn’t someone who’s used to being in front of the camera, so having someone who has plenty of documentary experience was important to me. I also loved her flash work.

It was our 1:1 call that really sealed the deal, though! There are plenty of amazing, wonderful, talented photographers out there, and deciding is always a tough decision. Transparently, I slid into the DMs of people she had shot for, and they all raved about her as well.

Videography

Our videographer was Juan Morales of Caliente Wedding Films. We had originally considered skipping video altogether, but a close friend — who knows me well — gently challenged that idea. Juan and I have co-directed projects before, so I already knew and trusted his visual language. His background in documentary and sports gives his work a grounded, instinctive quality that I’ve always admired. To add a playful, nostalgic layer to the final film, we passed around a camcorder to our guests and captured additional Super8 footage on my Canon 518. These elements brought a raw, textural contrast that complemented Juan’s polished style, resulting in a final video that felt both cinematic and perfectly imperfect.

Style Notes

Ceremony Décor

We kept décor minimal to let the mid-mountain chalet and landscape shine. Alphitta already had beautiful wooden picnic-style tables and benches draped with furs for warmth and texture.

Thoughtful touches from the team elevated the vibe without overstyling — like champagne bottles chilled in the snow. With the Matterhorn in full view and après-ski attire bringing character, not much else was needed.

Reception Décor

Held at Chalet Hotel Schönegg, a Relais & Châteaux property with panoramic Matterhorn views and rich wood interiors. We leaned into simplicity and romance: white tablecloths, gauze runners, and over 350 pounds of pillar and taper candles. No florals — just soft, flickering light filling the room.

Wedding Planner & Stylist

I handled the planning and styling myself (and definitely got carried away). Our venues were incredibly supportive, which made a big difference for a destination wedding.

We considered hiring a day-of coordinator, but the venues assured us it wasn’t necessary. Most planners wanted to come on as month-of, but by then, everything was already done. Instead, we created a WhatsApp Community group with pages for schedules, logistics, and FAQs. It saved me from a flood of last-minute texts.

My best friends stepped in as day-of coordinators and were total legends. They kept everything running smoothly and made sure Brayden and I stayed off our phones. Some last-minute chaos (like almost missing the train!) just added to the fun, unpredictable energy of the day.

Flowers

I had always planned to walk down the aisle with a single stem — something simple and meaningful. But in the chaos, I forgot to buy one. The morning of the wedding, I messaged my friends, and two of them brought me beautiful options. I carried both — one from each of them — which felt like the perfect, symbolic gesture.

“We wanted the setting to speak louder than any decoration ever could.”

Favors

For our favors, we wanted to create something personal, useful, and fun. We designed a custom wedding welcome newspaper ourselves, along with double-sided matchboxes intended to be display-worthy keepsakes. Guests also received small samples from some of our favorite Canadian wellness brands — Blume, Goodvibes Juice, and Drink LMNT — alongside locally sourced Swiss products from the grocery store. Everything was thoughtfully packed into a reusable zipper pouch, chosen to be travel-friendly and avoid unnecessary waste. And as a bonus, we included Elton John-style glasses for the after-party — because, obviously.

Stationery

We kept everything digital for ease and accessibility. We did order minimalist cards from Etsy with “Brayden and Lauren” printed at the bottom. They weren’t wedding-specific, so we used them for thank-yous, seating cards, and will continue to use them for future notes.

Cake

The chef designed a beautiful menu with dessert included. Their pastry chef created a small, heart-shaped cake — symbolic and sweet (literally and figuratively).

Food & Beverages

4-course, sit-down dinner — an easy choice at a Relais & Châteaux property.

Fashion & Beauty Notes

Bride’s Dress & Shoes

For the ceremony, I wore the Louise Gown in Clay by Saint Bridal, paired with a Parisian tiered veil. I was utterly in love with the gown’s high neckline, open back, intricate lace details, and neutral lining. For the reception, I changed into a gown from Reev Bridal, customized with alterations by Lilit Azaryan at 3rd Floor Tailors in Toronto. My shoes were a pair of blue Jimmy Choo Saeda 100 heels — my “something blue.”

Wedding Rings, Jewelry & Accessories

My engagement ring featured an oval cut center stone with baguettes flanking either side. As a meaningful touch, Brayden incorporated a small stone from my grandmother’s original engagement ring into the design. My wedding band was a thick cigar-style band with a custom inset to allow it to sit flush against the engagement ring, which has a flat setting. Mine had a glossy finish, while Brayden’s was a brushed gold band. Both were engraved with our wedding date on the inside.

For jewelry, I wore vintage pearl earrings that once belonged to my grandmother, adding a sentimental and timeless touch.

Hair & Makeup

For the ceremony, I wore my hair in a low bun — I didn’t want to worry about it throughout the day. Later, I switched to a side-swept wave for the reception, opting for a softer, more romantic look. I kept my makeup natural and glowy. A great tip I once received was to find beauty inspiration based on celebrity lookalikes who share your face shape and coloring — it’s a much more reliable method than randomly pinning images that may not suit you. I did my own makeup on the day, but before we left, my friends gifted me a lesson with a professional makeup artist. She helped me refine my kit and suggested a few strategic upgrades. It was the perfect confidence boost.

The Details

Honeymoon

Since we had a destination wedding, we decided on a “mini-moon” — or more accurately, a “friendsmoon.” We extended our trip by heading to Cervinia, a nearby Italian ski town, and invited anyone who wanted to join us. It turned out to be the perfect way to wind down and turn the celebration into a full ski holiday. Plus, I wasn’t allowed to “fully send it” skiing before the wedding — Murphy’s Law and all that.

Wedding Songs

I went all out organizing the ceremony music, and guests said it “felt like a movie.” My entrance song was the Forrest Gump theme, which holds special meaning for us, while Brayden walked out to Hells Bells — a nod to his bachelor party in Austin. We started the music early with Max Richter’s Four Seasons building up to the “you may kiss the bride” moment. Our first dance was to Elvis’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, a classic that reminded us of our late grandparents.

Entertainment

For both the ceremony and après, we had the dynamic duo of DJ Electric Steve and electric violinist Marie. Steve also DJed the reception. I curated a playlist of about 70 songs ahead of time, along with a tone and vibe, and then trusted him to take it from there. It was the perfect mix of planning and spontaneity.

Celebrant

Our officiant was a dear friend, chosen for personal reasons. He struck the perfect balance between humor and sentimentality — starting and ending on a funny note while bringing the audience to happy tears in the middle.

Readings

We wrote our own vows but chose to share them privately with each other. Our officiant’s speech beautifully covered everything we wanted to express, and we saved our main “speech” for the dinner.

Our Advice

A memorable moment…

The speeches were an absolute highlight. We hadn’t fully realized the untapped comedic potential within our friends and family (perhaps assisted by a dash of liquid courage). What we didn’t realize until the next day was that every single toast, joke, childhood camp letter reenactment, and callback to a random celebrity sighting at the wedding had been accidentally broadcast through the hotel’s outdoor speaker system. Our DJ let us know he’d been getting messages from friends across town. Apparently, we’d unknowingly provided the evening’s entertainment for Zermatt, and we were more than happy to do so.

One thing I wish I knew before I started my wedding plans…

I think there’s a strange amount of pressure to make all the “right” decisions. You hear, “You only get married once, make it perfect,” but the truth is, it will only feel perfect if it’s right for both of you and you’re surrounded by people you love. Choose your venues and vendors based on the people, not just the aesthetic. Especially when planning a destination wedding, working with kind, communicative, and reliable humans makes all the difference. Once you find those people, everything else tends to fall into place.

If I could give other couples one piece of advice…

Leave room for spontaneity. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Prepare for major setbacks, but on the day, ride the wave, stay flexible, and laugh things off. Some of our favorite stories and memories came from the moments that didn’t go according to plan. Also, less is more when it comes to gifts and swag. It’s easy to get swept up in the wedding-industrial complex, but sometimes a single, thoughtful touch is more memorable than an overflowing gift bag.

Sources of inspiration…

Not just saying this, but The Lane was a major source of inspiration. There is something about the editorial quality and creative ideas that stands out. I also found a lot of ideas outside of traditional wedding spaces — from editorials, experiential events, word of mouth, and other weddings we’ve attended.

Our Contacts

Wedding Venues / Schloss Spiez, Restaurant Alphitta, Schönegg Zermatt, Unique Hotel Post

Wedding Stylist & Planner / Lauren Howe, the bride

Photography / Rebecca Rees Photography, Aga Hosking, Karolina Weinfurtner Photography, Maiwahine Creations

Videography /Juan Morales from Caliente Wedding Films

Bride’s Dress / Saint Bridal, Reev Bridal and Meshki

Après Ski Suit / Yves Salomon

Bride’s Shoes / Jimmy Choo

Wedding Rings / Twin Designs

Hair & Makeup / Lauren Howe, the bride

Cake & Catering / Chalet Hotel Schönegg

Entertainment / DJ Electric Steve and Marie Violin

Transport / Guests arrived via the Gornergrat Train or skied into the ceremony.