Hotel Lido · Seeshaupt

At Lake Starnberg

A civil ceremony in Schwabing in the morning, followed by a personal ceremony beside Lake Starnberg in the afternoon. This is one of my favourite weddings to have photographed.

Flower petals fly over the couple by the lake.

One day,
two places.

The day began in Munich. The civil ceremony was at the Mandlstraße registry office in Schwabing, and the couple wore traditional dress. Afterwards there was finger food in the English Garden before everyone travelled to Lake Starnberg.

Sina from Symphonie Weddings in Munich planned this wedding. The photographs on this page follow the whole day, from the registry office to the fireworks.

Are you also getting married in Munich, by a lake or in the mountains? My page for Munich, Upper Bavaria and the Alps explains how I work there.

In the morning

In traditional dress to the
Mandlstraße registry office.

She wore a white traditional dress, he wore lederhosen and a traditional waistcoat. The ceremony room on Mandlstraße was all classic: rings, signatures, the first kiss as a married couple.

Outside the yellow doorway the guests were already waiting with a banner for the two of them to cut their way through.

The bride in a white traditional dress folds her hands, a brooch shining on her bodice.

The bride turns her engagement ring, the fabric of her traditional dress below.

Both hold a turquoise glass ring box, he is wearing a traditional waistcoat.

Hands on a knee in lederhosen and wool socks, the white dress beside it.

The couple in traditional dress at the table in the ceremony room, guests seated behind them.

First kiss at the registry office, guests applauding in the background.

The bride signs with a fountain pen, the ring sparkling on her finger.

He puts the wedding ring on her finger at the registry office.

The couple in traditional dress laugh, holding the folder with their certificate.

Leaving the ceremony room cheering with arms raised.

The couple in traditional dress step out of the arched doorway of the Mandlstraße registry office.

The couple cut their way through a banner reading Just married.

In the English Garden

Bubbly on
the lawn.

After the registry office we went to the English Garden. Small tables with finger food stood on the lawn, the sparkling wine was on ice, and the groom opened the first bottle with a sabre.

The couple in traditional dress stand on a lawn in the English Garden between tables of finger food.

Small tarts and rolls on a wooden tray in the grass.

Bottles of sparkling wine in an ice bucket on the lawn.

He opens a bottle of sparkling wine with a sabre next to a stand of chocolates.

The cork flies as the bottle is sabred, the bride watches laughing.

Changing

From dirndl
to wedding dress.

For the celebration by the lake it was time to change, and the details were already laid out: rings, pearls, buttonholes in white and light blue. Then a quiet moment by the window before heading down to the ceremony.

The wedding dress hangs on a dark wardrobe in front of patterned wallpaper.

A white and light blue bouquet and sparkling bridal shoes in front of the dress.

Watch, fountain pen, cufflinks, bow tie and buttonhole on a mint cloth.

A pearl necklace and buttonhole on mint fabric.

The wedding rings beside a buttonhole of light blue and white flowers.

The groom fastens his watch over a white shirt.

The groom adjusts his jacket in the hotel room.

The bride laughs as a friend puts on her necklace.

The bride sits ready in an armchair by a tall window.

The ceremony

String quartet
and sunshine.

The personal ceremony took place at Hotel Lido in Seeshaupt, on the lawn in front of the building. The rows of chairs faced the water, a string quartet played, and then the sun came out as well.

After the vows, the couple walked back down the aisle through soap bubbles and flower petals. I position myself at the end of the aisle beforehand because the moment passes quickly and cannot be repeated. Nobody can plan the expressions that follow.

The bride walks across the lawn in front of Hotel Lido beside her father.

The couple beneath the ceremony arch, Lake Starnberg behind them.

Their hands rest together, the bouquet beside them.

The groom reads his vows, the bride beams.

The bride wipes away a tear, he stands facing her.

Through the veil: the groom smiles at his bride.

Petals fly over the couple in front of the lake.

A kiss beneath the ceremony arch, guests waving ribbons.

Guests celebrate the couple with soap bubbles.

The couple leave between their guests by the lake.

Walking back up the aisle between fluttering ribbons by the lake.

The celebration

Napkins
in the air.

The tables were set in white, blue and turquoise, matching the details from the morning. Napkins flew as the couple entered the hall, and the two of them danced between the tables, laughing.

Table decoration with white and blue flowers, turquoise candles and glasses.

A menu card between glasses and flowers, a turquoise gift in front.

Guests wave white napkins as the couple enter the hall.

The couple dance laughing through the hall between the round tables.

In the evening

On the jetty.

In the evening, we returned to the jetty. The lanterns were already lit, the sun was low over the water, and for fifteen minutes the whole lake glowed orange. For pictures like these, I may briefly take you away from dinner. We were gone for less than twenty minutes, and those are the photographs that stayed with us from the evening.

A kiss on the jetty against the evening sky.

He spins the bride on the jetty, the lake behind them.

The couple laugh among soap bubbles by the water.

The bride laughs among soap bubbles, he spreads his arms.

A couple kiss on a jetty among lanterns.

A close-up kiss, the lake in the background.

The couple stand close together in evening light by the lake.

He holds her from behind, a lantern beside them.

The couple stand small at the end of the jetty between the lanterns.

The night

Cake, dancing
and fireworks.

The cake arrived with sparklers, then the dancing began. At the end everyone went outside once more, where fountains of fire brought the evening to a close.

The couple cheer beside the cake with sparklers.

The couple dance exuberantly, guests standing in a circle.

The couple cheer at night in front of fountains of fire.

What you may
want to know.

Where exactly was this wedding?

At Hotel Lido in Seeshaupt on the southern end of Lake Starnberg. The personal ceremony took place outside on the lawn in front of the hotel, followed by the celebration at the same location.

Would you photograph our wedding at Lake Starnberg too?

I would love to. Munich is my second home base, so with a full day of coverage, travel within 100 kilometres of Munich is included. That reaches Lake Starnberg, Tegernsee and Chiemsee.

How long does an evening portrait session at the lake take?

At this wedding, we spent just under twenty minutes on the jetty. It usually takes no longer when we already know where we are going. You will hardly miss any of your celebration.