The couple wore traditional Austrian tracht jackets, which have buttons made from deer antler. They are worn at formal events, including weddings. The jackets were made by Vienna’s oldest traditional clothes store. Loden-Plankl, which occupies its corner location in the same building since 1830. Ian was always focused on music. Minetti QuartettA string quartet from Austria, who have played together for 20 years, will perform during the cocktail hour and ceremony.
Choose a more intimate ceremony style
The couple’s commitment to the local tradition was evident in their wedding ceremony. They sat together in chairs facing each other, as per the traditional practice. “It made it very private between me and Ian, because we weren’t looking at our guests—as opposed to American weddings,” John says. John says, “I did not see our guests during the entire ceremony. This made it personal and private.”
The emotional outbursts displayed were perhaps a little more American. “Ian fell apart completely when he walked in the room. John laughs. “I started crying when I saw him, and then I was joined by our guests in crying. We spent the next hour sobbing so much that we almost convulsed.”
Enjoy a taste from home to celebrate yourself.
The couple celebrated their individuality while maintaining the Viennese style. The classical music played at the cocktail hour, welcome dinner and ceremony was a nice touch, but it quickly became a party when they switched to John’s preferred genre. He says, “it skews toward hyper pop with Charli, Slayyyter and Cobrah.” Thanks to DJ Robert Klimo. The cocktail that they chose for their party was also a personal choice. John says that margaritas, which are what they drank exclusively at the party, were the signature cocktail.
The only thing they could not borrow was American air conditioning. John explains, “We visited the museum at a time when it was cooler and it got quite hot considering that there were dozens people dancing around.” You felt like you were in a club, with your friends. It was a lot of fun. Everyone was singing and sweating.
Make a memorable keepsake or two
The couple planned a special favor for their guests as well as for themselves. Each of their loved ones received a ceramic bowl made at the 500-year old foundry. Gmundner KeramikIt is famous for its white ceramics with thin green bands. Ian says: “You can get it only here and it’s important culturally to Austria.” We wanted everyone to have a chance to take home a bit of this.
The couple got the idea for their own souvenir while touring venues together with their planner. Hotel Sacher is known for its long-standing tradition of having guests sign their cloth tablecloths. They then embroider over the signatures to display them along its corridors. The couple had their guests sign the tablecloth to act as a guestbook. They then sent it to an Austrian artist to be stitched with the signatures. The couple plans to display their tablecloth at John’s parents home once it is completed. John says, “We will keep that as a keepsake from our wedding.” This, and memories of ugly-crying, and of wiener schnitzel.
