Dating Siggy, then falling in love with her German colleague opened up a new world for Denise. Vacation time was now spent jetting to Europe. Siggy, an avid skier, introduced Denise to Europe’s famous ski resorts. She loved them all, with such well architected courses that they could ski for days without repeating the same routes and have lunch in one of the rustic restaurants that dotted the mountain tops. How often they enjoyed the sunshine while lounging on the expansive wooded terraces while thick clouds covered the valley, followed by a short nap to rejuvenate for the après-ski evening activities.

Marriage talk gradually sneaked into their conversations, and they planned to talk more seriously about planning after they returned from a ski trip to Lech am Alberg, Austria. They had stayed at the Hotel Sonnenburg (translation: “castle in the sun”), a ski-in/ski-out resort situated on a sunny hilltop. As they stepped out of the gondola that transported them from the village to the hotel, they immediately noticed a small chapel nearby. Owned by the hotel, it had been built as a tribute to the owner’s mother who had passed away a few years before. Each time the couple passed the hotel, they grew more and more in love with it. What if they were to get married here? For Siggy’s family and friends it would be a short hop. And Denise would jump at the chance to show her guests the beauty of the Austrian Alps and the European way of life.

The couple approached the Hochs, the hotel owners, with their idea which elicited an enthusiastic response. The Hochs promised to help in whatever way they could. And help they did! They would provide accommodations for the guests, propose the timeline, prepare the 6-course wedding feast, the cake, the DJ and the flowers, all in consultation with Denise and Siggy. All the couple had to do was invite the guests.

Emails flew back and forth between Austria and the US, followed by phone calls, and then another trip. To ensure that the wedding pictures would be wonderful, they hired Lisa Leigh from Mill Valley. For this former ski instructor, it was a dream come true. She joined the couple a week before the wedding to scout out the area for photo shoots and, of course, get some skiing in.

The celebration began the evening before the wedding day with the Polterabend. “Poltern” means to make noise by having the guests bring chipped and broken dishes saved up over the past year and smash them in front of the entrance. “Chards bring luck” is a German proverb, so all of these chards would bring lot of luck to the couple in their forthcoming marriage. Guests wore traditional costumes and played games. The Polterabend serves a second purpose as well: it shows how well the “almost-weds” can work together cleaning up a mess! Here, in front of the restaurant, they could not throw dishes, but they had much fun anyway.

The next day, March 26th, it snowed the entire morning and showed no signs of letting up as the time for the ceremony drew nearer. But no one cared. First, the guests arrived, either on skis or on foot. The skiers took a lift to the top of the slopes and skied down to the chapel as the sounds of a trumpet quartet echoed through the hills. Non-skiers made their way down a red carpet to the chapel. Then the wedding party arrived on skis. Siggy wore a black snow suit with a boutonnière of Lilies of the Valley. Bridesmaids wore dark ski pants and sky blue jackets. The flower girls and witnesses wore matching Northface ski jackets. Then down skied Denise in her white snow suit with fur neckline, her waist-length veil blowing in the wind, and her ski poles decorated with garlands. She walked down the red carpet to meet her father who accompanied her to the altar. The ceremony was held outside the chapel since the chapel could accommodate only 12 people. The scene resembled a winter wonderland, with light falling snow and the backdrop of the dramatic slopes. The ceremony closed with a long kiss and dance, then the couple passed through a line of raised ski poles, an honor guard formed by a large group of skiers just arrived from the valley below. Champagne was offered to all.

The indoor black-tie-optional reception began three hours later. Siggy, Denise, and their guests, now dressed in wedding finery, sat down to the 6-course meal accompanied by regional wine. With toasts, laughter and dancing, the multi-national guests came together as one. The time passed quickly, and midnight arrived with the cutting of the cake. But that didn’t end the reception, which went on until the wee hours of the morning.

Denise and Siggy certainly took special care to make the celebration a relaxing, fun, and memorable vacation, even for those who didn’t ski, such as their parents and Denise’s 84 year-old grandparents. There are numerous alternatives to skiing, including full spa treatments, groomed walking trails, horse-drawn sleigh rides, show shoeing, amazing shopping, museums, and the daily European-style après ski festivities. Most of the guests stayed for a week as the rates are better. Weeks usually begin on Saturday or Sunday.

The resort area has 260 kilometers of prepared ski slopes, and over 300 kilometers of open terrain for all levels of skiers, described as “never-ever” to “extreme.” There is a 1.5 kilometer toboggan run for those who have a “need for speed.” A 2-hour shuttle ride from the Zurich airport brings you to the 10-minute gondola ride to the breathtaking “no cars allowed” village. A “mini-club” is located two steps from the hotel where children can explore the snow village and learn to ski, while their parents are free to enjoy their day.