Gothic Meets Viking Festival Wedding in Switzerland

Stephanie Wittmer

October 18, 2024

Annina and Jan, who met at a rock and metal club, quickly discovered their mutual love for the same music scene. Once they did, their lives began to revolve around these shared experiences, so it felt natural that their wedding would take on a similar vibe. “We were both surprised we hadn’t met sooner,” Annina told us. “We’ve been to so many festivals and concerts, it felt like we were always meant to find each other.”

Given their love of festivals, the theme of their wedding came naturally. Friends and family joined them for a relaxed celebration without a formal ceremony. “I absolutely loathe being the centre of attention,” the bride continued. “So, in the end, we decided to skip the ceremony altogether and just enjoy the day from start to finish.”

Annina’s wedding dress was sourced from Etsy, and her veil was a special creation made by a friend. Jan’s Viking-inspired outfit fit seamlessly into the relaxed, alternative feel of the day. They both wore necklaces with pieces of the same meteorite, a symbol of their shared connection. “We’re from the same weirdo planet,” Annina joked. “Neither of us is quite normal.”

In keeping with the DIY spirit, Annina took on the task of decorating the space herself, creating signs and other details. One of the standout features was a temporary tattoo corner, set up by her maid of honour, featuring custom designs. Their best man contributed festival banners from Openair Gränichen, where he and Jan had worked together. The paper flowers were crafted from CD booklets and concert tickets.

“Festivals and live concerts are an important part of our life. We even spent our wedding night in a tent! Some of our friends slept in their cars, in the hall, or even between the trees. In the morning, we all had breakfast together, just like at a festival.

Reflecting on the day, Annina stresses the importance of delegating tasks and not striving for perfection. “I was able to fully enjoy the wedding, completely relaxed and stress-free,” she says. “Delegating all the tasks and not expecting everything to go perfectly made all the difference.”

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