So much of the wow of a wedding venue is about the setting. Get married at the Grand Zermatterhoff Hotel in Zermatt and you’ll have unrivaled views of the Matterhorn edged with glittering white snow to take your wedding to a whole new level.
That exquisite aesthetic which can only come from the 19th century is sprinkled here in spades. Built-in 1870 by locals from what was then Zermatt village, today the Grand Zermatterhoff Hotel in Valais, Switzerland is still the first choice for royalty, Hollywood glitterati, and world-famous mountaineers.
From the moment you arrive, it’s clear you’ll experience something special. The hotel’s façade is a feast of delectable nineteenth-century architecture.
Inside, the elegance continues with sparkling chandeliers, ornate glass ceilings, and warm, honey-toned wood embellishments. The refined decor makes the Zermatterhoff Hotel a grand wedding venue you still feel at home.
The place to go for a sophisticated stay, choose the legendary Zermatterhoff for your wedding and you and your guests are in for a treat. In fact, it’s the perfect place to fully indulge all your deepest wedding dreams.
In the most picturesque ski resort in the world, you run out of adjectives quickly. From the highest ski resort in Switzerland, stomping views of the Matterhorn and its surrounding peaks can be enjoyed everywhere you go.
Taking in everything from different angles of the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, Jungfrau, and the Gran Paradiso, it’s no surprise Zermatt is one of the best ski resorts in the world. Sitting at 3900m above sea level on the Swiss-Italian border, you’ll enjoy thrilling vistas across the landscape from sunrise to sunset.
Open year-round, high altitudes mean the powder here is as good as it gets. For your pre-wedding photoshoot imagine the scene. Behind you, the chiseled, snow-capped peak of the Matterhorn, above, Zermatt’s 300 days of sunshine highlights all your best features as the light bounces off the glistening white snow.
Magical.
And it really is. I was once a ski instructor here, these days I come back all the time, not just to ski but as a highly-experienced Zermatt pre-wedding photographer. Yes, not only does that mean I can ski backwards down the mountain and take photographs at the same time, I also know all the best places to get amazing shots.
Can anyone get high into the alps in Zermatt if they don’t ski? Yes, they can.
Zermatt is a destination for both skiers and non-skiers so you don’t have to hit the ski slopes for your pre-wedding photography if you don’t want to. Similarly, if you do, but there are those in your party who don’t, the resort is bursting with activities for everyone. It’s super-easy to get around on foot so no one gets left out.
From sky-high restaurants tucked into the alps to ice-skating, luxurious boutiques, bars, plush spas, sledging, hikes, the cinema, and more, there’s endless entertainment to choose from and countless destinations for foodies.
Zermatterhof wedding in Zermatt
If you are looking to have a luxury wedding in Zermatt, then The Grand Zermatterhof hotel should be on your list for a wedding venue.
Elopement wedding at the Zermatterhof
An Epic Elopement wedding in Zermatt, what more can you ask for than a photographer, Blue skies, the Matterhorn, an Iglu, and a skiing bride and groom.
Paul is absolutely incredible!!! We used him for our wedding and engagement photos and we could not be happier with the results. He is professional, communicative, flexible, easy to work with, and not to mention, a very skilled photographer. Not having a wedding planner wasn’t an issue for us, because Paul has photographed so many weddings that he knew all the little transitions and precious moments to capture. We are forever grateful for the beautiful pictures that we now have to treasure for years to come that allow us to relive the best day of our lives. THANK YOU, PAUL!! You are truly one of a kind and we feel so blessed to have found you.
Marc & Larissa
27 of my favourite images from The Grand Zermatterhof Hotel Wedding Venue
Things to do during your stay
The Matterhorn Glacier Ride
The Matterhorn Glacier Ride is a 3S cableway that can take you up to the Klein Matterhorn for fantastic views of the Matterhorn and landscape beyond. In fact, the Glacier’s Crystal Ride cabins, which are cloaked in Swarovski crystals, may be perfect for the occasion.
If crystals are not your thing – universal appreciation can be found in the view through the Matterhorn Glacier Ride’s floor to ceiling windows, present on every side. Choose the Crystal Ride cabins and you’ll also have a glass-bottomed floor for extensive scenes across the mountainous setting.
As the highest cable car in the world, the state-of-the-art Glacier Ride is an experience in itself. Indeed, monumental experiences are what a pre-wedding photoshoot in Zermatt is all about.
Best Pre-Wedding Shoot Locations and Ideas in Zermatt
As a photographer who shoots both weddings and pre-weddings in Zermatt all the time, I have an endless list of ideas for pre-wedding shoots in this glorious location but these two are amongst my faves.
The Gornergrat Train
Taking you 3089m up into the Swiss Alps, the Gornergrat Train travels through aromatic Swiss stone pine forests and rocky tunnels, across deep ravines and serene lakes, climbing 1469m high to the top of Gornergrat.
Beginning in Zermatt, the Gornergrat Bahn passes through Findelbach, Riffelalp, Riffelberg, and Rotenboden, each stop a destination for more stunning vistas. But wait until the last stop at the top of Gornergrat and you’ll be greeted with awesome views.
The legendary train journey is over 100 years old. First made on the Gornergrat Train in 1898, the trip is a must for any visit to Zermatt. On arrival, you’re rewarded with spectacular 360° views from the viewing platform.
There are also numerous attractions, restaurants, an observatory, the highest sledging slope in Switzerland, and Europe’s highest-altitude hotel to enjoy.
Zoom the Matterhorn takes you up close to the Matterhorn through virtual flights, 3D experiences, and more, whilst Iglu Dorf is a destination for lots of couples.
Iglu Dorf
Whilst this beautiful outdoor location is already so romantic, a stay at Iglu Dorf will elevate your pre-wedding celebrations even further.
Forming part of an Igloo village, the highest in the world, Iglu Dorf is a unique snow hotel complete with its own bar, restaurants, whirlpools, saunas, and more. Each structure is rebuilt every year and decorated by local artists.
Your room, is the perfect place to hide away together. Decorated by local artists, what could be more romantic than a snug, serene retreat sculpted from ice with its own whirlpool? For an experience not to forget, a night in an ensuite igloo cocooned by nothing but handcrafted ice is unmatched.
A snowshoe trek, night walk with the Milky Way above, sauna, eat all you can fondue, and snuggles by the heated open fire of the Kota make Iglu Dorf a seriously romantic pre-wedding date!
For an amazing pre-wedding shoot idea, Zermatt definitely delivers!
Ski instructor wedding photographer
With only one opportunity to capture all the drama of both the Swiss Alps and your wedding day, you’ll want to ensure that you have a Swiss Alps wedding photographer who knows what they’re doing. This terrain takes some knowledge. I, for example, have spent the last 15 years as a ski and snowboard instructor and can often be found skiing backward whilst shooting my couples not something the average wedding photographer can undertake!
Local to the area, I’m a highly experienced Zermatt wedding photographer who has been lucky to photograph a couple of weddings at The Grand Zermatterhof Hotel Whether you want to get married in Zermatt or another location – give me a call on: 07854 172143 or send a message and let’s talk about what you have in mind for your wedding.
Check availability
If you would like to enquire about The Grand Zermatterhof Hotel Wedding Venue and the services I offer please feel free to get in touch. Tell me as many details as possible, I love hearing all about what people have planned for their big day, and also the finer details… how you met and a bit about you both.
Please feel free to contact me on 07854172143 or if you prefer you can contact me by email at info@paulkeppel.co.uk or by using the form below. I aim to respond within 24 hours however if you haven’t heard back from me please check your spam folders as sometimes emails drop into there.
