Anne and Mike had always been a couple with a taste for adventure. When they first met, their dates escalated from a simple dinner to knife-throwing, rock-climbing, and, eventually, traveling abroad. As their relationship grew, Anne and Mike decided to embark on their greatest adventure yet: a destination wedding. 

For this couple, saying “I do” outside of their home country was a matter of sentimentality. They had long ago decided on Miesbach, Germany— the site of their third date.

“Hosting the wedding away from Germany was never on the table,” the couple says. “Because it was such a personal, special location, that was always the plan!” 

When choosing a venue, Mike and Anne put complete faith in their wedding planners, Taryn and Dani of Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design. They decided on the Event Scheune Wallenberg, a charming and rustic destination just south of Munich, well-suited for the intimate ceremony the bride and groom-to-be had in mind. 

“It was elegant but with a traditional Bavarian flavor, which was perfect!” the couple says. 

The simple, homey aesthetic of the venue was an excellent fit for Mike and Anne’s ceremony, which included a plethora of unique DIY projects. The couple leaned into their travel theme, with a passport-style guest book, custom-carved airplanes, and a homemade flower wall that acted as a nod to the couple’s love of German culture.

“The guest favors were Bavarian steins that were customized with our wedding date and names,” says the couple. “They were on display with a flower wall that had ‘Party to the End of Stein’ signed on it, signifying our love of German beer and a farewell to the bride’s maiden name: Orenstein.” 

On the day of the ceremony, Mike and Anne’s wedding went without a hitch, complete with handwritten vows from the bride and groom and a breaking of the glass to celebrate the bride’s Jewish roots. The now-husband-and-wife duo kept the festivities going at their reception. 

“We wanted it to be a party and a celebration— very lively, lots of drinks flowing and people dancing,” they say. “One German tradition we incorporated was to have Michael open the first keg of German beer!”

While they held their wedding abroad, the couple urged future couples to go with an American planner. 

“Speaking the same language as your planner and coming from a similar background cannot be understated. Trusting them to translate your priorities overseas is priceless!” 

Vendors: Photographer: Sydney Sweat of SASs Photography; Wedding Planner: Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design; Ceremony/Reception Site: Event Scheune Wallenberg; Florist: Das blüehende Atelier; Stationery: Pirouette Paper; Cake: Konditorei Momm; Hair & Makeup: Melanie Rieberer; Gown Designer: Gown Boutique of Charleston; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Indochino; Travel Planning: Britta Heath Travel