Chloe first started picturing her wedding among the otherworldly landscapes of Switzerland while watching a YouTube influencer’s own Switzerland wedding planning journey. At the same time, the idea of a destination wedding started making more practical sense. Chloe and Thompson wanted a lower guest count, and hosting a wedding far from home naturally dwindled the number of people who could attend. 

“Right as we started looking for a location/destination, one of the YouTubers that I watch had recently gotten married at the same exact church next to Burgenstock Resort,” Chloe says, “We saw the wedding, and fell in love with it instantly so we immediately reached out to Burgenstock two years in advance.”

Traveling internationally made large-scale DIY projects tricky, so the couple leaned on the resort’s own artistry instead. “The florists at Bürgenstock really did an amazing job,” Chloe says, and Thompson’s favorite detail of the entire day ended up being their handiwork: a lush floral arch that framed the church entrance. The couple did sneak in one deeply personal touch, though. “We did have a tiny cake topper of our dog Mako… that we incorporated because we could not bring him!” Chloe says.

The ceremony itself unfolded in a small church beside the resort, the same floral arch wrapping around its doors on what Chloe remembers as “a beautiful, warm, sunny day.” The couple honored one classic tradition: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, while skipping the bouquet toss altogether. They also handed officiant duties to a close friend, whose speech, Chloe recalls, “had everyone in tears from both laughter and happy crying.”

Coordinating a Swiss wedding from afar came with its own hurdles, but the couple credits their planner and friend, Karlina Nguyen, with holding it all together. “Karlina, one of our best friends, was our wedding planner and she did a phenomenal job coordinating with the wedding planners at Bürgenstock Resort,” Chloe says. Interestingly, the couple never made a pre-wedding site visit, trusting the process (and their planner) from a distance.

Looking back, Chloe says the experience taught her something bigger than logistics. “Wedding planning truly tests your relationship and how you are able to handle planning this once-in-a-lifetime event on top of your daily life stressors,” she reflects. “Communication is extremely important, and for certain things, compromise is just as important, especially if one partner has a very strong opinion about a certain aspect of the wedding.”

Vendors: Photographer: Brianna Voegeli; Planner, Stationery, MUAH: Karlina Nguyen of Gathered by Kar; Ceremony/Reception Site, Florist, Cake: Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne; Grooms’ Clothing Designer: SuitSupply