Johanna and Gerwin’s 3 day wedding festivities started out at the historic Leonstain Schloss Hotel in Pörtschach which is 15 minutes from the Klagenfurt Austrian airport. Pörtschach is a lovely resort town that is located on Lake Wörthersee; a 3 hour drive from Vienna, Austria and in the heart of the Carinthia. The happy couple celebrated with 80 of their closest friends and family members who had flown in from all over the world. The Leonstain Schloss is a charming boutique hotel that was originally a castle built in 1492 and one of the oldest landmarks on Lake Wörthersee. Reportedly this is where the famous composer Johannes Brahms took refuge and wrote his Violin Concerto and 2nd Symphony.

After a long 10 hour flight from New York City, my team and I landed late Thursday morning into the wet but very lush Carinthian countryside of Austria. The weather forecasted a lot of rain with a slim chance of sun so we spent much of the day acclimating ourselves to the 6 hour time change. Johanna and Gerwin booked the gorgeous Johannes Brahms suite for our stay at the Leonstain Schloss which was a lovely surprise. When Friday rolled around, it was still very wet and rainy. Many of the couples’ friends and family were slowly trickling into town. We decided to head into town to scout for a few unique locations for the bridal and engagement photos. Later that afternoon, we met with Johanna and Gerwin for engagement photos on the hotel grounds, the Leonstain beach club, and around Pörtschach.

That evening, the couple had their rehearsal/welcome dinner which was a laid back Carinthian-style barbeque. We feasted on delicious and traditional Austrian fare which included sausages, baked chicken, potatoes, Carinthian dumplings which were lovely doughy pillows of heaven filled with curd cheese and fresh herbs and a very unique dessert bread with an exquisite vanilla sauce.

Hotel Schloss Leonstain Wedding Pictures

That was the end of Day 1….. On to Day 2

A Hotel Schloss Leonstain Destination Wedding: Klagenfurt, Vienna Austria by Josh Wong Photography

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

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Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
DAY 2

After a long and stormy night, the skies cleared and the couple awoke to a gorgeous sunny wedding day. In fact, because the weather cleared up so nicely, Johanna and Gerwin were able to have the outdoor wedding they had dreamed of in one of the intimate courtyards on the hotel grounds. Johanna wore a gorgeous Alençon lace and tulle Vera Wang gown which she paired with glittery silver ballet flats. Gerwin wore a beautiful navy suit with an elegant silver tie and black patent leather shoes. The groom’s parents and sister were even dressed in the traditional Austrian wedding attire. (See below.) Following the wedding, we snuck the couple out for a few post-wedding photos while their guests enjoyed the cocktail hour in the main courtyard of the hotel. Johanna and Gerwin celebrated their marriage with a beautiful Austrian banquet at the Restaurant Leon which is known for their gourmet fare made from organic, locally sourced produce and meats. As night fell, the it started raining to top come down again but that did not stop Johanna and Gerwin from dancing the night away with their friends and family in the Leonstain nightclub and bar.  We also managed to do a little photo shoot in the rain (last image) which happened to be sooo worth it. They ended the night with a very traditional Viennese Sacher wedding cake and a mouthwatering goulash soup.

Continue to Day 3 –>

Continue to Day 3 –>

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

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Jenn and Stephen’s 3-day Maui wedding began with the wedding rehearsal at the Holy Ghost Mission in the Kula which is in the upcountry neighborhood of Maui. The church was established in 1879 and the historic octagonal church was built in 1894. The altar and the Portuguese language Stations of the Cross were specially brought in from the Cape of Good Hope in nine crates and then hauled by oxcart from Kahului Harbor to the church. These unique church artifacts are now recognized as examples of museum-quality ecclesiastical art. The 6 couple wedding party, the bride and groom’s parents, close family members, and Friar Ray (from Northern California) were all in attendance. Following the rehearsal, everyone headed to the Makena-Wailea neighborhood to the Honua Kai Lani Estate where the couple had their rehearsal luau which was complete with Kalua Pua’a (roasted pig), fresh fish, delicious liliquoi passion fruit bars. The Honua Kai Lani estate (aka Sugarman estate) is located on a state reserve as it overlooks the South Maui ocean and where the couple and their guests enjoyed a beachside Maui sunset.

On the day of the wedding, the bride and bridesmaids got ready at the Fairmont hotel while the groom and the groomsmen got ready at the Makena Resort. The bride wore a custom-made white chiffon gown, sparkly gold Louboutin heels, and a custom-made necklace. The entire bridal party headed to the Haiku Mill Estate for bridal party photos in the gorgeous and very unique all-white bridal cottage called the Cane House. This was also the site of the “first look” for Dad and the bride. The secret garden was a sight to behold with dripping crystals that were suspended in the middle of the dance floor, a waterfall in the background, and jasmine and gardenia blossoms that were in full bloom. This would be where the wedding banquet and celebration would take place later that evening.
The following day, the bride and groom joined us for a unique trash-the-dress session in a canyon that was complete with a small rambling creek and a banyan tree on a 22-acre coffee plantation called Fern Grotto.

Fairmont Kea Lani Destination Wedding, Maui Hawaii – Jenn & Stephen – Wedding Pictures by Destination Wedding Photographer Josh Wong Photography,

After the hair and makeup was complete, we traveled over to Haiku Mill to put on the wedding dress.

The bride getting ready in the bridal suite at Haiku Mill. Haiku Mill Destination Wedding, Maui Hawaii – Wedding Pictures by Destination Wedding Photographer Josh Wong Photography

Bride and Groom Bridal Portraits at Ho’okipa Beach Park Destination Wedding, Maui Hawaii – Wedding Pictures by Destination Wedding Photographer Josh Wong Photography

Elaborate crystal chandeliers hang from open air ceiling of Haiku Mill. Haiku Mill Destination Wedding, Maui Hawaii – Wedding Pictures by Destination Wedding Photographer Josh Wong Photography

The day after trash the dress photoshoot. Fern Grotto in Maui Hawaii Destination Wedding, Maui Hawaii

The day after trash the dress photoshoot. Fern Grotto in Maui Hawaii Destination Wedding, Maui Hawaii – Wedding Pictures by Destination Wedding Photographer Josh Wong Photography

ABOUT HAIKU MILL, Maui Hawaii

Haiku Mill is steeped in over 150 years of history, with roots in the island’s once-prominent sugar industry, making it an important landmark site. With its unmatched beauty and elegance, unique past, and lush, tropical location, Haiku Mill is unlike anything you have ever seen before. It has a breathtaking mix of French-inspired décor, vine-draped ruins, and spectacular flora. A stroll beneath the Mill’s archway is like a trip back in time.

The post Haiku Mill Destination Wedding and Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel and Resort Destination Wedding, Maui Hawaii – Jenn & Stephen – Wedding Pictures by Destination Wedding Photographer Josh Wong Photography, appeared first on New York City Wedding Photographer - Josh Wong Photography.

Wedding of Katrina and Chris
Wedding Photos by Top Destination Wedding Photographer Joshua Wong

Location: Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
Venue: Amanyara Turks & Caicos Hotel

Katrina and Chris’ 2-day destination wedding began on a balmy tropical evening at the super luxurious and uber-exclusive Amanyara Resort at the northwest point of the island of Providenciales, home of the famous Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos. The Amanyara Resort has hosted such notable guests as Prince and Lady Gaga. The evening began with a welcome dinner at the Beach Club where the guests feasted on an island barbecue with barbecued seafood, conch salad, tuna ceviche, coconut flan, banana spring rolls, while they were serenaded by a local Caribbean band. The night was complete with a bonfire by the beach. After the long night of celebration and dancing under the stars, the group headed back to Grace Bay.

We had a little destination engagement photoshoot on Day 1 at the Amanyara before family and friends arrived for a rehearsal dinner.

Wedding Day at the Amayara Turks & Caicos

The wedding day started early with the building of the wedding arch and platform for the beach wedding that were complete with fuschia kissing balls and white chiffon draping. And with that, the Amanyara lended all of its splendor and glory for all to see. From the infinity pool entrance to the private white sand beach, this wedding was one for the picture books and magazines. Katrina and Chris both had seperate villas to get ready in with the ceremony taking place on the beach. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, with Chris even being so excited he accidentally went in to kiss Katrina as she walked down the sandy aisle.

Wedding fans were placed on each seat. Wedding day pictures at the Amanyara Resort, Turks and Caicos. Wedding photos by destination wedding photographer Josh Wong Photography

When it was all said and done, and when it was least expected… Everyone had a splash landing in the swimming pool. At one point they even tried to get me to jump in. What a great party! Enjoy!

© Josh Wong Photography

Vendors: Josh Wong Photography
Cinematography: I Do Films

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