Autumn in the Alps isn't one season – it can be three

I heard this a couple of times as a kid: ‘Autumn blues’, meaning the subtle melancholy that sets in with many people in the Northern hemisphere, and certainly central Europe, when there is no doubt that summer, with it’s warmth, light and easiness comes to a slow but definite finish – to be followed what many describe as cold, gloomy, endless, and – inevitable.

I don’t remember precisely how I handled autumn as a child, but as an adult, I adored it: In the Alps, this is maybe THE perfect season: since the air gets cooler and drier, you have very blue skies, often without clouds. The air, especially in the morning, has an irresistible strength and zest of life. Do just a little morning walk in October, and you will be rejuvenated by at least 5 years. It’s a great time for many outdoor endeavours, as the risk of thunderstorms, a constant danger in the Alps during summer, is near zero.

The brightness and variety of colours in the woods strike me every year, and you may certainly feel as a character in a classic nature painting, so intensive one feels the surroundings.  And the evenings start to get this cozy indoor feeling, with red wine, candles, and season specialities like game and chanterelles waiting.

And seen from a wider perspective, this season is in fact two-in-one, maybe even three-in-one: Early September often is summerish, with lots of sunshine, and temperatures mostly above 20 degree. In South Tyrol, you will even get the high 20s still.

Then you have the crisp, colourful October, with all the striking warm colours that will want you to become part of nature. And then in November, the higher elevations will see snow, which will slowly descend even to the lower valleys in the course of the month. By its end, most areas will be covered in white, providing a yet complete new version of this ever-changing nature.

And since my written contributions in the end are about romantic travels, weddings and honeymoons, I shall get back to the main topic and provide you with some value-added. 

Because the question is not simply whether to choose an autumn wedding in the Alps. It is where in the Alps – and when.



Because again, if someone asks or recommends you to visit the Alps in October, or even better: you may have the wish to get married in the Alps in October – this may mean a lot of different things: In Meran, you will be able to enjoy ‘Toergelen’, a festive season where the new wine of the year is enjoyed with local ham (Speck), chestnuts and other aromatic things – and you most likely will be able to spend the wedding outside.

Some 50 Kilometers away and 800m higher in elevation, the overall impression may be strikingly different.

And more serious for any planning to take into account: Depending on where you are and how high you want to get: Huts are closing, as so some roads, while cable cars switch between summer and winter season. Winter tires in any case are a good idea.

But let get through the facts:

Why Consider an Autumn Wedding in the Alps?

In general, and as I described in my intro, there is lots of benefits to shift your travel or wedding from July to September or October: The crowds are substantially smaller, and depending on the destination and dates, accommodation and venue rates may become more attractive as well.

And especially in areas where tourism is quite heavy over the summer months, this also makes the locals more relaxed. There seems to be more time, easier vibes, less stress. And, especially for weddings, it should be much easier to find the location you want, the photographer, and many of the other service providers.

Enter the Unique Light,  Colours and Atmosphere of an Alpine Fall

Here I prefer to let pictures talk (look at the one above, from Switerland for example, or the one below, which I took in Chamonix). I have said everything about this intense season in my intro, and I think words in general will fall short of describing it. This combination of air, colours, local specialities, light – it’s unique, and you should spend some time exploring it.

It is recommendable to check for a few things, like larch forests, as they tends to get specifically striking. But be mindful again that altitude has a definitive influence on when the colours appear and disappear: As a general rule, the higher up, the earlier the colours change – but the earlier they are also gone again.

What Is the Weather Like in the Alps in Fall?

So, here I need to tame my emotions: Because yes of course, the Alps are not Dubai in terms of whether, meaning there is never a guarantee. But in general, the air is drier, the tendency for precipitation of all sorts, and specifically for thunderstorms is considerably lower. During sunshine, days can be late-summerish warm until early November, but even that month may be gentle, although it is a bit of an exception. Again, altitude is the big game changer here, but also the exposition.

September, October or November? Three Very Different Weddings

Now, lets look into the three months, what do they offer?

• September → late-summer feeling, with nights however considerably crisper, but then again – that can be beautiful.  
• October → classic golden autumn – hear and see yourselves as living objects in a box full of colours. In my view, this is the essence of an October wedding in the Alps.

• November → now this one is often the ‚ugly duckling‘ of the year. No more warmth really, but also not real winter season. Actually, I was not much of a fan of this one for a long time, but that has changed. November I say now comes with its very own atmosphere, for those open to experience it. It is a transition not only into winter, but as I have written elsewhere, also a metaphysical time of transition, which is celebrated with its own very unique traditions within many Alpine regions. Today I would call November a raw diamond waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. However, to enjoy it fully, you’d need careful planning with some local knowledge. 

South Tyrol, Bavaria or Tyrol: Location Matters

Looking at the map, Bavaria is North of Tyrol, which, not very surprisingly, sits north of South Tyrol. While North-South always influences climate, elevation does so too as we said. And here, Tyrol is, on average, on a higher average elevation than Bavaria, whereas South Tyrol  features the highest degree of elevation variability, ranging from around 300 meters above sea-level to almost 4000 meters.

So wheather you want this later summer feeling, or if you fall for the crispier clean skies: You need to balance the area with the elevation. Of course, as explained above, early September in South Tyrol most certainly will be a kind of summer still, but mid-November at around 2000m will be already an adventure to even get there (unless you have a skiing area which might be open already). So, the choice is yours, and it is a great opportunity to witness just how naturally diverse these mountains can be within a few kilometers of range.  

Why you need to plan carefully

I wanted to show you a lot of the benefits of autumn. Not because I want to sell the season, but because I really and deeply love it. But, I hope I also made it clear that this season demands sound planning as well to make an Alpine destination wedding in that season a true gift for life.

First, days are getting increasingly short. If you live in or near the tropics you might not be aware, but while the sun raises at shortly after 4am in high-summer, it’s still sleeping at 7am in late October. And while summer nights in the Alps will reach 10pm, it’s pitch dark at 6pm a few months later. So this needs to be taken into account for photography, travelling, any kind of outdoor activity you have in mind etc. Also, the difference in temperatures between day and evening/nights gets increasingly stronger. When I drive around the Zugspitze region in my region in October, some villages are around freezing points at six in the morning, while day temperatures still can climb over 20 degrees.

Even more important, huts, mountain restaurants, some roads, etc. will get closed the more we go towards winter. Cable cars normally stop for a few weeks for technical revision between the seasons. And in November, many hotels and restaurants are closed for 2-3 weeks as this is normally considered one of the lowest seasons in terms of overall activities (but of course, that comes with its very own advantages).

Snow can become a peril if you didn’t expect it, and you don’t know it altogether (believe me, it doesn’t taste sweet, and it’s not even particularly soft). I am not talking about avalanches or any of that sort, but just having to walk in normal sneakers for 10 minutes in an unexpected snowfall is not super-cozy.

So, Is Fall Better Than Summer?

So, here we are. I gave you my personal view and pointed out to some season specifics. Now is probably time to come to a verdict. I said before that I am really deeply fond of this season, but from a wedding perspective I say this: It depends of course what you want. I know, this sounds like a cheap answer, but as I described this in other blog entries, seasons change the Also profoundly in many aspects.

Does this season save money? Well, while an autumn celebration may offer greater flexibility, the overall budget depends on location, guest numbers and the type of experience you are planning.

But in any case, autumn is a very special and interesting season that will give couples a lot of unique pictures and emotions, if you are ready to invest a bit of time in planning. If you love intimacy, colours, a unique environment, and want to profit from fewer crowds and maybe better prices – this season may be yours!.

At Mont-e-Val, we believe that planning an autumn wedding in the Alps is all about finding the right place at the right moment. From late-summer warmth in South Tyrol, golden larch forests in Tyrol and empty lake views in Bavaria, and to the first hint of winter at higher elevations, we help couples discover the setting that matches their vision – and create a celebration that will be shaped and enriched by this wonderful season, rather than limited by it.