The bride wore her grandmother's dress (with a sewn-in Swedish krona) for her alpine 'ski club' wedding

In Caroline Andrén (née Ekberg)’s words, her decision with now-husband John Andrén to make the Austrian town of Lech the setting for their wedding was an easy one. “I have been to Lech my whole life, and skiing is an important part of John’s and my life, so it was early decided that it was the perfect location,” Caroline says, describing Lech as “the snowy playground of our adventures and the keeper of our fondest memories.”

So, it was this idyllic snowy village that guests descended upon this spring for a truly unique celebration, with a ‘Ski Club Andrén’ cap gifted to each person upon arrival which Caroline says “instantly united everyone.” “To further commemorate the occasion, I crafted a personalised ‘Ski Club Andrén’ newspaper for every guest, weaving a narrative of our journey leading up to this unforgettable moment,” she adds.

While the couple met through mutual friends at a Midsummer party in the Stockholm archipelago, the beginning of their official marital journey was bookmarked in another snowy setting, with John proposing to Caroline on a crisp winter evening; the pair lounging by the outdoor pool of his country house surrounded by snow. “As the night unfolded, a subtle shift in his demeanour caught my attention,” Caroline says. “There was a glimmer in his eye, a nervous energy tingling in the air. During my pre-dinner shower, John dropped a casual bombshell: he needed to set the dining table – a chore I typically took upon myself. Cue the intrigue,” she recounts.

Entering the kitchen later, Caroline was greeted by John innocently pouring glasses of Champagne. “Before I could even register what was happening he was down on one knee. It took what felt like forever to grasp what was happening, but with tears in my eyes and my heart racing, I managed to squeak out the simplest ‘yes’ of my life.” As it turns out, John had concealed the Champagne, ring, and flowers within his toolbox during the drive to the country house – knowing Caroline would never think to pry it open.

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The weekend’s proceedings kicked off with a Friday night rehearsal dinner on the terrace of Lech’s Hotel Kristiana, which Caroline describes as “something out of a Slim Aarons photograph.” “As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting its golden glow upon the majestic mountains, we gathered for sunset cocktails – margaritas, negroni and pink Champagne.” The great attention paid to details throughout the wedding started here, with bread served with the couple's initials and all menus and stationery designed and drawn by Caroline.

For the rehearsal dinner, Caroline opted for a Khaite dress that took her five months to seek out, paired with a long-standing favourite from her wardrobe: a polka dot Saks Potts jacket, finished with satin vintage Chanel and Éliou pearl earrings. John took the classic route, wearing a traditional Austrian blazer in a creamy hue and a scarf passed down from Caroline’s grandfather.

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The big day began at the quaint village church of Lech. Caroline wore a wedding dress originally worn by her grandmother in 1958. “Over the years, the wedding dress has graced the frames of my mother, grandmother, and godmother before adorning me as I exchanged vows with John. It was truly a princess moment for me,” Caroline says. The familial significance in her outfit continued with her mother’s diamond earrings and necklace, along with her mother’s wedding band – worn on her right hand. “My ‘something new’ was a pair of sparkling Sania D’mina heels, and my ‘something blue’ was a small blue ribbon sewn into the dress when it was made, accompanied by a tiny Swedish krona for good luck.” Meanwhile, John’s tuxedo was custom-made from Blugiallo in Stockholm. “It boasted a traditional silhouette with an exceptionally high waist, complete with opera pumps from Morjas.”

Caroline was walked down the aisle by her dad, who provided a calming presence amidst the whirlwind of emotions. “The sight of John standing at the altar was a moment frozen in time. As I drew closer, the embrace we shared washed away any nerves and we instantly hugged each other which helped take the edge off everything, leaving only a sense of profound happiness and excitement.”

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Exiting the church as a married couple to the sound of live bagpipes played by a family friend, the group then migrated to the atmospheric Kristberg Hotel for the reception. Caroline – for fear of spilling margaritas on her wedding dress – changed into her second look: designed in collaboration with Ida Lanto and inspired by an Isaac Mizrahi dress worn by Kate Moss in the '90s.

The celebrations then moved into the hotel’s special hidden gem, its retro nightclub, complete with a neon ‘Ski Club Andrén’ sign which Caroline and John had fitted for the evening. “Walking into the nightclub felt like stepping back in time, with its walls adorned with vintage images capturing moments from the era when ABBA and Olympic skiers partied into the late hours in that very spot,” Caroline says. In the early morning hours, the doors swung open for revellers to enjoy a cosy fondue room where burgers and fries became fuel for the unending dance floor.

Day three then rolled around and guests gathered for “one last hurrah”. Lunch at Montana overlooking Lech and the mountains, followed by après-ski style festivities at Burg Hotel, was on the agenda. Ending the weekend with a whimsical twist on the retro ‘ski club’ theme saw Caroline call on vintage Bonger ski pants and a knitted sweater that she embroidered herself with ‘Oops, just got married!’, teamed with furry boots from a bespoke Ukrainian vendor and a vintage Chanel scarf printed with ski motifs (as gifted from her bridesmaids that morning).

John also stayed on-theme with a playfully checkered Missoni overshirt from the local Stroltz store, with ski pants and alpine boots. “Dancing atop the bar at the après-ski, surrounded by swirling smoke and pulsating music, was a moment of pure magic.”

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Reflecting on the weekend, Caroline and John note the other moments of “pure magic” were linked to the playful and unexpected details – from the hand-drawn menus by Anna Blitz to the ‘Sommar Prat’ recording by Bibi Rödöö, the host of Sommar i P1, which the bridesmaids arranged for their speech. The most surprising aspect? “How relaxed both John and I were,” Caroline says. “I anticipated being a bundle of nerves, but instead, we found ourselves embracing the moment with ease,” she goes on. “I even managed to get lipstick on my dress before the ceremony, but simply shrugged it off, embracing the spontaneity of the moment.”

See all the 'Ski Club Andrén' wedding snapshots below: