25 Aug St. Florian Monastery and Schlossmuseum Linz Wedding | Linz, Austria | Paula + Ferenc

In August, I had the privilege of photographing the wedding of Princess Paula and Ferenc near Linz, Upper Austria. Paula is a descendant of the prestigious Auersperg princely family, while Ferenc hails from the noble Hungarian Bethlen family.
The night before the wedding, the family hosted a dinner at the Freiseder Inn (Gasthaus Freiseder) in Pöstlingberg, just outside Linz. The inn is a beautifully renovated wine press house, exuding a cozy, rustic charm. The ladies wore dirndls, the traditional feminine dress of Austria and South Tyrol, while the men sported Lederhosen, knee-length leather trousers, and the Steireranzug, a greyish garment made from loden with green embroidery.
The following day’s church ceremony was nothing short of magnificent. 550 elegantly dressed guests gathered in the grand St. Florian Monastery (Stift Sankt Florian) to celebrate with the couple. As the largest monastery in Upper Austria, founded by the Augustinians in the early ninth century, it provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for the event. The atmosphere resembled a grand social affair from the 19th century, with women in colorful hats and men in elegant cutaway coats. After the ceremony, I took a few portraits and family group shots in the monastery courtyard. The reception followed in the spacious Marble Hall (Marmorsaal), a stunning example of Baroque architecture.
The wedding dinner was held at the Schlossmuseum Linz, a modern glass-and-steel building offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city. During the dinner, several heartfelt speeches were made by family and friends. Later, the guests flocked to the dance floor as the music was provided by Partyssimo, a renowned Hungarian band. All in all, this was a truly unforgettable wedding.