An Italian summer fête by day, a surrealist wedding wonderland by night. Teresa and Moritz’s celebration in the Austrian countryside was anything but ordinary. Think whimsical sculptural headpieces, vintage couture, floating golden stars, a giant lemon wedding cake, and guests dressed as though they’d stepped straight into a Salvador Dalà painting.
With a dress code of “Black Tie with a surrealist twist,” the couple transformed the bride’s family estate into a wildly imaginative celebration filled with art, fashion, and a little mystery. And just in time for Halloween, we’re taking all the inspiration from this wonderfully eccentric affair.
Judging by these photos from Ferrer & Mayor, their guests understood the assignment.
An Unexpected Love Story
Before we get into all the fabulous fashion and fantastical details, we have to share Teresa and Moritz’s sweet, unconventional love story.
Moritz is the younger brother of Teresa’s best friend, so the two had known each other in passing for years. But life had other plans. An unexpected pregnancy brought them together, and as they navigated parenthood as a team, they fell in love along the way. Baby number two followed soon after.
With a shared love of adventure, humor, and throwing a really good party, it’s no surprise their wedding would be anything but ordinary.
The proposal was just as unexpected. While vacationing by the sea in Italy, Moritz was hunting for crabs with their son when he presented Teresa with a bucket filled with shells and seaweed. Hidden inside? A sparkling engagement ring he’d designed himself, brought to life by his longtime friend Leonie Hauser of LVG Jewellery.
The moment was particularly meaningful. Teresa’s father had passed away just weeks earlier, and unbeknownst to her, Moritz had asked for his blessing before he died. Such a beautiful detail to carry into this next chapter.
Vintage Couture Meets Modern Bridal Fashion
Teresa’s bridal wardrobe deserves a moment of its own.
For the daytime ceremony, she wore her mother’s vintage Sorelle Fontana wedding gown from Rome, dating back to the early 1980s. Designer Manuela Plank beautifully reworked the heirloom dress into a corseted silhouette, giving the sentimental piece a fresh, modern feel while preserving its history.
A little fashion trivia we love: The legendary Fontana sisters also designed the wedding gown Audrey Hepburn commissioned while filming Roman Holiday, although she ultimately never wore it.
For the evening, Teresa changed into a second custom gown by Manuela Plank before slipping into a third party look by DAMA Studio.
Moritz was equally stylish, wearing a traditional cutaway for the ceremony and changing into Teresa’s grandfather’s tuxedo from the 1950s or ’60s for the evening.
Two generations of family fashion woven into one very fashionable wedding? We love to see it.
An Italian Summer Wedding in the Austrian Countryside
The couple exchanged vows in a Catholic ceremony in Laa an der Thaya before inviting guests to Gutshof Alt-Prerau, a biodynamic farm that also happens to be Teresa’s family home.
With Teresa’s mother hailing from South Tyrol and Italy holding a special place in the couple’s hearts, the daytime celebration was all about la dolce vita.
Picture sunny yellow-striped tablecloths, fresh lemons, colorful garden flowers arranged by family friends, and the kind of relaxed, joyful atmosphere that makes you want to linger over another glass of wine.
The flowers came straight from Teresa’s mother’s garden, while creative Maria Concetta Reuss brought the Italian-inspired setting to life.
A Dreamlike Reception Under the Stars
Of course, the decor had to be just as imaginative as the fashion.
Maria Concetta Reuss transformed the reception space into an otherworldly setting filled with handmade installations, suspended stars, and video projections.
Long banquet tables stretched beneath the rustic barn’s wooden beams, where oversized golden stars floated overhead and the entire space took on an almost dreamlike quality.
Even the stationery hinted at the unexpected experience to come. Austrian artist Larissa Seilern created hand-illustrated invitations inspired by photographs of the couple dancing and a questionnaire about their favorite things.
For the daytime festivities, the artwork featured a playful scene of hands reaching for food, drinks, and music notes. For the evening, a surreal banquet table appeared to stretch all the way toward the moon.
Such a clever way to introduce guests to the two very different worlds they were about to experience.
And can we talk about that cake?!
Rather than a traditional tiered confection, the couple chose a giant, sculptural lemon-shaped wedding cake by Inanna Wolf of House of Wolf. Equal parts dessert and art installation, it might be one of our favorite unexpected wedding cake ideas we’ve seen all year.
Guests enjoyed miniature versions of Viennese comfort food from Alles fein Catering, the team behind Vienna’s beloved gourmet hot dog stand Alles Wurscht. Later, the Italian inspiration continued with dishes like lemon risotto.
Black Tie With a Surrealist Twist
As the sun began to set, the celebration took a wonderfully bizarre turn.
The evening dress code was simply “Black Tie with a surrealist twist,” and guests of all ages showed up in the most imaginative ensembles.
We’re talking extravagant floral crowns, towering sculptural hats, oversized eyes, whimsical masks, unexpected accessories, and fantastical creations that looked like wearable works of art.
The bride and groom joined the fun with handmade swan headpieces by Vienna artist Gert Resinger, while face painting by Lua Mua added another layer of playful transformation.
It was theatrical, wildly creative, and just the right amount of eccentric.
Teresa and Moritz wanted their guests to embrace a little mystery and the freedom to dress up. And honestly, what better way to get everyone into the party spirit?
The photographs are a visual feast, with each guest bringing their own interpretation of surrealism to life.
A Party Worth Dressing Up For
Naturally, a wedding this playful needed an equally unforgettable soundtrack.
Live band Sounds Better provided the music for the ceremony and reception before three DJ friends took over for the late-night celebration.
b.visible kicked things off with a two-hour set, followed by Berlin-based Luis Rosenberg, with Stipo closing out the night. Much of the music was played on vinyl, adding another layer of personality to the festivities.
From the fashion to the food to the artful details, every element reflected the couple’s sense of humor and adventurous spirit.
And perhaps that’s what we love most about this celebration. Rather than following a particular wedding aesthetic or set of traditions, Teresa and Moritz created an experience that felt entirely their own.
Consider this your sign to make the dress code a little more interesting, embrace the unexpected, and give your guests permission to have some fun.
After all, who says a wedding can’t be a little surreal?
Venue: Gutshof Alt-Prerau | Photography: Ferrer & Mayor (Hugo Ferrer) | Planning: Teresa & Moritz | Stationery: Larissa Seilern | Fashion: Manuela Plank (massmode), DAMA Studio (Dagmar Gruber) | Vintage Gown (Day): Sorelle Fontana, Rome | Engagement Ring: LVG Jewellery (Leonie Hauser) | Headpieces: Gert Resinger | Hair & Makeup: Stefanie Kramer, COA Aesthetics | Face Painting: Lua Mua | Decor & Installations: Maria Concetta Reuss | Florals: family friends | Catering: Alles fein Catering | Cake: House of Wolf (Inanna Wolf)Katharina Wolf | Live Band: Sounds Better | DJs: b.visible, Luis Rosenberg, Stipo
