Vienna: the interview

The Weddingparadises.com interview with:
Delia Danner, Media Relations Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic
Vienna Tourist Board

1) honeymoon:
a) What is the address of your general touristic website in English language?
www.vienna.info

b) Do you have an extra subsite and / or printed brochure for honeymooners?
The Vienna Tourist Board offers information on Wedding in Vienna on the website http://www.wien.info/en/vienna-for/wedding-in-vienna in three languages, German, English and Japanese.
Of course it is a lovely idea to combine your civil union with a honeymoon to the former imperial city of Vienna and enjoy the city's romantic atmosphere. A uniquely Viennese blend of emotion, creativity and tradition awaits visitors to the city each time of the year. The city is throbbing with excitement, and offering an enticing mix of gourmet delights, imperial splendor and modern shopping streets, museums and design - ideal for the individual interests of honeymooners.

c) What would you consider as the most romantic places for honeymooners in your destination?
The magnificent facade of St. Stephen’s Cathedral is mirrored in the window panels of Hans Hollein’s Haas-Haus that houses a fashion store and the Do&Co design hotel. Past and present often go hand in hand in Vienna, a fact demonstrated by a stroll through the old city. A nice cup of tea at Haas & Haas at Stephansplatz 4 is like a journey down the ages – you sit in a Biedermeier-style courtyard garden, surrounded by the massive old walls of the Haus des Deutschen Ordens (House of the Teutonic Order), and then you get presented with a digitally printed bill. If you cross this courtyard, you arrive first in Singerstrasse, then in Blutgasse and Domgasse. These small streets are the heart of the romantic city. Narrow and dark, they are covered with cobblestones just as they were centuries ago. Somehow you would not be surprised to see Mozart turning a corner on his way home to the Mozarthaus which contains the only original Mozart apartment preserved in Vienna, whistling a tune from his “Marriage of Figaro” that he composed there.

d) What are the most popular general touristic attractions of your destination that honeymooners "must see" (if they should like to see something else but themselves ...)?
In spring, coachmen crack their whips in an even livelier manner than usual. This is the best time of year to take a ride in a Fiaker (traditional horse-drawn carriage). After being greeted with words of old-world charm, it is off to admire the magnificent architecture of the imperial era. From the Albertina to the Vienna State Opera, you then continue beneath the delicate green leaf canopy of the trees lining the Ring boulevard. Passing you by on your right is the Burggarten (Imperial Garden) with its splendidly restored palm house, and on your left two massive cupola-crowned buildings– the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History. Mightily enthroned between them is the absolutist foremother of Baroque, Empress Maria Theresia – a monument facing over to the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) and Heldenplatz square.

e) Which times of the year are considered as low and high season?
It is true that Vienna is at its most beautiful in the spring – but only if you gaze away from summer, fall and winter. One thing is for sure: Vienna is a city for all the seasons. This has something to do with the fact that nature reaches deep into many parts of the city. Take the Prater, for instance. Around the turn of the last century, at the time of Freud, a ride to the Prater was very much a social occasion. On Sundays, carriages drove out from the inner city along Praterstrasse, the former Jägerzeile, into the green Prater. These days, in the mornings, the Prater is jogger territory. Later in the day, it is horseback riders you will see, followed by walkers, day-trippers and the Viennese with their picnic baskets. And then there are whose who want to enjoy the constantly changing faces of the Prater throughout the year: the morning mist and the enchanting green of the month of May, dense foliage and heavy thunderstorm drops during the summer, the blaze of color during fall and finally, in the winter, the white frost and bare trees picturesquely zigzagging into the air.

2) destination weddings:

a) What are the basic requirements for a legal civil wedding in your destination for a couple from abroad?
The basic requirements are different from country to country. For any questions please contact the Vienna Registry Offices, www.wedding.wien.at, Phone: (+43 1 ) 4000 - 08589 - or - 08594, traumhochzeit@ma35.wien.gv.at

b) Is there an internet address in English language where all details for destination weddings can be found?
www.wedding.wien.at and www.wien.info/en/vienna-for/wedding-in-vienna

c) Do you have an extra subsite or printed brochure for weddings?
Yes, we do: The brochure “Wedding in Vienna” in English and "Hochzeit in Wien" in German.

d) What would you consider as the most romantic places for a legal civil and / or church wedding in your destination?
It is possible to get married at some of the most delightful locations in Vienna, for instance Schönbrunn Palace, the Giant Ferris Wheel, a vintage tramway or the Butterfly House. A knot tied in such romantic surroundings is destined to last.
Wine and vineyards form part of Vienna just like all the other famous sights. The vineyards are just as distinctive for Vienna’s landscape as the River Danube.You can either celebrate your dream wedding directly in the vineyard, which features a fantastic view over Vienna, or in the stylish atmosphere of the wine cellar at the Cobenzl Vienna City Winery.
The City of Vienna has been the owner of Vineyard Cobenzl Vienna, which provides a wonderful view of Vienna, since 1905. With a 35-hectare vineyard it is one of Vienna’s largest wineries. Further information - www.weingutcobenzl.at/en/home
Coburg Palace at the heart of Vienna lets you experience six centuries of Viennese building history. Weddings are held in the nine different rooms offering more than 2,500 square metres with a unique atmosphere. The state rooms are located on the first floor, the bel étage, and have been lovingly and faithfully restored. With a patio and access to the bastion garden, they are perfectly suited for weddings in an exclusive ambience. Further information - www.palais-coburg.com/_en
The Butterfly House is situated in Burggarten park, the garden of the former Imperial Palace. Burggarten park, which used to be one of the imperial private gardens, has an area of 38,000 square meter and is one of Europe’s most beautiful gardens. The Butterfly House forms part of the palmhouse and was opened in 1997. It has an area of 280 square meter and is home to hundreds of exotic butterflies. There is a temperature of approximately 26 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) and 80 per cent humidity. Further information - www.schmetterlinghaus.at/english1.htm

3) general questions:

a) Is it possible to follow your tourist board on facebook etc.?

Become a fan on
www.facebook.com/ViennaTouristBoard
www.facebook.com/WienTourismus

Follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/ViennaInfoB2B
www.twitter.com/WienInfoB2B

Also visit us on
www.youtube.com/ViennaTB

b) Are there general and / or wedding / honeymoon related image videos about your destination on youtube or somewhere else?
You can find a choice of videos at www.youtube.com/ViennaTB - a romantic one is for example the video Klimt: The famous Kiss

and the video Impressions of Vienna gives a slight insight of the city:

c) What else would you like to tell future wedding couples and / or honeymooners regarding your destination?
Since 1 January 2010, gay and lesbian couples can also have their partnership legalized in Austria. However, only in Vienna can a big wedding party also take place. Festive ceremonies are possible at top locations – from the Albertina to the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel.

Lesbian and gay couples can tie the knot at more than 40 locations in Vienna. As for heterosexual couples, museums (e.g. Albertina, Kunst Haus) or the imperial residences of the Hofburg and Schönbrunn are available for the "civil partnership". Those who prefer things uncomplicated can also simply have the partnership registered at a registry office.
Registration is possible for all (adult) Austrians, as well as for gays and lesbians from abroad. Evidence of a birth certificate and nationality are required for this. Important information for foreign guests: Evidence of the place of residence abroad and marital status must be provided. Also: an interpreter must be called in if the registrants have inadequate German language skills. The application for establishing a registered partnership can be made no earlier than six months prior to the required date.

Additional information (only in German):
www.partnerschaft.wien.at
Tel. +43 1 4000 05589
6110-ref@ma35.wien.gv.at

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photos:
31195 ©WienTourismus / Popp & Hackner Legend: Vienna from Above: Votive Church
40074 ©WienTourismus / Peter Rigaud Legend: The Ring Boulevard: Burgtor
1413 ©WienTourismus / MAXUM Legend: The Fiakers

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