REAL WEDDING

  • Photography By:

    Liliia Chuba

    Olivia Claire Mahoney and William Lee Mehserle, Jr.

    July 30, 2025 in Salzburg, Austria

    A Baroque Castle Wedding at Schloss Leopoldskron in Austria

    Over the course of Olivia and William’s love story, the couple went from early-morning workouts to a fairytale wedding the Austrian Alps—with a very good dog leading the way.

    black and white bridal portrait at Schloss Leopoldskron

    Before Olivia and William had even spoken to each other, there was an awareness that started inside the walls of Barry’s Bootcamp Studio. For weeks, the two exchanged glances with Olivia first noticing William in the room full of other people. They soon became familiar faces in each other’s mornings, orbiting one another with friendly smiles and an air of polite restraint. It took Nolen—William’s golden retriever—to finally break the ice with his irrepressible warmth and signature inability to “play it cool.” 

    groom's cufflinks
    groom portrait at Schloss Leopoldskron

    Their first date confirmed what Nolen had already known. Sitting across from each other at dinner, Olivia and William discovered not just chemistry, but alignment, a shared faith, and values that closely mirrored each other.

    "We knew early on that we were looking for the same things," Olivia recalls. "That foundation made everything else feel possible."

    bride and groom first look at Schloss Leopoldskron

    A Beach Proposal

    When it came time to pop the question, William planned a beach proposal at Davis Island Dog Beach. It was the very spot where some of their earliest, most unhurried dates had unfolded. When he got down on one knee, it was just of two of them and Nolen present. No crowd, no fanfare. The salt air and the sound of waves was the perfect setting.

    bride and groom in garden at Schloss Leopoldskron
    black and white portrait of bride and groom at Schloss Leopoldskron

    "That beach means everything to us," Olivia says. "He brought me back to the place where so much of our story had already been written; and then he asked me to write the rest of it with him. Having Nolen there made it feel whole."

    outdoor wedding ceremony decor at Schloss Leopoldskron
    outdoor wedding ceremony by lake at Schloss Leopoldskron

    The Wedding Planning Timeline

    Both Olivia and William knew they didn’t want to wait long to get married. Committed to honoring their faith by not living together before marriage, the couple was very intentional with their five-to-six-month wedding planning timeline. What could have felt rushed turned out to be clarifying.

    "There was no room to second-guess or overthink," William explains. "Every decision we made, we made together and we made with purpose. It actually brought us closer." 

    bride and groom black and white photo
    bride and groom wedding cake cutting by lake at Schloss Leopoldskron

    “The clouds parted on our wedding morning and we just looked at each other. It was the most beautiful answer to our prayer.”

    bride and friends with parasols

    The compressed timeline, they both agree, turned out to be one of the best choices of their engagement. Olivia saw Lily's photography work online and never looked back. Lily also connected them with many vendors, including Lynn and Oliver who became crucial in planning an overseas wedding and ironing out all the details.

    wedding reception at Schloss Leopoldskron
    wedding dinner at Schloss Leopoldskron

    A Baroque Castle Wedding in Salzburg

    The couple’s wedding destination alone would have been enough: Schloss Leopoldskron, a baroque castle rising from the edge of a still Alpine lake in Salzburg, its stone façade centuries deep in history. To add to the magic of their fairytale wedding day, the bride and groom experienced a moment they’ll never forget.

    Every forecast in the days leading up to the wedding had promised grey skies and rain. The couple prayed, and waited, and trusted. Then, on the morning of their wedding day, something shifted. The clouds parted. Warm, full sunshine broke through over the castle and the mountains beyond.

    "We stood there watching it happen and couldn't believe it," Olivia says. "It felt like a message. Like God was saying, ‘I've got this. I've got you.’ The clouds parted on our wedding morning and we just looked at each other. It was the most beautiful answer to our prayer."

    bride and groom laughing during wedding reception
    bride and groom first dance at Schloss Leopoldskron
    bride and groom walking down stairs at Schloss Leopoldskron

    The couple’s Baroque castle wedding included a lakeside ceremony and an exquisite dinner reception within the walls of Schloss Leopoldskron. White florals and green accents beautifully complemented the castle’s interiors, allowing the magnificence of their Salzburg surroundings shine through.

    "This wedding was a reflection of God's goodness," Olivia reflects. "We are so grateful for the people who loved us and prayed for us through every season. We wanted to celebrate in a way that honored that."

    couple holding hands in Salzburg
    black and white up close photo of couple in Salzburg

    Honeymooning in Europe

    After the celebration, the newlyweds lingered in Austria a bit, tucked away on the shores of Lake Fuschl, before crossing into Germany for a stay at the legendary Schloss Elmau. From there, the honeymoon unfolded like a dream drawn on a map—through the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites, along the shimmering edges of Lake Garda, out to the sunlit coast of Mallorca, and finally through the elegant streets of Milan and Barcelona. Each destination gave them a distinct memory to add to their new life together. 


    WEDDING TALENT

    Location: Schloss Leopoldskron; Planner: Fine Events Vienna; Floral Design: Hana Holdener; Cake: M PASSIONE Patisserie; Hair & Makeup: Katharina Stix; Stationery: A&P Designs; Saxophonist: Benjamin Führer; Videography: Sincere Emotions; Photography: Liliia Chuba

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