A hot summer day in Switzerland is a great excuse to head up into the mountains! I recently had the pleasure of photographing a beautiful couple from Japan during their honeymoon on Männlichen Mountain.
At an elevation of around 2,342 metres, it was noticeably cooler than down in the valleys, making it a wonderful place to escape the summer heat. With spectacular views towards Wengen and Grindelwald, there was no shortage of incredible backdrops.
The couple had thoughtfully packed their wedding outfits for their honeymoon, giving us the opportunity to create some beautiful wedding portraits with the iconic Eiger mountain in the background. It’s always special to see couples bring their wedding clothes to Switzerland and create a completely different set of memories in the Swiss Alps.
Männlichen has plenty of fantastic locations for photography, and you don’t have to walk far to find spectacular views. Of course, being in the mountains also comes with a few little surprises — including the occasional cow manure! 
Despite that small challenge, Männlichen is a fantastic location for a wedding or honeymoon photo shoot. The combination of dramatic mountains, fresh alpine air, and breathtaking scenery makes it a memorable place to capture a special occasion.
Männlichen is better than Grindelwald First
Männlichen is a better location than Grindelwald’s First mountain in my opinion. Most of the areas on the First mountain summit are fenced off.
The older gondola system can also create challenges during the busy summer months. Long queues can form in Grindelwald, particularly when visitors are heading up to First, and there can also be significant waiting times for the return journey.
As a photographer, this is something I have to take into account when planning photo shoots. I always allow extra time because you never know how busy the gondola will be.
I remember one particularly memorable journey in July when I was actually stuck inside a gondola for around 45 minutes! Not exactly the schedule I had planned for the day. 😄
It’s another good reason to allow plenty of time when booking a photo shoot at First, especially during the summer high season. The scenery is spectacular, but getting there and back can sometimes be part of the adventure! 📸🏔️
Männlichen is easily accessible from Grindelwald Terminal or Wengen cable car.
