Passau, Bavaria
A Wedding at Fuerstenbau Hacklberg: An October Day in Passau
Annette & Johannes
At the Hornsteiner, a historic hotel in the heart of Passau, the morning was lively. Annette had a lot of her friends with her. People talked and laughed, someone came in, someone else left. Outside, the sky was grey with October rain. Their wedding at Fürstenbau Hacklberg would be celebrated in the evening. Before that, Annette and Johannes were to be married in church at St. Paul. For now, though, the morning belonged entirely to this room.
At some point the room began to empty. One friend after another set off, and with each of them it grew a little quieter, until only one was left. She helped Annette into her dress. Things had been quiet with Johannes all along; only his best man was with him.
Annette had given a lot of thought to how her day should look, and also to how it should be captured: soft light, closeness that isn't staged, the small moments between the big ones. Because it was raining, their first look also took place at the Hornsteiner. Johannes came to Annette's room, and the light fell muted through the window. A few calm minutes for the two of them, before it was time to leave for St. Paul.
The ceremony at St. Paul
St. Paul was only a few steps from the Hornsteiner. Outside, people with umbrellas made their way through the lanes. Inside it was bright, even though the sky stayed grey. The light came in muted through the tall windows, and the white stucco reflected it so softly that the church seemed almost to glow from within.
Family and friends had come to be there as they exchanged their vows, and you could feel that closeness throughout the whole church. In the middle of the ceremony, Annette and Johannes sat head to head for a moment, eyes closed. A still moment among all the people who had come to share this day with them.
A walk through Passau's old town
While the guests were already driving over to the reception at the Fürstenbau, Annette and Johannes had the old town to themselves for a while. The cobbles were still damp from the morning when we set off, and at some point a little sun really did come through. Not much, but enough to make the town feel friendlier than it had that morning.
Their Passau wedding portraits took shape between pale façades, old doors and narrow lanes, with time for small pauses and for whatever happens in between.
A wedding at Fuerstenbau Hacklberg
When I entered the hall, everything was ready. The tables were set, the roses were in place, and for a moment I had the room to myself. Outside in the anteroom, the guests were waiting behind closed doors. Annette and Johannes hadn't seen the finished hall yet either. There was a sense of anticipation, almost as if the room itself were holding its breath.
The baroque Fürstenbau Hacklberg has a history of its own: tall windows, intricate stucco and a sense of space that takes a moment to absorb. The October light was bright but soft, cool like the day outside, which made the warmth of the candles stand out even more. They created small islands of light along the long tables. Between the flowers, linen and carefully arranged place settings, the historic hall had become something deeply personal. A space that already told something of Annette and Johannes, even before they had stepped inside.
A moment just for the two of them
A little later, Annette and Johannes stepped into the decorated hall. Weeks of planning lay behind them, and now they could finally see how everything they had imagined had come together. They were overwhelmed, and the joy was written all over their faces.
For a moment, they had the hall to themselves. Just the two of them between the long tables, taking it all in. There was time to let everything sink in, and in the soft light coming through the windows, we took a few quiet portraits before the guests arrived.
An evening with family and friends
The hall changed as the guests arrived. Where there had been silence between the tables just moments before, family and friends now gathered, and the sound of conversation filled the room. At their table, Annette and Johannes raised their glasses, kissed and held each other close for a moment, surrounded by everyone and yet entirely with each other.
Dinner unfolded slowly over the evening. Conversations carried across the tables, and every now and then someone got up to greet another guest. Outside, the October evening was still cool, but inside the Fürstenbau, the atmosphere was warm. Then, a little away from the tables, in a corner of the hall, Annette and her mother-in-law suddenly held each other in a tight embrace. Around them, the evening simply carried on.
Looks and details
Annette wore a dress with floral lace, its sheer bodice made like a corset, the shoulders only lightly framed, and below it a tulle skirt that moved softly with every step. With it came a long veil, a low bun with a fringe and delicate pearl jewellery. Stefanie Coronas took care of hair and make-up.
Johannes had chosen a classic black dinner suit with satin lapels, a white shirt and a black bow tie. A cream rose was pinned to his lapel, and roses in cream and blush pink appeared again in Annette's small bouquet. The flowers for the day came from Steffis Blumen.
Getting married at Fuerstenbau Hacklberg: good to know
If you're planning a wedding in Passau, Bavaria, you can combine a ceremony in the historic old town with a celebration at Fürstenbau Hacklberg. For couples travelling from abroad, it helps to know a little about the venue, the city and how the different parts of the day can come together. Here are some useful details for planning your wedding in Passau.
Can you celebrate your wedding at Fuerstenbau Hacklberg?
Yes, Fürstenbau Hacklberg is a historic wedding reception venue in Passau, southern Germany. At this wedding, the couple had their religious ceremony at St. Paul's Church in the old town, followed by a reception and dinner with family and friends in the Fürstenbau's baroque banquet hall.
For couples planning a wedding from abroad, it's worth distinguishing between the ceremony and the reception. The Fürstenbau is an established celebration venue, but arrangements for a ceremony on site would need to be confirmed directly with the venue.
How many guests can Fuerstenbau Hacklberg accommodate?
According to the Hacklberg brewery, the upper floor, including its baroque banquet hall, accommodates up to 150 guests. The Bräukeller on the lower floor has a stated capacity of up to 250 people.
The final number of guests will depend on your preferred seating arrangement and the layout of your celebration. The venue's events team can advise you on the available options.
What makes Fuerstenbau Hacklberg a distinctive wedding venue?
Built in 1692 on the site of an earlier castle, the Fürstenbau was originally a summer residence for Passau's prince-bishops. Its centrepiece is the oval baroque banquet hall, with elaborate stucco decoration by Giovanni Battista Carlone. Following extensive restoration, the hall reopened for events in 2003.
The architecture is an important part of the experience. Tall windows, sculptural details and the proportions of the historic hall create a setting that feels quite different from a conventional wedding venue.
Where can you take wedding photographs in Passau?
Passau's historic old town offers a variety of settings for wedding portraits, from narrow cobbled streets and old doorways to pale baroque façades.
After their ceremony at St. Paul's Church, the couple in this story took a short walk through the old town while their guests travelled to the reception at Fürstenbau Hacklberg. We used that time for their portraits before joining everyone for the celebration.
What should international couples know about getting married in Passau?
Passau is a historic city in Bavaria, close to the Austrian border, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers meet. Its old town, churches and baroque architecture make it an interesting setting for a wedding in southern Germany.
If you're travelling from abroad and planning a legally recognised marriage in Germany, contact the Passau registry office early to clarify the documentation and requirements that apply to your situation. A religious or symbolic ceremony should not automatically be assumed to fulfil the legal requirements for marriage.
What should you consider when planning a wedding at Fuerstenbau Hacklberg?
If your ceremony takes place in Passau's old town and your reception is at Fürstenbau Hacklberg, allow time for travelling between the locations. A separate window for wedding portraits can make the schedule more relaxed, particularly if you'd like to explore the old town together.
For an autumn wedding, it's also worth considering a rain alternative. Seating arrangements, catering and booking conditions should be discussed directly with the Hacklberg brewery.
Information checked in November 2026. Venue history and capacities are based on information published by the Hacklberg brewery. Please confirm current availability, ceremony options and booking conditions directly with the venue. Legal marriage requirements should be checked with the relevant registry office.
The people behind the day
- Photography
- Juliane Kaeppel
- Hair & make-up
- Stefanie Coronas Hair & Makeup Artist
- Getting ready
- DAS HORNSTEINER
- Venue
- Fürstenbau Passau
- Flowers
- Steffis Blumen
- Food & beverage
- La Zucca Catering & Events
Your wedding
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