The Venue

The Church

The Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Scots 

The Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Scots, more commonly known locally as the Schottenkirche, is located right at Vienna's historic center — the Freyung. 

The church was established alongside the Schottenstift (Scottish Abbey) in 1155 and is one of Vienna’s oldest and most historically resonant churches—a sanctuary where nearly nine centuries of faith, scholarship, and artistry converge. The original Romanesque church on this present site was formally consecrated in 1200. This church later renovated to a Baroque style in the 17th century.  

The two-story western façade, framed by flanking towers, is crowned by a 17th-century statue of the Virgin Mary. Along the southern façade stand allegorical figures of Faith, Hope, and Love, the theological virtues at the heart of Christian life. The oldest surviving element of the complex is the Romanesque chapel, whose unadorned stonework creates an atmosphere of quiet contemplation.  This houses the oldest statue of the Virgin Mary (c. 1250) in Vienna. Overhead, frescoes by Julius Schmid unfold a sacred narrative, portraying the founding of the monastery alongside scenes of the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Lamentation, and Christ’s Resurrection.

Today, it remains an enduring symbol of continuity: a place where the ancient and the modern coexist, and where moments of profound personal meaning become part of a much longer story. It is a setting where love feels both timeless and anchored in a larger story—where every word spoken and every vow exchanged resonates not only within the walls of the church, but across the centuries.

Reception and Dinner

Palais Daun-Kinsky

Finished in 1716, it became one of Vienna’s most impressive palatial Baroque-era mansion houses of the era. This was designed by the architect Lukas von Hildebrandt (the Belvedere and Peterskirche among his other works), with frescoes done by Carlo Carlone and Marcantonio Chiarini, and stucco work by Alberto Camesina. Originally commissioned by Count Wirich Philipp von Daun, Prince of Teano and an Austrian Field Marshal of the Imperial Army in the War of Spanish Succession, the palais entered the Kinsky family's stewardship by marriage. The palais under the Kinskys hosted many events of the Viennese high society and even entertained at one point the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II.

At the main entrance, the doric columns together with the statues of Atlas, symbolically bear the weight of the building in a display of strength and power. The statues of Prudentia and Justitia are at the top most column watching over the family's coat of arms at the top of the window, adorned by the Golden Fleece - the nation's most important order. The most imposing feature of the palais is its dining hall, claiming to be Vienna's only oval banqueting hall. With baroque art preserved in time and adorned by frescoes, the hall takes us back into a time of the old Viennese society. 

As day turns to evening, we invite you to join us at the Palais Daun-Kinsky for a quiet, elegant celebration where candlelit rooms and historic halls set the stage for an intimate dinner shared with those closest to our hearts. Surrounded by beauty shaped over centuries, we look forward to savoring good food, warm conversation, and the joy of beginning our life together.