A ceremony to your image!
Whatever your faith, your beliefs, your values, you want a special ceremony! A moment that marks the official beginning of your life together and that will remain engraved in everyone’s mind for a long time.
But how to choose?
If you choose a religious or secular ceremony, please note that only these can be held on one of our two terraces, as long as the weather is good. Civil ceremonies must imperatively take place in one of our two ceremony rooms (Apollo or Athena). These are also the spaces that would be reserved for your secular or religious weddings in case of bad weather.
For your wedding blessing, if you wish it to be solemnly celebrated by a religious person, it is up to you to contact your parish in order to find the person who will agree to marry you at the estate:
Catholic
Protestant
Jewish
Muslim
If you prefer a secular ceremony, in order for it to be authentic, tailor-made and respectful of everyone’s sensitivities, allow us to introduce you to some of the celebrants who have already officiated at Portes des Iris. But of course, you can ask the person of your choice to celebrate your marriage!
What is a celebrant? A person who prepares, creates and conducts a personalized ceremony.
- Jeltje GORDON-LENNOX, Ashoka
Personality
Secular Celebrant from 2000. She is a psychotherapist, author, and also a coach. She has already trained about twenty independent celebrants in Switzerland and France.
Where does the name of your association come from?
Ashoka (or Ashok) was one of the most prestigious emperors of ancient India. He reigned around the year 300 BC. Following a battle whose atrocity had particularly traumatized him, he advocated and encouraged the practice of ahimsa (non-violence), respect and compassion among his people. He was also known for his justice and generosity towards the different peoples that made up his new kingdom. Ashoka not only tolerated the diversity of their religious practices, but also encouraged their spiritual traditions.
Today, Ashoka’s principles and example are not outdated. On the contrary. The name of our association is a sign of our desire to move beyond suffering, towards full acceptance of ourselves and others.
What is your fondest memory of a wedding ceremony?
I’m happy when I hear these words: “We recognized the couple in their ceremony and now have a better understanding of how the bride and groom see their relationship, their hopes for their future and the kind of support they expect from us. The ceremony was so much like them!”
Are guests invited to be a part of the ceremony?
Every wedding ceremony I conduct is unique. Couples feel comfortable in their ceremony because they know what is going to happen. However, we create the ceremony together based on the bride and groom’s life together, on their commitment to each other, using their stories, cultural references, desires, objects, family and friends…
How do you proceed when you have to prepare a ceremony?
The couple and I are planning their ceremony together. On the D-Day, I am at their service to hold the frame. I am responsible for making sure that everything goes as we planned together.
How much time do the bride and groom need to plan for their preparation for the ceremony?
Today’s couples are very busy. A tailor-made wedding ceremony that reflects their union requires certain skills: a relaxed atmosphere, creativity, imagination, authenticity, trust in the celebrant… For this, time is needed, time to think quietly together about how to represent their love, their dreams, their identity as a couple. The process starts with a brainstorming phase and evolves until they have written their wedding promise, found their rituals; finally we are ready to meet at the chosen location to finalize the moves.
The last 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding are often filled with unexpected details. So the ceremony must be ready two months before the wedding.
Usually it takes a year to six months to prepare a tailor-made ceremony.
How long does a wedding ceremony last approximately?
A good wedding ceremony has a beginning, a middle and an end. It’s a time when you don’t see time passing. A well-prepared and well-presided ceremony lasts between 20-40 minutes.
What are your rates?
The goal is a beautiful ceremony so it would be unrealistic to make an hourly rate; we spend, on average, between 25 and 30 hours with the couple and preparing and presiding over the wedding ceremony. Our package corresponds to the demand and expectations of the couple. For the accompaniment and the ceremony you have to count from CHF 2400.00 (plus expenses depending on the distance).
- Julien ABEGGLEN VERAZZI, Humanisthme
Personality
Having grown up in the four corners of the world in an abundance of languages and (spi-)ritual traditions, Julien remains convinced of the importance of celebrating Life in all its intensity. Thus, since 2008, after university studies and a career in humanitarian diplomacy, he has turned to the profession of celebrant in order to offer humanistic ceremonies, tailor-made, across the thresholds of existence. Since 2010, he has celebrated many times at Portes des Iris, and is the youngest celebrant among recognized professionals.
What is your specialty?
I consider myself a generalist but my practice has allowed me to specialize in intercultural/interreligious marriage ceremonies with different origins, as well as in the celebration of registered partnerships.
Where does the name of your company come from?
Like an isthmus that unites separate lands, I believe that humans serve as a link between cultures and origins.
In what languages do you conduct ceremonies?
Mainly in French, English, Spanish, Italian and German, but also in Portuguese, Russian and Arabic, depending on demand. I have even conducted ceremonies in languages that I do not master.
How do you make the bride and groom comfortable (who are not always) during the ceremonies?
Humour helps to reduce the drama but nothing beats a good general rehearsal ( filage) of the ceremony. It is mostly a process during preparation.
How much time do the bride and groom need to plan for their preparation for the ceremony?
6-12 months in general. I see them about once a month.
What is your fondest memory of a wedding ceremony?
I have got a thousand of them. I can tell for every ceremony which was the most intense moment. But in general, for magic to work, several elements must be present: authenticity of intention, special music (live), special light (end of day) and a caring community.
What are your rates?
According to the rates of the association (approx. CHF 2000.-)
- Nathalie MICHLIG, ceremonie-de-vie.ch
Personality
Trained in social work, Nathalie accompanies couples, families, individuals, to create a wedding ceremony, funeral, birth or any other request to celebrate life and its cycles.
Why did you become a celebrant?
It is important to me to be at the service of the clients and their requests, opening a space of mutual trust in order to mature and create together an authentic ceremony. To write texts that reflect the sharing between us. I invest a lot of time and care in writing these texts, in finding the right words for unique compositions, weaving them around their expressions, in resonance with the couple.
What is your specialty?
Accompaniment, listening, sensitivity, creativity; respectful of the values and wishes of the clients, I accompany them throughout the months and weeks, 3 to 5 appointments of preparation, to create a tailor-made and personalized ceremony in harmony with one, the other, the couple (choice of music, readings, writing of vows).
Where do you officiate?
Everything is possible, everything has to be created, each ceremony is unique, whether it is intimate, classical, festive, spiritual, rock or alternative. The wedding ceremony can take place in the heart of nature (Terrasses of Portes des Iris), with your feet in the water or on a boat, in a yurt but also in desacralized chapels in Switzerland or abroad.
What makes you different from other celebrants?
I take time to prepare myself inwardly by rehearsing the texts and the course of the ceremony several times before the day of the ceremony. I come 1.30 to 2.00 before the beginning of the ceremony to prepare myself, observe and adjust the ceremony space if necessary. To get in touch with all the people who have a direct link with the ceremony (bride and groom, families, witnesses, friends, guests, readers, coordinators, photographer and video maker, musicians and dj, wedding planner) and to deal with last minute unforeseen matters!
What are your rates?
The rate is that of the celebrants’ association, CHF 2’000.- + travel expenses (which vary according to the place where the clients live and the place of the ceremony).
- Luc et Emmanuelle FLORQUIN, Celebrantissimo
P
ersonality
This couple of autodidact French celebrants work together to create tailor-made ceremonies, while officiating individually or in pairs, in several languages (French, English, German, Italian, Dutch and Spanish).
What motivated you to become a celebrant?
Seek to combine tailor-made writing, sharing of joys, and independence of work.
What are you trying to get across in your texts?
That this is a special moment, precious because we are going to talk about feelings, love and this transition from one to two and also from one family to two families. In a more personal way (and this is the strength of the ceremonies), everyone, no matter where they come from, likes to re-live the key moments of a love story, the meeting, the marriage proposal, why him, why her … All this must come out in a good text with a touch of humour after the touch of emotion. A beautiful ceremony must radiate until the end of the night!
How would you describe your style?
Elegant, natural, humorous and solemn at the same time.
Do you offer other types of ceremonies?
We are open to all kinds of ceremonies, even (inter)religious ceremonies on condition that they remain secular, because we are not entitled (and not competent for that matter) to conduct religious ceremonies. However, as these matters are fascinating for the rituals they contain, for the human heritage through the centuries, we are always enthusiastic when the bride and groom trust us to underline by a prayer they choose, by a blessing from their country of origin, those tenuous threads that link them to the mystery of life. What is essential for us must be respect for origins and beliefs (or lack of them).
What are your rates?
From 900 Euros (excluding travel) for a ceremony in French or bilingual.
What does our estate inspire you?
This verse by Baudelaire:
“Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté!” – “There, all is order and beauty, luxury, calm and pleasure!”
- Lucie Pilliard, Bliss Event & Wedding Designer
Personality
As a secular wedding celebrant since 2010, I have at heart to make the bride and groom and their loved ones live a sincere and meaningful moment.
A ceremony is like a heartbeat for me, it is emotion, humor, sincerity, all orchestrated with elegance and a touch of solemnity.
Where does the name of your company come from?
Bliss means happiness, joy. That is all I’ve ever wanted to experience through the adventure of marriage with couples. It is especially what I wish for the bride and groom in their commitment.
In what languages do you celebrate?
Mainly in French and English, but it is possible to involve guests with texts in other languages in order to give meaning and understanding if there is a fusion of different cultures.
Where do you officiate?
Where the hearts of the bride and groom decide to unite.
Each ceremony is unique and everything is possible as long as the place really lends itself to it: nature, exceptional places such as Portes des Iris, a museum, the lakeside, a private villa, a boat, … a place in Switzerland or abroad.
How would you describe your style?
Listening, enthusiastic and full of humour, I love people and their stories. I’m here to put the couple at ease so that they can enjoy each other in the best possible conditions.
Moreover, I am completely open-minded. The ceremony that I build with the future bride and groom is therefore in line with their personalities, the couple they form, their family connections and their circle of friends. This moment must be in their image.
The part of the vows has an important place, the couple must feel completely free to project themselves and declare their love in complete serenity.
Depending on the bride and groom, a ritual can be proposed. Especially if they have children that they wish to involve.
Also, depending on the mix of confessions and out of respect for their roots, with the bride and groom we can make a subtle reference to a religion, without the need to marry in a place of cult. That is the beauty of this type of celebration.
Attentive to the energy released by the couple, the ceremony becomes a moment rich in meaning and a way for them to officially introduce themselves and for the guests to really discover them.
What are your rates?
From CHF 1’850 (+ 7.7% VAT) including travel expenses to Portes des Iris
What does our estate inspire you?
“Il n’y a pas de hasard, il n’y a que des rendez-vous” – “There’s no chance, there’s only dating”, Paul Eluard
- Lorenzo Marra, Mon mariage laïque
Personality
I have a very atypical background, studying Philosophy and History and Science of Religions, passionate about rituals; despite my rather academic studies, it was art and the world of the night that gave me my first taste. So I have been a professional singer and animator for more than 20 years… the profession of celebrant came very naturally to me.
Creating life ceremonies has become a passion for me (weddings, christenings, etc.).
Of a jovial and attentive nature, I seek to create tailor-made ceremonies.
What I want is for the bride and groom to have a ceremony that reflects them and for the guests to spend a moment with different emotions: it has to be cool, fun, rock or classical, ritualized, and above all, not boring.
Why did you become a celebrant?
I wanted to give a festive breath to the ceremonies where I officiate.
Where does the name of your company come from?
Almost 20 years ago I had imagined that marriage should be affordable for everyone, with reasonable prices: it is this idea that inspired the invention of MARRIAGE POUR TOUS.CH and then with my wife, we talked a lot about the direction that the name had taken and I kept it for all the animation, master of ceremony, decoration, etc. … I created a “celebration” department at this agency called :
MON-MARIAGE-LAIQUE.CH
(but I also own Backstage Concept Sàrl which takes care of big events for big groups and my wife also has Les Ateliers de Lili for Kids animations)
In what languages do you celebrate?
I regularly make linguistic inserts in my speeches so that families from all over the world can understand and participate in the ceremony.
I mainly do texts in English/French, Italian/French, Spanish/French, Portuguese/French, and German/French; it is possible to insert other languages, but it is on a case by case basis…
What is your specialty?
My specialty is that I am not only a celebrant, but also a professional singer.
And as I sometimes have ceremonial preparations with brides and grooms who live abroad, I’ve got into the habit of quickly pinpointing the details of the couple’s behaviour, their looks, etc. I’m also a professional singer.
I am also known to do biker weddings (I ride Indian and Harley Davidson).
How would you describe your style?
My style is relaxed and classy, a bit rock; the bride and groom who choose me want a ceremony full of emotion but also with a touch of humour.
I am always ready for the unexpected and through my experience, I talk to the guests and the bride and groom without necessarily having my head down in my papers.
Where do you officiate?
Everywhere in Switzerland and sometimes abroad.
It can be in a forest, on a beach, in a castle, on a terrace of a house, in the lobby of a hotel, on a privatized island, on the ski slopes; I am comfortable almost everywhere, but the important thing is that the bride and groom are comfortable… For my part, I adapt.
What makes you different from other celebrants?
Each celebrant has his own style, there’s no competition between us.
For my part I am a celebrant and a singer, that can be a plus.
Included in the price is light sound equipment for outdoor or indoor use.
What is your fondest memory of a wedding ceremony?
Each wedding is unique, I create a magnificent bond with my bride and groom so it is impossible for me to choose one moment more than another. I loved my brides arriving in tandem or those in paragliding, those who participated in a wedding show, there were those brides on motorcycles, but also those who had invited their whole family for their anniversary but in fact it was for their wedding… In almost 20 years, I love everything about my job.
I’ve been keeping in touch with my brides and grooms for more than 20 years for some of them…What a joy!
What are your rates?
From CHF 1’490.00 including transport to Portes des Iris.
What does our estate inspire you?
Quietness.