Portes des Iris, Auteur à Portes des Iris

In Fall – Prepare for your golden wedding

Publié le 23 April 2020 à 21 h 07 min.

The Indian summer lasts at Portes des Iris until November. The rich and warm colours, the scarlet, yellow and burnt orange shades, will delight your guests. Look no longer, we have THE DECOR.

Atmospheres and colours

From mid-September, the bridle path is adorned with its most beautiful reflections. An incomparable palette of colours decorates the edge of our forest, especially impressive seen from our Terrasse des Iris. Overlooking our gardens, you can admire the treetops while distinguishing the lake on the horizon.

Enjoy the last rays of autumn sunshine from our Terrace of Collonges. Even when the sun is hidden behind the hills of the surrounding meadows, the soft colours of the sky will bathe your aperitif in a naturally subdued light.

Immersion in nature, shades of colours as far as the eyes can see; it’s a guarantee of unforgettable memories. The gardens of the Château de Vullierens are full of more than romantic places for your photos.

Between September and November, let the gentle rays of the sun bathe our terraces in a world of incomparable colours and enjoy the most bucolic season of the year.

Because in autumn, we also need the warmth and a cozy and elegant place to take refuge in case of a flood, take advantage of our ceremony rooms that are at your disposal!

To continue the party, what could be nicer than a meal by the fire in the magnificent Dorianna room?

What to have your guests savour?

From pumpkin velouté to the sweet flavours of chestnuts, not forgetting the power of game aromas for its lovers, a range of dishes with the smell of truffles, chanterelles, bolets and wild mushrooms. The richness of the possibilities is infinite and leaves room for the Chef’s creativity in a tone of autumnal comfort.

In the form of small culinary entertainments, a stand for cutting ham by the minute, cervelas grilled around a braséro, fondue trees, minute tartars with truffle flavours, a raclette stand, hot chestnuts and why not a small Vacherin Mont D’or?!

And to surprise and please your guests, here is our selection of small seasonal presents:

Gifts and accessories

For fine grape varieties lovers, why not offer a bottle of Domaine du Château de Vullierens wine as a souvenir to your guests? You will be able to customize your labels according to your wishes… your choice of Chasselas, Pinot Noir, Gamaret-Garanoir and the latest addition, the Galotta.

A bottle of cold-pressed rapeseed oil from the Estate or also our famous rhizomes which, planted before the frost, will become magnificent irises in spring?

Because at Portes des lris, fall also goes hand in hand with beautiful flowers…

We have told you about the land, the fire place, the soft colours and scarlet hues of the October sun, but here are a few floral surprises to discover in our gardens, which will also sublimate your photos! Multicolored dahlias, lupins, irises, cyclamen and many others for the pleasure of your eyes…

October 2019, Aurore de Comarmond

The success of an event often lies in the choice of the DJ!

Publié le 23 April 2020 à 16 h 53 min.

Ecrit par Portes des Iris

But first, ask yourself what kind of reception you would like to organize? Because the key lies in the right choice of service provider according to your desires!

Would you like to bring an extra touch of live music to your event? A saxophonist, ideal for a garden party or for your wedding aperitif…

pic by Gerel photo

A wedding with a dj who’s a master of ceremony? A trustworthy person who will be able to manage the animations, the speeches and the famous slideshow of the bride and groom 😉

pic by Radenaphoto

An evening for your clients that requires a recognized artist who will ensure that you bring a maximum number of participants?

DJ et danseuses des Gold Singers sur la Terrasse des Iris

pic by Portes des Iris

Or your company’s Christmas party that you organize every year with the greatest hits from the latest years, that all your staff loves…whatever the generation.

pic by Tlook

Maybe with these few key words, you’ll be able to make the right choice…

Anticipation

Remember to book your dj as soon as possible. As for the photographer and the videographer, they can’t clone themselves and therefore accept only one booking per day. So if you already know a dj you want to hire, don’t hesitate to ask for his availability, even if you have to book him temporarily even before you have the location confirmed.

Musical choices

If you start with an aperitif, a dj who can be accompanied by live musician(s) is an asset. He will be able to offer a range of very different styles for the evening and a jazzy or pop-acoustic aperitif will make all your guests in a good mood and ready to party until the end of the night!

The meal part can be accompanied or not by music. But if you do, make sure that the sound of the music is adapted to the volume of your guests’ conversations. They feel like talking, so turn the volume down. If, on the other hand, the atmosphere is loosening up a bit, why not turn the volume up for a while?

Some djs work with their playlists, others listen to your desires, your styles and also take into account what you don’t want to listen to. Don’t hesitate to impose yourself, it’s your evening, you have the right to like certain music and to play it. On the other hand, also think about the success of your choices… let yourself be guided by the dj’s, while giving your favorite songs!

Another way of working of some providers is to let themselves be guided by the choices of the guests. To let them make their requests directly and thereby guide the evening. This requires a certain degree of tolerance; it’s up to you to see if you trust your guests and if you would like a ‘Danse des Canards’ or a ‘Lac du Connemara’ on the dance floor…

Première danse des mariés, noir et blanc, pieds nus

pic by Romanphoto

The key ‘musical’ moments of a wedding – to be definitely planned in advance!

– The entry and exit of the bride and groom during the ceremony

– The entrance of the bride and groom in the dining room

– Cutting the cake

– The Opening of the Ball

Première danse des mariés, noir et blanc

pic by Radenaphoto

And a few others:

– the surprise flashmob during the aperitif…

– the 15 minutes of dancing before the meal

– covers of songs by childhood friends

– the karaoke at 3:00 a.m.

– the famous slow motion series, like when we were teenagers…

For each of these moments, a title, a style or a memory, will surely help your dj to prepare his playlists. These are important reflections, which require a little time to mature. We can never repeat it enough, a maximum of planning avoids last minute stress! The night before also has its advantages sometimes 🙂

Première danse des mariés, dans la pénombre, front contre front

pic by Christelle Naville

Type of entertainment during a wedding

Our djs will be partners throughout your reception. They will be able to already amplify the ceremony part (on one of our 2 terraces, since our Apollo and Athena rooms are already equipped with sound systems), then the aperitif area (inside and/or outside); they will manage the microphones for the speeches throughout the evening, but also the projections and other activities planned by your guests. Some of them will also be asked to add a sound system outside if an evening dessert or fireworks are planned. Don’t forget to inform them of the interventions so that they can come with the right equipment!

It is of course at the end of the evening that their role is the most important and that you must be sure of your choices. A good dj manages to get everyone dancing. His music will have to be of your taste, but also of those of your guests. Remember to please all generations at the beginning of the dance part… older people don’t always stay until the end of the night 😉

Budget

A dj can come alone or accompanied by live musicians and a singer, but above all it is necessary to make sure that his technical equipment is brought by him. Some international dj’s come with no equipment at all, so you have to make sure you have all the technical equipment you need.

At Portes des Iris, we already have a led system in the Dorianna room for all the coloring of the room. But a good light show will also make the difference and we are used to work with Audiolight in Colombier, a reliable and close partner. Their team knows the place perfectly and will be able to provide you with quality equipment, according to the needs of the artists.

To sound system in the Dorianna room

To sound system in the Iris Room and its Bar

To sound system the Building and its 2 terraces

When choosing a dj, remember that quality always comes with a price! Compare what is included in each performance: technical equipment (number of speakers, type of mixing table, lighting effects, facet balls, laser,…), transport included, set-up, start and end times, meals and drinks, accommodation, etc…).

The djs’ rates are very much different. Plan a budget from CHF 1000 for some, CHF 1500 to CHF 2’000 for the others. Every year, we update a list of djs for our clients; do not hesitate to ask for it!

You all want to hear the day after your event: “The evening was great, we had a great time and it’s thanks to the dj’s musical choices, he was just great! »

Neighbourhood and volume

In Switzerland, all event venues are subject to authorization. At Portes des Iris, we have the approval of the commune to guarantee audio performances on our terraces until 10 pm (except for fireworks which can be shot by approved pyrotechnicians until 11 pm), and inside the building until 4 am.

Our neighbours are very conciliatory), but they also appreciate when the party is over, that the guests leave quickly and if possible quietly … Thank you for considering the next events 😉

We are limited by law not to exceed 93DB at all times. A sonometer is available at the domain if necessary. If you are anticipating significant peaks in noise levels, we can indicate with pleasure where you can get hearing protection.

Smoke bombs

They are allowed, but beware, they are sometimes persistent and have difficulty to leave the rooms. What could be more annoying than having to dance in a ‘smoky’ atmosphere and not see your dance partner at all???? For some laser effects, they are quite indicated, but beware, some djs sometimes abuse them…

It’s all about timing

The perennial question of all our brides and grooms… is what time do we start the dance!

There’s no ready-made answer, but it’s true that starting the dance at 1:00 a.m. is late and already a good part of the wedding party might want to go home.

We always try to convince our bride and groom not to dine too late (not like at the hospital either…), so that they can dance around 11:00 pm, which is the ideal time when the guests are still in good shape (unless the aperitif lasts more than 2 hours or the dinner is too long). If you are worried that the guests will get bored with 5 hours of dancing (yes, remember that you can party until 4 o’clock in the morning at the Portes des Iris), remember to serve them a small snack on the stroke of 2 o’clock in the morning.

The length of the meal will of course also depend on the number of interventions during the evening and their duration. Try to favour short speeches and videos of a few minutes. If you like games, alternate them with speeches and preferably organise them at the end of the meal, so as not to disturb the service too much.

A table major (or master of ceremonies) will be of great use for you! It is he (or she, or even they, if you assign the task to several of your relatives) who will be responsible for ‘managing’ the evening’s entertainment and who will also be your contact with the caterer and other service providers. It is important that a main thread of the evening is set up, in order to coordinate efficiently the planned interventions and perhaps have room for one or two last-minute surprises…?!

We are happy to meet with your master of ceremonies before your big day. Don’t hesitate to suggest them to come to the domain during one of the coordination meetings we will have together. It is good to get to know each other in advance and to see a few weeks before the planned schedule of the evening together. We will then gladly forward the final timing to the caterer and other service providers who would like to know it.

In short, the choice of the dj is yours, but it is important that you meet him beforehand and that you are sure of your decision. Sometimes it can be useful to meet several of them…

We are happy to provide you with a regularly updated list of some of the good djs in the area, that we have seen in action and that we no longer hesitate to recommend!

Première danse des mariés, en train de s'embrasser

pic by Christelle Naville

Corinne Salvisberg Perrone, April 2020

Our 5-Star service for your Wedding Day!

Publié le 20 April 2020 à 16 h 16 min.

Ecrit par Portes des Iris

If you choose to get married with us, you expect impeccable service! Not only because of the quality of the gastronomy you will have chosen from one of our 5 privileged caterers, but also because of the service we offer you at Portes des Iris.

AHEAD OF YOUR WEDDING….

Coordinating your DDay:
- A major asset that allows you to concentrate on your personal preparations and your own happiness on Dday! You won’t have to worry about a single thing, either before or during your reception, we’re here to host and manage every aspect of your wedding day
Our expertise:
- We offer you our experienced advice, expertise and professionalism in planning as well as executing every moment!
Our preferred service providers:
- It’s not always easy to be confident with a photographer or DJ you don’t know or have found on the web… If you wish, we can provide you with all our best service providers, and will gladly refer you to the right people… from photobooths to dove-throwing, fireworks to beauty makers!

THE DAY BEFORE….

Delivery and setup:
- If the spaces you are renting are available, the great advantage of Portes des Iris is our flexibility. You can already occupy the premises the day before your reception and have your stationery delivered (menu cards, place cards, etc…), set up your photobooth, start your table decorations if you have created them yourself or even have your dress unpacked before the ceremony the next day, leaving it to air out in your preparation room!
- Our fridges will be ready to refresh your wines and Champagne if you have agreed with your caterer to handle it yourself!
- You can have time to practice your first dance ‘one last time’ or even plan a dress rehearsal for your ceremony, to ensure that everyone is relaxed the next day, and that your daddy knows what tempo to walk at on your arm 😉

D-DAY…..

Our mission:
- We are present from the moment your first suppliers arrive, guiding them and making sure that your instructions are strictly followed, according to your wishes.
- When the tables are set, we arrange the little details you’ve given us, such as name cards, gifts for guests, table names…
- Once everything is ready and the guests are about to arrive, we make sure that no detail is missed or overlooked
- One of our greatest assets: hospitality. We make sure your guests feel welcome and happy, providing them with as much information as possible or directing them to the people who can answer their questions. We’ll also take care of any last-minute surprises organized by your friends or family members.
- We also manage every transition (welcome drink, ceremony, bridal party, aperitifs, photos, meal) to ensure that the day runs smoothly.
- We make ourselves available throughout the day to deal with unforeseen circumstances, provide information to your guests or suppliers, and help out with last-minute tasks…
- Once the meal has started and everything is running smoothly, your caterer will take over the management of the festivities. You will refer to him for any further questions, and it is his responsibility to close the building on your departure, but no later than 4 o’clock in the morning.

THE DAY AFTER….

As far as possible, everyone get some rest!!
- We usually invite our clients to come back on Monday, quietly in the morning, in order to recover what would have been left at their wedding. Most often the caterer will take care of collecting the empty glass, but there are often still some very good wines that will delight your cellars and your mouths) during the party you will organize for your 1 year wedding anniversary 😉
- The flowers that you will not be able to take with you in the early morning, will also wait for you on Monday and will perhaps decorate your interior for a few more days?

SOME TESTIMONIALS…..

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“Thank you for everything, you’ve been fantastic! We had a lot of fun preparing this day with you. A big THANK YOU for your support and the good mood you showed. Looking forward to seeing you again.” M&R

“It is still with great emotion that we would like to thank you for all you have done to make our big day beautiful, not only during the day of November 4, but also throughout the preparation of this day. We had a real crush on your estate and our dream came true. Your professionalism, your advice but especially your kindness and patience allowed us to live a magical day in a place full of love and emotion. We will always have a thought for you when we think of that day or when we go for a little walk in your gardens”. A&L

“Thank you so much for your precious contribution to our wedding. June 17, 2017 was a great success, filled with many unforgettable memories! Your professionalism allowed us to meet almost all of you without ever feeling like we had to repeat ourselves, it was very impressive.” C&D

“We wanted a dream wedding in the venue of our dreams! We got it and it was even more beautiful than we ever imagined. Thank you so much”.” L&D

Evoto

A WEDDING AT PORTES DES IRIS….

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FAQ – All the questions you’ve always wanted to ask us, but perhaps never dared?

Publié le 12 April 2020 à 20 h 07 min.

Ecrit par Portes des Iris

So, have you just signed your contract at Portes des Iris, or are you ready to do so? You made the right choice and now you have a thousand questions running through your head… Here is a small selection of the ones we answer most regularly:

PREPARATIONS

What makes the difference with some other event venues is our expertise and support, at all organizational stages of your reception.

You first discovered us on our social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin), then perhaps via a virtual tour of our spaces on our website or through Facetime in times of pandemic? But the impressions you had during your first visit to the domain will surely remain forever engraved in your memories.

It is important to us to be at your side from the very first questions you ask; we send you a provisional estimate, then a contract and finally, after the first preparation visit (to which you can of course invite your witnesses, your parents and perhaps already some of the service providers you wish to hire for the occasion), we draw up a location plan for the spaces you will be using.

Table plan Dorianna room

The service providers you choose will also be welcomed and guided by us. We will make sure with them that all the details that we have decided together will be carried out during the preparation visits (either on site or by e-mail or videoconference). These will be summarized in a document accessible to all those who will be involved in your event (caterer, decorator, masters of ceremonies, wedding planner, etc…) and will serve as a guideline before, during and after your reception.

Event order Wedding

And that’s when all the details will have to be worked out, including…

SCHEDULE

How late can we party at Portes des Iris?

We are one of the only event venues in the region where you can party until 4 o’clock in the morning. And no need to make any special requests, we have the permission of our municipality.

From our experience, this schedule will allow you to end your evening on a joyful note without making it too long.

Is it possible to already start the decoration of our event the day before?

If the room(s) are available, with great pleasure (during office hours). But as nowadays we often have last-minute requests, it is only about 2 weeks before your reception that we can confirm this possibility.

Pic by Marie Montibert

Can we deliver our wines the day before as well?

As for the previous question, yes, if the kitchens are available. Unfortunately, we do not have a cellar or storage place, especially in the middle of summer, it can be complicated.

It wouldn’t be nice if a caterer got the wrong wines and used yours the day before, would it?

When can we get our stuff back?

That also depends on what happens after your event. If it’s a Sunday, we all try to rest and we suggest that you come back on Monday morning to pick up your things (wine left overs, decorations, cots, etc…). Should we have an event afterwards, we always have small corners where we can store some things and you could come and get them later.

Some providers are also overloaded. Don’t hesitate to ask us if they can also come back on Monday morning.

PARKINGS

Can we leave cars in your parking lot overnight?

Yes, of course. We will let you know what time it should be released if we have another event that requires the entire car park.

Do you have enough parking space?

We have 4 car parks at the estate. Two of them are a few metres from the entrance to Portes des Iris and can accommodate 100 (car park I) and 60 cars (car park II) respectively. Even if we have several receptions at the same time, we can accommodate all vehicles.

Two other car parks with more than 200 spaces are available for coaches or for larger events at the entrance of our Gardens. Only 200m from Portes des Iris.

Are your car parks guarded?

No, they are not. However, we do organise assistance for the arrival of your guests. Depending on the number of cars, buses or other means of transportation (possibility of arriving by helicopter, horse or motorbike), our staff will direct your guests to the corresponding car parks.

However, our car parks are not guarded, nor are they equipped with a video system.

CLOAKROOMS

Are your cloakrooms guarded?

As for the car park, we have dedicated and trusted staff on arrival of guests at the cloakroom and who also take care of the cleanliness of the toilets during the event. This staff is included in our rates, if the number of guests exceeds 100, but can also be arranged if you have fewer guests, at a lower cost.

If our cloakrooms are not guarded, it means that you are alone in the building, there is in principle no risk of theft.

CATERERS

Do you have exclusive caterers?

Yes, to date we have 8 and you will find them on our website under the Caterers tab.

We also have many articles on our blog that describe each of them and that will allow you to get to know them better.

Do we have to choose among your exclusive caterers?

On your big day, you want the best for your guests and you don’t just cater for yourself! The house is big, the kitchens are professional kitchens and they require trained staff who know how to use them properly. It is important to us to have caterers who know our establishment, its rules, its procedures in case of fire, and above all who can close the building at the end of the reception. This is why we do not wish to make any exceptions and we would like you to choose from one of our 8 referenced caterers.

DECORATIONS

Who’s in charge of installing our decorations?

As coordinators, we are at your disposal so that you can be all to your happiness, to your preparations, to your guests. If you have for us a list of things to place on tables / buffets / table plans, etc., we will gladly take care of it. For more information, read our blog article related to the preparations.

Do you have imposed service providers for decoration?

No, we do not. It is important to us that you are satisfied and it is our pleasure to regularly update the names of local florists with whom we are used to work, who are familiar with the estate and who can quickly send you an offer. Simply ask us for a list of our florists/decorators and we will send it to you free of charge.

Can we throw rose petals at the end of our ceremony?

Yes, if they are synthetic petals and only inside our ceremony rooms (Apollo or Athena). We have shared other ideas in our blog article on ceremonial outings.

We love candles, are they allowed?

We agree to have them on dining tables, high tables, inside the fireplace (on saucers) or in closed lanterns / candleholders.

Illuminations in places at risk, i.e. on stairs, window sills, around the fountain and where children may have access, are not allowed.

Today’s led candles are also an alternative to real candles; the effects are almost as beautiful and the risks are much less!

HOTELS & TRANSPORTATION

Can we sleep on the estate?

We do not offer the possibility of accommodation on site. However, we have drawn up a list of nearby establishments with which we have negotiated rates for some of them. Don’t hesitate to ask us!

Do you have contacts for transportation?

The village of Vullierens is served by public transportation. As for accommodation, we also have a list of possibilities in the surroundings. It is at your disposal if you need it…

ENTERTAINMENT

Do you have fixed music providers? Photographers? And for video?

No, but nothing better than to surround yourself with quality music providers and there we have gained some experience over the years. Whether you want a gospel band for your ceremony, a duo to liven up your cocktail reception or a dj accompanied by a live saxophonist for your evening, we have something to satisfy you. Our passion: to share with you the best contacts in the region or further. We will gladly put you in touch with our partners!

Are Thai lanterns allowed?

In agreement with the commune of Vullierens, these lanterns are not allowed, because they are very dangerous at the time of their lighting, they are not biodegradable either and harm the flora and fauna in the surroundings.

Is it possible to use bengal / glittering lights inside the building?

In order to avoid any risk of fire, glittering or bengal fires are not allowed in our reception rooms, but only on our Terraces or Courtyards. The same goes for all candles placed on our staircases or in risky places. Our coordinators will be happy to tell you where you can use them.

Sortie des mariés de nuit sur la terrasse avec feux de bengale

Pic by Alexandre Bourguet

My cousin’s a fireworks expert, is he allowed to set up our fireworks display?

The commune of Vullierens and the Canton of Vaud have been asking for a few years now for separate authorisations to fireworks. Only the official fireworksmen of Portes des Iris are authorized and the fireworks must be finished at the latest at 23h00.

CHILDREN

Do you provide babysitting services? Do you have ideas for children’s entertainment?

Children are welcome and in order to make sure that everyone enjoys their evening, we offer either baby-sitters (CHF 20.-/hour, provide a meal and return by taxi) or a complete entertainment service. Do not hesitate to ask us for offers and plan your baby-sitters in time, especially if during exams or school holidays 😉

Can children walk freely in the gardens of the castle?

Yes, as long as the parents agree. We decline all responsibility. There are some beautiful walks in our gardens; why not offer the baby-sitters a little tour of the Lizard King’s Kingdom with the children?

Is our dog accepted on the estate?

Our rental conditions do not allow pets inside the building. However, dogs are welcome outside if kept on leashes.

Can we arrive on horseback from the Gardens?

Yes, we have already experienced it several times. Horses can be sheltered under our barn before your guests, and you can arrive on our terraces from the bridle path. However, we ask you to respect the place and especially the possible visitors of our gardens during the opening periods.

Is it possible to organize entertainments with animals?

Of course it is! A circus evening without a snake dancer or bear trainer would not be a circus evening 😉

For a Swiss evening, Saint Bernard dogs are also welcome.

Pic by Portes des Iris

And let’s not forget the youngest ones: for an event with children, we gladly organize pony rides, discovery workshops with rabbits and guinea pigs, etc…

Pic by Portes des Iris

This list of questions is of course not exhaustive and we are at your disposal if you have any other questions, and in order to complete ours afterwards as well 😉

Good preparation!

Mariée sur une calèche tirée par un poney

Pic by Tlook

Corinne Salvisberg Perrone, April 2020

10 tips for your wedding day!

Publié le 30 March 2020 à 14 h 46 min.

Ecrit par Portes des Iris

Want to save time on this particularly busy day? Enjoy your guests as much as possible? Avoid stressing yourself even more when you already have a high adrenaline level?

Here are a few points to think about, so you can spend your wedding day with serenity!

1. Plan your couple’s photos before the ceremony

It used to be a tradition not to see the bride before the ceremony. It is true that it is a very emotional moment in your ceremony, but it is a time that you may want to live only together, in complete privacy. To do this, why not create a ‘discovery’ moment of the other, alone with your photographer, and then take the three of you to our magnificent gardens of the Château de Vullierens for a couple’s photo session. This can be done in the late morning or early afternoon, so that you can also enjoy your aperitif and your guests. We will open the Orangeraie to you, take you through corners that may have been unknown until then and you will be able to discover the beauty of the natural elements that we will have exclusively reserved for you.

The meeting of the bride and groom in front of our building (Photo : Quentin Décaillet)

In front of the Orangeraie (Photo : Tlook)

The bridle path in winter

Wheat fields in July (Photo : Et la tête Alouette)

With irises in springtime (Photo : Jessica Amber)

2. Getting ready in due time

A wrinkled dress, what’s worse when you get to Portes des Iris? You can bring it to us the day before, put it in one of our preparation rooms and make sure it’s perfect on D-Day!

If your couple’s photos are taken before the ceremony, put on your gown/suit for the appointed time. Make sure you have comfortable shoes for that part (especially if you plan to take your photos in our gardens!), even if you have to take your heels for the photos. A small touch-up will be required upon your return.

If you want to be ready just before the ceremony starts, plan to get dressed 30 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony. Don’t get ready too quickly; dresses can be warm, and suits can be even warmer in certain seasons.

The bride getting ready in Diana room (Photo : Christelle Naville)

The bride getting ready in Diana room(Photo : Tlook)

Preparation in Eloïse room (Photo : Tlook)

3. Make sure you have a dedicated driver

The ceremony is an extremely meaningful moment. Nothing can be left to chance. The choice of music has been made, but have you thought about trying out the entrance to the hall with music? Your witnesses, your parents, are they ready for the procession? We also suggest that you organize a rehearsal of your ceremony (at least of the entrance, crucial moments such as the exchange of your vows or your wedding rings), so that all the main people are relaxed and feel ready for the most important moment.

It’s a good idea to appoint a ‘music director’, who can give the top starts of the different songs. The coordinator of Portes des Iris will be there to manage the procession, so that traditions are respected (who on whose arm, on whose side, the bride should not be seen before her entrance, etc…) and to avoid the frequent omissions (the bridal bouquet still in the vase, the handkerchief to wipe away a few tears, the daddy’s boutonniere…).

Entrance of the bride with her brother in Apollo’s room (Photo : Christelle Naville)

Waiting to discover her lovely… in Athena room – dedicated to ceremonies.(Photo : Gerel photo)

4. Plan a guard of honor, it makes it easier to take a group picture!

Once you have said I do, ask your guests to wait for you on the Terrace by making an announcement at the end of the ceremony, and rather than being scattered all over the Garden, forming a guard of honor for your. Your maid and groom of honor and our coordinator can help you by indicating the spaces to be used, handing out soap bubbles or a glass of Champagne to toast right away, once you have passed through the hedge. You don’t have any idea how to brighten up the hedge of honour? We’ll give you some here.

In order to be able to photograph all of you together, tell your photographer to take a group photo from our Dorianna room on the 1st floor, either with the fountain in the background or our terraces.

The arrival of the bride and groom on the Terrasse des Iris

A heart-shape of guests, the photographer takes a picture from Dorianna room… (Photo : Christelle Naville)

Courtyard side, outside the Apollo Ceremonial room (Photo : Tlook)

5. Eat enough and stay hydrated!

For the bride and groom, the key is to eat well at breakfast and to plan a snack before the ceremony so that you don’t go on an empty stomach in the afternoon. You may eat very little during the aperitif, but you will have to hold on! The trick is to ask the caterer or, even better, one of your witnesses, to bring you a drink and some food throughout the aperitif!

Cheers with the girls! (Photo : Tlook)

Drink a lot! Bottled water is essential throughout the day…

Lovers’ snack set aside by the caterer or your witness

Light classic lunch in our Eloise room with the people who came along with you in advance!

6. Pamper your guests, they will reward you well…

The necessary beauty and well-being in the Ladies’ bathroom!

Little extras: a hand-made fan for an outdoor ceremony, heel protectors for the ladies to hand out at the reception desk (different sizes are available), a few appropriate items in the toilets… these little extras sometimes make all the difference.

Flower decorations at the end of the evening are also very pleasant for some people, think of offering them!

Heel guards are available in different sizes

7. Time to eat!

It’s not enough to decide on a time for dinner, you also have to keep to the timing and above all manage to get all your guests to sit down to dinner… The precious help of your table majors will be very useful. They are the ones who will be there to communicate with your caterer and the Portes des Iris coordinator to make sure that the schedule is adequate, that you don’t want to extend the aperitif a little bit (especially if the weather is nice and the guests are happy to enjoy our terraces) or that the guests who are not invited to dinner are already almost all gone.

If the voice is not enough, your DJ can provide a microphone to make an announcement or maybe a traditional bell could be useful 😉

Our secret weapon for attracting attention: the bell! Efficient, and it’s a wink to our old farm 😉

8. The arrival of the bride and groom

It’s high time to make your entrance, everyone has found their place, the guests are waiting for you impatiently. At Portes des Iris, we have two stairways leading up to the dining room that allow for a very original entrance: the groom on one side, the bride on the other, and the DJ turns on the music you’ve chosen, and you take the stage! Another possibility: use the door on the left side of our fireplace for a surprising entrance!

For the coordination of this moment, it is important that your major and/or the coordinator of Portes des Iris be able to communicate with the DJ, and yourself, to make sure everyone is ready. Meanwhile, guests spontaneously get up, dance, and even fly their towels: anything can happen, it’s your moment of glory!

Before starting the much awaited meal, this is also the moment, if you feel like it, to speak up, thank the people around you for the organization and start the banquet!

Speeches by the bride and groom before they sit at the table, after the royal entrance. (Photo : Gerel photo)

Entrance of the bride and groom to the rhythm of the music (Photo : Christelle Naville)

9. And what to do with the children?

The famous ‘Candy Bar’ may be a solution for some people, but these days attentive parents are not always keen on so many sweets… Ipads or video games? Why not, but how about having some entertainers to unload your guests and let them enjoy the party as well? At Portes des Iris, we have a list of babysitters or entertainers who come with a whole range of games, crafts, costumes and take care of the little ones until the end of the night.

Our Eloise and Diana rooms can be transformed into playrooms or a nursery if needed. Children love to give presents and what better way to keep them occupied during the evening with creative activities?

A television is available in one of the preparation rooms!

In case of good weather, they can also organise outside activities

Why not place giant games on the Terrace? They will be a success with young and old alike ;-)(Photo : Christelle Naville)

10. Think about yourself!

This day, your day, is going to fly by at breakneck speed. Make the most of every moment, find moments together and above all don’t forget that it’s yours and that it must reflect your image 😉

Our preparation rooms can also be used for a one-to-one moment. Why not stop there after the ceremony, before receiving congratulations from all your guests?

Change your outfit/shoes during the evening? It’s a good excuse to get together and take a breather, just the two of you, while the party is in full swing.