B&E Wedding at Portes des Iris
The great wedding season has finally begun, all sails out! Busy creating unforgettable days for our 2019 brides and grooms, we have a thought for all the beautiful weddings that have taken place at Portes des Iris over the past 21 years.
We have contacted some couples who celebrated their union in the old farmhouse of the Château and they entrusted us with memories of their Big Day. Discover their experience!
Lovebirds Benjamin and Eunice decided to take full advantage of Portes des Iris for their Wedding Day.
They first had a civil ceremony on Saturday, August 20, 2011, in our Apollo room in small committee. Then an aperitif welcomed all the guests on our Terrace of Collonges which was followed by a religious ceremony on our second Terrace, the Terrace of Iris.
The festivities followed in the gardens and a magnificent reception took place in our Dorianna room where they enjoyed a wonderful meal offered by the catering service of the Hotel Beau-Rivage in Geneva.
Here are their answers to the few questions we asked them. They even shared photos of this beautiful day with us!
First of all, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think back to Portes des Iris?
“The most beautiful and magical day of our lives.”
Do you remember how you found us?
“We’d been to a lot of places. But no crushes. My fiancé (at the time) told me that they had celebrated the 100th anniversary of the company (Felix Badel ) at Portes des Iris. It was our last option in Switzerland, then we would have gone to Portugal to organize the wedding. But I fell in love with this beautiful estate.”
On your first visit, what impressed you?
“An elegant, refined place with the high ceilings I absolutely wanted.”
What made you decide to choose Portes des Iris to celebrate your Wedding Day?
“I had a direct crush. It was a self-evident thing. As there were family from all over Europe, it was a question of simplicity. To be able to bring them all together in the same place with the people dear to our hearts. We did the civil first inside and the religious ceremony outside on the same day. “
Did you ask for help from one of Portes des Iris coordinators during the preparation of your wedding? What was your experience with her and how did this help influence your preparations?
“Yes to Sophie Bertorelli, a fantastic person, jovial and reassuring, who has since become a friend. For my husband, who is quite concerned, it was a luxury not to have to stress. She recommended the right people to work with. The suppliers knew the place inside out and told us not to worry, that everything would be okay on the day. And it was, everything was perfect.”
What about that big day? What was the highlight of your Wedding Day?
“For me, the most memorable moment was when I entered the civil wedding hall and discovered all our guests. I hadn’t seen them before and it was very emotional.”
What kind of imprint did the place have on this beautiful day?
“A wonderful memory where you like to go back several times a year. And it’s wonderful to let our daughter discover it.”
An anecdote to share?
“It was so hot that the caterer had to dismantle our wedding cake and make several strawberry cakes, afraid it would fall apart when we arrived. You could see the disappointment on my face when the cakes came in because that’s all I wanted. And the best part: they didn’t put on the right music when the cake came in! They put on the Sironimo syrup song Love Is All, instead of Michael Jackson’s Human Nature instrumental. But what an unforgettable moment; we laughed so hard at the end because that song was so inappropriate.”
What would be your recommendation to future brides and grooms?
“If you want a sumptuous, stress-free, unforgettable wedding with a great staff, this is the place to get married.”
We sincerely thank Eunice and Benjamin for taking the time with us to reflect on their experience at Portes des Iris. We wish them all the best!
Léa Margot, May 2019