We did a pretty good job on our wedding budget. Had an amount in mind and managed to stick to it.

My dress wasn't strictly a wedding gown which worked out fine because I couldn't find anything "bridey" that would suit me, so I found a beautiful evening gown which I loved (and have worn to a posh "do" since then - you can't do that with a bridal gown!) and it was a fraction of the price of a wedding dress.

Many details of our wedding were arranged through people we know so we got "mates rates". Most of these mates came to the wedding so it felt like a bit of a team effort with everyone involved in some way.

The nice thing is that we've been able to return the favour with those friends for their weddings / other gatherings since then.

Hello and Congratulations!
Getting married in CH is pricey,and as recommended, you may get better value in the UK. It may also be less expensive for your guests to have it in the UK than to fly of to CH. I went to my cousin's gorgeous wedding in Morges at the "portes des Iris" It is a beautiful venue with the outside facade covered in rambling roses and they have everything on site.. There is even a (Protestant) church in walking distance if you want the religious ceremony. I imagine that the whole thing doesn't come cheap!

I also attended a wedding in France not far from the Swiss border, so very close to Geneva. They did the civil service ceremony in CH, then we all went over the birder to Chartreux-Pomier. Was very beautiful. I know they hired everything themselves and got in caterers, but perhaps it is more in house now.

Great photographers (Geneva based and speak English) are Marc&Julie Grundman. They are both very talented and take beautiful shots and can really play with the light! Photography.Grundman.ch they were guests at our wedding
in Cape Town and took better shots than our hired professional photographer! We were lucky that everyone flew put to CT for ours. Getting married in a foreign country is a lot more organisation, but if it's a great destination, people will go the distance and make a holiday of it!

There are smaller wedding venues in the village that I live in, in Champéry, Valais,at 2 of the local restaurants (Mitchells, which is an Irish Swedish bar/ restaurant; and Le vieux chalet, which is more Swiss traditional). Both can help you organise your day. It's a very pretty village and has great skiing for winter wedding; and great biking, walking etc for summer. I also heard that a hotel in Les Crosets (on the slopes) also does weddings, but I doubt for 150 people.

First you have your budget breakdown and then go from there. Get help if you can delegating certain things (mothers and bridesmaid can be very useful!) because of the distance, I hired a wedding planner. I pretty much had to choose and organise everything, (invitations, info on where to stay and go for visitors etc. choosing menu, wines, type of music, decor, order of service, organising timing for the day etc. take ages to do properly) but on the day I didn't have to worry about anything. You and your future husband really and truly want to enjoy your wedding day as it is a lot of work for one day. We loved our wedding and it was great fun! Beautiful but brilliant craic with the Irish spirit and South Frican wine and food. Everyone enjoyed themselves. It's a celebration so enjoy it. Leave the stress to someone else, if you can.

All the very best of luck.

Hi!
What part of Switzerland are you in? I do wedding cakes, and I'm used to working somrthing out with couples who are on a budget. So if you're still looking, let me know! You can send me an e-mail and I'll send you pictures of what I do, and if you like them, we'll see if we can work somthing out!
Best of luck with your wedding organisation, take care!
Jenny

Ours cost about CHF 170.

Tom