BAGTUN

Frequently asked questions

The most common questions about ceremonies, flow and enquiries. If yours is missing: answers are free.

Timo gives a speech at a microphone in a garden

Ceremonies

What is an independent ceremony?

A celebration without a church and without an authority, written anew for your occasion. Place, language, length and rituals belong to you. At its centre is your story, not a fixed liturgy.

Do I have to be religious or spiritual?

No. There are no requirements for my ceremonies. What matters most is a good feeling and that everything in the ceremony means something to you.

In which languages do you hold ceremonies?

In German, English, Spanish, Dutch and Italian, also mixed for families from several countries.

Where do the ceremonies take place?

Wherever feels right for you: by the lake, in the garden, in a barn, in the forest or on a mountain. I live in Bern. Tell me where you would like to celebrate, and we will sort out the travel.

Wedding

Is a celebrant-led wedding legally valid in Switzerland?

No. Only the civil wedding at the civil registry office is legally valid. The wedding ceremony takes place afterwards and is the moment you say yes in front of your people.

How long does a wedding ceremony last?

Usually around half an hour to three quarters of an hour. We decide the exact length together.

Can we include our own words and rituals?

Yes, I would love that. I don't only ask you what your dream wedding looks like, but also what you have to say to each other.

How do you get to know us?

In conversations and with my questions, which you both answer. Some are serious, others playful, for example: If you were a potato, how would you like to be cooked? That is how I hear your humour and find words that sound like you.

Can our guests take part?

Yes. They can place wishes in stones, bring the rings to the front or promise to accompany you. We look together at which rituals suit you.

Welcome ceremony

Does the welcome ceremony replace a baptism?

No. It is not a baptism and has no legal effect. It is an independent celebration in which your child is welcomed by the closest circle.

Can godparents be part of it?

Yes. If you have important people at your child's side, they get their place in the ceremony.

Farewell ceremony

Is a funeral service possible without a priest?

Yes. A funeral service is not tied to a church. The rules for cemetery and rooms are set by the municipality. I am happy to coordinate the ceremony with them and the funeral home.

How quickly can you help after a death?

Ideally get in touch by phone or WhatsApp, then we can see straight away what is possible. The ceremony does not have to take place at the same time as the burial.

Is it okay to laugh at a farewell ceremony?

Yes. A person's small quirks are part of their life. When everyone laughs about the same story, they are back for a moment. Grief and humour are not mutually exclusive.

Can family members speak themselves?

Yes, also in dialect. Family and friends can tell their own stories, read something or have their words read by someone else. Music or a shared ritual can carry us in between.

Mountain Ritual

How long does the Mountain Ritual last?

Three days outside the familiar, accompanied 1:1, with hiking, breathwork, bodywork, fire, sound and yoga.

Is the Mountain Ritual a therapy?

No. It is personal guidance at a turning point and does not replace therapeutic or medical treatment.

Where does the Mountain Ritual take place?

In the Swiss mountains, from June to October. We choose the place together, for example Val Fex in the Engadine, the Riederfurka by the Aletsch glacier or the Faulhorn in the Bernese Oberland. You have your own room, accommodation and meals are paid separately.

Prices and enquiries

What does a ceremony cost?

Every ceremony is written individually. That is why you receive a written quote after the first conversation. Answers are free.

How does an enquiry work?

You write to me via the form, on WhatsApp or give me a call. Then we talk and you find out whether it fits. Only after that comes the quote.

Is your question missing?

Answers are free. Warm regards, Timo

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