--- title: "Wedding Ceremony Switzerland: Flow, Costs and Law | Bagtun" description: "What is a celebrant-led wedding ceremony, is it legally valid, how does it work and what does it cost? The guide for couples in Switzerland." url: https://bagtun.ch/en/notes/wedding-ceremony-switzerland/ lang: en --- # Wedding ceremony in Switzerland Why the yes is only the beginning, and what you should know about the flow, the law and the costs. Most couples plan the day. Almost nobody plans the moment. Yet that is exactly why you are thinking about a celebrant-led wedding ceremony: you want the minutes in which you say yes to truly belong to you. ## What is a celebrant-led wedding ceremony? It is a wedding ceremony that is not tied to a church, a religion or an authority. You decide the place, language, length and flow. A ceremony leader, often called a wedding celebrant, writes and leads the ceremony. At its centre is not a liturgy, but your story. ## Is it legally valid in Switzerland? No. In Switzerland only the civil wedding is legally valid. For this you submit an application to the civil registry office, which checks the requirements. According to the official [ch.ch portal](https://www.ch.ch/en/family-and-partnership/marriage--cohabitation--registered-partnership/getting-married/), after the civil wedding you can have a religious or independent ceremony. The costs given there for the civil wedding are between 300 and 400 francs, special requests such as a Saturday cost extra. Many couples do not hold both on the same day. The visit to the office is then the formality with a small circle, the wedding ceremony is the celebration. ## How does a wedding ceremony work? There is no fixed order. That is the point. This sequence helps as a guide: 1. **Entrance.** With music, as a couple, with your parents or alone. 2. **Welcome.** The guests arrive, the space opens. 3. **Your story.** The part where people laugh and cry. 4. **Ritual.** If one suits you: there are many [rituals for your wedding ceremony](https://bagtun.ch/en/notes/wedding-ceremony-rituals/), and the best is often the one only you understand. 5. **Vows and rings.** Your own words, if you like. 6. **The yes.** And the kiss. 7. **Exit.** Then the party begins. Expect around half an hour to three quarters of an hour. Longer only works if the guests are sitting comfortably. ## What we discuss beforehand Of course I ask you what your dream wedding looks like. And I ask what you have to say to each other. The second question almost always changes the speech. Because the answer to it is rarely what is written on the invitation. Take an evening for this question before you talk about flowers. What should still be true in twenty years? What have you been through together? What do you want your guests to witness? ## What does a wedding ceremony cost? You are not only paying for the hour on the wedding day, but above all for the time before it: conversations, writing, coordination and travel. The Swiss network [Traumich](https://www.traumich.ch/) quotes a starting price of CHF 2200 for a ceremony. That helps as orientation. In the end, the quote for your specific ceremony is what counts. With me you receive a written quote after the first conversation, and [Prices](https://bagtun.ch/en/prices/) shows everything that is included. ## When should you start? Popular Saturdays in summer are booked early. As soon as the date and venue are set, it is worth enquiring. Plan enough time for the ceremony afterwards, so that the words can take shape calmly. ## Three things that are often forgotten - **A plan for rain.** Outdoors is wonderful, but only with a roof nearby. - **Sound.** From about thirty guests a microphone helps, especially outdoors. - **Silence.** Plan a minute in which nothing happens. It will be the minute you remember. If you want to know what this could look like for you, [write to me](https://bagtun.ch/en/contact/). Or read what makes a [wedding ceremony at Bagtun](https://bagtun.ch/en/ceremonies/wedding/).