Wedding planning checklist: your Swiss wedding in 12 months
Contents5 sections
Congratulations on your engagement! Once the first excitement settles, most couples ask the same question: where do we start? Venue, guest list, budget, dress, rings, music — the list seems endless. With a clear structure and a realistic timeline, planning becomes a project you enjoy together rather than a mountain in front of you. This checklist is written for weddings in Switzerland, including the paperwork at the civil registry office.
The four decisions to make first
Before you get into the details, lay the foundations. These four points shape every decision that follows.
1. The vision: what should your day feel like?
- Style: elegant and classic in a castle? Relaxed boho in a barn? Modern and urban in a loft?
- Size: an intimate celebration with 30 people or a big party with 150 guests?
- Season: a summer wedding outdoors, a colourful autumn celebration, a winter wedding or a spring party?
2. The budget: an honest look at the numbers
Money is not romantic, but it is decisive. Be honest with each other from the start: how much can you spend, and how much do you want to? Are there savings you want to use? Will your families contribute, and if so, how much? A first rough budget protects you from nasty surprises. Our guide shows what a wedding in Switzerland costs.
3. The guest list: who do you invite?
The number of guests affects almost everything, from the venue to the budget. Write one long list of everyone you would like to have there, then sort it:
- A list: family and closest friends who must be there.
- B list: good friends and close relatives.
- C list: colleagues, acquaintances, friends of your parents.
Depending on your budget and the size you want, you can then decide who receives an invitation.
4. The date: when do you say yes?
Is there a date that means something to you, or a favourite season? Popular wedding venues and top vendors in Switzerland are often booked 12 to 18 months ahead, especially for Saturdays from May to September. Stay flexible and keep two or three possible dates in mind.
The checklist: what to do when
On average, allow about 12 months to plan without stress. Here is your timeline.
9 to 12 months before
- Set the foundations: vision, budget, a rough guest list and your preferred dates.
- Ask your witnesses: in Switzerland you need two adult witnesses for the civil wedding, so choose them early and ask them properly.
- Find and book the venue for the ceremony and the celebration: the biggest and most important decision. Visit your favourites and confirm your date.
- Book the key vendors:
- Photographer and videographer: the best are booked quickly. Look at whole portfolios and meet them.
- Band or DJ: good music is the key to a good party.
- Wedding planner (optional): if you want professional help, now is the time to book it.
- Design save-the-date cards (optional): especially useful if guests travel from far away.
- Coming from abroad? Contact the Swiss embassy or consulate now about the documents you need — checking foreign documents can take several months.
6 to 8 months before
- Send the save-the-dates.
- Choose the wedding dress and suit: finding the right dress takes time, and delivery and alterations take longer than you think.
- Book more vendors:
- Catering, if the venue does not provide it.
- Flowers and decoration.
- A celebrant for a celebrant-led ceremony.
- Create a wedding website (optional): one place for all the information your guests need.
- Plan and book your honeymoon.
4 to 5 months before
- Design and print the invitations: include the date, times, places, dress code, gift wishes and the RSVP deadline.
- Choose your wedding rings and have them engraved.
- Order the wedding cake and arrange a tasting with your favourite patisseries.
- Gather your official documents: ask your civil registry office which papers you need.
- Choose the music for the ceremony.
2 to 3 months before
- Send the invitations.
- Start the preparatory procedure for the civil wedding at the registry office. Our guide explains how the civil wedding works, including the deadlines.
- Write a detailed schedule for the wedding day.
- Finalise the menu with your caterer or restaurant.
- Choose or make favours for your guests.
- Book a trial for hair and make-up. Find bridal make-up artists near you.
1 month before
- Final briefings with all vendors: go through the schedule with everyone once more.
- Finalise the guest list: who has accepted or declined? Give the caterer the exact number of guests.
- Make the seating plan.
- Write your vows, if you want to.
- Book a haircut for the groom.
- Break in your wedding shoes.
The last week
- Pack for the wedding night and the honeymoon.
- Put together an emergency kit: plasters, painkillers, a sewing kit, deodorant.
- Hand over tasks for the wedding day to your witnesses and family.
- Manicure and pedicure.
- Give the rings to your witnesses.
- Treat yourselves to a massage or a quiet evening together.
On the day itself: enjoy it
You have done everything. Your only job today is to say yes and celebrate. Trust your plan and your vendors.
Wedding planner or do it yourself?
Many couples wonder whether to hire a wedding planner. Both have advantages.
| Wedding planner | Doing it yourselves | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | An extra cost (around 10 to 15 percent of the budget), partly offset by discounts from vendors. | Cheaper, but takes more time. |
| Time | Far less time for you — a planner saves you hundreds of hours. | Very high: a complete wedding can take 250 to 300 hours to plan. |
| Expertise | A large network of trusted vendors and experience with budgets and emergencies. | You work everything out yourselves, which can also be fun. |
| Stress | Much lower, because the planner acts as buffer and coordinator. | Can be very high at times, especially just before the wedding. |
| Control | You hand over part of the control but always make the decisions. | You have full control over every detail. |
Frequently asked questions
When should we start planning?
Ideally 12 to 18 months before your preferred date. That gives you time to book your dream venue and the key vendors without stress. Planning a wedding in six months is possible, but it means compromises and quick decisions.
How long does planning a wedding take?
Planning a complete wedding takes around 250 hours of work on average. Spread over a year, that is about five hours a week.
What does a wedding in Switzerland cost?
It depends a lot on your plans. A realistic range for a wedding with 60 to 80 guests is CHF 25,000 to 45,000. The biggest items are usually the venue and the catering (about half of the budget), followed by music, photography and outfits. Our guide breaks down every cost.
Do we have to tick off everything on the checklist?
No. The checklist is a guide, not a law. Cross out whatever does not apply to you — the church wedding, for example, if you are only having a civil ceremony — and adapt the plan to your own vision.
Your way to a relaxed wedding
Planning a wedding is a journey with many small and large stages. See it as your first big milestone together rather than a burden. Good organisation and a clear checklist take the stress away and leave you free to enjoy the creative, beautiful parts of the preparation. It is your day: feel free to break traditions, make your own rules and plan a celebration that tells your story.
