Do you own a rural property with large outbuildings in a romantic location with Instagram-ready views of mountains and lakes? Or, perhaps, you inherited a handsome château or country mansion that’s too big or expensive to use as a home? Could it comfortably accommodate 100–150 people? If so, it surely has the potential to become a sanctuary of love and prosperity – a venue where dreams unfold amidst the splendor of Switzerland's natural wonders.
When converted to a desirable wedding venue, that old property you might think of as a money pit could actually become a valuable gold mine, producing regular, substantial, and reliable income for years to come. The average Swiss wedding costs between CHF 40’000 and 50’000 with venue rental alone costing up to CHF 8’000. These amounts can be significantly more if the venue, its location, or its ambiance are exceptional, like that of Tarasp Castle (see below), one of 20 wedding venues once listed by Le Bijou.
Tarasp Castle in Scuol
Source: Expedia.co.in
Even with a less-spectacular location and, therefore, a lower hire charge of, for example, CHF 5’000 per wedding, and assuming two bookings every week during the peak wedding season typically spanning from May to September, that would mean an annual income of approximately CHF 220’000. This figure could be considerably more if the venue remains available year-round for other social gatherings, including birthday extravaganzas, wedding anniversaries, or even corporate events.
Moreover, because weddings are booked months or sometimes even years in advance, the business model will offer a relatively high level of visibility and certainty when it comes to future revenues and costs.
Before making any plans, however, it’s essential to research the market you intend to address in order to understand the likely demand, competition, and any local peculiarities or preferences.
Once you've confirmed there is an active market of the appropriate size, the next step should be drawing up a comprehensive budget. If the building to be converted is of any architectural or historical significance, the work may require specialized craftspeople and materials. Transforming a barn into a hospitable venue may necessitate extensive modifications such as the installation of restrooms, a bar area, and food preparation facilities. Additionally, ensuring convenient access to your venue along with nearby parking facilities for guest vehicles is key.
Source: madeinthemountainsphoto.com, Switzerland Tourism, Zephyr & Luna
Typically, wedding venues feature a raised platform within the main room or marquee to accommodate musicians. In the event of poor weather, this platform can also serve as an excellent location for the wedding ceremony. Therefore, make sure it has a romantic aspect, with good lighting and a reliable public address system. The latter will prove indispensable for delivering speeches during the reception.
The next step is obtaining a building permit from the relevant municipal or cantonal authorities before the conversion work begins. This is a demanding process that may include a public inquiry to gauge the response of neighbors, ensuring that the converted building will neither be a nuisance to them nor an aesthetic eyesore.
That said, if the project is deemed to have only a limited effect on neighboring properties and surroundings, an inquiry may not be required. Even then, the agreement of neighbors and compliance with local guidelines must be confirmed before a permit is issued.
Unless the conversion work is minor and straightforward, an architect or surveyor should be enlisted to prepare and present the various plans, material samples, technical data, forms, and other documentation needed for the permit application. These experts might be hired from the outset to ensure a good standard of work that is in compliance with all regulations governing buildings intended for public use.
While permits for smaller or less transformative projects that do not require a public inquiry may be issued in approximately a month, it’s best to plan for three to four months, or even longer, for more substantial or unconventional work, particularly that of a historic building akin to Tarasp Castle.
Permit fees vary depending on the canton or municipality but typically amount to no more than a few hundred francs. However, the cost will be significantly higher if the authority concerned requires additional due diligence such as an independent survey or an assessment of fire risks. The permit is valid for five years, but the required conversion work must start within three years.
Source: Stagend.com, Swiss Wedding Company
If the upfront costs seem daunting, one may consider developing the venue in stages. To start, the original property can serve as a service hub, housing essential facilities like the kitchen, restrooms, and other services. Meanwhile, a large marquee can provide the necessary covered space for guests to eat, drink, and dance. With one of the large marquees offered by numerous Swiss vendors (including, but not limited to, Tentickle Switzerland) either for purchase or rent, your venue can start earning enough to enable ongoing development of the venue within an affordable budget.
While making these plans, one should also form a company to develop and manage the entire project. Not only can this aid with taxation, but it also streamlines the operations of such a substantial venture, which requires lots of staff as well as an array of counterparties and service providers such as caterers, utilities, wedding planners, photographers, cleaners, and so on. All of that is more easily managed and accounted for within a corporate structure.
Having a company in place also facilitates potential partnerships for financing and operating the venue. Furthermore, a company provides the transparency and accountability that partners need, all while offering clarity over taxation.
The initial costs for setting up a company are relatively modest, starting at approximately CHF 10’000 for registration fees, accounts, and audits, among others. Considering the potential revenue of CHF 220’000 or much more – that the venue is poised to generate annually – this small investment should be well worth it once the business takes off.
The next step is obtaining a building permit from the relevant municipal or cantonal authorities before the conversion work begins. This is a demanding process that may include a public inquiry to gauge the response of neighbors, ensuring that the converted building will neither be a nuisance to them nor an aesthetic eyesore.
That said, if the project is deemed to have only a limited effect on neighboring properties and surroundings, an inquiry may not be required. Even then, the agreement of neighbors and compliance with local guidelines must be confirmed before a permit is issued.
Unless the conversion work is minor and straightforward, an architect or surveyor should be enlisted to prepare and present the various plans, material samples, technical data, forms, and other documentation needed for the permit application. These experts might be hired from the outset to ensure a good standard of work that is in compliance with all regulations governing buildings intended for public use.
While permits for smaller or less transformative projects that do not require a public inquiry may be issued in approximately a month, it’s best to plan for three to four months, or even longer, for more substantial or unconventional work, particularly that of a historic building akin to Tarasp Castle.
Permit fees vary depending on the canton or municipality but typically amount to no more than a few hundred francs. However, the cost will be significantly higher if the authority concerned requires additional due diligence such as an independent survey or an assessment of fire risks. The permit is valid for five years, but the required conversion work must start within three years.
With the permit secured, one is finally ready to start developing the project. While we won't delve into the specifics, it's crucial to emphasize the importance of maintaining a professional management culture and procedures. Doing so will not only foster positive relationships with contractors, partners, counterparties, and intermediaries but also contribute to the project's overall success.
Among many other considerations in that regard, the most important is marketing. Often overlooked until the last minute, marketing should actually be a top priority once the building permit is in hand. At that point, you should start engaging with so-called ‘wedding planners’. Let them know as much as possible about your venue, its location, and its and its distinguishing features. Hiring an expert in email marketing, website and brochure design, and other essential details will help you make sure that the venue is perceived as professionally managed and trustworthy.
In light of the foregoing, you should now understand that converting Swiss real estate into a wedding venue is quite the undertaking. The more painstaking the planning and execution, the greater your assurance of eventual success.
