Freie Trauung Chur

Freie Trauung Chur is a small team in Chur, Graubünden, that leads free (non-church) wedding ceremonies with live music. Nadja Estermann writes and leads the ceremony, and Shane Brady provides the music; the site's banner sums it up as «Zeremonie | Gitarre | Gesang» (ceremony, guitar, singing). They also offer vow renewals and music for the aperitif and the party afterward. For a couple marrying in Graubünden, the unusual point is language: the ceremony can be held in Romansh as well as in German, and translated into English on request.

What the team offers

The homepage lists three services:

• Persönliche Gestaltung der Zeremonie, inkl. Musik: a personally designed ceremony, including music.
• JA-Wort erneuern: renewing your vows, also with music.
• Musik für Apéro und Fest: music for the aperitif and the celebration.

The offer page adds a fourth line, «Zeremonie in Deutsch und Romanisch», a ceremony in German and Romansh.

The site's short description, used as its summary for search engines, states the team's aim for every couple: to make possible a PERSONAL ceremony with suitable music, and to be OPEN, «unabhängig von Konfession oder Nicht-Konfession, unabhängig von Geschlecht und Kultur» (regardless of denomination or none, regardless of gender and culture). Couples of different faiths, of no faith, same-sex couples and couples from different cultures are all named as welcome.

The offer page describes the approach in two sentences. «Eine freie Zeremonie bietet die Möglichkeit, individuell, persönlich und offen zu gestalten was zu jedem Paar passt» (a free ceremony offers the chance to shape what suits each couple individually, personally and openly). And the team says its strength lies in finding out what is right and supporting how wishes can be put into practice.

Nadja Estermann, ceremony

Nadja Estermann leads the ceremonies. The offer page lists her languages as Schweizerdeutsch, Deutsch and Romanisch: Swiss German, Standard German and Romansh. It adds: «Auf Wunsch besteht auch die Möglichkeit, dass die Zeremonie auf Englisch übersetzt wird» (on request, the ceremony can also be translated into English).

That wording matters for a couple from abroad. The page does not say that Nadja leads ceremonies in English, only that the ceremony can be translated into English. Whether that means a written translation for guests, a bilingual ceremony, or a second speaker is not explained, so it is the first thing to clarify.

She is also the contact for inquiries: the page says she takes requests and coordinates both the ceremony speech and the music.

Shane Brady, music

Shane Brady sings and plays guitar. His songs are in German or English, and the page is explicit that there is no Swiss German («Lieder in Deutsch (kein Schweizerdeutsch) oder Englisch»). He helps couples choose the songs. The banner's «Gitarre | Gesang» sets the format: live guitar and voice, the kind of music that works at a small outdoor ceremony as well as indoors, rather than a band or a DJ. English songs are an easy way to include guests who do not speak German.

Couples who want only music, without a ceremony speech, or who want musical accompaniment during the aperitif or the party, are asked to contact Shane directly rather than going through Nadja.

How to book and what it costs

The site gives one contact: Nadja Estermann, phone ++41 78 843 31 90 and email nadja.estermann@gmail.com. There is also a "Kontaktier uns" (contact us) link. Under the heading "Kosten" the offer page says the team is glad to put together a quote for your individual needs; there is no price list. A link labeled "Was kostet es?" (what does it cost?) appears on the offer page, but no figures are given there.

The menu also lists a team page, a page called "Eindrücke & Abdrücke" (impressions and imprints) and "Unsere Empfehlungen" (our recommendations). The copyright line dates the site to 2021.

Language, in short

For couples planning from abroad, the language picture is:

• the site itself is in German only;
• the ceremony can be led in Swiss German, German or Romansh;
• the ceremony can be translated into English on request;
• the songs can be in German or English.

A couple who want the whole ceremony spoken in English should ask whether that is possible or whether translation is the only English option. For a couple with Romansh-speaking family, a ceremony in that language is offered outright.

Putting together a first inquiry

Because the team works from a quote and Nadja coordinates both the speech and the music, one message can cover everything. The offer page's structure suggests what to include: whether you want the ceremony with music, a vow renewal, or music only for the aperitif and party (the last goes to Shane directly); which languages you need for the speech (Swiss German, German or Romansh) and whether guests need the English translation; and whether songs should be in German or English. Add the date, the place and a rough guest count, and ask for the quote to show the ceremony and the music separately, so you can see what each part costs.

What the site does not settle

The site publishes no prices. It does not say where the team travels: it is named after Chur, but no region, radius or travel fee is given, so a ceremony in a mountain village or on an alp is a question to ask. It does not describe how the ceremony is prepared (how many meetings, whether they can be held by video call), how long a ceremony lasts, or how far ahead to book. It does not say whether Shane brings his own sound equipment for an outdoor ceremony, which matters on a meadow or at a mountain venue without power.

Who it suits

Freie Trauung Chur suits couples marrying in or around Chur who want a free ceremony with live music from the same team, and in particular couples who want German or Romansh at the center of the ceremony. The open stance on faith, gender and culture is stated plainly, and English songs plus an English translation make it workable for a mixed-language wedding.

It suits less well a couple who need the entire ceremony spoken in English, or who want to compare prices before making contact. Call or email Nadja with the date, place and languages, and ask how the English translation works in practice.