Iris Emini

Iris Emini is a celebrant (Zeremonienleiterin) who writes and leads free, non-religious wedding ceremonies and farewell ceremonies under the name Lieblingsmensch Zeremonie. Born in Chur in 1988 and trained as a social pedagogue, she holds her ceremonies in Bündnerdütsch, the Swiss German dialect of Graubünden. Her wedding page publishes a flat price and a clear list of what it covers.

Where exactly she is based needs a word of explanation. The homepage title carries an address at Grunbergweg 6 in Chur, while every page footer reads «Murg, St. Gallen», and her travel costs are measured from Murg.

From pastry kitchen to ceremonies

Her about page tells a winding story. She trained as a pastry chef and confectioner, and admits she still cannot resist chocolate bunnies, marzipan or Black Forest cake. But she noticed that «meine Highlights des Tages waren selten die perfekt dekorierte Hochzeitstorte oder neue Dessertkreation» (the highlights of my day were seldom the perfectly decorated wedding cake or a new dessert creation); they were the moments with people. So she spent 10 years serving guests in a traditional bar in Chur and one of the city's best-known cafés. When that contact still felt too superficial, she began training as a social pedagogue in 2015.

She came to ceremonies while preparing her own wedding: looking for a celebrant, she kept finding courses for the role. She had seen several free ceremonies and liked their lightness and range. She also helped shape a large part of the farewell ceremony for her father, who died suddenly at 53, and writes that it showed her how much a fitting farewell matters. His free farewell ceremony, she says, was beautiful, moving and touched with a certain lightness, and since then she has been sure: «Wenn man schon Abschied nehmen muss, dann so» (if you have to say goodbye, then like this). She has been with her own «Lieblingsmensch» (favorite person) for over 20 years.

She describes herself in a list: celebrant, social pedagogue, water rat, hiker, campfire fan, listener, creative, energetic, open, warm, uncomplicated and humorous. Away from work she likes being among all kinds of people, whether at a barbecue, swimming in the Crestasee or chatting with strangers on the other side of the world. She was also a guest on the podcast "Momäntufnahm" by Gabriel Marty.

Her approach

The wedding page opens with a playful line to couples who have come through ups and downs together and love each other «mit allen Ecken und Kanten» (with all your rough edges), adding that it is fine if the socks next to the laundry basket still annoy. The aim, she writes, is a ceremony «mit Gänsehaut und Freudentränen, mit Humor und Tiefgang - genau so, wie sie zu euch passt» (with goosebumps and tears of joy, with humor and depth, exactly as it suits you).

On the homepage she promises no off-the-peg ceremonies: the tension should hold you, the odd smile should cross your lips, and above all it should fit you. The about page ends with a short checklist. She is right for you, she says, if you are planning a ceremony without religious reference, want something very personal, value lightness and humor, want to enjoy a ceremony in "Bündnerdütsch", and are looking for an open, uncomplicated, warm celebrant.

The four steps

1. Kennenlernen. After the first contact, a no-obligation meeting over coffee and cake or by video call, to see whether you get on and what you already have in mind.
2. Gestaltungsgespräch. A meeting in person to work out the ceremony in detail. She says she looks forward to your stories so she can weave from them «den Stoff für eure persönliche und unvergessliche Zeremonie» (the material for your personal ceremony).
3. Vorbereitung. While you organize the last details, she writes the speech.
4. Zeremonie. On the day she accompanies you «mit berührenden Worten und bewegenden Ritualen» (with touching words and moving rituals).

Price and travel

The wedding ceremony costs a flat CHF 2200. The price includes a detailed planning meeting of about 3 to 4 hours, a detailed running order, the individually written ceremony, contact by email, WhatsApp and phone during the preparation, sound equipment (a speaker and 2 microphones), leading the ceremony, and your speech in written form as a keepsake. The first meeting is free and without obligation.

Travel is charged at CHF 0.70 per km, with no travel costs for ceremonies within 50 km of Murg. The page also invites couples who want to exchange a promise of love, renew their marriage or mark a wedding anniversary.

Recommendations

A menu section, "Empfehlungen", points to suppliers in five areas: photography, music, make-up, floristry and locations. The locations page lists two venues with their own descriptions and contact details:

• Grotto Fläscher Bad, Badguot 2, 7306 Fläsch, in the Bündner Herrschaft among mountains and vineyards, with a monthly menu built on local and seasonal produce and an outside catering service; ideal for a maximum of 65 guests.
• Kurhaus Lenzerheide, Voa Principala 40, 7078 Lenzerheide, where venue hire is always included and couples can choose a different space for each part of the day (an outdoor aperitif in the park, dinner in the Salon Rouge, a party in the wine cellar, or everything in the main hall). Guests can stay in the hotel. Ideal for 60 to 120 guests.

These are venues she recommends; she does not run them, and the page does not say whether she has held ceremonies there.

What the site does not settle

The site does not say whether she leads ceremonies in English, Standard German or any language other than Bündnerdütsch. It does not give the number of ceremonies she has led, how far ahead to book, or whether the in-person design meeting can be replaced by a video call for couples living abroad. It does not list prices for vow renewals or farewell ceremonies on the wedding page.

Who she suits

Iris Emini suits couples marrying in eastern Switzerland, particularly in Graubünden or within 50 km of Murg, who want a warm, humorous, non-religious ceremony in Graubünden dialect and like knowing the price in advance. Her recommendation pages are a useful starting point for couples still looking for a venue near Chur.

For a couple from abroad, language is the main question: her site presents the dialect as part of the appeal, and says nothing about English.