Meine Zeremonie

Meine Zeremonie is the business of Lukas "Luggi" Grüninger, a freier Trauredner (independent wedding celebrant) based in Schaffhausen. He writes and leads religion-free wedding ceremonies, also offers naming ceremonies for children and farewells for the dead, and can act as master of ceremonies for the rest of the day. His tagline, in Swiss German, is «euer Trauredner mit Härz und Humor» (your celebrant with heart and humor). Unusually for a Swiss celebrant, his site publishes a price.

What the ceremony costs and covers

The FAQ is direct: "Grundsätzlich bekomme ich 2’400 CHF pauschal" (as a rule I charge a flat CHF 2,400), with some expenses added depending on the place and the date. The site does not break down those expenses, so a couple marrying some way from Schaffhausen should ask what they will be.

For that fee, he writes, you get a very committed celebrant who takes care of everything that concerns the ceremony: the technical side, which he always brings himself, the room or location, the seating, the band "und und und". The important part, in his words, is a very personal and cheerful ceremony. A ceremony normally lasts around 45 minutes, depending on music requests and surprises.

One testimonial suggests the length is flexible: Petra and Jonas write that theirs was the longest ceremony he had held and still felt as short as a fairy tale.

How it works, step by step

The "Vorgehen" section lays out the process:

• First contact. He can be reached "per WhatsApp, «Brieftuube», Telefon oder Email" (WhatsApp, carrier pigeon, phone or email), which gives a fair idea of his tone.
• Getting to know each other. After a couple gets in touch, they meet in person. He suggests somewhere comfortable, for example the couple's favorite restaurant or bar. If it is a match, the couple receives a written booking confirmation with everything agreed.
• The planning apéro. About 5 weeks before the ceremony they meet again over an apéro and settle how the couple imagines the ceremony. He writes that he looks forward to "Storys von besonderen Erlebnissen und kleinen Alltagsanekdoten" (stories of special experiences and small everyday anecdotes).
• Talking to the people close to them. He also speaks with the witnesses and loved ones, who, he says, can tell him plenty about the couple, including the small secrets.
• The day. He arrives in good time to set up. The music, the technical equipment and, if wanted, a live band are ready for the moment.

The couple decides which elements go into the ceremony. His ceremonies are religion-free, and he writes that rituals are gladly built in.

Beyond the ceremony

The FAQ adds that, drawing on long experience, he can serve as Tätschmaischter (the Swiss German term for the master of ceremonies at a wedding reception), organize entertainment such as live music or a DJ, and run games for guests. He can also supply tools such as a photo booth, a quiz show and other guest entertainment.

A section headed "Was es sonst noch braucht für eine Hochzeit" (what else a wedding needs) lists suppliers he recommends by name: a photo booth and a popcorn and soft-serve stand from LuckyEvent.ch, a bagpiper named Stephan who plays in a kilt, singer and DJ Flavia Zucca, balloon decorations from BallonHaus.ch, filmmaker Ricardo Palazzolo (Spixel.ch), a singer named Julia, the duo Kind a love it, and the photographer network Dein-Hochzeitsfotograf.ch. These are recommendations, not his own services, and each is booked separately.

He also answers a question many couples ask: can a freie Trauung take place in a church? Yes, he writes, if you find an open church, usually a Protestant one, that allows it, and the simplest route is to ask.

What past couples say

The references section is long, with around a dozen entries quoted. Recurring themes are the balance of humor and seriousness and how involved he gets. A few stand out for a couple weighing him up:

• A witness at the wedding of Giulia and Urs writes that he is an absolutely professional speaker who adapts his speech to the couple, and that the speech felt like one from a long-time friend. The witness adds that he was a huge organizational help to the witnesses.
• Jacqueline and Raphael write that their ceremony only went ahead because he stepped in spontaneously at short notice, and that everything was still prepared down to the last detail.
• Jacky and Chregu describe the ceremony as "überwältigend, emotional, in den richtigen Momenten lustig" (overwhelming, emotional, funny at the right moments).
• One couple canceled the wedding they had booked him for and married quietly at the registry office; one partner's sister then secretly booked him for the party afterward, where he led a ceremony in a forest setting without ever having met them beforehand.
• Petra and Jonas note, fondly, that he even tried the Appenzell dialect for them, with modest success.

The FAQ also offers references: he will pass a couple's inquiry on to 1 or 2 former couples who can answer questions.

What the site does not settle

• Language. The whole site is in German, with testimonials and some copy in Swiss German. It says nothing about ceremonies in English, French or Italian. A couple who needs an English ceremony, or a bilingual one, should ask before anything else.
• Travel area and expenses. The page gives his base in Schaffhausen and says expenses depend on place and date, but names no travel area or rates.
• Meetings from abroad. Both meetings described on the site are in person, and video calls are not mentioned. Couples who live abroad should ask whether the first meeting or the planning apéro can happen by video.
• Booking. The contact form asks for the wedding date and location, and notes that it is important to secure the date as early as possible. There is no stated lead time or deposit.

Contact details on the site: +41 79 404 75 84, info@MeineZeremonie.ch, Breitestieg 19, Schaffhausen, plus WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.

Who it suits

Meine Zeremonie suits German-speaking couples, or couples whose families are mainly German-speaking, who want a warm, funny, religion-free ceremony and like the idea of one person who also handles the sound and can run the evening. The published flat fee makes budgeting easier than with most celebrants, and the list of trusted suppliers is useful for couples building a team from scratch.

It is less obvious for an English-speaking couple, since the site offers no English, or for couples who cannot meet in person before the wedding, because both planning meetings he describes are face to face.