Alison Hourrier

Alison Hourrier is a wedding planner and officiant of secular ceremonies in French-speaking Switzerland. Her home page says she has worked with couples for several years, mainly in the cantons of Vaud, Valais, Fribourg and Neuchâtel; the footer on every page adds Bern and the Jura. Her business, called Un mariage à votre image (A Wedding in Your Image), combines two distinct services: professional wedding organization and the writing and delivery of personalized, non-religious ceremonies that reflect each couple's values and vision. This dual offering lets a couple engage one professional for both the logistical coordination of the wedding and the ceremonial and emotional center of the event itself.

Alison holds professional certifications in both domains. She is a certified wedding planner through the Wedding Academy, a training organization, receiving that certification in 2018. She is also certified as a wedding officiant by the same academy, and has completed additional training in wedding design. The Wedding Academy is described on her site as the first international school for training professionals in event organization, wedding services, and design. She notes that although she was already experienced in organization and planning before her formal training, she wanted formal certification to ensure she brought solid professional skills to her work.

The planning service offers couples several levels of engagement. The first is full organization from A to Z, in which Alison guides couples from initial concept through the wedding day itself and handles all vendor selection, coordination, and management. The second is partial organization, for couples who have already secured some of their suppliers but need help with the remaining elements and coordination. The third is day-of coordination, in which the couple handles their own planning but engages Alison to manage the day itself, which frees them to be present with guests and ensures a smooth flow of events. A further option, "Accompagnement et Conseils" (support and advice), is for couples who want to organize the wedding themselves but would like guidance to make sure nothing is forgotten.

The secular-ceremony service is the second pillar of the business. Alison's site explains that a secular ceremony, also called a ceremony of commitment ("cérémonie d'engagement"), "vient en complément du mariage civil" (comes in addition to the civil marriage) and lets a couple bring a more personal dimension to their union. It is an alternative to traditional religious ceremonies and can reflect each couple's individual values, beliefs, and vision. For this service, Alison offers two formats. The first, "Ecriture et Office" (writing and officiating), includes unlimited preparation meetings, a personally written ceremony, made-to-measure commitment rituals, exchanges with the people who will speak or perform and coordination of their parts, and Alison officiating on the day. The second, "Ecriture et Coaching" (writing and coaching), includes the same preparation, writing, rituals and coordination, but instead of officiating herself she coaches "votre proche officiant", the relative or friend the couple has chosen to lead the ceremony.

The site emphasizes that the ceremony consultation and preparation meetings are unlimited. This means a couple can work through multiple drafts, iterations, and discussions with Alison until they have a ceremony that truly reflects them. The ritual proposals are custom made for each couple rather than templates, and the ceremonies are described as being written to embody the couple's values and beliefs specifically.

Alison describes her own role and personality as important to her practice. She describes herself as "Pétillante, dynamique et surtout à l'écoute de vos envies" (sparkling, dynamic and above all attentive to your wishes), and she states her commitment to doing everything necessary to make a couple's wedding meet or exceed their expectations. She frames the planning work as an opportunity to reduce stress so that couples can fully enjoy the preparations and the day itself, rather than feeling overwhelmed. She offers a range of package options so couples can select the service level that fits their needs and budget, and she emphasizes the ability to customize the accompaniment based on each couple's preferences and financial situation.

Testimonials on the site provide perspective on the working relationship and outcomes. One couple, Sabrena and Matthias, note that choosing Alison was the best decision they made for their wedding. They credit her with significantly reducing the stress of preparation, helping them cut costs, and providing creative ideas they would not have thought of independently. They describe her as always available, creative, organized, and attentive. On the wedding day itself, they report everything flowed naturally without their needing to worry about logistics because of her efficiency. A second couple, Camille and Thomas, emphasize that Alison helped them make the day an enduring memory and that she guided them carefully through their wishes for decoration and ceremony design. They describe her as kind, helpful, hardworking and "impliquée à 100%" (100% involved), and credit her advice and event management with taking a weight off their shoulders. They write that planning was fun and stress-free thanks to her, and that the day went without a hitch. A third couple, Elise and David, describe the time spent preparing their secular ceremony with her as caring and attentive, and say she created something that felt like them.

The site does not publish a price list or package rates. Couples are invited to contact Alison with details of their planned wedding (the date, the service desired, and their vision), and she responds to arrange an initial consultation that is free and without obligation. The About page says she offers made-to-measure support according to the couple's wishes and budget, but no figures are given.

The site is published in French, and the testimonials are in French. The site does not say whether she works in English. Her site describes her service area as French-speaking Switzerland (Suisse romande), and the cantons she names are all in that region. An international couple whose primary language is English should contact Alison to confirm whether she can communicate and provide planning and ceremony services in English. This is an essential question for non-French-speaking couples before booking.

Alison Hourrier's practice suits couples who want both expert planning and a deeply personalized ceremony that reflects their identity. It suits couples who want a personal ceremony alongside the civil wedding, outside a religious setting, and couples who want a relative or friend to lead the ceremony with professional help. It is appropriate for couples throughout French-speaking Switzerland and for destination weddings across that region. The dual service offering is valuable for couples who want continuity, since one professional understands both the logistics and the emotional and ceremonial vision. For English-speaking couples or those uncomfortable relying solely on French communication, confirming language capabilities in the initial contact is necessary.