M stands for marvellous wedding

Nathalie Lüdi, what was the most extravagant wedding you have ever organised?
I remember one extraordinary wedding where the bride and groom pulled out all the stops. Flowers and candles adorned the whole place. It really was quite wonderful. We also once organised a very atmospheric celebration in winter, where we served fondue outdoors.

Do bridal couples ever have unusual requests?
Yes. Some would like to arrive by helicopter. Unfortunately, that's not possible. The Gurten is a local recreational area. Not even cars are allowed on the site.

Is organising weddings a stressful job?
We organise about thirty weddings a year – and sometimes up to three in one day! So our event team and chefs know exactly what to do. As we're often contacted by the bride and groom a year in advance, we have plenty of time to plan everything down to the last detail.

Have weddings ever been cancelled at short notice because someone got cold feet at the last minute?
Fortunately not! However, some weddings had to be postponed, especially during the Covid pandemic. Either gatherings were simply prohibited or the couples didn't want to put their guests at any risk.

Do you sometimes develop special relationships with the bridal couples?
Yes. After all, part of our job is to reassure them. We often receive thank-you cards after a wedding. I'm always very happy when I see couples come back and book one of the hotel rooms on the Gurten to celebrate their wedding anniversary - sometimes even requesting a cot for a baby.

What are the current wedding trends?
At the moment, many bridal couples prefer simple celebrations to more ostentatious ones. Because we have a wide variety of rooms at our disposal – from a rustic wooden barn to a glazed pavilion and old vaulted cellars – we can cater to every wish and put up all sorts of different decorations.

Would you want to get married here yourself?
No. But for one good reason only – because I work here. If that weren't the case, I would definitely consider it. The views of Bern are breathtaking. And although we're in the middle of the countryside, the town is easily accessible.

All you need to know about the Park im Grünen at the Gurten