Marrying in Interlaken & Bernese Oberland
Interlaken lies on the flat valley floor between the Thunersee and the Brienzersee, the two lakes that drain the Bernese Oberland toward the Aare. The name means between the lakes. To the south stand the Eiger (3,967 metres), the Mönch (4,107 metres) and the Jungfrau (4,158 metres), a wall of snow and rock above the green floor.
A grand hotel in the centre of town has defined the destination for over 150 years. Built in 1865, it has a ballroom with mountain views, extensive grounds and an alpine spa. A ceremony on its garden with all three peaks behind the couple is the defining image of an Interlaken wedding.
The Bernese Oberland reaches into well-known mountain villages. Grindelwald lies below the north face of the Eiger, and Wengen and Mürren are car-free villages above the Lauterbrunnen valley. For couples ready to manage altitude logistics, they offer what the valley floor cannot.
The seasons
- Best
- Shoulder
- Peak
- Quieter
5 Star view Our reading of the wedding year, from the months below.
- Best months
- June, July, September
- Shoulder season
- June, September, October
- Peak season
- July, August
The valley floor is reliably good from May to October, and the mountain villages have a longer viable outdoor season because of their elevation. July and August are busiest, and September is often the most settled. In winter the mountain villages are busy with skiing, while Interlaken town is quieter and suits indoor wedding weekends.
Daylight and sunset
The bar runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month. A ceremony is usually timed an hour or two before the sunset shown.
Calculated From the coordinates of Interlaken & Bernese Oberland, local time, for 2027.
Ramadan and Eid
For couples and guests who observe them, the dates to plan a wedding around.
| Year | Ramadan | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 8 Feb to 8 Mar | 9 Mar | 16 May |
| 2028 | 28 Jan to 25 Feb | 26 Feb | 5 May |
Calculated From the Umm al-Qura calendar. The observed dates follow the sighting of the moon and can fall a day either side.
The areas of Interlaken & Bernese Oberland
Interlaken town
The valley-floor hub, anchored by the grand hotel, whose south garden faces the Jungfrau directly on flat ground. The Höheweg promenade runs through the town gardens, and restaurants and transport links make it the most practical base for a large party.
Grindelwald
A village at 1,034 metres directly below the Eiger's north face, which looms overhead. It suits couples who want the mountains immediate rather than merely visible.
Wengen
A car-free village at 1,274 metres, reached by cog railway from Lauterbrunnen. The valley below is lined with 72 waterfalls, including the Staubbachfall that Goethe wrote about.
Schynige Platte and high-alpine settings
At 1,987 metres, the Alpine Garden looks over the three peaks and down to both lakes. A private evening ceremony is reached by the historic rack railway from Wilderswil.
What venues are like
Grand hotel and mountain garden
A ceremony on the south garden, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau behind the couple, needs no extra dressing because the scale of the mountains does the work.
Mountain village ceremony
Hotel terraces in Grindelwald and Wengen put the mountains closer than at valley level, with the Eiger's north face overhead or the Lauterbrunnen valley falling away below.
High-alpine event
The Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres, the highest railway station in Europe, has a viewing terrace and a basic hotel, with the Aletsch Glacier below. Guests need a careful briefing on temperature, altitude and the long train journey.
Lake Thun and Brienz events
The lakes offer boat charters and castles. Schloss Oberhofen on Lake Thun, a 13th-century castle, is available for event hire, and Schloss Spiez is a further castle on the same lake.
Airports and transfers
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) Direct flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham. Interlaken Ost station is the arrival point for connections to Grindelwald, Wengen and the Jungfrau railway.
- Geneva Airport (GVA) Direct flights from all major UK airports. The Golden Pass Panoramic Express from Montreux is a slower, scenic alternative.
- Bern Airport (BRN) International routes are limited and some UK services are seasonal, so Bern is not the main gateway for most groups.
Bern Airport has limited international routes. Zurich Airport is the main gateway, with a direct scenic train through the Swiss midlands.
Marrying legally in Switzerland
A preparatory procedure at a Swiss civil registry office is mandatory before the civil ceremony. Both spouses appear in person, foreign nationals must show they are lawfully in Switzerland, and the original civil-status documents must not be older than six months.
- 1About six months before, as a planning guide
Open the preparatory procedure
Apply at the civil registry office of the domicile of either spouse, or at the Swiss representation abroad if you live outside Switzerland. Both spouses must appear in person and declare that they meet the legal conditions, with proof of identity and original documents no older than six months; photocopies are not accepted. Foreign documents may need apostille or legalisation.
- 2When the procedure is closed
Receive the go-ahead
A non-Swiss spouse must be able to show lawful residence in Switzerland during the procedure (Civil Code art. 98). A spouse who needs a visa for the stay checks with the Swiss representation in their country.
- 3The day
The civil ceremony
Held at a civil registry office. A religious ceremony has no legal effect on its own.
- Preparatory procedure
- mandatory
- Appearance
- both spouses in person
- Documents
- originals, no older than 6 months
- Lawful stay
- non-Swiss spouses must show it
Already married at home?5 Star view
Only the civil ceremony has legal effect. Many couples marry in their own country and hold the celebration here. A ceremony with no legal effect needs none of the steps above: the venue and the planner arrange it.
Who needs a visa
Travelling from the United States
American citizens visit Switzerland without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules, which Switzerland applies. The European Union's ETIAS travel authorisation will be required of visa-exempt visitors, Americans included, once it is operating; it is not yet operating and no start date has been announced.
Travelling from the United Kingdom
British passport holders visit Switzerland without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen area. The passport must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. The European Union's Entry/Exit System registers fingerprints and a photograph at the border on a first visit.
Other nationalities
EU and EEA nationals need no visa. Other nationalities check with the Swiss embassy or consulate in their country. A non-Swiss spouse planning to live in Switzerland after the wedding may need a visa and a residence permit.
Reference Swiss Civil Code art. 98 (as reproduced on droit-bilingue.ch), read 2026-10-21. Swiss Embassy in Washington (eda.admin.ch): marriage to be performed in Switzerland, read 2026-10-21. gov.uk: Switzerland entry requirements, read 2026-10-21. Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu), read 2026-10-21. Checked 21 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the authority that will marry you before you book.
Accommodation
Valley floor hotels are the most accessible. Mountain village hotels need the cog railway but give an immersive mountain stay.
At the table
Bernese cooking is hearty and cheese-forward. The valley floor has the widest range of restaurants, and the mountain villages have fewer but often excellent options.
Rösti and Bernese Platte
Rösti, crisp outside and tender inside, appears at almost every restaurant. The Berner Platte of smoked meats, sausages, sauerkraut and beans is the classic winter dish.
Grand hotel dining
The grand hotel's restaurant has a serious wine list and develops wedding menus with the couple. Its bakery makes bread daily on site.
Cheese and the Emmental connection
The Emmental valley is the origin of Emmental cheese, and specialist dairies supply other Bernese cheeses for a dinner presentation.
Local produce from the valley
Farms produce summer berries, alpine honey and dried meat specialities, and a local element is increasingly standard at quality events.
What planners tell couples
Currency: Swiss Franc
Card payment is universal, and euros are accepted at many tourist venues.
Mountain logistics for guests
Wengen and Mürren need a cog railway transfer from the valley. Large suitcases can be forwarded by the goods service, so guests should pack day bags. A missed connection is quickly corrected by the next service.
Altitude considerations
Interlaken at 567 metres has no altitude effects, and Grindelwald and Wengen bring none for most guests. At the Jungfraujoch altitude sickness affects some visitors, and guests with heart or respiratory conditions should consult a doctor.
Legal ceremony
The civil registry office, the Zivilstandsamt, in Interlaken or Grindelwald handles legal marriages of non-Swiss nationals. Most couples complete the legal marriage at home.
Language
The region is German-speaking, with a local dialect called Berndütsch. Hospitality staff speak English.
Weather and mountain visibility
The three peaks are often in cloud in the afternoon, with cloud typically building from the south after midday in summer. The photographer and planner should be briefed on the best morning window.
