Our 5 Star Trip To Switzerland – discovering hidden wedding venue gems
Take 14 wedding industry experts and fly them to Switzerland for five days. Show them the spectacular sights and nearly 20 potential wedding venues and feed them the finest Swiss cuisine. It all sounds too good to be true, but earlier this year, I was treated to a trip to Switzerland with ‘Say Yes in Switzerland’, and I have to say, I was truly blown away.
To have spent this unique experience with 14 of the world’s best wedding experts was an honour, with shared knowledge and advice is what a good fam trip is all about., now let me continue.
Switzerland is a stunning country with beautiful hills, sparkling lakes and bustling cities. With excellent environmental credentials and commitment to sustainability, it would be an absolute dream wedding destination. With Regina from the Swiss Tourist Board as our guide, we were in the best hands to see all that Switzerland had to offer.
There is such a diverse range of hotels to choose from, and after a relaxed one and half hour flight from Heathrow with Swiss Air Line followed by a comfortable ride with SBB train, we arrived at Resort Collina d’Oro in Lugano, where we were staying. With panoramic views over Lake Lugano and across the Alps, this was a breathtaking start to our stay.
Resort Collina d’Oro
After checking in, we were given time to explore the fantastic hotel facilities and spa before meeting up with the other members of the group and the Ticio Tourism team. The resort has an exclusive location and includes a 5-star restaurant, SPA, a fitness centre and meeting rooms.
Day one’s highlight was sampling some excellent food and relaxing in the outdoor swimming pool under a glorious sunny sky.
Day two in Ticino
The following day saw us visit four unique hotels; The 5 Star Hotel Villa Orselina in Locarno, with its exquisite views over Lake Maggiore; Hotel Villa Emden, Brissago Islands, with green and leafy surroundings and more excellent views over the lake; Hotel Splendide Royal in Lugano, over 130 years old, with its own unique art nouveau charm and mountain views; and Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola in Lugano, a five-star hotel built in 1880, boasting a sub-tropical park.
Hotel Villa Orselina
Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola
My day two highlight was taking in the beauty of the views over Lake Maggiore. It would be incredible to hold a wedding on an island; I love the idea of a romantic, intimate celebration at Hotel Villa Emden, with ten double rooms for you and your guests.
Day three in Ticino and Lucerne
With gorgeous sunny weather, we were off to see more hotels. Day two treated us to a wine tasting at the new wine cellar at Castello di Morcote, built by the dukes of Milan in the 15th century. Villa Principe Leopoldo in Lugano was next on the list, once a stately home with breathtaking views of the city, the lake and the surrounding mountains.
