Wedding planning at the Wenkenhof and Volkshaus Basel
As wedding planners, every year we accompany couples with very different concepts – from full wedding planning to coordination on the wedding day. This international wedding in Basel was something very special for us. The couple planned their celebration themselves with lots of love for detail and entrusted us with the professional support and coordination of their wedding day. This way they could relax and enjoy their dream wedding while we, as experienced wedding planners, kept an eye on all processes, vendors and timings.
The wedding took the guests to two extraordinary venues in Basel: the historic Wenkenhof with its impressive riding hall, and the stylish Volkshaus Basel. The combination of an elegant garden setting, international flair and urban design made this celebration a perfect example of what individual wedding planning can look like.
The international atmosphere of the day was particularly lovely. The couple and many of the guests came from different countries, so communication was mostly in English. As wedding planners with experience in international weddings and weddings abroad, we were able to liaise easily between everyone involved and make sure all guests felt welcome and well looked after at all times.
Whether a symbolic ceremony, a destination wedding or a classic wedding in Switzerland – careful planning of the wedding day turns many individual ideas into a cohesive overall experience. That is exactly what professional wedding planning is about: creating structure, coordinating details and giving couples the freedom to enjoy their special day to the full.
Indian wedding at the Wenkenhof Basel
A Hindu wedding between tradition, family and international flair at the Wenkenhof
The emotional heart of the wedding day was the traditional Hindu wedding at the Wenkenhof in Basel. For the ceremony, the historic Wenkenhof riding hall was transformed into a place full of colours, rituals and meaningful moments. Together with family and friends from different countries, a unique atmosphere emerged that connected the couple’s cultural roots with their international life.
Originally, the ceremony was planned under the large tree in the gardens of the Villa Wenkenhof. The extensive grounds of the Wenkenhof offer an impressive backdrop and are among the most beautiful places for a wedding in Basel. On the day itself, the ceremony finally took place in the Wenkenhof riding hall – an atmospheric setting that gave the traditional elements of the Hindu wedding a special effect.
At its centre was a classically designed mandap, decorated with white fabrics and bright orange marigolds. The strong colours of the bridal outfit, the floral details and the traditional rituals made the ceremony an impressive experience – not only for the couple’s families but also for many international guests who were witnessing a Hindu wedding for the first time.
An international wedding in particular shows how important professional wedding planning and clear communication are. As both the couple and many guests spoke English, we as wedding day coordinators were able to guide everyone confidently through the day and liaise between vendors, guests and families. The result was a smooth flow in which everyone could concentrate fully on the meaning of the ceremony.
The combination of Indian traditions, a personal story and the special setting of the Wenkenhof Basel made this wedding an impressive example of how individual wedding planning can bring cultural diversity and personal wishes together harmoniously.
Tradition meets joie de vivre
The baraat: an extraordinary wedding entrance at the Wenkenhof Basel
At a Hindu wedding, the celebration often begins long before the actual ceremony. A special highlight is the so-called baraat – the groom’s traditional wedding entrance. Unlike a classic church entrance, the focus here is on shared anticipation: family and friends accompany the groom on his way to the ceremony with music, dancing and an exuberant mood.
Of course, the baraat could not be missing at this Indian wedding at the Wenkenhof Basel either. Even before the ceremony began, a special atmosphere emerged as the guests gathered around the historic Wenkenhof riding hall. Music played an important role, creating an emotional and at the same time energetic start. While many couples search for songs for the wedding entrance, music for the wedding entrance or special ideas for their entrance, the baraat shows a very distinctive cultural interpretation of this moment.
The combination of tradition, community and joie de vivre made this wedding entrance one of the most impressive moments of the day. For many international guests, it was their first encounter with a Hindu wedding and its centuries-old rituals.
At international celebrations in particular, we as wedding planners see again and again how enriching different cultures can be for the design of a wedding. The baraat created the perfect transition to the ceremony that followed and made it clear right from the start how personal and individual modern wedding planning can be today.
Traditions with meaning
The mehndi ceremony: artful henna patterns before the wedding
An important part of many Indian weddings is the traditional mehndi ceremony, during which artful henna patterns are applied to the bride’s hands and arms. The delicate decorations are considered a symbol of happiness, love and prosperity and accompany the bride on her way into marriage.
The mehndi ceremony often takes place a few days before the actual wedding and is celebrated together with family and friends. Music, dancing and time together make it one of the most emotional moments of a Hindu wedding.
At this German-Indian wedding in Basel, the connection between the two cultures also played a special role. Traditional Indian wedding rituals were harmoniously combined with modern elements, creating a unique wedding experience for the couple and their guests.
For us as wedding planners, it is exactly this combination of different traditions that is particularly exciting. At international and multicultural weddings, we make sure that cultural customs are implemented authentically and at the same time integrated seamlessly into the whole wedding day.
DRINKS RECEPTION AT THE WENKENHOF BASEL
Apéro, wedding cake and relaxed transitions after the ceremony
After the ceremony at the Wenkenhof, the celebration continued right there. For the couple and their guests this meant short distances, a relaxed flow and the chance to enjoy the special moment together without interruption.
At the apéro at the Wenkenhof Basel that followed, the guests came together in a relaxed atmosphere. As congratulations were exchanged and the first souvenir photos were taken, family and friends could get in the mood for the rest of the wedding day with refreshing drinks and fine canapés.
A special highlight followed shortly after the drinks reception: cutting the wedding cake together. In front of the historic backdrop of the Wenkenhof, it became a beautiful moment that symbolised the union of the two cultures and the beginning of the shared celebration.
Especially at a German-Indian wedding in Switzerland, a well-planned schedule is particularly important. When the ceremony, apéro, group photos and wedding cake can all take place in one location, both the couple and the guests benefit from a relaxed timeline and smooth transitions between the different parts of the day.
As experienced wedding planners, we therefore make sure already during the planning phase that venues not only look great but also work perfectly in logistical terms for the whole wedding day.
TRANSFER TO THE DINNER VENUE
In a red London double-decker bus from the Wenkenhof to the Volkshaus in Basel
After the drinks reception, the congratulations and cutting the cake at the Wenkenhof, the guests moved on to the evening venue. For the transfer between ceremony and dinner, the couple had come up with something very special: a classic red London double-decker bus.
The bus took the wedding party from the Wenkenhof to the Volkshaus Basel, where the dinner and the party afterwards took place. Transfers like this not only ensure a smooth flow but often become a special experience for the guests in their own right.
As we acted as wedding day coordinators at this German-Indian wedding, the couple planned the wedding themselves. In the months before the wedding, however, we were on hand with advice and recommendations on the schedule, logistics and timing. On the wedding day itself we then made sure that all parts of the programme flowed seamlessly into one another and that the different vendors worked together perfectly.
At a wedding with several venues, careful coordination is especially important. Whether guest transfers, time management or coordination between ceremony, drinks reception and dinner – professional wedding coordination ensures that the couple and their guests can relax and enjoy the day.
Arrival at the Volkshaus Basel
The perfect transition from drinks reception to dinner
After the emotional ceremony and the drinks reception at the Wenkenhof, everyone made their way to the Volkshaus Basel, where the evening continued in a relaxed atmosphere. Arriving in the green courtyard already showed how important careful wedding planning is for the entire wedding day. For the guests, the switch between the two venues felt completely natural, and the day could continue to flow without interruption.
At a wedding with several venues, detailed organisation is crucial. As wedding planners, we know that not only the travel times but also guest management, vendor coordination and the right moment for entering the next venue have to be perfectly coordinated. These are exactly the processes that make up professional planning of the wedding day and ensure that the couple can focus entirely on their guests.
Whether as wedding planners for weddings abroad, for weddings over several days or for classic celebrations – a harmonious transition between the parts of the day is one of the factors that make a wedding feel particularly high-quality for guests.
Thoughtful design as the heart of successful wedding planning
A wedding concept that stylishly united two cultures
The dinner concept relied on modern elegance while leaving enough room for the couple’s personality. Long tables, high-quality flower arrangements, warm lighting and deliberately placed colour accents created an atmosphere that looked stylish without being overloaded. The strong orange tones in particular picked up the colour palette of the whole wedding and created a harmonious common thread.
As wedding planners, we see again and again that it is not the amount of decoration that makes the impression, but a cohesive overall concept. That is why, for every wedding planning project, we develop individual concepts in which florals, stationery, lighting, furniture and room design are perfectly coordinated.
If you want to plan a wedding, you will benefit in particular from a clear design concept. It is exactly this love of detail that ultimately makes the difference between a nice celebration and a wedding day with real recognition value.
Dinner at the Volkshaus Basel
Good food, encounters and shared memories
The dinner marked the start of the relaxed part of the evening. Between candlelight, stylishly laid tables and an excellent menu, exactly the atmosphere many couples wish for their wedding emerged: informal, warm-hearted and full of shared conversations.
At international weddings or weddings bringing different cultures together, the most beautiful encounters often happen during dinner. Families and friends get to know each other, stories are exchanged and two communities become one big family. It is exactly these moments that make a wedding day unforgettable.
Even though we accompanied this wedding as wedding day coordinators and did not take on the full planning, this day shows beautifully how valuable professional support on the wedding day is. While the couple enjoyed the evening, the schedule, vendor coordination and all organisational processes continued to run in the background. That is exactly the goal of professional wedding planning – so that the couple can focus on what this day is really about.
A wedding full of emotions, traditions and unforgettable moments
Every wedding tells its very own story – but weddings where different cultures, families and traditions come together touch us in a very special way every time. This German-Indian wedding impressively showed how beautiful it can be to combine cultural rituals with modern ideas and create a wedding day that is authentic, personal and full of emotion.
As wedding planners and wedding planners for weddings abroad, we experience again and again how enriching it is to get to know new traditions and develop individual concepts together with our couples. It is exactly this diversity that makes every wedding planning project unique and ensures that no two weddings are alike.
We are incredibly grateful to have been part of this special wedding day and to have accompanied it as wedding day coordinators. Moments like these remind us every time why we love our work as a wedding planning agency so much: bringing people, cultures and stories together and creating memories that last a lifetime.
If you would like to plan your own dream wedding – whether in Germany, Switzerland or as a wedding abroad – we will accompany you with lots of experience, love for detail and planning that suits you and your story perfectly.
Helping Hands
All the vendors who made this wedding happen
Without these vendors, this beautiful wedding would not have been possible.
Thank you for the wonderful collaboration – we highly recommend checking out these vendors.
Julia & Evita
rockwedding
awina
Wenkenhof
Volkshaus Basel
Irina Petri
vonRock Events
Khatarnak Dholi
Veena Zürich
Eliano Davide
