At heart, I’ve always been a writer and storyteller – and that is still a huge part of what I bring to every ceremony. I used to say I wasn’t a romantic but planning my own wedding taught me something important: romance and kitsch are not the same thing and that realisation eventually led me here. I studied journalism and communication, I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember, and becoming a celebrant allowed me to bring storytelling, people and weddings together in a way I never expected. After almost 300 ceremonies, one belief has only grown stronger: the ceremony is the heartbeat of a wedding day. It’s where a group of individual guests becomes a community, where promises are spoken aloud, and where everyone is given a reason to feel something together…”
Simone Gori, Wedding Celebrant, Founder of LOVELY WORDS
Simone Gori is a wedding celebrant and the founder of LOVELY WORDS, based near Zurich, Switzerland. Simone specialises in highly personalised wedding ceremonies and elopements for refined romantics across the country and wherever love takes her around the world. Alongside her work as a celebrant, she is also the Editor-in-Chief of a Swiss wedding magazine. Simone is placed in our TOP 10 2026 series dedicated to those who excel in the luxury weddings sector…
C&B: “Simone – huge congratulations on appearing on the CITY & BEACH TOP 10 INTERNATIONAL CELEBRANTS 2026! How long have you been acting as a celebrant and how involved are you with others in the luxury wedding sector?”
SG: “I’ve been a professional wedding celebrant since 2015 and have now officiated around 280 ceremonies. Most of my weddings take place in Switzerland, from lakeside hotels and private estates to mountain locations, but I also love destination weddings, especially around the Mediterranean. I’m a member of RSVP, the international community for the luxury wedding and event industry, and I regularly attend their events across Europe. I’m also a board member of the Swiss Association for Independent Wedding Celebrants and a member of the Swiss Queer Wedding Association as well as the Wedding Network Switzerland…”
Networking is something I genuinely love. It’s about connecting people, sharing knowledge and learning from professionals who see weddings from completely different perspectives. The international wedding community in particular has become an important source of inspiration for me…”
Simone Gori, Wedding Celebrant, Founder of LOVELY WORDS
C&B: “Switzerland has so many outstanding wedding locations – which are your favourites, and why?”
SG: “Yes, Switzerland is incredibly diverse for such a small country. We have mountains, lakes, historic cities and exceptional hotels, often surprisingly close to one another. Lake Lucerne is one of my favourite areas, and Villa Honegg is particularly special for intimate weddings and elopements. In Zurich, I love The Dolder Grand for the way it combines tradition, contemporary design, nature and proximity to the city. I’m also a huge fan of Lago Maggiore, especially the Brissago Islands and Castello di Morcote. I sometimes wonder why international couples automatically think of Lake Como when Switzerland has lakes that are every bit as beautiful and still feel a little like hidden gems…”
C&B: “Becoming a celebrant sounds like a fantastic career – are there any unexpected challenges that come with it?”
SG: “One of the biggest challenges has been changing the perception of what a celebrant-led ceremony actually is. It isn’t simply something to fill the time before the drinks reception, and a celebrant is not the same as a registrar. I spend many hours getting to know my couples and crafting every word and every element around them. A ceremony might include their story, music, family and friends, personal vows, rituals and traditions – but only if those elements genuinely belong there. Another challenge, particularly as the profession grows, is professionalisation. That is one reason why I’m involved in our celebrant association and why I support and coach other celebrants…”
C&B: “Final question, Simone – you have already accomplished so much over the course of your career, is there anything left on your ‘dream wedding’ list?”
SG: “I’m lucky enough to already create the kind of ceremonies I love, so my dream isn’t necessarily about doing something bigger. Give me a meaningful story, creative freedom, an intimate group of people and I’d be very happy – although a Mediterranean island would not hurt. Ultimately, the dream project is one where the ceremony isn’t treated as the formal part before the celebration begins, but as one of the experiences everyone is genuinely looking forward to…”
CONTACT: http://www.lovelywords.ch
IMAGE CREDITS:
@maxwellartphotography
@tobias_tumac_photography
@spilledchampagnecontent (Video)
