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Location:
- Europe
- Switzerland
- Caribbean
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About Avodah
Avodah is a full-service wedding planning and design studio in Switzerland, serving locally as well as Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Dominican Republic.
We specialize in intimate, refined, and meaningful weddings and gatherings that foster connection and conviviality.
In a fractured, chaotic, and fast-paced world, we want to create thoughtful, intentional celebrations that highlight a slower, communal experience that makes everyone feel welcome and cherished.
Behind The Brand
What was the initial spark for your brand, and how did it all begin?
Avodah was born out of my fondness for hospitality, slow living, and generosity.
It has been the result of a succession of big leaps of faith that took me from the Dominican Republic, where I am originally from, to the 4 corners of the world and ultimately to Switzerland, where I am based at moment.
After quitting my law studies, to pursue a life of art, faith, and humanitarian work, I got to spend almost 7 years working in hospitality management and event planning at an NGO in Canada. During those years of travel and humanitarian work, I saw the impact of intentional gatherings and celebrations in the lives of people which made me feel even more alive.
After planning my own two weddings alongside my husband, Simon, and being encouraged by friends and family, the thought of starting a wedding and event planning company became clearer.
The final spark came in 2017, during an art project about time, for my master studies in Expressive Arts Therapy, where I gained a different perspective on time, connection, and comfort, something that I wanted others to experience as well. I also saw a need here for a more artistic and ethical approach to event design.
As I continued to discover more and put into practice slow living, nurturing community, creativity, rest and togetherness, I launched Avodah, a family venture and my ikigai.
Crafting moments of beauty and connection is our mission and for me, Avodah is not about events or making things pretty, but helping people celebrate in whatever ways is most meaningful to them.
What services do you offer couples?
We offer full wedding planning, event design and styling, and floral design, and for intimate events of up to 30 people, we also create an intuitive custom dining experience.
Having this scope of services helps us in achieving a more cohesive, harmonious experience for our couples, one that is organic, holistic, and beautifully unforgettable.
Our work leaves people feeling inspired as they have stepped into an alternative world where time has stopped and they are free to be, free to be fully present, free to enjoy.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
Elegant yet grounded. Filled with timeless grace and warmth. Artistic and versatile with a focus on the essentials.
How does the process of wedding planning work?
I believe that in the same way that each one of us is unique, the wedding planning process should also be unique and personal to the couple, not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
The first time we talk is not the average wedding consultation. Every question I ask is designed for deepening our relationship and fostering a meaningful discussion right from the beginning. I want to unearth who they are and what’s most important to them.
After booking, we send the couple our welcome guide that will help them understand exactly where our planning journey takes them. Then we dive deeper into them and how they imagine their wedding to feel. We assist them in crafting the experience they want for themselves and their loved ones, walking through every logistic step, creating a retro planning timeline, choosing vendors, the aesthetics of the day(s), and more, making sure the process stays relaxed from day one to day of. Beyond coming up with the pretty bits, my goal is to create a wedding experience that will ignite and emotional response in the couple and their nearest and dearest both for the day and years to come.
As a planner or stylist, what are you inspired by at the moment in the world of weddings?
Inspiration comes from so many different sources for me and very seldom from weddings themselves.
I am usually inspired by my couple’s stories, by art and nature, architecture, and the unique cultures that I travel to.
In the world of weddings, I am always inspired by intimate weddings that forget the status quo and are deliciously unique. Currently, I am inspired by the artistry, textures, movement, and process of designers such as Danielle Frankel, Sara Mrad, Krikor Jabotian, Vivienne Westwood, and Luna Bea.
Oh and the mood, ethos, and architecture of some venues such as Neuendorf House, Moroseta, and the Silent Living homes.
What would you like to see less of?
Unsustainable practices that are harmful to the environment and to human health in floral design with the use of floral foam, dyed and bleached florals.
A styling/planning trip or two you’ve learned along the way that you’d give to any couple?
First of all focus on the feeling you want to have for your wedding. Let that feeling guide you when choosing your venue, your vendors, and every detail of your wedding experience, and let go of anything that does not complement that feeling.
We also encourage you to invest in what you value, what you connect with and that truly reflects you as a couple.
Editor’s Notes
Why we love it…
Cultivating moments of artistry and emotional intimacy, Avodah take care of their couples in a way that allows them to simply exist and revel in the moment.
For the couple…
For the earth and health-conscious couple who wants an intimate wedding that breaks away from the norm, uniquely unforgettable in its beauty.
Styling tips…
When planning your wedding, you’ll want to work only with those who understand what holds meaning and significance for you, and what truly mirrors your unique relationship, and that’s what Avodah aims to do. Connect with them, together with your partner, share your story, and see if it’s a natural fit.
