A Wedding at Bächlihof: Jucker Farm in Jona
Bächlihof at Jucker Farm in Jona through a photographer’s eyes: the best photo spots, timing advice and what makes this venue work so well.
There are venues that look wonderful on Instagram but become difficult on a wedding day. Bächlihof is not one of them. This Jucker Farm venue in Jona sits among orchards, with the Alps in view and the upper Lake Zurich only a few minutes away. It is rustic, beautifully kept and, above all, remarkably versatile for photographs.
I have photographed weddings in the Zurich and Lake Zurich region since 2019. At Bächlihof, I start picturing the rhythm of a day almost immediately: a quiet corner for a first look, an outdoor ceremony, long rows of fruit trees for couple portraits and indoor spaces that still look inviting when the weather changes.
Here is the venue from a photographer’s point of view: where the light is kindest, which places couples often overlook and how a wedding day at Bächlihof can flow with ease.
First look: Busskirch, three minutes away
A first look is one of the most personal moments of a wedding day: the first time you see each other before the pace picks up, without guests or a schedule around you. Bächlihof is lively on a wedding day, with set-up, flowers and early arrivals, so I often take couples three minutes down the road to Busskirch.
The small church of St. Martin is right by the upper Lake Zurich, framed by mature trees and water. It is peaceful, uncomplicated and especially lovely in the soft late-morning or early-afternoon light. In twenty to thirty minutes, we can have the first look and a few portraits by the lake before returning to the farm.
If you are planning a church ceremony, Busskirch also makes a relaxed starting point before the short journey to Bächlihof.
The ceremony: beside the garden pond
Bächlihof has its own garden pond for a free ceremony. For me, it is the strongest spot on the farm. The water reflects light upwards and helps keep faces softly lit, while the planting gives photographs depth without taking attention away from you. Because the garden is set slightly apart, it also feels remarkably calm during a ceremony.
Two practical details matter here. First, the direction of the chairs: it decides whether guests are squinting into the sun. Second, timing: between noon and 2pm the summer light is high and hard, whereas from around 3pm onwards it becomes much gentler.
And if the weather turns, the Schopf and Heugade offer covered alternatives that still feel intentional rather than like a compromise.
Couple portraits: the orchard rows are the real treasure
The orchards around Bächlihof are what make the venue so special for couple portraits. The rows create natural leading lines, the trees give gentle shade and, in the evening, the light filters through the leaves in a way that needs very little staging. We can make a full set of varied photographs without leaving the grounds.
I usually keep this part of the day short and unhurried. Ten focused minutes before dinner and another small window around golden hour are often enough. You get to return to your guests, and the photographs still feel like a quiet pause within the day.
Dinner and dancing in the Heugade
The Heugade is warm, generous and flexible enough to carry the evening from dinner into a proper party. Wood, straw and the scale of the room give it character without needing a great deal of decoration. For photos, the key is to keep some warmth in the room lighting and allow the dance floor to become its own little world later on.
When rain arrives, it is reassuring to know that the visual story of the day does not suddenly collapse. Bächlihof has indoor spaces with texture and atmosphere, so the photographs can remain honest to the day rather than looking like an emergency plan.
The photographs nobody plans
Some of the images couples remember most are not on the timetable: a parent taking a breath before the ceremony, guests crossing the courtyard, hands meeting during a speech or a quick escape outside between two songs. Bächlihof gives those moments room to happen because each part of the day has its own character.
There is also a simple portrait I love to create at the end of the evening: a silhouette against a clean white background. It does not need sunset or special weather. With a flash placed behind you, the scene becomes reduced, graphic and entirely about the gesture between you.
In short
Bächlihof works because it manages three things at once: it feels relaxed and rural without ever feeling improvised; it offers a distinct setting for every part of the day; and it has genuine answers for rain rather than excuses. The Jucker Farm event team also keeps the day moving with calm professionalism, its own kitchen and produce from the farm.
Practical details
- Address: Bächlihof, Jona (Rapperswil-Jona SG), around 45 minutes from Zurich
- Capacity: Heugade for up to 180 guests; the whole farm can host much larger events
- Ceremony: free ceremony beside the garden pond; church ceremony in Busskirch, three minutes away
- Evening: indoor spaces available until 2am; outdoor music until 10pm
- Exclusivity: no second wedding takes place on the farm that day
- Please note: no fireworks or open flames because of the timber, straw and hay
Planning your wedding at Bächlihof?
I am listed by Jucker Farm as a recommended wedding photographer and know the farm, the light and the flow of a day there. If you would like to talk through your plans, get in touch. I am happy to look at your timeline with you, point out where a little breathing space helps and recommend the places that are worth making time for.
I take on a limited number of weddings each year and am currently accepting enquiries for 2027 and 2028.
Get in touch without obligation or find out more about how I work.