African Style Wedding
There is an ever increasing number of people who are turning to africa as a destination wedding. Bored with big, fancy weddings, looking for something special. The answer many are coming up with is an African style wedding. Never mind the safaris and game viewing, which many people are coming to africa for, can you imagine tying the knot at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in Tanzania, being greeted by hundreds of Masai warriors in festive dress. The wedding ceremony and dinner held amongst thousands of rose petals? Or getting married with a hippo wallowing pool in the background while being showered with hundreds of ‘confetti-butterflies’ (friars and mocker swallow tails).
My favourite has to be a wedding at the Ngala Game Lodge, described as a picturesque clearing beneath a mammoth jackalberry tree. The bride walking down an aisle of woven-grass mats, a chorus of local Shangaan tribe members serenading her with a traditional tribal wedding song.
Or this description by Chris Roche who works at Ngala
” … Cameras flashed and eyes moistened as the bride gripped her groom’s hand and the couple turned to face the minister. The hush was punctuated only by afternoon bird song and the crunching of sand underfoot. The backdrop to the altar … a huge temite mound on the riverbanks, umbrellad by a Black Monkey Thorn and a lush tangle of riverine vegetation…”
Its not as expensive as you might think, with most companies boasting packages that come in under what it would cost to get married in the States or the UK, and that includes flying your guests over! The exchange rate is also a huge factor – currently the South African rand is trading between R6,50 to R7 to the US$. So how about it, the wedding of a life time for what it costs you to get married at home?
I know what you’re thinking. What about a photographer? I don’t want to get married without a professional photographer I trust. OK, you’re probably not thinking that, but its worth thinking about. As an active member of the WPJA, I see many photographers advertising their destination wedding services. Another option, is to hire a local photographer, you don’t have to transport them half way across the world, they have experience photographing in the harsh african conditions which aren’t a photographic picnic if you are not used to them, they have experience photographing african animal life and have grown up in these surroundings. They also have much local knowledge which will help you on that most important day.
If you do decide to hire a local photographer, look at the portfolio, ask the usual questions especially whether they belong to an international photographic organisation such as the World Photojournalists Association. With most wedding photographers in South Africa charging at around R12 000 (US$1800) for a two day destination wedding package, your photographer shouldn’t cost a fortune and you should be able to get a fairytale african weddding well within your budget for a local wedding in the US or the UK.
Companies like ccafrica put together complete packages including venue, preparation of documentation, wedding ceremony and legal documentation, bridal bouquet and buttonhole plus a bottle of champagne. They are now offering a new Weddings brochure outlining various wedding options in private game lodges in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.
If you are interested in an african style destination wedding the following companies will be able to help.
Africa Travel Centre (0845 4501534)
CC Africa (002711 8094300)
Steppes Africa (01285 650011)
I’m available for destination weddings throughout Africa if you’re looking for someone local, and I promise never to pose you inside the lion enclosure.
