Dorine Reinstein
As 2013 sees the trend towards destination weddings continue unabated, Africa has become the ultimate destination for romantics. African weddings are becoming increasingly popular the world over, especially since celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston have floated the idea of an African wedding.
Joshua Oyalo, director of sales and marketing for Explore East Africa, explains he has seen a remarkable increase in U.S. travelers wanting to get married in Africa. He says: “A major preference is getting married in the Masai Mara as couples want to either renew their vows or get married in a setting that’s not normal to them.” The Masai Mara is the most famous wildlife conservation area in Kenya and spreads southwest of Nairobi, along the Tanzanian Border and the Serengeti National Park. It has the highest concentration of game in Kenya and the largest lion population, including the black-manned lion. Therefore, to get married in Masai Mara is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Numerous lodges in Kenya are catering to wedding guests and are tailoring weddings to suit guests’ needs. For example, the Porini Lion Camp, located in the exclusive, 20,000-acre Olare Orok Conservancy in Kenya, organizes beautiful wedding ceremonies on a scenic hill overlooking the Mara landscape. The ceremony is held in the camp with a beautiful flora decoration picked and prepared locally using all indigenous plants and flowers. The couple is welcomed by traditional Masai singing, with the Masai elders giving their blessings. The couple can then tailor the final arrangements to their special day from a bush dinner to a game drive or a walk with the Masai.
Kenya isn’t the only country in Africa courting romantic souls: South Africa has also eagerly picked up on the destination-wedding trend with several establishments offering weddings in the bush. Kate Bain, owner of the South-African based Wedding Company, explains that bush weddings are increasingly popular with international couples. She says: “The destination wedding concept works really well at a bush venue as the bride and groom can incorporate a braai (a South African barbecue) or dinner the night before the wedding, which sets a great tone for the rest of the festivities.”
Pippa Van den Berg, wedding coordinator at I Do Inspirations in South Africa, agrees and says she has seen a remarkable increase in the number of inquiries for bush wedding venues from international guests. She explains: “Bush venues are popular as couples are able to spend more time and do more activities with their wedding guests in a beautiful setting.” According to Van den Berg, South Africa's bush venues are still fairly affordable in terms of the facilities and activities they offer.
There is a wide choice of bush wedding venues in South Africa, including five-star hotels and lodges, intimate farm settings and outdoor venues where nature provides all the decor one needs. For the ceremony itself, guests can choose a deck overlooking a waterhole, a romantic spot under trees on the banks of a river or an intimate bush clearing. Game reserves like Thornybush in Limpopo as well as Londolozi and Ulusaba in Mpumalanga are well-known and popular bush wedding venues.
Nic Griffin, CEO of the Thornybush Game Lodge, says: “We have seen a growing demand for weddings, as the Thornybush Group can accommodate up to 150 guests in a variety of lodges all within 30 minutes of each other.” Griffin explains anything is possible at Thornybush, from a small, intimate wedding with 20 guests to a lavish affair with up to 170 guests. Arrangements can be as glamorous or as understated as the bride and groom desires.
Travel agents can have a very important role to play in the organization of a destination wedding, says Fanie Fourie, project manager of the Aleit Group in South Africa. He explains: “Agents can become involved in numerous facets of the wedding planning process. Apart from the typical travel and accommodation arrangements for the wedding couple and their guests, they can also become involved in the planning of honeymoons. This can provide a great platform for building strong relationships with your client.”