Getting married in South Africa
special small-scale weddings (incl. all formalities) since 2003
Do you also want a special wedding abroad?
And is South Africa the perfect country for you to exchange your vows?
I'm Iris, the wedding planner for South Africa!
For years, Fundisa Weddings has specialised in devising and organising intimate and romantic wedding ceremonies in South Africa.
Since 2003, more than 195 special, small-scale weddings have been organised; always in close consultation with the bridal couple.
And what is certainly very special is that I can still arrange the paperwork in South Africa for you.
So you CAN register your marriage retroactively in the Netherlands.
And generally, the paperwork is even in your possession within 3 months.
Since in principle (almost) everything is possible, all our weddings can be tailor-made. From high-end, exclusive and deluxe to a simple wedding on the beach without guests. Everything is possible. I would be happy to discuss with you what your ideas and wishes are, so that I can advise you and we can prepare a wonderful day together.
Broadly speaking, most weddings can be categorised into a wedding in the bush, on the beach, in the vineyards or on horseback.
So choose me and Fundisa Weddings: 100% romance, 0% stress.
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Example safari wedding (4 days)
All the safari lodges we work with are located in big 5 territory (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). Except for the lodge for safari weddings on horseback. For your safety, there are no lions and elephants there.
Day 1: arrival
On day 1 you arrive in the afternoon at the lodge of your choice. You go to your honeymoon suite / room to unpack your things. Then you admire the lodge, the view, the location and everything the lodge has to offer. About two hours before sunset the game drive begins. When you return to the lodge three hours later, you can freshen up before dining under the starry sky, with perhaps a roaring lion in the distance. After dinner it is often quite late already, and you will probably be ready to fall asleep with the African animal sounds in the background.
Day 2: the wedding
The next morning you can choose to go on a game drive around sunrise. Or to skip this and sleep in. Afterwards, a delicious breakfast awaits you. After breakfast you can relax and possibly start getting ready for this afternoon (hair, make-up). After lunch you still have some time until the marriage officer and the photographer arrive. If you haven't had the chance to meet the marriage officer a few days earlier, he/she will come half an hour earlier for the introductory conversation. Then you go and get changed. The photographer can take some nice detail shots while you're getting changed. Perhaps the dress hanging in the bush, or a close-up of the shoes, doing up the dress, a last glance in the mirror, straightening a tie if there is one, et cetera.
Depending on the wedding location in the African bush, you go there together or separately. The ceremony takes place in, for example, a dry riverbed, on a hill, under a beautiful tree or wherever you prefer. Of course, some flexibility is important. Because if a herd of elephants has decided to spend the day at your wedding location, then another location will have to be chosen. If you have brought guests along, chairs can of course be arranged. After the ceremony and the signing of the marriage registration, there is time for champagne and cake. Afterwards, the professional wedding photographer will take a photo reportage of you and your guests.
By the time the sun has set, the photographer takes some atmospheric photos with the candles, and then you go for a romantic dinner.
After dinner you will probably sit by the campfire for a while with a drink to savour this special day.
Day 3: relaxing
The last thing you probably want to do is pack your bags after breakfast. That's why I advise staying (at least) 1 extra night. Today you can sleep in, go on a morning game drive or perhaps a game walk. After breakfast you go and enjoy the surroundings, the lodge, relax by the pool, read a book or do whatever you like. After lunch you relax some more. Perhaps you watch the elephants passing by or there's something else special to see. Some lodges offer the option to sleep in first and then take a day trip into the park with a picnic lunch along the way. Or you go on a game drive at the end of the afternoon. When you return, dinner awaits you. You can dine together with any other guests or somewhere romantic just the two of you.
Day 4: the inevitable departure
The game drive departs again this morning around sunrise. This is your last chance to spot lions, leopards or perhaps even cheetahs. Upon return, breakfast awaits you. After breakfast you can calmly pack your bags and, unfortunately, then you must depart again. Of course, you are also welcome to stay longer. We ourselves, for example, stayed 7 nights at the lodge where we got married 10 years ago. That was very pleasant, but 3 nights is already very nice too.