Wedding in Africa

Contents

• Which African country is better to have a wedding?
• How to conduct and arrange a ceremony on the beach?
• Ideas for a Wedding Photo Shoot in Africa
• African wedding ceremony photo examples

Fashion for wedding ceremonies with an exotic accent is gaining momentum. If you want an extraordinary celebration and outlandish surroundings, a wedding in Africa is what you need. Preparations for such a holiday will not be banal, because there are their own rules, traditions, even the climate, which you need to adapt to. If you do not have experience traveling independently in Africa, a wedding or travel agency can take on all of these chores..

Which African country is better to have a wedding?

The most popular among foreigners for the wedding ceremony are the countries of Africa located on the coast: Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Republic of South Africa. Located in the depths of the African mainland, Zambia attracts the newlyweds with the stunning beauty of Victoria Falls. Madagascar, located off the east coast of Africa, is especially fond of. Its luxurious nature, coupled with high-quality service, are ideal for overseas weddings..

Before preparing for the celebration, it is important to decide whether the wedding in Africa will include the official registration of marriage (wedding) or if only a symbolic ceremony is planned. If the selected African country allows the official registration of relations between foreigners, it is necessary to submit a package of documents to the representative office in advance, which usually includes:

• passports with visas (plus copies);
• birth certificates;
• certificates of absence of obstacles for marriage;
• return flights.

Documents must be translated into English, as well as certified by a notary. Some African countries require some time (usually a few days or a couple of weeks) on their territory before marriage. All of these legal formalities are easy to find at a consulate or wedding agency in Africa..

The style of the symbolic ceremony depends on the wishes of the groom with the bride and the chosen country. Some wedding accessories (such as a dress) will likely have to be taken to Africa with you. To order a traditional cake for a wedding or a limousine is also not always possible (it depends on the venue). But the newlyweds can afford extraordinary entertainment, inaccessible in Russia.

A wedding in Africa is an expensive pleasure. The cost of flights and accommodation can be reduced if seasonality is taken into account (in popular times for tourist trips, prices are as high as possible). You can also save money if you order photo and video filming of a wedding on the spot. Serious agencies offering wedding services in Africa always have a staff of qualified Russian-speaking photographer and video operator, as well as other specialists (wedding coordinator, makeup artist, hairdresser).

South Africa

South Africa is an economically developed country in Africa, therefore, the wedding industry is here at a European level, and newlyweds are available any services of the highest class. Marriage concluded by foreigners in South Africa is recognized in Russia. For an official wedding, you need a small package of documents, the ceremony itself takes place in a government agency or church. The presence of a marriage officer as well as two witnesses is required.

After the official registration, the newlyweds can continue the wedding celebration by choosing a place and program to their taste. Here's what marriage agencies and hotels in South Africa offer:

• safaris and beach ceremonies;
• boat trips on yachts;
• luxurious private aristocratic estates;
• nature reserves and national parks for excursions or photosets;
• architectural landmarks of resort towns for a wedding ceremony.

Tunisia

It is not possible for Russians to officially register a marriage in Tunisia, but this place is ideal for a symbolic wedding ceremony. European service, coupled with a North African flavor, will make your wedding an exquisite fairy tale. Although Tunisia is a Muslim country, there are Orthodox churches here, which allows weddings to be held according to all the canons..

In addition to the wedding ceremony at the hotel or the beach, young people are offered exclusive spa treatments, boat trips, diving, desert trips with camels, ATVs, hang gliding. Tunisia is famous for its natural and architectural attractions suitable for a photo shoot. Among the cities stands Bizerte, bearing the title of African Venice. The waters of the strait flow through its residential quarters, so romantic boat trips are popular here..

Egypt

An officially concluded marriage in Egypt is considered legal in Russia. A large selection of wedding tours (from budget to exclusive) takes this country of Africa to the first lines in the preferences of the newlyweds. In Egypt, you can hold a symbolic ceremony on the beach or in the desert, under water among the kingdom of coral or stylized «wedding of the pharaohs» with costumes and surroundings in an ancient temple.

Many ancient Egyptian archaeological artifacts will make the wedding photoset an unforgettable adventure. Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Makadi, Hurghada, Safaga, El Gouna, Sharm El Sheikh - finding a wedding tour in any of these or other tourist meccas in Africa is not difficult. Egypt has many Orthodox churches (12 Russian Orthodox churches), so many Christians also have weddings here.

Wedding Safari in Kenya

Kenya is famous for its national parks and reserves, so the safari industry is well developed here. The safari wedding program involves holding a symbolic marriage ceremony among wild African nature, at the request of the newlyweds, with the presence of a shaman of one of the tribes to the sounds of primitive music performed by local residents. The ceremony is held directly during or in front of the safari.

How to conduct and arrange a ceremony on the beach?

A beach wedding ceremony on the coast of Africa is considered one of the most beautiful, therefore it is necessarily included in the list of services of any wedding agency. It is important for her to choose the right season and place. Making a beach ceremony for a wedding involves installing an arch or tent of light fabrics and / or flowers near the shore, where the bride and groom will swear oaths and exchange rings.

If the wedding involves a large number of guests, you will need beautifully decorated chairs or benches. You should take care of the place where champagne will be cooled and a small bar with sweets, fruits and snacks. Consider what the guests will do during the photo shoot for the bride and groom. If the ceremony is nocturnal, then a full-fledged photoset is usually held the next day..

The script for the beach ceremony is straightforward. The main emphasis is the situation and landscapes of Africa itself (therefore, it is important to take care of professional photo and video shooting). The bride and groom say to each other the words of the oath of allegiance, exchange rings. This is followed by toast with champagne, greetings from guests and a photo shoot. The wedding ends with a festive candlelight dinner on the beach.

Ideas for a Wedding Photo Shoot in Africa

A wedding in Africa with its extraordinary landscapes will make any photoset unforgettable. As an entourage for a photo shoot, the newlyweds are perfect:

• ocean beach
• a walk in the national parks of Africa (both with animals - a safari trip, and just against the background of exotic vegetation);
• visiting the ruins of ancient cities;
• balloon flight;
• boat trip on a traditional ship of local tribes;
• coral reefs (for an underwater wedding).

To make the entourage of the wedding ceremony as authentic as possible, many wedding agencies offer to involve local residents of Africa in the ceremony. Representatives of African tribes, as a rule, take part in the wedding of foreigners with pleasure. If the outfits of the newlyweds are also sustained in local traditions or simply supplemented with appropriate attributes (necklaces, belts, bracelets made by the native inhabitants of Africa), this looks very impressive.

To look great at a wedding, the bride needs to carefully consider makeup. Due to the hot climate of Africa, inappropriate cosmetics can spoil the appearance and darken the mood. Emphasize the African style of manicure (with colorful patterns or animal prints). For courageous girls, henna drawing on the hands or feet, which is applied before the wedding to the brides of Morocco or Kenya, is suitable. Do not forget about the hairstyle (for example, using the motifs of afro-braids).

African wedding ceremony photo examples