Planning a Destination Wedding in South Africa

Africa and South Africa Destination Wedding

“South Africa is the most beautiful place on earth. Admittedly, I am biased but when you combine the natural beauty, and the fact that the region is a haven for Africa’s most splendid wildlife, then I think we have been blessed with a truly wonderful land.” – Nelson Mandela

Why have a destination wedding in South Africa

Are you dreaming of saying “I do” against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, surrounded by the vibrant culture and rich heritage of Africa? Look no further than South Africa for your destination wedding! 

There’s a reason why all those years ago European immigrants risked their lives to travel across the world’s roughest oceans to reach the land of milk and honey, a place now known as South Africa. With such diverse beauty, it’s sometimes difficult to believe that it’s all one country. While things have certainly changed a great deal since then, the pure, exquisite landscapes of South Africa have remained as spectacular as ever, making it the perfect backdrop for your destination wedding!

Buddymoons Safaris - What is a buddymoon wedding

The glorious ‘Rainbow Nation’ – South Africa – has been deemed one of the most highly sought-after destination wedding locations among couples looking to tie the knot. Getting married in stunning South Africa is a truly magical experience. There really is nowhere quite like it in the world – Trust us – that’s a tried, tested, and proven fact!

Whether you’re looking to throw the grandest, glorious, gigantic, sweep-you-off-your-feet, fairytale-esque, all-the-trimmings, not-a-cent-spared South African destination wedding of the century, an intimate and romantic affair & celebration of true love with only your closest friends and family, or opt to skip all the wedding-related hassles & fuss entirely by eloping – the possibilities are beyond endless when it comes to planning and celebrating a destination wedding in South Africa.

Beautiful backdrops & Stunning scenery

wedding in Cape Town

One of the top reasons why destination weddings in South Africa are so popular is due to its breathtaking scenery and diverse array of settings, ultimately ensuring that your wedding day unfolds against the perfect backdrop of your dreams!

Boasting an abundance of natural beauty around every single twist and turn, not to mention some of the most diverse, drop-dead-gorgeous destinations, locations, secret spots, hidden gems, and hideaways, couples that are excited and eager to tie the knot and say their official ‘I Do’s’ in South Africa are certainly spoilt for choice and then some!

Simply put – when choosing South Africa as your wedding destination location, you are pretty much (or rather 100%) guaranteed ANY type of wedding you’ve ever dreamed of having! That’s right – your dream wedding wish is South Africa’s command!

Be it a beautiful, blissful, sun-kissed beach wedding, an exclusive, intimate, romantic, once-in-a-lifetime African safari wedding celebration right in the heart of the untamed and unspoilt South African bushveld – with the world-renowned Kruger National Park being one of the most popular & in-demand South African safari wedding locations – or a memorable, magnificent, and magical wedding in the vast & wonderful Cape Winelands (filled with venues boasting old Dutch architecture – Each of these Winelands venues are wrapped around mountain ranges and vineyards. **Plus, as an EXTRA bonus, you certainly won’t have to worry about running out of wine on your big day)  – its ALL up to you & your husband or wife to be – AKA: YOUR SOUTH AFRICAN WEDDING, YOUR CHOICE!

To make things even more exciting, that’s merely scratching the surface of what South Africa has to offer when it comes to destination wedding locations. When we mentioned that in South Africa the opportunities and possibilities are beyond endless, WE MEANT IT!

Locations for a destination wedding in South Africa

South Africa Destination wedding

Imagine a place that combines the wines of Napa, the mountain vistas of Colorado, the beautiful beaches of California (but with penguins) and an actual safari instead of a zoo – we bet it sounds super dreamy and maybe even too good to be true, BUT (YES! There’s ALWAYS a but!) … drum roll please … IT’S NOT! ITS SOUTH AFRICA BABY! To top it off, you can combine many (or ALL) of the above when planning your dream South African destination wedding! Its all this & SO MUCH MORE that makes the country on Africa’s southernmost tip the picture-perfect spot for couples to tie the knot against what might just be the most SPECTACULAR backdrop in the world!

Lucky for you, South Africa boasts an abundance of beyond breathtaking wedding venues and locations that can be found all across the country. Get married in the magnificent Mother City … Hitched in Hermanus … Tie the knot in Knysna … Celebrate at a wedding venue in the Drakensberg … get betrothed in Bloemfontein … whatever you want, South Africa has the ideal location for your romantic nuptials!

Planning a destination wedding in South Africa is an exciting & thrilling adventure in every possible way! But, as with any & all other destination wedding locations across the globe, loved-up couples may well need to cut through some extra red tape to make it happen. For instance, it might be more challenging to see ALL the wedding venues South Africa has to offer – HOWEVER, it is by no means an impossible feat! Another potential hurdle, especially when it comes to legalities, is the possibility of needing to obtain a marriage license in South Africa. BUT, there’s absolutely no need to fear as that can be easily arranged & sorted!

With all that being said, these challenges are easily & definitely worth accepting, especially if you’ve fallen head over heels for the idea of a destination wedding soiree in South Africa!

From picturesque vineyards to pristine beaches, rugged mountains, and bustling cities, by now it’s likely crystal clear that South Africa’s vast & varied landscapes offer  a diverse & incredible array of stunning locations for loved-up couples seeking an unforgettable destination wedding experience!

WHAT TYPE OF WEDDING DO YOU WANT?

  • Beach wedding
  • Mountain wedding
  • Game Reserve wedding
  • Desert wedding
  • Forrest wedding
  • Winelands wedding
  • City wedding

TOP LOCATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR A WEDDING:

  • Cape Town
  • Western Cape Winelands
  • Kruger National Park
  • Johannesburg
  • Garden Route
  • Eastern Cape (Port Eliabeth; Sunshine Coast; Cape St Francis; East London; Port Alfred; St Francis Bay; Tsitsikamma; Frontier Country; Greater Addo; Karoo Heartland; Wild Coast; Eastern Cape Highlands etc.)
  • Kwa-Zulu Natal (Drakensberg; Umhlanga Coast; Durban; South Coast; Natal Midlands; Elephant Coast; Dolphin Coast; Valley of 1000 Hills etc.)
  • Mpumalanga (Greater Kruger National Park; Drakensberg; Lowveld Legogote; White River; Cultural Hartland; Wild Frontier; Highlands Meander; Panorama Route etc.)
  • Limpopo (Greater Kruger Park; Valley of the Olifants; Waterberg; Bushveld; Soutpansberg; Drakensberg etc.)
  • North West Province (Hartbeespoort Dam; Magaliesberg; Pilanesberg; Sun City; Cradle of Human Kind etc.)
  • Northern Cape (Kalahari; Namaqualand; Upper Karoo; Diamond Fields; Green Kalahari etc.)

Advantages of having a destination wedding in South Africa

  • Stunning Scenery
  • Vast abundance of wedding locations, destinations, and settings
  • Unique wedding options
  • Value for money with favourable exchange rates
  • Opportunity to combine your wedding with an extraordinary honeymoon to follow
  • Excellent established wedding industry with high service standards
  • World-renowned culinary excellence
  • No jetlag (for European visitors)
  • Located halfway between Australia and London (perfect for those who want to have their wedding on middle ground)
  • Once-in-a-lifetime experience that will exceed your every expectation & then some! Both you & your husband and / or wife-to-be as well as your guests will experience a trip of a lifetime that will undoubtedly NEVER be forgotten!