Top 10 reasons to have a wedding in Cape Town
Say ‘I do’ in one of the most beautiful cities in the world – Cape Town!
Exchange your vows and say ‘I do’ in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town! Regarded as one of the top and most highly sought-after wedding destinations in the world, the glorious city of Cape Town has everything you could ever dream of and more.
With its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture and atmosphere, and diverse range of destinations, Cape Town offers the perfect blend of romance and adventure for couples looking to tie the knot in a truly spectacular location. From its unbelievable array of hidden gems, magical secret spots, romantic hideaways, majestic mountains, beautiful sandy beaches, and picturesque fairy-tale like escapes to its vast and wonderful winelands, scenic vineyards, stunning gardens, unimaginable natural wonders, world-renowned landmarks, incredible attractions, and vibrant cosmopolitan city centre, it isn’t hard to understand why Cape Town has become one of the most sought-after and highly acclaimed wedding destinations in the world. With something for every type of couple looking to experience an absolutely unforgettable wedding celebration with their nearest and dearest, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better destination wedding location than Cape Town – and that’s a promise!
Its safe to say that your Cape Town wedding at any of its show-stopping locations will guarantee unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. Not to mention a magical wedding celebration that both you as well as your friends and family will cherish and remember for years to come.
Reasons to get married in Cape Town
#1 Beautiful destinations, stunning scenery & magnificent backdrops
Cape Town offers the perfect blend of beauty, romance, and adventure for couples looking to tie the knot in a truly spectacular location.
From its unbelievable array of magical secret spots, glorious hidden gems, romantic hideaways, majestic mountains, including one of the New7Wonders of Nature, Table Mountain, pristine beaches, captivating coastlines, sensational venues, and picturesque fairy-tale like escapes to its vast and wonderful Cape Winelands, scenic vineyards, stunning gardens, mesmerizing natural wonders, world-renowned landmarks, sought-after attractions, and vibrant cosmopolitan city center, Cape Town is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
Whether you prefer to say your vows amongst the vineyards of the Cape Winelands, share your first newly-wed kiss with a touch of beach side bliss, dance the night away tucked between the Mother City’s magnificent mountain ranges and hill tops, say your ‘I Do’s’ in a field filled with wildflowers, or celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion in one of Cape Town’s exclusive, intimate, romantic, and magical wedding venues, it promises to be everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more.
The Mother City certainly has no shortage of magnificent wedding destinations and sensational locations to choose from, each adding their own special touch to an already special day. With something for EVERY type of couple eager and excited to tie the knot, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better destination wedding location than Cape Town – That’s a promise!
#2 Cape Town boasts an array of top-tier wedding suppliers
Being one of the top wedding destinations in the world, Cape Town offers engaged couples a spectacular variety of top-tier world class wedding suppliers that will make all your wedding daydreams come true.
From world renowned wedding planners, award winning photographers and videographers, globally acclaimed chefs and leading culinary masterminds, incredible stationery designers and cake suppliers, and wildly talented musicians, artists, bands, and orchestras, Cape Town’s exceptional wedding industry and pristine wedding suppliers will ensure that all your wedding needs, wants, and desires are taken care of.
If that’s not enough, Cape Town’s wedding service providers pride themselves on offering a super-personal touch to each wedding, thereby ensuring that every engaged couple has the most beautiful and memorable wedding day yet.
#3 Stunning variety of Cape Town wedding venues
From the crystal-clear waters of Table Bay, rugged coastline of the Atlantic Seaboard, and tall standing Table Mountain & the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, to the rolling vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, this magnificent city has it all. With such a vast and wonderful variety of incredible wedding venues to choose from, you will truly be spoilt for choice.
Wedding venues in Cape Town range from intimate ceremonies on the beach to beautiful garden and Winelands wedding celebrations or, for the more adventurous, stunning bush weddings at a private game reserve promises to be nothing short of unforgettable. Boasting some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world, the captivating Cape Winelands, glorious fynbos-clad countryside, majestic mountain ranges, countless hidden gems and romantic escapes, the thriving & electrifying Cape Town city centre with views of Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the vibrant V&A Waterfront, and SO much more, few destinations can compete with the Mother City’s sensational selection & sheer abundance of extraordinary wedding venues. How many other cities can offer all of the above?
As a wedding destination, Cape Town boasts a stunning variety of uniquely diverse wedding venue options. However, there are three venue locations that have proven to be a step above the rest. By far the most popular of these is the majestic mountainous Winelands of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl, boasting both historical, modern, and magical Wine Estates and Wine Farms. ‘Picturesque’ sums it up in a word.
For the head-over-heels beach lovers & sunset chasers, the peninsula boasts a number of beyond beautiful, blissful, and pristine beaches – all nestled against the glorious tall-standing Table Mountain and lined with dramatic boulders. There are few things that are as magical and memorable as a breathtaking Cape Town beach wedding paired with the backdrop of a glorious Mother City sherbet-colored sunset – be prepared to be swept off your feet! The third option comprises of sleek five-star hotels, boutique hotels, and intimate private villas – all of which can easily be transformed into your ideal wedding venue.
Secret Cape Town will guide you through your options by leveraging their established relationships with venue owners and their staff. We also cater to the more daring requests, like saying “I do” on the top of Table Mountain or during a shark cage diving adventure!
#4 Glorious year-round mild Mediterranean climate
The Mother City’s beautiful year-round mild Mediterranean climate and her one-of-a-kind seasonal changes is by far one of the top reasons why locals & tourists alike opt to say their ‘I do’s’ in the beautiful and vibrant city of Cape Town. Plus, who wouldn’t want sunshine and clear blue skies on their wedding day?!
As each Cape Town season brings with it something unique and exciting to be enjoyed by all, it doesn’t quite matter what time of year you choose to have your wedding in Cape Town, you’re bound to love every second of it! Summer in Cape Town means glorious sunny weather, late sunsets, blue skies, and blissful beach days – making it the ideal time of year for a sensational sunset beach wedding.
With the sun setting as late as 8:30pm in the summer months, you’ll be able to dance the day & a good portion of the night away under the glorious Cape Town sun & magical Mother City moonlight!
Winter (also known as the ‘Green Season’) transforms the Mother City into a lush green paradise perfect for adventuring, exploring, and walking down the aisle of course. In addition to being Cape Town’s ‘Green Season’, winter in Cape Town is also known as the Mother City’s ‘Secret Season’ as many venues offer discounted rates on the same great services you’ll find in summer.
Spring season is not only a wonderful time of year to have your wedding in Cape Town, but it is also world-renowned for being the Mother City’s fabulous flower season. Spring is the time of year when the Mother City becomes the most glorious floral escape, with Cape wildflowers and a vibrant diversity of flora covering every inch of the Western Cape’s vast and varied landscapes in blankets of flourishing florals, vivid colors, and pure unapologetic beauty that stretches far and wide. This makes for the most picturesque wedding celebration amongst the glorious Cape wildflowers – it is pure magic! Not to mention Autumn, when the weather is perfect for just about everything and anything.
Regardless of what time of year or season you choose to exchange your vows & say your ‘I do’s’, the combination of Cape Town’s superb surroundings, beautiful backdrops, and fantastic weather allows for memorable outdoor ceremonies overlooking mountain ranges, vineyards, or the vast Atlantic Ocean.
#5 Cape Town is a Wedding Photographer’s Paradise
Cape Town offers a background and setting to die for, and it would be any photographer’s dream to shoot a wedding in the Winelands, the beach, or Cape Town itself.
It doesn’t matter what anyone says, the photos do matter, right ladies? Who needs adjustable lighting & multiple lenses when you have the glorious Cape Town sunshine, a truly breathtaking backdrop, and a touch of Mother City magic in your midst? First look, family portraits, vow exchanges and newlywed confetti celebration shots will never look quite as good as they will when in Cape Town.
They say photography is the beauty of life captured in a series of moments, and sharing these moments with the people you love in the ever-charming & sweep-you-off-your-feet city of Cape Town will undoubtedly be ones you will cherish & remember for many years to come.
#6 Cape Town boasts a vibrant cultural diversity
Boasting a vibrant cultural diversity, eleven official languages, a rich and intricate history, and an incredible variety of cultures and ethnicities, South Africa ranks among the 10 most culturally diverse countries in the world with its population being one of the most complex and diverse.
Known as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, the Mother City is a magnificent melting pot of people, cultures, ethnicities, religions, and traditions – Each of which is deeply rooted within Cape Town’s own culture, history, and heritage and has had a MAJOR impact on the city we know and love today.
It is in this spirit that all Capetonians and South Africans are encouraged to not only embrace, share, and celebrate their own culture, traditions, beliefs, and heritage – which ultimately makes up our glorious ‘Rainbow Nation’ – but each other’s too!
**Extra Insight: Cape Town is located in the most southernly province, the Western Cape, and has the infrastructure of a first world city. When the Dutch colonized South Africa in 1652, it was at the port of Cape Town that they anchored. The rich history and heritage of the city with the towering mountains at its edge is what makes it such an attractive tourist destination.
It is this unrivalled blend of nature and culture that makes Cape Town such an attractive option as a wedding destination, and it is why so many couples from across the world opt to get married in our beautiful city of Cape Town.
Exploring the Mother City’s vibrant cultural diversity through her various renowned historical landmarks, museums, heritage sites, attractions, and colorful cuisine is by far one of the best and most rewarding experiences for both locals and tourists alike. In fact, fully immersing yourself in Cape Town’s vivid, vibrant, and diverse culture should most definitely be at the top of your bucket-list – Trust us, you won’t regret a single second of it!
From exploring Cape Town’s colorful graffiti art on a Street Art Tour in the iconic neighborhood of Woodstock, watching performers dance and sing in front of the V&A Food Market, and visiting the world-renowned Zeitz MOCAA Museum of Contemporary Art Africa – which is the largest art museum in Africa, and the largest museum in the world showcasing the art of Africa and its diaspora – to embarking on a tour to the infamous Robben Island (one of Cape Town’s most renowned historical sites, Robben Island is an integral part of South African history & arguably one of the most recognized & well-known prisons in the world), Cape Town boasts an endless array of landmarks, historical sites, not-to-be-missed attractions, diverse neighborhoods, museums, art galleries, and so much more to discover and explore on your Cape Town honeymoon.
However, no cultural honeymoon tour of Cape Town is complete without visiting and exploring the colorful cobble-stoned streets of the vibrant & culturally diverse neighborhood of BO-KAAP! Situated at the foot of Signal Hill, on the fringe of the city center, the colorful and culturally diverse neighborhood of Bo-Kaap (formerly known as the Malay Quarter) has captured the hearts of locals and tourists alike with its charisma, charm, color, vibrant energy, and rich heritage – We have NO doubt that it will steal your honeymoon hearts too!
By far one of the very best things about Bo-Kaap is the fact that there is so much MORE to this cool and colorful Cape Town neighborhood than what meets the eye. Beyond the bold and vibrant colors that line the steep cobble-stoned streets, Bo-Kaap is also one of Cape Town’s oldest and most culturally diverse neighborhoods. It’s safe to say Bo-Kaap is jam-packed with tons of culture, history, and a vibrant energy that is unlike any other. Not to mention the down-right delicious traditional Cape Malay cuisine which the region has become widely known for.
**Interesting fact: Bo-Kaap’s origins date back to the 1760s when numerous “huurhuisjes” (rental houses) were built and leased to slaves, known as the Cape Malays (paying further tribute to its name). Despite the fact that the beloved Bo-Kaap is now regarded as the most colorful, exciting, and vibrant neighborhood in the Cape, that most certainly wasn’t always the case. Dating back to its origins, all of Bo-Kaap’s houses were instructed to be white. When this law / rule was eventually lifted and the ‘slaves’ were finally ‘allowed’ to buy and take ownership of their properties, they collectively decided to paint each and every house a bright, colorful, and vibrant color as an expression of their freedom – How incredibly remarkable is that?!
Now we all have the profound privilege and amazing opportunity to enjoy and revel in every glorious color-filled second of what the Cape Malay people worked so hard to achieve – How lucky are we? In addition to its diverse culture, rich history, and heritage, Bo-Kaap is also celebrated for it’s delicious and authentic Cape Malay cuisine. That being said, enjoying an authentic Cape Malay meal in Bo-Kaap is an absolute MUST for any and all honeymooners – trust us, you won’t regret a single bite!
#7 Food, entertainment, decor & an electric vibe – check, check, check & CHECK!
The name Cape Town is synonymous with cutting edge design, décor and creativity. Respected around the world for its gastronomic and culinary delicacies – not to mention its wines – you can literally pick and choose your service providers from an array of acclaimed caterers, internationally awarded restaurants, funky musicians, polished hiring companies, and top notch, super-talented photographers.
Why not get an African Children’s Choir or Marimba band to perform at your wedding and include some local dishes like ostrich or crocodile in your menu in an effort to bring an authentic African and unexpectedly beautiful element to your big day? Trust us, you can’t go wrong either way!
#8 Activities, experiences & adventures galore!
In the mood for a wedding adventure of a lifetime? Your wish is our Cape Town command! In Cape Town you have the opportunity to turn your wedding celebration into the ultimate adventure escape or relaxing beach-front breakaway – it’s completely up to you! Plus, who ever said your wedding should just be one day anyway?
Cape Town is jam-packed with an endless amount of adrenalin-inducing and thrill-seeking adventures just waiting to be experienced by you, your new husband or wife, family, friends, and everyone in between. So, go ahead, seize the day, and start exploring the abundance of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and bucket-list worthy activities available to you and drive any and all post-wedding blues you may have away while you’re at it.
Shopping, surfing, or sightseeing – there are so many places to go, landmarks & attractions to see, and people to meet that you’ll probably find there’s not enough time for everything. That’s exactly what return trips are for! Go abseil down the tall-standing Table Mountain. Go paraglide from the summit of Lion’s Head or Signal Hill. Go hiking in one of Cape Town’s many National Parks. Go shark cage diving in Gansbaai. Go up Table Mountain in a cable car. Go whale watching in Hermanus. Go wine tasting in the lesser-known Wellington and Paarl or famous Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Go bungee jumping at the Gouritz River. Go learn to cook traditional Cape Malay food in the vibrant & culturally diverse Bo-Kaap. Go to Robben Island to view Nelson Mandela’s prison cell. Go eat “braaivleis” at a BBQ restaurant for a taste of certified natural South African lamb. Go charter a yacht in the V&A Waterfront & spot Cape Town’s Marine Big 5 – Cape fur seals, dolphins, whales, African Penguins, and the Mola-mola sunfish. Go dancing in Camps Bay. Go soak up the sun on one of Clifton’s 4 beaches. Go explore the breathtaking Cape Point. Go enjoy a picnic on the lush lawns of Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Go see the Big 5 on safari. Just go! In Cape Town, the world is your oyster.
Whether you prefer to do it before, after, or during the big day, the Mother City is only too happy to share in this experience with you!
#9 Cape Town is affordable – Get WAY more than you bargained for!
With the weak local currency, foreigners find that the buying power of their pounds and dollars stretch much further than anticipated. Here you can have a 5-star wedding at a fraction of the cost it would set you back on home soil.
If you’re on a budget but don’t want to compromise too much, you may want to consider bringing your entire wedding party to Cape Town as pounds go a long way here! And why not take a brief holiday, or buy a stunning holiday apartment as a future investment while you’re at it? A value for money haven, in Cape Town you’ll get away with paying 50% less than for a similar wedding in Europe – lest we forget that the lovely weather and unsurpassed setting come free of charge south of the equator. The same holds for honeymoon and holiday accommodation, consumer goods, indigenous arts and crafts, as well as property. The possibilities are endless and very reasonably priced throughout. Get married in the Cape and you’ll have some money left to put towards your new house upon your return to your home country.
In recent years, many wedding venues in Cape Town have set up packages that include most of the elements you will require. These packages can work out a lot cheaper than booking the individual service providers separately. The majority of Venues are located on Wine Estates and most of the time they also offer accommodation for a some of your guests. Some venues might not charge an outright venue fee, but rather base their price on the number of guests you will have. They work on a minimum “per-head” basis, but their fee is normally all inclusive of tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery, catering and basic decor.
#10 You can combine your wedding & honeymoon!
What better way to start your journey together than with a honeymoon where every last detail has been thought of and taken care of? Getting married in Cape Town gives you the opportunity to combine your wedding with the ultimate honeymoon on the African continent.
Cape Town is an excellent starting point for an unbelievable South African Multi-Centre honeymoon. You & your now husband or wife can kick-off your unforgettable honeymoon with spending a few nights in the Mother City, where you will both have plenty of time to enjoy all the beauty, vibrant diversity, and excitement that is Cape Town. From Table Mountain, Robben Island, and Boulders Beach to the V&A Waterfront, Cape Point, Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and so much more – Cape Town boasts an endless variety of things to see, do, explore, and experience. After your stay in the Mother City, visit the stunning Stellenbosch or Franschhoek Winelands for a 2-night stay to enjoy verdant vineyards where daily wine experiences can be had. We also recommend a romantic night’s stay in Hermanus, which is famous for whale watching. This can be followed by spending a few nights in the beautiful Knysna, which is in excellent location on the world-famous Garden Route. Bring your incredible South African honeymoon to an end with a 3 – 4-night safari in South Africa’s flagship National Park – the renowned Kruger National Park. Here you can enjoy the epitome of exclusivity, luxury, and romance in your private honeymoon hide-away, as well as a range of exciting wildlife & safari experiences & adventures such as daily game drives, authentic walking safaris, thrilling night drives and so much more.
You can also choose to combine your South African / Cape Town honeymoon with a trip to Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, or Zanzibar for an unforgettable start to married life. It’s entirely up to you – your honeymoon, your choice! Regardless of what you choose to do & where you’d love to go, it promises to be a truly unforgettable honeymoon experience in every way possible!
#BONUS: You can’t Beat the Mother City Magic!
There’s such a unique vibe and atmosphere in this city, it truly is unlike any other place on earth. Again and again, couples gush about the beautiful surroundings, but the one thing they truly remember is the friendliness and all-around-smiles that are so true to Capetonians.
Its this warm hospitality, vibrant energy, palpable vibe, and electric atmosphere that embodies the heart and soul of Cape Town – and people just can’t get enough! Whether it’s the people, places, sites or scenery, or the perfect combination of everything, the Mother City is, and will always be, one of the most beloved, sought-after, and celebrated wedding destinations for anyone & everyone looking to tie the knot in one of the most breathtaking locations.
