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An experiential wedding will be talked about by your guests for many years to come, and choosing a magnificent destination is not only memorable, but creates an impressive location for your wedding photos.
Imagine a backdrop of stunning, pristine beaches at a luxurious Mozambican villa on an exclusive peninsula. Or the majestic, iconic Table Mountain setting the scene for your photos at an exquisite hotel. Or perhaps the nature abundant areas around Kruger National Park provide a perfect stage for your adventure wedding photos. They’re certainly all a far cry from the typical, characterless packed venue images, filled with acquaintances whose names you can barely remember.
An added benefit of a small guest list is the time you can spend personalising things like the save the date card, the wedding invite, the place cards, the wedding favours, and even the bottles of bubbly. You know your guests well, so you can really make them feel special with unique touches that suit their personality and taste.
At our Cape Town hotel, we hand-selected a stunning MCC for an event, and had our marketing team design the most beautiful labels with a uniqueness that tickled our guests pink.
Nevertheless, this is still your wedding and you can make it exactly how you want it to be. Think about how you’ve pictured yourself in your dream dress or suit, walking down the aisle or waiting at the pulpit, and all the people and things around you that you know are must-haves at your wedding.
Now, consider how to incorporate them into your wedding day. With only the people that truly know you around you on the day, you can wear something that shows off your personality. Why not wear your favourite bright colour, or black, or a bikini, or biker jacket?
Another wonderful thing about an intimate wedding is that you can make the ceremony itself really personal. We’ve all sat through a wedding and wished they’d skip a lot of parts. Well, why don’t you?
Traditionally, you need to include a processional, words of welcome and introduction, a reading, the officiant’s long-winded addressing of the couple, the vows, the kiss, the closing remarks, the recessional… phew. It’s a long list and not everything is absolutely necessary.
As long as you include the aspects that make it a legally binding marriage, then you can leave the parts you don’t want out, and add in other parts that give it a personal touch.
Photographs are pretty much obligatory, so while you and your new husband or wife are whisked away to capture the couply moments, it’s your chance to show your guests how well you know them and appreciate them. If they’re competitive, think about some lawn games like corn hole and giant Jenga.
A photo booth or selfie station is also a whimsical way to keep everyone entertained, while capturing some fun photos of the guests enjoying themselves. Of course, cocktails and canapés are usually a winner. In fact, many wedding hosts are turning to cocktail wedding receptions, instead of sitdown dinners, so this is a great way to kick that style of reception off.
Now back to the photos… what about your backdrop?
A wedding ceremony that overlooks a glittering ocean is high on many married couples to be’s lists.
The beauty of being by the sea is that it provides a stunning background for any photos. The advantage of somewhere like our exceptional ultra-luxury villa, Kilma Sanctuary, is it offers 360° views not only over the turquoise Indian ocean but also Maputo Bay and the Machangulo forest. This offers your photographer a plethora of sceneries to choose from.
On the subject of icons… how wonderful would it be to have the legendary Table Mountain in the background of your photos? It was once voted one of the Seven Wonders of the World for good reason.
It is one of the most photographed attractions in South Africa, breathtakingly beautiful with its multilayers of rock, Afromontane forest, fynbos and other flora. Our eco-hotel, Vida Nova Retreat, is situated on the southern slopes of the mountain, offering an exquisite lawn with indigenous gardens, an onsite restaurant with a world-class menu and an in-house spa for guests to indulge in treatments before and after the ceremony.
With a whole portfolio of stunning venues in southern Africa and beyond, wedding packages that make organising easy and a list of suppliers who can provide everything your heart desires for your wedding, you can count on Fire Island Eco Retreats to provide the perfect destination wedding.
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