Next to taking a long walk on the beach, getting married is one the most romantic experiences that any couple could realize. Every couple would want to get married on the beach, but very few get to achieve this dream and fewer couples get married on exotic beach locations. It may sound like a cliché that you have heard over and over again, but it is entirely possible to have an inexpensive foreign beach wedding. It all starts with your exotic beach location choice, and South Africa is becoming an increasingly popular beach wedding location for couples from all over the world.
Getting married in South Africa
South Africa provides some of the most beautiful beach wedding locations found in the world. The country has white sandy beaches found in Cape Town, the West Coast, the Garden Route and KwaZulu Natal. The biggest decisions that couples getting married in the country will have to make involve selecting an ideal location within the country and settling on a precise date. The climatic conditions found in different regions of the country should be factored into consideration, when settling on the wedding date.
Climate
South Africa is surrounded by the Indian and Atlantic oceans on three sides, which gives the country a temperate climate. The country experiences winter from June to August. The country experiences greatly varying topography, and the southern hemisphere experiences the mildest climatic conditions. The extreme south western part of the country experiences a Mediterranean climate, characterized by wet winters and dry summers. The eastern side of the country experiences evenly distributed rainfall throughout the year, and the area is popularly referred to as the Garden Route. Sutherland is the coldest place in the country and it lies on the western side of Roggeveld Mountains.
What you should know about South African beach weddings
- The unpredictable nature of the South African weather makes it important to have a back-up venue; just in case a down pour is experienced on the particular day that a couple chooses for their beach wedding. This is one of the setbacks associated with beach weddings and all outdoor weddings in general; you can never predict the weather to precision. It is recommended to go for a beach front location, attached to a resort or villa.
- When settling for the precise date and season to have the wedding, keep in mind the time of day that you would like to have your beach wedding. It is wise to find out about the tides and choose a low tide period to have your ceremony. Moon phases determine the tides experienced, and generally tides tend to be higher when there is a full moon. Low tides are experienced in spring.
- Most of the beaches in South Africa are considered as public property, and therefore couples have to live with having less than private beach weddings. Couples who go for wedding planners or wedding coordinators have greater chances of locking down secluded beach locations for their ceremonies.
- Special permission is required to get married on the South African public beaches, and this permission can be obtained from the city council. Likewise, couples who contract the services of wedding coordinators will have this taken care of; as part of their wedding package.
- Drinking alcohol on the South African beaches is not permitted, and therefore couples are better off moving the after party to indoor locations.
Go for a South Africa beach wedding package
Planning a wedding is not a simply task, especially in the case of planning a foreign wedding. It is highly recommended that you should go for one of the wedding packages offered by independent wedding planners or the hotels and resorts found in South Africa. Going for a wedding package comes provides several advantages, and the couple only has to worry about the big day as opposed to planning a wedding in an unfamiliar country. Most wedding packages include:
- A wedding coordinator and team of planners (decorators, caterers and catering staff , hair and make-up specialists and cleaning teams)
- Beach permit
- Setting up of the wedding and reception venue according to the couple’s specifications
- Hiring the services of a minister and environmental control officer
- Wedding photographer, with a wedding photography package which includes the delivery of a specified number of printed photographs and all the photos presented to the couple on a CD
Notably, different wedding packages come with varied planning services. However, the couple should take care of planning aspects such as acquiring the bride and groom’s wedding outfits personally. Sending out the wedding invitations should also be overseen by the couple, well in advance.
South African beach wedding venues
Here is a list of some of the best South African beach wedding venues, which offer attractive wedding packages.
- Big Blue beach Lodge– located in Port Elizabeth, the venue is secluded at a coastal village and provides a breath taking beach view.
- Blue Bay Lodge – located in a tranquil fishing village, Saldanha Bay, the resort offers panoramic views and beach side cottages.
- Cape Sunset Villas – located on Sunset Beach, the location offers a beautiful marquee under which couples can get married. The location also has a great view of Robben Island and a panoramic view of the Table Mountain.
- Sunset Beach Guest House – located on Sunset Beach, the 4 star beach side guest house is ideal for couples having small or large beach weddings.
- Villa Castollini – the location can accommodate large weddings and attractive wedding packages are offered to couples getting married on the premises.
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