Wedding venue wish list

www.litchiorchard.co.za

We are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting your ideal wedding venue. There is no shortage of beauty or uniqueness if you are planning on getting married in South Africa. The vast terrain means quite simply, there is something for everyone.

From game reserves, farms, vineyards, beaches, countryside, cities to garden venues, take your pick.

The weakness of the Rand to the Sterling also makes it an affordable option for couples based in the UK. You can have your dream ‘holiday destination wedding’ for a third of the price and the warm weather is guaranteed(avoid Cape Town Winters). The only drawback is that the cost of flights could deter some of your guests from making the trip, but maybe that’s a good thing!

Picking a venue in South Africa is a tough job. It’s almost like being let loose into a Vera Wang wedding dress store room filled with hundreds of beautiful, lovely, heavenly (you get the picture) dresses. How can you possibly pick just one? Well some people might get to pick a second or third time but let’s hope that’s not us!

To simplify the process you need to decide: what type of wedding are you looking for?

Always been a lover of the African bush then maybe a Game Reserve is your preference? Home to the infamous Kruger Park there is an abundance of Game reserves located around major cities such as Johannesburg (Kruger) and Durban (Zululand). Depending on the size of your party this will cull down your list on suitable venues. Most Game Lodges can only cater for small numbers of guests. Zulu Nyala Game Lodge in Zululand caters for larger weddings and all guests can be accommodated in either their Game Lodge or Hertiage Safari Lodge, which are 5 minutes apart. This is the venue for my wedding in October and I can say I was very surprised at how reasonable they are in comparison to other lodges. Leopard Mountain is a lovely little lodge and a great venue for a smaller wedding party. The views from the lodge are spectacular and they have a dry river bed location making for a very special ceremony.

www.zulunyalagamelodge.com

Have a bigger budget? The Singita reserves cater for a more upmarket and luxury venue with lodges in Kruger, Sabi Sands, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. I have myself stayed as a guest in the Sabi Sands reserve and have only amazing things to say about it. The game viewing was one of a kind and the level of service far surpasses any other lodge I have visited. I can imagine that if you had to choose this reserve to exchange your vows it would be a truly special and memorable occasion.

www.singita.com

Is your palette a sucker for a bit of vino? Apart from the Med, South Africa has the oldest wine making industry and the Western Cape offers some magnificant Wineland venues. A friend recently got married at Vrede en Lust in Franschhoek and whilst I was unable to attend the photographs made me double think my choice about getting married on a Game Farm (but only for about 5 seconds). Based at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains, if its a speculator backdrop you are looking for, this is the place to hold your ceremony.  Whilst Cape Town is probably the most attractive area of South Africa, with Table Mountain at its centre, it is also the most demanding on your credit card.

www.vnl.co.za

Due to South Africas agriculture sector a whole lot of awesome Farm venues are available. Being the worlds second largest fruit exporter you can pledge your vows amongst lemons or litchis, if you fancy? Sandveld Country Estate is a citrus farm located in the Sandveld just 2 hours outside of Cape Town. They have a free standing barn suitable for a reception and a few cottages available for guests and there is also a country lodge which I have stayed in and highly recommend. The Litchi Orchard just outside of Durban also provides for a beautiful, rustic location. They have a quaint open plan, wooden chapel giving you a true country bumpkin feel.

www.litchiorchard.co.za

Beach bum? With over 2,798 kms of coastline I am sure you could find a good spot to say 'I do'. The Garden Route offers a number of fabulous beach locations that cater for weddings of all sizes. Villa Castollini in Knysna is perfect for a ceremony on the beach followed by a reception with breath taking views. Get Married Garden Route is a great website for scanning wedding venues on the garden route.

Dreaming of a wedding amongst the spectacular Drakensburg mountains? Champagne Castle could be your answer. A dreamy little chapel nestled between rolling mountains and green hills. Another popular venue is the recently refurbished Netherwood Estate located in the midlands meander town of Nottingham Road.

www.netherwood.co.za

So as you can see it is a no brainer, South Africa is the best place to get married, fitting then that the worlds largest diamond weighing in at 3,106.75 carats was found there (even though it currently sits upon our gracious Queens head)!