Weddings & Honeymoons South Africa

Weddings & Honeymoons in South Africa

So you are planning a wedding or honeymoon in South Africa. Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life, and you want it to be perfect. Your honeymoon is the beginning of a new direction in your life and you want to remember it fondly. But planning a wedding or honeymoon can be overwhelming. This Wedding and Honeymoon Guide is designed to help make it easier and more enjoyable to plan the South African wedding or honeymoon of your dreams.

You will find all the wedding venues, honeymoon destinations and  services to assist you with the planning of your South African Wedding or honeymoon.

The Wedding Reception

Compare reception facilities What can take weeks has been summarized into a wedding reception comparison page so you can accomplish a selection in just a few hours. Search for a wedding and reception venue from our extensive list of fine Hotels and dedicated Function Venues. Merle is a wedding and honeymoon consultant. She specialises in arranging weddings in South Africa and will gladly assist you in arranging your wedding and honeymoon.

Wedding Reception Venues

The following Wedding Reception Venues for your South African Wedding are worth checking out.

KwaZulu Natal

• Providence

• Greenfields

• Cathederal Peak Hotel

• Umsuluzi Riverside Lodge

• Hartford House

Tips and tricks for planning a South African wedding

1). Disposable Cameras at the Reception: - Include Directions on How to Use Disposable Cameras: Disposable cameras at the tables can be a fun for everyone! However, some brides have been disappointed when only half of their pictures came out! The reason? People do not know how to use the flash. So, be sure to buy cameras that you only have to "arm the flash once" and, make sure you place directions at the table about how to use the camera and the flash.

2). Choosing your photographer: - Ask To See an Album from a Single Wedding. When choosing a photographer, ask to see an album that is from a single wedding. Many times, a photographer will make up an album of several weddings which includes their best pictures. (Just about any photographer can take a few great shots during an eight hour day!) Viewing a complete album from a single wedding will give you a better feel for the photographer’s style and expertise.

3). Flowers for Mother of the Bride & Mother of the Groom: Ask your florist to prepare two very special bouquets as thank you for both mothers. These are traditionally presented by the groom during his speech.

4). Reception Venues: The reception venue needs to be booked and confirmed as soon as possible. It is a good idea to visit as many possible reception venues as you can to compare what each one has to offer. Always ask for written quotes so you can make your decision at home without feeling pressurised. Once you have decided on your venue, confirm the date and requirements in writing and insist on written confirmation from the venue, including written confirmation of the date by which they require a deposit payment. (Then don't forget to pay on the specified date.)

Honeymoon

When it comes to planning your Honeymoon you will find a good selection here, whatever your budget. 5 star Luxury Get-a-ways or a romantic week away on Safari. You will find the ideal Venue in our honeymoon selection. And planning your dream honeymoon in South Africa is maybe the best part about planning your wedding.

Honeymoon Tips    

If you are one of the lucky people who possess one of those hard, molded suitcases, it could be a blessing in disguise. If the re-inforced sides are reasonably flat and you can get your hands on a little travel iron with a universal plug adaptor to take with you on Honeymoon- VIOLA! You have a portable ironing board! Yes, a very bizarre suggestion but, practical nonetheless. By placing a towel on top of your suitcases` closed lid and using a warm - NOT HOT- travelling iron, you can remove even the most stubborn creases from your once neatly packed clothes. (Unless of course you are `going bush`, where finding a source of electricity is a challenge.)

Crease resistant garments are a godsend they can be packed and unpacked in virtually the same condition. Unpack as soon as you arrive. If they do have a few minor creases in them, hang them in a very steamy bathroom and the creases should just fall out.

Precautions
Take a small first aid kit with you for `just in case`. Plasters, antihistamine cream, bug spray and Mercurochrome are mainstays (you never know when you may need them, particularly when in a totally unfamiliar place, where you don`t speak the language.)

Once you have decided where to go on Honeymoon, you should find out whether you need to have any special vaccinations before you leave. You can get this information from your travel agent or from the airline you are using.

If your flight is going to be a long one, remember that flying dehydrates the body. This doesn`t mean that you should get horribly drunk, because alcohol can also make you feel worse. Drink a lot of soft drinks and fruit juice, as well as a few bottles of water.

Along the same lines - try to eat a light meal on the plane, as too much food and drink makes jet-lag even worse. When visiting tropical areas, avoid buying or eating food from any outside vendors. If you do, you can expect many explosive trips to the bathroom, often at the most inopportune times - not the best place to spend your Honeymoon. Only eat the food that the hotel chefs have prepared - it is safer than eating any food you have had to buy. It is also wise not to drink the water from any taps - use bottled water and make sure that the safety seal has not been tampered with.

If you are on a tight budget, resist the urge to use room service as this could add more than you expect to your hotel bill!

Planning
You should apply for your travel visas well in advance. Government agencies are notorious for their long queues and inconvenient visa refusals.

Set your mind at rest; hidden surprises are unwelcome when discovered at the last possible minute. Confirm all details of your honeymoon at least three weeks before you are due to leave. Remember, you can always ask your travel agent for a confirmation sheet. If they are unable to provide you with one, then, just to be on the safe side, re-confirm all the details telephonically three days prior to departure.

Try to find out if the country you are visiting has any special traditions that you will be expected to keep. For example, in certain countries like Spain, you will not be permitted to enter any of their beautiful, old churches if you don`t have a scarf to cover your head with. Showing too much skin is also frowned upon in a couple of places, you don`t want to offend the natives!

Make sure that your travel agent knows you are on your honeymoon. This information may get forwarded to the airline or hotel you are staying at. Some airlines automatically upgrade your seats or give you a special status. Maitre D`s may seat you at a more romantic table and hotels may send complimentary goodies to your room. Don`t depend on it though, and you may need to take your marriage certificate along with you as proof.

Post Honeymoon
If your trip is a disaster, you are fully entitled to complain to the parties concerned. These may include the travel agents, the airline or the hotel/resort you were staying at. If your trip was a raging success, you should also speak to these people and compliment them on the services you received while you were away.

Budget blues?
By all means, shop around for travel agents that offer the least expensive services, but be sure that corners are not cut elsewhere. Often it`s a case of `what you pay is what you get`, and bad planning has the potential to ruin a honeymoon irrevocably!

Peace of mind
Travel insurance is an important aspect of travelling, protecting you and your spouse against unnecessary costs that may be incurred by illness or accidents. Many types of travel insurance exist, many of which are covered by your Visa or MasterCard. Make sure yours is sufficient!

Counting those hidden costs
Ask your travel agent to estimate all possible costs that you are likely to incur on your journey, such as taxes, tipping, tours and entertainment. They should be able to gauge how much should be put aside for these hidden expenses every day.

Those little extras
Make sure that your agent has notified the hotel and the airline that you are a honeymoon couple. Very often, they will surprise you with upgrades and a few fringe benefits to help you celebrate.

Travel in comfort
If you`re booking early enough, enquire about pre-booked plane seats that are perfectly tailored for your needs. Even in economy class, some seat locations are more comfortable than others, but this varies depending on the airline and the type of aircraft. Bulkhead seats, for instance, offer slightly more legroom. And while on the subject of flying, now is the time to select the menu you prefer, whether its kosher, vegetarian or low-fat.

Decisions, decisions . . .
If you`re struggling to find the ideal honeymoon destination, why not approach a honeymoon travel specialist? Cloud 9 Honeymoon Destinations is happy to put themselves at the disposal of all future brides and grooms. And, as a travel agency entirely devoted to honeymoon travel, they have some suggestions that will make the decision a whole lot easier. Says Gwen of Cloud 9: "There are so many possibilities, but there is only one honeymoon. It is important to select a destination that caters for the holiday you are looking for." Gwen`s advice to couples is to begin by selecting from the options below:
Quiet and Secluded - Few interruptions and loads of quality time to plan your future together.
Amazing Adventure - Experience something out of the ordinary, camel-back riding, hiking or a scenic ecologically-friendly retreat.
Active and Energetic - For the fit and fun-loving, select from skiing, scuba diving, and white water rafting among others. Golf is another option, but only if you both enjoy pounding the fairways.
A Taste of Touring - Take in as many destinations as budget and time will allow. Treat yourselves to new sights, new sounds and new experiences.
All-inclusive Cruising - Choose between the South African Coast, a Nile, Caribbean or Mediterranean Cruise. Offering non-stop food, entertainment and sun, cruises usually stop at a variety of islands, giving you some time to hop off and explore.

 Planning your honeymoon can present a challenge if you`re working with a limited budget. No matter who you are or where you`re going, careful consideration should be put into managing your money safely and effectively while away. Below are just a few tips to get you started.

Remember that a little bit of number crunching may be time consuming, but will prove well worth the effort! First, decide how much you can afford to spend. This will help you determine which destinations are within your reach, and how many days you will be able to holiday for.

It is important to consider the time of year you will be travelling when planning your vacation. A trip to a certain destination may cost more because it is during their peak season. Other destinations may be just as enticing and far more pocket-friendly at the time of the year you wish to globe-trot.

The main expenses
Draw up a financial plan well in advance, by finding out the approximate costs of various aspects of your holiday. By being aware of what these costs are from the outset, you will be able to shop around and save substantially. The following expenses are involved in most trips:

• Luggage
• Airline tickets (unless driving or using another method of transport.)
• Visas and other necessary documents (where applicable)
• Airport taxes (where applicable)
• Accommodation
• Food
• Transport
• Sight-seeing
• Miscellaneous costs (Tips, souvenirs, gifts, etc.)

The travel agent
Scour the newspapers for special offers, and visit a selection of travel agents before committing yourself. Find out exactly what each package includes. Don`t necessarily go for the cheapest bargain if you are unsure of the company that is offering it. Rather select a travel agent who is thorough, efficient and accessible.

(If you`re stuck on foreign territory with no accommodation and a serious language barrier, your entire holiday could be jeopardised. Even if the cost is slightly more, choose a company that can be held accountable if something should go wrong.)

Your budget
Once you have decided on the length of your stay, you need to establish a daily budget, which will include spending cash for: food, transport, activities (such as sight-seeing) and shopping. Try to set aside a little more each day then you think you`ll need, just in case!

• Speak to your travel agent about any incidental costs that you are likely to incur (for example, tipping).
• If you`re planning your honeymoon, remind your travel agent that you are newly weds. Many hotels offer discount rates or free upgrades if you are able to produce a recent marriage certificate.
• Find out about foreign exchange, so that you can adjust your finances accordingly. (Visit www.oanda.com/site.cc.index.html for a quick and convenient currency conversion calculator, no matter where you`ve planned to go.)
• Airline ticket prices are often variable. Early birds often get discount rates, while last minute bookings can sometimes be made via an `online` auction. If you do leave it this late, check out the site of the relevant airline to see what they can offer.
• Transport can eat into your budget drastically while away. Rather than taking a taxi, invest in a pocket guide of your destination, and find out how the local transportation system works. (Bus, rail, etc.)
• Food can also be expensive. Take a few non-perishable snacks in your case with you, and if you are really on a cost-effective vacation, stay at self-catering chalets or similar. Then, shop at local supermarkets. Restrain yourself from spending too much on alcohol, as this could empty your wallet rapidly.

One final word of advice
Don`t skimp too much on sight-seeing and activities. You may never have another opportunity to learn abut the culture and indulge in the spectacular sights that the destination has to offer. These provide the special memories that will linger long after the holiday is over!