Choosing A Safari Wedding From A Bush Loving Photographer's Perspective

Is a bush wedding for me?

Before I get into this question let me quickly take you back to where my love for the bush started. When I was little we would go to Kruger on holiday's and it always felt like an adventure. I am thankful for the city I live in - the convience of having everything we need within a few kilometers from where I live - grocery deliveries - good health care - good schools - entertainment. But my heart loves the quiet. My heart loves nature - the sounds of nature - the smells of it. Then you add seeing the animals in their natural habitat and the thrill you get when you spot a leopard in the tree is really special.

There is a sense of romance in the bush - wild, adventurous romance. Can you think of a better place to get married - I can not. If you love travel, adventure, nature then a safari wedding is for you. A safari wedding goes beyond the ceremony and the reception meal it is an experience. It's waking up on your wedding day with the sounds of the birds and elephants. Its the relaxing breakfast overlooking the river where hippo's are coming out of the water to catch the first rays of sunlight. Its the game drive you go on after the ceremony to take some couple photos and spot some animals. A safari wedding is truly unique.

Does having safari wedding mean I have to elope?

Although bush weddings make for incredible elopement locations it definitely does not mean you can only elope. Micro weddings are the latest trend and I am all for it. A micro wedding is a small intimate wedding attended by a handful of your closest family and friends. For smaller lodges you can book out the whole lodge for a couple of nights and how special would it be to see your loved ones witness you saying your I do's as well as experiencing a safari for the first time. If you wanted even more guests (the more the merrier kind of vibe) you could choose a venue like Lunikhy Game Farm, Monate Game Lodge or Mabula Game Lodge.

Safari Wedding Tips From A Photographer

I have been so so SO fortunate to photograph many safari weddings and have come up with a little list that will hopefully help someone planning a safari wedding.

• Make sure you will be able to move in your wedding dress - you will be climbing in and out of a game viewing vehicle :)
• Wear or bring with comfortable shoes for the same above reason.
• Although a black suit and shoes are always a classic for grooms - you will be in the bush which means its rather sandy. Try go for browns, beige, creams or even grey tones.
• It can also get chilly on the back of a game vehicle during our couple shoot so bring a warmer jacket along for the ride.
• Some live music for when you walk down the isle and after the ceremony is always special.
• Go with the flow of the day. When you are in the bush time stands still. Don't rush any of the days events. Have a long breakfast with mimosas - a full body massage - a relaxing bubble bath - just take it all in.
• Choose a photographer that will help capture what the day felt like and not only what it looked like. How I structure my bush wedding pricing is I do not give set hours of coverage. Once I am there I will photograph your love story.

Choosing a Lodge

You can't really go wrong with any of the lodges - the service you receive at a luxury lodge is second to none. Here are some of my favourites for hosting a wedding:

• Ulusaba (Sir Richard Branson's Private Game Reserve)
• Dulini
• MalaMala
• Singita
• Thornybush
• Klaserie Drift

These venues are all in the Greater Kruger National Park area but you can also find beautiful bush venues in the Karoo, Kwa Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and of course Botswane, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe of which I would love to be a part of and capture.