Weddings in Africa – Kenya Beach Weddings

Posted at January 5, 2010

It’s no secret that most people, ladies to be precise, starts planning their wedding at a very tender age, all hoping to have the most glamorous of wedding outdoing any that has taken place before. To achieve this there is lots to consider when planning your wedding starting with the venue, budget, attire, privacy, weather, vows, guest list, legalities and the list goes on and on…

A wedding is an event where couples declare their undying love to each other infront of their family and friends and as such the day holds great significance leaving you with the encumbering role of ensuring that nothing goes wrong and that the event remains engraved in your minds and the minds of those present for a long time to come.

Choice of venue is very important as you want to have a spectacular backdrop when saying those vows and with that said the Kenyan beach weddings automatically comes to mind.

Why? You might ask! Kenya beach holidays has plenty of destinations on offer, some of these include Malindi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Lamu all possessing natural wonders ranging from extensive stretches of heavenly beaches endowed with superb coral reefs; pristine white sandy beaches infringed by palm and coconut trees and with some bordered by lush green coastal rainforest prolific with birdlife and variety of wildlife, screw pines, casuarinas and fragranced with oleanders and frangipani making a combination which gives you nothing short of a tropical paradise.

The hotels around Kenya beaches are nothing short of the international standards and afford you the chance to have a wedding and a honeymoon all in one place. Being the fact that it is a beach, the atmosphere is usually quit relaxed and informal wear is a norm though not a must.

Picture (bride) walking towards your groom barefoot feeling the touch of each and every sand crystal rubbing against your soft supple skin, you hair blowing away in the wind, the azure waters of the Indian ocean occasional splashing a drop or two on you, finally you approach your destined partner and vows are exchange amidst a breathtaking backdrop where romance feels the air, with that type of scenario am sure nothing could go wrong.

The other advantage of having a beach wedding is that you can hold the marriage ceremony and the reception right at the beach where everyone is at liberty to be themselves and have fun with minimal limitations.

As we all know, wedding planning can be such a headache and thus package deals are often on offer. This will basically include accommodation, flowers, registration fees, civil registrar’s fees and transportation to the wedding venue, decoration of the wedding venue, wedding cake, sparkling wine, button hole and bouquet, photography, videography, entertainment and witnesses.

This will however depend on the type of wedding i.e. Civil, traditional or a religious wedding. Religious ceremonies recognized under the Kenyan laws include Christian, Hindu, Islamic or Traditional African wedding. Christian weddings are usually recorded by the Kenyan Registrar; Hindu and Islamic couples get a Marriage Certificate, while an affidavit is issued in the case of an African traditional wedding.

Regardless of the choice made, be assured that it shall be organized in the most inspiring of ways with emphasis on delivery such that within as little as 12 hours after the wedding tangible evidence of your wedding in form of modern memorabilia will be at your doorstep i.e. an album of your wedding photos and a high quality video of your wedding.

The weather at the Kenyan coast is usually sunny for the better part of the year with an exception of a few months of the wet seasons which are March to May and November to December.

The costs of the wedding will however depend on various factors some of which include: the number of guest attending, menu, the venue for instance when using services of a luxurious hotel the cost will definitely be very expensive as opposed to using a 3star hotel; among others.

When planning for such an event it is advisable not to borrow to pay for it as you do not want to start your married life deeply in debt rather plan within your budget as different prices are on offer some reasonable enough and still meet your needs. For visitors to Kenya they will find that the cost of a wedding relatively cheap a factor contributed greatly due to the number of guests as only a few fly in for the wedding with some opting to have their wedding witness by the hotel staff.

For all planning to wed especially in a foreign country certain legalities are necessary; in Kenya it is mandatory that a couple notifies both the Registrars’ Office and the church where they want to get married 21 days before the wedding, a period which commences upon receipt by the registrar of a letter signed by both parties.

Most foreign couples fly in only a few days before their wedding and as such they have to get a Special License from the Registrar of Marriages in order to have their wedding recognized under the Marriage Act. A special License will also be required if you want to have a Civil Ceremony in another place other than the Registrar’s Office.

To acquire a Special License at the Registrar of Marriages certain documents are needed, these include: couple’s full documentation i.e. valid passports, valid tourist visas, birth certificates, a formal affidavit made by a solicitor or notary declaring that you are single and eligible to marry; proof of Decree of Absolute stamped by a court in case of previous divorce; certificate of death in case of a widow/widower situation; for Persons under 21 a written permission from their parents or guardians, in the form of an affidavit authorised by a solicitor or notary is required.

Other required details include: full addresses for each party involved and that of their parents, occupations and religion. Couples not resident to the country they intend to wed in are advised to be in the country a few days before the wedding day, a time which is to be spent overseeing all the arrangements of their wedding and necessitating any change necessary before the d-day.

While the idea of arranging a wedding in a foreign country may seem overwhelming, in Kenya, the legal formalities can be readily arranged by the local authorities or by a travel agency with prior request inorder to have sufficient time to have them ready before the wedding day.

For those seeking to have a little more privacy especially during the ceremony, Kenyan beach hotels, have the privilege of offering private beaches well secluded ensuring no interruptions and no gate crushers, the beaches boast of being quiet in nature with some large enough to accommodate big crowds for weddings and functions with a large attendance.

Many tour agents and hotels affords you the chance to have a stress free wedding as all is catered for in a package deal, take advantage of it now and do not miss the opportunity to have your wedding at one of the world’s most magnificent tropical paradises namely The Kenyan Coast a decision you will never regret but rather live to remember and cherish always.