Destination weddings the in-thing

In Kenya, beach weddings top the list followed by the Mara. FILE 

By Isabella Mukumu

Posted  Thursday, January 9   2014 at  16:11

In Summary

• Wealthy families are outdoing each other on who can host the plushiest ceremony.

When property and banking magnate Sudhir Ruparelia announced that he would spare no expense for his daughter’s lavish wedding last year, the news made headlines in most newspapers around the region.

The Uganda-based billionaire revealed early last year that he planned to spend as much as $2 million (Sh172 million) on his first daughter, Meera Ruparelia who will be getting married on Valentine’s Day this year to a businessman from a wealthy Kenyan family, Ravi Kotecha.

The said wedding is thought to be the most expensive in East Africa and will be a destination wedding both in Kampala and London.

Ms Catherine Masitsa Rozsa of Samantha Weddings tells of how Indian weddings are often high fliers with most communities competing to outdo each other, with the parents being the ones paying for the occasion.

Beach weddings

Destination weddings have over the years gained popularity among the growing middle class with most breaking away from the traditional indoor weddings for a lavish outdoor wedding.

Many have dreamt of exchanging their vows in the most exotic destination, under the sun in the cool coastal breeze with palmtrees swaying and a magnificent backdrop to capture it all.

It’s probably one of the more expensive weddings to hold but one that will give your guests something to talk about for a long time.

“Destination weddings have now become the most sought-after in the country with Masai Mara and Beach weddings taking the lion’s share of these events,” says Ms Rozsa

Malindi, Lamu, and Watamu are the most preferred destinations for the beach weddings while African bush weddings are mostly in the Masai Mara.

The options are now numerous as hotels and holiday destinations open up their grounds to include various wedding packages.

Countries have also taken up the mandate to market themselves as a wedding destination of choice due to the growing demand for destination weddings.

Representatives from different countries are flocking wedding fairs to get part of the share, in Africa, South Africa has the highest number of destination wedding bookings.

“In Kenya, the trend is fast catching on among the middle class who prefer a luxurious but small private affair with a few friends and family outside the city,” says Ms Rozsa.

Those going for such a wedding will usually limit the numbers because they want the best for their guests. Most of the time, the guests will be transported to the wedding venue and accommodated full board for the duration of the event.