knowledge weddings & honeymoons South Africa
ttglive.com
A bride among prides
The South African bush and its lions make for a fairytale wedding setting, as does a multimillionaire’s lodge. Katherine Lawrey talks to Candice Kriel (right), events planner at Ulusaba, about Sir Richard Branson’s reserve
Tell us about the different wedding locations at Ulusaba game reserve? The bride and groom can choose from a number of locations for their special day. They can exchange their vows under the romantic canopy of an amarula tree, surrounded by flaming bamboo torches and announced by the beat of African drums. Few settings evoke a more romantic atmos- phere than listening to the reserve’s animals while sipping champagne and watching the sun go down. Rock Lodge offers 180-degree spectacular views that are truly breathtaking for magical photo moments. Safari Lodge’s Treehouse Suite overlooks a dam and is a more intimate setting. In the summer a late afternoon ceremony is best due to the heat.
How many of the wedding features have to be booked in advance? Once the date is booked the rest can be finalised as late as two weeks prior to the couple’s arrival. Our reservation team will gather extensive information about their expectations so that when they arrive all the arrangements have been organised, giving the bride and groom time to relax before the big day. We’ve had couples arrive without having planned anything. Flowers, hair and make-up have to be pre-booked, but some
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couples have decided on the menu and venue on the day itself, so we’re accom- plished at making late arrangements.
What bespoke touches can you arrange? On the day of the couple’s arrival I will meet them to double check their preferences and expectations. Some brides know exactly what they want while others like to sit back and relax, knowing that everything has been taken care of. Whether you have a specific colour or theme in mind, Ulusaba will make every effort to ensure it is your perfect day. We’ve gone all out to get purple decorations before. A separate room for the groom can be organised (subject to availability) for him to get ready in on the wedding day.
What is the likelihood of couples seeing the “big five” – buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, rhino – on their wedding day? The beauty of nature is that it is so unpre- dictable, but it’s highly likely that they’ll see the big five during their stay. I recently had a couple who wanted to be married down by the water at the Xikwenga Dam, but the night before the wedding a pride of lions hunted a buffalo in that exact location, forcing the couple to change their plans. They moved to the Treehouse Suite viewing
deck, as it overlooks the dam. During the ceremony they were ecstatic to see the lion pride, including some six-week old cubs, drinking from the dam.
What facilities do you have for large groups?
We can accommodate up to 22 guests at either Rock or Safari Lodge, or up to 40 or so guests if both lodges are booked exclusively. For children we have a large range of activi- ties in our Cub’s Club, plus a babysitting service for children aged six and under who cannot participate in the daily game drives.
What do you offer honeymoon couples? Ulusaba loves to welcome honeymooners, and we organise little special touches and surprises throughout their stay. Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, private dinners and breakfasts in bed are available. We have two rooms at Safari Lodge and two at Rock Lodge with plunge pools for roman- tic evenings. Cliff Lodge has a private Jacuzzi and double shower with spectacular views.
BOOK IT
Four nights at Rock Lodge with Virgin Atlantic flights to Johannesburg, air transfers and accommodation on an all-inclusive basis starts from £3,966pp, based on two sharing in September – including one free night. Wedding packages start from £609.
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virginholidays.co.uk
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