The Sunday Mail
Beulah Billie and Patrick Noble Mwanza in a mock wedding display at the Sunday Mail bridal expo
Tendai Mbirimi – Bridal writer
Exceptional weddings are not only determined by the cost of the paraphernalia involved, but also by the disposition of the surrounding environment.
Weddings held in vacation locations away from the couple’s home town have gained popularity in recent years. Today, this hip alternative allows a couple to combine the best of an adventurous honeymoon with a more traditional ceremony, and at the same time saving money in the process.
There is no question that Zimbabwe is endowed with beautiful resorts suitable for destination weddings. Most hotels and resort centres have come up with state-of-the-art facilities suitable for vacation weddings.
Apart from conventional resorts, there are also other natural locations like the majestic Victoria Falls capable of adding savour to the nuptials ceremony.
Bridal Veil Falls in Chimanimani is one of the naturally disposed attractions capable of such. Tucked in a tranquil and pristine environment, far from the madding crowd in the southern part of the Eastern Highlands, Bridal Veil Falls offers a unique setting for vacation weddings.
The sight of the falls is simply breathtaking. If I had not been told its name before, I know I would have somehow associated it with nuptials. The falls are made up of constricted flow of water that rapidly expands from a narrow point at the top to a wide, lacy veil below befitting that angelic look, which any bride-to-be would want to be associated with. Actually staging a wedding ceremony there would be an interesting unique concept.
Resorts and tourism organisations have seen the dollar signs behind vacation weddings. Destination weddings can be more stress-free and simpler. As part of a package deal, many offer the complimentary services of on-site wedding consultants to help couples coordinate all of the ceremony essentials.
However, most destination weddings tend to be small in terms of numbers. Logistically, it would be difficult to hold a large wedding a long distance from home. That means many friends and family members will not be invited and at times this would have the negative effect of causing tension and hurt feelings for those who don’t receive invitations.
On the other hand, for those who do not want to bear the brunt of “friendly fire”, destination wedding in a far resort place is ideal. With a smaller invitation list, you can avoid the pressure of inviting the cousin you cannot stand or the in-law that everyone fights with.
Nonetheless, to alleviate the possibility of leaving out important guest who may fail to attend because of issues to do with distance; talk to those who are truly essential before you finalise on your choice of location.
Spending a luxurious wedding weekend in a dramatic location can often cost less than a seated dinner. Destination wedding etiquette calls for the bride and groom to pay for the hotel rooms, food and most of the guests’ expenses. Guests pay transportation costs only.
With a destination wedding, the honeymoon starts as soon as you are pronounced husband and wife. Once your guests have left, all imaginations are put to bed and real love takes charge as the unpacking of all long-kept affections begins.
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