We recently had an amazingly wild-ish experience at an elopement wedding in Kenya. The entire event was held on a lugga right within a forest in Laikipia.
Other than the pearly white sandy beaches of the Kenyan coast, Laikipia county is one of the best wedding destinations in Kenya.
The thrill lies in its mysticism, the regal Samburu and Maasai communities that call it home and the expansive serene savannah landscape teeming with assorted wildlife.
We were there over two days to set up for Claudia and James’ special destination wedding for about 64 guests.
A peek into an elopement wedding in Kenya
The elopement wedding venue in Laikipia
The wedding venue was a lugga at the bottom of the ridge of a small escarpment nestling Tassia Lodge, a luxury eco-tourism facility.
The couple chose the lugga as their wedding venue because it serves incredible views of the dry rocky waterfall and Lengishu plains where if you look closely you’ll see elephant and buffalo herds in the distance grazing or enjoying a sip at the nearby watering hole.
But it was an arduous task getting there because it’s pretty remote. With the zero road network, we had to delicately navigate the trees and vegetation, crossed a river and about two luggas at the risk of getting stuck and on arrival discovered there’s absolutely no mobile phone network. Sheesh!
Our truck used the Isiolo route which is better than the Timau-Borana conservancy one. This one is pretty steep and can’t be accessed if you don’t have a proper 4×4, because nothing else will do.
As the wedding decorators, we also had reservations incase it rained suddenly and our precious setup got swept away but we were assured by the lodge manager that it was a dry season and wouldn’t rain till probably later in the month.
Apparently, they also seek indication from elephant behavior on imminent rains or a change in weather patterns.
The ceremony
The ceremony was set against the backdrop of the dry rocky waterfall overlooking the lugga’s long stretch.
The wedding arch consisted of driftwoods collected from the river bed and adorned with some white florals remnants from the reception florals.
We didn’t set any chairs or furniture in this section because guests were either to stand or sit on the rocks for the hour long ceremony.
Chill zone
There was a chill zone with hay bales covered in white linen, barrels and palette crates.
Because it was insanely hot between 10am to 3pm, the event kicked off at 4pm and guests were held here after the ceremony to enjoy sundowners and appetizers passed around by Embark restaurant servers.
They were then ushered to the wedding reception area for a seven course dining experience.
Reception
The reception had a rustic dining setup of farmhouse tables, bentwood chairs, elaborate floral decorations and custom place settings.
Claudia was particularly insistent on customizing the place settings and ensuring every guest felt special. Each place setting had a handcrafted boho fringe raffia placemat, napkin, name card and menu.
The entire setup was inside a metal frame with hanging string lights to enhance the ‘under the stars dining’ theme.
Menu
This was evidently one of the best experiences of this elopement wedding in Kenya because the dinner was a seven course meal prepared and served by Embark restaurant.
The restaurant expertly run by chef Dennis Ang’ani serves farm-to-table East African-European cuisine.
The seven course dining experience featured an appetizer, soup, salad, a fish course, the main dish, a cheese course and dessert.
It lasted about four hours allowing for speeches and banter in between servings. Each course was paired with appropriate wines and beverages and they also ensured guests with special meal requirements received consideration.
Accommodation
The lodge had cleared two campsites near the wedding lugga, one for the guests and the other for the vendors. The guests campsite featured well made beds with quality beddings, ablution facilities and furniture.
The vendor section was also pretty comfy with well made beds, separate ablutions and a common dining area.
Each campsite had different chefs catering generous servings of breakfast, lunch and supper.
Guests had the additional comfort of accessing the lodge’s amenities that included an infinity pool overlooking the escarpment. Although they had to be shuttled back and forth due to the wildlife around the lodge.
All in all, it was a highly memorable and adventurous experience worthy of a repeat if it was even remotely possible!
Thank you Claudia and James, we wish you the very very best on your new journey together.
How to choose a venue for an elopement wedding in Kenya
The beauty about Kenya is that it comes with varied choices, from beaches to the farm highlands, forests and wildlife parks, it all depends on what you like or enjoy in terms of the environment and activities.
Once you select your choice venue, find out whether it meets all the requirements for an event. Consider your budget, guest numbers, vendors, accommodation and meals.
You should also check the venue’s proximity to medical and security facilities.
How much is an elopement and destination wedding in Kenya?
If as a local you’re planning a destination wedding in Kenya, it’s most likely a traditional Kenyan wedding which often takes place in the rural home of the bride or groom.
However, there’s also the option of an elopement, adventure or luxury destination wedding at a select establishment, forest, lodge or beach.
Costs for an elopement wedding in Kenya depend on various factors such as the number of guests, distance from the primary location, elaborate decor, meals and accommodation. The costs can range from Kshs. 500,000 to over Kshs. 5,000,000 or more.
Work with us
The details in an elopement wedding can be pretty overwhelming and you definitely need to work with a professional event planner. That’s where we come in.
We’re event and wedding planners in Kenya and we’ll help you source a suitable venue for your elopement wedding in Kenya, vet appropriate vendors, prepare vendor briefs and contracts, follow up on the deliverables and prepare plus manage a comprehensive budget.
If you’re ready, call us on 0721771185 or email us, [email protected] and we’ll revert ASAP.
