Some members of the wedding industry have noticed an increased trend in destination weddings to Southern Africa , following the current favourable exchange rate.
Shelley Cox, Marketing Manager at African Bush Camps, and Nicole Smith, Director of Sales at Red Carnation Hotels South Africa, said they had noticed an increase in destination wedding requests from international clients.
Cox said Victoria Falls, in particular, had become a very popular destination for weddings and that guests often included a safari experience in Hwange, Mana Pools or Botswana to the wedding trip.Smith believes that easy access, with more connecting flights into Southern Africa, and the depreciation of the rand are driving this trend. Cox agrees and said the favourable exchange rate and changing world economics were contributing to more couples looking abroad for more affordable wedding options.
“We believe Southern Africa is benefiting from this trend and that the number of destination weddings in Southern Africa will continue to increase over the coming years,” said Cox.