Text by Lauren Perry & Images by Anja Riise
Jaci’s Lodges recently hosted a most romantic (different from the story book kind) bush wedding for an amazing couple.
Image by Anja Riise
It started over a year ago when I first met the happy couple to be. Their passion for the bush was clearly visible and infectious. I knew that this was going to be an exceptional bush wedding and we were going to have to pull out all the stops to make it happen for them.
Image by Anja Riise
After the initial visit and meet, the planning started with getting all their ideas on paper of what they envisioned for their “big day”.
A few months after the initial meeting, the bride to be, her Mom and her Wedding planners came back to spend a weekend at the lodge so that we could talk about all the logistics. We needed to plan where all 77 people would stay, where the ceremony would be, the rooms and all the layouts. Our aim was to make everyone comfortable for a bush wedding and assuring the bridal party that we would most certainly be able to pull this off in spectacular fashion. After that weekend it already felt like we were doing a wedding for one of our close Jaci’s Family members. The next time I would see them again would be a year later for the Wedding ceremony.
Image by Anja Riise
When a year feels like it’s far away, think again!! After many, many emails, WhatsApp calls, more emails and more WhatsApp calls on a monthly basis. All the planning, getting everything just right, and you rub your eyes, suddenly the time has come.
To anyone that thinks that this was just a wedding has been mistaken, this was a whole wedding weekend. We had live singers, DJ’s, videographers and photographers, hairdressers, makeup artists and florists on site, not to mention the exceptional Jacis Team in full force.
Image by Anja Riise
As I mentioned earlier this was a Whole Wedding weekend, and it was kicked off by a hugely successful game drive with Sundowners all together in the bush. To end off the evening with a magical Safari Themed Star light dinner with a Saxophone, lions roaring harmoniously complementing each other, and as an extra added bonus, the beautiful voices of the Jaci’s Staff choir to round it off. The perfect start to a magical weekend.
Image by Anja Riise
Image by Anja Riise
Image by Anja Riise
The wedding day had finally arrived, and while everyone was out on drive, the entire Jaci’s Team is scurrying around like army ants to get everything in place for the ceremony which was due to start at 16:00 out in the bush, quite a distance away from the lodge.
While the one team was tackling that, we had another team looking after everyone that was returning from drive for breakfast. No sooner had everyone moved off from the main lodge to go and prepare themselves for the Wedding, the transformation of the lodge was put into action. The great thing about having Jacis Safari Lodge and Jacis Tree Lodge within walking distance of each other, was that we were able to move venues for different meals so that we could have time to get set up.
Image by Anja Riise
The transformation of the ceremony site and the venue were both truly magical.
Lights, Camera, Action and it was almost over in a flash, the most beautiful ceremony and a most festive reception with lots of food, wine, dancing and music always makes for a perfect night.
Image by Anja Riise
Image by Anja Riise
Image by Anja Riise
The following and final day, game drives and bloody marys were the order of the day, not to mention lots of relaxing for the whole wedding party. The Jacis Team miraculously got everything back to normal, and anyone just arriving would have had no idea that we had just hosted a wedding of such mega proportions. Only the lovely big Protea arrangements remained as evidence.
Image by Anja Riise
The day of departure for everyone unfortunately arrived and lots of tears and hugs were shared, as you finally realize that it’s over and you are able to put another feather in you cap.