A Soulful African Destination Wedding in Zambia with Roaming Wildlife & Luxury Belmond Trains

Set on the banks of the Zambezi River with Victoria Falls thundering in the distance, Simone and Jason’s four-day celebration in Zambia was the very definition of soulful luxury. Every element of the wedding was a seamless blend of cultural heritage, nature, and high design – from Shabbat blessings beneath the African sky to an intimate chuppah surrounded by water and lilac blooms. The couple’s vision was clear: to gather their loved ones in a place that felt alive with meaning, music, and magic, and to honor both their roots and their shared love for travel, culture, and connection. What followed was an extraordinary journey of design-led storytelling, where every moment – from welcome gifts of bespoke Zambian favors to barefoot dancing in the Boma – was carefully considered and artfully executed.

A Soulful African Destination Wedding in Zambia with Roaming Wildlife & Luxury Belmond Trains

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

We first met in spring 2019 at a casual Sunday lunch in Bondi, both fresh out of long-term relationships and not looking for anything serious. While I quietly admired his warm and respectful nature, he didn’t think I was interested. Jason left Sydney the next day for surgery, and we didn’t reconnect for months. Eventually, through mutual friends, we crossed paths again and a flirty friendship began – you can probably guess the rest!

^{The Proposal}

My proposal idea was to be as romantic as possible. Simone always mentioned how much she adores Italy, so I picked Rome, known as the “Eternal City.” I figured if she said yes, it would symbolize a long-lasting, eternal love between us. I didn’t want Simone to suspect anything, so I organized a date night. I took her to watch the opera before returning to our hotel the same evening for dinner. The proposal was on a private terrace at our favourite hotel in Rome, the Hotel de Russie.

^{The Engagement Ring}

I leaned on a close family friend who has spent his life in the world of diamonds. Knowing little about engagement rings, I chose an oval natural diamond set on a diamond eternity band. The ring has since been redesigned by Simone and Olivia Bond – which doesn’t surprise me at all, haha!

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

We wanted to bring all our loved ones to a unique destination that reflected our shared values and joys – a marriage of all the things we admire most: nature, wildlife, culture, family, soul, music, amazing food, and of course, each other. Our four-day celebration began in the Boma, a traditional African gathering space transformed with vibrant décor, where guests enjoyed regional dishes, cultural performances, and live African music.

To honor Jason’s heritage, the evening opened with a meditative Shabbat service before the Ndlovu Youth Choir moved everyone with Circle of Life, setting the perfect tone for the days ahead; the night ended barefoot on the dancefloor to El Mukuka’s Afro-house set. The next day, guests boarded a restored 1920s steam locomotive for a nostalgic journey to Victoria Falls, blending the opulence of Mr. Wong’s in Sydney with the romance of the Eastern & Oriental Express.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

Where do I even begin? We had an incredible team who pulled off a logistically complex, four-day celebration in Livingstone, Zambia. What once felt impossible came to life thanks to every single person involved. Many who started as strangers now hold a special place in our hearts. We’re endlessly grateful – my heart is still bursting with love and appreciation for everyone who made the best weekend of our lives possible. We absolutely adore them!

^{The Location}

When it came to choosing a wedding destination, we considered everywhere from Sicily to Provence and across Australia, but nothing felt quite like us. Then Jason asked me where I’d choose to get married if there were no limitations – just somewhere that truly spoke to my soul. I told him: a private game reserve in Kenya. I imagined a remote villa I’d once heard about, where wild elephants roam nearby and dinners are enjoyed under the African stars. At that moment, we realized we were completely aligned. Jason instantly thought of a place close to his heart – a country where his mother was born – set on the Zambezi River in a national park near Victoria Falls, where native wildlife roam freely: the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia.

Throughout the four-day celebration, it was important to us to honor our cultural roots. Jason’s mother is from Zambia, and he was born in South Africa, so his connection to that part of the world runs deep. We also wanted to celebrate his Jewish heritage alongside my own Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese background. Blending all of these traditions created a meaningful and inclusive experience that truly reflected who we are – both individually and as a couple.

^{The Ceremony}

Our ceremony was a dream, set in the Kingfisher Boma at the Royal Livingstone – a spacious yet intimate landscape surrounded by lush greenery and a tranquil pond. Our 3m-high chuppah was built on a grass island surrounded by water. The wedding team draped bridges and trees, and our guests were seated across the island in chairs covered with dramatic bow seat covers. The color theme was a fairly neutral palette, but Heike from Fleur le Cordeur added my preferred pop of color – a little lilac.

We asked the incredible Asili Choir if they could learn a rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love in Zulu for Jason’s aisle song, and a slow, gospel-inspired version of Latch by Disclosure for my entrance – you couldn’t wipe the smile off our faces when we heard them sing our requests for the first time.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

The cocktail hour, although it flew by, was a special moment. It was golden hour on the deck overlooking the mighty Zambezi River. For me, it was the moment I truly felt at peace and proud of what we had been able to pull off over the last few days.

^{The Reception}

Our reception was held on the lawns overlooking the Zambezi River at the Royal Livingstone. The team built a stunningly huge fabric wall, creating a warm and intimate space for us to dine under the African stars. Chairs were once again covered with calico and satin, and the tables were adorned with bespoke handmade clay lamps.

The way our wedding planners, KRAAK, wove the seating in and among the trees by the Zambezi River allowed us to see and interact with all our guests at once. The reception space was partly enclosed with beautiful drapery, artfully styled by Heike Hayward and her team at Fleur le Cordeur – it felt as though we had stepped into an entirely different African world.

^{The Special Touches}

Most of our guests arrived at the Royal Livingstone on the same Airlink flight from Johannesburg, which was so full of our loved ones and vendors – including the Ndlovu Choir – that we arranged a surprise in-flight flashmob that had everyone cheering when the crew even announced our wedding. To welcome them, we prepared personalized gift packs with a note designed by BYV Studio linking to our wedding website, handmade Wayawaya tote bags and pouches engraved with our monogram and each guest’s name, embroidered caps for safari adventures, Zambian chocolate bars, sunscreen balms, and fun beaded bracelets reading The Rubys. Almost every detail was lovingly chosen by Jason and me just weeks before, with our guests in mind.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

When we stepped into the Boma for our first look at the Welcome Event, everything we had envisioned for so long had finally come to life, exceeding every expectation and feeling even more meaningful after the challenges we had faced during planning. Sharing that magical setting with our nearest and dearest, brought to life so beautifully by the KRAAK team, reminded us that with each other there is nothing we can’t overcome. The Ndlovu Youth Choir then lifted the night to another level with their powerful energy – from bursting in with Circle of Life that had everyone dancing, to a moving rendition of Nessun Dorma that left hardly a dry eye in the room.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

It took me several months to find the one. I tried on countless gowns, met with various designers, and even flew from Sydney to Brisbane to visit Sam at Bloom Australia and explore their collection of Danielle Frankel pieces. I had narrowed it down to a few styles I liked, but it wasn’t until Sam invited me to the Danielle Frankel trunk show in Sydney that I found Lennon – a hand-tucked silk taffeta gown in Almond, featuring a hand-dyed ombré bodice. We made custom adjustments to lower the backline and extend the train. The color was a perfect complement to my olive skin tone, and we paired the gown with a custom extension of the Pleated Malfroy and Lace veil.

I kept my jewellery classic and minimal: a pair of South Sea pearl and diamond drop earrings from Greene & Greene Antiques as my “something old,” and a diamond tennis bracelet – a gift from my dear friends and former bosses – as my “something new.” My second look was a Spring 2018 RTW Christian Dior dress, acquired years ago. The moment I tried it on, I knew I was going to wear it to my wedding. For my final look of the day, I wore a sequined burgundy hoop dress by Tory Burch – a piece I stumbled upon during a trip to Shanghai a few months before the wedding. It was the perfect party dress for our after-party event, The Ruby Lounge.

^{The Groom Looks}

On the wedding day, Jason wore two looks. For the ceremony, he chose a custom Brett Wilson suit in a tobacco Loro Piana fabric, paired with Berluti leather loafers. Since the previous night was our “formal event,” we wanted the wedding day style to feel classic yet relaxed – no ties, with a brown and neutral palette to complement the natural beauty around us. Later, for The Ruby Lounge, Jason changed into a sharp burgundy Hugo Boss suit.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Choose the best planner you can – do your research, interview as many as you need, and trust your gut when it comes to finding the right team. Our team at KRAAK were incredibly accommodating and flexible with every request. They made the impossible possible and felt like true friends throughout the entire journey. We couldn’t have pulled off the most incredible four-day celebration without them!

^{For On the Day}

Take a moment to spend some time alone, and also with your closest friends and family. These meaningful moments may not all look the same, but they’re the ones you’ll remember forever – as well as those special moments with your wife!

^{For Post-Wedding}

If you’re hosting an overseas wedding, go on a friendsmoon. After the hype of the wedding, there can be a big comedown afterwards. Going away with a group of your closest friends keeps the good times rolling while still allowing for some quality downtime. After that, you can’t go wrong with a honeymoon at a beachside location.