A Wildly Romantic Safari Wedding Weekend in the Heart of South Africa

For Lexi and Stefano, a wedding was never going to be confined to a single moment. Instead, they invited their closest family and friends into a deeply personal journey through South Africa — beginning with rooftop celebrations overlooking Cape Town and culminating in an extraordinary safari weekend. Thoughtfully designed to honor the landscapes and experiences that had shaped their love story, every detail felt intentional yet effortlessly natural. Guests arrived by safari vehicle, gathered beneath vast African skies for candlelit dinners and choir performances, and spent their days moving between game drives, long-table feasts, and unexpected moments of wonder. Wild florals, flowing drapery, earthy palettes, and immersive event design blurred the line between celebration and experience, creating an atmosphere defined less by tradition and more by connection. Under the guidance of wedding planner Marianna Idirin, the couple's vision came to life with remarkable sensitivity and precision, while Les Vaques documented it all with the cinematic eye that transformed fleeting moments into lasting memories. 

Our Rehearsal Dinner

^{The Location}

My in-laws graciously hosted the rehearsal dinner at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, a space that felt iconic yet totally unexpected. The museum, set within the Silo District at the V&A Waterfront, is a striking transformation of an old grain silo with 360-degree views of the city and harbor. It was the perfect way to immerse our guests in the beauty and energy of Cape Town before we all set off for safari the next day.

^{Décor and Ambience}

The rooftop views of Cape Town were the true design feature of the evening, setting the tone from the moment everyone arrived. We enjoyed cocktails on the terrace with Table Mountain in the distance before moving into the main event space, framed by large windows that captured the unforgettable sunset. My mother-in-law thoughtfully and intentionally used local florals to soften the space, and all of our guests sat at a single long table that brought everyone together in an intimate, communal setting reflecting the spirit of the entire trip.

^{Our Style}

The Zeitz MOCAA lobby is incredibly dramatic, so I wanted my look to echo that same energy in an elevated way. In what was likely my favorite outfit of the trip, I wore a pearl bralette paired with a sleek white pencil skirt and a sheer cape from New Arrivals. I finished the look with Dolce & Gabbana pointed-toe heels and my grandmother's vintage Roberto Coin jewelry. Stefano kept things timeless and understated in a white linen suit from Suitsupply, which coordinated perfectly with my look.

Our Welcome Party

^{The Location}

Our welcome party felt less like a single event and more like a full immersion into the safari experience. After landing at Skukuza Airport, guests were whisked away in safari vehicles to MalaMala Game Reserve, with the journey itself instantly becoming part of the adventure, including spotting four of the Big Five on the drive alone. It was the most unforgettable welcome we could have imagined. After guests enjoyed champagne and small bites on the terrace, followed by the evening game drive, everyone returned to camp to find a beautifully set dinner waiting along the river.

^{Décor and Ambience}

As our first official dinner on safari, we wanted the evening to feel raw, warm, and celebratory of Africa. We sourced an incredible tablecloth and incorporated other African elements, while keeping the florals intentionally wild, as though they had grown naturally into the setting. Lanterns lined the pathways leading to the table, creating a magical atmosphere. We selected a menu inspired by local flavors, and guests were greeted with spiced G&Ts. As dinner unfolded, we surprised everyone with a performance by the Ithemba Youth Choir, which truly kicked off the celebrations and got everyone dancing.

^{Our Style}

We encouraged our guests to arrive dressed in "elevated safari attire"—something refined yet completely in tune with the landscape. I opted for a sleek white skirt and matching top, paired with the perfect Janessa Leone hat, and elevated the look with a vintage gold Cartier necklace alongside a stunning vintage giraffe bangle my dad had once gifted my mom. Stefano wore a relaxed Ralph Lauren jacket with linen trousers, keeping things tailored yet effortless.

Our Love Story

^{The Day We Met}

The day Stefano and I met felt unexpectedly significant, even though neither of us knew it at the time. A mutual friend in Los Cabos spent months insisting that we meet after I relocated to Mexico during the pandemic. After a few weeks of back-and-forth on social media, I finally gave in and invited Stefano to join me for a quick surf at the beach. What was supposed to be a quick, casual drink afterward turned into an unforgettable night with friends, full of effortless conversation, laughter, and a connection neither of us expected.

^{The Proposal}

Our proposal took place on July 5, 2024, on a grassy hilltop in the Los Cabos community where I spent time as a child, the same place where Stefano and I first lived together as a couple. It was just the two of us—no photographers, no videographers, no large-scale production—just something that felt real and unfiltered. We spent the evening talking about our hopes for the future and our biggest dreams, and we slow danced as the sun set. When I turned to sit down, he took my hand and turned me back around. Already on one knee, with tears in his eyes, he asked me to be his wife. It was perfect.

^{The Engagement Ring}

Stefano worked with my parents, longtime jewelry collectors, to design my engagement ring, making it feel deeply personal from the start. My mom knew how much I had always loved the canary yellow diamond ring my dad had given her and thought I would love for mine to echo that same sentiment. Together, they created a beautiful radiant-cut natural diamond ring flanked by trapezoid diamonds, crafted with the help of our dear friend Jeff at Wolf Diamonds. The result was something timeless and meaningful, carrying both family history and our own story within a single piece.

Our Wedding

^{The Vision}

What started as a joking idea about eloping in South Africa quickly became the moment we realized we wanted to get married in our favorite place in the world, surrounded by the people we love most. We wanted the celebration to feel less like a traditional wedding and more like an unforgettable shared journey for our closest family and friends. Each day was designed with intention, from sunrise safari drives to unique dining experiences under the stars and small surprises along the way. At its heart, the experience was a love letter to Africa and to the people we cherish most, and every moment was filled with pure joy, connection, and love.

^{Our Team of Vendors}

When I became overwhelmed by all the decisions that come with the planning process, Marianna was the single most important person I knew I needed by my side. From our very first meeting, she was completely on board with every crazy idea that I threw at her, and I felt an immediate sense of relief knowing I could trust that whatever she created would be absolutely perfect. From there, the brilliant creatives at La Dichosa, Les Vaques, and Fleur le Cordeur came into the mix, along with a handful of other extraordinary local vendors, and slowly, what had once felt like an impossible dream turned into the most perfect reality.

^{The Location}

Africa was a place I fell in love with as a teenager after spending a summer working abroad in Tanzania. It became a place I returned to for more than a decade, traveling through different countries before eventually falling in love with South Africa. Stefano had also spent time there when he was younger, which made it feel even more meaningful to both of us. MalaMala, specifically, was the first safari camp I ever visited in South Africa. The people, the experience, and the beauty of its location left a permanent mark on my heart, and I knew it was the only option for us. We are so grateful that they said yes to this wild idea.

^{The Ceremony}

The ceremony was designed to let the landscape speak for itself, enhanced only with florals, flowing drapery, and other natural elements that felt as though they had always belonged on the safari plains. The incredible MalaMala staff, alongside our coordinators, spent days scouting the perfect location until they found the stunning overlook above the river. Our guests arrived by safari vehicle, and the Ithemba Youth Choir spent weeks learning the words to our favorite song, "There Will Be Time" by Mumford & Sons, which carried me down the aisle. It was simple and deeply intentional—no excess, no distractions—just us in our favorite place in the world, with our favorite people, promising ourselves to each other.

^{The Cocktail Hour}

Guests hopped back into safari vehicles for a short drive to the cocktail hour location, spotting a rhino along the way. As we arrived, Timothy Monk set the tone with an acoustic guitar performance under the open sky before the Ithemba Youth Choir appeared in the distance, singing traditional African hymns. Our florist transformed the space around a massive tree into a natural focal point, which ultimately became an incredible backdrop for our photos. We sipped African-inspired cocktails and enjoyed traditional bites like biltong, fully immersed in the sounds and energy of Africa.

^{The Reception}

Like everything else, we wanted the reception to offer another glimpse into the beauty and culture of Africa while giving guests a unique dining experience in a traditional boma. I wanted this dinner, specifically, to feel romantic and intimate, so we filled the space with candles and kept the color palette neutral. We listened to beautiful speeches—my dad's had everyone in tears—enjoyed Amarula-infused espresso martinis, and ended the night with a treat that had taken weeks to coordinate: a traditional dance performed by a local tribe. Then, we danced the night away under the stars.

^{The Special Touches}

There were so many special touches throughout the trip, from the welcome gifts we gave our guests upon arrival—including custom "Pagliai Safari Club" hats and water bottles, as well as beautifully embroidered Elizabeth Scarlett pouches that support wildlife conservation charities—to the beautiful tanzanite necklace Stefano gifted me on our wedding day, a symbol of the place where I first fell in love with Africa. One of the most emotional moments for me was gifting my dad custom sterling silver cuff links engraved with the lyrics to our first dance song and an etched image of us from when I was little, wearing an old bride costume I had begged for as a fifth birthday gift.

^{Our Favorite Moment}

My favorite moment was undoubtedly walking down the aisle. The incredible choir sang the song I had listened to for months while imagining this very special moment: my dad on my arm, my husband-to-be standing at the end of the aisle, and everyone I love beside me. I could cry tears of joy just thinking about it. Everyone sitting together, singing songs around the fire on the last night of safari, and the elephants and their babies walking through the camp during the recovery brunch were also incredibly special moments. The list truly goes on and on.

Our Style

^{The Bridal Looks}

I wanted each wedding event to have its own distinct look, carefully aligned with the themes we created for the weekend—elegant and structured for the welcome party, strictly safari for the bush breakfast, fun and playful for the recovery day, and unique and wild for the farewell dinner. For my wedding dress, I tried on so many beautiful styles—lace, tulle, embroidered gowns—but ultimately chose something that felt right for the setting and reflected the natural thread running through the entire celebration. It was simple, authentic, and deeply "me," while allowing the beauty of Africa to remain the true focal point. My Cabo reception dress, which I used as my first-look dress, on the other hand, was a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown that I fell in love with at first sight.

^{The Groom Looks}

Like me, Stefano wanted each wedding look to complement the setting of each event, so we curated a wardrobe that reflected the spirit of every occasion. For the rehearsal and farewell dinners, we sourced two suits in white and green, and for the wedding day itself, he wore a timeless and elegant Ralph Lauren tuxedo. We found an incredible shirt embroidered with safari animals for our wine-country excursion in Cape Town, and he wore a matching set with playful pink and yellow embroidery for the recovery day, perfectly capturing the feminine, joyful energy of the brunch.

^{Our Bridesmaids' & Groomsmen's Looks}

The theme for the bridesmaids' looks was sunset and earth tones, chosen to reflect the natural landscape and warm palette of our surroundings. With such an intimate wedding, it was important that everyone felt like a cohesive part of the environment. We focused on flowing silhouettes, soft textures, and a curated mix of complementary colors. My girls were incredible sports throughout the process, and I think they absolutely nailed the vision. Like the entire wedding party, the groomsmen became a considered design element of the day, thoughtfully woven into the overall aesthetic. We asked them to wear cocktail attire in natural, earthy tones to feel cohesive with the landscape. The only major request was to avoid black or navy so that Stefano stood out distinctly as the groom and remained the focal point of the ceremony.

Our Advice

^{For the Planning Process}

Choose vendors you trust and admire. I could not have done this without Marianna and her team. Their understanding of my vision and attention to every detail made all the difference. Being able to relinquish control and fully trust that everything was in capable hands was the greatest gift of the entire process.

^{For On The Day}

Your only job on your wedding day is to love and be loved. Let people take care of you, lean into the help that's offered, and don't rush through the moments that matter. Take a few extra moments to really look at people, say what you feel, and be present in it all. The day moves very quickly, and you only get to live it once—so make space to truly feel everything as it happens.

^{For Post-Wedding}

Don't rush into "what's next" so quickly that you miss what just happened. Give yourself time to come down from the intensity of it all, relive moments slowly, and truly process the experience together. Protect a bit of space for just the two of you—no obligations, no debriefs, just being newly married without distraction. It's a rare kind of joy, so let it linger.