A Wedding Worth Traveling for: What I Learned from My Destination Wedding
by Geoffrey Ravoire, Vice President at Huffman Travel
Years ago, I brought 32 of my closest friends and family to South Africa to celebrate my wedding. To this day, it remains one of the most joyful and memorable trips any of us have taken.
Destination weddings are a unique way to bring your loved ones together and create memories that last forever. Here is what made our experience so special – and a few learnings for planning your own.
We spent three days in Franschhoek, the magnificent wine country inland from Cape Town. For the occasion, we rented a beautiful estate called La Cotte, which offered a variety of accommodations to suit every traveler’s style. The grounds were stunning, with lush florals, tranquil ponds, and mountain views.
We used the town as our canvas: a rehearsal dinner here, the ceremony there, afternoons spent touring wineries, and leisurely brunches under the trees. It created the perfect ambiance for guests who hadn’t met before to connect, all discovering this corner of South Africa together. People didn’t even speak the same language – our guests came from the US, France, Ivory Coast, and China – yet everyone felt welcome, and new friendships blossomed.
Before the wedding, my immediate family and I spent four days on safari, a mix of relaxation and exhilaration. Afterward, we drove to the coast to explore the small town of Hermanus, famous for its rugged cliffs and, to our delight, its whales. What began as a quiet extension for eight of us turned into a lively adventure for about twenty, as friends decided to join, making the most of our time together. We carried the celebration on to Cape Town, renting three homes on the beach and continuing the party under the African sun.
I will always cherish the memories of our ceremony, of course, but I will also remember my friend convincing my mother-in-law to dance under the porch at 2 am, my brother’s excitement as my baby goddaughter touched the waters of the South Atlantic for the first time, and the magical moment on our final sunset cruise when a giant moonfish followed our boat, as if to send us off with a blessing.
Takeaways for Planning a Destination Wedding
Choose a destination most of your guests haven’t visited before. It adds a layer of shared discovery that bonds everyone together.
Be familiar with your destination. Knowing the rhythms and details of a place will help you avoid unnecessary stress and surprises.
Pick a location with broad appeal. A destination with varied activities ensures that guests of all ages and interests feel excited to attend.
Pack thoughtfully for yourself and your guests. Aim for simplicity to avoid feeling overwhelmed once you arrive.
Be mindful of jet lag and pacing. Consider travel times when planning the flow of your wedding weekend, allowing guests to rest and adjust.
Remember, you are the reason your guests are traveling, but many will want to explore beyond your wedding. Help them make the most of their trip by offering ideas for pre- and post-wedding experiences that feel seamless and easy to add on.
A Final Reflection
Looking back, what made our wedding unforgettable wasn’t just the breathtaking setting or the once-in-a-lifetime wildlife sightings. It was the unhurried time we spent discovering it all together. A destination wedding, when done right, becomes more than a celebration. It becomes a shared story you’ll all tell for years to come.