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Watamu has its long white beaches and is quite often referred to as the most quiet, peaceful and safe beach in Kenya. Diani, on the other hand, is a vibrant and intimate little paradise on the quiet shores of the Indian Ocean just south of Mombasa. And of course there is Lamu which is a place like no other – a peaceful tropical island where life is lived at it’s own relaxed rhythm with a mysterious and fascinating history and the most famous mark of this city – the donkeys. And finally we have Malindi with its idyllic silver beaches fringed with swaying palm trees, Casuarinas and frangipani. Between Malindi, Lamu, Diani and Watamu, where would you have your wedding or honeymoon and why? Would love to hear your thoughts . info@kenyaweddingcentre.co.ke Classy, elegant, different and sweet! How else would you describe the 1955 Kenya vintage steam engine train safari wedding package? On board the train, you are treated to the most glorious wilderness with wildflowers, majestic trees and wildlife as the train winds through Nairobi National Park. The vintage safari train wedding is truly one of the most unique weddings available in Africa. With your married life literally beginning on the right track, it surely shall remain rolling along happily. Please check it out in full over here.
Exclusive Diamond Package:
Diamond Package Menu. SALADS Pineapple & Carrot Assorted Greens, Tomato, Cucumber and Lettuce
MAIN COURSE Marinated Grilled Chicken. Beef Stroganoff. Baked Red Snapper with White Wine Sauce Pasta Al’arabiatta Mixed Vegetables Pilau Mukimo Chapati
DESERT Fresh fruit salad with a scoop of ice cream
BEVERAGE One Carbonated Soft Drink. Tea & Coffee
Package Cost: Ksh. 1,800,000 * VAT INCLUSIVE Any extra person is at Kshs 1,000.00*
Terms & Conditions apply All Mawenzi Gardens Packages are subject to availability.
This package excludes park entry fees which the guests are liable to pay upon entry to the park.
Every single day, we get countless enquiries for service provider recommendations. This ranges from where to get good wedding rings to wedding reception venues to wedding gowns and cake shops. We try our best to assist. However, given the huge number of enquiries, we are almost overwhelmed and need your help. See here how you can us build a list of 100 Most Reliable & Professional Service Providers. Find out More here.. The Year 2011 is starting fairly well for brides and grooms to be. You can now create a wedding website, edit photos and plan your wedding using wedding-specific templates in Google Sites, Google Docs and Picnik – all brought together in one place, Google Weddings. While it is good attempt by the “Big G” to insinuate itself into consumers’ lifestyles, am not sure how well that fits into the Kenyan way of planning a wedding – perhaps you can let me know once you have used it. How about a wedding floating high and serene above the wild on an enthralling Hot Air Balloon Ride across the Maasai Mara’s untamed vistas. Getting Married in a Hot Air Balloon is expensive but it is the ultimate wedding for those that love the free feeling of the great outdoors and the wide . We are always willing to help you add special touches to your wedding to make it memorable and unique. Contact Us Here Well, the much awaited Samantha’s Bridal TV Show is now on Every Sunday, beginning on 8th August at 5.00 Pm. The show, appears to have been quite well produced and we will be closely following on future episodes including on Bride Kenya e-Magazine. Be sure to subscribe to it on the right at the bottom of this page. Be it a Limo, a Range Rover Sports , a Mercedes Benz or a top of the range BMW series,Whatever your taste or style , chances are, even if you opt for a Horse Carriage or a chopper ride, you still need to hire a car for your wedding. And what is the Cost of a wedding car hire ? It depends on so many factors including the car model and make, the service provider and the duration of hire. Where can you hire a wedding car? There are three things to remember when planning for your honeymoon: i) Set a realistic budget iii)(And most important) Plan ahead of schedule – Way ahead of time. Have come across couples who have to engage Kenya Wedding Centre to organise a honeymoon within too short a time frame. Whether you are going to have your honeymoon in one of Kenya’s amazing National Parks or Reserves and see the spectacular wildlife roaming about while staying in a luxury tented camp, relax and play on Kenya’s white sand beaches, go on a cruise or even get out of the country to some of our premium honeymoon destinations, be sure to engage us well ahead of time. Please let us know how both of you would love to have your Dream Honeymoon from our honeymoon packages page over here. For the modern couple, it is quite a task to infuse a cultural aspect in their special day. At Kenya Wedding Centre, we have organized memorable weddings for diverse cultural and religious backgrounds including Hindu Weddings, Samburu, Maasai, Luo, Kikuyu, Kamba ,Gusii, Luhya, Mijikenya, Teso, Kalenjin, Meru, Boran, Somali, Turkana, Embu, among many others. We will no doubt be glad to assist you in making your wedding day a memorable one wherever you plan to have it. Our Certified Wedding planners cover all the major towns and cities in Kenya – Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret , Nyeri , Gilgil , Naivasha , Kericho , Nakuru , Kerugoya , Embu , Kiambu , Kisii , Kakamega , Machakos , Malindi , Nanyuki , Nyahururu and Thika. Please be sure to visit our wedding packages page and let us know how both of you would love to have your Dream Wedding Day be like. Paying the Kikuyu Bride Price / Dowry or Ruracio any time soon? Of all Kikuyu Customs, no doubt paying the ruracio is one of those strictly kept pre – wedding traditions of the Agikuyu.It is joked that God gave this part of Africa ten measures of insurmountable love for money and before he knew it, nine measures were in the hands of the Agikuyu. Where the Kamba, the Maasai or even the Luhya were,is a story for another day. Anyway, ten measures of parsimony, austerity and frugality followed and by the time he was through, the ten measures were evenly distributed among the Atiriri – chanting brethren. Whether that is true or not we know not. What we do know for sure is that sometimes imaginations run weird and wild when it comes to naming the dowry or bride price among the Agikuyu, something which customarily happens before the wedding can take place. There is one known antidote to counteract this Kikuyu Wedding prerequisite : When going to negotiate the bride price or ruracio, ensure you have an experienced person in these matters who possesses impeccable bargaining/ negotiation skills. Better still for you if you have two or three such people with you on the day of paying the ruracio! Trust me, the Kikuyu are equally as good in bargaining as they are in losing one. So it all depends on whom you bring along with you and how well they are going to put your case across! And then the ” Werookaamu”, that not so traditional kikuyu wedding song might after all be very near.
For a bride, the wedding gown has to be just perfect, for instance, you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of all those guests with a unfitting gown such that most of the time you will be adjusting it. There are several shops in town or Nairobi you can find your gown and the best is to go for the fitting in advance so they can get you the right size. For wedding gowns, you can get great ideas from the wedding dress shows regularly hosted in Nairobi which features models wearing various designs of gowns. There is also Samantha’s Bridal Magazine where you will get pictures of wedding gowns and dresses for the bridal party. This simply makes it easier for you and you can get several copies of the Magazine to go through and see which style you can adopt. The magazine also hosts Samantha Wedding Fair Catwalk Shows and if you have never seen them, you can get samples of videos and these too will be of much help in making a good selection for the wedding gown and dresses. The trend at the moment in Kenya is to have the same color for the wedding dresses of the bridal party but different designs and this creates a variety you might want to try it for your wedding.
Wedding cake designs in Kenya are seeing a transformation too and creative designs are always showing up in many weddings around. Wedding cake can always be made by a friend you know who you may ask to do so while some may offer as a wedding gift. However, if you decide to look for a professional to make your cake, there are many of them In Nairobi, you can contact such companies as Cate Confectionaries who will also provide some decorations if you want. There is also Cake Art in Westlands Riverside Drive and many others you will find around town. Cakes will vary in costs depending on size and ingredients and whereas previously people used to buy them ready, nowadays, you have to order the cake complete with the kind of decorations you want, size and shape. This makes it easy to have a wedding cake that fits well with the wedding theme. It is good to look for a designer who is more concerned with the finer details of the cake as this is how you want yours to be unique at the same time reflecting on your personality. You will need to look at the samples and probably even taste them to make sure it is what you want before ordering.
Being a tourist attraction, you have very many wedding venues in Kenya to choose from regardless of the theme of your wedding. From the beach hotels and gardens at the Indian Ocean to the classic hotels at the favorite national reserves like the Maasai Mara and Samburu, you will only need to consider factors such as costs and whether your guests will be able to get there. Many couples in Nairobi love to hold their weddings around so they can have many of their friends attending which is a good choice. For those who love garden weddings, you have places such as Florieta Gardens in Runda, Loreto Convent Valley Road, St. Austins Lavington and the Co-operative Staff Training Centre among others can provide a perfect ground. Depending on your church, you can have the church service the reception and the after party in the same venue but some churches insists on having the service at the church so the rest of the plans can proceed somewhere else. For those who want to go out of Nairobi, other nice wedding venues in Kenya include Serena Mountain Lodge, Mara Safari Club and the Equator at Mt. Kenya Safari Club. At the coast, you can check out venues such as Kisimani House and Peponi Hotel in Lamu Island among others.
Wedding catering is just one of the most important elements of the wedding that you will need to make sure you have the best person in charge of. Usually, wedding food in many Kenyan weddings was prepared by volunteers and some relatives but people are moving to having professional people provide the food and drinks. They usually come with the food, utensils, and drinks and also serve the guests. Wedding caterers include Serene Wedding Caterers who can bring both food and drink as a package. There is also the well known Utalii Hotel which provides outside catering services as well as Rock City Gardens, just to mention but a few. You should get catering services that will be able to adequately cater for all the number of guests you intend to invite. Thus, you should know how many guests your caterer is able to serve and the number of guests invited when selecting a caterer. Working with a caterer you know nothing about may be risky and the best thing is to have one suggested by someone you trust. However, many of the Kenyan wedding service providers may also be offering catering services so unless you have your own caterer, you can still let your wedding planner handle that.
For this, you would just need to have the best since this is the only way you can provide perfect wedding memoirs. This simply means you have to find a professional to do the work for you. One way to get them is to ask a friend especially one who has already had a wedding since they are in a better position to know or refer you to the one they had during their wedding day. You can choose to have photographers only but it’s good to have the videographer as well. Some companies will offer both services and once you hire them, they will cover everything on the wedding day, from the preparations, to the church ceremony and up to the evening party. Costs will vary depending on how professional they are but many people tend to look for friends who can handle the job to reduce costs. Important is to make sure the person doing this is efficient as this is not something you will do again hence you have to capture all the moments.
Shopping around for the wedding rings is another thing that usually takes a lot of time for the both of you. Since you are planning for your wedding, chances are you are engaged and probably have engagement rings. If you can afford it, the wedding rings can be different from the engagements rings but you can also use the engagement rings as wedding rings if you want to reduce costs. A simple design of a wedding ring will do just fine but you can also have it designed the way both of you want since you are the ones who will be wearing them anyway. If you are wearing designer rings, remember to order for them earlier so they are ready before the wedding day. Your wedding rings are good reminders of your wedding hence make a good choice for them. Wedding rings are not very expensive like other items of the weddings such as gowns and you can visit various jewelry stores around Nairobi and other big towns. Here, you can get good selections to choose from the only issue may be if you don’t get your size.
Once you and your partner have decided that you are going to have a wedding, the next thing is to identify the venue and other important details so you can send invitation cards to friends and family. Nairobi and other towns such as Mombasa and Nakuru have a lot of stores where you can have your cards designed and printed out. Unless your wedding venue is common place or where many people can get to easily, maybe you should provide a map for the direction. Your wedding cards should not cost you a lot as you can simply design them yourself and have them printed out once you are satisfied of the design. For imported wedding cards, you can try visiting Cavetta Limited on Moi Avenue Nairobi among other stores and see what samples they have. Many wedding service providers in Kenya would also offer exquisite card designs and other companies you may think of contacting in Nairobi include Genias African Designs and LexGrafix in South B. Actually, wedding cards are flexible in terms of size, shape and the font you want to use but remember these are the first items that introduces people to the kind of wedding to expect hence try to be creative with them. Important stationeries you will need are the envelopes for those who would like to give monetary gifts during the wedding hence remember to find them too. However, with so many of them especially within campuses, you can have design students make nice cards for you at fair prices. Students can be creative with their designs and the good thing is that they will not charge you as much as professionals will do hence consider them.
Many people tend to think in terms of flowers when you mention wedding decorations but this involves a lot more. Decors and flowers are like a must in any wedding as they add beauty and color to the occasion. When budgeting for décor, remember that you need them for the church, the reception area and the cars as well. Color choice will go hand in hand with the theme of the wedding so once you have decided on your color combination; choosing flowers will not be very difficult. Some wedding venues are pleasant looking such that you will not need to add a lot of decor and flowers. The best way to make sure everything goes well with the décor is to have it professionally done. It has been a wedding tradition in Kenya to have decorations and flowers arranged by those who are known to have a good taste in that area even though they may not be professionals. At the moment, your friends may be busy and if you can afford it, have the wedding planner organize for it and just give your specifications. However, you might want to look at it before the wedding day to make sure it is what you wanted.
Looking or a suitable wedding supplies vendor is not easy either and you may need someone who can supply many of the things you need to save time. This will mean that you find out what each of them offers to select a suitable one. These vendors are found all over town and in the outskirts of Nairobi and other towns in the country. In Nairobi, you could try shops such as Cosmic Long Ltd who offer wedding supplies and services and are located in Nairobi’s City Square. You can also try stores in River Road such as Beltons Wedding Supplies and Services, Leo Leo Enterprises among others. There is also Ushanga Ltd on Tom Mboya Street and Event Masters for wedding supplies and service at the Revlon Professional Plaza on Biashara Street Nairobi. These are just a few examples you can start your search from as there are many others you will get to as you proceed. If you are working with a wedding planner, some of them have their own vendors they have identified and would be in a position to tell you where you can find them. Wedding vendors tend to charge their supplies depending on where they are hence you may consider parts where you can generally find items cheaply. In Nairobi, stores around River Road are considered good cost efficient hence try looking for vendors there especially if you are working on a budget.
If you are having a garden wedding, chances are you may need tents and these you will have to find a supplier. Many of the tent suppliers are found around Industrial Area in Nairobi and you can get some that will deliver them to you regardless of where you are in the country. Using tents is the best way to prevent your guests from being rained on and spoiling the party mood. Hence, it is important that you get tents that will shed water well to prevent leaks. Tents available include canvas poled marquees among others and they come in many colors so you can be sure to get tents appropriate for your wedding color theme. One good tent supplier you can check out in Kenya is the Chairmania Enterprises Ltd and you will not only get the tents you want but also a variety of equipment for the wedding reception for hire. Be sure to check whether the tent packages available are suitable for your range of budget. Also remember to get tents that will be appropriate for the type of surface you intend to use them on. Tents may need to be erected few days prior to the event so the rest of the things such as decorations can be done so get a tent supplier who will not let you down. A specialist who has worked with wedding tents for a couple of years will give you an easy time.
Kenyan wedding audiences love to sing and dance especially their traditional songs but it is becoming quite common to have live bands performing. The common live music performers in Kenya are Kayamba Africa but there are others such as Jamnazi Africa. Kayamba is a group that is known to sing songs from a variety of tribes in Kenya and therefore tend to fit in any wedding. They are bound to keep your audience entertained especially after the church ceremony when you have to go with the bridal party and close family members for the photo shoot session. You can also seek to have well known musicians in Kenya to entertain guests such as Harry Kimani, Erick Wainaina among others so if you can get hold of them, you can add some flavor into your wedding. Alternatively, there are comedians who can bring some well deserved laughter into the occasion and these include Nyambane and Jalango among others. However, you may need to book them hence make sure they are available and agree on the payment because, unless it is a personal friend, they will surely want to be paid for their services. There are many things your guests will remember about your wedding but one thing they surely won’t forget is the entertainment. You can also ask friends and family who want to showcase their prowess in something as part of the entertainment and this can reduce costs you too.
More on Kenya Wedding Providers The Wedding Show in Kenya is a weekly program that airs every Sunday evening on Citizen TV from 6.00 PM. The show is hosted by Noni Gathoni and provides a collection of weddings taking place in Kenya. Usually, you have to invite the Wedding Show team to your wedding if you want to have your wedding featured on the program. This can be done directly from Citizen TV website or you can contact them from their facebook fan page.There is a point when the couple being featured is interviewed and asked to say how they chose their wedding theme and color. This can give you some tips on how to select yours but at the end you have to get something that complements both you and your partner’s personality. This is a good program for people planning for their weddings as it presents ideas that can be used in the type of dresses and gowns, combination of colors, flowers and décor. You can also get to see the variety of trends in cakes, how to decorate your aisle and much more. When it comes to wedding gifts, it is becoming common for many couples in Kenya nowadays to have a register. This might the best way to do it now although it can present quite some challenges when compiling it. This is because your guests are varied and some of them may not be able to afford some of the things you want in your list. However, with a register, you can be sure of getting exactly what you want and these are things you would have identified as being important to you. You can have your register at one of your favorite stores or supermarkets in Kenya such as Nakumatt with a list of items that are available there to make it easy for the guest when looking to purchase the items. You can also welcome the idea of having monetary gifts as this will make it possible for you to get what you want later on. With this, you can select some stores in town that have items you like that also offer gift vouchers. For the wedding favors, choose something that is truly Kenyan, for instance you can have a collection of artwork from your favorite artists spicing your wedding. Kenya art such as the Kisii soap stones are beautiful designs from local people and the good thing is that they are not very expensive. Favors can also be in form of sweets to the little kids but you can be more creative here and offer something unique. The cost of having a wedding in Kenya may not really have gone up but Weddings in Kenya are becoming more and more expensive especially in the big towns and this is not just because the cost of things needed have gone up but because everyone wants to have a day that perfectly fits into something close to the perfectly best. This means more money and as you select expensive wedding venues, the price definitely goes up. In Kenya you can hold a civil, customary, common law as well as religious marriage. Of all these, the religious marriages tend to be more expensive but it all depends on what the couple engages in. A civil wedding can be cheap as you can just get married and have a few friends over for lunch or dinner. Actually, the cost will depend on how elaborate you want it to be, the kind of cars you hire, the venues, honeymoon location and many other things. With about Ksh. 250,000 and more you can organize a good wedding but this does not constrain anyone to having a wedding due to the costs involved. You just have to have a plan that fits your budget. However, you don’t have to be rich to have a good wedding in Kenya as you can get nice wedding packages that are affordable. We’ve a number of different rates for Various Packages. Wedding Packages | Wedding Planning | Honeymoon Packages For further information please contact one of our Wedding specialists here
Usually the Kenya marriage procedure is that you file a marriage notice form with the Registrar General Office 21 days prior to the wedding or marriage. The fee charged for this is KES 200 ( 3 US Dollars ) . Once the 21 days have eloped, the final documentation is done by the parties involved with a fee of KES 1,550 (20 US Dollars) being charged for the process. At this point a marriage date is – either on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. In the event that there is absolutely no objection to the marriage raised during that time, permission to go ahead with the marriage is granted . On the set Marriage date both parties report to the Registrar’s Office (In Sheria House – at the Junction of Harambee Avenue and Parliament Road) , with two witnesses and they will be granted the Marriage Certificate. It is important to remember that Parties must be at least eighteen years old. Also evidence of official termination of any prior marriages must be equally presented. A valid passport is also required for person(s) who are not citizens of Kenya. The same case applies in the event of a Kenya marrying a non-Kenyan. Special Kenya Marriage License The Special Kenya Marriage License calls for the waiving of the twenty-one day waiting period. In this case, both parties must state officially recognizable and acceptable reasons as to why they would like to have an exemption from the waiting period. In addition, they must present an affidavit stating their current marriage status. The Kenya Marriages under Special License can be performed by either a civil registrar or by clergy. Religious Ceremony There are quite a number of different types of Religious Wedding Ceremonies, which are recognized under Kenya Marriage law, including Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Traditional African weddings (e.g under Luo, Kikuyu, Luhya, Swahili, Kamba Customs ). All non-Africans wishing to get married in church must do so under the Marriage Act, as the African Christian Marriage and Divorce Act , which most churches in Kenya use is not applicable to non-Africans. Of the many weddings that I have had a chance to witness, few have the pomp and colour that surpasses that of a modern Luo Wedding. From the Church Service to the Reception, a Modern Luo wedding is one not only full of pomp and style but also a real touch of class- with meticulous planning. From the choice of the Wedding venue (be it in Kisumu, Nairobi or elsehere ) to its setting and decor to the Wedding dress to the wedding cake to the catering, the Wedding is simply one that sets the bar. No matter the degree to which it is fused with a concepts of a traditional Luo Wedding theme, when the Bride makes the entrance, she makes a grand entrance – one of a Kenyan Queen of Brides! And the Groom lets her down not! The class and Style simply speaks for itself.In the event of fusion with Luo wedding Traditions or customs, the singing really sets a beautiful African Celebratory ambience, not to mention the accompanying dancing and ululating. At Kenya Wedding Centre, we have various Wedding Packages that befit planning a Royal Luo Wedding. We also have amazingly high value Honeymoon Packages at discounts that you are guaranteed to find no where else. Please do make a Wedding or Honeymoon related enquiry and our Consultant will be glad to assist you today. Finding the Perfect wedding Dress, especially here in Nairobi is no doubt a process that is arduous for every Bride. On average, a bride will try on countless number of gowns – up to 16 before finding one she can comfortably settle on as the most important Dress in her life. It is very important to remember to start the selection process as early as possible eleven months or so more so in the case where you choose to have your wedding dress made. Browse through the internet and Magazines to get an idea at least in the line of your wedding gown styles.To help you narrow your search,set a price range in mind before you head out to the bridal shops. Call-in most Nairobi Bridal Shops and see what they got to offer. Try on. Try on as much as may gowns as you can and let your friends and bridesmaids give input as well. Take pictures as you do so for your reference later on. Dreaming of Saying “I DO” along pristine white sand beaches with swaying coconut palm fronds breathing eternal blessings to your love? Mombasa is the location to hold your wedding. In this city where wilderness invariably meets the sea, you will find most gorgeous wedding venues that will leave you with wonderful memories of the day of your wedding. For those who would like to have their wedding elsewhere, Mombasa is also an idyllic honeymoon destination that marches if not surpasses the best that there is in the world. For a person planning their wedding in Mombasa, this coastal city has a lot to offer too for the keen wedding shopper. From serene wedding venues to Wedding Gowns/ Dresses to Cakes, Flowers and Decor, Wedding Cards, Entertainment, you will find it all in Mombasa. Would like to have your honeymoon or wedding in Mombasa? Please Contact us and we will put you in contact with out Mombasa – based Wedding Planner who will offer you useful insight in regard to planning you wedding or honeymoon. From Bridal Shops, breathtaking wedding locations, Nairobi has it all. A once in a life time occasion deserves a once in a life time location. Nairobi, the city in the sun has a number of gorgeous wedding and reception venues including magnificent gardens that are just perfect for weddings and Bridal Walks / Photograph Sessions that will no doubt leave lasting beautiful memories of a dream having come true. Only a few kilometres from the City Centre, you will find a number of wedding venues with idyllic country setting, that befit the description of a tranquil oasis of breathtaking beauty With breathtaking views, charming landscape, flawless architecture and elegant sceneries: Nairobi breathes life into your special occasion, creating lasting memories. When it comes to planning for you wedding in Nairobi, We will discuss with you on a number of Nairobi’s premier wedding venues in different locations with many options to choose from ranging from the Windsor Golf Resort to safari Park Hotel to Florienta Gardens, Runda. Here is alist of Nairobi Wedding Venues that you will find useful: When it comes to Wedding Services Providers and Vendors,be it shopping for your wedding Dress or Gown in Nairobi to getting a Caterer, our experienced Nairobi wedding planner will ensure that no detail is left untouched and you have nothing to do but enjoy this most special occasion! We’ve a number of different rates for Various Nairobi wedding Packages. Kenya makes it possible for diversity of weddings and after the ceremony, there are many places you can go for your honeymoon in Kenya. Many of the weddings in Kenya have been taking place in churches but the trend is changing and people are considering garden, beach and wild weddings. The good thing about Kenya is that it is easy to arrange a wedding ceremony for foreigners provided you have all the required documents. Traditional Kenyan weddings are usually a community’s affair whereby everyone is invited. However, the trend has changed especially for couples marrying in towns (in Nairobi especially) where those who attend are the ones who have been invited and have invitation cards. This does not happen for all weddings but depends on the couple. Many couples also choose to stay within the country for their honeymoon. If a couple can afford it, they can fly out of Kenya for their honeymoon but with the many exciting places such as the Maasai Mara, many prefer to stay in the country. In Kenya, there are religious and civil wedding ceremonies and both of these have different requirements. In both cases, a marriage certificate is usually given and as a requirement, all marriages taking place in Kenya are registered by the Registrar of Marriages. With the religious wedding ceremony, you can have a Christian, Islamic or Hindu wedding. If you want to hold your wedding in Kenya, you can make arrangements on your own or you can always engage the services of a wedding planner. Kenya has several wedding planners who will take care of all the details of your wedding hence you can just relax and let them do the work. Whether you choose to invite many people or not, it is always a requirement that there are two witnesses for the ceremony, civil or religious. The Kenyan wedding ceremony is always an extremely exciting one. There is always music, lots of variety of food to eat and traditional drinks. Even though the ceremonies are becoming more westernized, the people still sing and dance to their traditional songs. Many of the religious ceremonies take place on Saturdays and they are usually planned for the whole day. The first session is typically the exchange of the vows after which people go for the after party although this is the way many ceremonies are held all over the world. Wedding ceremonies in Kenya usually display the tastes and preferences of the bride and bridegroom and that is why they tend to be different. Religious weddings may appear more or less the same but the difference usually comes in what follows after the exchange of the vows. There is exchange of gifts in many communities and some have specific gifts that should be given to the parents and other close family members. Nowadays, people can do the traditional weddings and also perform a Christian ceremony in church where they are given a marriage certificate. Some couple may be from different ethnic communities but most of the time the ceremony is done following the traditions of the bridegroom’s community. In case of a Kenyan marrying someone of a different nationality, they may choose to have one religious ceremony or have three. This means they can have a traditional ceremony in both their communities before having a religious wedding. There are some traditional wedding ceremonies that are so elaborate it will be some time before you forget the details. They include ceremonies from such communities as the Maasai and Samburu. Wedding ceremonies here in Kenya are also becoming more and more expensive as people seek to make theirs unique. In the process they spend a lot of money but the traditional ceremonies always tend to be much cheaper. Wedding traditions in Kenya differ from one ethnic group to another and this is because all these groups have their own customs regarding marriage. However, apprerently most of the weddings taking place in Kenya at the moment are more westernized as people are moving away from the traditional way of doing things. It is a common Kenya Wedding Tradition for the bridegroom to pay the bride price before the wedding ceremony although this is not strictly the case at the moment. The wedding ceremony can still take place in some communities and the bride price can be paid later. The bride price can be in form of cattle or goats but nowadays most people pay in money form. The paying of the bride price is always like a small ceremony of its own as the groom and his friends and probably his father and brothers go to the home of the bride to officially deliver it. Most Kenya wedding traditions are usually better known by the older members of the community who must always be present when a couple wants to get married. Some communities will have a series of ceremonies as tradition which may take two to three days. Usually, the older women in the community have to talk to the bride and offer advice on married life. After the wedding ceremony, the bride has to go with the bridegroom’s family and this applies to the traditional weddings. For the modern weddings, the couple can then leave for their honeymoon destination after the ceremony. There is no doubt that the Kenyan bride is mostly the centre of attraction in many of the wedding ceremonies. Usually, the bridegroom will arrive first at the church to await the arrival of the bride in case of a religious wedding although not all the churches in Kenya do this. In a traditional kenya wedding setting, the bride would normally wear the traditional clothes set for the kind of occasion. In a church ceremony, most of the Kenyan brides wear white gowns although it will also depend on the wedding theme and the color chosen. There is also a veil covering the head of the bride and in the church wedding, is normally accompanied inside with her parents. In communities such as the Coastal Swahili, the bride is always decorated on the arms and legs with something called henna. Entry of the bride into the wedding venue is usually met with dance and song mostly from the women. In a traditional Maasai wedding, the bride is usually adorned with beaded decorations which are some of the most outstanding items they have in their ceremonies. Non-Kenyan brides performing a traditional wedding may be required to dress the traditional way but this will depend on the community.
Engagement Essays 2010 :: The 2010 Engagement Contest is on. We all have special ways through which we come to meet our spouses. The few engagement stories I have had the privilege of hearing have been astoundingly beautiful and romantic. And finally when that memorable day when the dumbfolding (and unfolding) question is tossed, none of us can ever forget that moment. As varying as whether he got on one knee or not are the venues where all these unfolded:Arboretum, in the woods somewhere in the land of the Njemps or even outside on the balcony in the moonlight! It is for such a unique moment that I will have the privilege of compiling the essays for the judges-I thank God I am not one of them!How on earth do you tell which is the winning entry when all of them bear the very signature of love and romance! Anyway, I will do as exactly as is expected of me-simply compile the essays for the judges and wait to see the lucky smiling winning couple. The Winning Couple will have their wedding featured on our Bridal Newsletter – the Kenyan Bride. Please send all your entries to bride2010@kenyaweddingcentre.co.ke. |
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