Our wedding will be on Monday, August 10 2020. It is a public holiday in South Africa (Women's Day). Ceremony and reception times still to be announced.
Please RSVP on this website by July 19th 2020 and let us know about any dietary restrictions you may have.
We love your kids—we really do. But we want our wedding to be your night off! We can help arrange babysitters for you to give you the night off that you need. With regards to bringing a date or plus one - if your invitation says “and Guest,” then please do bring someone, if not, we would prefer if it was just you.
The venue for the ceremony and reception will be held at the gorgeous Suikerbossie Restaurant and Estate in the suburb of Hout Bay. The address is: 1 Victoria Drive Hout Bay Cape Town 7806 South Africa
Taking an Uber or taxi to the venue is safe and easy! However, if you choose to drive yourself to the wedding, there will be free parking at the venue.
After the ceremony there will be a complimentary gin bar with live music. The reception will include dinner and complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks/sodas. A fully stocked cash bar will be available for any other drink options.
Attire is formal - please remember to bring something warm for the ceremony, which will be outdoors (weather permitting) and just before sunset. The reception will be indoors.
PLEASE NOTE: South African Airways has declared bankruptcy and will be suspending all routes. For our international guests, flights to Cape Town are often long or expensive (sometimes both). If you are on a tight budget - book as early as possible! Emirates, Qatar, and Turkish Airlines are generally cheapest. For those wanting more direct flights - KLM, Delta, British Airways, and American are good options (depending where you're coming from and your initial destination). If you are flying via Johannesburg, I would highly recommend making it a long pitstop and visiting a safari park for a few days. The parks in the north of the country are generally cheaper and offer a larger variety of animals than the ones around Cape Town. You can also then get tickets through local South African carriers (like Kulula) to get you from Joburg to Cape Town cheaply - but beware of baggage restrictions and prices.
USA, UK, EU, and Australian passport holders: No VISA required for a stay of 90-days or less All other passport holders: Check with your country's official travel website South Africa has an extensive and good health care system. There are many hospitals, pharmacies, and emergency care services that will be able to treat any ailment. Also, while you may find a lot of "recommended" vaccinations for traveling to South Africa, there really is no need to get them. Unless you have never been vaccinated or have a compromised immune system. However, be sure to check with your health care provider before traveling.
Apart from your usual packing list, make sure to add these important items: - Warm clothes (but not for snow weather) - A few t-shirts for sunnier weather - Good walking shoes - A backpack or handbag that closes well - Sunglasses and sunscreen - A raincoat or small umbrella - Boots or waterproof shoes - Any important medication and cold/flu medication (just in case) - an outfit for the wedding! Please note, there is no risk of malaria in South Africa unless you plan to visit the Kruger National Park in the Northeast of the country - and even then, it is highly unlikely in the middle of winter.
Getting around Cape Town via public transport is definitely getting easier. There is a new bus system (My Citi Bus) that runs throughout the tourist areas and to some of the suburbs. Uber's and private taxis are also options. Also, the Red Bus Tour (see "Things to Do") is a fantastic way to get around to almost every major tourist spot while listening to an informative soundtrack in your native language. If you are wanting more autonomy, there are many rental car companies in Cape Town. Just make sure that you will have a parking spot at your accommodation. A lot of private tour companies offer pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or at convenient meeting points. If you want to travel to other parts of the country, driving a rental or flying with local airlines like Kulula, or FlySafair are your best options.
There are accommodation options to suit any budget and style of traveller. From 5 star hotels (Cape Grace, Hout Bay Manor, One & Only, Table Bay Hotel, Ellerman House, 12 Apostles, etc.), to bed and breakfasts, Air BnB, and backpackers (Ashanti, Once, Cat & Moose, Sunflower Spot, etc.) In general, we recommend the following areas: Sea Point, Green Point, Mouille Point, Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Higgovale, Vredehoek (this is where my family home is and where we will be staying), Devil's Peak Estate, Bo-Kaap, CBD (can be hit or miss), The Waterfront, De Waterkant, Three Anchor Bay, Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Bakoven, Llandudno (close to the wedding venue - quiet beach area), Constantia (also hit or miss), Hout Bay (close to the wedding venue but a bit far from tourist attractions and can be hit or miss). If you are unsure, contact myself, Kara, or Josette before booking! https://exploresideways.com/blog/best-areas-to-stay-in-cape-town-an-insiders-guide/
June, July, and August are winter months in South Africa. For Cape Town, this means wet and relatively cold weather (no snow, but it can get as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit at night). However, a winter day in Cape Town can be lovely - on sunny days, the temperature can reach up to 72 degrees Fahrenheit! The average temperature during August is 55 degrees Fahrenheit and there are an average of 14 wet days each year during August. So be prepared for some rain, have a few warm outfits and a few t-shirts to wear when it gets warmer. If you are wanting to explore more of the country during your visit, the weather can get below freezing at night (but still, very rarely snow) but it won't rain! This is a great time to go to a safari park in the northern parts of the country as it is a dry season - shrubs and grasses die down making it easier to spot animals. https://www.accuweather.com/en/za/cape-town/306633/august-weather/306633 https://www.holiday-weather.com/cape_town/averages/august/
As a tourist, you are generally safe in South Africa - so long as you are aware of your surroundings and employ basic street smarts. Just like any major tourist destination, you should be aware of your personal belongings - pickpockets will take advantage of careless tourists as easy targets. If you are carrying back packs or handbags, make sure that they are properly closed and held close to your body. South Africa has very advanced banking systems so it is safer to have your credit card rather than cash or traveller's checks. In terms of public transportation, Cape Town has a fairly new bus system which I have heard is good for tourists. Otherwise Uber or private taxis are always an option! Stick to well-populated areas and tourist destinations - don't venture too far into the unknown - especially after dark. If you have a rental car and are parking outside, make sure you don't leave anything in the car.
Yes! South Africa has safe and clean tap water so you can drink straight from the faucet. South Africa is known for great cuisine and has some of the world's best restaurants - we highly recommend that you explore the many local dishes and exciting food scene.
For things to do, see the "Things to Do" page on this website! For things to eat: definitely try milk tart, koeksisters, malva pudding, baked cheesecake, rusks, bobotie, ostrich, pap or putu, boerewors, a braai (our version of a barbecue), any fresh local seafood (especially fish and chips), biltong and droewors, bunny chow, gatsby, chakalaka, curry (lamb is my favorite), a South African savory pie, potjiekos, slap chips, chocolate (Top Deck, Lunchbar, Tex, Peppermint Crisp, Crunchy, Milo Bar, Aero, Flake), dried fruit (especially guava rolls) What to drink: WINE!, Amarula, gin and tonic, don pedro, beer (Black Label and Castle are good staples, but be adventurous and try some craft brews), Cape Velvet, mampoer, witblitz, brandy and coke, cane and cream soda, Pimms, Savannah, rooibos tea, honeybush tea, Milo, Horlicks, Bos ice tea, fresh fruit juices or Ceres fruit juice, Appletizer, Grapetizer, Peartizer