An African Wedding

Sculptures are available at any local maasai market. Get a functional centerpiece like the one above that is an ornate sculpture that doubles up as a candleholder. Photo source:www.fotolia.com

African themes are common in the local kenyan wedding industry. We have seen wedding attire constituting Maasai beads and brass jewellery, décor that includes gourds and calabashes and wedding cakes in the shape of traditional huts and Maasai manyattas.  Definitely the African wedding theme is not a new concept in the local wedding industry. However, a lot of times this theme is executed in the same old ways. There are no new ideas that bring out this theme in all its majesty and now it has just turned out to be mundane.

There are many untapped resources that can be employed to bring out our culture as Africans. Here are but a few ideas which you can use to execute your African wedding theme:

Which Culture??

You have to select one culture that you are going to use as the basis of your African wedding theme. Remember Africa is blessed with an array of cultures that you can choose from. However, refrain from using a mixture of cultures as this just confuses your guests. The Maasai culture is commonly used because many Maasai artefacts are widely available. But you can opt for atypical cultures such as the Egyptian culture. This would entail a lot of gold, sculptures of pyramids and legends such as Cleopatra, Pharaoh and Ramses.

Drapery

Remove the limit on the amount of drapery to use at your wedding. Lots of drapery effectively brings out any wedding theme. Draperies can be employed on the tables and chairs, walkways both at the ceremony and the reception, tents and marquees among others.

Most decorators use white seat and table covers mixed with coloured tie backs and table runners.  Because it is an African wedding, use African fabrics as the seat and table cover such as Maasai and kikoy fabric or even kitenge fabric. These come in a wide selection of colours, prints and textures which can be blended with other aspects of décor bring out the African wedding theme.

If you use a printed fabric as the seat and table cover, go for a plain fabric that blends with the colours of the printed fabric as the tie-back and table runner. Draperies can also be used to wrap vases which are used as centrepieces and other elements of décor in the wedding. In addition to the table cover, pin an African fabric on the edges of the table in a pleated fashion. This is commonly done in hotels. Use a printed fabric as the skirting and a plain fabric on the surface of the table. Finish off with the same printed fabric as the table overlay.

Types of Fabric

These days we have an assortment of fabrics that we can use to decorate weddings. Ranging from cottons to linens and even vitenge, we have a wide variety to choose from. Silk is picking up in the local wedding industry and it will definitely give your wedding décor a touch of class.

Sculptures

Visit any curio shop in the city or even Maasai market and you will be lost for choice at the wide selection of sculptures to choose from. From wild animals, to Maasai warriors, birds, masks and land forms. There are many aspects peculiar to this continent that you can get in the form of a sculpture. These sculptures can be used as centrepieces or they can line the path leading to the cake tent.

Iron

Wrought iron has been used to create beautiful and artistic pieces that can be used as wedding décor. We’ve seen the giant elephant at the entrance of Nakumatt branches. This is just an example of how wrought iron can be used to decorate your wedding. Stands made of wrought iron can be placed on tables to hold flowers or even scented candles. Sculptures made of wrought iron can also be used as centrepieces. You could also create a cart made of wrought iron and fill it with potted flowers and place them at the entrance to your ceremony or reception.

Dried flowers

Dried flower arrangements make lovely centrepieces. These are fast becoming in vogue as a wide array of unique colours and sizes becomes available. Moreover, dried flowers last for a considerably longer duration of time than fresh flowers. 

There is no limit as to what you can do with an African theme. This is one of those themes that you can have a field day with as the possibilities are endless. Have fun and do remember to email pictures of your African themed wedding to us.J