Urban Safari | Wicked Wonderful Wedding

Urban Safari Wedding

Envision tens of thousands of wild animals raising clouds of dust as they stampede acrossthe plains, lions sprawled among tree branches,colorful tribal people dancing and singing. It is the land of contrasts.

It is Africa.

No continent is even vaguely comparable towhat Africa offers. It has a limitless amount of diversity and anything you can possibly conceive of - can happen in this land.

This is possibly one of the most unique weddingsto have. As by holding an Urban Safari Wedding; you enable your guests a glimpse into this wonderful land of beauty.

Venue

URBAN SAFARI Wedding Guide

SEEKING out the site

An absolute ideal place to hold the Urban Safari Wedding would be your local zoo. Nothing can recreate the sights and sounds of the animals hollering and bellowing into the air like the zoo can. It offers a beautiful and natural surrounding plus the possibilities are endless for photo opportunities with the amount of wildlife abounding.

Another optimal place to hold this wedding, would be at a local botanical garden. It provides you with tall, overhanging trees and plants to create a densely forested jungle.

Of course, any other type of venue of your choice would work wonderfully. Just do your decor as African as possible.

Some venue selections might be:

Your Home or Friend's
A Favorite Restaurant
A Community Hall
A Hotel

LURING the pack

Ready to unleash your wild side and invite your party animals to a wedding like no other? The Wicked Wonderful Wedding "Jungle Love" Invitation sets the stage for an unforgettable African-inspired celebration. Bold, adventurous, and captivating, it’s the perfect way to let your guests know they’re in for a one-of-a-kind journey!

At Wicked Wonderful Weddings, we believe your invitations should be as extraordinary as your celebration. Every client package includes expert guidance to create invitations that reflect your unique style and set the tone for your big day.

Send the "Jungle Love" invitation and watch your guests swing into action for your thrilling wedding adventure!

ay!

DECORATING the village

If your venue is a local zoo, you won’t require much decoration as the ambience of the zoo will take care of the work for you.

Fill the area with pictures of the great species of Africa! Go throughmagazines such as National Geographic or go to your local poster outlet and get pictures of African animals such as lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, zebras and giraffes. Frame the pictures - small picture frames can be placed around the tables and larger ones can be placed throughout the venue on walls.

Decorate tables with animal print either buy cloth to drape around thecenterpieces or use animal printed tablecloths.

Use the Massai’s, tribal ancestors of Africa, clothing color throughout your coloring schemes. Use vibrant red tablecloths and throw beaded necklaces on the tables.

Have the cake decorated like a zebra with black and white stripes.

Africa not only has a multitude of animals running throughout it buta multitude of plants and flowers. Therefore, any choice in a flower arrangement is sure to be the correct one or opt for a different “flowering arrangement” and use brilliant bamboo sticks.

Africa is known for decorative wooden masks. In the past years,African decor has become quite popular. See if some of your friends have some and if you could borrow it for the wedding to place through the venue. Or talk to a local seller of African art, perhaps you could set up a deal that you could use the masks for decoration and let them advertise their services at your wedding such as placing their business card underneath the mask. You might be able to get your “hands” on some other beautifully designed African pieces. Check out your local flea-markets andunique gift shops for other African inspired pieces.

Africans are known for their casual and exuberant approach to life.Use this in your wedding! Get rid of the black tie event and have yourguests bring the decor with them by donning themselves in safari hats andkhakis.

For seating arrangements, use the names of African countries todesignate tables. Put them on bamboo sticks so they rise from the tables.

THE DELICIOUS devouring meal

In reality, we really don’t want to see Uncle Ernie devouring his ribs and spitting out the bones especially at your wedding. But when a lion finally finds himself a kill, he does devour. But, don’t necessarily think meat, vegetarian isa lso a wonderful option! Days, weeks and months can go by before animals actually get a carnivorous meal so it’s not uncommon to see animals devouring up whatever food source they can find on the plain.

Remember Africa is synonymous with adventure which gives you a wide variety of menu to select. Here are some Africa meal suggestions that are sure to arouse your guests taste buds:

Dinner and Cocktail Reception Menus:

TANTALIZING tips & traditions

Bread Ceremony

Have a bread ceremony. In some West African communities, you are not considered married until bread has been broken. Have buns on all the tables and before you are to eat have all your guests break a bun on your behalf.

Jump The Broom

Follow the old African American custom, called “jump the broom”. Couples once jumped over a broom laid on the ground and once they jumped they would be considered wed. Create a new tradition for upcoming generations! Have your initials etched onto the broom and hand it down to your children to use at their wedding and so on and so on! Another idea would be to have a ribbon initialed and tie it to the broom instead of etching onto the broom.

Bargaining For Kisses

Bargaining is a way of life in Africa. Commodities are looked on as being worth what their owners can get for them. It is part of the fun on Africa. Have your guests bargain something for you to kiss. For example, a couple would bargain to have you over for a drink once a month for exchange of a kiss, or perhaps they could bargain you a night with their children before you think of having children (a real eye-opener). You will be amazed with what your friends will come up with!

Hakuna Matata

Incorporate some African words into your wedding. Such as thesaying “Hakuna Matata” meaning “No Worries”. Hang a sign up with the saying to let your guests know that no worries are allowed at your wedding - just good old plain fun!

Here are a few other common African words that you might find a usefor in your wedding (the following are all from the Swahili language):

Asante - Thank You
Boite - Nightclub
Changaa - Strong local alcoholic brew
Chui - Leopard
Foro - Musical Instruments
Juju - An object used as a charm
Jambo - Hello
Karibu - Welcome
Kesha - Tomorrow

Leo - Today
Maji- Water
Muganga - Witch Doctor
Nashukuru - I am Grateful
Ndofu - Elephant
Simba - Lion
Tafa dali - Please
Watu - People
Wazee - Elders, wise men

ASANTE for coming

In some parts of Africa, “Asante” means thank you and as a host, you can shower your guests with a variety of different thank-yous. Here are a few Urban Safari gift suggestions:

Buy a bulk amount of animal crackers and place them in a see-throughbag or wrap them up in brown paper and tie an African ribbon around it.

Make a donation to your local zoo or an African charity. Give each guest a card stating where you have donated the money too and include a personalthanks for joining you in this special occasion.

Who doesn't deserve a cuddle from a small stuffed animal? Most guestswill know of a little one who will treasure this gift if they don’t want itthemselves. Dollar stores are sure to have inexpensive selections.

If you opt to use small picture frames of animals as decorations at your wedding, use these as double duty and let your guests take the frame home as a memento.

TRIBAL song & dance

Drumming is an infectious rhythm and true to African life. Seek out a local ethnic or cultural organization to see if they can direct you to a musician who can offer your guests a unique African drumming experience.

Songs to consider throughout the evening could include:

Can You Feel The Love Tonight? - Billy Joel (theme song from the Lion King)

Jungle Love - Steve Miller

PREPARING for mating season

You’ve looked over your wedding planner 18 million times and have you forgotten something? Most likely, your mate. Release your own pheromones and let them know you are on the hunt for love and an African adventure before thewedding. Here are a few suggestions to get you in the mood:

Check to see if your local zoo has a “sex night”. Some zoo’s during Valentine’s season hold an evening of candlelight dinners and “sex” talk and viewing of the animals. Could be a very animalistic adventure for you and your fiancee?

Or check to see if they have overnight excursion’s at the zoo. That could even be a little bit more animalistic.

Get out in the backyard and lighten it up with kerosene lanterns. Many areas in Africa don’t have electricity therefore once darkness hits you rely on fire to guide you. Lay down a blanket, grab the wine and enjoy this evening of quietness and fire with your loved one!

ROARING-UP your spirit

You are sure to have your own Urban Safari ideas but here are some suggestions to spark your own creativity or just to put you into an African mood:

Write down the first ten things that come to you when you think about Africa

Go to your local library and search through the traveling section to findbooks related to Africa. Look at the pictures and get a view of what Africa is through other people’s eyes.

Book Suggestions: “Out of Africa” by Karen Blixen and “I Dreamed of Africa” by Kuki Gallmann (each of these books have also be made into movies - Out of Africa stars Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and I Dreamed of Africa stars Kim Basigner)