Planning a destination elopement to Kenya
There’s so much advice I could give to planning an elopement in Kenya. It’s totally possible to travel during this COVID-19 pandemic, you just have to be smart about it. So before you pick up your passport, and hop on the next flight to Kenya, here are 5 things to know before you go!
- Be prepared emotionally!
Things are not always going to go according to plan. Communication is not as fast with vendors as it is in America. There are going to be a few miscommunications. So you can’t go in expecting everything to go perfectly from beginning of the planning to the end. If you do know someone here who might be able to help you communicate your ideas and needs, that will also help immensely.
- Research, then research again!
It’s the worst part of planning a destination elopement, but it’s also super important. Kenya requires several identification documents before you can get married, and there will be a big chunck of fees, especially because you’re coming from another country. If you’re a US citizen here’s a helpful link from the US Embassy here in Kenya for everything you need to know legally when eloping to Kenya. And also a helpful link for finding good officiants here in Kenya.
Hiring a wedding planner is also a great way to go. Just make sure to find a planner who understands elopements for foreign nationals.
I would highly recommend the experienced team at Weddings N More Kenya for all of your planning needs. They will take care of EVERYTHING, from your airport pickup to the marriage license paperwork. They can take the stress out of the planning, and help you to have an amazing time. You can also contact them on WhatsApp (+254 721 265900) and on Instagram.
Also, know what the visa and passport requirements are. Things change all the time, so the best source for the most up to date information is the travel checklist page of the US State Department website. It’s also, not a bad idea to contact the embassy or consulate of your home country in Kenya to make sure there’s nothing you’re missing.
- Guests or No Guests?
If you’re planning on having guests, keep it small. Think about who you would text immediately if you had big news. Hopefully that’s no more than 20 people. But keep in mind, if you’re asking people to take time off of work, travel during a COVID pandemic, probably without much forewarning, you might want to take care of a few things for them. Make sure to decide what you’re willing to pay for before you invite guests.
If you’re not going to have guests, you need to have someone there as a witness to the ceremony. The officiant doesn’t count! So having a photographer like me there, is the best option!
- What’s most important to you? Pick 2, maybe 3!
For a lot of brides planning to elope, it’s important to remember you’re not having a big ceremony for a reason. So there’s no need to worry about the checklist of things to purchase for your wedding. Decide what’s most important to you and your partner; is it the location and time, photography, food, flowers, dress, dessert, or something else important to you.
- COVID-19 preparation!
I mean, is there really a good way to handle this huge elephant in the room. I wish things were different, but here we are! The good thing is, planning an elopement in Kenya or overseas is possible as long as you are flexible. This is another reason researching is so important. As of this blog post in January 2022, Kenya has their borders open to most countries except UAE. If you’re travelling from the US, my recommendation is checking the US department of State’s COVID-19 Country Specific Information Page. Find the country you are planning to elope in for the most up to date information.
