THE DETAILS

Date: Tuesday 23rd March
Time: Afternoon (TBD)
Location: Cape Town - location to be confirmed
Dress code: Casual & Fun - Villa Party. Bring a swimmie!

Arrival date details: Please try to arrive in Cape Town by Monday the 22nd at the latest so you don’t miss it.

The first evening we’re all together, and our chance to welcome you to South Africa properly. We’ll be gathering at Kosé in Franschhoek for a farm-to-table braai under the winelands sky — good food cooked over the fire, local wine, and the mountains around us. It’s the South African way to start a celebration, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

THE DETAILS

Date: Thursday 25 March
Time: 5:30 for 6:00 in the evening
Location: Kosé, Franschhoek
Dress code: Cocktail


Arrival date details: Most guests will be arriving earlier in the week for small family celebrations. If this is first event you'll be attending, we recommend booking your travels to arrive in Cape Town by Wednesday March 24th (the day before the welcome party)! We are transporting people from Cape Town to Franschhoek hotels on Thursday March 25th morning.

Other notes: Thursday is when most guests check in at their Franschhoek hotels — see the accommodation page for where to stay. On the Thursday, we’ll also arrange a shuttle from a central Cape Town location to Franschhoek for anyone who’d like to use it. Once in Franschhoek, shuttles will collect everyone from the recommended hotels and bring you to Kosé and back, so there’s no need to arrange transport.

BEFORE YOU FLY

A few things worth sorting before you travel. Book restaurants ahead — Cape Town’s best tables go months in advance, especially the tasting menus. Pack layers, as warm days turn into cool evenings, particularly near the water. And remember it’s late summer here, so the weather will be lovely. One more thing: South Africa now asks every traveller to complete a short online Traveller Declaration within 24 hours before flying — you’ll find the link and details on our FAQ page

FLIGHTS

You’ll fly into and out of Cape Town International Airport (CPT).

FROM THE US (NONSTOP)

For the fastest route, United flies direct to Cape Town from Newark (EWR) and Washington, D.C. (IAD) — about 14–15 hours in the air. Book early and fly around our recommended dates and the Newark nonstop is often very well priced for a direct flight, well worth it to skip the connection. One thing to note: the direct return doesn’t operate every day, so you may need to fly home on Monday the 29th rather than the 28th — an easy extra night, and a good excuse for one more day in Cape Town. Guests in the Northeast can hop to Newark and pick up the nonstop from there.

FROM BOSTON & NEW ENGLAND

Many of our family and friends will be travelling from Boston. As mentioned above, the quickest route is via Newark (EWR) and the nonstop to Cape Town.

There’s also a cost-effective one-stop option through London — look for the Iberia route (operated by British Airways and American Airlines) via London Heathrow, which offers the best value for the journey. Total travel time is around 21–22 hours. Just search Boston (BOS) to Cape Town (CPT) and compare.

FROM THE UK

Multiple nonstop flights daily from London Heathrow (LHR) on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, plus seasonal carriers. Flight time is around 11–12 hours.

WHEN TO COME

If you can, we’d suggest flying out on Friday the 19th so you arrive over the weekend — it gives you a few relaxed days to settle in and enjoy Cape Town before any of the celebrations begin.

Some of our close family and friends will be arriving earlier in the week for a few special celebrations. If you’re joining us for one of those, please check your specific event page for when to be here — as a guide, family dinner guests will want to arrive by Sunday the 21st, and buddymoon guests by Monday the 22nd.

If you’re joining us from the Welcome Braai on the 25th, please plan to arrive in Cape Town by the 24th so you have time to settle in before the celebrations begin. Either way, we’d encourage you to come early — you’re going to love it.

WHEN TO LEAVE

You’re welcome to head home any time from Sunday the 28th onward — and of course to stay on as long as you like to explore more of South Africa. For our US friends, we’d suggest departing on Monday the 29th, as the nonstop flights back to the States don’t run every day and the 29th lines up well for the direct route home. For our UK friends, there are nonstop flights to London daily, so the 28th works perfectly well

GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT

Either arrange transport before you land, or use the Uber app. Please don’t take up offers from the drivers who approach you at the airport — they often charge far more than the going rate.

GETTING AROUND

In the city, Uber is safe, reliable and everywhere — the easiest way to get around if you’re staying central. For longer days out, hiring a car or a private driver is well worth it, especially for the coastal drives or a day in the winelands. Throughout our guide, drive times are given from the City Bowl. For the wedding weekend itself, we’ll run shuttles to and from the festivities, so you won’t need to worry about getting around.

Most of you will spend the first part of the week in Cape Town before we head out to the winelands for the wedding weekend. Here’s where we’d suggest staying for each.

IN CAPE TOWN

There’s a huge range of places to stay in the city, so rather than recommend one, we’ll point you in the right direction. If you’d like to be near the beach and the mountain, we’d suggest Camps Bay or Clifton. If you’d rather be in the heart of the city, the V&A Waterfront, De Waterkant or Green Point are all central and lovely. All are safe, close to the restaurants and sights, and easy to get around from by Uber, with excellent hotels at every price point.

VILLAS & SELF-CATERING

If you’re travelling as a group or a family, a villa is often better value and more fun than separate hotel rooms. We’d suggest looking in those same areas — Camps Bay, Clifton, the V&A Waterfront, De Waterkant or Green Point. Use the link below to search for one that suits your group.

IN FRANSCHHOEK

For the wedding weekend, we’d recommend basing yourselves in Franschhoek. These are all within a few minutes of each other and close to town, and close to both our welcome braai on Thursday the 25th and the wedding venue itself. We’ll be running shuttles throughout the celebrations to bring everyone to and from the festivities, so there’s no need to worry about driving or directions. Please reserve as soon as you can — late March is peak season and rooms go quickly.

THE DATES

Check in - Thursday 25 March (welcome braai that evening)
Free day - Friday 26 March
Wedding day - Saturday 27 March
Check out - any day on or after Sunday 28 March

GREAT STAYS

Protea Hotel by Marriott
Mirabelle Guest House
Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa
Franschhoek Hotel

A BIT FANCY

Mont Rochelle
La Petite Ferme

A few of our favourite places, restaurants and experiences. Most of you will arrive on the 19th or 20th, which gives you the better part of a week to explore before we head out to the winelands. Late March is one of our favourite times of year here — warm days, beautiful evenings, and the vineyards in the middle of harvest. We hope you fall in love with this city as much as we have.

This is the city that stole our hearts — and here are the places we’d send you to first. Watching over all of it is Table Mountain, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, known to the Khoikhoi people as Hoerikwaggo, the “Mountain in the Sea.” You’ll catch sight of it from almost everywhere, and somehow never tire of it.

Cape Town has one of the world's great coffee cultures. Perfect before Table Mountain or a day exploring the city.

OUR LOCAL

A beloved neighbourhood café, and the one in the photograph.

ROSETTA ROASTERY

One of South Africa's best coffee roasters.

CLARKE'S

Excellent breakfast, and a Cape Town institution.

JASON BAKERY

Legendary pastries. Go early

ORANJEZICHT CITY FARM MARKET

Every Saturday and Sunday morning at the V&A Waterfront. Local produce, artisan coffee, oysters, pastries and live music. If you're in town on a weekend morning, go.

TABLE MOUNTAIN

The one thing you shouldn't leave Cape Town without doing. Take the cableway to the summit in about five minutes, or hike Platteklip Gorge in around two hours if you're feeling adventurous. Always check the weather before you set out — the cableway closes regularly in high wind.

15 minutes from the City Bowl · Best in the morning

V&A WATERFRONT

Cape Town's working harbour, filled with restaurants, boutiques, the Zeitz MOCAA contemporary art museum and the ferry to Robben Island. Perfect for your first day while you're still recovering from the flight.

10 minutes · Easy first day

CAMPS BAY & CLIFTON

White sand, granite boulders and the Twelve Apostles rising behind you. Clifton Fourth Beach is the iconic one; Camps Bay is where you'll want to be for cocktails at sunset. The Atlantic Ocean is refreshingly cold - and that's all part of the experience.

20 minutes · Best at sunset

BO-KAAP

The brightly painted houses and cobbled streets of the historic Cape Malay quarter, on the slopes below Signal Hill. It's one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Cape Town and still very much a living community, so do wander gently — people's front doors are the photograph. The Bo-Kaap Museum is worth half an hour if you'd like the history behind it.

5 minutes · Beautiful in the morning light

CHAPMAN'S PEAK & CAPE POINT

One of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. Take Chapman's Peak from Hout Bay, continue on to Cape Point and finish at the Cape of Good Hope.

45 minutes from the City Bowl to Hout Bay · Allow a full day

BOULDERS BEACH

Meet South Africa's famous African penguins on a suburban beach in Simon's Town, with boardwalks that get you close. Easy to combine with Cape Point.

45 minutes · Perfect for families

SAFARI AT AQUILA

If seeing the Big Five is on your list but you don't have time to fly to Kruger, Aquila Private Game Reserve runs excellent half-day and full-day safaris, including transport from the city. It isn't the same as a multi-day safari, but it's a wonderful option if you're short on time.

2 hours · Book well in advance

If you’d like to spend a day in the winelands, we’d suggest doing it earlier in the week while you’re still based in Cape Town — though Friday the 26th is also a free day before the wedding, so that’s a lovely option too. Just note that by the Friday you’ll already be out in Franschhoek, so these are all much closer than the times below suggest — Babylonstoren is practically next door.

BABYLONSTOREN

If you only visit one wine estate before the wedding, make it this one. Even if you don't eat here, wander the gardens, visit the bakery, the farm shop, the wine cellar and the spa. It’s one of the gems of the cape winelands.

50 minutes from the City Bowl · Our favourite estate

THE FRANSCHHOEK WINE TRAM

The easiest and most fun way to explore the valley without a designated driver. A relaxed day of tasting across several estates.

1 hour 5 minutes · Great for groups

STELLENBOSCH

Oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch architecture and a university town's energy, surrounded by some of the country's oldest estates. Easy to combine with a tasting or two.

45 minutes

LION'S HEAD

Cape Town's classic hike — about ninety minutes to the top, with panoramic views across the city, the ocean and Table Mountain.

15 minutes from the City Bowl · Best at sunrise or sunset

KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS

Beautiful indigenous gardens and the famous Boomslang canopy walkway, and far gentler than hiking the mountain.

25 minutes · Gentle

If you're looking to slow down before the celebrations begin — or to recover afterwards — these are some of our favourite places to relax.

BABYLONSTOREN SPA

Beautiful gardens, wonderful treatments, and genuinely peaceful.

50 minutes from the City Bowl · Our favourite

ONE&ONLY SPA

One of the city's finest hotel spas, and the easiest if you're staying central.

10 minutes

DELAIRE GRAFF SPA

Luxury at its best, with spectacular mountain views.

50 minutes

LANZERAC SPA

Historic wine estate with an excellent full-day offering.

50 minutes

A mix of places, from proper fine dining to the more relaxed spots locals go. If you’re staying near the V&A Waterfront, there’s plenty right on your doorstep — Harbour House, Willoughby & Co and La Parada are all easy for a first night. Book the fine-dining ones well ahead.

IF YOU’RE FEELING FANCY

FYN

Japanese technique with South African ingredients. Named the country’s restaurant of the year.

CBD · 5 minutes · Best fine dining

PIER

Lekker Seekos overlooking the harbour.

V&A Waterfront · 10 minutes · Seafood favourite

SALSIFY AT THE ROUNDHOUSE

In an old hunting lodge on the slopes above Camps Bay, with a great view at sunset.

Camps Bay · 20 minutes · Best sunset dinner

LA COLOMBE

Up on the Silvermist estate above Constantia, and one of the best-regarded restaurants in the country. Book as early as you can

Constantia · 25 minutes

MORE RELAXED

KLOOF STREET HOUSE

A rambling Victorian house with a beautiful garden. Perfect for an easy evening.

Gardens · 10 minutes · Romantic

THE POT LUCK CLUB

Top of the old silos in Woodstock, with big windows over the city. Asian-inspired small plates.

Woodstock · 15 minutes

SUNDOO

South Indian sharing plates in a small neighbourhood place.

Sea Point · 15 minutes

FAT CACTUS

A casual Mexican spot. A good, easy night out.

Gardens or Sea Point · 10 minutes

A DAY IN KALK BAY

Out along the coast. Kalky’s does fish and chips on the harbour, and Olympia Café next door is an old seafood spot with its own bakery. Easy to combine with the penguins at Boulders Beach or the Cape Point drive.

Kalk Bay · 30 minutes