“Honestly, It Sounds Perfect”: Newlywed Shares List of Non-Traditional Wedding Moments, SA Debates

• A newlywed woman listed the unique and cost-effective elements that made her intimate wedding truly special
• The inspiring details, shared via TikTok video slides, showcased a small, 35-guest celebration filled with personal touches
• Social media users reacted with admiration for the unique celebration, sparking diverse opinions on the inclusion of specific cultural rituals
• Briefly News spoke with Zamasango Makhalima, founder of ZamSam Events, about the viral intimate wedding that focused on personal touches over tradition

A beautiful and personal wedding, featuring numerous non-traditional and budget-friendly choices, captured widespread attention.

The delightful details, shared as video slides by TikTok user @halioduor, provided an intimate look that touched many social media users.

The newlywed woman detailed the thoughtful decisions that shaped her small and intimate wedding, which hosted only 35 cherished guests. Demonstrating her practical approach, she chose to do her make-up, asserting that no one knew her face better than herself. Instead of a traditional veil, she opted for a dupatta (a long, shawl-like scarf traditionally worn by women in the Indian subcontinent), accompanying a specially created hairstyle designed to withstand the coastal wind. She chose to walk down the aisle holding onto her dad's arm, foregoing a floral bouquet.

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A celebration designed for love

The couple deliberately avoided a specific party or wedding theme, desiring an atmosphere where people could enjoy themselves in a normal, relaxed way. Guest attendance was limited to their closest circle, the 35 individuals nearest to their hearts. A significant moment involved their community blessing their rings during the ceremony, with each guest speaking blessings upon their union. To convey their gratitude, they wrote personal notes to each of their 35 attendees, sharing how much they meant to the couple.

Meals were served family-style at one long table, fostering a sense of togetherness. In a lovely tribute, her change of dress was her mother's wedding gown from 28 years ago. Furthermore, they skipped having a traditional wedding cake, a detail @halioduor noted no one even noticed. The couple chose to delay their honeymoon, prioritising spending quality time with their close friends and support system instead.

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The intimate and cost-effective wedding

The Briefly News team had the pleasure of speaking with Zamasango Makhalima, the founder of ZamSan Events, to get her expert take on the video showcasing a unique, non-traditional and intimate wedding.

The team asked Zama what the benefits of a small wedding are, from an event planner's perspective. She said:

"An intimate wedding like that allows for an incredible personalisation. You can focus on those closest to you, making every detail meaningful. It also often helps with the budget, allowing couples to put money into unique experiences rather than just numbers."

We asked her thoughts on the personal and non-traditional choices, such as the bride doing her makeup and opting for a dupatta instead of a veil. The event planner said:

"I love it. As an event planner, I encourage couples to infuse their personality into their day. It makes the wedding authentic. When the bride feels comfortable doing her makeup or choosing cultural attire, it makes the day truly special and memorable for them. I've also seen brides who turned out to hate their makeup or felt it was too heavy, so big ups to her for making sure she looked, how she wanted to look."

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When asked if she sees more couples moving away from traditional wedding elements, like the couple in the article, Zama responded:

"Definitely! More and more couples are opting for what resonates with them rather than just following tradition. Family-style meals foster connection, and if a cake isn't important to them, skipping it can save money and focus on other priorities, just like this couple did. Others are going the Home Affairs route and then getting us to organise celebration lunches or dinners that are specifically the way they want them to be."

Netizens share different views about the wedding

The clip went viral, attracting 5.6M views, 1.2M likes, and over 9K comments from social media users who complimented the gorgeous wedding. Many expressed admiration for its beauty and uniqueness. Some, however, stated they found the practice of passing rings around for blessings scary, worried that such may allow others to cast spells on them, reflecting cultural beliefs and superstitions. Others saw nothing wrong with the ring blessing, arguing that because the wedding was small, the guests were likely people the couple knew and trusted well.

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User @Noa said:

"35 guests, yes, because your aunties and uncles who've never helped you in your life should never be in your wedding."

User @NADIA shared:

"A neck scarf? Girl, that's also adupatta! You look stunning 💗."

User @MessyBuns0508 commented:

"If you are that worried about the people at your wedding blessing your rings, they probably shouldn’t be at your wedding to begin with."

User @matshepotekane asked:

"I want to have 50 guests at my wedding. How did you convince your parents of the limited list?"

User @liv added:

"Honestly, it sounds perfect."

User @JustAnn said:

"Beautifully arranged."

Watch the TikTok video below:

3 Briefly News articles about weddings

• A Scottish family received a welcome fit for royalty when they got to their in-laws in Mzansi, leaving them amazed.
• A wedding guest arrived at the ceremony wearing a similar dress to the bride's, sparking a huge debate online.
• A bride and groom caused a stir online after they were possessed by the Holy Spirit in a powerful moment at the altar that left them lying on the floor.

Source: Briefly News