“Q&A: We Downsized Our Wedding & Never Looked Back”

Couple: Nandi & Thabo
Location: A Boutique Garden Villa, Constantia, Cape Town
Guests: 22
Theme: Afro-minimalist with soft neutrals and bold florals
From: Johannesburg + Diaspora cousins flew in from the UK

Q: Why did you choose to downsize your wedding?
A:
Nandi: “Originally, we planned for a 150-person wedding in Joburg—big venue, three outfit changes, the works. But the more we planned, the less it felt like us. It became about pleasing everyone else.”
Thabo: “We were also in the middle of moving houses and juggling two families across provinces. One day we looked at each other and said, ‘What if we just… kept it small and intentional?’”

Q: What changed when you went micro?
A:
Nandi: “Everything. We booked a villa in Constantia that only allowed 30 people max. Suddenly, every guest felt like family (because they were!). We had time to actually talk to our guests, and even sit down and eat. No dramatic timelines, no MC yelling, no chasing a DJ at midnight.”
Thabo: “We also had more budget freedom—we could upgrade our menu, book a live jazz duo, and even splurge on custom attire made by a young designer from Soweto.”

Q: Any standout moments?
A:
Nandi: “My niece surprised us with a spoken word piece about love in isiZulu—it was so personal and powerful. Also, we didn’t have a first dance. We had a group dance-off to Brenda Fassie!”
Thabo: “Our private vows in the garden before the ceremony. Just us, our photographer, and tears. That moment grounded the whole day.”

Q: Any regrets?
A:
Nandi: “None. Not inviting everyone meant we got to pour into the ones who really mattered. Our wedding wasn’t big, but it was deep.”

Why It Inspires:
Nandi & Thabo’s story is a reminder that intimacy doesn’t mean cutting corners—it means amplifying what truly counts. Whether you’re local or planning from abroad, micro weddings in Southern Africa are redefining what romance looks like: intentional, soulful, and joyfully simple.