🌴 Sandy Toes, Sweet Vows – A Beach Wedding in Trou aux Biches

Some weddings are picture-perfect. This one? It was a postcard come to life.

When Nadine, a Johannesburg-based creative director, and Keagan, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur, got engaged during a trip to Cape Town, they knew one thing for sure — they wanted to get married by the ocean. But not just any ocean. They dreamed of palm trees, soft white sand, and a celebration that felt like a getaway for everyone involved.

Mauritius became their dream come true.
Specifically, a beachfront villa in Trou aux Biches, where the ocean is turquoise, the sunsets are golden, and the vibe is pure island romance.

💌 From Southern Africa to the Indian Ocean

Planning a destination wedding from two different countries wasn’t easy. With family spread between Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UK and Australia, coordination could have been a nightmare.

“We chose Mauritius because it was visa-free, culturally rich, and somewhere neutral for our families to meet for the first time,” says Nadine. “Plus, I mean… have you seen the beaches?!”

They hired a local wedding planner who handled all the on-ground logistics, from securing permits to sourcing a local band, flowers, and food vendors.

👣 The Ceremony: Barefoot & Beautiful

On the wedding day, guests arrived barefoot, welcomed with fresh coconuts and scented flower leis. Nadine walked down an aisle lined with conch shells and woven mats, wearing a floaty off-the-shoulder dress, hair loose with tropical flowers tucked behind her ear.

Keagan, in a relaxed ivory linen suit, could barely hold back tears as she walked toward him.

“My aunt officiated the wedding,” Nadine shared. “It made it feel personal and sacred. She told stories, spoke in Shona and English, and even made jokes — it was us, through and through.”

They exchanged handwritten vows under a bamboo arch covered in bougainvillea, timed perfectly with the golden hour sun dipping into the horizon.

🥂 The Reception: Rum, Sega & Sunset Vibes

The reception took place under a tented marquee with fairy lights and soft rattan lanterns swinging in the sea breeze. Instead of a formal sit-down, they opted for a Mauritian seafood braai — think grilled lobster, spicy octopus salad, and tropical fruit platters.

Highlights included:

Sega dancers who turned the reception into a beachfront party

A signature rum punch cocktail station with personalised cups

Miniature bottles of local rum as favours with tags that read: “Thanks for sailing through love with us”

A simple carrot and coconut cake topped with real orchids

The couple danced barefoot on the sand to their favourite Afrobeats song, with aunties cheering and cousins forming a conga line behind them.