A Nigerian and Cameroonian Wedding at La Paris in Franschhoek

Beginning Their Story with an Engagement Shoot in Cape Town

Our journey with Oreale and Lateef began before the wedding weekend when we photographed their engagement photos in Cape Town.

An engagement shoot gives us an opportunity to get to know the couple before the wedding. It also allows them to become comfortable in front of the camera and experience the way we work together as a photography team.

By the time the wedding arrived, Oreale and Lateef already knew what to expect from us. This created a relaxed dynamic and helped us capture their wedding portraits naturally, without making the photography feel overly staged or interrupting the flow of the celebration.

For international couples planning a destination wedding in South Africa, an engagement shoot can also become part of their Cape Town experience. The city offers a wonderful variety of locations, from mountains and beaches to urban streets and historic architecture.

A Multi-Day Destination Wedding in Franschhoek

The celebrations began with an intimate rehearsal dinner at the La Paris Bistro.

It was a relaxed opportunity for the couple and their guests to reconnect after travelling and spend time together before the traditional and white wedding celebrations began.

La Paris is particularly well suited to a multi-day destination wedding because the estate has several indoor and outdoor spaces that can be used to create a different atmosphere for every event.

Oreale and Lateef’s wedding made use of the Arbour Lawn, Rose Garden, Manor House Lawn, Garden Room, Big Lawn and Lyceum. This variety allowed each part of the celebration to have its own visual identity.

The traditional wedding was filled with colour, movement and cultural detail, while the following day’s white wedding had an elegant and romantic Cape Winelands atmosphere.

The Traditional Nigerian and Cameroonian Wedding

The traditional wedding celebrated both the bride’s Cameroonian heritage and the groom’s Nigerian heritage.

Guests gathered at the Garden Room for welcome drinks and snacks before moving to the Arbour Lawn for the ceremonies. The outdoor setting featured woven baskets, Malawian chairs, cabanas, parasols and a striking floral installation by WILDEFLOWER.

The traditional programme began with a Bamileke ceremony, followed by a performance from the Ogenne Dance Group. The celebration then continued with a Yoruba traditional ceremony.

Both ceremonies were filled with symbolic traditions, family participation, ceremonial entrances, music and dancing. These moments formed an important part of the couple’s story and were documented through both photography and film.

As an experienced Nigerian wedding photographer and videographer in Cape Town, we understand that traditional weddings often move quickly and involve important interactions taking place in different areas at the same time.

Our team familiarises itself with the programme before the wedding so that we understand the order of events and can anticipate key moments without interfering with the ceremony.

Traditional Wedding Fashion, Colour and Energy

The traditional attire worn by the couple, their families and their guests was one of the visual highlights of the weekend.

The clothing featured beautiful fabrics, detailed embroidery, jewellery, traditional headwear and coordinated family outfits. Against the green gardens and natural textures of La Paris, the colours looked incredible in both the photographs and the wedding film.

Rather than over-directing every moment, we focused on documenting the celebration naturally. We photographed greetings between family members, the couple’s entrances, emotional reactions, traditional dancing and the spontaneous interactions happening throughout the afternoon.

African weddings are filled with movement, personality and expression. Our role is to preserve that energy while still creating elegant portraits and detailed photographs of the styling, clothing and décor.

Photographing Different Skin Tones Accurately

Professional lighting and colour management are especially important when photographing multicultural weddings.

The traditional wedding moved between bright afternoon light, shaded ceremony areas, sunset portraits, outdoor dinner lighting and evening dancing. Each environment required a different approach.

Our photography and video team balanced natural light, flash and continuous video lighting to preserve accurate skin tones and the rich colours of the traditional clothing.

We avoid harsh editing trends that change natural skin tones or remove the character of the wedding. Our goal is to produce timeless images and films in which every person is photographed with care.

A Nigerian and Cameroonian Feast in the Rose Garden

Following the traditional ceremonies, guests moved to the Rose Garden for dinner.

The menu celebrated Nigerian and Cameroonian cuisine and included jollof rice, egusi soup, ndolé, poulet DG, eru, fried fish, fried turkey, pounded yam, plantain, puff-puff and several other traditional dishes.

The styling combined woven textures, modern tableware, flowers, candles and suspended basket lighting. It felt sophisticated while still complementing the cultural character of the celebration.

After dinner, the festivities continued with music and dancing beneath the evening sky.

The White Wedding at La Paris Estate

The atmosphere changed completely for Oreale and Lateef’s white wedding the following afternoon.

The ceremony was hosted on the Big Lawn at La Paris. Guests enjoyed welcome drinks and music before taking their seats beneath white parasols.

A white aisle, lush floral arrangements and an elegant ceremony structure created a timeless setting against the gardens and surrounding Winelands scenery.

Oreale arrived in a beautiful vehicle supplied by CLASSIC RIDES. Her arrival created a memorable entrance and added another cinematic element to the wedding film.

The Amanzi Choir performed during the ceremony, bringing a moving South African element to this international wedding celebration.

Following the ceremony, guests showered the newlyweds with confetti before gathering for a large group photograph.

Cocktail Hour on the Manor House Lawn

Cocktail hour took place on the Manor House Lawn and around the Garden Room.

Guests enjoyed drinks, canapés, live choir performances and music while we photographed the couple, their families and the bridal party.

La Paris offers numerous portrait locations within a relatively small area. This meant we could create a varied collection of images without taking Oreale and Lateef away from their guests for an extended period.

The gardens, estate architecture and classic car each provided a different backdrop. We also reserved a short period around sunset for couple portraits while the light was soft and flattering.

Careful planning is essential for a destination wedding with a detailed schedule. Our aim is to create beautiful portraits efficiently while still allowing the couple to enjoy the experience they have spent so much time planning.

An Elegant Wedding Reception in the Lyceum

The reception was held inside the Lyceum at La Paris.

SITTING PRETTY BESPOKE EVENTS transformed the venue with draping, elegant table settings, upholstered chairs, greenery installations and a white dance floor.

Floral installations and table arrangements by WILDEFLOWER brought softness and texture to the large reception space.

Personalised welcome panels and a statement seating display greeted guests as they entered. A Vogue-inspired photo booth supplied by LUXE LOOP PHOTOBOOTHS added a stylish and playful feature to the celebration.

The reception included the couple’s grand entrance, dinner, speeches, the cutting of the wedding cake and their first dance. Once the formalities were complete, the dance floor opened and the celebration continued late into the evening.

One Team for Wedding Photography and Videography

Having wedding photography and videography managed by one team creates a more coordinated experience.

Our photographers and filmmakers understand how to share angles, lighting and limited time without competing with one another. This is especially valuable during traditional ceremonies, grand entrances, speeches and other moments that cannot be repeated.

Oreale and Lateef’s wedding involved multiple events, outfit changes, cultural ceremonies and several different venues across the estate. Working as one ZaraZoo team allowed us to maintain a consistent visual style throughout the complete wedding story.

We documented the formal elements, but we also looked beyond the programme for the moments happening around them—the proud expressions of parents, emotional reunions, laughter between friends and the spontaneous energy of the dance floor.

Photography and Video for Nigerian Weddings in Cape Town

Nigerian and African destination weddings often include multiple ceremonies, large family groups, several outfits and meaningful cultural traditions.

They require a photography and video team that can work quickly while remaining respectful of the families, customs and wedding programme.

ZaraZoo Photography has been photographing weddings since 2003. Our team has covered multicultural and destination weddings throughout South Africa and internationally.

We provide both photography and cinematography, giving couples and wedding coordinators one experienced team for the complete celebration.

This is particularly valuable for multi-day weddings where planning, consistency and communication are essential.

Planning a Nigerian Destination Wedding in Cape Town?

Cape Town and the surrounding Winelands are exceptional destinations for Nigerian, Cameroonian and multicultural African weddings.

Couples can celebrate their cultural traditions, host an elegant white wedding and give international guests an unforgettable South African travel experience.

For wedding planners searching for a Nigerian wedding photographer and videographer in Cape Town, ZaraZoo offers an experienced team capable of documenting both photography and film.

We are based in Cape Town and regularly work in Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and throughout the wider Cape Winelands.

Whether the celebration includes a Yoruba traditional wedding, a Cameroonian ceremony, a white wedding or several days of events, our goal is to preserve the complete story with elegance, energy and authenticity.