Even though Jane Lee lived in Toronto and Kerry Wu in Boston, they managed to start up a romance—and they have their mothers to thank. “Our parents are neighbours in Taiwan,” Jane explains. “They encouraged us to connect over email. I was skeptical at first,” she admits. Much to her surprise, her email conversations with Kerry quickly progressed to text messages and long phone conversations. Almost a month after the first email was exchanged, Jane and Kerry met face to face in Boston. The moral of the story? “Listen to your mother,” Jane laughs. “She was definitely the happiest person at our wedding!”

When it came time to tie the knot, Jane and Kerry decided on a destination wedding, and the location they chose—Kenya, Africa—was completely out of the box. “We had guests flying in from all over the world (25 different countries, to be exact), so picking an exotic destination made perfect sense for us,” Jane says. “Plus, we wanted to do something different and really give our guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” With that goal in mind, the duo planned a week-long adventure that kicked off with a welcome party in Nairobi, Kenya. The couple and their 116 guests also embarked on several excursions pre-wedding, including a tour of an elephant orphanage. In lieu of traditional gifts, Jane and Kerry asked their loved ones to donate to local charities like the orphanage.

For the wedding itself, the luxurious Fairmont Mara Safari Club, located on the picturesque banks of the Mara River, was the base of operations. The Lee/Wu group took over all 50 tents on the property, and the resort’s accommodating staff attended to every detail—they even arranged for the newlyweds to have a memorable photo op with some local rhinos! On the day of the ceremony, decorations were transported to the safari plain where Jane and Kerry said “I do” beneath a lone tree with green and white kissing balls suspended from its branches. Jane rode to the ceremony site in style in a safari vehicle festooned with flowers. Upon arrival, Masai warriors in colourful, traditional garb greeted her, but she only had eyes for Kerry. “He was smiling, and he looked so handsome. I didn’t even see anyone else,” Jane recalls fondly.

As soon as the ceremony wrapped, Jane and Kerry escorted their guests to a nearby hill so they could watch the sun set over the savannah. Everyone gathered around a roaring bonfire as the sun slowly slipped below the horizon, and then it was time to dine. Back at the Fairmont, a magnificent feast awaited, boasting delicacies such as Masai ostrich steak. Guests received personalized menus and were seated at tables named after African animals. For dessert, the Fairmont’s employees brought out the wedding cake in an especially memorable manner: “They sang and danced and presented the cake to us,” Jane reveals. “That was definitely one of my favourite moments.”

“When I first visited Kenya (a year before the wedding), I fell in love with the breathtaking landscape and the warm, welcoming people. I could picture our wedding day with all our loved ones gathered on the plain,” Jane reminisces. “In the end, it was better than I ever imagined. Celebrating our love in the midst of untamed wilderness, amongst nature’s wildest creatures, was a dream come true.”

Jane Lee and Kerry Wu, July 7, 2012, Kenya, Africa.

Photography courtesy of Christophe Viseux and Mia Collis.

Vendors
Ceremony location: Masai Mara National Reserve
Reception location: Fairmont Mara Safari Club
Bridal gown: Monique Lhuillier at L’elite Boutique
Bridal party attire: J. Crew
Flowers: Puni Patel
Groom’s suit: Harry Rosen
Hair and makeup: Gorgeous Hair Design & Beauty
Music: DJ Zelalem
Stationery: Palettera
Travel agent: Cosmic Safaris
Videography: Renaud Santos Moro
Wedding Planner: Puni Patel

See all the photos from this safari-themed destination wedding in Kenya.

 

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