A barefoot Kenyan beach wedding with garden, dhow and pool terrace options and an easy Malindi arrival.
The Setting
Hemingways Watamu sits on Garoda Beach inside Watamu Marine National Park, on Kenya's north coast. Malindi airport is the closest, about 30 minutes by road, so guests land and are on the sand quickly.
The hotel has 39 rooms plus residences with kitchens and one, two or four bedrooms, three pools including one for children, a full spa and several places to eat, including Forodhani for seafood, the all-day Brasserie and Gede Café by the pool. It is open all year, so your date depends on your guests more than the calendar. The team hosts everything from a small private ceremony to receptions and dinners for up to 200 guests.
The day itself
Ceremonies can be held in the garden, on the beach, on a dhow or on the pool terrace. Daytime ceremonies usually start from 4 pm and dinner receptions from 7 pm, though other times can be discussed. Dinner can be buffet or plated, with canapés beforehand and a cocktail menu you shape with the team.
The team can source photographers, florists and entertainment, and the hotel hires out a PA system. Events must finish by 3 am, with an extra hourly charge from 11 pm. Ask the team which ceremony space suits your guest numbers best.
Where your guests stay
With 39 rooms and the residences, a good share of a medium guest list can sleep on site. Ask the team how many residences you can reserve together for family groups.
The days around the wedding are easy to fill. Guests can snorkel in the marine park, take a dhow cruise on Mida Creek, dive, kitesurf or visit the Gede Ruins and Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Whale watching runs from June to October. Malindi airport is 20 km away, Vipingo 70 km and Mombasa 100 km, around three hours by road.
Book a dhow cruise on Mida Creek for the wedding party the day before. It gives your closest people a quiet, photogenic warm-up, and if you fall for it, a dhow ceremony is one of the hotel's options.
Questions couples ask about Hemingways Watamu
Where can we hold the ceremony at Hemingways Watamu?
The hotel offers garden, beach, dhow and pool terrace weddings. Ask the team which one fits your numbers and date.
When can we get married at Hemingways Watamu?
The hotel is open all year. Ceremonies typically start from 4 pm and dinner from 7 pm, with a 3 am cut-off.
How many guests can the hotel host?
Events run from a small private ceremony up to receptions and dinners for 200 guests. Ask the team about numbers for your ceremony.
How do guests get to Hemingways Watamu?
Malindi airport is about 30 minutes away by car and Mombasa International around three hours by road. Ask the team about transfers.
Can we have a legal wedding in Kenya?
Yes. The hotel explains that two foreign nationals apply for a civil marriage online through a visitor eCitizen account. Ask the team to walk you through the steps.
Facts checked against the hotel's own wedding brochure, fact sheet and events page.
Your next step
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What's Included
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Every venue in the collection is chosen by our editors for UK couples marrying abroad. We never take commission on your wedding, so our only job is to send you somewhere right for you.
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