Lobola Ceremony & Traditional African Wedding

Photography by Jennifer Moyes Photography

Nondu and T couldn't travel back home to South Africa for their wedding. So, they conducted a virtual Lobola ceremony with their families at home. Combing their Shona and Zulu cultures, they exchanged gifts, sang, danced and broke bread together. Not to mention looked incredible! Nondo wore a black fitted dress with an African print fishtail, Ndebele necklace and Zule hat, and T looks sharp in a brown velvet blazer. The images of them dancing and smiling are pure joy.

Virtual Lobola ceremony combining the couples Shona and Zulu African cultures.

What made the day unique was the fact that it was a virtual traditional lobola ceremony. It is often said that, in Africa, marriage unites families, not just individuals and that is what is at the centre of a lobola ceremony. We couldn't travel home due to the pandemic and therefore had to adjust our traditional ceremony to a virtual event with us being in the UK and our families coming together in South Africa, exchanging gifts, singing and dancing and breaking bread together. It was an unconventional way to do it but turned out beautifully.
Nondumiso & T

Black African bride with naturally curly hair

Black African Bride in a Ndebele necklace and handmade Zulu hat

wedding morning with virtual Lobola ceremony

Intimate Lobola ceremony with guest portraits in the woods

Bride in black dress with African print, Ndebele necklace, Zulu hat, boots and overcoat walking to her Lobola ceremony

Emotional bride on the wedding morning getting ready

Virtual Lobola ceremony with bride talking to guests online

Bride and groom with their wedding guests in the woods

Black African bride having her makeup done

Bride on the wedding morning talking to her family via video call

Stylish bride in fishtail dress with African print, trench coat and Zulu hat

Bride and groom kissing on the wedding morning

Black and white portrait of bride and groom embracing on the wedding morning

Africa was the vibe and Africa was the inspiration. We had the coming together of the groom's Shona culture and the bride's Zulu culture. Both cultures are from Southern Africa but have slight distinct differences. They both shone through on the day through singing and the procedures that were followed on the day.
Nondumiso & T

Black African bride in a Ndebele necklace

Intimate bride and groom portrait at Lobola wedding

Black African bride and groom dancing on the dock

Black and white portrait of the bride and groom at their Lobola wedding

Black African bride and groom holding hands in a country lane

Groom in brown velvet blazer and bride in handmade Zulu hat

Bride and groom kissing at intimate wedding

Black African bride in Zulu hat with afro hair smiling at her groom

Black African bride and groom portrait in a country lane by Jennifer Moyes Photography

Groom kissing his bride wearing a Ndebele and Zulu hat

Bride in fitted black dress with African print detail and groom in brown velvet blazer dancing on the dock

Groom in brown velvet blazer and orange bow tie and bride in black fitted dress with African print fishtail detail

The whole day was a favourite moment for us. Everything was perfect!

Be prepared to be flexible in a world full of uncertainty. We initially had a different picture in mind of what our lobola day would be like but had to adjust and change it due to the pandemic and it turned out beautifully.
Nondumiso & T

Marriage is often described as a union of two people. But, the primary purpose of a Lobola ceremony is to build relations between relatives too. This is a wonderful way of including family into your day. We've put together lots of ideas of ways to include your loved ones in your day.

Written by Lorna Shaw

Photographer: Jennifer Moyes Photography |

Hair: Kbeauty Hairdressers |

Makeup: Sam Burke |

Bridal Outfit: Cumo London |

Accessories: African Plaza Boutique

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