Weddings · The Sahara
A wedding in the Sahara, vows on the dunes
Vows on a dune at sunset, dinner by lantern light and a sky full of stars, then a night in a desert camp. We take care of the camp, the ceremony and every guest.
In short
For real dunes, the Erg Chebbi at Merzouga is the place: intimate weddings and elopements, with a camp for the night and a journey through the Atlas to get there.
For a larger group, or a desert evening close to Marrakech, Agafay’s stony desert is 45 minutes from town. We plan either, from the camp and the ceremony to the road there.
Choose your desert
Two deserts
Morocco gives you two very different desert weddings. One is close and easy; the other is the Sahara of the photographs, and a journey of its own.
01
Agafay
Stony desert: rolling hills of rock and earth, the Atlas on the horizon, no sand dunes.
Drive from Marrakech
About 45 minutes from Marrakech: guests come for the evening and sleep in town or at the camp.
Best for: A desert dinner for a larger group, without the long road.
02
Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi
True Sahara sand: the Erg Chebbi dunes, the tallest well over 100 metres, glowing at sunrise and sunset.
Drive from Marrakech
A long drive from Marrakech, usually over two days through the Atlas and the gorges; or fly to Errachidia, about two hours away.
Best for: The dunes themselves: an intimate wedding or an elopement, and a trip to remember.
Where the ceremony happens
Choose your kind of venue
Kinds of place, not a list of names: availability, terms and costs are confirmed with each venue for your dates.
The Erg Chebbi, on one of our trips Intimate, elopements
A ceremony on the dunes
A dune crest at golden hour: the simplest and most unforgettable setting in Morocco.
A desert camp at night, on one of our trips Intimate to medium
A luxury camp
Tents with proper beds and bathrooms, a lantern-lit lounge and dinner under the stars.
A camp from the air, on one of our trips Exclusive use
A camp for the whole party
A camp taken over for your guests, with the ceremony a short walk into the dunes.
Medium to large
An Agafay evening
A desert dinner on stony ground with the Atlas behind, 45 minutes from Marrakech: the easy desert for bigger groups, without dunes.
For your guests
The guest weekend
A wedding abroad is a trip for everyone, and we plan all of it: arrivals, rooms, dinners, private guides and days out around your day.
Days 1–2
The road to the dunes
- From Marrakech over the Atlas, through Aït Benhaddou and the gorges
- A night in a kasbah on the way
- Or a flight to Errachidia and a short drive
Day 3
The day
- Camel rides into the dunes for those who want them
- Vows on a dune at sunset
- Dinner, music and fire under the stars
Day 4
Sunrise
- Sunrise over the Erg Chebbi
- A slow breakfast at the camp
- Onward to Fes, or back to Marrakech
For guests
Around it
- Airport pickups and every transfer
- A Marrakech or Fes stay before or after
- The honeymoon, planned as its own trip
When
The season
October and November are the sweet spot: warm days and mild nights. Spring is lovely too, though wind can lift the sand.
Winter days are bright but desert nights get very cold; summer is far too hot. We time the ceremony for the golden hour whatever the month.
- JanGood
- FebGood
- MarGood
- AprGood
- MayGood
- JunHard
- JulHard
- AugHard
- SepGood
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGood
We take care of it
Everything, handled
You choose; we plan and run the rest, from the first room booked to the last guest home.
- LodgingRooms for you and your guests: riads, kasbahs, palace-style houses, villas or desert camps.
- The ceremonyThe setting, decor and flowers, music, and an officiant for your symbolic ceremony.
- Dinners and henna nightThe welcome dinner, a henna evening, the wedding feast and catering.
- Photographer and filmA photographer, and a film of the day, on request.
- Your guestsAirport pickups, transfers, private guides and day trips for everyone.
- The honeymoonThe days after, planned as a trip of their own.
Borrowing a tradition
Moroccan touches
- The henna nightA night or two before the wedding, the bride’s hands and feet are painted with henna, among women, with music and sweets. Many couples borrow it as a guest evening.
- The negafaThe woman who dresses the bride and guides her through the night, including the changes of outfit: a Moroccan wedding often sees several caftans.
- The amariyaA decorated litter in which the bride, and often the couple, is lifted shoulder-high by bearers and carried around the room.
- Dates and milkOffered to guests, and to the couple, as a sign of welcome and sweetness.
- The musicGnawa, an Andalusian ensemble or chaabi for the dancing: each an option you can add.
Step by step
How we plan your wedding
- Tell us the dreamYour dates, your numbers, the place and the feeling you want.
- A free quote within 24 hoursA planner in Casablanca replies with ideas and a written quote.
- We shape the weekendSettings, lodging and the guest days, shown to you on a site visit if you can come, or in photos and video if you cannot.
- We design the dayDecor, flowers, music, the menu and the ceremony.
- Your guests arriveMet at the airport and looked after from the welcome dinner on.
- The day, then the honeymoonYou celebrate; we run it. Then the trip after.
A wedding in the Sahara: your questions
How far is the Sahara from Marrakech?
The Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga are a long drive, usually split over two days through the Atlas. You can also fly to Errachidia, about two hours from Merzouga. Agafay, a stony desert without dunes, is about 45 minutes from Marrakech.
How many guests suit a desert wedding?
The dunes suit intimate weddings and elopements; a camp can be taken over for a larger party. For bigger groups close to Marrakech, Agafay is easier. Each camp confirms its own limits for your dates.
Is it cold in the desert?
Desert nights are cool for much of the year and very cold in winter, while summer days are far too hot. October, November and spring are the best months; we plan warm layers and fires for the evening.
Do you plan the whole wedding?
Yes: the camp and lodging for you and your guests, the ceremony with its setting, decor, flowers, music and officiant, dinners, a photographer on request, every transfer and the road there, and the honeymoon after.
How much does a destination wedding in Morocco cost?
It depends on the number of guests, the kind of venue, how many days you celebrate, the decor and flowers, the catering and the guests’ stays and days out. Tell us your plans and we send a free, itemised quote within 24 hours.
Can we marry legally in Morocco?
Most couples sign the legal paperwork at home and celebrate here; we plan the celebration end to end.
After you ask for a quote
What you get within 24 hours
- A day-by-day route, with the driving time between stops
- Stays matched to your style (riads, kasbahs, desert camps or hotels), named so you can look them up
- Which moments are private to you, and which are shared, such as a camp’s dining tent
- An itemised quote: what is included and what is not
- Who is planning your trip, and how to reach them on WhatsApp
- Free, with no obligation to book
Every trip is private and priced to your dates, so there is no fixed price list. Ask, and the proposal shows the full cost before anything is booked.
Your desert wedding, taken care of.
المغربⵜⴰⴳⵍⴷⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱThe Kingdom of Morocco