The annual LUXlife Global Wedding Awards were held recently and Good Things Guy bagged top honours as the Most Inspirational Wedding Adventures News Platform 2024 (South Africa) for the Love on Ice wedding. The “Love on Ice” competition, which featured on Good Things Guy, was an opportunity for couples to win a truly unique wedding experience in the pristine wilderness of Antarctica.
The LUXlife Magazine Global Wedding Awards celebrate businesses that excel in the wedding industry, embodying excellence, innovation, and a commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences for couples on their special day.
Of the thousands of entries received for the Love On Ice competition, Carli Andringa and Paul van Dyk were the lucky couple who’d get the chance to wed in Antarctica. When Paul heard about the competition, he knew he had to enter. Just a month before, he and Carli had to cancel their wedding, so the competition caught Paul’s attention. “I immediately sent Carli a WhatsApp telling her about an elopement wedding, and she said we should go for it,” he says.
The wedding was organised by Ultima Antarctic Expeditions, and was seamlessly coordinated as part of Ultima’s expedition, “The Ultima Day,” offering a whirlwind 5.5-hour journey from Cape Town to Antarctica, packed with magical experiences and a swift return within 24 hours. Strict adherence to international protocols and permits ensured the protection of Antarctica’s pristine biodiversity. The couple were accompanied by renowned adventurer Riaan Manser.
Carli and Paul recounted unexpected and memorable moments during the ceremony, including the surreal sound of ice crunching beneath their feet and a brief pause in the wind, creating a magical silence for their vows.
Riaan Manser, who played a crucial role in orchestrating the memorable experience, emphasised the goal of making it the best day of the couple’s lives. “We dreamed of making this couple’s experience the best day of their lives – and we believe we came very, very close! Every part of the expedition ran like clockwork, with our full teams in Cape Town and in Antarctica. Together, we were able to show how visits to this extraordinary continent can be done with a ‘light touch’, and maximum respect for this pristine, sacred place.”
