Gorgeous gowns are one of the things I have come to love most about my job and year after year I’m stunned by the sheer beauty of our brides and their choices in bridal fashion, whether classic or daring. Each one comes with its own story, of how it came to be THE dress, and like finding a partner, finding the perfect dress can be a struggle. But every one of our brides tells us when you know, you know! The evidence is clear for all to see, and in between all the exciting talents emerging in the SA bridal fashion scene right now, it is SO hard to pick! But pick we did, with special reference to the dresses that YOU loved on social media in 2017. Each one of these is as special and unique as the woman who wears it, a reflection of the many hours of care that goes into creating a bridal masterpiece. That’s the hard work and talent of the designers we’re honouring here. But slaying it IN your dress? Well ladies, that’s all you.
from JEANINE & MARTHINUS’ ELEGANT RUSTIC FARM WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Enzoani | Photography: Wildflower Photography
Jeanine says: “I did not want any lace and definitely did not want a ballgown. It was actually the first dress that I tried on. I was certain that I was going to have a dress made, but after trying on this dress, I cancelled all my other fittings and the designer I had lined up. It made it really easy to know that the dress was done and settled, and this allowed me time to attend to the other details. I loved the silk fabric and the cowl back.”
from SANDRINE & SAM’S MAGICAL MIDSUMMER WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Zuhair Murad | Photography: Shanna Jones | Co-ordination: Mosaic Weddings
Sandrine says: “I thought about getting a dress made but the princess in me knew I had to take the opportunity of living in London to try on some of the big bridal designers. I flew through countless Reem Accra, Ellie Saab and Berta dresses, but there were no ‘heart stopping’ moments. I arrived at the famous The Wedding Club with my mom who had flown over to help. As we waited for my appointment, a young bride walked past in MY dress; I knew it straight away. I jumped into the stunning Zuhair Murad gown and all the emotions I expected to feel came flooding through, and more. The top of the dress was an illusion fabric, with hand stitched floral embroidery and small crystals that crept up my chest and back like ivy. Small pieces flowed down the drop waist skirt. It had a slightly full silk chiffon skirt with a small puddle train, It was so light, it fluttered as I moved. It felt ethereal, like a fairy’s dress. To make it totally mine, I had gorgeous detachable silk chiffon wide bell sleeves made; they were whipped off when the dancing started! The fairytale was complete with a cathedral length veil dusted with tiny Swarovski crystals that glittered in the sun as I walked down the aisle.”
from GRETCHEN & GABE’S INTIMATE AL FRESCO WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Inbal Dror | Wedding design & coordination: Wedding Concepts | Photography: Kikitography
Gretchen says: “My wedding gown was a dream! I knew I wanted something unique and I liked interesting beading. I found my dress at an Inbal Dror trunk show in Calgary (Canada). It was unique and nothing like other dresses I had tried on before. I absolutely loved it! I chose to have a long veil with it and it rounded everything off perfectly.”
from CARA & MIKE’S VINTAGE GLAMOUR WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Maggie Sottero at Eve’s Bridal Wear | Photography: Jani B | Co-ordination: Bright & Beautiful
Cara says: “I spent ages going to all the different designers I had been recommended, but I have always had an awkward relationship with my body and didn’t want to go through the process of having something made, so I landed up renting a gorgeous Maggie Sottero dress from Eve’s Bridal that had fit like a glove and made me feel like a princess the first time I put it on. It was everything I thought I didn’t want and I absolutely loved it!”
from JONATHAN & KIM’S ROMANTIC FOREST WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Catherine Deane | Photography: Knit Together Photography
Kim says: “I have been lucky enough to marry the brother of Catherine Deane, an international dress designer based in Hong Kong. She has the most exquisite range of bridal (and other ready to wear) dresses that I could have only dreamed of being able to choose from. On the evening of our engagement she was kind enough to offer to do my dress as a wedding gift! This is not only special because of the unbelievable memories that I have from the actual day, but also because five months before our wedding my mom, sister and I decided on a whim to fly to Hong Kong to visit Cath to choose the dress, and planned a week holiday in Hong Kong around it! I spent two days skipping around the studio in her exquisite creations, having incredible difficulty trying to narrow it down. When I eventually settled on one on the second day and we were all a bit teary, I knew it was my dress. The dress was a custom design but taking inspiration from the FREYA gown, using 18m of silk chiffon in the skirt, and opalescent diamanté beading on the bodice. It was beautifully light and comfortable, and ensured that I felt like an absolute princess.”
from CARA & JARED’S VIBRANT OUTDOOR WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Abieda (0796250086) | Photography: Moira West
Cara says: “I gathered inspiration for my dress from Inbal Dror’s 2014 Summer collection and it was made by the sweetest lady – Abieda. I chose to go with a blush colour lining to allow the overlaying lace detail to pop against it! Having a figure hugging dress was a no brainer!”
from JESSICA & BRENT’S ROMANTIC BAROQUE WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Casey Jeanne | Photography: Roxanne Davison
Jessica says: “My wedding gown was probably one of the easiest choices for me to make during the whole process as I knew I wanted Casey Jeanne from the start. I had followed her progress as a designer over the years and knew that with her impeccable attention to detail, creative genius and pure skill, the outcome would be nothing short of perfection. The dress featured a tan base and a beautiful sequined mesh layer which shone through the lace. It had everything I hoped for – from the low back to the long train – it’s a work of art that I’ll be able to treasure forever.”
from ANUSCKA & COENIE’S QUIRKY ELEGANCE FOREST WEDDING
Bride’s dress: CJA Haute Couture | Photography: Coba Photography
Anuscka says: “Initially I went to a wedding boutique and tried on their dresses, but nothing felt quite right. I then decided to go to a wedding designer and he designed my dream dress. I went for my first fitting, and decided that I wanted to change it up and add in long sleeves (I love the elegance of sleeves). I like my back , and so I went for a open back and flowy skirt to accentuate that part of my body. In the end, I wouldn’t change a thing – my dress was elegant, and perfect for my body type.”
from NICOLE & DIVAN’S MOODY WINTER FOREST THEMED WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Janita Toerien | Photography: Moira West
Nicole says: “Janita Toerien made my dress. The day we went shopping for the fabric I saw a very sparkly beaded roll of fabric and absolutely LOVED it. So my gown was fully beaded with an off-white tulle skirt. My whole life my dad has been saying that there is something magical about me (like all dads see their daughters) and in my wedding dress I really did feel like magic. It was very me.”
from DANIELLE & BOBBY’S COUNTRY CHIC WEDDING
Bride’s dress: CJA Haute Couture | Photography: Claire Thomson Photography
Danielle says: “My wedding gown was designed and made by my designer friend, Braam, from CJA Haute Couture. I met him at another friend’s wedding, where he had also designed the bride’s gown. My mermaid-style dress was made from scratch with beautiful rose gold sequinned bodice, covered with lace details and then plain down to the floor.”
from MICHELLE & STÉFAN’S DARLING OUTDOOR WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Anna Georgina from Calegra Bridal House | Photography: Claire Thomson | Co-ordination: The Event Planners
BRIDE says: “I didn’t need to try very hard in finding my dress. It had loads of tulle and had a very low neck line and back. I knew what I wanted and at the second place I visited, it was the first dress I tried on! I felt like a princess. Calegra, in Cape Town were absolutely amazing and very accommodating considering I was overseas for most of my wedding planning months.”
from BUSI & KWABNA’S OPULENT BALLROOM WEDDING
Photography: Daryl Glass
from CHANEL & RIKUS’ WINDSWEPT MODERN ROMANCE WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Diaan Daniels | Photography: Pritti
Chanel says: “I bought my wedding dress at Diaan Daniels Couture in Fourways. I absolutely fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I loved the femininity and it was very comfortable – something that is very important as I would be spending many hours in it while still wanting to feel like a princess… and I did!”
from FATIMA & DANE’S CHIC VINEYARD WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Pronovias | hotography: Lad & Lass Photography | Co-ordination: Authentic Planning
Fatima says: “I wanted a modern lace dress – something sexy with a nod to tradition. I was visiting my family in Dallas and had one day to find “the” dress! We tried on 30 dresses that day and funnily enough the first dress I tried was it! I felt beautiful and happy in it the moment I put it on. I’ll never forget Dane’s look as I walked down the aisle – it got the groom’s seal of approval!”
from ILNA & NEIL’S INTIMATE ITALIAN-STYLE WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Demetrios | Photography: Tasha Seccombe
Ilna says: “I found my wedding gown at the first fitting! I had an idea of what I wanted to wear, but I went with an open mind and tried on numerous different styles. I had my favourites, but almost at the end of the appointment, the owner of the boutique came in and told my consultant that she just had to bring me this dress. As soon as I tried it on I knew this was my dress, and everyone in the room agreed.”
from KIRSTY & BRANDON’S COUNTRY WEDDING WITH A TOUCH OF DELFT
Bride’s dress: Kobus Dippenaar at Calegra | Photography: Lindy Truter
Kirsty says: “I had always loved Kobus Dippenaar dresses, long before I was engaged. I went to Calegra about ten months before the wedding and immediately fell in love with my dress. I looked around a bit after that, thinking that it couldn’t be that easy, but kept going back to the Kobus dress. About a month later I said yes to the dress!”
from LEONA & CHRISTOPHER’S PRETTY IN PINK WEDDING
Bride’s dress: De La Vida | Photography: Charl van der Merwe
from TANYA & MIKE’S BOHO BEACH WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Julia Ferrandi | Photography: Andy & Szerdi Photography
Tanya says: “I was completely in love with my wedding dress and couldn’t have asked for something more beautiful and more ‘me’! After meeting Julia Ferrandi for the first time and discussing my vision with her, I knew that she was going to be the creator of my dress! I never even tried on one wedding dress at all, as I knew that what I wanted was not going to be on a rail. Julia got my ‘vibe’ from the get go and the whole process was just so simple and peaceful. I wanted a ‘boho’ type dress, but with a an organic, wild and free feel to it. Julia cut different lace to create the ‘botanical’ look to the top part of the dress, and used illusion mesh lace to create a look that appeared to be ‘open’ and kept all the ‘bits’ in place! Julia and her mom/partner, Lyle, have the most beautiful studio in Ballito and any bride that is having her dress made by this duo, is a lucky one! I was loving my dress so much that towards the end of the night, I decided to go swimming in it at the venue pool, with a few friends and my new husband in the pool with me! Such fun!”
from NATASHA & STEFAN’S PRETTY RUSTIC WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Robyn Roberts | Photography: Marli Koen
Natasha says: “Starting out, I was not sure what I wanted. I knew I needed a winter dress, or some kind of fur. I loved the idea of a winter wedding and everything that goes with it. I tried on some dresses but didn’t find the one. Time was short and I even thought about making one. Robyn Roberts was my last stop and when I tried on my dress I knew it was the one! Not very warm, but it was a must.”
from TERI & JESSE’S GRACEFUL GREENERY WEDDING
Bride’s dress: Missteeq | Photography: Carla Adel
Teri says: “I initially wanted to buy a wedding gown because I felt nervous about getting something sewn! I have seen so many horror stories about designers messing up dresses or dresses made with nasty nappy material! But when I went looking at many bridal boutiques, I wasn’t impressed with what I found! I guess it’s because I knew exactly what I wanted and I kept comparing it to what the boutiques had! I decided to give sewing a shot and found a wedding designer in Brakenhurst. She was so sweet and made me feel incredibly comfortable! I saw her work and was confident in trusting her – so glad I did! I had two parts to my dress. I had always loved a ‘poofie’ dress with a long elaborate train but I was torn between something slimline and sexy! I saw the idea of wearing an over-skirt some time ago and decided to go with that! The evening dress had a deep gold satin underneath and a french lace over so the dress colour was a modern ivory! The tulle had layers of yellows and golds to match the dress. I have kept my dress and will wear my tulle for a one year anniversary shoot! The evening dress I am saving to wear at another milestone anniversary.”
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