Category: Real Weddings

Real Wedding at Hartford House {Mary-Lyn & Rowan}

by gaby

“What’s the right amount of time,” someone asked me the other day, “to plan a wedding?”. And you know what, it’s a good question. Traditional wisdom holds that a year is about right, but the fact is, some of the most gorgeous weddings we’ve featured here on SBB have been pulled together in just a few months. It all depends on what you want, your organisational skills, and your ability to make quick decisions and compromise. And what really helps when you’re pushed for time, is to find a GREAT venue, and take your cue from there. That’s just what today’s bride and groom did. They were already big fans of Zululand’s Hartford House, a gem of a boutique hotel that is situated on a country estate and stud farm. Horses and views, what could be more romantic? Mary-Lyn and Rowan didn’t try to compete with the aesthetic of the venue, just added pretty touches reminiscent of a wedding in the English countryside. I especially love Mary-Lyn’s ballet slippers and their garden ceremony by the fountain. It’s super elegant, and so are the photographs by the wonderful Alexis Diack – these pics just feel like they come straight out of a magazine. Sigh.Read More

Real Wedding at Mofam River Lodge {Luisa & Ashton}

by gaby

What do you get when you mix together a beautiful outdoor setting (Mofam in Elgin), simple but covetable rustic-DIY decor, and two of the most attractive people ever to put on a dress and a suit? This wedding, is what. And you guys, it is a cracker. Luisa in her floaty dream of a dress (loving the sash and rosette detail), bridesmaids in lace and groomsmen in panamas (loving the Gatsby-esque styling here), a surfer-boy groom in a killer suit – and that’s just what they wore. Let’s not forget the simple (but very chic) rustic styling (I am loving the idea of the tree centrepieces instead of flowers, especially combined with the chalkboard details) and twinkly fairy lights under a Bedouin tent. Oh my word, and the couple shoot – you could eat the light with a spoon. This here is Catherine Mac showing us why she’s one of Cape Town’s rising stars, and I can’t help it, the word ‘swoon-worthy’ begins to come to mind. So before I start bringing out the wedding blogger cliches, you’d better get on with falling in love with it for yourselves.Read More

Real Farm Wedding {Kristy & Greg}

by gaby

When I’m deciding which weddings to feature, there’s always something in the pictures that grabs me and makes me think “ooh!” (The Ooh Moment. It’s a Thing. Like Oprah’s Aha! Moment, but for weddings. And also, copyright me.) With this wedding, it was the colour scheme (followed by lots of other oohs as I looked more closely at the decor, especially the wall of mirrors). I just LOVED the way Kristy & Greg combined a sweet cornflower blue with soft cream and peach colours, and created this lovely romantic English country feel but in a farm location. And to be honest, I can see Kristy’s an SMP fan, because this has the same sense of refinement that makes me love the SMP style. But in the end, the real Ooh Moment TM for me with this wedding was when I was reading Kristy’s write-up. I always ask my brides what the three highlights of the day are for them, and this was what Kristy said: “Greg. He was by far my most favourite thing about the day. He’s my most favourite thing about every day!” Okay, maybe that’s more of an Aaah Moment, but either way, it made me smile. And I’ll bet you’ll be smiling to0, as you enjoy these beautiful images by the awesome Thea Cogill of Tink Photography (welcome to SBB, Thea!).Read More

Real Wedding at Glen Carlou {Rochelle & Henry-John}

by gaby

So a couple of weeks ago, I got behind the idea of a brunch wedding, and you guys have been loving it. I think one of the reasons is that it offers an alternative to a full scale canapes-cocktails-sit-down-meal-dance-all-night reception (much as I love them), and that can be a great thing not just for budget reasons, but also for brides and grooms who are hosting on a Sunday and don’t want to send their guests home drunk on a school night, or want to make use of a venue that wouldn’t cater to an evening crowd, or just want a different sort of vibe. Brunch is one option, but today’s bride and groom got creative and decided to host a high tea reception for their party. Not only did the two chocoholics get to serve their favourite kind of food (and just check out the spread here), but they also achieved a laid-back daytime vibe at pretty Glen Carlou wine estate. Guests didn’t have to worry about formal table settings, but could sit and chat with their goodies at a number of smaller tables and other seating areas. It’s all so civilised. And it doesn’t hurt that Rochelle and Henry-John played up the pretty high tea inspiration using details like a ‘tree’ of hanging teacups to complement their black and white colour scheme. I’m all about making it your day, your way, and this is one couple who lived that philosophy completely. The lovely Taryn Ward was there to take pictures.Read More

Real Wedding at Shalwyn {Taryn & Lloyd}

by gaby

So, you know how sometimes you think you are totally over someone, and then one day you see them in a new light and suddenly you find yourself thinking about them all over again and you have to admit you’ve loved them all along? No, I am not talking Made in Chelsea (because Louise, Louise, why WOULD you?). I am talking fairy lights. See, there was a point where I felt a bit blah about them – like maybe they dated along with chair covers. So I put them to one side and got on with my life. But everytime I’d see them at a wedding, I would still get a little thrill. And recently, that little thrill has turned into a full blown crush. And now I admit it, I still love them. They’re just so… twinkly. So you’ll understand why today’s wedding got me all a-fluster, because the whole thing is full of twinkly twinkliness. I don’t know if that’s because Taryn & Lloyd chose rustic Shalwyn in the Tala Valley, KZN, as their venue, and the lights really shine against the barn-style surroundings. Or if it’s the fact that they’re reflected in the crystal ‘trees’ they had adorning every table (tying nicely into their little bird theme). Or just the fact that the couple are so shiny and happy themselves. But whichever, this wedding makes me feel all sparkly. Enjoy these lovely images from Durban-based Brightgirl Photography.Read More

Real Wedding at Zorgvliet {Suzanne & Jason}

by gaby

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! Colour schemes, that is (ice cream scheme? try saying that after a couple of martinis). I’ve been hearing a lot recently about ice cream colours, and I absolutely love the idea of combining soft pastels for a colourful but gentle palette. Today’s bride is totally bringing it, and shows you exactly how this look is done in a way that is classy and elegant, as befits her beautiful wine farm venue (Zorgvliet). Mismatched bridesmaids dresses? She’s managed to find six that couldn’t look better together, except that she also matched them up with adorable shoes. Stunning florals in peach, lilac, violet, coral, cream. Supercute stationery. A beautiful cake. And sweet little touches like candy-striped pink toffee favours, and burlap texturing on the place settings. It is SERIOUSLY pretty, and I can’t wait to share it! So here we go… (Psst! This wedding also sees a welcome return to SBB for talented documentary photographers, Love Made Visible. Always awesome to have you guys here!)Read More

Real Wedding at Rustenberg Estate {Stacey & Greg}

by gaby

There’s just something about a garden in summer, isn’t there? I came back from South Africa to find my housemate and his mum had been hard at work and ours looks amazing, all lush and green and dappled in sunlight. And in the evenings (which are long), it’s the perfect place to sit with a glass of wine and some dear friends and talk until it’s dark. Stacey and Greg’s Rustenberg Estate garden wedding captures that feeling, and turns it into the most gorgeous mixture of elegance and romance. I’m in love with the way that they mixed fruit and flowers on their table in beautiful platters and vases (all the different heights and textures are such a feast for the eyes!) and I’m in LOVE with the way that the amazing Lauren Kriedemann has so beautifully captured every last detail – I feel like I could step into these photographs, hear the laughter and chatter around the koi pond, smell the roses, taste the wine. Enchanting, intoxicating. I may have gone a little overboard on the pics, but there was just too much pretty to cut down! PS This was only the second event at Rustenberg Estate, a must-check-out new venue in Stellenbosch. Oh, and PPS future Cape brides: Stacey and her friend have just set up a new event lighting company called Let’s Get Lavish, so head over to their Facebook page to find out more. Read More

Real Farm Wedding {Nicola & Nick}

by gaby

I think one of my favourite parts about working with real weddings every day is hearing the ‘how we met’ stories. That unique conglomeration of circumstance that puts two people in one place, at one time, on the same page, in the same headspace, where they can fall in love. We’re funny creatures, human beings, full of sharp corners and rough edges, so it’s pretty incredible to me sometimes that this happens at all. But it does. Every day. It’s like a series of tiny miracles. And some of my favourite stories are of the people who don’t see each other across a crowded room and immediately: thunderbolts; but rather find that timing is everything. Nick and Nicola are one of those couples – I don’t know them, but based on the fact that we were all at Stellenbosch at the same time, I’m pretty sure I bumped elbows with both of them at the Terrace at some point or another. They were just friends. And then, one day, they were more than friends. Another tiny miracle. There’s so much happiness in these lovely pictures from brand new SBB contributor Kiekie Photography (welcome, Schantel!), and all the fun of a rustic, family-oriented, down-home barn wedding. And I love the little details, especially the light-hearted chalkboard quotes. To paraphrase one of them, moments like these are avocado bits in the salad bowl of life. Enjoy!Read More

Real Wedding at Langkloof Roses {Zoe & Paul}

by gaby

I am so torn. On the one hand, I LOVE THIS WEDDING. I absolutely, positively, cannot wait to share it with you guys because It. Is. Amaze. On the other, I feel like I want to hold on to it, because it’s the first wedding I’m featuring at a venue so fantastic that I sort of want to keep it secret. Here’s the thing – I know Langkloof Roses. I know it because only last week I was there with a Dream Team shooting some gorgeous inspiration (which I AM keeping secret for now, sorry!). And when Zoe, today’s lovely bride, says that she walked around with her mouth hanging open when she saw it, she’s not lying. It is beyond awesome, and now that I have told you, you need to go forth and book it for your weddings. So that’s just the venue, which as we have established, is breathtaking. Then you add in pretty, whimsical French details – stripey bridesmaids dresses (how much do I love these bridemaids dresses?), sheet music roses, stamped hessian (burlap) and lace runners on outdoor tables, beautiful pink roses, and personalised paintings for every guest (not to mention pictures full of joy taken by Moira West) and you’ll see why I am blown away. But another reason I love it, is that Zoe is a bonafide SBB bride – she used us loads in her planning, and knowing that someone with such great taste loved the site makes me feel like I have great taste too. So here it is. Ready: swoon.Read More

Real Wedding at the Lord Charles Hotel {Carla & Luis}

by gaby

Hello lovelies, how is your week going? Mine has been INSANE, but good at the same time. And today’s my last full day in SA – this hour tomorrow I’ll be on my return flight. Weird. It seems like only yesterday that I was on my way here. I hate the way time flies, but my mom claims that it just speeds up the older you get. Boo. Anyway, living in one place and having your heart in another is something today’s couple knows only too well, since after they got together, Carla decided to fulfil her dream of teaching in Dubai. She told me how supportive Luis was, and how they travelled back and forth to see one another. I just love hearing stories like this – couples who, even though it can be a challenge – help one another to achieve their dreams. It reminds me of a line I really like in Fairytale of New York (an unlikely inspiration, I know) where she accuses him of taking her dreams from her. “I kept them with me, babe” he replies, “I put them with my own”… And to me, that’s what it’s all about. Putting your partner’s dreams on the same mental list that you have, and giving them equal weight, so that they become a journey you take together. For Carla and Luis, that journey culminated in a beautiful wedding at the Lord Charles Hotel. And here it is! I’m thrilled to welcome photographer Gavin Casey to the blog with these pics – his images are always so arresting and beautiful! And keep an eye out at the end for some very wise words from Carla, some of the best a bride has dished out, in my opinion!Read More