It’s been a bumper week of weddings here on SBB, and we’re finishing off with the most adorable rustic high tea wedding in Greyton. High school sweethearts, Rachel and Peter, wanted to share one of their favourite getaway destinations, Oewerzicht Farms, with an intimate group of family and friends. They had their ceremony on a koppie with the most magnificent views, then adjourned for their reception at long, greenery-bedecked tables, before dancing the night away beneath the stars. And with the boys in traditional kilts, you just know it was a proper knees up! These captures of breathtaking scenery and heartfelt moments were taken by Yeah Yeah Photography.
Earlier this week we showcased a city wedding, and we’re spoilt enough to have another today, although Robyn & Jamaal’s shows off a completely different side to Cape Town. The couple, who met during one of our legendary summers, wanted to bring that feeling into their big day so they decided to not only host it at the iconic V&A Waterfront, but to bring the pastels of the surrounding buildings into their palette. They had a rooftop ceremony overlooking the harbour (love!) and a reception filled with pastel blooms (beautifully put together by awesome SBB Directory members Bright and Beautiful). And like all good Cape Town summer nights, this one ended on the dancefloor, where they partied late into the night. Jana Marnewick took these lovely images.
It’s a happy day for me when I get the opportunity to share an city wedding for a change, although happily more brides and grooms these days are opting for a bit of urban chic. And why not – after all, if it’s reflective of your style, you can make it absolutely amazing, especially in a city as fabulous as Cape Town. With both of them being architects, perhaps it’s no wonder that Elbé and Ross decided to get married in amongst their favourite buildings and inner city vibe, and they chose a graphic, monochrome style with a touch of metallic and geometric detailing to make it really pop. I just love this look SO much – everything from the incorporation of textures like leather and cement to Elbé’s contemporary pared-down bridal style (complemented beautifully by jewellery from Kirsten Goss). From their church ceremony to their laid-back restaurant reception, all on Heritage Square, it was a collection of their favourite things shared with their favourite people. And speaking of favourites, one of our own, Jules Morgan, was on the scene to deliver these beautifully atmospheric images.
We have a day full of wedding inspiration ahead of us, brideys, so let’s get this party started! Today we have one of those special features (my bestest kind, in fact) where we not only get to show off a beautiful wedding, but where that wedding is a collaboration between some of our favourite wedding pros, and in this case one of the first venues unveiled as part of the SBB Venue Collection, Olive Rock. We adore this country chic locale in the Witzenberg Valley, and the scenery was totally showing off the day of Megan and Nick’s wedding, creating the perfect romantic backdrop to their nuptials. The lovebirds settled on a classic white wedding with gorgeous country touches, like wreaths for the bridesmaids instead of bouquets, and Megan looked drop dead gorgeous in her Janita Toerien gown (having found this talented designer via SBB), with hair and makeup by another of our faves, Adri Hugo. Design by Marcel did an amazing job on the flowers, and we even have a lovely little video by Latsky Multimedia to complement the atmospheric images by Kristi Agier. As Hannibal would have said: “I love it when a plan comes together.”
I have to tell you, Anel and Marius, today’s adorable bride and groom, had me at ‘Braailofsfees’. Because okay, I’m South African, so a braai is always a good idea (to paraphrase Audrey Hepburn in a totally Saffa way), but also because their description of their big day also shows how playful and relaxed they were about it all. But a braai wedding where the groom wears jeans and the bride says she feels as comfy as if she was in shorts and flip flops? Surely that can’t also be… pretty? Well, this wedding shows that it can. Big time. The couple’s big day had all the details we love here at SBB – soft flowers in mismatched vases, wreaths, bunting and fairylights, a short blush wedding dress, chalkboard stationery, a romantic bouquet… but it was also the kind of laid-back celebration that totally suited the bride and groom. And it’s officially the first wedding we’ve featured that I can really call a SouthBound Braai. Love it. Adele Kloppers took these lovely pics.
Get those pinning fingers ready, because today’s wedding is a fabulous fusion of glamorous and organic, which perfectly suits its Grande Provence setting. After all, this gorgeous estate is as naturally beautiful as it is exclusive. Jessica and David harnessed that natural beauty as the backdrop to their big day, and brought in just the right amount of decor to complement it, including touches of herbs like rosemary at each place setting and lavender (LOVE Jessica’s lavender bouquet) and combined that with glam touches like navy blue sequin bridesmaid dresses (dying over these, seriously!), gold chargers and marquee letter lights from our friends at Lights Love. The result is a perfectly chic backdrop to the culmination of a beautiful romance. And the bonus? Our fave Fiona Clair was there to capture it, as only she can!
You guys, I’m back. The last ten days have been a rush of airports, planes, white sands and turquoise waters, brainstorming sessions, inspirational girlbosses, New York hustle, and more airports and planes. I’m jetlagged and exhausted, but I’m so excited and I have so much to tell you all. But before I look back, I’m looking forward, to finally sharing with you all the project I have been hard at work on, the gorgeous SBB Collection of venues. I can’t WAIT to introduce you to SA’s very best and most beautiful venues as we start rolling out the directory, but today’s wedding is kind of a sneak peek, because it showcases one of these amazing spaces. The Dairy Shed was right at the top of my list to work with, because not only do they have an absolutely gorgeous venue, but the in-house hiring and coordination services provided by Two Birds are second to none. Leta and Michael’s wedding shows exactly why – it’s stylish and elegant and outdoorsy rustic, and I absolutely adore it, right from its gold accents to its bulb and star-lit dancefloor, and everything in between. The combination of green foliage and white flowers with touches of gilt, and sophisticated elements like red lips, little black bridesmaid dresses and a champagne wedding gown, marry natural and luxe in the most perfect way possible. And with Michelle Du Toit on the scene to take these gorgeous images, the dream is complete.
Considering how amazing our beaches are in South Africa, we get relatively few beach weddings submitted to SBB so I’m always thrilled to see a lovely one, especially when it’s a down to earth, toes in the sand West Coast affair like Jaynie & Rudi’s was. This wedding goes beyond in the DIY category thanks to a super creative bride and her family – even the wedding dress was a labour of love. All that time spent creating something special and meaningful makes this aspect go far beyond the wedding day, because you also get memories that last a lifetime, long after the fabric has faded and the flowers have died. And that’s really what this wedding business is about isn’t it? The love, first and foremost. Ronel Kruger was on the scene to capture these lovely pics of Jaynie and Rudi’s big day.
And now, as the Monty Python boys say, for something completely different… ;) As you all already know by now, we love love LOVE a couple whose wedding reflects themselves, and you just have to look at beautiful purple-haired, pink dress bride Amy to know she’s someone who’ll do just that. I absolutely ADORE her candy coloured, flower-embroidered gown by SBB fave Janita Toerien, especially the way it looks in the golden light before sunset, where Amy and Matt shared kisses and smiles and looks of pure love. But the fairytale didn’t end there. The couple, who were married right on the water at the wonderful Blue Bay Lodge, combined their coastal setting with magical Midsummer Night’s Dream-inspired decor, from moss and woodcuts, to paper butterflies perched on every glass, to rose gold apples strewn along the tables. It’s a fete worthy of a real life Disney princess, and beautifully photographed by up-and-coming photographer Kusjka Du Plessis, who we’re delighted to welcome to SBB for the first time.
Much as we love a wedding with a crazy beautiful colour scheme or a unique theme or venue, it’s also a regular pleasure to fall in love with a classic white wedding. It’s like hearing a favourite song, if that song were sung by Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald (as all my favourite songs are, actually), because a white wedding is all class. And when it has a clean, contemporary feeling like Pedro & Chelsea’s does, it’s all classic too. Long white bridesmaid dresses, tulip bouquets, tailored suits, and of course a bride in a beautiful dress. And that’s just the bridal party. I think what I love most about this one, photographed to perfection by Fiona Clair, is that it mixes this high society elegance with a very relaxed ambience, serving guests from canape and braai stations out on the Kleinevalleij lawns. Lovely to look at and fun to be at. And that’s the perfect wedding equation!
