Category: Cape Weddings

Real Garden Wedding {Lindsay & Gareth}

by gaby

Hello my lovelies! Today’s wedding is a breath of fresh air, or more like a summer breeze on a perfect afternoon (Gaby looks out of the window at a winter London garden and despairs). Lindsay and Gareth wanted an unpretentious wedding focused on their nearest and dearest, so they set aside the usual hunt for a venue and married in an uncle’s garden with a woodfire oven churning out fresh pizza and a live blues band and jukebox. Sounds like heaven, no? If ever a wedding captured the lazy, hazy spirit of summer (as well as the theme of ‘eat, drink and be married’), then this is it, and although we’re usually all about the details, I couldn’t help but delight in Kelland Photography‘s captures of this spirit among the guests as well. Which is just one more SouthBound wedding that goes to prove that doing your wedding your way – whatever that means to you – is also the best way.Read More

Real Wedding at Cabrières {Tana & Arlo}

by gaby

Round these here parts, we love a bit of a French influence, and never more so than when it results in a pretty country wedding. Which is exactly what we have for you today – I’ve been dying to share this one with you ever since I was sent a link to Lauren Kriedemann‘s gorgeous photos. Tana and Arlo have an awesome story of how they met, and they chose to marry at the gorgeous Cabrières in Montagu, stringing bunting by the yard and filling their tables with proteas and blushing brides. I love their use of paper details, including flowers for the ladies, strings of birds and hearts, and even a wall of paper butterflies. It’s all so whimsical and delicious, and there’s even a beyond awesome getaway car! Enjoy…Read More

Real Wedding at Eureka {Mark & Claudette}

by gaby

Many many years ago, I happened to watch an old film on TV about two teenagers who fall in love and decide that to stay together, they have to follow the tradition of kissing under the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. I think I’ve loved the city ever since, even though both times I’ve been there with a boyfriend have been less than successful. Meh. Third time lucky, eh? I must be the only one though, because Venice is always filled with lovers, and something about a place built entirely on water seems to make the air thick with romance and possibility. Which is probably why today’s groom decided to do the grand proposal gesture on the Grand Canal, getting down on one knee on the famous Rialto Bridge. What followed was a Venetian-themed wedding, with the gilt and colour of the Carnevale but none of the cheese. I think it’s the perfect example of how you can pull off a theme on a budget, by using good design basics like a lovely colour palette and a cohesive stationery suite, and I love how personal this particular theme is to the couple (I bet there’ll be some anniversaries spent in Venice too!) SBB friends Art Photo were there to capture all the loveliness on the day.Read More

Real Wedding at Roodezand {Cara & Pieter}

by gaby

Hello lovelies, from sunny Abu Dhabi! My plan not to have any interruption in service went a bit wrong yesterday when this wedding missed its schedule, but hey ho, here it is now, and come back this afternoon for another of our trend roundups (don’t worry, I’ll be checking in electronically to make sure my server hasn’t gone wrong). I’ve been having a fabulous time here so far, spending time with my friends and their baby, and checking out the UAE. It’s so new here, it feels slightly weird, but the lifestyle is awesome and I am so loving getting a bit of sun! Last night I even got a bit of exercise, with a run around the Formula 1 circuit! ANYWAY, back to the wedding in hand, which comes from Cape photographer Maryke Harper. I just love the fresh winter style of this wedding – it has a lovely curated feel, like a sweet little shop that you might stumble across one afternoon and lose yourself in for a couple of hours. (And even better, Cara and her mom have made use of everything they bought in their homes – such a great budget tip!) There’s exuberant use of herbs, which must have smelled amazing, and just the right amount of a nod to vintage without going overboard. So pretty! I also love the handmade/craft details, like stitched table numbers and even a bit of string art! A soft palette of green, grey and taupe sits just right. I know you’re going to love this one, so here we go!Read More

Real Wedding at Webersburg {Leandrie & Raubie}

by gaby

Hello dear friends – sorry you missed out on your real wedding fix yesterday! I have a little holiday planned for next week, so I’m on double duty making sure everything’s ready to keep things pretty around here. Anyway, today’s wedding from Cheryl McEwan – as full of little details as it is – is definitely one to keep you entertained. Leandrie and Raubie were married at the magnificent Webersburg, with pops of green against a neutral palette, and lots of fun touches. My favourite is definitely the milkshakes with stripy green straws – adorableness! I also really love that Cheryl’s made sure not just to photograph these details as they stood on the day, but to get the bridal party interacting with them – it’s a nice editorial way of bringing those little touches to the forefront and making sure your pictures tell the story not only of your day, but of all the effort you put into the details, which I know is important to a lot of you! So here we go… enjoy!Read More

Real Wedding at Rockhaven {Nicola & Andre}

by gaby

Well, here’s a wedding unlike any I’ve seen before! From the moment Andre and Selma of Expressions Photography sent over a pic of Nicola and her bridesmaids, I was hooked. Nicola and Andre – varsity sweethearts – got engaged in India. So even though neither has Indian heritage, they decided to have an Indian-themed wedding. In the Cape winelands. With a rabbi (even though neither is Jewish either). It’s slightly barmy, but you know what, I love it. It’s so full of colour and light and fun. You look at their friends – dressed in saris or playing croquet or dancing Bollywood style – and it’s clear everyone’s having the best time and that this is one wedding that’s gone down in the record books. And you look at Nicola and Andre’s faces as they promise to spend their lives together, and it’s obvious that they are meant for each other. And that, my friends, is what a wedding’s all about.Read More

Real Wedding at Towerbosch {Ja-nien & André}

by gaby

So there I was having dinner with Louise of b.loved last weekend (more from her later today!), and we were chatting about how most good wedding blogs focus on a specific style – it’s just good blog business, really. But I thought to myself, not for the first time, how fortunate I am to have chosen a geographical rather than a stylistic niche. I get to feature all kinds of weddings (as long as they’re in South Africa) – from achingly beautiful formal affairs to barefoot beach braais. And in my eyes, that makes me a very lucky girl, because I have eclectic tastes. Variety is definitely the spice of blogging life for me. And one of the styles I love featuring most is handmade weddings, because not only are they always so pretty, but they’re filled with warmth and love, the same way that you always have a special appreciation for a gift someone makes for you. Today’s wedding has everything that makes handmade weddings lovely – a charming venue (Towerbosch/Knorhoek), fresh flowers in jam jars tied with lace or painted white, homemade preserve favours, crochet boutonnieres, flower crowns for the bridesmaids, and a bride and groom beaming with joy. We don’t have our usual background info, but that’s all the more reason to sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the beautiful pictures from Cape Town photographer Coba Engelbrecht.Read More

Real Wedding at Molenvliet {Sarah & Liam}

by gaby

Good morning SouthBound Brides! It’s our first real wedding of the year, and I can’t think of a more auspicious start than one captured by South African photography legend Christine Meintjes. A wedding from Christine is always a treat, but with a breathtaking Cape venue (the lovely MolenVliet), the most delicate pastel details and special touches like a canopy of flowers for the ceremony, white vases inside tall glass ones on the tables (love this) and dreamy bridesmaids’ dresses, this is extra special. Not to mention a to-die-for bit of hair accessorising on the lovely bride. It’s the perfect way to kick off what is set to be a year of real wedding awesomeness, and I for one, cannot wait!Read More

Real Wedding at The Roundhouse {Bonnie & Antonie}

by gaby

Good morning, lovelies! Time for some gorgeous wedding inspiration. First and foremost, I have to mention Bonnie’s dress because OMG SERIOUSLY. I mean, it’s Jenny Packham, so this should be no surprise, but Bonnie wears that dress like she was born to do it. It is SPLENDID. And moving beyond that for a second, I am loving the understatedly colourful decor (navy and red, je t’aime), the stationery, the beautiful navy bridesmaids’ dresses, the groom’s boutonniere (both bride and groom are avid cyclists), Lindt chocolate and hangover kit favours, the stunning Roundhouse setting, the getaway car… I could go on and on. But all of this prettiness is made even prettier through the photographic stylings of Gavin Casey. We knew he was talented, but this wedding really blows me away – I love every single shot. So it’s pretty much the perfect wedding to start your morning. Enjoy. But come back later, because we have even more in store!Read More

Real Wedding at Kleinevalleij {Helmare & Len}

by gaby

Get ready, lovelies, because the inspiration is about to start coming thick and fast today, on into the evening. Starting with this incredible wedding from Nastassja Harvey. That in itself is exciting, since I LOVE Tash’s crisp, clean style but for those of you who love a white on white colour scheme full of glamour and grace, this wedding will blow you away. It’s just beautifully put together. I think one of my favourite details (a small but effective one) is the way that the flowers are a twist on the recent ‘white flowers in different vintage containers’ trend. For a more modern look, Helmare & Len have gone for a variety of glass containers, with white flowers grouped according to type. It’s just so clean and fresh and lovely. Not to mention the custom dance floor, the elegant escort card board, or the cake and sweet table. Kleinevalleij really lends itself to this look, and co-ordinator Izandi of I Do has outdone herself on this one! Here we go… enjoy! (And don’t forget to keep checking back today so you don’t miss a thing!)Read More