Category: Cape Weddings

Real Wedding at Fairhill Lodge {Gina & Ben}

by gaby

If you caught my ‘Inspiration Board revisited’ post on Saturday, you’ll be as excited as I am to see Gina and Ben’s fabulous Moroccan-style wedding. I absolutely loved how Gina pulled everything together (and talk about handmade – this is what happens when a talented artist does DIY!) in a way that was a classy nod to all things North African, without being completely over-the-top or costume party. If you’re considering a theme for your wedding, you could really take a page out of her book. My absolute favourite detail is the tiles she used (and made!) as runners, with the same motif repeated on her invitations and cake. The white tiles look amazing under the silverware, and the pops of colour in the flowers and candles are just mesmerising. I also adore the colour scheme in general, and Gina’s striking mantilla veil (not to mention her dress – LOVE the texturing!). The venue (Fairhill Lodge) is quite classic, but with low tables, floating candles in the water feature and some hanging lanterns, it’s transformed into a Moroccan fantasyland. What a pleasure to feature it here today, and even more so since I’m sharing Bernard Bravenboer‘s bewitching photographs of Gina and Ben’s big day. Enjoy! Oh, and PS, if you have the same theme in mind, don’t forget to check out our feature on Moroccan-themed wedding details.Read More

Real Wedding at Paternoster Lodge {Katie & Theoniel}

by gaby

Today’s real wedding caught my attention when I spotted the driftwood logs and hanging twinkle light curtains on Be-dazzled Events‘ Facebook page, and I was thrilled to see the whole wedding appear over on the awesome Jules Morgan‘s blog. I love intimate weddings, and I adore Katie and Theoniel’s concept of sharing a favourite destination (who doesn’t fall in love with the West Coast, after all?) with their family and friends. Their design was relatively simple, but very stylish, and perfectly reflected the West Coast vibe in shades of grey and beige neutrals. And how about those fairy lights? Aren’t they just magical? This wedding is proof of how a great venue, a clean palette and a few special details (love that driftwood heart ring ‘cushion’ and the stylin’ groomsmen, for example) are all you need to make your wedding picture perfect (although the perfect pictures Jules takes don’t hurt either – it was too hard to choose, so this is a bit of a bumper post!).Read More

Real Wedding at Welbeloond {Simone & Rudi}

by gaby

What on earth did we do before Facebook? Because, no kidding, I have heard about a LOT of lovebirds who have connected on there, one way or another. Today’s couple is one of them. And say what you will about modern technology, but I love the fact that, in a time before social media, their romance might have stopped when they were teenagers but today, even a couple of oceans aren’t insurmountable. Then again, if you believe as they do, that their romance was meant to be, perhaps even in another age they might have found each other. Kind of a lovely thought. Anyway, meet they did, and it all culminated in an awesome, down-home, farm-style rustic party at Welbeloond, that was centred around the love of their family and friends, and captured in all its sweetness by Jacques Lloyd of Real Simple Photography.Read More

Real Wedding at Groenrivier {Ilne & Herman}

by gaby

Whenever people ask me how I choose which weddings to feature, I end up talking about the Ooh Moment. The detail or idea or photograph that makes me go “ooh”. Literally. If you sat next to me while I was looking at it, you would hear that I actually say “ooh”. There were quite a few oohs in today’s beautiful wedding from photographer Heather Steyn (Hello! Bride and bridesmaids hairstyles! And dresses! Wildflowers! Wreaths!) but the biggest one came when I realised that each table had its own little decor theme. Each cleverly thought out (and super pretty) and each meaningful to the bride and groom. It’s like awesome table decor using found objects, times multiple. Or like a little art installation. It’s completely adorable, and it turns an already lovely wedding into a veritable ooh-fest. And that’s not all, because this sweet couple, who have careers as Afrikaans teachers in common, also share another commonality – that their fathers are both ministers. So who’s to perform the ceremony? Well, both of them! How cute is that? Very, that’s how. Now go forth, and ooh.Read More

Real Wedding at The Oaks {Celeste & Deon}

by gaby

I’m a words person, no doubt about it. People express themselves in different ways, and for me, words have never been hard to find. (Maybe a little too easy to find, because I do talk a lot!) So when I came across today’s wedding, one of the things that really struck me was the clever ways that Celeste and Deon used words not just to express their feelings for one another, their relationship, and their history, but to decorate their beautiful country venue (The Oaks in Greyton). Custom tablecloths shared these words with friends at the reception, and the bride even walked down the aisle towards her groom on an aisle runner handwritten with a favourite piece of scripture. Their aim was rustic elegance, and this was achieved with clever neutral touches that recalled the bride’s farm heritage – wire windmills, white proteas, paraffin lamps and white candied Easter eggs (this is one of my favourite, properly South African decor ideas, ever!). Everything was graceful and beautiful, none more so than the bride – isn’t she just stunning? I really love that vibrant pop of red from her shoes and her amazing Elbeth Gillis dress. It was all captured exquisitely by Cari Photography and co-ordinated by the Aleit Group, who never fail to impress. I just love it.Read More

Real Wedding at La Vierge {Jo & Tim}

by gaby

Oh my heart is so full, blogging these pictures! You all may remember that when I relaunched the blog this May I was on an extended stint in South Africa, where I attended no less than four weddings, and this was the first. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to share it with you all today! Jo is a dear friend of mine from varsity, who for a few years moved herself out to Canada. Now, I like Canadians, but I’m pretty glad that they didn’t manage to steal Jo away from us, because she’s not only one of my favourite people, but she’s now putting her considerable talents to work doing awesome things for education in South Africa. One souvenir she did manage to bring home from oot north is the lovely Tim. You know how sometimes when you meet a friend’s boyfriend and you’re just like, oh okay, this makes sense? Well, that’s Tim and Jo. He settled into our group of friends like he’d always been part of it, he made Jo super happy, and we were absolutely thrilled when the two of them (eventually!) decided to make it official, not least because it gave all of us the excuse to reunite in Hermanus for the first time in forever. Our group flew in from as far as Singapore and Sydney and rented three adjoining houses for three days. It was the BEST time. And we weren’t the only ones who trekked to be there – with so many people coming from all over the world, there was an awesome sense of celebration all weekend and a chance to make new memories as well as rehash the old ones.Read More

Real Wedding at Beloftebos {Andrea & David}

by gaby

For our final wedding this week, Doctor Gaby has prescribed a dose of sheer prettiness. Floaty pink dresses and OMGiwantthose shoes, pink roses, a monogrammed handkerchief, homemade ginger beer, two excited flowergirls, and what has to be one of my favourite cakes of the year. It’s just delightful, and it makes me want to use words like blythe and jolly, although I suspect it’ll make me sound more like I’m auditioning for Downton than enthusing over a wedding. But enthusing I am, from the awesome venue (we so love Beloftebos, don’t we?) to the Elizabeth Stockenstrom dress, to the gorgeous pictures by Wesley Vorster. Take once today with food (preferably cupcakes) and call me in the morning.Read More

Real Wedding at Merwida {Robyn & Warren}

by gaby

Well fiddle-dee-dee. Who needs Rhett Butler and a plantation house when you can have an elegant manor wedding right over in Rawsonville! Today’s lovely bride and groom chose Merwida as the spot for their reception, a country house based on the design of Tara from Gone with the Wind. They were married right at the top of the tree-lined driveway, followed by games and a classic white on white wedding reception with dancing under the stars. What I love best about this wedding is the way that it marries a chic, classic style with a little touch of carnival – isn’t it lovely? And it just shows that you can pick and choose the ideas and styles that you like best from contemporary weddings, and you don’t need to go the whole nine yards with a theme or concept like carnival to inject a little fun into your reception. The beautiful images are by SBB friend and sponsor Kathryn van Eck – I just love her clean, fresh style! Oh, and PS: when the groom surprised his bride with a guitar serenade? Totally my favourite. Bet there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!Read More

Real Wedding at Val de Vie Estate {Lee & Garth}

by gaby

You know what one of my favourite things about being a South African in London is? It’s that when I say “ja”, people think I’m posh. Because actual posh people say ja here (or, actually, yah, but it sounds the same to a Londoner apparently). I mean, you can be from the back of beyond in SA, and you can make an impression in one of the most class-driven nations in the world. That’s hilarious. The reason I bring it up, though, is that today’s wedding takes place on a polo estate, so we are totes talking like Made in Chelsea, yah? OhEmGee, and wait till you see the gorgeous grounds of Val de Vie, which I have been dying to showcase since, like, forever. I love that they offer the unique twist of a polo display to a wedding. Definitely more Kate Middleton’s wardrobe (classy and fabulous) than Harry’s night in Vegas (awkward). And I think Kate would be proud of today’s bride, who’s as graceful and beautiful in her stunning dress and headpiece as any princess. She and husband Garth enjoyed the culmination to their own fairytale romance, and Warren Williams was there to take lovely pictures on the day.Read More

Real Wedding at Café Felix {Elmiene & Johan}

by gaby

I don’t think I’ve said this before, but my first love as a wedding blogger was inspiration boards. Even before they were ‘invented’, I was always putting together ideas for friends who were getting married and I’ll never forget stumbling across Snippet & Ink and The Perfect Palette and just adoring what they were doing (and that was before I even was introduced to the other board legends who are Magnolia Rouge and Postcards & Pretties). You guys seem to like what I do with the boards every week, but the truth is that even if you didn’t, I’d probably still be making them, because they’re a piece of creative work that gives me a lot of pleasure. So when I started the blog, a day I really looked forward to was when I could feature a wedding that owed some of its inspiration to one of my boards. And friends, that day is today. I didn’t create the ‘Valentine Red‘ board especially for reader Elmiene, but when she wrote to tell me that it had been part of her design concept, I was thrilled – and even more so when I saw pictures of her cherry red, white and navy wedding with its cheeky touches like bright red shoes and heart-shaped sunglasses. I love love love how she included handmade elements like crocheted flowers and sewn hearts and acres of Petersham ribbon. Not to mention her candy-striped cake and cake toppers. It all works perfectly with their venue, Café Felix, which is the perfect mix of elegance and whimsy to offset this super fun wedding. I couldn’t have dreamed it up better myself. The cherry on the cupcake for me is that Elmiene and Jonny had Jaco le Roux as their photographer, as I’ve been looking forward to sharing his lovely pictures with you here on SBB. Which all in all, makes this a very good day for me. Yayness.Read More