Take two fun-loving sweethearts who met in London town, add a palette of pinks and a pop of modern copper geometric details, serve it all up in the contemporary-meets-vineyard surroundings of Waterkloof, and… well. The results are every bit as fabulous as that sounds! Paul and Catherine have that lovely combination of being a couple who are thoroughly relaxed about details, but have loads of lovely ones to show off, from a spectacular protea bouquet to one of the most darling mismatched bridesmaid lineups I ever did see. And that’s probably thanks to the talents of the lovely Theresa of Creation Events, who styled and planned the event to perfection, joining a team of talented pros that included the awesome Cheryl McEwan and hair and makeup stylista supreme, Ida Webster.
You know, I might have been doing this wedding blogging gig for a while (and thousands of brides might have stopped in for inspiration along their journey) but I still get such a thrill when a bride tells me that SBB has been a big part of her planning experience from day one. And when the end result is as heart-stoppingly GORGEOUS as Sandrine & Sam’s wedding? Well, that’s one giant compliment! Everything about this celebration makes my heart sing, not least the reception in the midst of the Molenvliet vines, the incredibly lush florals, and hello – Sandrine’s incredible wedding gown! Serious. Wow. Factor. The couple, together with their superstar planner, Cara of Mosaic Weddings, took A Midsummer Night’s Dream as their inspiration and translated it into a day that manages to be romantic and elegant and utterly magical, with fairy lights everywhere and personal touches, and peeks of floral print complementing those beautiful blooms. Basically, perfection. Shanna Jones took these wonderful pics!
I always say that SouthBound Bride is for couples bound to South Africa by birth, or bound for South Africa as their wedding destination, and I have to say, I always get a little thrill when I see international couples choose our beautiful land for their nuptials. Melanie is from Germany and Oliver was born in Colombia, but it was in Cape Town that they chose to tie the knot, in a gorgeous ceremony and reception that was inspired by Melanie’s love for contemporary interior design. With a palette of midnight blue, rose quartz and blush, an outdoor ceremony next to a horse paddock, and opulent tables overflowing with pink peonies, white Colombian hydrangeas, berries and garden roses, as well as Delft-style vases that bridged the gap between the couple’s story (and their love of travel) and their wedding destination. Needless to say, they were in the best hands with their planners, the forever awesome Wedding Concepts, who took the couple’s fresh ideas and turned them into trend-setting splendour. Tyme Photography took these utterly gorgeous pics.
When a wedding is held at one of our absolute favourite venues, you know you’re in for a treat! Nick and Candice picked The Dairy Shed in Durbanville for their big day and then filled this rustic chic venue with the most gorgeous opulent organic flowers, from a chandelier overflowing with greenery and rich wintery burgundy and pink blooms, to a circular floral arch that has me utterly smitten! And when Candice walked down the aisle in her breathtaking Cindy Bam gown (along with her bridesmaids rocking their Jacoba frocks!) it heralded the start of an unforgettable winters day that went on through the glamorous reception onto the outdoor dancefloor, which the lovebirds opened in style. And hello, donut wall! Love everything about this, including the gorgeous pics captured by Tiffany B.
I’m sure when you see today’s wedding, it won’t surprise you that what first caught my breath when I saw it was Danielle’s incredible rose gold sequin gown. I mean, wowsers. But besides the fact that the bride slayed it, there’s another thing about Danielle & Bobby’s country chic wedding that’s completely jawdropping – the fact that it was planned in a month! One. Month. Yep, no kidding, and it’s as lovely as any wedding that takes ten times as long to put together! From the sweet ceremony to the reception filled with sweet details like edison bulbs, watercolour stationery and greenery everywhere, you’ll be pinning every one of Claire Thomson’s beautiful pics!
They say (whoever they are, but *I* definitely say) that the best weddings are those that reflect the personalities of the bride and groom. Well, Coenie and Anuscka’s is definitely one of those. Anuscka describes them as “fun, quirky, but romantic” and that is pretty much the perfect expression for their wedding day too, which takes ideas we love and gives them their own sweet little twists. First off, forest ceremony (love!) under an archway decked in proteas and lines of lace bunting. Then the reception, which brought the forest indoors with loads of greenery, more proteas, wood textures and loads of magical, whimsical touches like little bunnies on the tables, fairy lights throughout, and even an adorable donut display. It’s so fun and pretty, and talk about pretty – the bride is a knockout, rocking a low back, lace sleeve gown and a berry lip. Oh, I could go on and on, but let me rather hand over to the darling Coba Photography for her pictures, and the bride for her story.
It always gives me a thrill to see South Africans who’ve made their way in the world abroad come home to celebrate their weddings in our beautiful country – I guess there’s nothing quite like home soil! SA-born bride Gretchen, and her Canadian beau, Gabe, not only chose the gorgeous winelands for their celebration, but opted to have an intimate outdoor celebration showing it off to their dear friends, many of whom travelled from Canada to be with them. Imagine an elegant open air ceremony, followed by dining and dancing under the stars, in the shadow of a Cape Dutch homestead and under a festoon of fairy lights, and you’ll be starting to picture the sheer romance of this wedding, which was designed to perfection by SBB faves, Wedding Concepts! And I can’t not mention Gretchen’s insanely swoony Inbal Dror gown, with its figure-hugging silhouette and intricate beading, or the groom’s super personal boutonniere (fishing lures he created especially for his best men). All of it is captured with love here by the fab Kikitography (who even managed to keep their cool behind the camera in 40 degree heat!)
They say it takes a village to raise a child – well, sometimes I think it takes a village to make a wedding too. I’m always touched by the lengths our couples’ family and friends go to in helping with their big day – from folding hundreds of paper cranes to making space for the wedding on their properties, to simply being there, cheering them on throughout the process. That’s why a wedding is so much more than a pretty day, or even an exchange of vows between two people. It’s also about all the love and joy of their people, the ones who care for them and help them make it happen. So today’s wedding is bittersweet. It’s a beautiful, beyond-happy celebration, made possible not least through the love and generosity and hard work of the groom’s sister Sunita and her husband Jacques. I’m told Sunita loved to create beautiful events, so the farm where she and Jacques lived was the perfect place for Hendriette and Manus to plan their lush, vibrant, rustic barn wedding. Together, the two of them helped turn the utilitarian industrial-style shed into a wonderland filled with curtains of twinkle lights, and lashings of greenery and jewel-coloured blooms. Hendriette made for the most elegant of brides, in her stunning low-back wedding gown, and was joined by a troop of girls in glittery sequin bridesmaid dresses, her handsomely suited and booted groom and his gents, and a vintage car just to finish off the rest of the glam in this rustic + glam equation. It was perfect. And while tragically the family lost Sunita and Jacques recently, this wedding is a testament not only to Hendriette and Manus’ relationship and happiness, but to how much they were loved by those close to them. To the couple and their families, I’m so very sorry for your loss. I hope this post, and Matthew Carr‘s wonderful images, bring back some very precious memories to bring you some comfort.
When two high school sweethearts finally tie the knot, you know it’s going to be something special to begin with! But add in the sweetest rustic details and a mix of mint, Kraft and greenery, plus textures like wood and burlap, and you have a country celebration that’s something really special. You can just see the joy in Darryl and Kim’s faces throughout Bianca Asher’s images, and there are so many touching moments too, from the funny (courtesy of a mini-groomsman!) to the bittersweet (when the couple remembered their loved ones) to the downright awesome (flash mob anyone?) Let’s get started, shall we?
As an Oud Matie, I may be a little biased, but Stellenbosch weddings, especially those that embrace the incredible feeling of the outdoors there, have such a huge amount of charm about them that it’s impossible not to fall well and truly, head over heels in love with them. Today’s wedding has gorgeousness at every turn, starting with the couple themselves – Carli and Jean-Pierre looked like models as they breezed their way through their al fresco event, from their heartfelt indoor ceremony to their reception in the Nooitgedacht lane, a kind of natural courtyard surrounded by trees, with sun falling in dappled patterns through the branches and tables overflowing with greenery and soft white blooms. SIGH. I love everything about this celebration, not least the lovely pics by Alicia S., which really capture both the beauty and the emotion of this special day.
