Category: Weddings by Location

Elegant ShweShwe Mountain Shadows Wedding by welovepictures {Anita & Ulrich}

by gaby

Today’s bride is really, truly a SouthBound Bride, in so many senses of the word. Anita may not be from SA, but she has a deep bond with our country, and when she and her South African-bord husband tied the knot, they went above and beyond to include dozens of gorgeous South African elements in the mix, including loads of beautiful shweshwe. As a regular reader, Anita found all of her suppliers via SouthBound Bride, and having been in touch with her during the planning process, I loved her enthusiasm for every little detail. It’s worth reading her story and advice below to get a sense of just how much thought went into each aspect – right up to a stargazing lounge so guests could see the Southern Cross, sigh. The day was beautifully captured by the wonderful welovepictures.Read More

Pastel Blush Wedding at Lezar Opstal by Laura Jansen {Evette & Emile}

by gaby

The next time I come across a bride who’s wavering about a ‘first look’ photo session because she doesn’t want to spoil ‘that moment’ (you know, the one where you lock eyes from opposite ends of the aisle and even though you’re in a room full of your family and friends you can only see one another and your heart’s beating out of your chest and you’re gripping your dad’s arm but you’re looking at each other and it’s amazing) – well, next time I am just going to show her Evette and Emile’s wedding. Because they had a first look (the sweetest of first looks for this pair of childhood sweethearts) and some gorgeous portraits with their awesome photographer Laura Jansen before the ceremony. But when Evette’s walking down that aisle – wow. The emotion in these pictures is so real, it actually brings a tear to MY eye. I have a feeling these two are going to be looking at one another like that for a lifetime. For their big day, they picked a beautiful pastel palette (including a gorgeous blush dress for the bride), and like the ballerina she is, she danced through ceremony and reception, right through to a first dance with her handsome groom that looks like it came from a movie. Ah, love. It gets me every time.Read More

Something Blue Fairway Hotel Wedding by Jack and Jane Photography {Gugu & Bongani}

by gaby

Happy heritage day, folks! You know, with some things in life, a little really does go a long way. Chanel No 5, kindness, chilli oil. And colour, especially when you’re dealing with the clean lines of a bright, modern wedding style like Gugu and Bongani decided to do. They chose blue as their accent colour and added just the perfect amount into their venue’s blank canvas of white and soft grey – adorable baby blue bridesmaid dresses, dusky blue tablecloths and then a pop of electric colour from sprays of dendrobium orchids and individual blooms placed at each setting. The couple themselves are the picture of city wedding chic – love the sparkled-up sweetheart neckline of the bride’s dress especially! Our lovely photographer friends Jack and Jane Photography (who you may remember as Laura Jane Photography until their fabulous recent rebrand) were there to capture these gorgeous images of the big day.Read More

Ruffles & Romance Môreson Wedding by Lauren Kriedemann {Claire & James}

by gaby

There are a lot of reasons I love today’s wedding, but can we just start by talking about THAT DRESS? Holy moly, it’s a showstopper. I have no idea if bride, Claire, started with the gown or matched it into her vision, but for me, it’s the centrepiece of the whole understated, feminine but also very modern elegance of the whole day. Everything from lush white blooms in ornate vases on the tables to the whimsical floral chandelier, to the clean, calming neutral palette (with just a touch of lavender from the bridesmaids) complements Claire’s look (a gorgeous job by Just Jack, by the way). She dances through her big day like a ballerina, through the vows exchanged with her fabulous kilt-sporting Scottish groom, to the cocktail hour with tables piled high with cheese and antipasti and guests full of love and well-wishes, and right on to the cafe light-lit dancefloor. An all-lily bouquet is the perfect, structured accessory for the ruffled rosette skirt. If I ever saw a bride ‘wear’ her whole wedding, it’s this one. And if I ever knew a photographer who would do this lovely celebration justice, it’s Lauren Kriedemann. Enjoy every one of these lovely pics!Read More

Italian Inspired Rockhaven Wedding by The Picturess & Bright and Beautiful {Debra & Chris}

by gaby

How is it already a year since I was in Italy? Those weeks on a vineyard in southern Tuscany were absolute bliss, and I’ve been missing Italy soooo much recently  (especially since every Instagram account I follow seemed to have an Italian trip this year, jealous is not the word!) But today I get to flirt with my love of Italy again, with this lovely little Rockhaven wedding sent over by the talented bunch at Bright and Beautiful, which was inspired by the groom’s Italian heritage. I just love the way that a fresh white and green palette was used – especially the ferns, so pretty! – and all the fun little activities that the couple set up for their guests (including a vespa ‘photo booth’), not to mention Cinzano and Prosecco cocktail hour! Leanne Evans, the Picturess, was there to capture every lovely moment of la bella vita.Read More

Country Casual Wedding at The Glades by Summertown Pictures {Ash & Peter}

by gaby

Some weddings just remind me of the simple, wonderful pleasure in life – a cool breeze on a hot day, a new sundress, melting butter on fresh, hot bread. Today’s wedding is like that – pure happiness and country casual chic. Ash and Peter chose a palette of soft neutrals with a touch of peach and a little glimmer of gold (I love how subtly this metallic is used throughout, it’s so perfect), with lovely lace showing up in both the bride and the bridesmaids’ stunning dresses. The florals are a beautiful mix – I especially love the blushing bride proteas. And speaking of these blooms, I just loved how they were used to decorate Ash’s naked cake, and would you believe it, she made it herself! Clever bride, beautiful wedding, happy days. Ooh, and let’s not forget the swooney images from Summertown Pictures too!Read More

Colourful V&A Waterfront Wedding by Dear Heart Photos{Amanda & Michael}

by gaby

Amanda and Michael’s wedding really captures for me some of the fun and colour and effervescent romance of Cape Town – a heartfelt ceremony, a laid-back cocktail reception, and of course the most GORGEOUS portraits from Dearheart Photos with the spectacular V&A Waterfront in the background. It’s a backdrop that barely needs any adornment, and fits perfectly into the ‘magical lights’ theme that Amanda dreamed of, with the harbour lights twinkling on the waters, and the happy laughter of family and friends bubbling out from the balcony of the Alba Lounge. Add a slush puppy machine full of frozen margaritas, jewel coloured florals and bridesmaid dresses that popped perfectly against the Waterfront’s moody blues, as well as a gorgeous floral headband for the bride, and you have the perfect mix for a spectacular port city wedding.Read More

Field of Dreams Farm Wedding by Laura Jansen Photography {Lisa & Rayno}

by gaby

I’ve featured some pretty amazing weddings before, and I’ve featured some unique venues – some, even, that have been built on family property by the bride and groom just for their big day. But today’s wedding venue has to be the ultimate. This is the wedding version of Field of Dreams – and it’s just as magical as that makes it sound. I’ll explain. Lisa and Ryno decided on their own farm as the venue for their big day, and then went a step further by planting a cornfield with a secret grass centre for their marquee reception, and a romantic Lovers’ Lane leading their guests through the corn. I mean, SERIOUSLY. As they say in the movie, “if you build it they will come…” – and so they did, a happy band of family and friends (and awesome photographer Laura Jansen), brought into the lovebirds’ world to celebrate the beginning of their lives together. In a corn field. In the middle of a farm in Africa. In a place where dreams come true.Read More

Urban Boho Wedding at Arts on Main by Creative Emporium {Cindi & Cameron}

by gaby

One of the things I love most about having a geographical niche for this little blog is that I’ve never had to limit myself to a particular type or style of wedding, and today’s celebration is a great example of why this makes me happy. Take a vibey, artsy, city venue and combine it with pretty boho style (along with a soft natural palette of blues and mochas) and you have something very special. Then add in a flock of lovingly-made paper cranes and one of the most uniquely gorgeous wedding dresses I have ever seen, and you’ll see why today is one of the days I love my job. Which just goes to show – when you pick a location and details that reflect you as a couple, it all comes together beautifully. Helped along of course by some stonkingly pretty pictures from the fab Creative Emporium (who we’re welcoming to SBB for the first time, yay!).Read More

Eco Chic Botanical Wedding at Rosemary Hill by Van der Bijl Photography {Leigh & Byron}

by gaby

When Brownwyn of Van der Bijl Photography sent over today’s gorgeous organic-lovely wedding, I had to go back and double check her email after the first few pics that this was a real wedding and not a styled shoot, since the florals and details are that perfectly styled. Of course, once I saw Leigh and Byron’s ceremony pics, the happy tears and the love between the couple (and on the faces of all their guests) there was no doubt this was as real a wedding as you’ll find, which of course makes me love every pretty botanical detail put together by Carol-Anne of Eco-chic Weddings even more. And eco-chic is the right word – everything right down to Leigh’s gorgeous frothy dress was created with an eye on upcycling and sustainability. It’s a beautiful day with a big heart, and I’m delighted to be sharing it with you all!Read More