I promised you the most romantic weddings possible this week, and today’s is no exception! I fell in love with Ben & Michelle’s wedding when I saw it on photographer Juné Joubert‘s website – the garlands of roses and chandeliers filled with hydrangeas looked like a lush, magical garden, so it was no surprise to discover the bride had been inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Which is actually a good way of summing up the whole wedding – a sunny outdoor ceremony in the picturesque lane at Nooitgedacht, a swoony couple shoot (how much do we love a groom in a navy suit?), and then that enchanted flower-filled reception late into the night. Beautiful.Read More
I can’t think of a more romantic wedding to celebrate Valentine’s week than this one. You might remember Shayna and Gavin from their engagement shoot a few months ago, when these two cuties shared their amazing love story (and Shayna showed off her gorgeous ring, courtesy of her jewellery designer mother, Jenna Clifford). Today we get to showcase the whole wedding. Starting with an industrial space (a hangar on their family farm) and filling it with beautiful flowers in soft neutral shades, a drizzle of fairy lights and decor with a touch of French chic is absolutely inspired – not only is the final result gorgeous, but unique. I adore Shayna’s dress (made by another South African talent, Marianne Fassler) and her blushing bride bouquet, as well as her dapper groom in a touch of blue. And Kallah Ohr‘s pictures are absolutely GORGEOUS, especially the sunset couple shoot where the newlyweds only have eyes for one another. Total swoonage.Read More
Yesterday we brought you one of the many weddings that had to deal with a very stormy Cape last November, and today, we have another. Just like yesterday’s couple, Carol and Marko were proof that it’s all about attitude, laughing off the weather and enjoying every moment of their gorgeous wedding. And gorgeous it definitely was! I am more than a little in love with their very stylish combination of white and grey with a touch of duck egg blue, wood texturing and just a dash of sparkle (rose gold bridesmaid dresses and wooden proteas for the win!). With a cheese and wine spread second to none, lush white flowers accented by Banksia proteas (love!) and moss table numbers and monograms, this celebration was all kinds of pretty – sun or no sun. With the chic blank space backdrop of Landtscap and the clean, crisp images by fab Jani B., this is one wedding sure to inspire.Read More
Oh my word, I am SO excited to share today’s wedding, as it features none other than my very beautiful cousin, Caitlin. I remember when I was younger and we would visit Caty (then just a little girl) and her awesome family on their farm in Elgin – I thought that it was the most gorgeous place in the world. (I admit, there was a part of me at Stellenbosch that was half on the lookout for an apple farmer husband, just so I could move there myself one day!) Fast forward a few years, and Caty was all grown up and set to marry her beau, Mike. Caitlin’s mom, Carol, has absolutely exquisite taste, so I knew it would be lovely, especially after Caty shared some of her own ideas with me (you can see the inspiration board I made for her here). The plan was a super romantic springtime wedding among the new blossoms and abundant roses on the family wine farm. Well… sometimes, life has other plans. Turned out that the weekend the couple picked for their big day was the one in which the Cape was beset by floods. Now, I’m sure there were some brides that weekend who let the weather get them down, but not this one, and not her groom or their families. The night before, the Facebook updates were full of laughter as everyone pulled together to raise dancefloors, move ceremony areas, and build extra marquees. I have so much admiration for their attitude, and it made all the difference (along with a team of awesome suppliers). The result was not only stylish, but unique and memorable and filled with smiles as much as it was filled with showers – as Caitlin summed it up herself: ‘rain, dancing and love’! And if the way these two look at one another is any indication, this is one love story that deserved a legendary celebration. The awesome Tasha Seccombe was there to capture every moment in what was essentially a photographer’s worst nightmare from a technical perspective. She hit it for a six, and I’m so happy to share the results with you today! (Caty and Mike, congrats again and big love to you both, and to the rest of the family who read this too! xxx) Read More
Where do I start with this wedding? Honestly, I don’t know. Is it the whirlwind love story that brought these two lovebirds together? Or maybe the fact that they planned their wedding in just TWO months (not that you could tell – the rustic farm-style details are so beautifully put together!) How about the novelty of a Sunday morning wedding in winter, with all the relaxed warmth of a family luncheon? Or how about Haloise’s incredible lace dress? Or maybe the fact that so much of this wedding was eco-friendly, right down to the gifts. Or the gorgeous atmospheric photographs from GingerAle Photography? It’s impossible to choose, so I’m just going to start at the beginning. Which is after all, to quote Sound of Music (hopefully for the only time ever), a very good place to start. :)Read More
You know, if I think back to Std 5 discos, all I can remember is serious amounts of awkwardness. Sitting on opposite boy/girl sides of the room, wanting to rush out whenever a slow song came on, then dancing stiffly and super far apart (except if you REALLY liked the oke, and then it would be head on shoulder). Once I danced with a boy and mouthed along with the song (Did I think it was sexy, Dirty Dancing style? Probably. It wasn’t.) and he was all “Gabs, what are you doing?”. OMG, so much awkwardness. I definitely did not find lurve at the disco, but I’m delighted to find that someone did. Specifically, today’s gorgeous couple. SO ADORABLE. And that’s just the meet-cute. The stunning wedding itself was held in one of my favourite Cape Town venues, the gorgeous Grand, with its combination of incredible views, bold pink and industrial edge. The photographer was SBB fave, Stephanie Veldman, who captured every dreamy moment from ceremony to sunset.Read More
There may come a day friends, when I’ll get sick of the combination sparkly gold, soft pink and mint green, when my heart won’t thrill at the sight of a pair of sparkly shoes or gold chevron detailing on a cake or proteas teamed with peonies (sigh!) and roses. But that day is definitely not today. Today we’re celebrating all of these beautiful details and more, because they come as part of the sweetest multicultural wedding, with a bride not just in a floaty white gown but in a spectacular Indian lengha with jingling bracelets and delicately hennaed hands. An aisle made gorgeous with rose petals, little mirrored Indian trinket boxes for favours, a dashing groom. Whether you’re planning your own fusion wedding or one with vintage or modern glam elements, you’re going to ell-oh-vee-ee love this!Read More
I love an involved groom, don’t you? In the last few years, it seems to have become the norm rather than the exception, which I think is awesome – after all, your wedding will best tell the story of your relationship if it comes from both of you. Today we not only have an involved groom, but we’re hearing the story of the wedding from his perspective! You can just hear the love Sergio has for his beautiful bride come through in his words. And even though their venue, Thaba Ya Batswana, is situated just outside Johannesburg, it has the lovely feeling of being in the African bushveld. The couple decided to complement this with a classic white wedding, with the prettiest hint of blush in the bridesmaids’ dresses and the rose bouquets. The fabulous As Sweet As Images were on the scene to record every sweet smile and happy moment for eternity.Read More
Being back in South Africa for a few months has reminded me just how amazing the nature is here. Right outside my bedroom, in a garden full of indigenous plants and trees, are mongooses, monkeys, incredible birds and insects. It’s very cool. And so I love when couples take their natural environment as inspiration for their wedding, as Amy and Karl did for theirs. The blue of the sky and the soft blush of the earth formed the basis for their palette, and they filled their bouquets and venue with roses and fynbos, including garlands hanging from the ceiling (LOVE) above the long tables. It’s pure countryside romance, captured to perfection by Illuminate Photography. Oh, and PS? A brownie wedding cake. Yum!Read More
Those of you who have been around here for a while will know that my love of nautical knowns no bounds. Like today’s bride describes herself, I’m a nautical fiend. There’s no bad day that a bit of crisp linen and bateau stripes can’t solve, no view that isn’t made better by having a ship on the horizon, and no end to the shiny nautical bits and bobs that I have to restrain myself from filling my home with. So I think what I really love about Abigail and Dean’s wedding is that, even though it isn’t located even remotely near the coast, that didn’t stop them from pulling off a sea-worthy festival of awesome. From the blue and white striped tablecloths to the nautical cake to the oh-so-adorable bridesmaids with their captain’s hats, photographer Lauren Kim has captured every lovely detail. (Oh and PS, if you love coastal style, come back later for more beach-themed table decor!)Read More
