Category: City Weddings

Real Wedding at the Market Restaurant {Debra & Mike}

by gaby

I ♥ Durban. I’m just saying. I’m not from there, but I’ve always felt like I kiiinda am, and not just because I say hull-ton and not hill-ton. When I was little, my grandparents lived in Umdloti, and so from then right up until university I spent large chunks of my summer holidays there. Oh, and then my parents moved there, so it’s where I fly home to. Anyway, what it adds up to is a huge soft spot for the Durbs. And what all you Cape Town and Joburg people may not have cottoned onto yet, is that the cool quotient of Durban has been on the rise. Not just a surf town, my friends. I am seriously seeing some of the most gorgeous weddings and suppliers coming out of KZN, and I am especially loving the sort of handmade hipster take on South African style showcased by dapper brides and grooms like Debra and Mike, today’s happy couple. Think: fresh proteas mixed with carved ones, bunting in the church, fairy lights in a restaurant courtyard, balloons and photos in MINI TOWN. In case the caps didn’t alert you, I am especially excited about that last part. Mini towns are the best thing, ever. (Can you get married in one? If you can, I might have to.) Anyway, I can’t imagine a better couple to capture this amount of awesome better than Dylan and Emma-Jane of Lad and Lass Photography (formerly Hello Harbour), whose work I have been dying to feature for a while. I just love their fun style, and I know you will too. Enjoy!Read More

Real Wedding at The Grand {Barbara & Michael}

by gaby

So. When I was about 15, my friend Marcelle threw a great big birthday party at an abandoned house on her family’s farm. There was drinking, and laughing, and Green Day’s Dookie on repeat, but what I remember most was that her high school friends were very much the cool kids from the cool school. I was so intimidated, I don’t think I spoke to anyone all night. Well, some weddings… some weddings are like hanging out at the cool table. Couples that seem so impossibly stylish, their wedding seems to come from a magazine. Today’s is one of those – Barbara and Michael (and their guests) could have been plucked from the pages of Vogue, as could their stunning, atmospheric photographs from dna photographers. But if you look beyond the über-stylish venue (love me that Grand), the to-die-for views of the Cape coast from Granger Bay, and Barbara’s incredible blush lace and corset dress, there’s a sweetness and carefree spirit at the heart of this wedding that perfectly reflects the Cape Town atmosphere. It’s city chic meets coastal class, and I for one could look at it all day. Ah, la dolce vita!Read More

Real Wedding at the Castle of Good Hope {Kerri & Russell}

by gaby

What’s that expression about the best laid plans? Well, I had the BEST laid plans for you all this week, and one after another they’ve gone awry, largely due to the fact that we keep losing power (and then internet for hours afterwards) in my road. It’s driving me mental. Especially since I had not one but two posts almost lined up for you yesterday and another for today. BUT, patience is a virtue, and I’m doing a quick switcheroo and bringing you yesterday’s wedding today, and the other two posts next week. Bonus. Brushing all that annoyance off, I’m still SUPER excited to share this wedding with you, since it not only features a real Cape landmark but also a couple I know, which is always fun. I met Ker and Russ through my friend Belinda (one of the gorgeous bridesmaids in these pics), so I have been hearing all about this wedding from Day One. And when I saw the absolutely spectacular pictures that Judy Stofberg of Just Judy Photography had taken, I asked Kerri if I could feature their big day right here. Now castle weddings might be a dime a dozen here in the UK, but they’re a rarity down Africa way. The Castle of Good Hope, which is a wonderful historic choice as a venue, is actually the oldest colonial building in South Africa, and replaced a small fort built by Jan Van Riebeeck in the 1600s. It’s a real slice of South Africa’s cultural heritage, and just wait until you see the spectacular Cape views! I love how Kerri and Russell made the most of their venue with formal touches like the piper on the roof (seriously, how cool is that?) and the deep purple they chose as their accent colour. The great thing about choosing a backdrop like this is that you don’t need to go mental on the decor, just let your guests soak in the atmosphere.Read More

Real Wedding at Shelley’s Gourmet Cafe {Catherine & Mark}

by gaby

So the other day, there I was sitting at a table with a group of awesome ladies from the wedding industry, and we were discussing wedding size. General consensus? Small weddings rock. And I’ll admit, a lot of that comes from us all being design and detail oriented, but the fact is, especially during a recession, you can just get much more for your money with fewer guests. A wedding that, as my friend Louise of Bijoux Bride (who specialises in this kind of thing) would say, is small but perfectly formed. And I’ll tell you another secret reason I have for loving intimate weddings – somehow, they seem to make brides and grooms feel free to make bolder, less traditional choices. Take today’s wedding, which stopped me in my tracks as soon as I saw it over on photographer Allan McCreadie‘s blog. Not only is it at an unconventional location (a favourite Cape Town restaurant), but you guys, HOW MUCH are we loving Catherine’s styling? I adore her Vivenne Tam dress and seriously gorgeous accessories. Every photo of her looks like it’s a fashion shoot (although we shouldn’t be surprised – her day job is as a design manager for a bag company in China). The whole day just looks like so much fun, and has such an intimate atmosphere with family and friends. So if you’re considering a smaller celebration, let Catherine and Mark’s wedding style inspire you.Read More

Real Wedding at Kirstenbosch {Naz & Mohammed}

by gaby

Today is very exciting for me, because we’re featuring our very first Muslim wedding here on Cap Classique! One of the things I am beyond proud of about being a South African is the huge number of different kinds of heritage, cultures, languages and religions that we have in our country – overseas folks may not know that we have: 11 national languages, 3 capital cities and 2 national anthems. Diversity is our thing. So I love welcoming all Cape brides and grooms. Islamic weddings are particularly spectacular, usually beginning with a Mehndi ceremony for the bride beforehand (and who doesn’t want to wear multiple dresses!). I absolutely fell in love with these gorgeous pics of Naz and Mohammed’s wedding sent over by Alan Browne – aren’t they just the most beautiful looking couple? Their wedding was full of colour and laughter from their friends and families, combined with Naz’s modern vintage vision. It’s a feast for the eyes – enjoy!Read More

Real Wedding at the Mowbray Golf Club {Celeste & Aiden}

by gaby

Woohoo! Holly holly holiday! How I do love a few days off. Hope whatever you’re doing, that you have a brilliant one. And here to continue the festivities, is the third wedding for this week (and it’s a city wedding, which I always love!). Celeste and Aiden chose to have a super slick modern soiree in classic black and white at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town and Mowbray Golf Club. Think black glass, silver plates, a touch of damask. Bridesmaids in elegant black dresses and a gorgeous orchid bouquet. All you need is Frankie Sinatra crooning That’s Life in the corner and you have a swingin’ celebration any hipster would be proud of. Which shouldn’t be a surprise, really, since Aiden happens to be the creative director at GQ South Africa. Celeste is a doctor. Talk about a power couple! The fabulous pictures were taken by Toni and Desmond of Desmond Louw Photography. Enjoy!Read More

Real Wedding at Kelvin Grove {Annerie & Murray}

by gaby

It’s no secret how much I love the Cape countryside, with its breathtaking winelands and lush farms, and all the incredible wedding venues that take advantage of the rural settings and spectacular scenery. But I also get really excited when a wedding comes across my desk that taps into the vibrant heart of Cape Town instead. Anyone who’s spent any time there will know what an amazing city it is, and there’s so much largely untapped potential for vibey, modern weddings that your guests will really remember (and not have to shell out for accommodation either, bonus!). Case in point: Annerie & Murray’s GORGEOUS red and black number at Kelvin Grove. It’s clear from the first glance that this is a couple who are alive with vibrancy and passion and who brought that energy to their Big Day. My best bits: playing card ’boutonnieres’, streamers instead of confetti as they shared their first kiss, the clever vinyl and apple place settings, the groom’s suit and tie (and of course the bride’s lovely dress) and their couple shoot, which might be one of my favourites ever. It’s modern wedding perfection, and is brought to you through the fabulous photos of Wesley Vorster, who I’m thrilled to have on Cap Classique for the first time! Get ready to be wowed!Read More

Mexican Themed Wedding at The Old Biscuit Mill by Hearts in a Shutter

by gaby

I seriously don’t know where to start with this wedding – I’m in love with the whole thing. It just looks like so much FUN! And I kind of have a big crush on Mexico in general, even though I’ve not been there yet, so the Mexican theme really tickles my toes. Not to mention Philippa’s beyond beautiful dress. And her shoes. Oh the shoes! Even the boys have cool shoes in this wedding! And also, the poppies. And the lottery tickets. And the flags. And the kiddies’ rides. And… you know what, I’m just going to shut up and let you look at it yourself, and then you can love it as much as I do. Which you will, because it is awesome. Muchos. (Oh, and PS, in case you’re wondering who took these incredibly vibrant and lovely photographs, it was Brenda Wardall from Hearts in a Shutter. Thanks Brenda! Check out more of her work here.)

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Sleek City Wedding by Joe Dreyer & Aleit

by gaby

Today’s wedding comes from co-ordinators The Aleit Group, and I’m so excited to share it with you! Not only is it absolutely gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous (not that I’d expect any less from this team), but it’s also completely unique and contemporary. The location for one thing, is the Lightbox Studio, a minimalist photographic studio and event space in Greenpoint, that has incredible views out over the city, harbour and Table Mountain. I just love venues that show off the urban cool side of Cape Town, and this is definitely one of them. The look is white on white with a dash of silver, which makes tiny bits of colour like the cocktails really pop. Instead of a seated meal, the couple opted for a cocktail party followed by dancing, and it all adds up to a celebration that just oozes sophistication. And the details… wow. My favourites: the cake topper, the bridesmaid’s dresses, the incredible photo wall/guest book, and Andrew’s super cool “(Hus)band” armband. And with this level of awesome, I know you also won’t be surprised to hear that pictures are by the always-brilliant Joe Dreyer.

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Handmade Rooftop Picnic Wedding at Azure by Annemari Ruthven

by gaby

Ok, I admit, I love all the weddings on this blog, and almost every day I fall in love with a new one. But the wedding I have to show you today is just… wow. As in, jump up and down and make little squealy noises-kinda amazing. As in, I’m still speechless at some of these details-kinda amazing. It is so beautiful, so creative, so personal and so joyful, that I have no doubt you will be truly inspired. You may remember Louise and Riaan from their bookshop-themed engagement shoot (in which case you’ll certainly remember their very talented photographer, Annemari Ruthven). Both are designers, and they took on their wedding like it was a high spec design project, from hand-staining the lanterns with tea to designing and making all the stationery and the exciting little goodies for the picnic baskets, to personalised parking vouchers (seriously!). Every little detail was considered to make the day special for their guests. And you’ll be able to see even more of those details on Thursday, when I’ll also be telling you how you can get a little bit of Louise magic for your own wedding (yay!). In the meantime, congrats to Louise and Riaan, who as well as being super talented are just two of the nicest people. Thank you both for sharing your incredible day!

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