Category: Farm Weddings

Rustic Riverside Lowveld Wedding by Kim Tracey

by gaby

I always ask my brides and grooms if there were any details of their weddings that were proudly South African (after all, SBB is all about bringing you the latest inspiration with an African twist!) but when it came to Brenna & Tom, the feeling of being out in the African bushveld was such an integral part of their big day that it couldn’t be boiled down to a few details (although they had those too, from proteas to enamel mugs and braai canapes, even Amarula ice cream for dessert!) They were married on the banks of a river on a Lowveld farm, with crocs and hippos in close attendance, and their guests enjoyed traditional G&T sundowners before the reception, taking in the glorious scenery before dancing the night away under the stars. It was a fitting celebration for a down to earth couple, and they decorated it simply but beautifully, with pretty rustic touches and the most gorgeous (and delectable-looking) naked cake. Kim Tracey was on the scene, and took these absolutely lovely pics!

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Chic Rustic Farm Wedding by Lilly-Owl Photography

by gaby

Hello lovelies! I’ve been a bit scarce on the blog this week, but it’s only because I’m working on something HUGE behind the scenes. Actually, not just one huge thing but two – let’s just say I’m excited about January! But I couldn’t let another day go by without sharing this lovely rustic wedding with one of my favourite colour schemes ever (red and shades of blue – so gorgeous!) After all, getting married in a farm-style venue tucked away on the outskirts of rural Zeerust is every bit as romantic as you might imagine – as proven by Anneme and Ruben’s wedding, which included magical details like Moroccan lamps (LOVE THIS), smoky mercury glass and blue goblets on the tables, red berries, string upon string of fairy lights, a ‘bush chapel’ and a customised dancefloor. And with Lilly-Owl Photography there to capture this beautiful day, you won’t have to miss a thing!Read More

Romantic Farm Wedding at The Oaks Estate by Jani B.

by gaby

I know I say it all the time, but when you let your personalities shine through every detail and facet of your wedding, just as this pair of lovebirds so gracefully did, you’ll end up with a celebration as memorable as it is fun. Think rustic wooden tables laden with boxed arrangements of country flowers, lavender seed favours and gelato instead of cake, the bride in a seriously dreamy Watters gown, and photographer Jani B. floating about turning every so-good-you’ll-remember-it-forever moment into beautiful images. Sounds pretty much perfect to me.Read More

Cozy Rustic Wedding at Ou Stal Equestrian Estate by ST Photography {Ilze & David}

by gaby

While every wedding we feature is different, it’s inevitable that most follow a traditional timeline – ceremony, photo shoot/cocktail hour, reception, etc. – but I’m always struck by the couples who choose to do things a little differently. There’s the first look of course – the chance to have your photographs taken before guests arrive, allowing you to mingle with them during the drinks hour (and have a private moment before the ceremony to take in the enormity of what you’re doing together). Today’s couple did that – and did it in style, with a sweet little flower bedecked door in the middle of nature as their backdrop (talk about the rustic version of a grand entrance!) But they took it a step further, following the photoshoot up with cocktails and canapes with their guests and only then enjoying the heartfelt ceremony together (again, with a fabulous backdrop – this time soft curtains and a flower chandelier). It was the perfect way for this laid-back couple to experience their big day, and is a great example of how you don’t need to follow tradition to have a wedding that’s perfect for you. So let’s get on and enjoy all the cozy rustic-ness (as the bride says) of Ilze and David’s big day, brought to us through the lens of SBB Directory member ST Photography.Read More

Rustic Navy, Red & Yellow Wedding at The Cowshed by Laura Leigh {Leande & Martin}

by gaby

I love that in weddings I feel like I learn something new every day. Today’s fun fact is that the yellow fynbos which is included so liberally and joyfully in Leande & Martin’s gorgeously rustic, elegant-with-a-touch-of-Karoo wedding is called Cape Everlasting – which let’s be honest, is kind of the most perfect name for a wedding flower, and my new favourite South African touch. It also happens to be the loveliest bright against a palette of navy and rust, one lovely detail amongst many – this really is the kind of wedding that every time you look at Laura Leigh‘s pictures, you notice something different. Fruits and greenery lining the aisle, red ribbon on the eucalyptus bouquets, shotgun shell boutonnieres… And combined with the fantastic backdrop of The Cowshed (including a herd of Nguni cattle), this is just about as picturesquely South African as a wedding can be.Read More

Bohemian Delft Wedding at Kalmoesfontein by Hearts in a Shutter {Natasha & Gavin}

by gaby

‘Boho’ is a term that gets applied to a lot of weddings these days, but I feel like today’s wedding really deserves it. It’s got that laid-back, mismatched, organic look down to a tee, with a touch of whimsy, from the maypole ceremony area to the wooden tables to the bride’s yellow-gold dress (and we do love a coloured wedding dress, don’t we!) I think my favourite touch, though, is the use of Delft-style vases and plates on the tables – mixed in with proteas, wildflowers, fruits and silver candelabras, it’s the perfect mix of casual and formal, not to mention oh so pretty! We don’t have a story to share with you today (for the best possible reason – Natasha & Gavin now have a little one demanding their attention!) but we’ll let Brenda Wardell of Hearts in a Shutter’s warm and wonderful pictures tell their own tale.Read More

Rustic Navy, Sage & Blush Wedding at The Nutcracker Country Retreat by GingerAle Photography {Nadine & Renardo}

by gaby

I’ll tell you why today’s wedding really has my heart, you guys. I mean, we all love some classic South African country vintage decor – proteas, and succulents and lace. Add in bold navy stripes and a sense of bringing the outdoor in with woodsy details like moss and raw wood, and you have a gorgeous wedding design. But what I really love (and this won’t come as news to any of you who have been reading SBB for more than five minutes) is that the conception of this pretty, pretty colour scheme and set of details was based entirely on the couple’s personalities and tastes. Which in my book, is pretty much everything a wedding ever needs to be. That attention to detail reaches right on down to the choice of wine, and includes a SUPER romantic gesture by the groom during his speech – a song written just for his bride. Swoon. So there you go. Navy, sage and blush and love all over. Captured to perfection by GingerAle Photography!Read More

Naturally Vintage Wedding at Volmoed by Kikitography {Angelique & Marnus}

by gaby

I hate when people talk about cookie-cutter weddings, because in my experience, there’s so much thought and love and care that goes into every couple’s wedding, whatever decor and design they choose. But some weddings really manage to go above and beyond in being a perfect expression of the pair involved, and where I feel like I can get a beautiful sense of who they are and what they love just from the choices they make for their Big Day. Today’s wedding is one of those – a heartfelt day in the middle of spectacular natural scenery, surrounded by (and handmade in many cases by) the people that Angelique and Marnus love and admire the most. My absolute favourite element though, is Angelique’s vintage dress – vintage in the true sense of the word, since it belonged to her great grandmother. What an incredibly special thing to be able to share, and what a gorgeous gown, on its second outing. These lovely pics by Kikitography really get across the sense of peace and joy that radiate from bride and groom, and from the wedding they created.Read More

Magical Midlands Wedding at The Glades Farm by CC Rossler {Faye & Gary}

by gaby

“Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.” I have no idea where that quote comes from, but it pretty perfectly sums up how I feel about today’s wedding. A couple of years ago, I shared this love story, which belongs to my friends Sven and Louise. What I didn’t know was that their wedding wasn’t the end of the bigger picture love story. Because while we were toasting the happy couple with chilled rosé, the wheels of Fate were turning in the background. Who would have known that bringing together Sven, Louise, their planner (Faye of Poetry Weddings) and their photographer CC Rossler (who happened to be a friend of Sven’s friend Gary) would ultimately lead to Faye and Gary finding their very own fairytale? There’s something kind of magical about that. Serendipity. So I’m super excited to be sharing Faye and Gary’s rainy, romantic Midlands wedding (beautifully captured by CC, of course!) with you today.Read More

Country Charm Wedding at The Cowshed by Lad & Lass {Mishka & Tom}

by gaby

I had such fun reading the ‘beind the scenes’ story from today’s couple, who have such a lovely sense of humour and fun as they recount the series of circumstances and happenings that brought them together. So it didn’t put a single bit of a dampener on proceedings when they said their vows at The Cowshed in Mpumalanga on a rainy afternoon. Weddings at this venue always have a great mix of casual and country chic, and with a reception filled with proteas and roses, silverware and chandeliers, candelight and cake, that’s exactly the kind of farm charm that we adore. Look out for the Coke can favours (love this idea!) and some beautiful floral bridesmaid dresses among the pretty pics delivered by Lad & Lass.Read More