Category: Weddings by Type

Real Wedding at Jakkalsfontein Nature Reserve {Heidi & Donnie}

by gaby

There’s something about a beach house, isn’t there? For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted one, with shutters and white floorboards and falling asleep to the sound of the surf and salt in my nostrils. For so many of us South Africans, the beach is our happy place. So I honestly can’t think of a more amazing venue than the one Heidi and Donnie chose for their wedding, since it’s Heidi’s parents’ beach house right on the ocean in Jakkalsfontein. Beautiful, coastal rustic and as personal as you can get. Heidi brought her love of hearts into the decor, and after their ceremony, the couple decided to buck convention by having bowl foods and canapes served to their guests, who were able to mingle and dance and relax in break out areas. Doesn’t it sound amazing? (Well, wait until you see how good it looks, courtesy of Hearts in a Shutter‘s Brenda Wardall!) I just love when brides and grooms decide to do things a little differently to suit their venue or guests or just the kind of party they want to have. If you want a dinner party feel, do it. If you want a brunch, do it. If you want a rock concert, do it! Have the ceremony and the meal when and where you want – make the conventions work for you. I guarantee that not only will you have an amazing time and be more relaxed on the day if you feel like you’re in your element, but your guests will remember your wedding more than any other.Read More

Real Wedding at Webersburg {Jessica & David}

by gaby

I now declare this week’s festival of gorgeous weddings… OPEN! (Just imagine me with a giant pair of scissors here.) (PS, where do you actually GET a giant pair of scissors? Because I totally want one.) I’ve been dying to show you Jess and David’s wedding for a little while now, because to me it encapsulates so many things I love about a Cape wedding. Beautiful weather, a spectacular winelands backdrop (the lovely Webersburg estate), soft pink florals, proteas, quirky personal touches. And of course a couple who are completely besotted with one another. It just radiates from them, doesn’t it? (Just wait until you see their video, which I’ll be posting as a bonus this afternoon.) Other things I love: Jess’s dress and that oversized flower in her hair that I am completely dying over, the map used as a seating/escort chart, the Rob Ryan-esque menu cards and other pretty stationery, the sparklers for the first dance… All so gosh darn puuurty. And all captured by the genius that is Annemari Ruthven! Enjoy…Read More

Real Wedding at The Cape Farmhouse {Sarah & Pete}

by gaby

Happy Friday lovelies! I have to be honest, this week has kicked my butt, big style. So apologies if you missed your posts on Weds and Thurs, but the good news is, we have triple – triple! – the loveliness today! And the even better news is that this is a long weekend for us in the UK, starting with me having the afternoon off. I’m going to a schnazzy hair place to be primped, highlighted, blowdried and manicured. Best Friday ever! Anyway, time to kick off with an amazing wedding I have been saving for all of you. Sarah and Pete were married at The Cape Farmhouse in a laid back, intimate, daytime and very African country-style celebration. I love their earthy colour scheme, succulent table settings and eco-friendly approach. And I am completely in AWE of Sarah’s look. Wow can this girl accessorise! I absolutely adore not only her look, but that of her bridesmaids – don’t you? Sarah also happens to be a photographer, which is always a little intimidating, but Brenda Wardall of Hearts in a Shutter has done such an awesome job in capturing all the rustic gorgeousness of the big day.Read More

Real Wedding at Molenvliet {Jackie & Japie}

by gaby

Ok, something you don’t know about me – I am a HUGE big band fan. Which may not seem that strange, but when I was in high school, it made me a little unusual. I was, for example, the only kid I knew who begged my father to bring Harry Connick Jnr CDs back from a business trip in America instead of, I don’t know, MC Hammer or Boyz II Men (don’t get me started about my love for Harry). The only person I know who puts Ella, Dean and Frankie on my iPod when I’m feeling the mean reds and can sing along to pretty much any Gershwin lyric. So you can imagine that when I saw Jackie and Japie had pulled off a 1940s Glamour-themed wedding at Molenvliet, I was super excited to feature it! As we all know, love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, and the two of them wanted to celebrate theirs in style – getting a kick out of champagne with their besties, facing the music and dancing all night and promising to love each other come rain or come shine. (Ya, I know. I couldn’t stop myself. Throw your tomato if you must.) They had a shindig old Frank himself would have been proud to have thrown, co-ordinated by Jaco van Loggerenberg of Just Jack and photographed by the fab Andre from Zara Zoo. And now I get to share it with you. Ain’t THAT a kick in the head?Read More

Real Wedding at Westminster Abbey {Catherine & William}

by gaby

I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her…

Remember that line from Notting Hill? Well, maybe I’m just a sucker for a good royal romance, but even with all the pomp and procession of the royal wedding, at the end of the day that’s what I felt like it came down to. Just a boy and a girl, standing in front of each other and promising to spend their lives together. I know we also all bought into the last big royal romance (and look how that turned out), but Kate and William really did seem totally jubilant and in love, and I loved being part of the London celebrations. I’m sure you’re sick to death of reading about it (are you though, really?) but after a week of reflection, here’s my take – the Top 10 things I loved about last Friday’s royal wedding!
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Real Wedding at Le Bac {Yolandi & Ludwig}

by gaby

Okay, confession time. Before I started this blog, when I used to flip through a wedding magazine I have to admit I used to feel totally irritated by how many dress advertisements and features there were. Because to me, it was probably the least interesting aspect of the day. Yes, I know, but it’s true. I was definitely not one of those little girls who grew up imagining my dream dress. Now that I have seen so many unbelievably gorgeous dresses, that’s changed, and there are some brides who literally take my breath away (hello, Kate Middleton!). Today’s is one of them – I am completely and totally in LOVE with her styling. That bracelet! That wrap! That dress! Crazy beautiful. And not just that, but Mitch Wong Ho (who I have been wanting to feature here forever!) turned a photo shoot with her and her handsome groom at the Taal Monument in Paarl from drab to fab – I adore the architectural shots he got (totally appropriate since the bride is an architect) of a spot that is normally not exactly up there on my list of inspiring locations (sorry, I know lots of you love it, but I am not a big fan of monument shots in general. Usually!) Le Bac was the venue for their stunning reception – all in all the perfect wedding for me to feature in our week of celebration!Read More

Real Wedding at Beloftebos {Melissa & Arnold}

by gaby

When I started looking around for weddings to celebrate my one year blogiversary with, I must admit, I wasn’t sure which way to go. I mean, frankly, every single wedding I feature has an ooh moment for me, a special something that takes my breath away. Which is why, after all, I’ve poured my heart and soul into this blog over the last year. And every single wedding is joyful and special and celebratory. And there are sooooo many fabulous photographers whose work I love to showcase. Then, one afternoon, I got a heads up from one of those fabulous photographers about a very special wedding on a colleague’s blog. I was on a train, and the internet loading the page on my phone was maddeningly slow (seriously, what is that, satellites? Can you not beam back to earth fast enough for me?). MADDENING, because as soon as I saw one picture I wanted to devour them all. This really was something ranking very high in the awesome department – a wedding based on a carnival theme, with rock ‘n roll details and a dress (oh, that dress!) that had me zipping straight over to my inbox and begging for a feature. And then, when it all started coming together, realising that it would be perfect for today. And here we are. Ta Da! People, I’m EXCITED. So I’ll let you get to it, with a big thank you to the bride (Melissa Van Zyl, who is also an awesome photographer!) and groom, and the fabulous Carmen Visser who nailed every one of these shots, and the fab Jaco of Just Jack, who co-ordinated this shindig. You are all rockstars. Now, it’s after 5pm, so break out the champers and start the party. I know I will be!

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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 Diemerskraal {Diné & Nick}

by gaby

Smell that, folks? Yep, it smells like freedom. The freedom of a long weekend, and I’ll tell you a little secret, mine has already started. Started last night, in fact, with wine and cupcakes at Altar-ed, a fab little event organised here in London by OMG I’m Getting Married and Forever and Ever Events (thanks, ladies!). Which is, obviously, the best way to start a long weekend. Prettiness always is. So allow me to do the same for you, by providing you with your own dose of prettiness courtesy of this wedding at Diemerskraal. I have been DYING to share it for weeks, and I am so excited that the moment has finally arrived! Where do I start? The buttons, maybe my favourite little touch? The bunting? The supercool invitations? The OMG they actually WILL wear them again bridesmaids dresses? The fact that the venue is an aircraft hangar? Actually, it’s all of it together, tied up in a perfect little bow by Stephan Marais, who took these gorgeous pictures. To me, it strikes the perfect balance between contemporary, classic and cheeky, and I absolutely LOVE it! So enjoy. And if I don’t see you here tomorrow (even though you totally should pop in, because we have another loooovely wedding!), have the best Easter weekend!Read More

Real Wedding at Die Strandloper {Nadine & Philip}

by gaby

There’s a part of me that is all Tiffany’s girl. Give me a martini (vodka, extra dry extra cold with a twist, cheers), a pair of Badgleys and a rooftop bar in Manhattan and I’m a happy woman. But I grew up on the coast, and there’s another big part of me that is all barefoot, shell necklaced and freckle nosed. That wants nothing more than salt on my lips and the beat of the surf in my ears. That’s one of the reasons why I’m so in love with beach venues, and the more rustic, the better. Today’s is about as laid-back seaside as you get – the awesome Strandloper restaurant in Langebaan, where you can rock up, pay your cover and enjoy a long session of fresh and delicious seafood right on the beach. (I am seriously salivating right now just thinking about it!) Nadine and Philip chose it as their wedding venue, and the result was a super relaxed day with family and friends that I am completely smitten over. Their details are just subtle enough to enhance the venue, never competing with it, and allowing all of their guests to get into the beachy groove. As usual, Warren Williams‘ pictures really bring the celebrations to life. Doesn’t it just look like so much fun? I want to be there. Now.Read More