Traditional & Multicultural Weddings

Gorgeously Colourful Muslim Wedding Festival at Cavalli Estate by Michelle du Toit

12 September, 2018 by gaby

Get ready to be WOWed, because Farah and Adnan’s wedding is incredible. Lavish, luxe, colourful, dripping with the most beautiful flowers (oh Fleur le Cordeur, you’ve done it again!), filled with family and tradition from the couple’s rich mixed heritage, and heartfelt to its very core. Seriously, you just need to see the gorgeous images Michelle du Toit took of this pair during their couple session to see they’re crazy in love (and also, they look like a pair of movie stars!) With a festival of multiple celebrations across five days, a gorgeous location in the winelands, and a jaw dropping reception for 400 coordinated by [kraak] that still manages to be intimate and elegant despite its size, this wedding is a joy from beginning to end, not least thanks to Michelle’s beautiful images. Get ready to pick your jaw up off the floor!

International Cross Cultural Wedding at Le Franschhoek by Hayley Takes Photos

7 June, 2018 by gaby

Y’all know how much I love a multi-cultural wedding – the fusion of cultures and families (smooshed together with family and friends from all around the world) makes me so happy. To me, this is what weddings are all about: two souls finding one another in the vast world, and joining their lives together to create something beautiful and new. Today’s wedding is all of these things – April and Avi come from across the world from one another and have different cultural heritages and religious backgrounds, but found each other at college in the US, making this one of the most uniquely international weddings I’ve come across. And where better to tie the knot than in the Rainbow Nation of South Africa? The day was filled with colour and happiness, with two different celebrations, three gorgeous gowns, acknowledgement of all those influences (including SA, with some Zulu dancing, yay!), old traditions and new friendships. It’s appropriate that April and Avi chose an umbrella motif for their big day too, because that’s really what it did: bring everything they love under one big beautiful umbrella. Hayley Takes Photos was there to capture these wonderful images of the day.

Traditional Hindu Wedding at the 12 Apostles Hotel by Claire Thomson

12 April, 2018 by gaby

What do you get when you combine one of Cape Town’s most elegant and iconic venues with a beautiful traditional Hindu wedding? Today’s little gem, that’s what! Leticia and Deren wanted to bring all the rich colours and luxuriant fabrics, as well as all the meaningful traditions of an Indian wedding into their big day, but have it in a location that was intimate and special. Enter the 12 Apostles Hotel, and the cliffside ceremony space lodged between mountain and ocean was the perfect place for them to exchange vows. To say I’m in love with Leticia’s ensemble would be a vast understatement – she looks absolutely stunning, and the rich traditional red, gold and white colours worn by herself and her handsome groom make such a striking contrast to the serene beach where they had their couple photos! Claire Thomson took these gorgeous pics and I’m so excited to share them with you today!

Greenery-filled Same Sex City Wedding by Thunder and Love Photography

20 November, 2017 by gaby

When it comes to styled shoots, I’m definitely of the school of making models smile – I mean, who wants to see a moody bride or groom? But even if a model’s skills are Kate Moss-level awesome, there’s just no faking the real thing. And Nathan and Brendan’s big day is full of the real thing – smiles as wide as the sky, true happiness, and love. This adorable couple not only held their nuptials in fabulous Cape Town (LOVE me a city wedding!) but followed the natural ambience of an outdoor ceremony with the fun of a quirky modern reception space, which they filled to the brim with proteas and greenery. The best of both worlds, truly. And speaking of both worlds, I also loved how the couple managed to honour Indian wedding traditions, like mehndi and varmala garlands, making this a truly multicultural celebration. SBB faves Thunder and Love Photography captured all the love (and all the pretty) from this special day!

Modern Meets Rustic Jewish Wedding at Cavalli Estate by Gavin Casey

21 July, 2016 by claire

How romantic is this groom? Jenna and Neil tied the knot on Valentine’s Day, which was the groom’s choice as he had the date picked out and the Rabbi booked even before he proposed! This wedding is everything we love about a modern romance: an unlikely meeting, a brief courtship and a heartfelt celebration of breathtaking proportions. Jewish weddings are absolutely beautiful. Every moment of the ceremony is framed by traditions that speak of generations of love stories and the ties that bind families and form new ones. Aside from the traditional elements of the ceremony, there were plenty of quirky and rustic details that perfectly suited the couple’s modern taste. From a burger and boerewors bar to Havaianas for the groomsmen, it was an eclectic mix of creative and personal details woven into the traditional. All of this was seamlessly brought together by the fabulous Quirky Parties, with Gavin Casey behind the camera.

Rose & Lilac Muslim Wedding by Davene Prinsloo {Zaakiyah and Tauriq}

22 January, 2015 by gaby

A PE wedding! Not many people know this about me since I haven’t lived there since I finished school, but I actually grew up in Port Elizabeth, so it’s always fun to see a Friendly City wedding on the SBB pages. Add to that a palette of deep purple and dusky pink, a smitten bride and groom, and a candy buffet, and you have all the ingredients for a really lovely wedding. One thing I absolutely loved about this one was the way that not only did bride Zaakiyah get to show off two gorgeous looks between her Muslim ceremony and reception (including a particularly spectacular lace dress), but her bridesmaids cleverly wore their convertible dresses in different styles to reflect the change in formality between the two occasions. It’s clever touches like that which are not just budget-friendly, but chic to boot. As for these sweet as honey images, they come courtesy of Davene Prinsloo, who was on-scene to capture every special moment.Read More

Pretty Peach & Traditional Zulu Weddings by Vita Bella Photography {Slindile & Siphile}

30 April, 2014 by gaby

Last week, I was thrilled to bring you a traditional Xhosa wedding, and today I get to showcase another double celebration, including a joyous traditional Zulu wedding. I love seeing this gorgeous couple in their traditional garb (actually, I’m more than a little jealous of Slindile’s costume changes, since she also got to rock a princess dress and a hot little cocktail number for her reception at wedding number 1!). The two ceremonies couldn’t have been more different – one with an elegant peaches & cream palette while the other bursts with colour, but what they have in common is a sense of vibrancy and delight, and the biggest smiles from bride and groom. Chantel of Vita Bella Photography did an amazing job capturing both happy days, so you’ll understand why this is a bumper, photo-filled post!Read More

Traditional Xhosa Wedding by Monica Dart {Tembakazi & Mateli}

22 April, 2014 by gaby

Today is a VERY special day. That’s because today I finally get to share our first full traditional South African wedding (our first, but by no means our last – in fact, look out for a gorgeous traditional Zulu wedding next week!). Up until recently, not many brides and grooms invited a pro photographer along to the traditional part of their weddings (as South Africans will know, many choose to have a ‘Western’ wedding as well – and we’ll be showcasing Tembakazi and Mateli’s separately this afternoon – don’t miss) but I’m slowly seeing that start to change. And being the fan of beautiful photography that I am, as well as everything South African, I’m thrilled. Monica Dart was just the perfect choice for this Eastern Cape bride and groom – she thrives on colour and movement and capturing those little moments that make up your memory of a day, and I’m absolutely in love with these images. Pots full of delicious food bubbling away on the fire, children laughing and playing, families and communities coming together – and of course the unique joy that surrounds two people in love.Read More

Pink & Gold Nantes Estate Wedding by Daniela Zondagh {Suhaifa & Jacques}

28 January, 2014 by gaby

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

Indian Fusion Helderfontein Estate Wedding by Jack and Jane Photography {Manisha & Martin}

9 January, 2014 by gaby

We’re heading towards the end of our first week back at work, and our first week of 2014 wedding loveliness here on SBB – how has it been for you? I must say, I am full of excitement at what the year has in store (of course, it makes a difference that for the first time in years I’m in the sunshine instead of braving the January cold in London!). And just wait until you see the weddings I am lining up for you in the weeks to come – as my Dad would joke, “you’ll daaah”. But today we’re all about Martin and Manisha’s cross-cultural celebration, and I absolutely adore the rich winter berry colours that they chose. And Manisha’s bridal style – WOW. I especially love how she’s paired all the intricacy of her jewellery and her sari and that insanely gorgeous henna with a simple, elegant bouquet of calla lilies. SBB fave Laura Jane Photography was there to capture every gorgeous image, telling the story of the day from beginning to beautiful end.Read More