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!

Yolandi sent over one of my favourite bride’s stories ever! I just love how she wrote it.
We are one of the lucky few who experienced ‘love at first sight’. What started with a shared glance and a note on my car’s window over ten years ago, an airplane flight on our second date and a decade of awesome times and shared memories led to our engagement in the light of the full moon on the West Coast. It all culminated to our 10 out of 10 fairytale wedding day, shared with 110 of our closest friends and family from near & far.

I did almost everything on my own – designed the invites, arranged a wedding dress designer, sourced the venue, minister, dj, flowers and most other things all by myself. I made use of the Perdekoop website where I downloaded a DJ list, wedding planner and guest list. A family member recommended Barry Geyer from Event and Design to assist as wedding planner. Seeing that most items had been organised already, we agreed on a wedding week package. Barry and Carla from Le Bac both assisted with so many things that made my life so much easier and stress free. They arranged tables, decor, food etc. etc. I knew exactly what I wanted and they made it all happen! I wanted everything to be black, white and silver with touches of the cerise pink of the orchids. I wanted no other flowers than white and pink orchids and long glass containers filled with little black fish.

Driving towards the Strooidak church in Main Road Paarl was quite an experience. There are about 11 churches in the main road and all of the churches had a wedding happening at the same time that day. All the wedding cars hooted to one another and spectators waved and hooted whilst we drove past. I managed to forget my specially made bouquet at the venue where I got dressed and my wedding planner had to improvise by cutting off one of the bright pink orchids placed in the foyer of the church!

Music set the tone on our wedding day. Walking down the aisle to Peter Gabriel’s ‘Blood of Eden’ with my dad next to me towards the man of my dreams brought tears to my eyes. I will never forget the look on my husband’s face as he waited for me to become his wife. Ds. Pieter Barnard led the ceremony with such intimacy, comical moments and words of wisdom taken from ‘The Five Love Languages’ by Gary Chapman. Our friend Leon Schoeman sang a reworked version of ‘Hallelujah’ and left many teary-eyed. The most incredible experience of it all was the feeling of everything else fading away and it being just the two of us, in front of God, making a promise to love our partner like we love ourselves till the end of time – unconditionally. We stepped out into the bright sun where we were shower with black and silver streamers and we symbolically let go of a couple of balloons. Black and silver to symbolise good and bad times and one red balloon to symbolise that love will conquer all.

Whilst taking our photographs in the back of the churchyard surrounded by a sea of Agapanthus we had the time to reflect on the event at hand, take a deep breath and enjoy the special moment together. You put so much effort and energy into all of the arrangements that you have to take time to stand still, enjoy the experience and take it all in, because before you know it, it’s all over…

To the beat of ACDC’s ‘All night long’ we arrived like rock stars at our own wedding festivities. The bubbly was flowing and the vibe electric and with George Michael’s ‘Gotta have faith’ we walked into the dining hall – a testimony to all that a lot of hard work and mostly faith and love will overcome. We didn’t want the usual formalities of cutting a cake and throwing the bouquet and garter – we had different flavoured special Italian ice-cream and sugar cones as desert and we improvised by scooping ice-cream instead of the usual cutting of the cake. To me, the most beautiful moment of the entire day was when my husband told everyone that he was more in love with me now than when we first met ten years ago. We opened the dance floor to The Cure’s ‘Lovesong’ and partied the night away till the sun rose on our new future as husband and wife.

As always, my thanks and happiest of wishes to the lovely Yolandi and Ludwig! And another big thank you to Mitch Wong Ho – check out his blog for even more goodness!

Service providers:

Venue & catering: Le Bac Estates, with special thanks to Carla Foxcroft
Photographer: Mitch Wong Ho – I DO Photography
Co-ordinator: Barry Geyer from Event & Design
Minister: Pieter Barnard
Bridal party bouquets: Sky Orchids
Boutonnieres: Kikka
Ice cream: Rosario Erasmus (021 8729062 / 083 2702732)
Bride’s dress: Danielle Margaux
Bridesmaid’s dresses: YDE
Hair & makeup: Iza Cloete
Hiring: Classy Hire & To-Netts
DJ: PLAY 4 U ENTERTAINMENT
Photobooth: The Photo Corner