A touch of citrus, a touch of vintage glamour. It’s the perfect pairing for Karlien and Daneel’s elegant farm affair – after all, it took place in a clear marquee in the grounds of the bride’s family home, right in the middle of Eastern Cape citrus country. And citrus was very much part of the design concept (just as it was part of the couple’s story – after all, they got engaged in an orchard!). From the bright pops of grapefruit pink and clementine orange in the abundant floral decorations (oh, those florals!), to the wedges of lemon peeking from glass vases, to the strings of dried citrus slices that formed a unique backdrop to the main table, all complemented with mixed metallics (including the bridesmaids’ gorgeous separates), there were plenty of wow moments that made this a modern take on a country affair. It all unfolds below, through the lens of Charlie Ray Photography!

Love Story
We come from the same town: Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape. After our studies, we both went back to our home town. We only knew each other slightly at that time. He asked me on a date to a wedding and that’s where the romance started to kick in. We went on a few dates after that and spent most of the time at his house enjoying wine by the fire and doing karaoke along with his golden oldies. Three months later, after a lot of date nights, he decided to make the first move and the rest was history.

The Proposal
After a year and a half of dating he surprised me on a Sunday after I came back from work with a romantic setup between the orchards. The whole scene was perfect! It was filled with roses, bubbly and sushi. He went down on one knee and I was so excited I even said yes before he asked the question!

The Venue
We both knew that we wanted an outdoor wedding in our own home town. We both come from the countryside and our families live close by. My parents live on a smallholding between the orchards and the house overlooks a river surrounded by green grasslands. With such beauty we could not resist getting married there and with Daneel’s love for citrus, it was the best decision we could make. We decided to do the ceremony in the garden overlooking the tent and the river. My parents built a big deck overlooking the river, which we made full of chandeliers and fairy lights to set a romantic atmosphere.

Wedding Style
We decided on a clear frame marquee tent for the wedding and for the guests to enjoy the view from the inside out. We decided on a touch of citrus with colorful flowers and lots of green to give it a fresh feel. I’ve always had this picture in my head of when you enter the wedding venue you must see flowers everywhere! We decided to hang flowers and greenery from the roof and we put chandeliers with fairy lights alongside to give it a dramatic citrus affair look. I love antiques (copper and brass), so we also decided to mix in a touch of copper, brass and silver for a stylish and formal countryside wedding.

DIY Elements
I made the citrus backdrop to the main table. Citrus is very close to Daneel’s heart and the orchards are also where we got engaged. I sliced the grapefruit and dried it out in the oven, then sprayed varnish on it to give it a bit of a shine. My sister-in-law also made our wedding cake. My cousin made the road signs to the wedding venue. My sister played the piano when I walked down the aisle, and my bridesmaid made all the stationery.

The Dress
I had my wedding gown made in Port Elizabeth by Gerhard Meiring. I‘ve always wanted my dress to have a part where there is a lot of intricate detail and flows into simplicity and clean lines. I picked out my own lace and the designer cut the lace and created his own pattern. The lace was then hand sewn onto the dress.

The Bridesmaids
I had the best, most beautiful bridesmaids I could’ve ever asked for! Sparkly gowns! Gold, silver and metallic beading was what I had in mind. I wanted it to complement the touch of gold, copper and brass in my decor. I made the tulle skirts myself and bought the metallic tops online.

The Flowers
Bright! Colourful! Dramatic! I wanted flowers everywhere and lots of them! We used a whole lot of different flowers to create a dramatic look. When you stepped inside the tent the strong scent of the flowers just blew you away!

Memorable Moment
Walking down the aisle, I only saw my groom standing at the altar. I did not hear or see anyone else, I did not even hear the music playing. It was just me and him. I know it sounds corny, but it felt like I was walking on clouds!

Best Decision
I made up my mind from the beginning how my wedding was going to look. I stuck to my original idea through the whole process. It made the planning so much easier. And, of course, finding the best wedding planner that understood my vision and made it into a reality.

Advice for Future Brides & Grooms
Just relax and enjoy every minute of that special day. Don’t stress about minor stuff! For the budget – it is important to have a spreadsheet that includes everything. It is the only way you will stay inside your budget and it will also make it easier to take out what is unnecessary. Set up a meeting with all your suppliers and meet at the venue before the wedding to make sure that everyone is on the same path. You will be more relaxed on the day of the wedding. After the couple shoot, you and the groom should take a break away from everyone for just fifteen minutes. It gives you as a married couple the most special time to relax and let everything sink in.

You can see more from this wedding on Charlie Ray Photography’s blog.

SERVICE PROVIDERS
Venue: Bayvilla farm | Catering: Flair Catering | Photography: Charlie Ray Photography | Co-ordination, flowers & décor: Jana Rademeyer of Decor Company | Stationery: Luzanne Van der Watt | Video: James Jones | Cake: Antoinette Ehlers | Bride’s dress: Gerhard Meiring | Bride’s accessories: Loca Bridal (hair clips) + Accessorize (earrings) + Luella (shoes) | Hair & makeup: Martie Olivier | Groom’s attire: Zara | Leather bowties: Theron and Theron | Groomsmen’s attire: Terry’s Suit Hire, Port Elizabeth | Hiring: Madiba Bay Events + Shake and Strain + Decor Company | DJ: Collin Nance | Other service providers: Amuse Photo Booths