Tag: Real Weddings

Blush & White Thaba Ya Batswana Wedding by As Sweet As Images {Sasha & Sergio}

by gaby

I love an involved groom, don’t you? In the last few years, it seems to have become the norm rather than the exception, which I think is awesome – after all, your wedding will best tell the story of your relationship if it comes from both of you. Today we not only have an involved groom, but we’re hearing the story of the wedding from his perspective! You can just hear the love Sergio has for his beautiful bride come through in his words. And even though their venue, Thaba Ya Batswana, is situated just outside Johannesburg, it has the lovely feeling of being in the African bushveld. The couple decided to complement this with a classic white wedding, with the prettiest hint of blush in the bridesmaids’ dresses and the rose bouquets. The fabulous As Sweet As Images were on the scene to record every sweet smile and happy moment for eternity.Read More

Romantic Fynbos Matjiesdrift Wedding by Illuminate Photography {Amy & Karl}

by gaby

Being back in South Africa for a few months has reminded me just how amazing the nature is here. Right outside my bedroom, in a garden full of indigenous plants and trees, are mongooses, monkeys, incredible birds and insects. It’s very cool. And so I love when couples take their natural environment as inspiration for their wedding, as Amy and Karl did for theirs. The blue of the sky and the soft blush of the earth formed the basis for their palette, and they filled their bouquets and venue with roses and fynbos, including garlands hanging from the ceiling (LOVE) above the long tables. It’s pure countryside romance, captured to perfection by Illuminate Photography. Oh, and PS? A brownie wedding cake. Yum!Read More

Nautical Emoyeni Wedding by Lauren Kim {Abigail & Dean}

by gaby

Those of you who have been around here for a while will know that my love of nautical knowns no bounds. Like today’s bride describes herself, I’m a nautical fiend. There’s no bad day that a bit of crisp linen and bateau stripes can’t solve, no view that isn’t made better by having a ship on the horizon, and no end to the shiny nautical bits and bobs that I have to restrain myself from filling my home with. So I think what I really love about Abigail and Dean’s wedding is that, even though it isn’t located even remotely near the coast, that didn’t stop them from pulling off a sea-worthy festival of awesome. From the blue and white striped tablecloths to the nautical cake to the oh-so-adorable bridesmaids with their captain’s hats, photographer Lauren Kim has captured every lovely detail. (Oh and PS, if you love coastal style, come back later for more beach-themed table decor!)Read More

Something Red, Something Blue La Petite Dauphine Wedding by Jules Morgan {Ndoni & David}

by gaby

Get ready for wedding greatness people, because this one is a game changer! I am pretty much obsessed with this incredible wedding from the dream team of Wedding Concepts and photographer Jules Morgan, at the amazing La Petite Dauphine. Ndoni and David (what a gorgeous couple!) dreamed of a day that allowed them to chill out with their favourite people, and was designed in their favourite colours, red and blue. As a colour combo, that can be a challenge, because two primary colours are pretty strong together, so Wedding Concepts had the stroke of genius of splitting the decor into a blue period (so Picasso) and a red one. And that wasn’t the only innovation, because they also decided to throw the usual wedding timetable to the wind, starting instead with a relaxed jazzy blue-themed luncheon, followed by a sunset ceremony and a dazzling red reception. And not only does that mean a whole lot of decor amazingness, but it meant two dresses for Ndoni – LOVE a bride in a blue dress, not to mention the fairytale white one. As I say, wedding greatness. Let it begin!Read More

Colourful In the Vine Wedding by Linda Fourie {Kerstin & Trevor}

by gaby

Some weddings have me at hello, some have me at a beautiful bouquet or an unusual theme, but this one had me at putt-putt. Ja, putt-putt (that’s mini golf to you, America, and crazy golf to you, Brits). Most awesome wedding lawn game ever, right? Of course, that was just one fun detail in what’s an incredibly fun wedding – a fun, fresh and colourful wedding at that. Instead of canapes, Trevor and Kerstin had carnival-style booths with eats and drinks (with a boere-orkes for entertainment). Their theme was ‘colourful’, their flowers and decor were mix and match brights, and the smiles… well, the smiles were huge and infectious. This wedding brings the love in buckets, and Linda Fourie‘s pictures capture it to perfection.Read More

Organic Farm-Style Wedding at Babylonstoren by Monica Dart {Allie & Carl}

by gaby

When I was a kid, I was weird about vegetables. Not weird in that I didn’t like them, like most children, but weird in that I did. But only raw. My mom would have to leave whichever ones (short of potatoes and onions, obvs) she was serving uncooked for me. I just thought they were better that way. These days, I cook my veggies, but I think the same philosophy applies to a farmer’s market-style wedding, with veggies on the decor menu. They’re just so pretty in their natural state! The whole idea of organic or farm-to-table weddings has been a big thing in the last couple of years, and in South Africa we got especially lucky with the opening to weddings of Cape venue Babylonstoren, which has to be the ultimate for farm weddings with its eight acre fruit and vegetable garden. I know I have been dying to feature something like this here on SBB, so when Monica Dart sent over Allie and Carl’s wedding I was hooked! This wedding looks like it grew in the most perfect of wedding greenhouses (no wonder, since the bride has co-ordinated a number of weddings before) – I love that it’s completely unfussy, and just lets the natural beauty of the venue and the farm pickin’s shine through. Vegetables on the table, donkeys at the door, and Monica’s gorgeous fine art photography to capture it all. It’s the best possible start to a lovely Wednesday.Read More

Navy Glam Netherwood Wedding by Studio KOVO {Jacqui & Matthew}

by gaby

It always intrigues me to see weddings of people in the industry. Unlike most brides and grooms, weddings aren’t something they see once in a while from a guest perspective, but something they’re intimately involved in throughout their working life. Which details will they choose to highlight? Which traditions or ways of doing things can they do without, and which trends will they love as much as we all do? It’s a lot of pressure I suppose, but today’s bride, talented KZN-based makeup artist Jacqui of Accentuate Hair & Makeup knocked it out of the park. I absolutely ADORE her navy and mixed metallic colour palette, as well as the super personal detail of including owls in their decor (a tribute to her grandmother). Not to mention stylish topknot bridesmaids and a set of very dapper groom and groomsmen. And the bride? Well, Jacqui was the best advertisement for her own considerable skills (gained both in the UK and on the local MAC events team) – doesn’t she look spectacular? From the lush carnation composite bouquets to the stripey cake to the paper flower backdrop and sparkly copper Mr & Mrs sign, there’s a lot to love here, all captured by Kate van Onselen of Studio KOVO. Let’s begin!Read More

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

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

Coral Watercolour Stellenrust Estate Wedding by Moira West {Carla & Jeremy}

by gaby

Morning, lovelies! It’s time for our first real wedding of 2014, huzzah! In the spirit of the new year, regular readers will notice we’ve had a little makeover (the ice cream parlour look, as I like to think of it) – this year we’ll be making some bigger changes to our look, but this is just a little freshen up. What do you think? I’ve also added some new features, and modified others – the biggest change to come will be in our supplier directory, but more on that soon. We’re also trying a new format for the wedding posts to reflect a few changes in the questionnaire I send real brides. SBB is always working to give readers a better experience, and I’d love to hear your feedback. ANYWAY, back to today’s wedding, and I can’t think of any that I’d rather start the year with than this coral watercolour dream from Moira West. Carla and Jeremy make such a gorgeous couple, and their wedding ‘brand’ was sweet and modern and romantic, complementing ombre lace bridesmaid dresses with hanging lanterns, soft and simple white blooms, and an amazing portrait back wedding dress, as well as fun touches like a wedding bingo game for guests to complete. Start as you mean to go on, right? It’s going to be a VERY pretty year :)Read More

Real Wedding at Inkungu Lodge {Kylie & Patrick}

by gaby

Hello friends! It’s that bittersweet time of the year, when everything seems to be winding down, but there’s still the holidays and celebrations to look forward to. I always feel slightly depressed in December that the year has flown by so fast, and even more so today as it’s my last day in Cape Town. I have no idea where the time went, I seem to have only seen a tiny portion of the people I was hoping to! Anyway, I am ending it off in style, with a mini-shoot out in the winelands – watch this space! Here on the blog, we’re also winding down through our last couple of new real weddings of the year, and I have been saving this one for you, because it is FAB. First, it’s shot by the gorgeous Jacki Bruniquel, who is awesome, but then you find that it’s full of bright orange folded paper loveliness (seriously, the bouquets, LOVE) and happiness and love (not to mention some rainy day blessings) and you can’t help but fall in love with it. None of the bitter, all of the sweet. Enjoy!Read More