Tag: Real Weddings

Real Wedding at Towerbosch {Ja-nien & André}

by gaby

So there I was having dinner with Louise of b.loved last weekend (more from her later today!), and we were chatting about how most good wedding blogs focus on a specific style – it’s just good blog business, really. But I thought to myself, not for the first time, how fortunate I am to have chosen a geographical rather than a stylistic niche. I get to feature all kinds of weddings (as long as they’re in South Africa) – from achingly beautiful formal affairs to barefoot beach braais. And in my eyes, that makes me a very lucky girl, because I have eclectic tastes. Variety is definitely the spice of blogging life for me. And one of the styles I love featuring most is handmade weddings, because not only are they always so pretty, but they’re filled with warmth and love, the same way that you always have a special appreciation for a gift someone makes for you. Today’s wedding has everything that makes handmade weddings lovely – a charming venue (Towerbosch/Knorhoek), fresh flowers in jam jars tied with lace or painted white, homemade preserve favours, crochet boutonnieres, flower crowns for the bridesmaids, and a bride and groom beaming with joy. We don’t have our usual background info, but that’s all the more reason to sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the beautiful pictures from Cape Town photographer Coba Engelbrecht.Read More

Real Wedding at Netherwood {Michele & Brad}

by gaby

Morning SouthBound Brides! We’re kicking off today’s pretty with a foggy wedding from the beautiful Natal Midlands. Now fog might be one weather scenario you hadn’t considered (and to be fair, most of you won’t need to), but Michele and Brad got a LOT of it. And here’s what immediately made me love them when Michele sent in her photos from Tyme Photography – there was no hiding away inside trying not to get her hair damp. They went out into that fog and rocked it like it was a Prince video. The results are amazing! And that’s just one thing to like about this cozy autumn wedding, with it’s swish black and white colour scheme, spirals of lamps and chocolate tequila (best favours EVER). It might be a million miles away from South African summer, but for those of you just getting cracking with your planning, I hope this (and the other lovely autumn and winter weddings we’ve featured here) will at least make you consider an off-season wedding. Because they can be so, so lovely! Anyway, before I start preaching, I’ll hand you over to the lovely Michele…Read More

Real Wedding at Molenvliet {Sarah & Liam}

by gaby

Good morning SouthBound Brides! It’s our first real wedding of the year, and I can’t think of a more auspicious start than one captured by South African photography legend Christine Meintjes. A wedding from Christine is always a treat, but with a breathtaking Cape venue (the lovely MolenVliet), the most delicate pastel details and special touches like a canopy of flowers for the ceremony, white vases inside tall glass ones on the tables (love this) and dreamy bridesmaids’ dresses, this is extra special. Not to mention a to-die-for bit of hair accessorising on the lovely bride. It’s the perfect way to kick off what is set to be a year of real wedding awesomeness, and I for one, cannot wait!Read More

Real Wedding at The Roundhouse {Bonnie & Antonie}

by gaby

Good morning, lovelies! Time for some gorgeous wedding inspiration. First and foremost, I have to mention Bonnie’s dress because OMG SERIOUSLY. I mean, it’s Jenny Packham, so this should be no surprise, but Bonnie wears that dress like she was born to do it. It is SPLENDID. And moving beyond that for a second, I am loving the understatedly colourful decor (navy and red, je t’aime), the stationery, the beautiful navy bridesmaids’ dresses, the groom’s boutonniere (both bride and groom are avid cyclists), Lindt chocolate and hangover kit favours, the stunning Roundhouse setting, the getaway car… I could go on and on. But all of this prettiness is made even prettier through the photographic stylings of Gavin Casey. We knew he was talented, but this wedding really blows me away – I love every single shot. So it’s pretty much the perfect wedding to start your morning. Enjoy. But come back later, because we have even more in store!Read More

Real Wedding at Kleinevalleij {Helmare & Len}

by gaby

Get ready, lovelies, because the inspiration is about to start coming thick and fast today, on into the evening. Starting with this incredible wedding from Nastassja Harvey. That in itself is exciting, since I LOVE Tash’s crisp, clean style but for those of you who love a white on white colour scheme full of glamour and grace, this wedding will blow you away. It’s just beautifully put together. I think one of my favourite details (a small but effective one) is the way that the flowers are a twist on the recent ‘white flowers in different vintage containers’ trend. For a more modern look, Helmare & Len have gone for a variety of glass containers, with white flowers grouped according to type. It’s just so clean and fresh and lovely. Not to mention the custom dance floor, the elegant escort card board, or the cake and sweet table. Kleinevalleij really lends itself to this look, and co-ordinator Izandi of I Do has outdone herself on this one! Here we go… enjoy! (And don’t forget to keep checking back today so you don’t miss a thing!)Read More

Wedding at Cascade Country Manor {Emma & Steve}

by gaby

Recently I’ve been featuring a number of fabulous alternative or more intimate venues, and today I have another. Cascade Manor is situated in lovely Paarl, and as well as having 900 olive trees on the property, features a beautiful waterfall – what a setting! Today’s bride and groom came from Tanzania for their big day, and together with planner Barry Geyer, created a look that was sumptuous and elegant, but still had bright pops of colour to keep up the visual interest. Moira West took the absolutely gorgeous photos, and didn’t Emma and Steve rock every one of them? With him in his slick suit and she in her romantic dress and hot pink shoes, it was difficult to narrow them down. But narrow I did, and here they are for your viewing pleasure!Read More

Real Wedding at the Market Restaurant {Debra & Mike}

by gaby

I ♥ Durban. I’m just saying. I’m not from there, but I’ve always felt like I kiiinda am, and not just because I say hull-ton and not hill-ton. When I was little, my grandparents lived in Umdloti, and so from then right up until university I spent large chunks of my summer holidays there. Oh, and then my parents moved there, so it’s where I fly home to. Anyway, what it adds up to is a huge soft spot for the Durbs. And what all you Cape Town and Joburg people may not have cottoned onto yet, is that the cool quotient of Durban has been on the rise. Not just a surf town, my friends. I am seriously seeing some of the most gorgeous weddings and suppliers coming out of KZN, and I am especially loving the sort of handmade hipster take on South African style showcased by dapper brides and grooms like Debra and Mike, today’s happy couple. Think: fresh proteas mixed with carved ones, bunting in the church, fairy lights in a restaurant courtyard, balloons and photos in MINI TOWN. In case the caps didn’t alert you, I am especially excited about that last part. Mini towns are the best thing, ever. (Can you get married in one? If you can, I might have to.) Anyway, I can’t imagine a better couple to capture this amount of awesome better than Dylan and Emma-Jane of Lad and Lass Photography (formerly Hello Harbour), whose work I have been dying to feature for a while. I just love their fun style, and I know you will too. Enjoy!Read More

Real Wedding at Villa St. James {Charlene & Andre}

by gaby

Time for our first real wedding of the week, and this is a real treat. As much as big weddings can be super fun, I’m also a huge fan of the small wedding – a really intimate celebration where you get to bring out fantastic details on a lesser scale (perfect for a budget, and for destination brides and grooms). The Cape is an ideal location – not just for our wonderful weather, but because we have a wealth of stylish venues perfect for this kind of wedding. So that’s one reason I love Charlene and Andre’s wedding, which was held at the picturesque Villa St. James in False Bay, a former home of Jan Smuts with an incredible sea view. The other is that the wedding brings together two SBB favourite service providers for decor and photography in My Pretty Vintage and Joe Dreyer. Angie of MPV has put together such a charming, country vintage look (how cute is that whimsical ‘altar’?) and Joe has captured not just these lovely details, but the grandeur of the setting as only he can. It’s the perfect way to kick off your Tuesday!Read More

Real Wedding at South Hill {Estie & Francois}

by gaby

A few months ago, as you may recall, I opened up our Real Life Bride feature to our readers. I was hoping to hear from one or two of you, but instead, within days, my inbox was full. The BEST kind of emails – mails full of passion and excitement and plans and inspirations. I felt like I could picture each and every one of those weddings, and even though I could only pick one (okay, I picked three), I knew it wasn’t the last I wanted to hear of the others. One of my favourites was a submission from self-confessed “huge SouthBound Bride follower” Estie, whose big day was too soon for the series, but who described in detail the French-inspired fantasy wedding she and her fiance had dreamed up (with a bit of help from SBB!). She described a spring wedding, romantic and glamorous in Parisian shades of mauve, pewter, black & white, with a water feature and a transparent marquee full of twinkling lights reflecting the stars above. It sounded… well, dreamy is the only word I can come up with (even if it makes me sound like I should be at a sock-hop). Anyway, fast forward to a few weeks ago when talented Cape photographer Adene told me about her latest wedding, which she described as A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. And amazing it was. It also turned out to be Estie’s, and I’m thrilled to be sharing it with you today! (Oh, and PS: THAT CAKE!)Read More

Real Wedding at the Chartfield Guest House {Kate & Steve}

by gaby

All weddings are lovely, no question. But there are some that seem to have a special kind of glow, where the joy and love seem to radiate from every photograph, on every face. Where I find myself smiling as I’m editing. Today’s is one of those. Kate and Steve are clearly made for each other, and they celebrated their union in a day that reminds me a little of a wedding in a French village, with a procession from the church, an open air reception under acres of bunting, sunset toasts and late night dancing. It’s just so LOVELY. And it’s inspiring, because it makes me want to rush out and discover new, unusual venues like the Chartfield Guest House, that showcase some incredible Cape views but lend themselves to this kind of relaxed celebration with a backyard feel. Even better, US photographer Julie Wilhite was in town to capture every detail as only she can – lucky for us she has a sister in Cape Town, as we just love featuring her work!Read More