Romantic Pastel Farm Wedding by Rensche Mari

We’re starting out our week with a wedding that is pure, dreamy, pastel romance! Zelmarie and Riaan were married on the bride’s family farm, with a ceremony on the golf course, and a marquee reception that combined lush blooms in lilac and dusty blue with modern transparent elements like acrylic signage, glass chargers, and hanging bulb tealights. SO pretty! The bridesmaids wore floral print gowns and the bride a lace-sleeved beauty of a gown. And with gorgeous stationery, hanging greenery, and a stunning floral arch, every frame of Rensche Mari‘s breathtaking pictures is sheer delight!

Read More

Dreamy Spring Film Engagement

One of the things  haven’t spoken about so much this month of Fine Art Weddings is photography, and TBH that’s a bit of an oversight, because so much of this style comes from the whole movement of fine art wedding photography, and the stylists who regularly work with the pioneers of that style and have together created this new trend in wedding design. And after all, there’s no point in putting all that effort into styling your big day if you’re not going to get it photographed by someone who ‘gets it’. Think Jose Villa, Elizabeth Messina, Jen Huang. That dreamy, ethereal look they are known for has a lot to do with the fact that they shoot on film, and while this is nothing new, it’s taken a while for film to make its way to SA weddings for various reasons. But over the last year or two, I’ve seen it offered more and more, and it makes my little heart so happy. Of course, film is more expensive, and digital work can be just as lovely, but I’m so glad that couples who love this look now have more options in terms of being able to choose it (most photographers who offer this as part of their wedding package shoot a combo of film and digital). One of my favourite local photographers in general, and on film in particular, is Rensche Mari. A few weeks back we featured Luan & Marné’s wedding, which she captured beautifully, and today we get to share their engagement shoot, which also happens to be all film! So you’ll get to see a perfect example of what I’m talking about. The idea is simple – an outdoor picnic, a walk among the willows. But through Rensche’s lens, it takes on a truly magical quality. Sigh!

Read More

Rustic Romance Farm Wedding by Rensche Mari

You know it’s going to be a fabulous day when I get to post a Rensche Mari wedding, and today is such a day! And boy am I in love with Luan & Marné’s wedding! Take your classic farm wedding, add a beautiful twist of rustic beauty and you have this! From the bride’s princess gown to the pastel palette (supplemented with punches of bright blue from the Delft details and toile du jour linens – love!), from the ceremony in the prettiest outdoor chapel to the first dance under a constellation of fairy lights, and everywhere in between, it is pure, dreamy romance. Brought to life in these gorgeous images, as only Rensche can do!

Read More

Secret Garden Wedding Inspiration

With a new month, comes a new editorial theme here on SouthBound Bride, and in May we’re focusing on ‘Something Blue’ – or rather, many somethings blue and somethings beautiful. We have some absolutely gorgeous inspiration coming your way, and we’re kicking it off today with a breathtaking styled shoot from one of South Africa’s most talented creative duos, Rensche Mari photography and Eve Poplett of Splendid Wedding Company. The editorial, which was shot on film and digital, took place in a real secret garden, and features a beautiful bride (model Daisy May, made up to perfection by Antonia Gregoriou) in the dreamiest watercolour floral print Silver Swallow gown, stunning florals, and a table decked out in the softest shade of blue. I adore everything about it, and I can’t think of a better way to start our month!

Read More

Dreamy Safari Wedding at Karongwe Game Reserve by Rensche Mari {Lizel & Guy}

You don’t need me to tell you again how much I love the South African bushveld – as Ernest Hemingway said: “I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up and was not happy.” This wedding has everything I love about the bushveld – the soft, dreamy colour palette, the rustic setting, amazing animal sightings, colour, laughter, joy – and most of all, the sense of serenity that only comes under a great big starry African sky. Of course, a wedding like that needs a photographer to do it justice, and Rensche Mari does just that – these pics are super gorgeous, and show off every pretty detail of Lizel and Guy’s beautiful big day. Grab a G&T and enjoy!Read More

Pastel Travel-themed Netherwood Wedding by Rensche Mari {Leanie & Theuns}

I just love when I get to feature weddings that combine the talents of wedding pros who I have come to know and admire through my years as a blogger – it always gives me such pleasure to see brides put themselves in their hands and come out with beautiful results! Today’s wedding features three of my favourite names – Rensche Mari, one of our most talented photographers; Netherwood, an absolutely gorgeous venue that I have visited in person; and the very lovely Ché of indieberries and indielovebooks. So needless to say, Leanie and Theuns have excellent taste! As always, my favourite part is the details that tell their story, and their travel theme does just that – be sure to read all about Theuns’ totally original mile high proposal!Read More

Burlap & Wildflower Gourmet Shed Wedding by Kim Tracey & Rensche Mari {Rene & Tiaan}

I have SUCH a lovely farm wedding to share with you this afternoon! First of all, it has the kind of spectacular mountains and veld setting that makes my South African heart sing, and the kind of details that makes my wedding blogger eyes glitter! Perfectly mismatched (and stylishly neutral) bridesmaids, burlap runners with custom stamping, proteas, succulents and little wildflowers in milk bottles and vintage South African brand tins, kraft paper flags, a swishy lace wedding dress, and a thousand fairy lights twinkling against the night sky. Rustic farm wedding perfection. The photography glory today is shared between the lovely Kim Tracey, who took the images on behalf of Rensche Mari (who also did all the post production in her trademark, beautiful style).Read More

Real Mpumalanga Wedding {Carike & Jacques}

Well, you know it’s going to be a good day when you get to start it off with a wedding by South African photographer Rensche Mari. Just a couple of weeks ago I was swooning over her feature in Magnolia Rouge, and today I’m bringing you an absolute gem of a wedding filled with fresh country details, beautiful light and big smiles. Jacques and Carike were married in Mpumalanga, where I myself was a guest at a wedding last year, and it reminded me how beautiful it is up there. The couple made use of the natural setting to include rustic touches (including classic South African proteas) but some clean modern touches lifted the decor and made it contemporary. I love everything about it, but I think my favourite touch is the hanging mason jars filled with fairy lights strung above the outdoor dancefloor… just magical!Read More

Real Wedding at The View Boutique Hotel {Manilla & Mark}

Hello, lovelies. We had some minor technical gremlins today, but I have fought them off just for you and can’t wait to share this incredible Johannesburg wedding which I know will get your evening wedsite browsing off to an amazing start! It begins with a film-worthy romantic meeting, through a phenomenal, original, beautiful dress and a gaggle of elegant green-clad bridesmaids and dashing groomsmen, on to a sweet ceremony and a bright and breezy carnival-tastic reception, and ends on a packed dance floor. (As all the best weddings do.) And you guys, these photos by Rensche Mari will have you gasping. Seriously. This is the kind of wedding that makes me love what I do, so without further ado…Read More