Real Wedding at Dornier Wine Estate {Marlein & Hennie}

If you look up elegance in a dictionary, you’ll find alongside a mention of grace and taste, the concept of elegance as something cleverly simple. So whichever way you define it, elegance is what today’s wedding is all about. A bride in a beautiful dress, carrying a single rose-flanked protea. Poised. Stunning. A lovely guest house for preparations. Bridesmaids in the softest shade of pink. A groom at home in his suit. A succulent boutonniere. A vineyard reception. Wooden tables. Damask. Little sprigs of brunia on the napkins. Simple gifts of fudge and cigars, charmingly presented. Every detail is perfectly formed, and each has its place in the whole. It’s cleverly simple, and tasteful and graceful. It’s elegant. Which makes it the perfect match for photographer Joanne Markland, whose photographs are always pure elegance. And how much do I love, love, love the final pic in this series – the way that no matter what wedding craziness is going on around them, the bride and groom share a moment of stillness and connection. So whatever craziness the working day holds for you, take a moment for yourself here too, and enjoy.Read More

Real Wedding at Klein Genot {Nicole & Konrad}

Today’s bride is kind of a friend of a friend. I ran into her a couple of months ago the morning after her hen do, looking WAY too radiant and serene and non-hungover for someone who’d been drinking vodka at the Ice Bar the night before, and she told me she was getting married in a couple of weeks. Once I heard about the details, I was super excited to see how it all turned out, and even more excited when I found out that her photographer was Brenda Wardall from Hearts in a Shutter, whose fantastic photographs I had featured before. But when I finally did see the pics from Nicole and Kon’s big day, it was just above and beyond any expectations. Soft colours, beautiful Winter light, lemon groves… and the biggest, happiest smiles from the bride and groom. Settle in and enjoy!

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Real Wedding at Morgansvlei {Sheyenne & Reynhard}

Details, details, details. I know I go on about them all the time, but really, it only takes one or two really lovely ones to engage the imaginations of your guests and make your wedding stand out (too many and it can just feel fussy). The clever use of detail is exactly what today’s wedding (photographed by the ever-fabulous Judy Stofberg of Just Judy Photography) manages, for me. Simple neutral colours and classy indigenous flower arrangements are set against floaty fabrics, beautiful metalwork and one of the best guest book ideas I’ve seen in a while (not to mention the perfect cheese cake). And how incredible does the bride look? She’s got that whole poised/elegant/serene/joyful Audrey Hepburn thing going on – seriously, this is how we all hope to look on our wedding day. In fact, I think poised/elegant/serene/joyful pretty much describes the whole wedding. Enjoy!Read More