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Dornier Estate Wedding – Nadia & Grant

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Dornier Estate Wedding.

There is something about dark clouds that raise people’s spirits and excitement.  Combine this with a wedding day and you will find emotions high, happy and full of anticipation all round.  This was the mood felt at the Dunkley wedding which took place at the beautiful, Dornier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.  A beautiful venue at the foot of the Stellenbosch mountains, surrounded by vineyards and forests.  The Dunkley’s could not have chosen a more perfect location.

 

Venue: Dornier Wine Estate

Photography: Organictales

This is a past wedding that has been re edited in a more modern style.  To view the previous version of this event, visit this link below:
Dunkley Vows

January 18, 2019
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Chris & Anje’s Knorhoek Wedding

By WeddingOne Comment

Knorhoek Autumn Wedding

~A Photographer’s tale.

I met Chris & Anje a few months back while attending the Admired in Africa Photographic Conference.  During one of the practical sessions, I got to photograph Anje in one of her Silver Swallow dresses and I remember thinking, “Wow!  She is such a dream to photograph!  She’s going to be a stunning bride one day! Lucky photographer who gets to photograph her wedding!”
So you can imagine the excitement I felt when she contacted me, asking for my wedding collections.
Chris, on the other hand is an extremely humble and fun guy who made the day such an easy breeze of laughter.
Together they manage a successful photography business named Madison & West.
Read their story:

 

When Photographers fall in love.

We met through mutual friends (Taryn aka mev Pretoria and our MC Quentin).  Chris was their Wedding photographer and I was Joshua’s (their little boy) first nursery school teacher.

It wasn’t love at first sight, but we had a mutual love for photography and we became friends instantly.  I was drawn to his honesty and the fact that he loves Christ and he liked the fact that I had the same passion for God & photography and that I was a teacher. 

Our friendship bloomed into an unfailing love and 6 months down the line we found each other’s hearts.

 F.R.I.E.N.D.S Proposal in New York.

It was a very cold and wet day in New York.  We were looking for a coffee shop where we could get something to drink but, most of the shops were packed because it was pouring down with rain.  We found a little stationary shop where I bought 2 books, a pen and a pencil and then I realised that we were near the F.R.I.E.N.D.S apartment building (the one they show in between scenes, with the red coffee shop) and suggested that maybe it would be a cool idea to go and have coffee there as it was our last day in Manhattan and we are such F.R.I.E.N.D.S fans.

The coffee shop was full but they had a little ledge in the window slil where we could sit and wait for a table…as it was super cozy, we decided to have our coffee right there instead of waiting for a table.  Chris wanted to write me a little note in my book so I gave him a moment and when I turned around, to my surprise I saw a note along with my engagement ring.  The note read:

Cnr of Bedford & Grove

“I’ll be there for you”

Wel vandag vra ek my beste vriend om te trou.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Ps-dink dis nogal ’n cool spot

Baie lief vir jou
…

I was overcome with emotion and said yes instantly!

Lady Anne Bridal and Mia’s Make-up.

Chris’s mom has a bridal studio called Lady Anne Bridal.  I absolutely adore her wedding gowns as she stocks some of the best names in the wedding industry.  I chose the Katerina by Enzoani (Blue collection 2018) and I felt like a princess (which is so very cliche, but on your wedding day you don’t care for feeling like a million bucks…oops, another cliche!).

Mia from Mia’s makeup.  We didn’t have time for a trial and I have got to say, she nailed the look I wanted!  Super happy!

 A Classic and Humble Style.

Because Chris and I are both Wedding photographers, we have seen so many different settings and themes.  So we instantly knew what we liked and disliked as we have discussed this on many occasions.

Cape Town was a great influence for us.  Since we love the Cape so much, we decided to get married on Knorhoek wine estate.  Fynbos that was in season was also a big influence on our day.  We felt like we wanted to be reminded whenever we see that specific fynbos, that time of year, to transport us back to our wedding day and how beautiful everything looked.  We also decided to have olive branches as a representation of new beginnings in our decor.  

With our wedding style we tried to keep it classic and humble.

We love everything about Knorhoek wine estate and the people on the farm are like family to us.  So when we started looking at venues we knew immediately that this is where we wanted to get married as it wouldn’t feel right to get married anywhere else.

The Most Memorable Moment of the Day.

For me:  Definitely when I saw Chris as I walked down the aisle.  When we met each other at the front, he couldn’t stop telling me how beautiful I looked.

For him:  When we walked out of the venue as husband & wife. 

For us:  The breaking of the glass which serves as a symbol that no one will drink from our Marital cup.

A Father’s message.

My dad officiated the ceremony.  It was a personal decision, one that we are very glad we made and something we will cherish as his message was confirmation on many things we have prayed about without him knowing.

Photography & Videography on the day.

Landi is a very hands on photographer.  Her communication was thorough throughout and we loved all the sneak peeks she sent us.

As we are both wedding photographers, we understand that Landi experienced extra pressure regarding our photos.  So far we are pleasantly surprised with her skill, not only regarding taking photos but also her editing.  She has really bent backwards for us and we can see the passion she has for capturing people’s stories.  She is not just a photographer who captured our special day, but also a friend and we will highly recommend her!

Willem and Conrad Kriel from Willem Foster Photography, did the videography of our wedding.  They had fine attention to detail and handled us with great care.  Very focussed, they know what they want to shoot and they worked well with Landi and with us.  The way Willem also treated our guests was also something that stood out to us.

Jewelers with attention to detail.

We work with wedding jewellers as we are both photographers.  Suvette and Johann (from Piccolo) are true artists and we value their artistic expertise. Suvette phoned me one day with a cool idea to engrave the word “Friends” on the inside of Chris’s ring and I loved that she thought of little details such as this as this just added so beautifully to our story

Towerbosch co-ordinators!

Lize and Marquerite from Towergoed was our wedding co-ordinators.  They listened to our ideas and turned that into something spectacular.  We didn’t have to worry about anything because they were on top of everything and we would like to really give our sincere thanks to these two awesome women and dear friends of ours.  We wouldn’t have trusted anyone else with our wedding day & they made it extra special with your fine attention to detail, love and care. What a great team! 

The reception was at Towerbosch restaurant, and by far has the best cuisine we have ever tasted.
On the menu:

Starter:
Sesame crusted chicken salad.

Main:
Braised Lamb Shoulder
Beef Fillet
Golden Roasted Potatoes
Melange of Vegetables
Polenta
Pumpkin fritters

Dessert:
Towerbosch “Grootgebak” and Wedding Cake.

Advice to other couples.

Make sure that your wedding portrays who you are as a couple.  So many people are so obsessed with trends that they forget to “check” if that trend fits their personalities that when they look back at their wedding images 10 years from now their wedding feels very outdated and sometimes over the top.

The Day described in one sentence.

A humble, yet great celebration of two best friends who promised to love each other for the rest of their lives.

Honeymoon in New York.

Our honeymoon was the best!  We went back to New York City and obviously enjoyed every minute.  We also visited friends in Vegas and had the opportunity to do a few shoots there as well.  Pictures below are some of the photos we took of ourselves.

Service Providers:

Venue:  Knorhoek 

Photography:  ORGANICTALES PHOTOGRAPHY

Videography:  Willem Foster Photography

Dress:  Lady Anne Bridal

Make-up Artist:  Mia’s makeup

Hair Extentions:  Strands of love

Cake:  The Perfect Match

January 17, 2019
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Delsma Farm Wedding – Lara & Wiehann

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Delsma Farm Wedding.

~A Riverside Chapter

Tell us about how you met.

We met each other on the 29th of August 2015 while out with friends. Wiehann introduced himself in a very convincing Irish accent which I loved!! He was leaving for the USA a month later and we had to make the most of our time together. It wasn’t difficult to feel comfortable together as we had an instant connection. I loved the fact that I could totally be myself with him.  He has a sense of humour and is easy to talk to and he knows what he wants out of life.

 

How did the proposal go down?

We went to Onrus for my birthday and Wiehann told me that we should go for wine tasting, without giving too much details. He took me to Domaine Des Dieux in the Hemel and Aarde Valley which has the most amazing view of the mountains. As we were sipping on our champagne he suggested we take one last photo. As we finished he started telling me how much he loved me and went on one knee… it was so special and the best birthday surprise and present I could have wished for. The lady at the tasting room was in on the whole thing and captured everything on camera.  Wiehann arranged everything for months to make sure it was perfect.

What was the style of your wedding and where did you find your inspiration?

We never had a specific style in mind but we wanted a relaxed/simplistic style with a pop of colour. We added some personal touches and DIY items. We found inspiration in a few Wedding magazines, Pinterest, suggestions from family/friends and most of all guidance from our decor and flower provider.  

 

Why did you choose your venue?

We had a few venues in the area that we wanted to visit and it was actually Wiehann’s sister that suggested Delsma Farm Wedding Venue. The one thing that stood out to me was the fact that Delsma Farm had so much accommodation on site for our guests, which was very important. The space where we would have the ceremony was by the river under big trees and we both just knew this was the one!

How did you decide on your dress and where did you find it?

My dress was designed and made by Annelie Designs in Saldanha. She has made wedding dresses for many of my family members so I knew her work was impeccable. I gave Annelie a few pictures of different styles and focus points that I liked. I wanted a simple ‘A’ line dress with some lace detail and a low cut back. She took all of those elements and created something out of a fairytale. 

 

Who made sure your make-up and hair looked beautiful?

Deline Engelbrecht from Anuk in Ceres was in charge of making us all look fabulous and she did an amazing job!! She made us feel comfortable and relaxed during the whole process and her work speaks for itself. All of the Mothers, Bridesmaids and myself looked and felt beautiful on the day. 

What was the most memorable moment of the day?

All I can remember is the nerves, no one can ever try to even explain how nervous it is asking a mother and farther if you can marry their daughter, asking the love of your life to marry you and finally what it is like on your wedding day when you stand in front of all of your friends and family and seeing her come down the aisle. I still get tears in my eyes when I see videos of Lara walking down the aisle, I think that would be something I would not forget for the rest of my life.

 

Who officiated the ceremony?

Alwyn Carstens from Welgelegen NG Church officiated the wedding. Alwyn also officiated Wiehann’s cousin’s wedding, did the funeral of Wiehann’s grandmother and also baptised Wiehann’s cousin’s first son, so it was a no brainer when we had to approach someone to officiate the wedding. Alwyn was absolutely great, it was a real pleasure sharing this experience with him and he made us feel so calm the day of the wedding.

 

Is there any special story behind your rings? Where did you find them?

Lara had previously shown me photos of rings that she really liked which were on her Pinterest profile. At that point we had not even discussed the possibility of getting engaged even though we both knew it was inevitable. Trying to keep it a secret I took a screen shot off of her phone, sms’d it to myself (not Whatsapp as I was afraid that she might notice it), contacted Zuyda van Dyk and crossed my fingers that she would fall in love with the ring.

How did you experience your Photographer’s services?

Landi Groenewald from Organictatles really out did herself as our photographer and made us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera. She is very professional at all times and knows how to have fun while on the job. Landi was proactive in looking for places to capture the perfect moment prior to the photo shoot. The photographs you have of the day are the precious memories you get to cherish forever and that is why photography played a big role on our special day.

Who made sure there was good music and sound on the day?

This was purely team work. Lara enjoys more modern music while I enjoy more of the old school classics. I remember sitting one evening working through playlists until 1am in the morning trying the find the perfect wedding songs, when the list was complete I let Lara also have a listen to the song selections to see what she thought. Of course my knowledge of modern music is very limited so she was able to add the final touches for the “after 10pm” music. Our DJ, Justin from Pie in the sky handled the rest. 

 

Who were your caterers and what was on the Menu? 

Delsma Farm Wedding venue did the catering for the day and the food was beautifully prepared and very delicious. 

 

Canapes:
Mini boerewors rolls, mini tacos, spring rolls and bruschetta with caramelised onion and camembert.

Starters:
Rooster koeke with preserves

Mains:
Deboned leg of lamb, stuffed pork neck, blanched green beans and mushrooms and roasted vegetable couscous salad.

Desserts:
Lamingtons, melktert spring rolls and chocolate éclairs

 

Our stunning wedding cake was made by my brother in law, Terrence as a wedding gift. The most delicious carrot cake with naked icing and beautifully decorated with fresh flowers.

 

Any advice to other couples still in the planning process?

I would say take your time to figure out what you want from the day and what it means to you. Once you have an idea everything will flow. Communication is also very important, not only between you and your fiancé but your service providers as well to make sure everyone is on the same page.  The best thing we did was firstly set up a budget and then we divided the responsibilities, so that we both had a part in the planning. Believe me two heads are better than one and you have fun while planning your special day together. We also had an amazing team that helped us and knowing your wedding day is in good hands takes away a lot of the stress. 

 

Describe your wedding day in one sentence.

Best day of our lives and the perfect start to our future together. 

 

Service Providers:

Please DO NOT download, copy or screenshot images from this webpage.  A downloadable link with the full wedding will be made available soon.

Venue: Delsma Farm Wedding Venue

Photography: Organictales

Dress: Annelie Designs

Bridesmaids Dresses: Daisy Island

Rings: Zuyda van Dyk

Hair and Make-up: ANUK

 

January 14, 2019
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Allesverloren – Nadia & Mario

By WeddingOne Comment

Allesverloren Wedding.

~A Windy Chapter.

 

Tell us about how you met and the attributes that drew you to each other.

We met in 2012 while working at the same company. We became good friends and early on we both saw qualities in each other that we liked, however timing was always an issue as either of us were in other relationships at different times. Qualities we share includes reading, being outside, exercising, spending time with family and eating.

How did the proposal go down?

Mario used our one year anniversary as camouflage and organised a weekend away. While we were busy dining at Tokara, Mario had organised with his sister and the venue where we were staying to make up the room with rose petals and champagne. Trying to play it ultra cool Mario didn’t want to give anything away and we stayed a bit longer than anticipated. As we approached the room we heard a clatter as the ice in the champagne bowl had melted and the whole bowl fell to the ground. Between cleaning the mess he went down on one knee and popped the question. There were laughter, tears and a lot of love.

What was the style of your wedding and where did you find your inspiration?

Nadia loved the idea of getting married outside and we found Allesverloren where the ceremony could take place in the woods which was within our budget. We knew what we liked, but without Pinterest and a few Wedding magazines, we would have been a little lost. The colours, maroon and navy blue, were mainly for winter weddings, but we liked how striking they were and went with it.

Why did you choose your venue?

We had actually made an appointment at another venue close by and our parents came through for moral support. Nadia wasn’t quite convinced about the venue so Mario mentioned that he had been at a wedding at Allesverloren and that it was just down the road. As we all walked through the path toward the forest chapel, Nadia gave her mother this look and Mario knew he had to ask whether Allesverloren could accommodate us.

How did you decide on your dress and where did you find it?

Nadia was never one of those girls who dreamed about her perfect wedding dress since she was a little girl. So once the question was popped, the search was on. She didn’t know what she wanted, but knew what she didn’t like. She ended up trying on the first dress at Ever After Bridal and knew immediately that it was the one.

Is there any special story behind your rings? Where did you find them?

We both gave the other one a choice of a few wedding bands to choose from and not so secretly hinted at which each of us would prefer… with the engagement ring Mario chose a Protea design because it is Nadia’s favourite flower and the Protea was a key feature throughout the wedding appearing on the table arrangements as well as Nadia’s bouquet.

Who made sure your make-up and hair looked beautiful?

Mario‘s cousin, Simone Taljaard and Lismari Boonzaaier, helped with all the girls’ hair on the day. They truly did an amazing job and stayed right on schedule during the entire afternoon. The make-up was done by Liezl Visagie, a friend of Mario‘s sister. She is such a stunning human being and Nadia couldn’t help falling in love with her quirkiness and sense of humor right from the start. She made sure everyone looked beautiful and was also done on time. Nadia’s make-up and hair was a personal highlight.

What was the most memorable moment of the day?

For Mario seeing his bride walking down the isle and how well the first dance went considering his two left feet.
For Nadia it was most definitely the sheer excitement of walking down the isle and looking into her new, and somewhat emotional husband’s eyes. It was the happiest moment of my life and I couldn’t have asked for a better service. It was beautiful and spoke to the heart.

Who officiated the ceremony? How did you find him and what made you choose him?

We were a bit clueless as to who we would ask to officiate as the guests were 99% Afrikaans and we attend an English church, so Suzanne who helped organise all of the decor suggested we give Riaan de Villiers a call. He was incredibly nice from the start and his message on the day was absolutely beautiful.

How did you experience your Photographer’s service and where did the importance of photography fall in your day?

Our Photographer Landi Groenewald from Organictales was amazing since the first day we had coffee with her to meet up about the different wedding packages. We were searching for a certain look and feel that was captured within her style. She was organised, checked in multiple times and helped us out with service providers throughout the planning phase. On the day she was calm and knew exactly what she wanted from us. Even when the wind was howling it didn’t make her stray from what she wanted to achieve with the end result.
For us the photos will forever hold a special place in our hearts, as it will be the only memory we will have when we’re old and grey.

Who was your videographer and how was the experience of having them present on the day?

Rory from Organictales was our very unexpected, but pleasant surprise. We didn’t plan on having a Videographer, but Landi approached us with the idea and we immediately agreed. He was reserved, but knew what he was doing and gave us great pointers on what to do. We are extremely excited to see what he has in store for us!

Did you have a wedding/event planner and how did this service benefit you before and on the day?

Suzanne Visser from Dear Idea is an old friend of Mario and to be honest we would not have managed without her. She was always willing for a quick cup of coffee just to ease our minds and the decor was stunning. She really was the backbone of the whole day and we will be forever thankful for her.

Who were the caterers who made sure your guests were happy and fed? 

Bertus Bester from Allesverloren is also the chef and the food was out of this world. We decided not to do a starter but asked for their famous Harvest Table which carried our guests through to the main meal. That included roast beef and chicken pie with roast potatoes, cream spinach and veggies. For dessert we had a carrot wedding cake and small jars of peppermint crisp and cheesecake.

Any advice to other couples still in the planning process? What was the most difficult and what really helped?

We would have been wrecks without Suzanne from Dear Idea who took all the stress of the decor and flowers off our hands including making a mock-table, setting up on the day and doing the delivery to and from the venue. If it’s within your budget, we would highly recommend hiring someone to help as you don’t necessarily know the industry as well as they do.

Tell us about the Honeymoon!!

Mario kept the destination a secret right up to when we checked in at the airport. We spent our honeymoon in the beautiful town of Ao Nang in Krabi. We had the best time in the most beautiful destination. From spending days on neighbouring islands to just laying on the beach at Railay with a book. It was an unforgettable experience which ended off with two days of shopping in Bangkok.

Service Providers:

Please do not download/copy/lift images from this website. A downloadable link with the full wedding will be made available soon.
Music – DJ Dean 
Flowers/Decor – Dear Idea 
Venue –  Allesverloren
Big Letters – Lekker Trou
Photography – Organictales
Videography – Organictales
Pastor Riaan de Villiers – 084 795 2223
Champagne – Durbanville Liquors – 021 976 5568
Hair – Simone Taljaard & Lismari Boonzaaier – 084 512 8855
Make-up – Liezl Visagie – 074 361 0757
January 3, 2019
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Cape Town Wedding – Conrad & Sanet

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Cape Town Wedding

~An AfrikaBurn Chapter

 

“We met on 15 January 5 years ago at a friend’s welcoming back party from Canada.  The party was at Pakolo Beach Bar in Houtbay and Conrad and I started a conversation about AfrikaBurn Outreach.  I was very keen to get involved in the outreach and the charity side of AfrikaBurn which is something that Conrad and his friend Rob Weinek started a few years earlier.  The party moved to my friend, Danielle’s house and it went in to the early morning hours with lots of laughing, dancing and guitar playing out on the porch.  Two days later, two different friends informed me that Conrad would like to have my number so he could take me out on a date.  Conrad’s generous and kind heart is what drew me to him.  He always try to give back to people less fortunate than himself and he is also a little old fashioned which I like.

On my birthday, 3 years ago, Conrad planned a big surprise; A secret he and my friends kept from me for months! Friends were so scared of accidentally saying something or letting the cat out of the bag that they avoided me and didn’t talk to me, so I was completely in the dark!  For my birthday he booked us in to the Twelve Apostles Hotel and after a whole bunch of funny things happened, he proposed to me after dinner.  It was absolutely amazing!  The room had so many rose petals thrown all over that we could hardly open the hotel room door!  I really did not expect a thing!  I initially thought that the hotel really over did things for a birthday and I was completely oblivious to the fact that this beautiful man was going to pop the question!”

 

Service Providers:
(Please do not copy, lift or screenshot images from this page. A downloadable link will soon be made available for all images)

Coordinator: Mon Amour Events

Photography: ORGANICTALES

Catering: Two Chefs Catering

Dress: The Wedding Boutique

Hair: Craig Taylor

Make-up: Algria Ferreira

 

 

December 20, 2018
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De Oudekraal Wedding – Melissa & Jacques

By Wedding2 Comments

De Oudekraal Wedding.

~The Harvesting Chapter

Tell us about how you met and the attributes that drew you to each other?

We met 8 years ago in Stellenbosch on a night out. For me it was love at first sight, when I saw Jacques and his big smile I knew I had to meet him and obviously I fell in love. What drew me to him was his intelligence and liveliness. From that night onward our life together had started. We have had such an amazing adventure together so far.

How did the proposal go down?

In 2017 we took a backpacking trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. We have traveled for one week and a half when we arrived in Siem Riep and explored the famous Ankor Wat. We wanted to see the sunrise from Ankor Wat the next day but we were unfortunately very sick with a bad tummy bug so we could not make it, which effected Jacques’s decision on when to ask me and if it was going to happen on our trip or not. He then booked a sunset trip on Tonle Sap River just outside Siem Riep.
We took a private canoe type boat on the river and explored a bit until it was time for sunset.
Jacques asked our guide to separate us from a very loud group of tourists. We were then on our own with only the sunset, when Jacques suddenly (trying to balance on one knee on a small canoe) started telling me how much he loves me and reminiscing. My heart immediately skipped a beat and I knew! He then continued and asked me to marry him. And I obviously said yes!!

What was the style of your wedding and where did you find your inspiration?

 
We wanted a rustic wedding with a touch of elegance. We wanted to feel comfortable and relaxed at our wedding and did not want a stiff affair where I would be too scared to get a bit of dust on my shoes.
We got our inspiration on some wedding sights and following trends.
For me the most important part was, I wanted to be outside, even when getting married. It all accompanied our personalities very well.

Why did you choose De Oudekraal Wedding Venue?

The first time we saw De Oudekraal WeddingA Venue we got Goosebumps, especially when we stepped outside under the Eucalyptus trees.
I just then imagined everything in its place for our day. We did not want it to be somewhere where everybody has been before.

How did you decide on your dress and where did you find it?

 
I had a lot of inspiration when I looked for dresses. I had one idea, and my dress wouldn’t have been completely white. I tried on numerous dresses, but my mother and myself went dress fitting at Bride & Co. I tried my dress on, and it fit perfectly. I only made very small alterations here and there but otherwise the dress was perfect. I absolutely loved the style and also the pockets it had, which made it perfect for the tissues.

Is there a special story behind your rings, and where did you find them?

 
With my ring, Jacques knows I love orchids and he wanted to incorporate it in the ring he designed for me.
He added Green Amethyst stones which brought in some colour to the ring and it came out stunning.
He got it made at Afriq Jewel Tygervalley.
I took some inspiration for Jacques’ ring when we sat together and he chose the style he liked. It was quite difficult choosing a ring for him. I found his ring at Sterns Canal Walk.

Who made sure your make-up and hair looked beautiful?

 
Leome Vos hair and Make-up.
Leoume Vos had done such an amazing job. I was so happy with the way I looked. She made me feel so beautiful and comfortable on our day. I feel we had such a great morning with Leoume Vos and Michelle, full of laughs and some tears and she made sure to have us done and ready on time for some bridal portraits. They also made our Mother’s and Sisters look absolutely breath taking. I am so grateful for her.

What was the most memorable moment of the day?

 
When we were done taking pictures and all our guests were seated, we stood outside on a wooden bridge and just spent some time together without anyone around us, just the two of us.
Another moment was when we saw each other down the aisle, the moment when our eyes locked and the tears started to roll!
Lastly, when we had our wedding party with us in the grain field walking up a small hill in our heels ready to take some pictures. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. While we were on our own with the photographer,  we almost got ran over by a harvest combine machine! That was definitely a very memorable moment in our wedding experience.

How did you experience your Photographers service and where did the importance of photography fall in your day?

 
We enjoyed it very much. We had never been photographed before!, But Landi Groenewald from Organictales made us feel so at ease with ourselves and our surroundings. She brought the best out of us both in every way.
It is such an important aspect to have a good photographer! For me it is to capture and see the moments which people shared when we were not around. I never felt that someone was in anyone’s way, which I also feel is important. It really felt as if they were part of our wedding guests. I cannot wait to look back at the photos and reminisce on this special day we shared and also the unique memories we made.

How was the experience of having a Videographer present on your day?

 
We really enjoyed it!  It was such a great surprise from Organictales and a great addition to the wedding! Rory was very professional and did a great job.  Again, Rory made us feel so comfortable and worked very well together with Landi as a team. It felt like it suited our personalities perfectly.

Who made sure there was good music and sound on the day? 

– Any special bands? How did your guests enjoy them?

 
We had Dj Jean as our Dj. He did a great job in playing music that we liked and setting the perfect mood when we were not there. He knew we were busy and chose some great music for us. What I loved was that he played the correct music at the correct time.
Some of our friends are in a band The Pelicans, they played music at our pre drinks when we were away for photo’s. The guests enjoyed it so much. From what we heard was that they all gathered around them like it was a mini concert.
They then, later in the evening surprised us with two very special songs, Karen Zoid & Francois Van Coke, Toe vind ek jou & Chris Isacks Wicked games . Jacques and myself were so surprised, they made our day 10 times more special by adding that touch to the evening.

Who were the caterers who made sure your guests were happy and fed? What was on the menu for the evening?

De Oudekraal Wedding Venue has a best kept secret and her name is Nonnie. She made the most delicious food with so much flavour and love.
Our Menu:
Canapés:
Rooster Koeke with assorted cheeses and condiments
Starters:
Thai fish cakes ( Absolutely delicious, our guests loved it)
Mains:
Moroccan Lamb Tagine
Stuffed rolled chicken with Bacon and Mushrooms
Grain Salad
Pumpkin Tart
Ceasar Salad
Roasted Pototoes
Desserts:
Assorted Tarts
Peppermint crisp
Lemon Meringue
Cheese Cake
Carrot Cake
(Nothing was left, that’s how good it was)

If there is anything about the day you wish you could change what would it be?

I feel everything fell into place the way it should have been. I did not want to change a single thing.
We really enjoyed our day to the fullest. When someone said take it in, we stopped and took it all in. We danced, spent time with each other, our guests and family.
I think we would’ve wanted the day to have carried on a bit longer, but if we changed that, things might have been different and we wouldn’t want to change a thing.

Any advise to other couples still in the planning process? What was the most difficult and what really helped?

Take everything one step at a time. When trying to do too much you lose track of what you wanted to do in the first place.
Make a list and tick it off. Use a timeline as a checklist as well, I found I missed a few stuff . You do not have to follow it to the last week but use it as a guideline.
Enjoy the planning. There is no need to stress yourself out. It is supposed to be the best time of your lives.
The most difficult thing was time. Finding time between working and planning. I work weekends so I had to try and see people during the weeks, which was actually perfect as they always had other events on over the weekends.
What helped me was my little tick list and time management.

Service Providers:

(Please do not copy, lift or screenshot images from this site.  A downloadable link will be made available soon)

Photography: ORGANICTALES
Videography: ORGANICTALES
Make-up & Hair: Leoume Vos
Music:  The Pelicans
Decor & Flowers: FAB Events

 

December 19, 2018
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Allesverloren – Sián & Michiel

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Allesverloren

~A Countryside Chapter.

When I first met Sian and Michiel, I instantly felt like we connected.  We started talking and laughing like old friends.  Over the months leading up to the wedding, we exchanged endless voice notes and messages, so by the time of the wedding day, it felt like capturing a good friend’s memories.  Sian and Michiel’s families were so welcoming and open to receiving me as part of the day, which made this one extra special to photograph.

The Riverside Proposal:

I planned to ask Sian to marry me on the way to her graduation at the University of the Free State. We were staying over on the Orange River on the way and I thought it would be the perfect location to pop the question. Things didn’t work out quite as planned. I had hidden the ring in the boot of the car under the felt lining so Sian wouldn’t accidentally find it. I suggested we walk from our chalet down to the river bank to enjoy a drink and had planned to grab the ring on the way but Sian (being averse to any form of cold, and this was Colesburg in June) refused to walk and demanded to drive instead. I scrambled to get the ring without her seeing anything when we parked at the river (approximately 400m from the chalet) but by the time I opened the boot Sian was already standing next to me. Sian still asked what I was looking for and I said “nothing” and walked down to the river with no ring, just bubbly and two glasses. We then proceeded to finish a bottle of bubbly on the banks of the majestic Orange River, with a beautiful sunset perfecting the scene. All I could think was “might as well drink”. Eventually we went back to the chalet and I was like, well, I’ve done all the planning already, my nerves were shot, and I wasn’t going to do this to myself again, so it was pretty much now or never. Sian was in the kitchen of the chalet and I went down on one knee in front of the oldest microwave we’ve ever seen and asked her to marry me. Fortunately, she said yes, or she wouldn’t have had a lift home (or, to graduation).

Maggie Sottero Wedding Dress.

I initially found an amazing mermaid style white lace dress but was dissuaded from wearing it by people who thought I could find something better or didn’t consider it to suit my personal style. I then had a dress made which didn’t work for me or do my figure any justice at all. Two weeks before the wedding I saw the 2019 Maggie Sottero range and fell in love with one of the styles which I then sourced at a boutique in Cape Town. It was pure luck that they had my size in stock and ready to go. It was something so different from anything I had seen or tried and I knew I had to wear it. No one would ever have expected that dress, including me.

Down to earth wedding.

We initially planned to have a small gathering of people. Absolutely just our nearest and dearest. Both coming from Afrikaans families, we realised that having a small wedding was a very remote hope. I guess we were inspired by the “boere troues” we have been used to all our lives; where there is an emphasis on family, good music and great food. Everything else was ancillary. We never decided on a particular style and instead went to a number of bridal expos and décor places and by a process of elimination decided on what we liked and didn’t like. To be honest, we loved the venue and worked around what the venue had to offer, rather than imposing our style on the surroundings. We kept everything quite rustic to fit the forest vibe at Allesverloren and kept the wedding to just the right level of informality for it to be gracious but not pretentious.

 

Allesverloren Wedding Venue.

We literally got out of the car at the venue and felt right at home. It was actually only the second venue we had gone to view. Allesverloren itself is so well equipped we really didn’t need to hire a lot of things in and we knew this would simplify our lives quite a lot. Allesverloren also speaks for itself – it is surrounded with beauty, it is a three minute drive from the heart of Riebeek-West, and the catering was done on site. It was a sensible and beautiful choice and it worked for us.

Organictales Photography.

Landi is great in every way. She is talented and her personality is as beautiful as her work. It was a pleasure working with her and having a photographer who would and could work around what we wanted. Something couples will always tell you after their wedding, and us included, is how quickly the day goes. Hours feel like minutes and the time is swept away so quickly. It is impossible to take note of every moment and every guest. The photos are all you have left of the day when it’s over, so it’s important to have them done right

Planning your own wedding.

We did not have a wedding planner. I wanted to be in control of every aspect and manage the budget myself. Michiel laughed when he read this because the budget fell by the wayside quickly. In retrospect I wish I had appointed someone to manage the event on the day but I feel that allowing someone professional to arrange your whole wedding, who can bring options to you as opposed to you seeking them out yourself, constrains your planning and your personal style. I say this because a lot of the things Michiel and I ended up using (and not using) at our wedding was found through our own research. I feel a planner would have pushed their ideas onto us and made the event less “ours”. But I would advise brides to be to seek help, for at least on the wedding day, as the process is extremely time consuming and exhausting.

Allesverloren Wedding Catering.

Bertus Bester at Allesverloren was at the helm of the delicious food served on the night. For starters, we served our wedding cheese cake (literally wheels of cheese stacked on top of one another) together with the famous Allesverloren rustic harvest table while we disappeared to take our photographs. For mains, we had deboned, chargrilled lamb shoulder with a mint Greek yoghurt; chicken phyllo parcels with mozzarella and sundried tomato; potato bake with parmesan, cream and onions, Mediterranean oven roasted vegetables, Greek salad, and Spanish potato salad. At our menu tasting we couldn’t decide between the Spanish potato salad and potato bake so we opted for both. For dessert we served lavender infused crème brulee and the wedding cake which was a chocolate and Swiss buttercream sponge cake. We opted for a Mediterranean influenced menu as we married in December and knew that it would be quite hot and didn’t want to serve food that was too heavy in the heat

 

Service Providers:

Photography: ORGANICTALES
Venue:  Allesverloren
Dress:  Maggie Sottero 
Make-up and Hair: ElpArtistry

Other Service Providers:

Bridesmaid dresses: Hoiden – www.hoiden.co.za
Suits: House of Monatic – https://monatic.co.za/
Pocket squares: WEEF – https://za.weefwear.com
Groom and groomsmen shoes: Instep at the Bay Harbour Market – https://www.bayharbour.co.za/traders/fashion-jewellery/
Accomodation: Riebeek Valley Hotel and de Langenhof Guesthouse – http://www.riebeekvalleyhotel.co.za/ / http://www.delangenhof.co.za/
Personalised water: Just Water WC – https://www.justwaterwc.co.za/
Bottled beverages: Chill Direct – https://chilldirect.co.za/
Flowers and décor hire at reception: To-Nette’s – http://to-netts.co.za/
Cheese cake: Fairview – https://www.fairview.co.za/
Cake: Velvet Cake Co – https://www.thevelvetcakeco.com/
Sound: Dirkie G Productions – https://www.facebook.com/DJDirkie/
Officiant: Ds Jan van Heerden – NG Kerk Vishoek – http://www.ngvishoek.co.za/
Rings: Cape Diamonds – https://www.capediamonds.co.za/
Videography: Grootdors Produksies – http://grootdorsproduksies.com/
Stationery: Tara Megan Goodwin Art – https://mobile.facebook.com/Tara-Megan-Goodwin-2088241787871836/

December 15, 2018
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Delsma Farm Venue – Riaan & Mardené

By WeddingNo Comments

Delsma Farm Wedding

~A Chapter about family and friends.

 

How a cow brought two people together.

Riaan grew up in Mpumalanga and I grew up in Cape Town. In 2011 I went on a Christmas family holiday to a farm in Mpumalanga where my uncle worked. During the same time Riaan stayed with his uncle on the neighbouring farm. During the second week of our holiday, a cow went into labor on the farm and with all the commotion, Riaan came from across the river to find out what was going on. This is where we ‘formally’ met for the first time.

This was followed by a new year’s dance, ‘first date’ at the movies, myself surprising him on Valentines and Riaan coming to Cape Town for the first time to ask me out.  Riaan is a real gentleman from the farm; and this was always the image that I had for a dream husband. This tall guy with a soft heart.

Riaan says that Mardené’s smile stole his heart and he simply could not resist her long blond hare.

The Proposal.

It was a busy week leading up to the proposal that Saturday. I was overseeing all the preparations for a voyage the following week. A voyage that would take me to the southern oceans and at sea for 3 weeks. In addition I was also working at an event that Saturday. During the week Riaan asked that we go out the Saturday afternoon before I was set to depart. This was nothing new and more a tradition.

Riaan picked me up from the event and we went home. After the crazy week, I asked him if we could not rather stay home as I was exhausted. He explained that everything was already booked and paid for so off we went. We left home driving into the opposite direction that he told me we were going to and ended up at Majik forest. I was a little bit suspicious, as we climbed out of the car and took nothing with on the supposed “picnic” he had planned. He led me to one of the trails where there were black boards hanging out of the tree and roses on the ground. He asked that I read the boards and pick up the roses.  By the time I turned around he was on his knee. I can’t remember a word he said as everything was spinning! I realized, when he stopped talking, what was going on and that I probably need to respond! With a huge smile I said “Yes!”

Why did you choose Delsma Farm Venue?

With most of our family travelling from far we wanted to find a venue with enough accommodation. Also, we are family & friends type of people and wanted to have a weekend wedding. Braai for the Friday evening, Wedding the Saturday and Sunday morning breakfast. We were sold when we saw the outside venue for the ceremony at Delsma FarmVenue which is on the river.  Delsma Farm Venue also has a modern reception venue and enough beautiful accommodation for our guests.

Riaan and I both love the farm life, so going with a rustic vibe was a default. We also wanted to keep to a formal, modern wedding. Most of the ideas came from Facebook and Pinterest.

The Dress – Something Old.

The dress is a story. The tradition ‘something new, something old, something borrowed, something blue’ was used.

Something new: My shoes and bracelet

Something old: The diamonds from my mother’s wedding band was used in my earrings.

Something borrowed: The dress. My mother’s cousin offered her wedding dress, which happened to be the type and style of dress that I love. I tried it on and it fit perfectly. I knew this was it. Her dress also had a netting underneath which spilled some of the main colours of her wedding. The idea of doing the same and changing it to burgundy was ideal and fit in so nicely with what I wanted.

Something blue: The garter

Is there any special story behind your rings? Where did you find them?

With the help of my Maid of Honour and best friend, Riaan got some pictures of what I like when it came to the engagement ring. He then went to a designer and together they designed a ring.

Riaan’s ring was also designed. In my mother’s wedding band there were 3 diamonds, the 1 were used for Riaan’s ring and the other 2 for my earrings.

Who officiated the ceremony? How did you find him and what made you choose him?

Gerhard de Jager, is an old friend of ours. We have known Gerhard for the whole duration of our 6 year relationship. He was the Youth Pastor at our church and even though he moved away from Cape Town we knew we wanted to ask him. Gerhard and his wife, Elricka de Jager, are mentors in our life and play a huge role in our Christian life.

What was the most memorable moment of the day?

Walking down the aisle. For both of us. Nothing beats the point where we saw each other for the first time.

How did you experience your Photographer’s service and where did the importance of photography fall in your day?

Everybody’s advice to us was: Get a Photographer who knows what they do, it will be the only thing that you have after the wedding, your partner and the photos. We were in love when we saw Landi Groenewald from Organictales’ photos! We wanted photos of our wedding day that will remind us of how special our day was and Landi just knows how! After the venue, Landi was the second booking that we made for our special day. It was important to us to get the best!

Who was your videographer and how was the experience of having them present on the day?

After months of backwards and forwards in deciding whether or not to have a videographer for the special day, Riaan and I decided 2 weeks before the wedding that, Yes we should just do it.

We wanted the opportunity to relive our wedding afterwards. We were lucky to have Blue Owl Media videographers. Having videographers at our wedding gave us the opportunity to catch all aspects of our wedding.  It was an honor to have them there to catch the special moments.

Did you have a wedding/event planner and how did this service benefit you before and on the day?

Not officially. Family friends, Estelle Pretorius and Minette Nel jumped straight in and assisted with the planning of the wedding. Estelle ran with wedding in and outs and Minette worked with the accommodation on the venue. They saved us from so much work and stress that no words can express how grateful we were for them.

What was on the menu for the evening?

Our wedding venue, Delsma Farm Venue did the catering. We only heard positive remarks about the food and knew our guests would be treated to the best. Our menu consisted of:

Canapes:
Biltong sticks, slap chips, beef samosas and chicken kebabs.

Main meal:
Roast Chicken Pieces done with a Creamy Sage Sauce, Springbok Pie covered with Puff Pastry, Long Grain Rice, Roast Baby Potatoes, Pumpkin fritters (It was a MUST at our wedding) served with Cinnamon Sugar, Rocket & Roast Vegetable Salad topped with Feta.

Dessert:
Koeksisters, Melktertjies & Chocolate Eclairs and of course the wedding cake!

 

We had a cash bar. We made sure of wine and champagne on the tables for a starter and formalities. The reason for this is that the guests could control their own use of the bar.

Who made sure there was good music and sound on the day? How did you and your guests enjoy them?

Our DJ is a family friend, DJ Feerless. He knows Riaan and myself well and the type of music we love. We also had a family friend, Mariette play the violin for us during the ceremony. This gave a special unique touch to the wedding that we were looking for.

If there was anything about the day you wish you could change what would it be?

Nothing really, maybe the time. To rather start at 15:00 and not 16:00 to have a little more time with guests before photo hour.

The wedding was perfect. Will do it again any day.

Any advice to other couples still in the planning process? What was the most difficult and what really helped?

It is not easy to arrange a wedding on your own. Get help. Either wedding planner or family/friends that know what they do and are more than willing to assist. Take all the advice you can get! Have an open mind about everything and I mean everything. Prepare yourself for a day that will fly! Enjoy every moment and take it in. It only happens once.

 

Tell us about the Honeymoon!!

Going overseas was a definite! After some time we decided to go the Phuket, Thailand. It was worth all the hours spent on an airplane to get there. We are both adventurers and wanted to experience everything. We did 2 boat trips which included snorkeling, visiting the famous James Bond Island, having lunch on the boat and also at a village that is built on stilts. We bought too much but it was fun! It was a well deserved break, but we were glad to get back home to our dogs and cat.

Describe your wedding day in ONE sentence.

As perfect as it could be!

 

Service Providers on the day:
Venue: Delsma Farm Venue
Photography: ORGANICTALES
Videography: Blue Owl Media
Decor: Function Hiring 4 You
Design: Happy Trees
Flowers: Bunches for Africa
Flowers: Joel Farm
Cake: Tihmily Cakes
Photobooth: All About Photography
Lawn Games: Mr & Mrs M

September 29, 2018
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The Oaks Estate Wedding – Why intimate weddings are so unique

By Wedding3 Comments

The Oaks Estate Wedding

A full moon chapter.

Natalie & Rian’s The Oaks Estate Wedding will always be one I will remember.  Their compassionate way of life, their kind natures and genuine emotions shared on the day are some of the rare gems we still find today.  Their wedding took place a day after my birthday and on a full moon evening, so the best birthday present I could have received from anyone, was to be invited to document their special chapter and milestone of their union, so unique and so blessed in love.
Enjoy their wedding with me by reading their story below:

 

How a new journey started.

My ex husband actually introduced us.  It was a work introduction but secretly my ex thought that we would hit it off, which we clearly did.  We had such a good connection and rapport from the beginning.  I knew that didn’t come along everyday.  Rian still had to learn that and he was going through a divorce after 16 years of marriage.

There are some keen attributes about each other that draws us closer
Rian says that when I enter a room my smile and personality changes the atmosphere.  To me, Rian is a good man, not an everyday find, and of course his ‘George Clooney’ good looks! haha!

The proposal that didn’t include a tree.

The proposal happened on my birthday.  He took me to the plot we had bought together, told me that my birthday present would be the cornerstone of our new home.  I was expecting a tree.  He got down on one knee and presented a beautiful Protea diamond ring.  Not quite a tree!

 

The Elizabeth Stockenstrom Dress – Why a custom made dress isn’t for everyone.

Rian’s cousin is quite a famous designer and I went to see him for my dress.  However, in my heart I wanted to not have my dress made as I was too nervous.  I wanted to see my dress, fit it on and immediately know I had found the one.  So I didn’t use Victor Kok, but he did give me the name of a very talented photographer who had taken photos for his website.  When I saw the photos I knew she was the one!  My Pilates instructor happened to mention Elizabeth Stockenstrohm for wedding dresses and I fell in love with her style!  I found the one that fit my personality and style on the day.

Talita from Mist Make-Up.

I used Talita from Mist make up who does airbrush make up resulting in a very natural finish.  I went to Talita for my hair and make up trial and then also ended up doing microblading through her.  At the end she felt like a friend!  As I didn’t want bridesmaids she was the one who helped me get dressed.

The Oaks Estate

Greyton was a special place for us as we had spent an impromptu and very romantic weekend there after a break in our relationship, and that weekend will always be considered as a special reunion.  After the engagement we decided to tour some of the wedding venues/farms around Greyton.  The Oaks Estate was at the end of the road and when we saw its beauty and elegance I just knew it was the place for us.

Our wedding is what I believe is termed a destination wedding.  It was held on The Oaks Estate and took place over the entire weekend,  The actual wedding had the theme of an elegant dinner party, complete with a jazz band and wine and food pairing.

We used Marianne , the owner of The Oaks Estate as our wedding coordinator.  She knows The Oaks Estate the best and it all looked unbelievably beautiful! From the wedding arch she built and decorated to the beautiful flowers everywhere!  Lanterns and firepits throughout the garden.  It all created a fairtale look!

 

Most memorable moment of the day:

The merging of our two families in such a special way as part of the ceremony.  Rian stood at the alter flanked by his two eldest boys.  I had my son walk me down the aisle, led by the little ones Caitlin and James.  We exchanged vows on the most perfect of winter days with the mountains in front of us, the birds chirping, donkey baying and our good friend leading us in our exchange of vows!

Photography by Organictales.

Landi and Ronel made both Rian and I feel so relaxed.  I knew I was in great hands with Organictales.  We didn’t want to be away from our guests for too long and Landi respected this and kept her shots within the allocated hour.  However, in that hour we went bundu bashing up mountains, into forests, chasing the sun to  get what I know will be unbelievable shots!

Rian used his creative designer who specialised in videography to shoot our wedding video and he created a stunning montage including drone footage of the farm.

Jazz Band named Moonshine from Shoutmc.

Rian and I both love music and one of my desires was to have a jazz band at the wedding.  Landi told me about an amazing band she had just seen at one of her previous weddings which I then got in touch with.  Dan from Shoutmc provided both the jazz band Moonshine and a DJ.  The jazz band was one of the highlights for me really adding to the theme of elegant dinner party!

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Catering by Herman & Phillipus @254 Driefontein.

The Oaks Estate recommended Herman and Phillipus form 254 , just down the road from her at their farm, Driefontein.  They invited us to one of their Sunday lunches they do on the farm and we were sold!  As Rian and I are foodies, great food had to be a big part of the wedding.  I was inspired by the Tasting menu served at Chefs Wharehouse and that became our inspiration.  Herman and Phillipus were very excited as they had never done anything like this before.  We had a three course tasting menu paired with some exceptional wine chosen by our friend Shelley who is somewhat of a wine expert!
We had a cash bar since wee supplied all the wine and bubbly but thought it best that people pay for their own hard tac

Shelley’s Pairing with the Menu:
In selecting and pairing wines with food, two primary aims evolved:
for the wine to complement and highlight the main components and special notes within the food, and for the selected wines to reflect and celebrate some of Nat and Rian’s special experiences and qualities.

First course

Black Oyster Catcher -White Pearl

Like our couple, this is a full-bodied and complex wine, the components of which have been handpicked with care, and allowed to join and release their unique qualities with minimal interference.

Described by the estate as an exceptional food wine, it is fully French in origin . the 60% Sav blanc brings fruitiness and a crisp minerality. which matches the green asparagus, and complements our rich and flavourful N European salmon. The 40% wooded Semillon offers a mouthfelt creaminess. as well as citrus and ginger notes, which are also to be found in the warm and gently spiced pumpkin soup, with its gingerbread croutons – isn’t that such a clever idea ?! Together the complexity and creaminess of the blend stands up to, and complements, the foresty burnt sage butter and the softly piquant shells of the pasta.

And then, to return to our couple and their union: this beautiful blend comes from the BlackOysterCatcher winery at the Cool southern tip of Africa, at Elim – which is right near Nat’s holiday home at Struisbaai, which has for some time already been shared with and enjoyed by this new blended family.

Second course 

Fairview Piekenierskloof Grenache

Our second course is a Mediterranean course of risotto and caprese salad. It is paired with Grenache, a cultivar originating in the Mediterranean region as well.

You may be interested to know that Pinot Noir is the red wine recommended to be served with seafood risotto.  I believe Nat and I show our class (or strength of personality?  or lack of class?)  by rejecting this lighter pinot noir, which is made from vines that are quite fragile and difficult to grow.  Instead, we have chosen a wine light enough to respect rather than overpower the delicacy of the seafood – but a more robust earthy peppery option to meet the richness of the risotto as well as our desire for abundance and wildness … sorry I’m getting carried away let me just refer to the wild red berry flavor.

This particular Grenache was sourced from Fairview, where we have spent many good times with a friend of ours who manages the farm there.

Like each of these two beloved and newly married people, these Grenache grapes from the Piekenierskloof, north of Paarl near Citrusdal, are amazingly robust and rewarding living things.
The high lying vines, withstand and even thrive in poor environments and under extreme (weather) conditions, to deliver profound style and joy. Sound like our peeps?

Grenache is usually used in blends to provide backbone (our couple has plenty of that) and to support other varietals in living their best life (our couple , as you know,  are dedicated parents and back friends in this way too).

Fairview has allowed Grenache to have its day in the limelight and be the centre of its own story, as we do for Nat and Rian today.

Third course 

Chocolate block

Some of you may have been exposed to the combination of red meat and chocolate some years back, but we are not going retro tonight.
And while it is no mystery how Nat feels about chocolate… [for laughter] there is some ongoing and unexplained mystery about the name of this blend from Boekenhoutskloof in Franschoek, as it is not a chocolate wine.

The wine, like our couple, has secrets to keep –  in this case the secret of a changing but consistently high quality and rich blend for each season (or year).
The wine, and Nat and Rian, are full in body and structure and flavor.
This 2016 blend, which is a Rhone (rather than a Bordeaux) blend, comprises 79% syrah (the French style of shiraz), Grenache (11%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%) in new oak, Cinsaut (3%) and Viognier (1%).

It seems important to acknowledge the role of intuition and pure indulgent pleasure in the couple’s choice of this wine.

Because the wine offers  an indulgent pleasure:  Opulent and silky on the palate, deep with red and black fruit, soft in spice and tannins, slightly sweet with hints of violet and turkish delight, a breath of black pepper, a long lingering finish .. which all together actually bely a good press of alcohol…

And the highly personal and instinctual, rather than cerebral, forces involved in making this a favourite wine of Nat and Rian , have also resulted in the presence of a wine on our tables that has been described as a red for reds – and what are we about to enjoy but a course of red red and red meat !
A wine that is sweet and soft enough for the heat and fragrant spice of the curry, dark and structured to complement the delectably rich and tasty parcels of lamb with mushrooms and port, and refined and peppery enough for the classic beef fillet and its creamy sauce.

So, a nod to our beloveds for their good taste, and an invitation to the figurehead on the label of this brand to accompany Rian and Natalie: a lady who carries a dove of peace and hope, and guards intrinsic quality.

A magical day surrounded by love and beauty!

The day was a fairytale and I would change nothing! Other than the fact that our MC drove off with our keys so we had to, along with all our kids, sleep in my parents cottage.  My mom woke up the next morning to find a kid on every couch! Her response was: “Oh how lovely! You are all here!”

Advice to other couples:

Plan as much as you can before the time but then there comes a point where you have to leave everything in the hands of the professionals you have hired and just relax and enjoy the day!  The other thing I would really recommend is a wedding weekend.  The Friday night dinner is an icebreaker for the bride and groom to greet their guests and for the guests to get to know each other.  This takes so much pressure off the day, as everyone has already met and you don’t have to go table to table.  We could actually just relax and enjoy our dinner!

 

Service Providers –
(PLEASE DO NOT LIFT IMAGES FROM THIS WEBSITE. PLEASE CONTACT LANDI BEFORE DOWNLOADING IMAGES)

Photography: ORGANICTALES
Photography Assistant & Second Photographer:  Ronel Strauss
Venue: The Oaks Estate
Dress: Elizabeth Stockenstrom
Make Up & Hair: Mist Make-up
Music: Shoutmc – Moonshine Jazz Band
Catering:  Hermand & Phillipus @254 Driefontein Farm Restaurant

August 27, 2018
Love2

Swiping right on Tinder resulted in Winning a Free Wedding!

By Uncategorized, Wedding4 Comments

Jonkershuis Groot Constantia Wedding

~A Tinder Tale.

Nicola and Tiaan jumped in to my heart with a bang!  Every year I choose one couple and do their wedding photography at no cost.  Every year I meet the most amazing, beautiful individuals through this process and they always turn in to life long friends.  This year was no different and our initial meeting turned in to a two hour spree of laughter and milkshake.  I knew I chose the correct couple this year and the process was so rewarding.  But wait – Nicola and Tiaan did not only get their photography for free, they also won their videographer!  Talk about the stars aligning and the universe putting everything together for two beautiful individuals to be together.
Read their story here:

 

Swipe Right, and let the Tinder sparks fly!

Tiaan:  We met on Tinder and from the first moment I saw Nicola I knew she was the one for me.

Nicola: What drew me to Tiaan on his Tinder profile was his eyes. I knew I just had to meet him! I still have that profile picture he used – it’s a firm favourite of mine. We spoke for hours on the phone before we met, and it was definitely love at first sight when we did eventually meet, two months later.  He arrived to pick me up on our first date with the biggest bunch of roses I’ve ever seen! Now every month on the 8th I get a bunch of flowers ( 3 years running).

A Paternoster Proposal.

He had taken me away to Paternoster for the weekend – it was our 2 year anniversary.  I was hoping he would pop the question, but he gave no hint that it was going to happen.  The day of our anniversary we went for breakfast, then did a bit of sight-seeing, had lunch, went shopping, then went back to the cottage to start up the fire.  I was in the kitchen prepping to make potato bake when he walked into the kitchen and took my hands. To be honest I can’t remember what he said because once he dropped down on one knee I went speechless! When he asked me to marry him, I jumped into his arms and said yes!

A personal wedding with our own personal style.

We wanted to make our day very personal, so I did all the decor and flowers on the day! I loved the colours navy blue and rose gold, so I started from there.  Collected jars and candles for over a year.  We made our own save the dates, invites, stationery etc.

I wanted a bit of a vintage/rustic style vibe, and we definitely pulled it off. At first Pinterest was my go-to, but then we started coming up with our own ideas! I’m so glad we did, because it really was so much fun planning the wedding. All the detail that went into it was so special to us.  Tiaan and I sat for days and days punching out our heart confetti from vintage love novels, poetry books and church hymns. I adored the table names we used for our guests… I got a thick branch from my sister’s garden and had slices cut out. Guests’ names were added to their own slice as their places names for the table.

Say “Yes” to the Dress!

I thought I had an idea in mind, but then it completely changed when I saw my dress. Myself, my sister and my mum were at Canal Walk one afternoon, doing a spot of shopping when we saw that Bride and Co was having a winter sale! We thought we’d pop in and see what they had (not intending to buy anything!!) We all then decided to have a bit of fun and I tried on a few dresses.  Then there it was, my dream dress… exactly what I wanted. Soft, flowing, elegant, just perfect.  We walked out with the dress that day!

 

Wearing her Grandmother’s ring every day.

Tiaan: I designed Nicola’s engagement ring myself with some help from one of Nicola’s friends who was the jeweler who made it.  Nicola loves rose gold, so that had to be the main element.

Nicola:  My wedding band was extremely special, too.  It was my Nan’s ring.  I had asked my mum if she didn’t have a ring of my nan’s lying around that I could use as my wedding band instead of just buying one.  My mum and I were so excited to start looking through what she had.  We ended up finding one of her mum’s rings that was just perfect.  It’s such an honour to wear it everyday.

My engagement ring from Tiaan… WOW… I still can’t stop staring at it! It’s absolutely beautiful – he knows me so well!

The Best Make-Up Artist in Cape Town.

Nicola: I had the BEST make-up and hair artist for the day, Candice Leigh Arnott.  Apart from being an award winning artist, she’s a family friend and all round amazing woman.  I had a vision of what I wanted for my hair and make-up, and she nailed it first time round.  I felt amazing, and looked amazing thanks to Candice.

Jonkershuis Venue to fit the Jonker Name.

Tiaan:  We had a look at numerous venues, with Jonkershuis being one of them.  We told ourselves that this venue is way out of our league. But still, Nicola went to go and have a look and chat to the manager due to the fact that the Jonkershuis had my Surname in it, we sealed the deal and knew we had to have a Jonkershuis Groot Constantia Wedding!

Nicola:  The location was breathtaking! My dream was to have a winter wedding and Jonkershuis in the winter is gorgeous.  What sold me was the reception area and courtyard.  Fairy lights, lanterns, wooden tables and chairs – exactly the look we were going for.

Arriving at the chapel in style.

A huge thank you to Maynard from The Kombi Company for being absolutely amazing and getting me to the chapel on time! The ride there was one to remember – 80’s hits all the way! And then for driving us all to the venue after the ceremony – such  a legend.

The best wedding moments to remember.

Tiaan’s best memory of the day was by far that moment he saw Nicola walk down the aisle.  And oh! What a moment it was!

Nicola has quite a few favourite moments!
She remembers arriving at the church, and for the first time that day feeling nervous and excited at the same time – she just couldn’t wait to be his wife! Another favourite moment for Nicola was the VW Hippie Vat that Tiaan rented for her to arrive in! That was an absolute dream to have on the day!  And of course – Saying their vows to one another.

Our favourite Pastor and friend officiated us!

It was such an honour to have our Pastor from our church marry us.  Tiaan and I strongly believe that God sent us to one another, and it’s such a blessing to have a man in my life with the same outlook on faith as I do.  Our Pastor is a fantastic guy and we wouldn’t have asked anyone else.

Sister Clair to the rescue and planning!

My sister Clair helped me plan this wedding from start to finish.  She was fantastic! She took on the role as sister, friend, Maid of Honour, MC and the go-to for any queries on the night from the venue.  An absolute blessing to us both.

A Photographer full of love and laughs.

Landi’s service was FANTASTIC!! Firstly, we adored Landi from the minute we met her at Tigers Milk at our meeting.  We both felt so comfortable throughout the day with all the poses we needed to do.  It was brilliant.  Our couple shoot was so beautiful and Landi took us to so many stunning spots for the shots she needed.  When you have a photographer like Landi at your wedding, it just makes your day even better! Her vision, professionalism, loads of fun and loads of laughs made our day one to remember for sure.

A Videographer full of creative ideas and friendly smiles.

Our wonderful videographer was Jesse from Barefeet Videography.  Our experience with having Jesse there with us capturing all our memories on film was phenomenal!  Such a fantastic guy, so friendly, professional, easy going and loads of fun.

A menu you won’t easily forget.

Menu:

Starters:
Panned Panko Fishcake with house tartar, pickled cucumber salad OR Bobotie Roll with apricot chutney, coriander and cucumber salad.

Main: 
Parmesan & Herb Crumbed Chicken Breast with sweet potato puree, lemon cream & greens OR Sliced Sirloin with potato puree, exotic mushroom sauce & green beans.

Dessert: 
Vanilla Creme Brulee, rooibos & cardamon infused ORFarm Apple Cake with butterscotch sauce, cinnamon swirl ice cream.

Nicola & Tiaan’s Wedding Planning Advise!

Don’t start with the planning too late! I started not long after Tiaan asked me to marry him ( a year ahead) and I can honeslty say that that year helped me immensely.  I wasn’t stressed months, weeks, days before the big day, and everything was done and dusted well ahead of time.  I had so many ideas and they changed constantly, so always leave room for change!

 

Service Providers:

Photography:  ORGANICTALES PHOTOGRAPHY
Assistant: DEREK WHITTON
Videography: BAREFEET VIDEOGRAPHY
Venue: GROOT CONSTANTIA – JONKERSHUIS
Make-up and Hair: CANDICE LEIGH ARNOTT
Dress: BRIDE AND CO
Transport: THE KOMBI COMPANY
DJ: The Party Technician

 

August 13, 2018
Love2
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