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De Uijlenes Forest Wedding

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De Uijlenes Forest Wedding.

~The Rustic Farm Chapter.

De Uijlenes Forest Weddings have that special touch of magic to them.  A popular venue and for good reason!  The service delivery is top quality, and let’s not even get started on the amazing food!
The day before the wedding, torrential rain poured down with heavy clouds filling the skies.  Despite the weather forecast predicting more cloudy weather and rain for the next day, in my heart I knew that some miracle will happen and so it did!  Not even one single cloud on the day of the wedding!  Joadri and Jacques Matthee chose the most perfect day at the most perfect place.  Here is their story.

 

A Pearly Beach Braai.

In a small town named Pearly Beach, we were both invited to a braai with friends of ours.  Believe it or not, but at the start of the evening we really did not like each other very much.  But as the night progressed it turned out as we never could have guessed.  The evening turned in to a night of dancing on the beach and chatting to each other all through the night.  What pulled Joadri to Jacques was the fact that he was such a fun person, a good listener and definitely his attractive and beautiful eyes!  Jacques on the other hand was drawn by Joadri’s beautiful smile and how that smile can just light up everyone around her with her beautiful personality.  She is such a warm and beautiful woman with an even more beautiful heart.

 

A Proposal in the Sand.

After 3 years of love and laughter, we planned a picnic at Pearly Beach together.  The same beach where we danced all night long that very first time.  At the end of the picnic, right before we were ready to go home, Jacques told me to turn around and come see what he wrote in the sand.  Joadri turned around only to find Jacques down on one knee with a ring.  In the sand he wrote, “SAL JY MET MY TROU.”
After crying for almost 10 minutes, Joadri finally said yes!  Completely taken by surprised, especially since they planned the picnic together!

Rose Molteno Creations.

I went to a bridal expo and received a free fitting from Molteno Creations based in Woodstock.  I absolutely loved her dresses. After my second fitting with her I found my dress.  She also made my veil and garter.

 

The most memorable moment!

We didn’t see each other for 4 days prior to the big day.  So naturally the moment I walked down the aisle and saw Jacques standing at the front, waiting for me, was such a highlight moment of the day.  Jacques felt like everything around us just disappeared and that we were the only two people there between 150 guests.

Honeymoon Surprise!

Joadri had no idea where they were going for the honeymoon.  She only found out at the airport that they were embarking on a journey to Thailand!  They visited Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Koh Toa.  They also spent a day in Dubai on the way back.  Definitely the best holiday ever!

 

Service Providers:

Venue:  De Uijlenes
Photographer: ORGANICTALES
Dress: Molteno Creations
Flowers and Decor:  Mother of the bride and De Uijlenes
Music: Sunset Seat Shop

Sheep decided to photobomb this wedding and here are the results!

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The Nightjar Wedding.

~The log cabin tale.

 

Where the story began.

We first met when we were introduced by a mutual friend at a bar. Our friend handed me Mark’s business card as some sort of a pick up line but we were both shy and never really said anything to each other the whole night. With the weeks that followed we kept bumping into one another until one night on the 1st of June we were the last people standing after a friend’s birthday. Neither of us were ready to retire for the night so I invited Mark to come to my place and watch movies with me. Mark accepted my invitation. When we arrived at my place we started talking and ended up speaking for hours. We did eventually watch a movie and four days later he took me out on our first date.

Although our initial attraction may have been a physical one, our late night conversation made us realize how much we had in common from our general interests to our similar tastes in styles, music and food of course. Between us there was very little we could disagree upon. For me Mark was the most genuine and kindest person I had ever met. For Mark he loved my honestly and kindness (something we seem to share). He also enjoyed my cheekiness from time to time.

A Proposal as a Birthday Present.

The proposal was masked as my 25th birthday at Meerendal Wine Estate. All of our friends and family were waiting inside the restaurant to surprise us as we walked in. Right before we sat down to eat lunch Mark wanted to make a speech during which he proposed.

The choice behind the venue.

The style of our wedding was rustic chic – most of our inspiration followed the booking of our venue.  We were initially interested in a De Uijlenes wedding because it was a beautiful farm venue which offered an outdoor ceremony area as well as a cosy log cabin for the reception. Essentially I think it was the rustic feel of the venue itself that drew us to it because we are simplistic and down to earth people.

Something borrowed, something white.

The dress was hired (somewhat my something borrowed) from Urban Bride. Strangely enough the dress was not supposed to fit me at all since the sizing was too small, but, when I tried it on it fitted perfectly as if it was made for me.

Anja Le Roux did my make-up, although she no longer does make-up for weddings she offered her services because she is a dear friend to me. All of the bridesmaids jumped in to assist me with my hair.

An officiant with a touch of humour.

Andred from I Do Weddings officiated the ceremony. We were referred to him by another officiant, Troy Goldie, when we found out he was not available for our wedding date. We chose him because without having to explain in excruciating detail he had us pegged and understood exactly what we wanted – a well-rounded ceremony that was personalized, relaxed, serious when it needed to be, had a touch of humour to keep things light, and retained our guest’s attention throughout. We also felt that during our ceremony he spoke to us in a way that calmed our nerves and made us feel as though we were having a conversation just between the three of us.

Love and Memories go hand-in-hand.

It’s difficult for us to pinpoint the most memorable thing from our day. To us everything was perfect… Then again, the love that was shared with us on that day from our guests has to be the most memorable. We can personally say that on our wedding day our hearts felt so full that they were going to burst!

Husband & Wife Coordinating Team.

We had an “On the day” wedding coordinator which was included in the venue hire. We found this service extremely beneficial as our coordinator was helpful when planning various details of our wedding. On the day I have no idea what we would have done without our coordinator as she ensured all our service providers arrived on time and that the day ran according to plan. Everywhere we needed her, she was there. Everything we hadn’t thought of, she had.

We would like to highly commend Christien and Nel Schrecker from Husband Wife Team for their incredible service. They assisted with our planning, supplied our décor, made our very scrumptious wedding cake and provided our on the day wedding coordination. They are a power husband and wife duo!

A picture is worth a thousand words.

As the idiom says, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and this is the epitome of Landi’s work. Landi is a talented photographer who is able to capture the essence of a wedding day in a way that words could not simply describe. Our wedding photography was extremely important for us and Landi exceeded our expectations. Her services at our wedding were truly the greatest gift anyone could have given us and we can only compliment her on the outstanding work she did.

There is a special story behind the engagement ring…

In April 2016, 8 months before Mark proposed, the person who was tasked with wrapping up his grandmother’s estate contacted him. According to the gentleman Mark’s grandmother, Lily, had set aside some money which she has specified was only supposed to be released on this particular date 3 years after she had passed away. In her will she stated that the money was for her grandson Mark to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend Holly. Strangely enough Mark had already begun the process of saving up to buy an engagement ring in order to propose so everything had been perfectly timed. Liliy had only known me for fewer than 10 months, but, she knew her grandson Mark and somehow she knew that someday we would get married.

On The Menu:

Pre Snack / Starter:
Harvest Table with homemade bread, party wheels, biscuits, homemade jams, butter, cheddar cheese, camembert cheese, brie cheese, sweet chili cream cheese, salmon cream cheese, chicken liver pate/snoek pate, vegetables crudities, preserves, assorted cold meats.
Main:
Pulled pork, slow cooked in ginger beer, served with spring onion, coriander, sour cream, Mexican three bean salad, baked sweet potato, aubergine lasagne bake, grilled corn with butter and parsley.
Dessert:
Churros with a chocolate dipping sauce.

 

On the Playlist:

Rory Batl-Ax Rijkers was our DJ. He played a great selection of music and managed to keep our guests dancing until the reception doors eventually closed at 2am (Mark and I included). As a matter of fact, three guests attending another wedding at De Uijlenes came to join us because they heard us having such a joll on the other side of the farm.

Challenges Overcome.

If we could change anything it would be to have all the speeches in one go instead of doing two here and two there since people tend to all run out for a smoke so you have to heard them all back inside again.

We had the most difficulty with the bridesmaids’ dresses because we wanted to have them made. But, if I could advise anything rather buy dresses for your bridesmaids because this eliminates a lot of potential headaches. The infinity dress is super versatile for any body types and comes highly recommended in my books.

It was extremely helpful to choose a venue that offers multiple services/an all-inclusive package such as catering, décor, wedding cake, venue setup, accommodation, flowers etc. This eliminated having to deal with multiple suppliers and transporting of various items.

 

Honeymoon tales!

Eat. Sleep. Swim. Repeat.

We spent a week at Emeraude Beach Attitude in Mauritius which was the perfect place for some much needed RNR after months of wedding planning and preparation. During the week we indulged in the buffet, drank unlimited cocktails and lounged by the poolside/beach.

On one of the evenings the resort arranged a romantic four-course dinner for us which rendered us unable to move from our seats.

We also took some time to go snorkeling (which we loved) and took a boat ride out to explore Île aux Cerfs where we met a few little critters.

 

Wedding Day in One Sentence:

Just as our cake topper said it was truly the “best day ever”

 

 

Service Providers:

Venue: De Uijlenes
Photographer: ORGANICTALES
Dress: Urban Bride
DJ: Rory Rijkers
Officiant: Cape Town Officiators

This groom went all the way to Dubai to pop the question!

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Weltevreden Estate Wedding.

~The Secret Garden Chapter.

Brad & Tayla is the perfect example of fate bringing the right people together.  A simple tweet to go hike Lion’s Head turned in to the most beautiful romance.  Read their story below and get a glimpse of what I saw on their beautiful wedding day.

 

Destination – Fate.

Tayla and I both moved to Cape Town 5 and a half years ago. Tay from Durban and I from Johannesburg. We first started chatting on Twitter like real Millennials. I still remember the first time I saw Tayla in person and remember thinking – “She is way out of my league”. Luckily, she hasn’t realized this yet!

Dubai – The City of Gold, Diamond and Proposals.

In December 2016, we planned a cruise around the UAE, visiting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman. Little did Tayla know, that’s not all that was planned! It was the 25th of December and I needed to find a way to get Tay dressed up. I managed to convince her that it was family tradition to dress smart for Christmas which seemed to work and so, off we went, in 30+ degree weather, on a tourist bus and looking very out of place. We booked a trip up the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. We wondered around and around, admiring the view (actually while I tried to find the perfect backdrop) and eventually I got down on one knee and proposed.

Weltevreden Estate Wedding.

We wanted the style of our wedding to reflect the abundance of natural beauty our venue, Weltevreden Estate had to offer. We decided to stick to a neutral colour palate of greens, whites, greys and silvers to compliment the Cape Dutch architecture.

We chose Weltevreden Estate as it encompassed everything we had envisioned for our day. The gardens at Weltevreden Estate are stunning, which allowed us to have a beautiful outdoor ceremony. The venue had a vintage-feel, due to its Cape Dutch architecture but still a hint of modernism, which was a perfect fit for the style of wedding we were planning.

 

Rose Moltena Couture.

When I first went dress shopping I wasn’t set on a particular style of dress. I did, however have a designer in mind. After trying on numerous dresses at various wedding boutiques across the Western Cape, I decided to book an appointment with Rose Molteno. From the minute I entered her show room I fell in love with the simple yet elegant bohemian style. All of her dresses were fascinating, and it was evident that she puts tons of love into each and every design.

 

Flawless Hair and Make-up.

Leandre van Rooyen was the hair and make-up artist for me and my bridesmaids on the day of our wedding. She was absolutely fantastic and far exceeded my expectations!

The moment.

Bride:  The most memorable moment of the day for me, was walking down the aisle towards my future-husband. That is the moment when all the nerves and excitement started kicking in, and the moment when I realized that this is our day and the beginning of the rest of our lives together.
Groom:  Taking Tayla’s hand at the altar. I was in complete disbelief that this was my wife standing in front of me and how lucky I was.

The harpist and flutist from Zest music complimented the serene environment. The duet played at our ceremony and canapés.

Our Marriage Officiant.

Our officiant was Basil Sparks from Durbanville Baptist Church. We choose Basil as we look up to his wisdom and his ideologies surrounding marriage. Basil delivered a very meaningful message during our ceremony that has really stuck with us.

Photographer Research.

We searched high and low for a photographer that suited the style of photography we were looking for, for our special day. Tayla has always had a great interest in photography so she knew exactly what she was and wasn’t looking for in a photographer. When we found Landi we knew she was the one! We booked our photographer before we booked our venue!

 

Rings are eternal and so are Tattoos!

Groom: I stalked Tayla’s Pinterest with the jeweller but already had 2 styles in mind. Eventually, with the help of Grand Diamonds, the perfect style and stone was chosen.

Bride: Brad wasn’t all that keen on wearing a traditional wedding band and even considered getting a tattoo! We found Brads ring at the Canal Walk Wedding Fair. Brads ring is made of black tungsten and rose gold.

Weltevreden Estate Caterers.

Weltevreden Estate did all of the catering for our wedding. For starters we had waldorf salad, caraway beetroot, crème fraiche & orange segments and Maple & pumpkin pie. Mains were served as a buffet and included a variety of catering options to suit everyone’s dietary needs. For dessert we had panna cotta, vanilla & roasted white chocolate sponge, strawberries & cream and our salted caramel wedding cupcakes from Tessa’s Bakery.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic punch was served at the canapes. We ensured that there was enough champagne to go around during the speeches and each table was set with a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine from Somerbosch winery in Stellenbosch.

Brad & Tayla’s Advice.

Do your research on your service providers and read the reviews!

The day in one sentence.

Everything we hoped and dreamed it would be – the perfect start to our happily ever after.

 

 

Service Providers:

Venue:  Weltevreden Estate
Photography: ORGANICTALES
Dress: Rose Molteno
Music: Zest Music
Florist: My Green Love Affair
Hair & Make-up: Leandre van Rooyen
Gowns: Vows Adornments
Photo Booth: Fun Photo Booth
Fairy Lights: Lekker Trou
Cake & Cupcakes: Tessa’s Bakery

Look what happened at this Rainy Knorhoek Wedding

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Rainy Knorhoek Wedding

~A Rainy Chapter.

All the weather channels predicted rain on this Knorhoek Wedding day, and dark clouds were looming with heavy drops all day.  Although, as a wedding photographer, I was beyond excited about the overcast light, I couldn’t help but secretly worry that the beautifully planned outside ceremony might possibly get moved inside.  But oh boy – all the element were so ready to celebrate this Knorhoek Wedding day and right as the first kiss were about to happen the most beautiful sun rays broke through the clouds and trees to congratulate Zurena & Wayne on their promise to one another.  Read their story here:

 

When eyes met across a dance floor and a beautiful story unfolded.

Bride: Our eyes locked across the dance floor for the first time. It was his broad shoulders, strong jawline and beautiful hazel-brown eyes that first lured me in. However, I soon fell head over heels in love with his genuine, kind and humble character.

Groom: We saw each other across the dance floor for the first time. Somehow I felt immediately that there was a connection and an attraction. Her spontaneous laughter, similar outlook, philosophy on life and just her loving nature attracted me to her. She showed me how to love and how to receive love.

A Proposal after a silent drive.

We had been talking about getting married long before the actual proposal so I knew it would happen at some point. However, with Wayne being a very ‘matter-of-fact’ guy, he did it the only way he knew how. We were strolling around in the mall and he suggested that we head into the jewellery store. He then asked me which rings I fancy and insisted that I try a few on. I was hesitant as I was not sure whether he was kidding or not. After some convincing I settled on a ring and we left the store. On our way to the car I asked him whether we were ‘engaged now’ to which he replied, “Don’t jump the gun.” After a long, silent drive home, he opened up a bottle of wine and popped the question.

A Vintage Romance Wedding Style.

We both like all things vintage and I wanted to add some femininity so we ended up with ‘vintage romance’.  We wanted a timeless and elegant atmosphere so we combined some very rustic items with touches of gold and lots of greenery. This was complemented by the soft blue and pink accents in the flowers and other décor.

 

Knorhoek Wedding Venue.

We chose Knorhoek as our wedding venue as it just represented everything we had envisioned. We wanted an outside ceremony among the trees and they were able to offer this and more. What really bowled us over was the absolutely gorgeous restaurant that was already decorated to suit our theme and it made for a very intimate and cosy setting. Furthermore, they took care of the flowers, catering and having a guesthouse on the farm made everything more convenient.

Inspiration from her Mother’s Wedding Dress.

My mother’s dress was very modest and I always thought she looked so classy on her wedding day so I wanted to emulate that. I always knew I wanted a lace dress – it is soft and feminine and timeless. I chose a mermaid style dress with a boat-neck and open back. I wanted modesty with a hint of sexy. The detachable skirt added a touch of drama – just enough to make my dress extra special. After a long search for the perfect lace, I had the dress custom-made by Shienaaz Adams.

 

Make-up and Hair by Zylia Lennox.

Zylia Lennox! What a marvel of a women – beautiful inside and out. She did a fantastic job on everyone and she was super professional from day one. I would recommend Zylia not just because she is excellent at what she does but also because she is a genuinely kind person.

An Endearing Wedding Officiant.

Our wedding was officiated by Father Stephen Tekana. We chose him because he made us feel comfortable. Our pre-marital sessions were long chats over tea and it felt as though we were simply visiting an older and wiser friend. He has a very endearing persona and had our guests captivated throughout the ceremony.

A Violin, Cello and Flute.

The beautiful setting came to life as the string quartet from Zest Music started playing. They set the tone for the day and created the perfect atmosphere. Our pre-drinks and reception music was provided by Ingrid Wolff.

The most memorable moment.

Bride: It has to be walking down the aisle, trembling and nervous and facing my husband-to-be for the first time. When he looked into my eyes as we were about to say our vows, my soul was at peace and my heart was smiling.

Groom:  As my bride walked down the aisle, my back was faced towards her. The string quartet was playing “A thousand years” in the background. Simply knowing that this is the most important defining moment in my life and knowing that my bride was walking towards me, the tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably.

Towerbosch Catering.

The food was provided by the Towerbosch venue. We had a smoked salmon and asparagus starter and the main was a buffet style feast (served at the tables) that consisted of slow cooked lamb, sirloin, a melange of vegetables, couscous, a red onion and tomato salad and the best roast potatoes ever! This was followed by a granadilla panacotta.

Wouldn’t change a thing!

Both my husband and I had wished the rain away but when it eventually started raining, it actually contributed to the cozy and fun atmosphere inside the restaurant. So, no. I would not change anything.

 

The Wedding Photographer Experience.

I am going to be honest and admit: I fought for Landi. Wayne is very budget conscious and it took a lot of convincing but I am so very glad he conceded and today he is even happier that we chose her. She is so bubbly and friendly and made us feel comfortable from day one. I really admire her passion for photography and it is reflected in each and every image. She was very professional at all times and I am eternally grateful that she even got Wayne to enjoy having his pictures taken – he was very camera shy at first. Lastly, if you are looking for someone who will go the extra mile to get the perfect shot and to ensure her client’s satisfaction: choose Landi Groenewald from Organictales Photography.

Groom: Landi, you are certainly unbelievable. The casual, yet professional approach made it very easy for us, especially me. I do not like somebody taking photos of me, but you had me it smooth, comfortable and easy experience. THANK YOU.

Advice to other couples:

Bride: Don’t spend too much money on a cake unless you’ll be serving it as dessert. Our guests were not concerned with the cake at all and we forgot the top tier at the venue. If you are going to have a guestbook, ask your bridal party members to ensure your guests sign it – we forgot about it and so did our MC. The most difficult was coming to an agreement on wants versus needs. The important thing is to be willing to compromise and to remember that the day is about the two of you.

Groom: It is important that you create a budget and try and follow it tooth and nail. It helps having a T-accounting system as it provides a concrete indication of a money trail. Furthermore, if you intend using a service provider, ensure that you read the fine-print and understand its implications on the budget.

The Wedding In ONE SENTENCE.

It was simply magical and an unforgettable experience.

 

 

Service Providers on the day:

Venue:  KNORHOEK TOWERBOSCH WEDDING VENUE

Photography:  ORGANICTALES – LANDI GROENEWALD

Hair & Makeup:  ZYLIA LENNOX

Music: ZEST MUSIC

Fairy Lights: JOLI CREATIONS

Accessories: Hashtag with Love

DJ / Music: Ingrid Wolff from DJ Dean

Unity Candle: Unity Candles / Arlene de Jager – 0846277607

 

Hudsons Wedding – Lisha & Sebastian

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Hudson’s Wedding

An Austrian Chapter.

Lisha & Sebastian’s wedding was the kick start to my 2018 Autumn Wedding Season.  With a beautiful warm day and not a hint of wind, it definitely was a perfect day to exchange promises.  Read their tale below.

 

An Online Gaming Story.

We met playing against one another online in 2004, we became rivals, competitors and then friends… Years later we were chatting online (as our friendship was based online) and decided to get a coffee together…. We met, chatted, stayed way passed a reasonable time and found ourselves on a 7-year journey to the most beautiful day… The day I married my best friend. The attributes that drew me to Lisha… Her unending and unfathomable happiness, her positivity and her eyes. That’s what got me to buy her coffee the rest was just perfection.

What attracted me to Sebastian first was that he has the ability too always see the best in every situation, his charmingness and that he always made me smile till my cheeks hurt … let’s not even get started on the handsome topic.

How did the proposal go down?

Hmmmm, a lot of sweat, sore fingers and subterfuge.  I lured her to my family’s holiday house, sent her for a hot bath and told her to really soak and enjoy it… while doing that I made Dinner (Ravioli which i had prepped before) and lit 200 Fairy lights and placed them all over the room. I had a roaring fire going in the fire place and had set the table in the middle of the room… When she came out of the bath, there was a trail of candles from her door to the table and me…. Desert was the most sweet when she said she would marry me. Yes, I was on one knee.

What was the style of your wedding?

Lisha really spear headed the style of the wedding, it was more of what it shouldn’t be than what it should be, because you can define something so Organic into a box. The wedding was not going to be a Cinderella ball, or an earthy farm style but rather just an amalgamation of what she felt best personified our tastes and you wonder why I married her ?

 

How did you choose on your venue?

We Looked at a lot of venues and some of them were great but unrealistically priced and some of them had aspects that were beautiful but then lacked a reception area… in the end we found the Hudsons at the Vredenheim and we knew after walking the grounds that it had everything we wanted and more! Long grassy gardens, beautiful flowers and fountains, willow trees, a lake, friendly people and beautiful seating areas….

Is there any special story behind your rings?

Lisha’s Engagement ring I made myself as we are manufacturing goldsmiths… Her wedding band was her own design with the uniformity of the channel set diamonds to match her engagement ring and with the rose gold filigree underneath to complement the delicacy and bring out the beauty of the design.

How did you decide on your dress?

After many many dress fittings and feeling unimpressed I went for a consultation at Didi Couture. I got her contact details from my bridesmaid and mc who got her dress made by her. After going to Didi I was blown away by her honesty and friendliness, she made me feel at home. I was looking for something comfortable and breathtaking at the same time. She made exactly what I had in mind with her amazing style and perfection.

Who made sure your Make Up was perfect?

I did get quotations from many different vendors, I am not an everyday make-up wearer so I was looking for something lite and airy, then I found Talita from Mist Make-up, she does airbrush makeup which is just that and it is tear proof as well. When she did my make-up on the day it was beautiful and suited my personality and skin perfectly.

The most memorable moment of the day:

The most memorable moment of the day was when Lish first came into view in her wedding dress and started walking down the aisle towards me… I’ll never forget the moment till the day I die and probably not even then.

For me it was when I was walking towards and then down the aisle, I was so nervous I was trembling. As I was walking though the rows of family, friends and loved ones I looked up and saw Sebastian face, it was as if my heart shifted to tranquil quietness and my soul could breathe. In that moment I have never felt so much happiness and loved so completely.

Who officiated the ceremony?

Our Officiant was – Willie Viljoen, after meeting him and a few others we both felt that he was the right pick and that he understood us and who we were. We did not supply him with any material and we were not disappointed.

How did you experience your Photographer’s services on the day?

Wow…. The photographer’s services were and are above and beyond… ORGANICTALES was on time, friendly, straight to the point, comforting, complementary and helpful all at the same time. She would move the room around and get you involved, laugh with you and put you at ease. She would requisition a boat to cross a lake for a perfect shot… and even scale a tree to get the perfect angle. I’d say that as far as services go, how can you describe someone or a relationship of services rendered if you then befriend them like they are family or an honored guest because they were that…. I’m at a loss for adjectives. Their role in the day was irreplaceable and unforgettable.

 

Who were your videographers and how did you experience their presence on the day?

Mustard seed films – They were the perfect complement to the photographer’s entourage in the way they stayed out the way but where present and how they made you feel comfortable and feel befriended at the same time. They offered valid points, opinions and were constantly on the ball. They helped make the whole experience that much richer and fuller without making you feel uncomfortable or like you had the paparazzi after you.

Who were your caterers?

The Caterers were the venue themselves The Hudsons at the Vredenheim, the food was great, well planned and made brilliantly. For Starters we had Roasted Vegetable & Feta Tartlet with Tomato & Basil Coulis, Mains was Prime Roast Beef with Chef’s Gravy, Traditional Chicken Pie. Served with Roast Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, Savoury Rice, Pumpkin Fritters, Greek Salad and for Desert we had Home Baked Malva Pudding with Custard or Ice cream and ended with our amazing 3 tier Wedding Cake.

If you could change anything of the day, what would it be?

I wish we could have extended the evening more, added a few extra hours into it, like made it a 36 hour day instead of 24 hour day!

 

Advice to other couples still planning?

Talk to each other, be open and be willing to compromise for middle ground… also start early and don’t settle for anything but the perfect “thing” for you 🙂

 

Tell us about the honeymoon!

Honeymoon still coming! but we went away for 4 days to a spa and retreat to be alone and just be together without anyone or anything to pull us away from ourselves 🙂

Describe your wedding in ONE sentence.

The most unforgettable, beautiful and amazing day one could spend with family and friends to join two souls who know they are meant to be together.

 

Vendors and Service Providers on the day:
Venue / Decor / Ceremony:
Hudson’s Venue – 021 881 3590

Photography:
Organictales – 071 274 8358
Assistant – Karien Saaiman

Dress:
Did Couture – 082 772 2033

DJ:
Dean – 0849224757

Makeup & Hair:
Mist Makeup – 084 444 5266

Bridesmaid Dresses & Groomsmen Ties:
Joan – 083 259 5073

Officiant:
Cape Marriages – 071 677 6072

Videography:
Mustardseed Films – 073 923 1112
Video Diary:
Clifford Wort – 083 419 1251

Invitations:
Good Letter Best – 021 510 8600

Bride & Groom Prep Accommodation:
The Wild Mushroom – 021 881 3586

Cake:
Wade’s Cakes – 082 932 4522

Benjamin & Francelle – Paarl Wedding

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Benjamin & Francelle

~A Medieval Festival


Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st, Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade, When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

 

The Proposal

Ben proposed during a getaway in January 2018. We went glamping near Caledon, and one evening before dinner he just went down on one knee and popped the question. There was no cellphone signal, so we had to wait two days to tell everyone!

A Golden Dress.

My dress is a one of a kind Elria Ellis creation. Elria is my aunt, and she asked me whether I would allow her to make the dress. Naturally I said YES! We discussed the colour and design at length, and since I was not keen on a normal white dress, we decided that gold, with and undertone of grey, would be the best choice. It took her just under a year to make the dress, and it will forever be one of my most prized possessions.

The Infamous Ring Adventure

Oh my goodness, my ring! That story has become something of a legend. First of all, it is a Jack Friedman ring, with Benjamins’ grandmother’ diamond. So not only is this a beautiful ring, but it has a legacy.
I was driving to school one Friday morning in March, and a truck broke down on the N1. All the cars were at a complete standstill. While we waited for the truck to be cleared. I decided to put cream on my hands. I took off my ring, placed in my lap, put on cream and promptly forgot about it. At some point people started getting out of their cars, and I followed suit. I was wearing a long dress, and with the motion of getting out of the car, the ring fell onto the side of the road. I had no idea. It was only when I got to Paarl, and looked down at my hands somewhere around 10am, that I realised that my ring was gone. I promptly died and emotional death. I had no idea where my ring was. After racking my brain I remembered the cream and the N1 and the getting out of my car. I asked permission to leave school early, and I went back to search. I searched the entire stretch of road for longer than an hour, but found nothing. I called my mom. She was in a state of shock. My only thought was telling Benjamin that I lost his grandmother’s diamond. I thought he would leave me for sure! He worked late that evening. I did not sleep well.
The next morning, my mother phoned me, waking me up. She declared that she and my father are on the way to the N1 to search for the ring. She was adamant that it was somewhere there. I went to assist them, but not expecting anything  – I already searched every inch. Before I left, I had to tell Benjamin. I remember him being incredibly calm and collected. He was not mad. All he said was, “we’ll get through this, my love”. My mom, dad and I searched on the side of the N1 as cars raced past us. After quite some time. My mother stood still, just clutching her chest. I did not understand why she did that, until I went to her and she showed me the ring. She said, “I found it.” She, my dad and I promptly started crying. Next to the N1. In our tracksuits. On a Saturday morning 7am.
And that is the story not of how I lost my ring, but how it was FOUND.

 

 

Service Providers:

Photography:  ORGANICTALES
Videography: AMBIENT FILMS

 

Stilbaai Beach Wedding

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Stilbaai Beach Wedding

– A Sandy Chapter

I concluded my 2017 wedding season with a highlight trip to Jongensfontein.  A small beach town a few kilometers from Stilbaai.  Like most destination weddings, I arrived the day before and met all the close friends and family as we sat around a big camp fire eating barbecued ribs and chatting about the next day’s celebrations.
I think by now most people know that one of my favourite parts about being a wedding photographer is becoming friends with so many wonderful people.  The journey leading up to these celebrations is one filled with excitement and hope and I truly feel blessed to walk this journey with so many new friends.
Here follows the unity of Chris-marie & Steyn Wessels:

 

Growing up as friends

We’ve known each other for most of our lives. We both grew up with our families camping in Jongensfontein over holidays.  This is how we met. We only really got to know each other at the end of 2012. First it started as friends and quickly escalated to something more. It was his blue eyes that drew me to him!

 

A Christmas Present:

On Christmas day 2016 we celebrated our 4th year anniversary. We spent the day with his family, but when we got back to Jongensfontein, we went for a walk on the very same beach we got married on.  He dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him!

A Rustic Beach wedding

We decided on a rustic theme and got most of our inspiration from social media, pinterest, friends and family.
We wanted both a beach and a farm wedding. So we decided to get married on the beach where we got engaged and to have our reception on a horse farm, Jongensdal, just outside Jongensfontein.  This venue fitted our ideas perfectly.

A dress tailored to her liking

I bought my dress on Gumtree! I took it to the very talented Esna Saayman from Riversdale, who changed the dress to my liking. I wanted an open back and a lot of lace. She made sure that the dress became a dream wedding dress to me. The veil was bought at Bride & Co and was a 5 meter long ivory veil with lace outlines.

Rings plain and simple

We both like a plain setting and that’s how we decided on our rings. My ring was made at Viljoens juweliers in Worcester and Steyn’s wedding ring was made by House of Kallie with a wood inlay. The wood inlay is something he really wanted. My wedding band is a Swarovski rosegold ring.

Sister Love

Stephanie Kamfer from “The Beauty Spot” and Natasha Henning, a cousin of the bride, did a great job with the make-up of the bride, bridesmaids and mother of the bride.
Mariaan Odendaal, the sister of the bride, and Verna-Marie Beukes, a close friend, are both employees of Scar Hair in Cape Town and took care of Chris-marie’s perfect hair.
Martelize Wessels created the wreaths for the bridesmaids’ hair with greens, folded flowers and roses.

Riversdale NG Church

Ds. Deon Beyers from NG Church Riversdale West officiated our wedding. This is the Chrurch I grew up in. He was very well prepared and gave a wonderful message at the ceremony. He also prepared us for the ceremony during a practise session on the beach the day before.

A Photographer with Experience

Landi from Organictales Photography was very professional and we could see that this was definitely not her first time taking wedding photos. She went the extra mile and tried to capture every moment of our special day. She made us feel at ease and was not just a photographer, but also became a friend. Pictures are all you have left after your wedding day and we wanted to make sure we had the best photographer capturing our special moments.

Videographer in motion

Henlu & Karin Cronje from “Cronje Productions” did an excellent job at recording our special day on camera. They literally think about every little detail. I would definitely recommend them to anyone that is getting married.

Memories with Friends and Family

For both of us the most memorable moment of the day was when we walked in at the reception and everyone waited for us with sparkles and something to drink.  We could see everyone was having a good time which definitely set the mood for the evening.

A Cash Bar with Cocktails

Hansie Saayman Bar services made gin cocktails, cosmopolitans and had lots of ciders when the guests arrived at the reception. Red wine, white wine and grape juice were from Calitzdorp Wine Cellar and Champagne from KWV. Hansie and his team were very organized and had more than enough available for everyone.

Friends and Food!

Now this is a surprise to everyone… We didn’t have a caterer.
 Breads and spreads were made by the bride, the mothers, and grandmothers of the bride and groom.
A close friend of ours did a Lamb Spit for the main. Our farm neighbours organized the kitchen, made the roasted veggies, potatoes and pumpkin fritters. My two aunts made the salad and tropical fruit sticks!
 Everyone was so helpful and this was much so cheaper than caterers.
Menu:
Starters:
Snacks and a variety of breads and spreads
Main:
Sheep spit
Sheep spit rolls with mozzarella and bacon inside.
Roasted Veggies
Crispy Potatoes
Pumpkin Fritters
Salad Sticks
Tropical fruit sticks
Desert:
Wedding cake – Carrot cake
Ferrero Roche Tower
Doughnut wall
Take-away/eat-in portion deserts: Chocolate mouse, peppermint crisp tart, cheese cake and strawberry tart.

Music and the Ocean

 Charles Du Preez from “Just For You” made sure everything went according to plan with music and sound at the ceremony as well as the reception.  He did an exquisite job. One of my bridesmaids, Irma Du Toit, sang a beautiful song at the ceremony called “Far away” written by David Edwards.  Jeandre Schultz from the band ‘Slow Jack”  in Cape Town, played the guitar while Irma sang while we signed the register. This was a very special moment with the ocean waving in the background and all our friends and family witnessing our union.

Chris-marie & Steyn’s Advice to other couples:

Planning a wedding is a very big step. Be organized and double check everything. Get a good photographer and videographer, because this is all you have left at the end to keep as memories. It is important to have a DJ that knows what they’re doing. Sound and music can make or break a wedding. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Make use of your loved ones, friends and family for advice and planning. Our friends and family were very helpful and without them, our wedding would not have been the same.

Multiple Destination Honeymoon!

We had such a lovely Honeymoon driving from Stillbay to Mosselbay and spending the night at Nyaru Game Lodge. From there we went to PE and then to East London. We had a lovely time at Coffee bay next and had the privilege to see Hole in the wall. We were traveling along the coast till Durban where we got onto the MSC Sinfonia for a 3 night trip to the Portuguese Island.

Wessels Wedding in ONE sentence: 

The best party we ever had!

 

 

List of Service Providers:

Photography: ORGANICTALES
Caterers: Friends and Family
DJ: Just For You
Bar:  Hansie Saayman Bar Services
Dress alterations: Esna Saayman
MAU: Stephanie Kamfer & Natasha Henning
Hair: Mariaan Odendaal & Verna-Marie Beukes
Videography: Henlu Cronje

 

 

 

 

Watch Chris-Marie & Steyn’s wedding trailer here.  Filmed and compiled by Henlu Cronje Productions

 

Cederberg Mountain Wedding

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Cederberg Mountain Wedding

A mountainside chapter.

I have struggled to hold back my excitement to blog this Cederberg Mounting Wedding.  Not only was it breathtakingly beautiful, but also the magnificent bond between family and friends that were present during this weekend celebration.  There is one thing that stood out over and above all, and that was the very evidence of the beauty inside Tanya and Stephan’s hearts.  The evidence lay in all the tasks, favours and love from every single family member and friend present on the day.  One could really tell that this couple were not just any couple – they are loved, adored and respected by everyone in their lives.  Oh what fantastic event to be a part of!  Here follows there story:

 

A Tale as old as Time

We met in Primary school when Stephan was in Grade 7 & I was in Grade 6.  I remember he told me that I was the coolest girl in Grade 6 and I was instantly in love. He then went to high school and we lost contact – not that we were friends or anything as he never knew I had a crush on him! We went to different High schools and never thought of one another again until my cousin, who were in the same High scool as Stephan, invited me to a house party to finally meet this best friend of hers that she kept telling me about. That’s where we met again 2 years later and the spark was back! He asked my cousin for my number and we started chatting- I even ended up switching High schools and that was that! We were together ever since and married today 13 years later! He understands me like nobody else and it feels like I learn something new everyday when we’re together. There’s literally never a dull moment with him and I love that! He’s the best person I know and my very best friend! I’m the luckiest girl alive!

The Spontaneous Proposal

Apparently Stephan had this whole romantic proposal with the most perfect location planned but it didn’t go down like that…. He went to the jeweller that designed my ring and wanted to go and show my dad how it looked before he asked me – the diamond is my late mom’s and he thought my dad would like to see the final result. So…we planned a day out with my brother and his fiance and Stephan had the ring in this pocket the whole time since he didn’t get a chance to put it away!
Later that night we went out dancing and Stephan started getting  weird and I couldn’t understand what was going on with him!  We then got home and I was busy getting a bed ready for my brother and his fiancée when Stephan got down on one knee and proposed at 3:30am in the morning! I thought he was joking at first but realized it was for real! He kept apologizing because he never wanted it to be unplanned or not romantic but he said he couldn’t wait any longer and wanted me to be his wife ASAP!! I don’t mind how it should have happened it was perfect for us!!

Check out their engagement photos by clicking HERE

Pineapples and Pinterest

We had our own style for our Cederberg Mountain Wedding and didn’t really go with set colours or palettes. I found lots of inspiration on Pinterest- obviously! We got married on a farm called Suikerbossie Guest Farm in Ceres and to be honest we didn’t really need much to make it look like something! We had raw wooden tables with flowers and leaves as runners and golden spray painted pineapples as décor! It was a mix of my vintage modern style and Stephan’s minimalistic and easygoing personality. It worked out perfectly and we loved how everything turned out!

Cederberg Mountain Wedding

I don’t know why everyone wouldn’t choose Suikerbossie Guest Farm! Although not everyone has the guts to do a DIY wedding!  Honestly it was quite challenging at times, but that’s what we wanted and it was absolutely perfect! This venue is so unique, beautiful and was accommodating to our every need! It was the exact vibe we wanted as we had a weekend wedding and everyone had accommodation and  so much fun together! We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding venue ever!

A Farmgirl Wedding Planner

Natasha Hunter is the daughter of Suikerbossie Guest Farm owner and knows the farm like the palm of her hand. She was our wedding planner and helped in so many ways.  She made her services available to us and guided us in the right direction. When our ideas got too crazy she kept us grounded, but most of all she gave us sound advice and was present, which is all we really needed.

Make-up by Mariaan

Mariaan Louw was excellent!  She made me feel like a million bucks.  Mariaan is so easy to get along with and really understands what her clients want. She’s very talented and made sure I was done, ready and beautiful on time for the big celebration.

A Dress named Vera

I was very indecisive about a dress and went to quite a few different stores.  I had a specific style in mind. After my Bridesmaids and I decided on one specific fitted dress, my decision was final. Until…..my maid of honour made an appointment at Smoorverlief Bridal in Somerset West and kept it secret from me. We got there the next day and she said “because you found the dress you wanted yesterday, let’s just fit dresses for fun today”. We then went on to look at every dress they had and she asked me to choose my favourites, I tried all of them and chose my Favourite three. Eventually I had to choose only one and had to put it on again! Everyone in the room got emotional and I felt like a real life princess!! I knew that she was the one!! Cindy Bam is the designer and every dress she makes has a name.  Mine is called Vera! She is absolutely beautiful!

A Ring to remember Her by

My ring was made from my late mother’s wedding ring diamond. She passed away 2 years ago and it has a lot of sentimental value! It is a complete unique design made by Hettie, at Studio 46 in Blouberg. She is super talented and Stephan knew exactly what I wanted and guided her perfectly! I had Stephan’s ring made by her as well and had it engraved which was a huge surprise to him!

Words for our Hearts

We were married by Ds Franky from Ceres NGK.  Stephan’s aunt introduced us to him as she knew him for years. He knew the exact words to say and felt like we knew each other for years. I know Stephan looks up to him and that means a lot!

A Photographer who blends in.

When we were starting to plan our wedding the first thing we agreed on is that we need an excellent photographer since the photos- besides the memories- are the only thing you have left to look at after the wedding. We found Landi from ORGANICTALES on Facebook and contacted her ASAP after we looked at her portfolio and saw that her work is ridiculously good!! She is amazing and I will recommend her to anyone! She is not just a photographer she blends in with your friends and family and she becomes a part of the pack!

Memories we won’t forget!

It’s hard to say what part of the day was the most memorable.  The whole day was exactly how we dreamed of.   For me, the most memorable was probably when we went to take photos with Landi and with the help of Jaco Hunter as guide, we climbed up a cliff to take the best pictures of the sunset at the top! For Stephan the best part was when I walked down the aisle, as well as the photos on the cliff.

A Scandalous Foodtruck!

Scandalous Foodtruck was one of the talking points of the weekend. Everyone loved their food and their vibe. We made the best choice when we decided on getting them at the wedding.
We had baskets for starters that contained; rosemary potato wedges, deep fried calamari, pork riblets and chicken wings with a spicy mayo.
There was a choice between 3 mains;
– 150g  Homemade beef burger with biltong and cheese sauce with fries and salad.
– Lamb rolls wrapped in a homemade italian flatbread & mild chilly mint dressing.
– Steak baguette with homemade pickled onions, topped with melted cheddar cheese.

It was amazing and everyone could help themselves to more than enough. We had a cash bar with our own currency (Van Schalkwyk Dollar from the Pineapple Republic) we liked the idea of having a proper bar area and it was a nice meeting area for everyone to mingle and chat.

Music and Friends!

Our good friend Amoré offered to be our DJ on the day as her wedding gift to us. She provided all the music and equipment needed and everyone enjoyed her! She kept the party going until everyone’s feet hurt! She is a professional singer/ entertainer with a beautiful voice and awesome stage presence. She wrote a song for us and sang it for the first time as we stepped out as Mr & Mrs Van Schalkwyk.

 

Tanya & Stephan’s Advice to other couples:

Book your venue, photographer and other big stuff ASAP and get that out of the way and secured!
Girls get your dress first! I got mine 8 months before the wedding and it was the best decision I have ever made!! Then just talk to your partner and help each other.  It’s supposed to be a day that portrays the both of you, so keep communicating and pitch in.

Honeymoon plans?

Our sole focus was on the wedding and we paid for it ourselves.  We decided to go to Knysna for a temporary honeymoon this December and save save save next year to go on an ultimate honeymoon somewhere overseas. Neither of us has ever been on a plane or anywhere overseas so we are very excited to travel the world together for the first time!!

Tanya & Stephan’s Description of the day:

 BEST DAY EVERRRR!!!

 

Service Providers at this stunning Cederberg Mountain Wedding:

Photography:  ORGANICTALES
Venue: SUIKERBOSSIE GUEST FARM
Wedding Planner: Natasha Hunter
Photo Location Guide: Jaco Hunter
Make-up and Hair: Mariaan Louw
Wedding Dress: Cindy Bam
Rings: Studio 46
Catering: Scandalous Food
Sound: Amoré

 

110 Best Wedding Photography of 2017

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110 Best Wedding Photography 2017

– A reminiscent chapter

2017 has been nothing short of one of my favourite, yet challenging life journeys yet.  It definitely was not easy.  After relocating to South Africa and setting up camp in Cape Town, it has been a non stop adventure.

I can proudly say that my first year back in South Africa, has been a big success.  It was my most testing year of life to date with record amounts of challenges both personally and in business. Hours upon hours of hard work, late nights and early mornings.  But the sweetest of all was hands down the fact that I got to meet so many beautiful, inspiring and interesting individuals – both as clients and as fellow industry trend setters.

It is the biggest honour when someone entrusts you with one of the most important tasks at their wedding.  Documenting a love story so true and deep it sometimes leaves me heavily affected and love sick.  After all, this is about love in it’s entirety.  And as cliche as it sounds – what is more beautiful in this world than love?

After documenting the last love story for 2017 recently, I thought it a good time to look back at all my favourite wedding photography of the year.  I compiled them all together here as my favourite 110 photographs in no particular order.  Some of them are favourites purely because of the moment and story behind the story and other are favourites because of photographic appeal.

I hope you enjoy and if you do – please comment with which one is your favourite!

 

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Robertson Wedding Photographer

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