best cape town wedding photographer Archives

Diamant Estate Wedding – Sara & Morgan

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Diamant Estate Wedding.

~The Manor House Chapter

The Meeting.

Morgan:
Sara and I met on flight BD772 on Saturday the 17th October 2009. We were each returning to London from Cairo after separately travelling to Egypt with different friends.

My trip had been slightly traumatic and included being scammed into buying fake perfume in Cairo, unnecessarily riding camels (instead of taking a bus!) to the pyramids, being detained by the Egyptian army for several hours at a military base in Suez, getting lost and arriving at the Israeli border during the night and bursting an ear drum whilst diving in Dahab. Sara has been far wiser (as usual) and booked a guided holiday that went fantastically.

Sara found me speaking to a friend in the aisle and the three of us sparked up a conversation. She had only recently arrived in Europe and was eager to share her contiki adventures whilst we tried to impress her with our own recent stories from Egypt. We chatted for the entire flight before sharing contact details when it was time to return to our seats for landing.

I was initially drawn to Sara since she was always up for an adventure. Over time I realised that she was an extremely kind and compassionate person which makes her a wonderful companion. It also doesn’t hurt that we have many similar tastes in terms of food, travel, music etc.

Sara:

Morgan’s story about how we met is 100% true! It was one of the most interesting flights ever. I remember thinking these guys were really funny, and their misadventures in Egypt sounded like something out of fiction, so very impressive! Morgan did well despite being barely able to hear me with his burst ear drum. When it was time to leave them, I remember watching them walk through the border together, and hoping that I would get the chance to see him again. He has said he was doing the same thing, and hearing him say that on our wedding night made me realise how lucky we are.

Over our years together I have been constantly drawn to Morgan, and as our time grew, he has pulled me closer. He is kind, loving, and respects me for who I am. He says I’m up for adventure and that’s true, but he has always been the one searching for our next little trip, and sometimes I can take some convincing to go along for the ride. It is because of him that have I learnt to ski, scuba dive, drive a car, climb a mountain, ride around Asia on a scooter, and perhaps most exotic of all, go to Cuba on whim without really knowing what to expect. I have him to thank for bringing out the best in me, and I love that we are going to have a whole lifetime together to keep adventuring. He is my best friend.

The Proposal.

Morgan:
The proposal went down terribly! I had known for several years that I wanted to propose to Sara and despite usually being impatient I planned it thoroughly. On a holiday home over Christmas I discussed my plans with my parents and my father very kindly gave me the stone from his mother’s engagement ring. I returned to London and found a jeweler to commission a bespoke ring in time for our summer holiday to Corfu. Unfortunately the ring wasn’t quite ready on time but it was our final trip for the summer and after consulting a few of my female friends I decided to proceed without the ring! After arriving in Corfu I planned to pop the question at a romantic little restaurant on a jetty over the ocean. On the afternoon that we were due to have dinner there we found ourselves sitting alone at a restaurant overlooking a beautiful beach called Agios Gordios. Sara commented on how perfect the setting was and I spontaneously decided to do it then and there! Unfortunately I didn’t drop a knee and had no ring so she initially thought that I was joking! It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing but she said yes and shortly after we had a celebratory drink with my brother and his fiance.

Sara:
The proposal was not a fairy tale! I had no idea Morgan was planning to propose. I had for years (despite not thinking it would happen) prepared what I would say if he ever proposed to me and I can say that I said none of that!

The beach was beautiful. Turquoise water, steep cliffs and it was virtually empty apart from us, perched on a sand dune watching the sun set. I can see why he threw caution to the wind! After I said yes and apologised for not taking him seriously, I thought about everything I wished I said, and later, I said it all. I think we both felt better after that. The next few days were surreal, and spending those times with Damian and Thomas made it even more special. When we got back to London, many of our friends also shared their own proposal stories… as it turns out, it NEVER goes to plan!

The Rings.

Morgan:
Sara’s engagement ring is a bespoke design that uses my grandmother’s diamond as it’s main feature. We decided to get matching wedding bands that were made from the same material as the engagement ring. We found a local jeweler in London to provide these but when we went to visit Sara thought that I looked stressed out about the process. When we left I admitted that I had had a terrible headache in the shop explained my facial expressions. Nevertheless the rings turned out perfectly!

Sara:
My engagement ring is important to me. Morgan’s family gave him the diamond from his grandmother’s ring, which is very sentimental. From that moment, I felt like I had been trusted with an important responsibility. On top of that, Morgan had designed the ring in secret, and I admire him for his resolve to do that. It ring is beautiful, I love it, and it’s an honour to wear a family heirloom. Our wedding bands are very simple, owing to Morgan having a very bad headache while we were in the shop, so designs were decided swiftly. Ultimately, the simplicity is exactly what we both wanted

Diamant Estate Wedding.

We fell in love with Diamant Estate on our first visit. The whole venue is fantastic but we were drawn to the Manor House and the lovely lawn overlooking Paarl. We couldn’t have been happier with our choice and it would seem that our guests agreed since many commented on the venue during the wedding day.

Peter Smallbones, a priest from the Claremont Baptist Church, officiated. Peter’s wife works with my mother who suggested that we consider him. We chose him because he was known to the family and also because of his very relaxed and friendly demeanor.

Mon Amour Events – Jessica Thiart.

Morgan:
We found Jessica Thiart of Mon Amour Events through our friends Mike and Antonia. They had a lovely wedding in Stellenbosch and couldn’t stop raving about Jessica so we asked for her details and met to discuss our plans a few days later. We really couldn’t rate this service highly enough! Jessica was instrumental in every aspect of the event and we never could have done it without her. It was especially useful since we are based overseas. We especially liked her consistently calm demeanor which allowed us to enjoy the day to the fullest!

Sara:
We approached Jessica from Mon Amour Events for her business card at our friends, Mike and Antonia’s wedding. We loved the wedding in Stellenbosch, and after months of indecision on where we would be married, we finally knew it be possible in South Africa. From the very beginning Jessica was perfect for us. Extremely organised, and patient with us being far away, she did an amazing job of organising our wedding. People always say things go wrong on your wedding day…that is not an option if Jessica is on your team!

Cape Town Wedding Photographer.

Morgan:
We found Landi and Organictales through a recommendation from my dad after he had seen some of her work online. We really liked her style and thought that it might be a small way that we could include my dad in our planning. We met Landi for a coffee and her service ever since has been absolutely phenomenal. She is incredibly professional, responsive, organised, relaxed and passionate. We knew that the photos would form an import part of our memories of the day and are so pleased with the beautiful pictures from Organictales!

Sara:
Morgan’s dad suggested Organictales after his love of horses led him to gorgeous shot of girl and horse which was taken by Landi. We had already been offered a list of photographers from our wedding planner, but we both liked the creativity of Landi’s photographs and also thought we could include Morgan’s dad in the planning by choosing his suggestion. It was the right decision. Landi is a professional. I loved her commitment to getting a shot right, and importantly as someone who is by default uncomfortable in front of a camera, she did her best to make me feel comfortable and beautiful. I’m sure our wedding photos will capture the happiness of the day

Service Providers:
(Please do not copy, lift or download images from this site. A Downloadable Link will be made available to service providers to download images soon)

Venue: Diamant Estate

Photography: Organictales
Assistants: Anje van Dalen & Graham Richardson

Coordination and Planning: Mon Amour Events

Catering: Red Pepper Catering

Lighting: Authentic Planning

Flowers: Bouwer Flowers

Live Entertainment: Angelo and Jane

DJ and Sound: Music 2 the Max

March 6, 2019

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Delsma Farm Wedding – Lara & Wiehann

By ORGANICTALESWedding2 Comments

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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The Oaks Estate Wedding – Why intimate weddings are so unique

By ORGANICTALESWedding3 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!

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

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