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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

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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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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

 

February 1, 2018
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