I know I’ve said this a thousand times,
but I feel so passionate about the importance of capturing life’s most precious moments.
Every year I try to give back to the universe for blessing me over and over again. Due to COVID-19, it’s been 2 whole years since I’ve held this competition. But I’ve been itching to do so and I finally couldn’t wait any longer.
So if you haven’t booked your photographer for your 2023 wedding, submit the survey at the bottom of this post!
Organictales will offer one lucky couple a chance to WIN FREE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY worth R18 000!
THE PRIZE
* A Pre-Wedding Shoot with 30 High Resolution Images * Pre-Wedding Meeting and Discussion * 10 Hours Wedding Day Photography. * High Resolution Digital Files on a USB
But that’s not all! ORGANICTALES will offer special discounted pricing to anyone who entered the competition but didn’t win! (T’s & C’s apply).
ORGANICTALES PHOTOGRAPHY will also sponsor up to 3 other prizes for people who entered this competition but did not receive first prize.
So how do you enter and Win Free Wedding Photography?
THE COMPETITION:
Couples chosen as finalists must be able to meet with me for a VIDEO CALL interview.
All you have to do is fill out the survey at the bottom of this post.
For some extra points you can also go and FOLLOW me on Instagram and like/comment on 5 – 10 of your favourite images on my feed to help me understand which of my photos fall in your favourites list. This helps me to get a better idea of the style and feel you desire in your wedding photography. Find me @Organictales
Fill out this survey below and send through to competitions@organictales.com and stand a chance to WIN FREE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Entries valid for weddings taking place any time between March 2023 – Dec 2023.
Competition closes 28 Feb 2023.
Since a wedding takes enormous amounts of time to photograph, process and deliver, only couples who complete ALL steps will be considered. This is a very personal gift and therefore only couples who show genuine interest and enthusiasm will be selected as finalists.
Good luck everyone!!
SURVEY
Please DOUBLE check that your email address is correct. If not I will not be able to respond to your entry.
If you have any problems submitting – please email your answers/images directly to: competitions@organictales.com / info@organictales.com
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If you struggle to submit or do not receive any reply from ORGANICTALES within 7 days of submission, please send an email with your answers and photos to competitions@organictales.com
*Organictales Photography reserves the right to cancel this competition or disqualify any entry without notice*
We started the Spring Season of weddings at the beautiful Tuscan Rose Wedding venue in Bloemfontein. With beautiful gardens and beautiful Tuscan architecture, it definitely did not disappoint.
How did you meet and what drew you to each other?
Our love story started way back in 2012 when we were just kids attending the same secondary school. We were both very sporty and competitive which created the initial attraction. And the rest is history.
Was your wedding affected by Covid-19 and how?
Yes, we were limited to 50 guests and the curfew were at 10pm which resulted in a shorter wedding. The wedding day in itself is expected to go by very soon but with the curfew it went by even sooner.
What made you choose your venue?
We chose our venue 100% because of the people from the venue. Veronica and Niel are the ones in charge of all the arrangements and from the first visit we felt so welcome and cared for. They went above and beyond to deliver in every aspect, and we could not be more satisfied. And their food is amazing.
Who did your hair and make-up and how did you find them?
My hair was done by Petrie Claasens and my make up by Karle Potgieter – and I had the best in the business. I literally loved every single detail not just on the day but also during the trials and the journey leading up to the wedding.
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?
We prepared our own vows and that by far was the most precious moment of the day for both of us.
Tell us something funny about your wedding weekend.
We had a garden wedding with rose bushes surrounding the area and also right next to the aisle where I was walking down to meet up with my then fiancé. I had a long vail and while walking up to the altar my vail hooked to one of the thrones on one of the bushes causing my dad and myself to come to a complete stop. This was funny but also perfect because it definitely broke the silence.
If you could change anything from the day, what would it be?
The only thing I would change is the curfew. I just wish we could have had more time to enjoy the day with our guests.
How did you experience you photographer’s service?
We could not be more satisfied. Landi is friendly and a pleasant person to be around. She creates an comfortable atmosphere especially for people like us who are quite uncomfortable Infront of the camera. She has great ideas and always deliver the best product. Definitely going to make use of het services again in future.
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.
It was a hot February summer’s day. A Friday with not as much as a breeze in the air.
I arrived at Forrest 44 while The Flower Place were busy working there magic with the decor and flowers. Everyone of us having a water bottle close by to make sure the summer heat didn’t get the better of us. This is where I met both mothers – Lydia Boyd and Erica Galloway. Two wonderful women who have both raised two exceptional individuals.
This wedding celebration was by far one for the books. The guests and friends traveled from every corner of the world to form part of these happy festivities and unification of two strong families. It was such a big honour to form part of this beautiful day and over the months prior getting to know Donna and Graeme. It is something very special when clients turn in to friends. I wish you both all the best in the future. I know that every single person who shared this beautiful day with you, love you both dearly from the bottom of their hearts.
The Karoo. A place with real people, Genuine stories and vast dry landscapes. It is the canvas that Stanley and Elaine chose for their wedding vows.
As I pulled in to Rooiberg Lodge after a 4.5 hour drive from Cape Town, I could smell the rain hanging over the landscape in thick dark clouds. There were still a good 24 hours before the ceremony would take place and some rain would be very welcome in this dry, yet rich desert plain.
Stanley and Elaine’s story started 9 years ago. Both small town kids with a natural love for the big outdoors. They definitely chose a fantastic venue to express this part of their relationship with friends and family traveling wide and far to attend this one-of-a-kind celebration.
Duvon Wine Estate – 17-06-2017
A Beautiful family owned wine estate, nestled in the unique mountains of the Robertson Valley – Duvon Estate made for a lovely atmosphere where Johan & Alecia exchanged their promises in front of their closest friends and relatives.
I love intimate and small weddings the best because I love how genuine and real the relationships and laughter flow freely on the day.
This day was perfect! Thank you for making me a part of your most beautiful day.
Thank you to all the service providers, family and friends who contributed to how beautiful everything looked on the day.
Words simply cannot explain. Goosebumps still let my arm hair raise when I think about the strong sense of love that was so overwhelmingly present on this day. The ceremony was one of a kind. Rye-lee looked stunning and beyond and their spontaneous laughter, tears and praise filled the canopy of trees under which they promised themselves to each other.
I want to write a whole book on this beautiful day, but I’ll let the pictures do the talking instead.
To all the vendors that helped make this day special to the couple:
The day Jenna Nadelman and Blake Esrechowitz chose to celebrate their union, started with the hint of celebrations chiming in the wind. Everything about this day was special. Excitement and anticipation was creeping in to the toes of everyone about to share this Kiddushin – the jewish word for Betrothal ceremony.
I started the day with Blake and his 14 groomsmen over at Zevenwacht Estate. The strong brotherly bond between all these men was really something incredible to witness. Most of them childhood friends supporting and celebrating their friend’s glorious day.
I then made my way to the most beautiful, most calm and caring bride, Jenna. The girls chatting, laughing and getting excited for the big event.The first tradition was the Bedeken Ceremony. An age old jewish unveiling ceremony. After spending a week apart without any verbal contact, the groom and bride see each other for the first time before the wedding ceremony. This is where the groom lifts the veil of his most beautiful bride to make sure, that he will indeed be marrying his love.
I had so much fun experiencing all the traditions that were to follow – the breaking of the glass, seeing most beauitful Chuppa made by the groom’s mom, under which they recited the seven blessings. The hora dances were possibly the most fun I’ve experienced at a wedding! My goodness! So much excitement, love, laughter and emotions!This was certainly a wedding I’ll remember for years to come! Loved every second of it.
To Blake & Jenna – MAZEL TOV!
To all the amazing vendors who contributed to this very special celebration: Thank you!
“But you can set sail to the west if you want to
And pass the horizon, ’til I can’t even see you
Far from here
Where the beaches are wide
Just leave me your wake to remember you by
If you’ll be my star
I’ll be your sky
You can hide underneath me and come out at night”
~Gregory and the Hawk
Was your wedding affected by Covid-19 and how?
What made you choose your venue?
Who did your hair and make-up and how did you find them?
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?
If you could change anything from the day, what would it be?
How did you experience you photographer’s service?
