When you hear the words Boschendal Wine Estate, you are immediately transported to an idyllic farm setting in the Winelands. Known for their incredible food, wine, luxury weddings and exquisite location, it's no wonder it was the only venue of choice for the 2020 legendary Bride of the Year Friday Night Dinner. After what has been a rollercoaster of a year for the wedding and event industry, our Top 12 finalists were treated like absolute royalty at this show-stopping property and had the opportunity to meet each other and mingle, create new friendships, wine and dine, and dance the night away at Boschendal’s renowned Olive Press wedding venue.
The Olive Press stands tall and majestic as it overlooks the striking meadow garden and Simonsberg Mountain range. Softly the evening arrived with its gentle sunset that painted the sky with vivid and beautiful hues - the perfect backdrop for our VIP guests. As we entered the Olive Press porch, we were treated to the delightful sounds of the bagpipes from our very own Craig Ballantyne, followed by an awe-inspiring fire dance from the team at Fire Tribe. Fire Tribe certainly knows how to turn up the heat when it comes to a memorable event! Dusk twinkled in as we enjoyed roaming canapés, sexy waters and a live sabrage from one of Boschendal’s finest sommeliers. Sabrage is a technique for opening a champagne bottle with a saber, used for ceremonial occasions and what could be more ceremonious than being a finalist at SA Weddings Bride of the Year 2020!
Not knowing what was in store for them inside the venue, our finalists, the SA Weddings Team, MC Graeme Richards and Boschendal guests, were treated to some incredible live entertainment. We do adore an action-packed canapé hour and the Boschendal Dream Team at the venue certainly did not disappoint.
Craig Ballantyne Bagpiper
Our lovely couples were greeted with a fantastic welcome by the talented Craig Ballantyne Bagpiper. Craig brought a touch of timeless elegance to the Bride of the Year 2020 event and our guests absolutely loved it! As the stirring notes of his bagpipes echoed through the estate, he captivated our esteemed guests and set the perfect tone for an unforgettable evening.
Fire Tribe
Needing no introduction, Fire Tribe is a household name when it comes to epic Bride of the Year events. As South Africa’s leading fire performance troupe, this dynamic and multi-talented team are known for their bold and expressive performances. If you’re looking to leave your guests with a lasting impression, Fire Tribe is a must have entertainer at your wedding or event. Interacting with our guests and surprising us with some epic choreography, Fire Tribe undoubtedly brought the literal flames to the start of a magical evening.
Caricatures by Martinus
Expect nothing but smiles and a whole lot of laughter when the legendary Martinus is in the building. Delighting our guests with their very own personalised caricatures, Martinus made an already memorable night, one for the books! His calm and collected demeanour may fool you at first but wow, when he reveals your caricature, you can’t help but smile from ear to ear. The level of detail and accuracy was mind-blowing. Martinus, a true master of his craft, is able to produce 20 spot-on caricatures per hour - a speed unsurpassed by anyone in South Africa. These bespoke caricatures make for the perfect guest favour to take home and serve as the perfect ice breaker amongst new friends.
That Girl in the Bubble
If you’re wanting the wow factor for your wedding or event, the incredible Carol Thorns: an amazingly talented, gracious and beautiful cellist as well as the Girl in the Bubble, is a must! Known for her stage presence and musical talents, Carol is truly gifted. Our finalists were pleasantly surprised when they turned the corner and saw a real life cellist in a wonderfully-lit bubble. Performing some incredible chart toppers, Carol had our guests entertained from start to finish.
“ The Bubble™ is the preeminent, original staging concept – the perfect marriage of music, architecture and light. This breathtaking visual and musical performance is guaranteed to make an impressive statement at events” - The Bubble Live
The bubble also provides the perfect selfie moment too and the photo opportunities are endless. It truly is a sight to behold and set the tone for the moreish dinner awaiting our finalists!
Boschendal Wine Estate is well known for their delectable and delicate cuisine and it certainly did not disappoint. Guests were treated to the most mouth-watering, flavoursome, and perfectly-plated meals. An absolute feast for the eyes, this show-stopping three course dinner paired with Boschendal’s finest wines, tantalised our palates and senses. The meals were well seasoned and showcased the farm’s finest, homegrown ingredients. “All ingredients used are sustainably grown on the farm or locally sourced from small producers, ensuring a flavourful and nourishing menu that is ethically sourced” - Boschendal Estate.
Farm to table dining never looked or tasted better!
No stranger to the industry, we were elated when popular wedding planners and stylists, Scape Events, joined the event dream team! Known for their out of this world concepts, brilliant execution, stylish furniture and decor collections, and amazing team, we knew we were in brilliant hands. The long banquet tables were delicately adorned with rich floral arrangements, all sourced from the Boschendal grounds. Talk about stylish sustainability! The rich fauna and flora present on the farm allowed Scape Events to create luscious organic arrangements, adorned with copper candelabras - the perfect finishing touch to add rich ambient lighting to this stunning setup! Mother Nature truly showed off with her beautiful tones and textures and we could not envision a more perfect setup ! Complete with gorgeous wonki ware crockery and natural linen napkins from Tablecloth Hiring, this reception dinner setup truly made the meal one for the books!
Catch our epic Friday night dinner highlight reel from the amazing Wedding Crashers to see this fabulous evening in its entirety! To our amazing event dream team, let’s do it again and soon!
FireTribe is South Africa’s leading FIRE PERFORMANCE troupe with over 16 years of professional experience creating beautiful fire dancing shows for all types of events.
We shoot documentary style wedding videos that capture the natural feel of your day.
Organic, nostalgic and soulful are just some of the words that have been used to describe my photography.
Cape Town based photographer specializing in Weddings, couples and all things LOVE!
Martinus van Tee is a Cape Town based entertainer who specialises in classy, super fast caricatures at weddings.