A recap on the first ever virtual Bride of the Year event
We're excited to bring you the 19th annual SA Weddings Bride of the Year Event and this time with a little twist! Not even Covid-19 could stop this legendary bridal competition from taking place. Bride of the Year is an annual event that sees thousands of brides entering from all over South Africa. Over the year a monthly finalist is crowned in the form of a Mrs January through to Mrs December, which is determined based on public votes. The top 12 finalists will then compete for the title of Bride of the Year at our first ever Virtual Event.
When the President announced a nationwide lockdown, the panic set in! After a full year of dedicated planning everything came to a crashing holt when the country went into lockdown. All of a sudden, our business had to adapt to the new normal and a new concept for Bride of the Year 2019 was born. With the help of an incredible team, we managed to bring the event to life virtually. A blessing and a challenge, the event had to continue. With so many brides working so hard and campaigning right to the very end - going virtual was the only way.
As our team conceptualised how to proceed forward, we got in touch with our official Bride of the Year 2019 Videographer Josh from Bespoke Creations who advised us on creating the event in a virtual format. Josh was so incredibly helpful and was the definition of hands on. No stone was left unturned as he helped us navigate through these uncharted waters. Josh, thank you so much for every single thing you did to assist the SA Weddings team. We are forever grateful and could not recommend your services enough. Brides and grooms-to-be, using Bespoke Creations for your big day will be one of the easiest wedding planning decisions you will ever make.
No stranger to the limelight, our official #SAWBOTY2019 MC David Johnson truly was the glue that kept this beautiful event together. Together with his TV experience and charismatic charm, David adapted to the new format with ease. As we could not host the event in the way that we normally do, David interviewed the brides in a full home setup via ZOOM. Each bridal couple was awarded a 25min interview slot where they dressed up in their wedding attire and answered a series of questions. These recorded interviews were sent to the 4 celebrity judges who then judged the couples based on their intro videos, their ZOOM interviews and their unique Bride of the Year profile on SA Weddings. David certainly brought the best out in each couple and every single interview was unique and reflective of our beautiful couples.
No SA Weddings Bride of the Year Event is ever complete without our famous celebrity judges! Despite not being able to meet the couples in person, our judges took their roles very seriously. With constant updates and sharing fun behind the scenes footage, our judges were absolutely amazing and made the #SAWBOTY2019 experience one for the books.
Meet Graeme Richards
A familiar face on screen, Graeme Richards has been keeping South African's entertained for years! A presenter, actor, model, writer and entertainment entrepreneur, Graeme is a master of many talents!
Meet Bianca Le Grange
Wife to David Johnson, Bianca knows the secret to a healthy and happy marriage. A vivacious personality with a killer voice, Bianca Le Grange is a born superstar seeing her travel all across the globe to show the world her amazing talents!
Meet Lylie Moolman
Lylie Moolman from Giltedge Ocean Islands! With an avid career spanning over 20 years in luxury travel, Lylie is the beauty and brains to help make your travel dreams nothing short of magical. She is also the person behind that luxurious trip to the Maldives.
Meet Mario Atzemoglou
A celebrity hairstylist to the stars, Mario is the owner and founder of Mario's Company for Hair in Cape Town. With a keen eye for detail, Mario knows everything there is to know about pulling a beautiful bridal look together. Marios says, “Transforming women is my absolute passion. I feel really blessed to do a job that allows me to create and be an ambassador for something that I love.”
With a chilled flute of Piper Heidsieck Champage, we were all perched on the edge of our seats on 13 June 2020 at 19h30 as the show went live! As our official beverage sponsor, Piper Heidsieck Champage is the only choice for luxurious celebrations. For the entire duration we could hardly contain our excitement because every single finalist did an exceptional job. It was so fun getting to see little snippets of each couple in their element, talking about their love, wedding days, who said I love you first and more! David kept it fun and light hearted which allowed each couple to open up fully and really let their love for one another shine through.
We are so pleased to announce that all our finalists did a stellar job but a winner and first and second runner up had to be crowned. The three finalists received prizes to the value of R295 000. A massive congratulations to our winners:
Chantal Magid: Mrs December 2019
The SA Weddings Bride of the Year 2019 couple will spend a 7-night stay for two in the Maldives at the premium Deluxe Beach Villa including return sea plane transfers to the luxurious Adaaran Select Meedhupparu - Maldives courtesy of Giltedge Ocean Islands and Adaaran Select Meedhupparu - Maldives to the value of R150,000.
Paula Clark: Mrs November 2019
The first runner up will enjoy a 2-night stay at The Marine Hotel Hermanus, plus a couple’s spa treatment valued at R28 950.00
Minette Olivier: Mrs July 2019
The second runner up will spend a 2-night stay at the Fairway Hotel & Spa, Limpopo plus a couple's spa treatment valued at R7000.00.
The three winning couples will also win share a cash prize of R35 000.00 along with a whole host of other incredible prizes!
On behalf of the SA Weddings team, we were so proud of our finalists and in our eyes everyone is a winner. These stunning couples adapted to the new format with ease and were nothing but fantastic, understanding and super motivated throughout. Right up until the very end, these stunning brides campaigned and rallied up support from friends, family, their wedding service providers and members of the public. It is safe to say that this Bride of the Year event is certainly one for the memory books.
Without all of these amazing prize sponsors, this event simply would not be possible. Despite Covid-19 having a devastating effect on the wedding industry - each of these prize sponsors honored their prize agreement and made this legendary bridal competition just that more special!
Dr Haushke skincare products valued at R21 846.00
Piper Heidsieck Champagne and Black Bottle Whisky for each finalist valued at a total of R11 600
Chandre & Co handbags for each finalist valued at R9000.00
18 Bottles of Inverroche Gin valued at R8500.00
Luxury Sleepwear for each finalist from One Boutique Store valued at R7740.00
Stocked MobiBar from Africa Infused valued at R7500.00
Lenka Skincare valued at R6510.00
Coffee from Uber Coffee Werks valued at R1100.00
Skin Care Hampers from Hemporium valued at R3500.00
Socks from Sexy Socks valued at R2000.00
Fragrance Hampers from Fragrance Boutique valued at R6500.00
Honey from Jan Harmsgat valued at R2500.00
Granola from The Gardener's Cottage valued at R1600.00
Luxury Sleepwear from The Sleep Collective valued at R6600.00
Vouchers from GHD valued at R6000.00
Chocolate from Von Geusau Chocolates valued at R1800.00
Ina Paarman Goodie Bags
Jan Harmsgat Country House is one of the top Swellendam wedding venues and has seen a renaissance that captures its rich past
At Adaaran Select Meedhupparu guests embark on a Premium All-Inclusive offering.
A Progressive craft distillery creating uniquely South African spirits using rare hand-harvested wild African Fynbos botanicals.
Our exquisite Windsor Ballroom hosts up to 180 wedding guests and the wedding ceremony can be held either in the East or West Chapel. Although we recommend hosting weddings of ...
At Giltedge Ocean Islands, we create life-changing experiences for discerning travellers looking for an authentic island getaway.
Situated in Hermanus offers the most wonderful setting to celebrate your honeymoon – the most exciting phase of your new life together.
From designer pyjamas to exquisite body balms, our products are carefully selected to help make your night-time ritual or your wedding day preparations extra special.
We are a dispensing Retail perfumery and stockist of original French fragrances for men and women.
Bespoke Creations is a professional wedding filmmaking company, with a passion for creating professional, cinematic and beautifully captured wedding stories.
