This engagement feature looks like the pages out of a glossy magazine, perhaps a DKNY advert even! It is chic and sleek, yet portrays two people who are honestly in love. The inspiration behind their shoot is actually from a bridal magazine spread featured many years ago! Simona remembered the setting and transformed it into her own reality - with Emile by her side and Claire Thomson behind the lens. Congratulations Simona and Emile, we wish you all the best with your big day!
We have known each other for over two years, we took it slow getting to know each other and then started dating after a year.
We are positive people who really enjoy keeping active and the occasional glass of wine.
He proposed in September. We had actually already booked our wedding venue as we knew what we wanted to do - so we thought we had better be prepared ;) We were trying to find a place to have lunch in Franschoek. I was ravenous, so when he suggested a walk in Babylonstoren I wasn't too impressed. He said that we could have lunch at Babel afterwards, which pleased me and my appetite!
The gardens were beautiful so I of course stopped to take pictures of just about everything on our walk. We then started strolling by a stream and when we got to a little bridge along the way, I noticed two Proteas hanging on the bridge. Naturally I went on over to investigate. Looking at the flowers, I was annoyed thinking "ah, this is so sweet, I wish Emile would do something like this for me!" He had! When he asked me to turn around I saw he had placed Marry Me Simona on the steps upon which he was down on one knee.
We opted for a photography package that included an engagement shoot. We both wanted to have pictures of the two of us that weren't only from our wedding day, and we will probably do more! It was lots of fun! It also made us both feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Claire is fantastic - we can't wait for her to photograph our most special day.
We shot our engagement shoot at Rhodes Memorial Monument, it was a beautiful location. I saw a bridal shoot in a magazine that was taken at the same location a few years ago and it has always stuck in my mind. I didn't want the usual "on the beach" engagement shoot. It is not that they are not beautiful as well, but it is just not us.
We kind of picked it out together - it was sweet. We discussed getting married and we made the decision to go and pick it out together… Mostly because I have very different taste and Emile wanted to get me something I would always love, without wanting to secretly change!
We have a wedding co-coordinator at our venue - and she is fantastic! It really has been useful as she handles all the nitty-gritty details that we would never have thought of!