Definitely getting lost in the woods with my bridesmaids on our way to the wedding chapel.
Seeing my husband patiently waiting for us.
The party off-course, we only heard complements afterwards...
For our honeymoon we went to relax at the wonderful Le Meridien Hotel Ile Maurice (A.K.A Island of Mauritius).
The Wedding Dress! Hand-made with love by Magda Stolz, MOB and assisted by professional seamstress Natasha Van Der Berg (Carletonville) they mastered a 7 layered sheathe trumpet/ mermaid that hugged my figure to the T. Hours of love and attention they based the dress on a beloved Maggie Sottero - Sweetheart base neckline with a long sleeved applique lace top layer, stretching in a V-front and very low back.
Sparkling in my chest and dripping from my ears was a glass crystal set bought by my husband (then boyfriend) in Venice, Italy. The silver chain (from Lovisa) did not clash with my off-white dress as the sparkle of the teardrop jewelry were complimented by the glass beads on the lace. If you find yourself envying the sparkles - my eye caught a similar set at Lovisa when I went to buy the chain. My engagement and wedding rings off-course were sparkling a pink Morganite stone set in detailed and intertwined rosegold settings, accompanied by 6 smaller diamonds. Both rings were acquired from Poggenpoel Diamond Jewelers (Pretoria).
Chantel Venter (Swartruggens) took wonderful care of my curls and half-up/ half-down 'do' and is still taking care of these locks post-wedding! https://web.facebook.com/chantelsv
Creative-B (Barbara Van Der Berg) is one of the most talented simplistic - "no fuss" Jewelry Makers I know. This wasn't the first item she has made me and it sure won't be the last - but on the very top of my crown sparkled a gold and silver intertwined wire headpiece - using the same beads from my lace wedding dress to capture the sparkle.
Wilgerie's Beauty Salon (Swartruggens) owned and artistically run by Wilgerie Frauendorf completed my make-up with a dark brown smokey outer edge with inner gold shimmer exactly as I requested, finishing off with a mauve lipstick and gloss. https://web.facebook.com/Wilgerie/
Doreen Gonsalves (Krugersdorp) made a pink ombré French ensemble for my nails with Bio Sculpture Gel which stayed beautiful for way longer than expected! I still had some bling to flash even after the Honeymoon. https://web.facebook.com/doreen.gonsalves
I'm a "no-fuss" shoe gal so I wore off-white stilettos bought for a reasonable price at Hillfox.
The wedding was memorable! My husband and I are both nature-lovers so our geology and hydrology backgrounds really came to life at the sandstone -set waterfall of Makinky Manzi Wedding Venue. After a very busy evening of dancing and jubilation our guests retreated to the group-set chalets of the venue. Some guests traveled just down the road to Jadon Guesthouse as well as Marius Roothman's Oppi Plaas Bow hunting and Guestlodge (https://web.facebook.com/OppiPlaas-Bowhunting-Guestlodge-359189944154823/). We enjoyed a farm-styled breakfast the following day for our last goodbyes at Makinky Manzi.
As I am a frequent hair remover it took a few sessions from - Wilgerie Frauendorf and AnnaLee Beauty Salon (Krugersdorp) for leg and bikini waxing.
My no make-up days were frequent two weeks leading up the wedding in order to eliminate any dark blotches under the eyelids as well as no base on blemishes! These had to heal on their own.
I had to loosen my neck and back frequently by stretching as a sitting posture at work really cause me to have a bad habit of hunching over which didn't look good when fitting my open-back dress.
A beautiful cousin of mine tricked me into a spa date for a shoulder, neck and back massage paid for by my mother and mother-in-law at Soulstice Day Spa - Silverstar Casino.
Blue! Gradient blue!
Grey and blue tones bounced off against brown, viking-like sandstone walls with traditional large round tables and dark, cast iron chairs. The "king and queen" seats stretched out high in-front dark wooden windows. As a base - dark grey tablecloths, as an overlay we reared away from a traditional fold. We took gradient blue and white chiffon overlays twirled them into separate "roses" and inserted blue glasses with white candles in the roses to stabilize them. A grey glass lantern revealed a white and green centerpiece. A large white snowdon chrysanthemum, smaller white roses, white carnations and pennygum leaves flowed from an open door lantern on all the round tables. Large rocks were the "themed table names" written on a curly chalkboard stand. Rolled doilies and marble grey paper was used to hold caramelized popcorn as snacks for each person. Name placements were attached to small glass tubes filled with a mix of coffee, sugar, hot chocolate etc. to look like soil horizons, as something warm to drink later in the evening.
A long main table was decorated with the same flowers, this time arranged in a long flower-holder which allowed the pennygum leaves to flow over the front of the table. Underneath the flowers - a sparkling array of fairy lights and white chiffon. The corners of the long table had gradient chiffon draped to the front and sides held steady by a lantern and flower piece.
Each plate had a varnish treated wooden place mat and every second chair a string of gradient chiffon with a small bunch of monte casino flowers tucked into it. The ceiling drapes were grey chiffon shining with an array of fairy lights all fastened to a center iron chandelier.
The cake stand and gift table both had glass vases of pennygum the white flowers and in addition - a few branches of willow tree.
All lantern centerpiece flowers and bunches of cut flowers were bought from Pretty Bunches at Lovender Venue. Pennygum were collected by Natasha and Barbara Van der Berg in Carletonville.
My husband a beautiful blue suit from Edgars. He is that headstrong guy who liked the fact that he could walk into a store and buy his suit without being told by is fiance what to wear (except, I said - as long as its blue). A dark maroon tie, his favorite brown fellies from Wellington and a handsome beard.
The groomsmen strut their stuff in metallic grey suits also from Edgars and navy blue ties. All wearing white buttoned shirts and brown shoes. Hand-made with love by the bride - the shoulder pins were created from the awesome succulent (Spekboom / Pork Bush) branches and small white closed rose buds and small spray roses.
Navy blue dresses from Rage. The tight fitted, long sleeved, lace cocktail dresses were sexy but elegant. Rose gold shoes from Shoe City allowed them to show those calves whilst climbing over rocks! Long rose gold and cream colored ear rings with an up-do hairstyle - each to their own signature. All three with corsage as arm bracelet/ bouquet hand-made from small spray roses and closed rose buds, small pieces of rose leaves and ferns.
Very talented Natasha Van Der Berg mastered their make-up with more than 10 years experience and finished their look with brown and apricot hues and shades.
Ds. Dirk Venter from N.G Kerk Swartruggens who delivered a very warming sermon.
Anna-Marie from Piekfyn Photography (Rustenburg) and Gerhard van Heerden from First Kiss Cinematic Wedding Videos captured the special moments before, during and after our wedding.
These where - in my eyes - two of the most important vendors for the day, as a wedding goes by in such a flash - you really need someone with a different flash to catch it all!
Magda Stolz and Natasha Van Der Berg.
The scrumptious farm-styled wedding food was prepared by the venue - Makinky Manzi and the wedding cake was crafted by Marike Venter. Marike created a two tiered - 8 layered semi-naked cake for us. The top was a chocolate and bottom a vanilla cake. In-between each layer was a decadent salted caramel sauce, the cake was drizzled with a berry compote, decorated with fresh berries and cream cheese icing.
This was a DIY job, printed at The Cartridge Shop Krugersdorp.
Everyone danced so hard throughout the night that no-one would have noticed if anyone had taken dance lessons!
I'm a dancer, so yes, I forced my husband to learn a contemporary dance (which I think he did so happily in order to show off his muscles whilst picking me up!) The walk-in song to the reception, ♪ Never Be The Same - Camila Cabello and the extremely fast first dance were on......I Believe In A Thing Called Love - The Darkness ♪
Our DJ was geared for a party and even went on playing special requests long after he was supposed to go :D Thank you JJ from Silver Edge Trading (18 Howitzer street, Ifafi 0216).
