Our special day was nothing shy of perfect. Set in the enchanted forest of Shalwyn estate in Camperdown, hubby and I exchanged our vows amidst the gentle breeze and whispers of nature at its finest. Joined by only our closest friends and family, our wedding was intimate and truly reflective of each of our personalities. We were also abundantly blessed with the warm winter sun, which trickled through the trees and made the occasion all the more surreal. With an excellent team of service providers at hand, we were in awe of just how smoothly everything ran. With a sermon that left not a single eye dry, to the breathtakingly beautiful picture locations, along with first-class catering, our big day was filled with highlights and memories to last a lifetime.
We were fortunate enough to spend two weeks in the majestic Mediterranean islands of Greece. Starting out in the ancient city of Athens, we were engulfed in history as we visited all the landmarks in the birthplace of democracy. We then travelled to Mykonos, soaking up the gorgeous sunshine alongside pristine beaches, and enjoying the very finest in Greek cuisine. Our magical journey ended in the colourful Santorini, a quaint town filled with vibrant people and architecture. Greece was everything a young married couple could possibly envisage for their perfect Honeymoon.
The look that I envisaged for my special day was minimalistic chic, with an edgy twist. This was beautifully realised in my wedding gown, which incorporated traditional elements alongside a modern, but elegant, design. To further merge the elegant with the edgy look, I wore a black-cherry colour lip and matching manicure. Rose gold shoes and jewellery also paired beatifully with these burgandy elements. To add to the classy-grunge look, I snapped a few pics wearing sunnies and a leather jacket. These untraditional elements added a certain character to my special day, reflective of my unique style on personality. Thanks must go to Hanrie Lues Bridal for the custom-designed gown, and Blush Pro Make-Up SA for the MUAH.
Hubby and I decided to make an entire weekend celebration. Guests joined us at Shalwyn estate in Camperdown (KZN) from Friday evening. The festivities started off with a delicious lamb-on-the-spit feast, preceded by live entertainment and plenty dancing! Our Friday night dinner set the tone for the wedding, with not a single guest left unimpressed. The weekend ended with a family brunch on Sunday morning, as we said our goodbye’s and jetted off on Honeymoon. We could not have been blessed with a better wedding weekend! So many priceless memories were made, and we look forward to sharing this journey with you all.
I swore by my strict regimen which included 8-hours of sleep each night, intense gym sessions thrice weekly, and a healthy protein-rich diet. To further manage the stress leading up to the event, I relied on meditation and breathing techniques, from which I drew immense comfort and peace of mind. Along with drinking plenty water, I found that my hair and skin was at its natural best, without the need for any facials or treatments. This goes to show just how powerful the management of stress can be, when paired with a healthy diet and exercise.
Our colour palette was a rich winter navy, paired with marsala and a hint of gold. These three colours worked so beautifully together, complementing the venue’s characteristics so well. A rustic selection of flowers were chosen, including the main element of Proteas which were paired with the muted green of Pennygum and the vibrant burgundy of Waxflower. We chose rustic white-washed wooden tables, with minimal décor to allow for the beauty of the centre piece flowers to speak volumes. Gold tiffany chairs, and navy napkins completed the look - a setting perfect for a winter wedding! Muted-lighting created a romantic setting, further enhanced by the presence of fire-places and heaters. Our fabulous team from E by A, led by the astute Lachey Gobey, saw a uniquely-crafted decor scape for our special day.
The Groomsmen wore rich navy suits, which allowed for the Groom’s royal blue suit to pop out amongst the others. The Groom and Groomsmen completed the look with burgundy ties and corsages. Their suits were custom made by B Gangaram tailors in Umhlanga, KZN.
My bridesmaids wore gowns in complementing shades of navy, and in designs best suited to their different shapes. Their rose gold jewellery perfectly tied their look together. By allowing my bridesmaids free-reign to choose their own dresses and accessories, this resulted in the ladies feeling as beautiful and confident as they looked. Their look can be attributed to YDE and Lovisa.
Our marriage officer and MC was Pierre Venter-Maher. Pierre, having been married for over a decade himself, shared some beautiful words of wisdom at the ceremony, which was applicable to all married couples, young and old. Pierre’s passion for his craft comes through so well in how he officiated the ceremony, and conducted the reception. His balance of wit and charm led to a perfectly mastered event.
I cannot gush enough about our photographer & videographer. The husband-wife duo of The Shank Tank captured every special moment of our big day so effortlessly. Their professionalism, and love of what they do translates into beautifully-crafted images and portraits. It was such a pleasure working with this team, as they so skilfully left us feeling at ease, allowing for the best, most natural pictures to be taken. We were also privileged to have The Shank Tank shoot our engagement pics, and we look forward to using them again one day when we welcome a new addition to our family!
A photobooth was supplied by Pixel Booth, and it was such a hit amongst our guests. From the funny props, to having to scramble to take a pic within the countdown, ensured that guests were left entertained!
I did not have an offical wedding planner, however, on-the-day coordination was provided by the venue and catering teams, whom work closely with the MC to ensure all ran smoothly.
Hamblins Catering prepared a delicious selection of eatern-western fusion cuisine, combining our two cultures so seamlessly. The cake was created by Kupcake Heaven, whom also supplied macaroons and custom cookies with our wedding monogram on.
We were blessed to use one of the best service providers in the industry for our wedding stationery. Janet Haw of Fuschia Wedding Stationery, based in Kloof KZN, incorporated our individual tastes so well, producing stationery reflective of our personalities.
Jarryd Sunkel, of KZN Wedding DJ, provided sound and lighting for our wedding. From battery-operated speakers in the forest, to a full complement of sound & lighting in the reception hall, our wedding was made that much more special by the professionalism and enthusiasm Jarryd shared with us.
