I must say that the entire experience; the days leading up to the big day and the wedding day, was all memorable. My husband and I planned everything along with the family and friends which made each moment so special. The day after we got engaged we sat and created our vision board with one important thought in mind- we want each and every guest to feel as if they were invited into our home and felt the love in our home.
We have not gone on honeymoon just yet. We have very close family and friends that flew from the UK and USA respectively so we decided to enjoy a week ‘Familymoon’ with them on the South Coast until they left. We are looking at so many options but ideally a true African experience would be amazing.
I have always had a vision of what I wanted for the day and every aspect become a reality. My bridesmaid, my mother and I went to Bride and Co in Umhlanga. I tried on about 8 dresses. My mom snuck to the other side of Bride and Co and chose a dress.. And then the magical ‘moment’ happened. I had a few minor alterations done at Belle and Bravado in PMB. One of my favourite hairdressers that I have become great friends with created my hair look. I wanted it up, elegant but with a touch of flair. Nixon Make up did the most amazing job on the whole bridal party including me. Nixon was one of the first bookings I made, from a young age I knew I wanted them to be a part of my special day. The shoes I found from a small boutique shop in Gateway- nude and comfy. I purchased all my wedding jewellery from Louvisa- they have phenomenal accessories.
We got married at Torwoodlea Lodge, just outside New Hanover in the KZN midlands. It was the perfect venue for us both as it exuded elegance with the rustic touch of the dam, buck and forest as the backdrop. Immediate family stayed at the venue with Clint and I spending the first night as a married couple in their mini-moon accommodation.
I was very fortunate enough that my bridesmaids, close friends and parents created countdown packages for each month to go as well as little gifts along the way. I had spa treatments, ensured my nails and hair were always done and tried to fit in a workout every now and then. A special friend did a little botox on my forehead,cause you can never go wrong with less wrinkles. Needless to say that during the last few weeks before the wedding I had a massive breakout on my face and all sorts of methods were used to ensure that on the day it was flawless, luckily it was!
My husband and I had a very clear vision.. Outdoors with animals roaming, simple elegance. Well it poured with rain so we had to move the ceremony from the gorgeous decorated forest into the shed, which transformed in minutes. We wanted the whole atmosphere to reflect us as a couple. We have been to many weddings where the venue, food or décor never reflected the couple. My husband and I made the centrepieces from copper pipes (he is plumber by trade) and Kudu horns (we both enjoy hunting) from his family farm in Kokstad. We constructed the big C& M wall seen behind the main table with my husband proudly displaying his longest kudu horns. Our florist, Sandra from Farmgirl Flowers knew straightaway what we liked and worked off that. Pennygum, greenery with a touch of white, proteas and peonies. The venue has amazing wagon wheels on the roof which we draped with pennygum and that just finished off the whole reception area. We had a very talented singer entertain guests at the ceremony as well as the reception area.
My husband always wanted a navy suit and Bow tie. We hired the suits from Suit up, suit hire in Westville. Purchased crisp white Old Khakhi shirts along with Old Khakhi navy socks. Had the bow ties made from Bowtique and to complete the look, had the men, and Paige boys boutonnières made from Tropical Design laser cutting- a shape of a kudu head with their respective names on it.
Suit Up suit hire opened on the 1 February 2013. We are centrally situated in Westville and offer high quality men's and boys' formal and fashion suits for all occasions for th...
My mom, one bridesmaid and I went straight to YDE at Gateway and went through all their dresses- trying on different colours and shapes to finally finding the perfect dress, which they only had 2 in stock. YDE was amazing and ordered the remaining dresses from all over the country. We completed their look with simple drop rose gold earrings, hair in a side messy bun and the most beautiful bouquets. The ladies all wore their own nude heels as I wanted them to all be comfy and party the night away with my Husband and I.
We officially got married on the Thursday before the wedding (Friday the 13th would not be ideal for a superstitious person like me). The pastor that we wanted to conduct the ceremony was from the Eastern Cape. We used dream ceremonies and had a little ‘I do’ ceremony at Hay and Scott attorneys in PMB (A very close friend’s law firm). Our 2 specials friends along with my mom and dad joined us.
WOW- is all my husband and I can say. We had a very special friend, Courtney Clegg Photography capture many stages of our lives so without a doubt had to capture our wedding day. Her company is fairly new and there is nothing better than helping a friend as they start their own company. Videoccasions captured our day from start to end, thank you Karen and Jono. We are still waiting for this footage but I have no doubt it will be amazing! We planned for the Midlands Photobooth in the Harvest Table area to allow guests to share in a laugh and have a great keepsake for the wedding.
WOW- is all my husband and I can say. We had a very special friend, Courtney Clegg Photography capture many stages of our lives so without a doubt had to capture our wedding day. Her company is fairly new and there is nothing better than helping a friend as they start their own company. Videoccasions captured our day from start to end, thank you Karen and Jono. We are still waiting for this footage but I have no doubt it will be amazing! We planned for the Midlands Photobooth in the Harvest Table area to allow guests to share in a laugh and have a great keepsake for the wedding.
We decided against a wedding planner as we both knew what we wanted and knew how we wanted our special day to turn out, my husband actually more so than me. But in saying that, we relied on family and friends to assist us from cutting out menus to hanging frames- team work! As well as all the venue owner and caterer assisting on the day and they were phenomenal!
We decided against a wedding planner as we both knew what we wanted and knew how we wanted our special day to turn out, my husband actually more so than me. But in saying that, we relied on family and friends to assist us from cutting out menus to hanging frames- team work! As well as all the venue owner and caterer assisting on the day and they were phenomenal!
Due to the other weather dampening the ‘arrival’ we had to make a last minute plan which ended up being very special. We had planned to arrive on a kitted our trailer with benches on pulled by the family quad bike. But with rain starting to fall, my brother and dad quickly cleaned up my brother’s white Toyota Prado, wrapped white ribbon on and shared a very special moment in the car with my dad while my brother drove us to the ceremony.
Eat with Love, Belinda Love was our caterer. Not only did Belinda and I attend the same school, her husband was a very good friend of the groom. Keeping align with helping friends out, she was the first person we contacted and we were not disappointed- her food was amazing! From the spread across the harvest table to the delicious snacks, ice cream bar and Bar one chocolate sauce! She was phenomenal. Belinda also made the dreamiest wedding cake- 3 layers, each layer a different taste! Red velvet, dark chocolate and carrot cake! We supplied the biltong from my husbands recent hunting trip and ‘Spit by Thobs’ made sure the lamb and pork spit was noteworthy and ensured each guest was satisfied.
This was very special for me, I am very lucky to work at a school in PMB and have made some great friends. The newly appointed Deputy Headmaster, who has always been the designer at school. We already have such a fantastic working relationship, so the end result was just as I had envisioned! We sat for hours designing the menus, programmes and welcome signs during the school holidays with LT Printers, printing the menus and ceremony programmes and Signworx from Kokstad printing all the vinyl. Tropical Designs laser cut all the table numbers, the seating plan, guests favours (Kudu head with personalized name magnet) as well as the card box and the very big C & M cut out that was seen behind the main table.
The reception went by too fast. We had planned for my brother to be the MC, and he did such a great job ensuring the night ran smoothly. My husband and I planned that in between the speeches we would enjoy a game with the guests playing musical chairs which was hilarious. My Uncle and best friend were the last 2 standing with my friend winning by just seconds having to find a bra. The DJ ensured the whole night guests were singing along or dancing on the floor, until 2am! My husband and I never took dance lessons but both know how to ‘squeak some takkie’ and what a laugh- we chose Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, my husband may be younger than me but his taste in music is certainly dated and this was his one request. The daddy daughter dance was very special. The week after Clint and I got engaged my dad sat me down and said we going to be different. Flipped up his laptop and showed me what he wanted. The traditional slow dance quickly changing into a dance off with my dad whipping out a cap and dancing with me. My dad and I planned this for months before, a friend who is a Zumba instructor helped us with the moves but the moment we both walked towards each other, forgot every step- so we agreed to just ‘wing it’ and it was perfect memory for my dad and I.
Suit Up suit hire opened on the 1 February 2013. We are centrally situated in Westville and offer high quality men's and boys' formal and fashion suits for all occasions for th...
