Shhhewwwhhh, where do I start? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE - All around.
My partner and I have been together for 10 years! So, it was not just us wanting to get married. It was a room full of LOVE cheering us on! The highlights of our memorable day.
* Seeing each other for the first time (My groom could not keep his eyes off of me)
* My dad's pure joy handing me over (tears were inevitable) Both our parents were beaming with pride.
* Our HUGE bridal retinue, that chose their own attire - looked oh So dashing
* My grooms vowels - were NEXT LEVEL
* We decided on a moment for ourselves to do Unity sand (ours was a mix of Himalayan Pink Salt and White salt..) Salt has so MANY MEANINGS... Gooogle, gooogle, google!
* Setting off SMOKE GRENADES
* Boy renditions
* We had a singer leading us out singing VULINDELA (We are SO AFRICAN) Thandi, a voice of an angel!
* MY DRESS - was an arrangement of different colors - white was not an option (I had a play suit - which was the sneaky under garment.)
* Entrance to our Wedding, we were welcomed to a beat we chose and a tunnel of whimsical Wands that our bridal retinue had made
* Speeches were warm, loving and many laughs were had.. DEFINITELY, some tear jerkers.
* A beautiful prayer said for us by our 2nd parents.
*(My groom's opening line... "KNOCK, KNOCK - Whose there?... MR AND MRS....... WANNENBURG" and ended his speech... "I WAS A BOY STANDING INFRONT OF A GIRL, I AM NOW A MAN STANDING INFRONT OF HIS WIFE"
* We threw tradition out the window and one of our groomsmen (scott) it happened to be his birthday on the day. So we dedicated our wedding cake to him. We personally got a cake topper made that said "scotty does'nt know" and after speeches instead of a speech I sang to the beat and we all wished him happy bday. While the Groom cut the cake with him...
Scotty was definitely surprised, so Scotty doesn't know!
* A build a burrito bar was on the menu as our main plus yummy tartlettes with dry ice smoke effects
* Our first dance was a romantic choreographed dance
* We participated in the shoe game with a list of funny questions from our guest
* We both boogied to the bouquet and Garter tossing (single or married - join in!!!)
* The night ended with glowsticks and lots of dancing...
WE STAYED TRUE TO OURSELVES AND CELEBRATED THE DAY LIKE NO OTHER!
MY GROOMS VOWELS.
Charlene Nicole Brancart
Meeting you was instant coffee Love, feelings overwhelmed me to the point that I had forgotten my own name, literally! Destined to be…. Through the darkest of days to the brightest blessings of new dawns. I look back and now forward …. I longed for you which is why I returned when I assumed all was lost. I promise not to lose you or myself ever again!
A boy turned into a man in the shape of your molding but mainly due to accepting the love you shared and gave that transformed the man that I have become. Being who I am, I am naturally not perfect, but in my flaws, you only encourage the positives to shine through.
From this day forward I vow to love you, protect you from harm, build and encourage your every dream, compliment your every move and look,…….to hold and hug you when you need it the most……… from this day forward to the last day of my being.
YESSSSS!! A week before the time, we were BLESSED with a honeymoon. We got a 2 night stay at Fordoun Hotel in the Midlands (Nottingham Road) We were treated like royalty... We will definitely go back!
Let's Host, made our honeymoon everything we could have hoped for.
I am a whimsical Gypsy Hipster at heart! Colour, colour, colour...
DRESS:
I opt'd for a non conventional wedding dress - No to white! No to pinterest! It was a unique design myself and my designer had come up with. We designed as we went along (It was a tulle skirt, that had many different underneath layers with an arrangement of different shades of pink) then right underneath that was a play suite with lots of texture and detail . Everything was handmade the fabric was locally sourced AND It just happened to be the designers FIRST WEDDING DRESS ever made. I chose her as she was not boxed into one category and was willing to take ALL risk.
MY DESIGNER OF CHOICE - GENNA WAE (Wae West)
SHOES
I chose a beautiful set of heels from Sole Base (they were floral) I wanted a pop of colour
MAKEUP
My selected make up artist - just happens to me my best friend (ROXY AMAS - MAKE UP BY ROXY) she is well known in the fitness industry and her work is impeccable. She made me feel absolutely beautiful on the day. As my Bridal party was HUGE along with two mums (She managed to get 9 faces done in a short space of time.)
HAIR
Claire from FUTURISTIC HAIR - she guided me on a style she thought would look great with my dress. I was not a fan of messy hair, so all my girls had a beautiful braided up style.
Lingerie, jewelry and accessories - lucky for me these were all gifted to me at my beautiful bridal shower.
We said "I DO" - at Krantzkloof Nature reserve, in the quaint little forest. This venue is purely run by volunteers and any bookings go towards the upkeep of the nature reserve.
Our reception took place 10km away at Shongweni Country Club! It was a beautiful blank canvas. Every single item in the venue was kitted out by "Jars Of Joy Decor". The venue is not a wedding venue, so once again we took the gamble and wanted to be different. Rory, the venue manager was absolutely amazing.
Accommodation was 2km from reception - Kangelani Lodge. It slept up to 30 Guest, Charmaine the lodge manager was absolutely amazing.
Nope no beauty regime.. but lots and lots of Champagne to keep us hydrated?
Jars Of Joy Decor did every single element with the helping hands of many friends and family.
The decor was a sea of white ceramics, filled with many different floral arrangements. The ceremony and reception had many different shades of pinks. It was a whimsical affair which celebrated everything that we as a couple are about.
The decor included: A cake swing, foose ball, beer pong, festoon lights, back drops, banquette style seating, succulent plants as gifts... the list goes on!
Our bridesmaid bouquets were personally made up the night before by my lovely industry friend - Leigh Parsons.
The guys attire - were all about being RELAXED.
These boys were kitted out by HIS APPAREL.
Each groomsmen had a different shade blue shirt with a bow tie and blue pants, the groom had his own shirt paired with a tie and beige pants.
The groom and his guys had paired their outfit with white sneakers of their choice.
Our usher boys and father of the bride were also kitted to the max, in navy suspenders and paired with a navy bow tie.
These guys all looked super handsome and oh so Dapper!
THE LADIES...
My request for my girls was "Whimsical, frills and Flows in shades of minks and pinks".
The girls delivered... Each bridesmaid found and chose a dress of their choice which fit the brief.
So each style and shade was different but together they looked like GODDESSES and strut that cat walk - I mean wedding isle... They owned it, and all looked so Dam beautiful alongside me.
My mum and mum-in law also chose the most beautiful dresses.
My mum had a beautiful navy floral dress, and mum-in law had a gorgeous plum lace dress. Both ladies paired their outfits with nude and rose gold heels.
Gary Blair from Olive Tree! He delivered the message we wanted for our big day. He is truly a special soul.
Olive tree has truly being a special part of our Journey as a couple.
CONWAY PHOTOGRAPHY!
They are a Husband and Wife team. Conway photography have been shooting for about 12 years. I have always supported them from when they were still the new kids on the block. They have grown from strength to strength. It is truly an honor having them shoot our wedding (they now offer videography, lucky us!!! ). It felt like having our best friends tag along us for the day. They made us feel at ease and their images are world class. I will over and over again recommend them to anyone.
NO! I am the planner.. Alongside, Jars of Joy Decor. The best part about being a bride... Is planning your fairy tale dream wedding. I ticked all my boxes and was truly happy with the outcome.
On the day, my friend Kaylee was my saving grace for a few last minute to-do's.
The best man arranged a Rangeover for the boys and my dad and I arrived with my Uncle's very humble ford Kuga (ribbons and all).
FOOD:
Hamblins Catering! Sheree! Wow, she was not only a caterer... BUT EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE DAY.
Sheree, where is the toilet paper?
Sheree, can you sort the lights?
Sheree, can you hold my bouquet?
CAKE:
Smiths Baker - I sent a picture I found on Pinterest and Tarryn granted me my wishes.
BOOZE:
We were blessed with the champagne for reception from the best man (owner) of Blair Athol spar.
Once again - Myself!
I used Canva off my phone (yes, I am the DIY bride) and then went to SO PRO wessle helped me print and do some changes.
Gifting items, my friend Nadine from TM signs printed them for us.
OH MY - MUSIC IS THE SONG TO OUR LIVES.
Music was a key element to our day. A song can can make a memory last forever!
Lucky for me.. My groom has a wide knowledge of music and knows good jams!!!
I had arranged a singer to lead us out our ceremony to the song Vulindela - where our Bridal Party broke out in dance exiting the isle.
At our reception we had a musician Jerome to entertain our guest during cocktail hour.
Our reception had a string of festoon lights done by Drape right which set the mood.
Our Entrance song into our reception - where each Bridesmaid and Groomsmen got personally announced and walked in with a beat and dance of their choice. Myself and my Groom were then announced as we walked in our retinue flagged us down with whimsical wands and my groom broke out with a break dance.
Before our first dance, as my groom is known for dancing.. A few years back at our MC Duncan's wedding.. My groom had decided to own the dance floor before Duncan and wife Siobhans first dance..) so... Payback was given and Siobhan owned the dance floor before we could. It was Amazing!... And So was our Very RAD MC Duncs..
Our first dance was Choreographed by the lovely Lana Vorster to the song beauty and the beast which my groom chose himself. Yesss, we had some great moves and got a good lift in there! (I felt like I was baby and it Patrick Swayze had arrived.)
Our DJ was Pierre Venter - Maher
Pierre is such a talented individual, he has studied everything under the sun and on the day helped out with some MC'ing.
We ended our evening with lots of dancing and glowsticks were brought out during party hour - what a hit!
