Our wedding day started off with poring rain but a few hours before the ceremony started, the clouds opened up over the beautiful St Francis Bay. The sun rays sparkled through the clouds and we got married in the most perfect conditions. My husbands first impression and version when I arrived:
The bridesmaids and groomsman looked like super models our friend and his wife sang a live duet with birds chirping, the smell of fynbos in the air - then I saw my wife-to-be and I was star struck!
I remembered when she walked down the aisle, she looked like an angel, absolutely gorgeous and perfect, I kept on making sure that it was not just a dream.
It was amazing when we headed back to the reception as Mr & Mrs Augustyn and celebrated our marriage with our friends and Families.
I can honestly say that our wedding was like a fairy-tale.
After a week long wedding, we first went for two nights to Trogan House in the Crags between Tsitsikamma and Plettenberg Bay. Our lodge was situated in the forest with a 180 degree view of forest while lying in bed. After that we went to Bali for an unforgettable honeymoon for 2 weeks, staying at different accommodation on different islands.
I went for the sophisticated but relaxed look. Natural hair done by Hair by Chantal from St Francis and a smoky eye make-up. My mom made me 2 dresses, one for the ceremony, lace bodice with a low back and flowy skirt with a train, and one short dress also with a low back lace bodice and tight but stretchy skirt, for the reception to dance comfortable. Iris Gomez from Port Elizabeth did my make-up. My shoes were comfortable to be able to wear them the entire time. Jewelry: my something borrowed and old, was a pearl bracelet from my mom which my dad gave her about 25 years ago when he first went for business to Japan.
We had a week long wedding with family and the bridal party at St Francis with beer and pizza evenings and spit braai to keep every one entertained. The beautiful St Francis Links Golf Estate was our wedding venue with spectacular views. We rented a few houses on the canals in St Francis, one for the bridesmaids and myself as well as for the grooms men. My family and friends all rented houses in St Francis to stay for the night.
I am a very sporty and active person my entire life, and always keep fit and eat healthy, not just for my wedding but it is a lifestyle I am used to. I often go to the spa for massages after a hard workout at Camelot Spa at The Boardwalk Hotel in Port Elizabeth and before the wedding, my bridesmaids, mom and myself went for a spa-day at Bard'au & Co at the St Francis Links.
Our theme was Elegant Forest with lots of greenery and white flowers and roses with a touch of blue. The tables was more of a rustic look, with white covered chairs, minimalistic with a touch of gold. We had a white dance floor, fairy lights behind the bridal table and hanging from the ceiling. Sandy Stretch did the wedding planning and flowers and together with my mom, Tillie, she also did the wedding planning and layout of the tables.
After the ceremony, guests moved to the lawn area where there was a Gin bar, and lawn games, harvest table to nibble on while we went for our photos.
The groom, Wesley, had a navy suit, white shirt, blue and white tie, brown shoes and belt and funky socks on, and the groomsmen wore white shirts, navy pants, brown shoes and belt and a bow tie, which my sister-in-law, Greta, a designer from Italy, made for them.
I had 5 bridesmaids and they all had the same dove blue, one-shoulder long dress on, made by my mom, Tillie. Nude colour shoes from Cotton On. They all had long straight hair, and earrings I gave them as a gift, with a wrist bouquet. They all looked like super models when they walked down the isle.
Marrage officer: LLoyd Dilion
Beautiful photos was taken by Ron Hardling and the Videographer was Johan Wasserman.
The coordinator from St Francis Links, Eugine, was very helpfull and gave excellent ideas to make our day even more special. Everything went smoothly and even the staff danced a number on Footloose during the reception.
I arrived with my dad, Manie, in his Aston Martin Vantage, and after the reception we went to take photos in my old Healy Sprite vintage car. My bridesmaids arrived with my mom in my dads Landcruiser.
St Francis Links had a very good Chef, Johnathan Hodder, who did his training in London. He also did a few snacks, harvest table, oysters, etc, at the grass area before the reception. The wedding cake was done by Pastry Works.
Mr Wedding Card in Port Elizabeth designed and printed the stationery.
Wesley and I went for a few lessons just to work out a short routine for our first dance. The guests played a few games, "heads or tails" and the one standing at the end, won a bottle of Tequila for their table. The other game was two couples to enter with a dance, one couple at a time, and the couple who gets the loudest cheer, won a " open tab " for the table, but to everyone's amusement, it was a bottle of Tab. That certainly got the guests in a good mood and ready for the big party. Wesley's cousin Zanzi Africa, a SA Artist, was one of the guests and sang a few of her songs.
The DJ who entertained the guests was DJ Barnes
