The day has arrived, a little bit of rushing around to get the final things in place. To make sure everything will go according to plan and schedule. Most special moments getting ready, hair and makeup with the ones closest to your heart. Everything is on time things are going well. The carriage arrives to pick us up, a couple of photos and off we go heading to the Chapel, and somehow, the bride is still 30 minutes late. Luckily the groom and guest were waiting patiently and all still there!
We had a very blessed ceremony and family and friends together. The weather was slightly hot but perfect, we had a beautiful sunset and we could not have asked for a better day!
In my wildest dreams I could not have imaged a better day!
It was a big secret and I had no idea where we were going. We had breakfast with the family the next morning and we were then rushed off as it was quite a drive to our destination. We spend a week at The Kingdom Resort, Pilanesberg National Park.
I've been around horses all my life and I love being around them, in fact that is how my husband and I met. So I wanted my wedding to be elegant but still have a splash of horsy-ness, and it just came together wonderfully, from the horse shoes in the Chapel to the center piece horse shoe candle holders in the reception hall, combined with the picture perfect venue and horse and carriage, I could not have asked for better!!
So the search for the perfect wedding dress was on!! I must have fit 40 dresses before THE ONE, and probably another 30 or so afterwards to make sure the one is THE ONE. Especially since THE ONE, was quite a bit more expensive than originally planned. Long story short my dad said just get THE ONE!! My breathtaking wedding dress, earrings and bracelet was bought from Timeless Bridal Couture in Pretoria. As words cannot describe this dress, please visit the Gallery for photos as a picture says a thousand words.
All our hair and makeup was done by Santi Bianchina from Funky Heads in Newcastle. She accommodated us at the venue and did a great job!!
Timeless Bridal Couture is one of Gauteng’s Top Rated bridal shops specialising in designer wedding dresses from the world’s most admired bridal brands.
We were married at Grey Goose Game Lodge, Newcastle, KZN. Some of our guest did stay the night, accommodation was supplied by Grey Goose. Some family members also stayed at Snips Self Catering units at Snips Bird Park.
I really didn't have much of a regime leading up to my wedding except for the extra hair and makeup trials, and attempting not to break any nails between feeding and taking care of horses, No easy task, believe me!! Thanks to Jeanne Mari Uys from Purified Beauty in Pretoria who did our facials and nails - job well done!
Our Chapel was the Iyakhala venue at Grey Goose, a beautiful venue overlooking the Dam and surrounded by glass doors and a Deck. Drapings for the Chapel as well as the main table were done by Natalie Schnuir. We did the aisle boards as well as the horse shoe aisle decorations ourselves. The blue carpet for the aisle was rented from One Stop Carpet & Furniture Hire and Cleaning from Cape Town. All the flowers, including the bridal hand bouquet was supplied by Anthea from Pretoria.
The Canopés were held next to the Chapel, open air overlooking the Dam.
The Main Hall was used for the reception, with breathtaking mountain and sunset views.
Round tables and chairs were supplied by Grey Goose together with all white table cloths and white chair covers, cutlery, plates etc. Royal blue runners, napkins, tie backs and silver underplates were supplied by Catering Creations. Each of our tables had a special book with a different picture folded into its pages that also served as our table numbers, made by hand by my aunt Alba Seccombe, specially for our wedding.
The groom wore a grey suit with a light grey waist coat, white shirt and royal blue tie. The best man wore grey pants, white shirt, a royal blue waist coat and a royal blue bowtie. The suit was supplied by SmartGuy & SmartBride Centurion, Gauteng.
Our ring bearer wore grey pants, white shirt and a royal blue waistcoat and bowtie. The bowties and blue waistcoats were made by Mina Joubert from Bellamina.
My maid of honor and flower girl both wore royal blue dresses elegantly styled for them individually as per our request by Mina Joubert from Bellamina.
MB Brink performed the service with a very special message
Our good friend Angus Burns, from Angus Burns Photography was our photographer. We did not make use of a photo booth, but Angus caught very special moments with all our guests.
Our videographer, Andre Naudé, made a very special compilation of the service as well as the reception.
We did not have a planner, my closest family are the ones who performed the magic. From building all the center pieces, to arranging to have the flowers and cake brought to Newcastle from Pretoria. Friends transporting my horse to and from the venue, without these people things would not have been possible. They are the ones that made sure all the little details were exactly the way I wanted them to be! The Grey Goose Game Lodge managers and staff were very helpful assisting where ever necessary.
My wedding transport was extra special. My Friesian Stallion, Alfonso pulled the Cinderella Pumpkin Carriage that my dad, Robert Jooste, and I had built. Alfonso was driven by our good friend Sias Horn. He and his wife travelled all the way from Cape town to drive for us.
Dale Schnuir, another good friend, transported Alfonso to and from the venue and assisted Sias while Alfonso was in carriage.
We had decided to cut the wedding cake after the service, to enjoy together with the platters and drinks served as Canopés. These were very tasty indeed, and kept our quests happy while we were taking all the photographs. The Platters and drinks were made and supplied by Grey Goose. Our wedding cake was made by Petro from Pretoria.
Grey Goose also supplied a lovely 3 course buffet style dinner at the reception.
We designed our own name cards, table décor as well as all boards in the chapel. Laser cutting of the cake topper, some of the table décor and the shape of our name cards was done by Shanti from Laser Creations, Newcastle.
Guest name labels and labels for the Chapel aisle boards were printed by Charlene from LienQ in Pretoria
I have always loved dancing! So yes the reception hall had a huge dance floor.
From very first time that we danced together we just danced, like we had danced together our whole lives!
My brother use to be a DJ and we owned all the necessary equipment. So together with my brother and one or two designated family members, we handled our own sound and lighting. It was so much fun!!
Timeless Bridal Couture is one of Gauteng’s Top Rated bridal shops specialising in designer wedding dresses from the world’s most admired bridal brands.
