Too many highlights to choose from, but for me it is the privilege to have had this special day marring someone I really love deeply and to share this covenant commitment with so many friends and family. God is faithful. He knew my hearts desires and I could see His hand in all the planning from the beginning and in all the small details of the day.
1. Seeing my dad for the first time in my wedding dress at the church doors
2. Seeing my soon to be husband, while walking down the isle
3. Giggling with my husband during the ceremony and exchanging secret glances
4. Seeing friends and family that came from far away to celebrate with us
5. Sneaking away for private, quiet moment with my new husband before sitting down for the lunch reception
6. Great speeches about family planning and contraception. Blush
7. Quick video call in the hotel to my friend who lives in Germany who could come to the wedding
8. More couple photos and jokes in the car on our way to the evening reception
9. Kissing under the full moon and dancing the night away with giant sparklers and taking Instax photos next to the fairy curtain. Magical.
I had the honeymoon of my dreams! My husband really picked up on the subtle hints that I left. It was really subtle, I didn't really think he heard me, but shows you how attentive he is to me and how much he cares. I was so surprised when he told me just after the ceremony where we are heading.
Addo Elephant national park - Nyathi rest camp
Koffie baai, Hole in the wall and Bulungula in the Wild coast, Transkei
He got to 4X4 the heck out of the Eastern Cape roads and I was in fairytale wonderland in the roling green hills of the Transkei. I just cant get enough of all the colourful huts, great isiXhosa community, cows, sheep, piglets, rivers, grass, ocean. We built memories that will last a lifetime.
After binge watching "Say yes to the dress" I saw what dresses looks good on which body types. And I really fell in love with the fit and flare style. I also looked on Instagram and found a picture of a veil with embroidery on it. I facilitated a dreamboard class in December and also made my own dreamboard. I paged through some magazines and found a photo of an off the shoulder satin dress and I knew I must look for something similar.
In January, my mom made my first dress appointment and the 6th dress I tried on was the one. Off the shoulder fit and flare. Just a few alterations needed. Some small straps and embroidery on the bodice and on the veil. The dress is part of the Jolies 2020 range by designer Nicole Sposa. (Brides of Somerset West)
My name is Tiana and I decided that I am not going to let the opportunity go past and not wear a Tiara on my wedding day. My name means fairy princess, so the princes look is what I went for. Tiara and low bun. (Lovisa)
Our wedding day was a long full day, so I had custom shiny pink leather shoes made at our local balletshoe supplier. (Teplov)
Brides of Somerset is run from a studio with a relaxed cosy atmosphere enabling the Bride to select her gown from a wide range of imported dresses.
The two families stayed at Oude Werf Hotel the night before the wedding and that is where we all got ready the following morning.
The NG Dutch Reformed church is an historic building with tall steepels and stained-glass windows. And it is just two blocks away from the hotel.
So our bridal parties walked to the church that morning. We really stopped traffic that day :)
Our ceremony was streamed on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSaWNfxYVmQ and over 500 people watched it from all over the world.
After the small morning ceremony (Just close family and elderly to keep the at-risk-group safe during this pandemic), we had a lunch reception on the terrace overlooking the lake at Post Card Cafe, Jonkershoek road. We were surrounded with beautiful mountains and thank goodness our venue didn't burn down by the fire 2 weeks before the wedding.
But we were not done celebrating. The evening we had a second reception with all our friends at Joostenbergvlakte, taproom. Cocktail style evening with no seating plan, fairy lights in the trees and live musician. Really a care-free night of dancing and laughing
Organising the wedding was crazy enough, so I though it best not to mess with my eating and sleeping routine. Just do what I always do. I did however colour my hair and shave my legs. :)
Well, our main decor item that was unique is the fairy light curtain that we had at the evening reception. Our guests enjoyed it so much. Fun and interactive photo corner where they used their own cellphones and the instax camera that we provided. They could take two photos. One to keep and one that they leave behind in a box so that we can also see all the fun they had.
We went shopping at Canal Walk for my husband to be's suit. We found a grey/blue suit that will complement the embroider flowers on my dress. We were at a loss on what to do with the tie. But, the Monday before the wedding, we just went and bought a maroon tie at H&M. I found a sample piece of fabric in a drawer at my house that is similar to the tie, so we just made it work. In the end it all came together very well, I must say. I think he looked incredibly handsome that day. Not often that I see him in a suit.
We decided not to have groomsmen in the traditional sense. All the grandfathers, fathers, brothers came together the morning of the wedding in the board room of the hotel. They all got ready together and took some photos before walking the streets of Stellenbosch towards the church.
We did the same thing with the bride's bridal party. All the mothers, grandmothers and aunts and nieces came together where I got dress. My very good friend who helped with so many of the arrangements helped me with my dress and bouquet and gave the rings during the ceremony. We didn't coordinate outfits, but it is interesting to see how well the outfits worked together on the day. We also walked to the church. But we were a bit late and it was a bit chaotic keeping everyone together. But we made it safely across the road and into the church.
We are fortunate that both the bride and groom's fathers are pastors. So it was a team effort and so special. My dad did the sermon and my father in law did the formal wedding register proceedings. Both our dad's gleamed with pride behind that podium.
My aunt and uncle took the photos of the getting ready part and the evening reception.
Nikkie Fivaz photography took the photos at the ceremony and the lunch reception. Would really recommend her. Stunning person and great photographer.
Got teams of friends together to help with the various segments of the day. We did most of the decorating ourselves.
Cake by Micakes
Cake topper by Honey's cake toppers
(You can find them on Facebook)
My aunt designed our church booklets and the lunch menu. Dancing mouse graphic designer.
We had the best DJ and cover song guitarist and singer, Stuart Reece. Really solid guy and just knew how to read the room and pick the best songs. Very professional.
Brides of Somerset is run from a studio with a relaxed cosy atmosphere enabling the Bride to select her gown from a wide range of imported dresses.
