Joshua and I really tried to make every last moment special and curated moments with our nearest and dearest on the day to ensure we truly celebrated everyone that had a hand in our relationship. We are high school sweethearts, dating for over 8 years, and wanted to celebrate everyone that walked these years with us. This meant that we had so many beautiful little moments - but our favourites were:
Our first touch;
I really wanted Joshua to only see me for the first time in the chapel, but wanted to pray with him for a peaceful and God-honoring day. So we blindfolded Joshua and I could stand behind him, hold his hands and pray while sobbing for our perfect day.
My Dad and I skipping;
Since I was a little girl, my Dad and I would skip together. He is very tall and I struggled to keep up with my little legs, so skipping was a fun way for us to bond, and for me to keep up with him. We used to joke and say he would skip me down the aisle, this was a little tricky holding my flowers and in the chapel, so we skipped to the chapel and my heart was overwhelmed with happiness.
Like mother, like daughter;
My mother gave me the pearls she wore on her wedding day, for me to wear on our special day. She helped me get ready, zipped up my dress and also put on my pearls. I then surprised her with a gift - Pandora bracelet charms that read 'Like mother...Like daughter'. I felt that the mother of the bride is often 'forgotten' and not celebrated enough. I wanted her to feel special. I wanted her to know that if grow into half the wife and mother she has been, I'd be honoured.
A forever, golden rose;
I press flowers as a hobby and I am somewhat obsessed with flowers. My husband therefore went out of his way to find the most unique and most perfect gift - a real rose, perfectly preserved by being dipped in gold. "A timeless gift, like our love, to last for forever".
We did go on a local honeymoon, we wanted to 'support local'. We went to a hotel in Franschhoek but it was a bit of a nightmare.
The hotel was doing renovations; something they did not disclose when we booked. The noise was unbearable, the service was horrible and it was honestly an anticlimax after such an amazing wedding weekend.
We made the best of it - stayed busy and just took the time to forget about the world and celebrate that we were finally Mr & Mrs.
I wore a beautiful Enzoani dress from The Wedding Boutique - their service and experience was truly magical; https://www.instagram.com/weddingboutiquesa/
My shoes were a lucky find at Queens Park; https://www.instagram.com/queensparksa/
My jewelry - my pearl necklace was from my own Mom's wedding day so over 30 years old. My earrings, also pearls, were from Lesdene jewelry; https://www.instagram.com/lesdenejewellers/
My beautiful one of a kind hair piece was from Kathleen Barry; https://www.instagram.com/kathleenbarryaccessories/
May hair was done by my life-long hairdresser and international Goldwell legend, Mia Crous; https://www.instagram.com/mia.crous/
My make-up was done by Michelle Adendorff; https://www.instagram.com/adventurewithmakeup/
Our studios based in Cape Town and Johannesburg are fresh, vibrant and above all modern.
In 2005, a new bridal collection emerged and quickly rose to compete with top brands by merging traditional and modern European styles into exquisitely hand crafted gowns.
One-of-a-kind, bridal accessories from conception to creation
Diamant Estate; https://www.instagram.com/diamantestate/
Yes - our nearest and dearest (24 people) stayed on-site with us at Diamant Estate for the Friday before the wedding, and the Saturday evening too.
D'Vine Spa all the way!
They made sure my skin was flawless for weeks before my wedding and ensures I was hairless closer to the time. The Thursday before the wedding weekend they gave me an all day pamper from my head to my toes and made sure my eyebrows were tinted, my nails groomed and gorgeous and that I was 100% ready for the big day.
One phenomenal woman to rule it all - Saffron - Marinda Potgieter; https://www.instagram.com/saffronfunctions/
Marinda was a heaven-sent for our special day. She very quickly understood my exact heart's desires and made it (and then some) a reality on our special day.
Fairy lights, flowers that not only looked beautiful but that smelt like absolute heaven. Candles and attention to details.
A true wonder-woman.
Their ties, tie clips and pocket squares were purchased off Amazon.
The suits were gorgeous tuxedos hired from Wedding Bells Suit-hire in Claremont.
I bought my husband a Daniel Wellington watch as a wedding gift - engraved with our own wedding/relationship phrase and the date of our wedding. He wore this on the day.
I wanted my girls to feel confident, sexy and happy in their dresses so my only requirement was the colour purple; they could wear any style, any shade and any dress, as long as it was purple.
They looked so confident and so beautiful.
Hamilton Stephenson - He and his wife, Jane Stephenson, took us through a sort of marriage counselling for months before the wedding to help us navigate married life in a world that has tainted its importance and how beautiful it truly is/can be. It was truly life changing.
Coba Uys; https://www.instagram.com/cobaphotography.co.za/
Ilse de Klerk; https://www.instagram.com/ilsedeklerkphotography/
These two ladies captured every moment - every laugh, tear, a bee in my dress, every funny/ugly dance move and every beautiful kiss. Coba's Love In Motion film, a few minutes captured throughout the day, is still my absolute favourite thing to watch; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpL_zdfEH4M
Elizma Freeman - Infinite Concepts; https://www.instagram.com/concepts_infinite/
Elizma took care of everything on the day; the drama, additional (uninvited guests), strange and last minute dietary requirements, feeding me in-between the photo opportunities and ensuring we could 100% be in the moment at all times. She was unreal.
N/A - we were staying on-site so did not need any transport.
Red Pepper Catering - https://www.instagram.com/redpeppercateringstellenbosch/
The food was honestly phenomenal - everyone loved each bite and they catered more than enough food as waiters came out with more of the crowd favourites even after everyone had been served.
Delicious. And they really do accommodate food allergies, requirements and requests.
Cake Me Happy - Mareli https://www.instagram.com/cake_me_happy/
Mareli was so beyond patient with me! And even practiced making Gardenias sugar flowers just for me. How special?
Her cakes look beyond beautiful - but ALSO tastes like heaven. ALSO - IT WAS GLUTEN FREE! I literally had a massive piece hidden from guests for me to take home and eat. Also - Joshua's one big wish was to have doughnuts at the wedding (his absolute favorite treat) and Mareli absolutely nailed them! They were gorgeous and so delicious!
I designed this with my phenomenal friend Minette Fourie.
Southern Sound - https://www.instagram.com/southernsound_cpt/
They took care of EVERYTHING.
Music, smoke machine, lights, everything from the ceremony to the late-night dance party at the reception.
Our studios based in Cape Town and Johannesburg are fresh, vibrant and above all modern.
In 2005, a new bridal collection emerged and quickly rose to compete with top brands by merging traditional and modern European styles into exquisitely hand crafted gowns.
One-of-a-kind, bridal accessories from conception to creation
