Our story
We first started speaking in 2008 when Ali was 13 and Matt was 15, We finally met in person in on the 30th of May 2009 at a mutual friends birthday party. Both too nervous to speak to one another but just looking and waiting for the other to get the courage to speak first. We had been speaking for months but never met until this point.
For years we spoke back and forth, there was always a spark but being so young we had no idea the impact and importance our young and naive “phone” friendship in our teenage years would have for our future selves.
Matt moved to Cape Town at the end of 2009, we stayed in touch but nothing could ever have worked being so young and living in different cities.
At some point in 2010 we started speaking more and more. It did not work out that time as expected because of distance. There were a few times where a couple of months would pass without contact but when we spoke it was like no time had past. In 2014 Matt visited Johannesburg where we managed to have a quick catch up over coffee (this became something we would do whenever we were in each others city). Unfortunately it never seemed “the right time” to start something and we both went through a few relationships but still remained such good friends.
In 2016 a short few days spent together was a taste of what it could be like between us but the fact that I (ali) works overseas made it impossible to begin something, only being back in South Africa 2 months of every year.
Finally after many many years of back and forth both wanting it but not knowing how to make it work, many catch ups over coffee, hours and hours of laughing, crying and falling asleep over phone calls, covid led us to the UK both for different reasons where we managed to spend our time together and the rest is history.
We spent the weekends of 4 months (August, September, October and November) travelling to cute places in the uk together, we had days where we did so many things and days where we simply stayed home but not one day was boring.
I clearly remember when I was 16 Matt told me he would marry me someday. He said it again in when I was 21 - I held onto that dream for years and finally it’s happening.
When we tell our story to people it truly feels like a fairytale, as though it’s a movie script.
We are so lucky to have one another. Everyday by his side feels like an adventure.
He loves me and understands me like no other. The respect we share for one another is unexplainable. We laugh uncontrollably, we understand one another, we support, encourage and guide one another. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t wake up feeling grateful that my dreams are coming true.
The fact that we both, for so many years, believed the other was out of their league is truly something special to finally be together and understand we deserve each other.
Just a normal Wednesday afternoon turned magical. On the 12th of May 2021, Matty took me for my favourite meal before taking me along Chapmans peak drive. We ended off the drive at long beach in noordhoek so I could put my feet in the water, nothing out of the ordinary as I love the ocean. He set up my phone to take a photo of us on the beach and when I turned around he was on one knee. It felt surreal but a moment I will never ever take for granted.
The whole day was spent in the moment, it was so incredible to stand back and know that all that who were there that day were there to celebrate us!
Our favourite moments from start to finish
- Matt walking down the aisle with his mom
- Ali walking down the aisle with her mom and dad
- our couple shoot with the incredible team at Duck Soup Productions
- the sparkler entrance was a major highlight for us
- last but not least our first dance was done outside under the stars with all our favourite people watching. It felt like a fairytale.
We haven't had the chance to plan or go on honeymoon YET.
We will save up and go in 2023.
One positive is that we get to look forward to that from now! :D
We would love to have a beachy holiday for our honeymoon.
Dream would be maldives or seychelles.
Lets see :D
When I first started looking at dresses I had one vision in my mind but when I tried my first dress at Blanco Bridal Couture I knew that what I had envisioned was out of the question and this dress was the one.
I wanted simple, mermaid, elegant and classy.
I walked out with elegant, classy, magical and fairytale.
My heels were from Linzi to which I added a strip of pearls over the toes to incorporate the pearls from my dress and hairpiece.
After the ceremony I put on my white Nike Airforce1.
My jewellery
Earrings - Beautiful Earth Boutique
Pearl bracelet - Borrowed from a great Aunty who has passed away.
My hair was up for the ceremony and I dropped the bun for the reception.
My hair piece was imported from an American lady in Colorado.
My wedding band was custom made by Peter Gilder Jewellers in Constantia Village.
We got married in a Gum tree forest looking over a beautiful valley on the grounds of Dullstroom Country Cottages.
The ceremony location was so magical, with a short forest walk to get to the 'lookout' point for the harvest table and drinks.
We had family and bridal party staying at the venue which can sleep 38 people in the most beautiful spots all around the farm.
Working on the luxury super yachts did not make it easy for me to have a set regime but I did my best with the little time I had to myself.
I upped my intake of collagen from Bombshell Collagen.
My nails were looked after by Nails by Jillian in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town.
I had my teeth cleaned before the wedding at the most incredible dentist - Tynan McArthur in Sandton.
I had 3 sessions on a sunbed to increase my tan - The Sunroom in byranston Johannesburg has always been my go to.
I had my lashes done by Stacey at Re:Fresh and had them filled 3 days before the wedding by Presh who conveniently came to me and did it in the comfort of our lounge in Dainfern.
Decor and flowers were all provided and set up by the bride, groom, family and some friends.
We went to Multiflora flower market in JHB South and purchased all the flowers. We then spent the Thursday before the wedding setting up the reception and ceremony location with the most beautiful yet simplistic flower arrangements.
It was not easy but what an honour it was to stand back at the end of it and see our vision come to life after all our hard work.
All the signs I made from Ply wood and vinyl.
I also customised handheld fans with our wedding date and 'Mr & Mrs Snell'.
Lawn Games
Ring toss game - I made out of a wine crate and rings purchased from the crazy store.
Giant XOXO game from Everything Laser
Giant Jenga brought in from the UK.
Candles I purchased from CloverLeaf Candles in ladysmith KZN.
Neon Sign was custom made by NeonFeed in Cape Town.
Cake Topper was custom made by Everything Laser
Guest book I ordered from Dickybird Designs in Durbanville.
70CM sparklers ordered from Quirky Parties
Matt wore a sandstone colour jacket, white tailored shirt with tailored black trousers from the incredible mens wear shop - ZEDMENS in century city. Wilem was so hands on and so helpful from the start of the process of finding something right to the day Matt collected his suit where Wilem showed him how to fit everything correctly, how to pack his shoes and belt inthe box to not cause damage. the attention to detail is next level.
Grooms shoes were from Aldo.
The groomsmen wore tuxedo style black suits from Eurosuit.
Grooms wedding band was custom made by Cape Diamonds in Cape Town CBD.
Groom & groomsmen all wore watches from Colton James Watches.
Cape Diamonds has been the first choice for thousands of individuals looking for a unique diamond ring or wedding band
The bridesmaids were in a beautiful bottle green dress from an online shop in the UK
Each chose their own shoes.
The jewellery was from Lovisa. A Simple freshwater pearl bracelet and earrings - a gold hoop with small pearl detail.
Our marriage officer was Nick Prinsloo from Bryanston Johanesburg.
We chose him after seeing him officiate a wedding we attended.
His calm and laid back approach is exactly what we wanted for our ceremony. He listened to exactly what we wanted and nothing was too much effort. The entire process from start to finish was so smooth and he is such a pleasure to work with.
We had Duck Soup Productions for our photography and videography.
The team were unbelievably professional, fun and so accommodating!
They made us feel so comfortable.
Our guests made comment on how they were so impressed by how the photographers and videographers were present but were never over powering.
The team did such an incredible job of capturing our day and we cannot wait to see their final shots and the video they create for us.
The planning was done all by me - the bride.
Hard work but worth every single moment.
I feel so proud to have pulled off such an incredible event.
A close family friend of the bride who is a wedding caterer in Dullstroom did the harvest table and the mains.
Sumi Gaweda did an outstanding job of the food!
The desserts were ordered from a lady in Fourways Johannesburg called 'Nix's Mix'
The cake was made by a lady in Belfast called Annelize, it was red velvet for the bottom tier and vanilla for the top tier.
We received complements from far and wide about our food.
Our website was designed by Kiss & Bliss
All our signs and stationery I designed and made myself. I loved every step of the process.
Our first dance we bought a package online from Wedding Dance School and changed it to suit our needs.
We had a DJ that came as part of the photography/videography team, He did all the sound and lighting for the wedding.
Cape Town based photographer specializing in Weddings, couples and all things LOVE!
Cape Diamonds has been the first choice for thousands of individuals looking for a unique diamond ring or wedding band
