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Marrakesh, Morocco Bachelorette Party

Hunting for the perfect bachelorette party locale? After you see these gorgeous pictures captured by O’Malley Photographers, you’re going to think twice about gorgeous Morocco! Draped in henna, these girlfriends sure look like they’re enjoying everything Marrakesh has to offer. Be sure to see all the stunning details here!

From O’Malley PhotographersBachelorette party in Morocco? Why not? How better to treat your leading ladies than a lavish getaway to one of the worlds most beautiful and diverse destinations! Tuck yourselves away in one of the many coastal towns on the Mediterranean or experience the lively culture in a bustling city like Marrakesh. For a truly unforgettable time, book an exquisite boutique hotel (such as Peacock Pavilions shown here) in the midst of quiet olive groves, where you can indulge in a moroccan oasis and unwind.

Relax poolside with drinks in hand, taste gourmet local cuisine, and get the inside scoop on the best local shopping from award winning lifestyle blogger, author and pavilion owner, Maryam Montague. For a fun cultural experience, have the hotel book a local henna artist to treat you and your girls. If you can pull yourself away from the gorgeous villa, venture into the city center for high-end spas, ancient baths (hamams), delicious food and the best shopping experience a girl could ask for!

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Styling: The Dress Theory | Shoes: Miu Miu | Catering: Peacock Pavilions | Venue: Peacock Pavilions | Dresses: The Dress Theory

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Morocco Engagement Session at Peacock Pavilions

I haven’t experienced Morocco first hand, but after perusing these images from O’Malley Photographers, I’ve decided this vibrant destination deserves a spot on my bucket list. And it just so happens to make the most gorgeous backdrop for snapping engagement shots. Peacock Pavilions perfectly captures that eclectic Moroccan vibe (my eyes are loving those blues). Hop over to the full gallery for more!

From O’Malley PhotographersNo matter where your destination wedding is taking place, it’s a great idea to take advantage of the gorgeous scenery and unforgettable memories you’re making by shooting engagement photos in the days leading up to the wedding. Morocco provided a stunning back-drop here, but no matter where you’re tying the knot, bring your photographer along while you explore the hidden gems and meaningful spots you and your fiancé share abroad. This session ended with an intimate engagement party for close friends.

Photography: O'Malley Photographers | Shoes: Zara | Catering: Peacock Pavilions | Wedding Venue: Peacock Pavilions | Wedding Venue: Majorelle Garden | Blue Dress: The Dress Theory | Sequin Dress: The Dress Theory | Stylist: The Dress Theory

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Tuscany Meets South Africa Wedding Inspiration

Earlier today, we brunched in style with Lisa Poggi & Gianluca Gasperoni—South African style with a bit of Tuscan influence, that is. And we’re continuing the festivities this afternoon with the jaw-dropping wedding portion, drenched in burgundy, lavender and blush. Tuscan DreamWedding Concepts and La Rosa Canina each added their charming touches and you can see it all right here.

From Lisa Poggi & Gianluca GasperoniWhen we left Rome, we had no idea what to expect on arrival in South Africa. Not only had we never traveled so far south before, but also we had never been so far away from home! However, our biggest fear in the end was not being able to interpret the light that we may find in this distant country! How would it be different to Italy, would we be able to distort it, work with it and produce work similar to what we would create back home? Who knew!

From the minute we stepped off the plane we realized that this would have been impossible. The light in South Africa is unique and inimitable. The constant wind that sweeps everything away creates a clear and fresh canvas, full of facets, even on rainy days. We hoped we would shoot on a beautiful sunny day, but an unusual spring thunderstorm greeted us and accompanied us throughout the shoot.

Despite this, the light that we found was perfect and unique. Totally in line with what we had in mind of “union” and “marriage” between Africa and Tuscany! We love to harness the natural light when we shoot and in this case the constant changes in brightness and contrast have led to a result extremely heterogeneous and totally in line with our general ideas.

The work of the wonderful team of people from both Tuscany and South Africa have led to a result creating the perfect balance between raw and rural elegance. We loved all the colour contrasts between cooler cypress and lavender mixed amongst warm earth African tones!

From Carolina Casini of Tuscan DreamWhen planning my latest trip to South Africa I would never in my wildest dreams imagined that it would be so different from all my previous ones. I had always loved the time at my parents’ house on the beach where yoga, running, swimming and reading were my favorite activities, which I always guarded jealously…but not this time…

A week before my departure, completely out of the blue, I received a call from Tommaso saying that he met Lisa & Gianluca in Milan the previous weekend and that they were all wondering what I was up to because they hadn’t heard from me lately. During our last dinner I shared with them my deep love for South Africa, talking about its blue skies, the energy and creativity of this gorgeous country as well as its commitment to change and told them I was planning to return to Cape Town at the end of the wedding season.

Next thing I knew, by the end of the phone conversation we had 4 tickets to South Africa, and I wasn’t flying alone anymore and guess what…I wasn’t going to be attending any yoga classes or relaxing, instead I would be planning an inspirational wedding photo shoot!

Now how to plan an inspirational shooting in a foreign country in less than 2 weeks that’s another story and involves my company TuscanDream having had the privilege to meet and get to know our friends at Wedding Concepts, a leading wedding planning agency in Cape Town. Like TuscanDream, Wedding Concepts specializes in working with a distinctive international clientele and are committed to deliver beautifully customized, luxury weddings.

Many of the best things in life are those that happen serendipitously. Our inspirational wedding project in South Africa has brought together creativity and friendship as a beautiful unexpected gift to an awesome photo shoot!

Tommaso of La Rose Canina FirenzeWhen Carolina Casini first spoke of the idea of potentially one day shooting an inspiration bridal shoot in the Cape Town wine region of South Africa – the idea immediately both impressed me and filled me with joy! This simply had to happen!

The presence of our close knit creative team, which included photographer and friend Lisa Poggi, gave me the confidence that we could, together, be able to create a beautiful result and find a real new inspiration in a country rich in energy and history. For me, this would be my first time visiting South Africa. So I knew this experience was going to be incredibly new and exciting!

When we first started scouting locations in Cape Town, I was struck by the similarities between certain characteristics of Tuscany and the Cape Winelands, the presence of cypress and olive trees as well as plant species typical of my region back home. I began to foster a strong sense of familiarity and at the same time I finally got to admire the indigenous flora in the beautiful botanical gardens of Kirstenbosh and how all the many varieties of Proteas grow so naturally here. I then tried to find inspiration for the entire design of the shoot in this extreme contrast between familiarity and extraordinary.

The “contrast” thus became the main focus for the whole shoot. Color contrast between the dark tones of the leaves we sourced, the fruit of the blueberry and the fig tree, and the brightness of the colour white of the winelands landscapes and Cape Dutch architecture. Contrasting materials were very elegant and others more textural, blending styles that were extremely classic with and ethnic atmospheres – typical of this rich country. All we knew was that we wanted to create together a shoot that spoke about a story of balance, love and joy.

Photography: Lisa Poggi | Event Planning: Tuscandream Weddings | Jewelry: We heart this | Venue: Hawksmoor House | Bridal Shoes: Aliverti | Cake Design: Roxanne Floquet | Calligraphy & Stationary: Betty Soldi | Design & Florals: La Rosa Canina | Female Model: Ross Chaplin from D&A Model Management | Groom Suits And Shoes: Fabiani | Hair & Make Up: Yolande Du Toit | Hiring: Urban Tonic | Male Model: Ross Chaplin from D&A Model Management | Menu & Seating Cards: Secret Diary Designs | Wedding Dress & Bridal Outfits: Stefania Morland | Wedding Management: Wedding Concepts

Tuscany Meets South Africa Welcome Brunch Inspiration

I love the unexpected—the mashups of pretty that I could never dream up. But Lisa Poggi & Gianluca Gasperoni, Carolina Casini of Tuscan Dream and Tommaso Torrini of La Rosa Canina Firenze? They are exceeding my wedding expectations today with this blend of Tuscan elegance and South African earthiness. We’re starting with this cozy brunch and later, there’s even more gorgeous to follow.

From Lisa Poggi & Gianluca GasperoniWhen setting out to create an inspirational wedding shoot, one tends to push boundaries and create a look with people who you have most likely formed strong working relationships with over the years. Now take four Italians – three of who have never been to South Africa – and their vision of producing a beautiful shoot where European style straight out of Tuscany would meet their South African counterpart.

Carolina Casini of the internationally renown villa rentals & destination weddings managing agency TuscanDream turned to South Africa’s most exclusive and creative wedding management and design company Wedding Concepts, to act as collaborative creative consultants and to assist this dynamic Italian team in creating an original shoot to combine Italian charm & South African elegance in the Cape Winelands. The team consisted of internationally renowned wedding and lifestyle photographer Lisa Poggi and her partner, fashion photographer Gianluca Gasperoni, and of course incredible Tuscan floral extraordinaire, Tommaso Torrini of La Rosa Canina Firenze.

It was up to all these new personalities to pull off a shoot in only a few days, whilst ensuring that everyone was on the same page, creatively! One significant thought that was realized in this whole exercise is that creativity doesn’t have a distinctive language and the results are simply exquisite. Which goes to show, wherever you are in the world, it’s the joy of working with like-minded personalities that will honestly ensure a beautiful product that everyone can be proud of.

With the superb help and assistance from the team from Wedding Concepts, the Tuscan team was able to secure the support of some of the most renowned names in the South Africa luxury wedding industry! So to explain the look, we imagined two moments in our wedding story: an intimate welcome dinner and then of course the wedding day.

In the first story the materials, colors and shapes are the most typical of the colorful mix of cultures in South Africa. The atmosphere is light and the look is about simplicity and relaxation. On the day of the wedding however, to compliment the design of the wedding dress and the rich look of our bride and groom, the flowers and table settings frame and complement the idea of the contrast between classic elegance and simple organic features. The flowers and foliage collected in the field of our location were mixed with the rich raw materials of the stationery and elements around the venue. The result, a stark contrast that created a clear balance between classic elegance and raw simplicity.

Photography: Lisa Poggi | Event Planning: Tuscandream Weddings | Jewelry: I Pesci Che Volano | Venue: Hawksmoor House | Bridal Outfits: Stefania Morland | Bridal Shoes: Aliverti | Cake Design: Roxanne Floquet | Calligraphy & Stationary: Betty Soldi | Design & Florals: La Rosa Canina | Female Model: Ross Chaplin from D&A Model Management | Groom Suit And Shoes: Fabiani | Hair & Make Up: Yolande Du Toit | Male Model: Ross Chaplin from D&A Model Management | Wedding Management: Wedding Concepts

Romantic South African Wedding at Rockhaven Farm

I am obsessively in love with this wedding dress. My crush on Jenny Packham has no limit. Sequins, sparkle and the most beautiful billowing tulle is the icing on the cake of this absolutely breathtaking South African wedding. Tasha Seccombe and Boy Meets Girl Cinema transports us away to what can only be described as a dreamland and that is where I’ll remain for the rest of the day.

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From The Bride… From the beginning we kept using the words: relaxed, fun, personal and something a little bit different to describe what type of wedding we wanted. I know that as far as weddings go this is probably a bit of a cliché but as we had decided to invite 40 of our closest family and friends to join us in South Africa from our London base, I thought we, at least, had a good starting point.

Originally from South Africa, I moved over to the UK to go to university and met my husband, Nick during the first few weeks. We instantly became known as ‘Nick and Nic’ and after 10 years together, we were a few weeks away for our wedding day. Despite London being my permanent home, I had always known that when I got married I wanted to do it back in South Africa and luckily Nick loves the place as much as I do and shared my sentiments.

We chose a place just outside of Cape Town in a little town called Elgin. The area is surrounded by apple and pear farms with the most idyllic scenery. Deciding on a venue was surprisingly one of the easier decisions we made as we both knew that we weren’t going to be able to go and do the traditional ‘recce’ of venues that most couples do, so we relied on feedback and lots of photos on blogs and photographers websites. As soon as we saw Rockhaven, we knew this was our place. Its a working farm that caters to weddings with a simple modern-ish barn, gorgeous gardens with views of the valley, and the most charming little ‘boathouse’ overlooking a lake which is where we held the ceremony. With a setting so beautiful I decided I only wanted to enhance it with a soft romantic colour palette of sage, grey, cream and pinks and bring together elements of both South Africa and England.

I, of course discovered a love of Pinterest and wedding blogs like Style Me Pretty which were incredibly useful for giving me amazing inspiration but also very overwhelming – there are just so many ideas out there! We did have a brilliant wedding planner in South Africa who I would share all my ideas with via Dropbox. One of the hardest things about getting married abroad is that you can’t do much DIY so instead I decided to focus on doing a few things really well and make our wedding as personal as possible. My sister and her boyfriend, who are both architects, helped to design and make all our stationery. 

I love flowers but hadn’t thought that we would be able to afford loads however one of the perks of getting married abroad is that it was a lot more budget conscious and as both our ceremony and reception were held in the same location we were able to move and easily re-use the flowers throughout the day. Our florist was incredible and took my inspiration pictures and put her own creative twist on it and created something breath-taking. A combination of roses, lisianthus, dahlias and hydrangeas combined with Proteas (South Africa’s national flower), fynbos, Queens lace and ferns emphasised the English country garden feel. 

When it came to my dress I’d never known exactly what type I wanted – in fact I could tell you all the things I didn’t want but not what I liked. Being only 5’2” I knew that I couldn’t pull off a frothy gown and with the South African summer I wanted something light and travel friendly. I tried on several different style dresses but kept coming back to this beautiful tulle Jenny Packham dress with fluted sleeves and lots of tiny sequins and paillettes with the smallest of trains. I didn’t have any sort of emotional connection to the dress but just kept being drawn back to it – it was so comfortable and flattering and could see myself spending the whole day in it. I borrowed a pair of diamond earrings from my mom and wore a simple pendant necklace that Nick gave me the day before.

For Nick, I wanted him to have an equally special suit for the day. Normally weddings in England are the traditional 3 piece suit and tails but this was not going to suit the very warm climate nor the style of our wedding. Luckily my parents live in Dubai so we had the luxury of very good tailors and souks where you can get quality fabric and tailoring at a fraction of the price. After many back and forth photos, phone calls, emails and using internet guides of ‘how to measure for a suit’ with my mom – she delivered everything to the tailor and we waited with bated breath. When I saw Nick in his 3 piece suit in pale grey with a dark grey paisley lining I couldn’t believe how dashing he looked and we were even able to personalise the suit with our wedding date embroidered in.

We couldn’t afford to stretch our budget for a live band for the reception (in the end our DJ was amazing and almost no-one left the dance floor except for when my cricket mad husband and his friends organised an impromptu game at about 11pm!) but did still want some live music. We ended up with a classical duo during the ceremony and an incredible jazz duo during the pre-reception who kept our guests entertained while we were off having some photos. We also got our guests to give us their song choices which we gave to the DJ proving for an amazing party – which eventually only ended at 2:30am in the morning!

We knew that we wanted our wedding to be a big party to celebrate our 10 years together. This started with a barbeque on the Friday evening at a local restaurant, the day before the wedding and culminated with a picnic on a wine estate on the Sunday – for most it started the previous week when our guests flew in and we rented a villa near the beach in Cape Town.

We couldn’t have asked for our wedding to be more of a celebration of everything we have together surrounded by our friends and family – you couldn’t wipe the smile off of our faces for weeks afterwards.

Photography: Tasha Seccombe | Videographer: Boy Meets Girl Cinema | Coordination: Creation Events | Flowers: Paradiso Flowers | Wedding Dress: Morgan Davies | Stationery: Family | Brides Shoes: Zara | Jewelry: Jenny Packham | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Catering: Rockhaven Farm | Lighting: 4 Every Event | DJ: Capricorn Music | Groom's Attire: Lobos Tailors, Dubai | Groomsmen's Attire: Reiss | Ceremony Music: Play | Bridal Jewellery: Borrowed From Mom | Cake And Desserts: Nelle Cakes | Decor Hire: Blooming Wonderful | Farm: Rockhaven Farm | Groom And Groomsmen Ties: Bows And Ties | Hair & Make-up: Candice Leigh Arnott | Pre-reception Music: Gary Deacon

Destination Wedding in Tunisia

Dear bride and groom, if you decide to renew your vows in a few years I hope you have room for a few more guests. I know a several SMP staffers that might start lobbying for an invite. We’re smitten and there’s no going back. Seriously, a bougainvillea drenched courtyard, a beyond perfect dress, a ridiculously gorgeous couple, and it’s all captured beautifully by Emm & Clau!!?? Heaven. And it’s all right here in the gallery.


From the bride… Karim and I met in 2009 in Al Ain, the oasis city of the United Arab Emirates; Karim is half Tunisian and half Romanian and I am British, South African and Norwegian. Whether it be fate, destiny, or pure luck that brought the most unlikely setting and combination of two people together I am forever thankful for that day, and for Karim’s brilliant charming skills. Five years down the line, a four-year engagement and a French bulldog later, it was time to plan our wedding… The first hurdle we met was deciding where to have the wedding, living in Dubai with family and friends spread over 6 different countries it was a much thought about decision. After much debate and consideration we opted for a destination wedding in Tunisia. With Karim’s family connections to this capital city on the Mediterranean, Tunis was an obvious choice. This exotic location is steeped in history and culture, is well known for its local cuisine and fine wines and most importantly has a fabulous climate for many months of the year. We wanted the whole wedding to reflect not only ourselves but also our different cultures. The search began in February when we flew over to Tunisia to visit some wedding venues and sort out as much as we could within 10 days, as it would be the last trip there before the big day. As luck had it on the first day we found the most idyllic wedding venue; it was perfect in every way. A refurbished farmhouse with rustic charm and stonewalls concealed with creeping bougainvillea, a beautiful open courtyard surrounded by drooping trees. It was honestly everything I had ever dreamt of and we couldn’t believe our luck on finding that Tunisian gem.

Planning started 6 months before the wedding date, and only now do I truly understand why a wedding planner is the essential ingredient to a successful destination wedding. However I was lucky and blessed enough to have a secret wedding planner hidden in my husband combined with the most supportive family who were involved in putting together all the small details that made our wedding picture-perfect. Much of the decorative details were flown over from Dubai, America, Australia and London, including hand made table runners, the cake topper, personalized stamps, straws and our invitations. On the wedding day we were expecting approximately 80 guests. The visitors had started arriving in Tunisia a week before and some stayed on for at least a week after the wedding to make the most of everything the country had to offer. We ran around for the days beforehand catching up with the excited travelers and introducing each other to members of our extended families and intimate friends.

The wedding day: For me one of the most special parts, was seeing all the decorative details come together; I had spent years looking through and collecting wedding magazines, hours on pinterest and wedding blogs; and finally all of the time and effort put into every detail became more than worth it. Our wedding was a truly perfect and magical day; being surrounded by the family and friends we love the most was an overwhelming and beautiful experience that shall never be forgotten.

Photography: Emm And Clau | Floral Design: El Firma | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Shoes: Alice And Olivia | Bracelet: Elie Saab | Necklace: Elie Saab | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Pronovias | Suit: Sacoor Brothers In Dubai | Hotel: Villa Didon In Carthage | Wedding Venue: El Firma | Earrings: Swarovski | Groom's Shoes: Paul Smith | Tie: Thomas Pink

Rustic Chic South African Warehouse Wedding at Blue Bird Garage

Illumniate Photography described this wedding as a “big feast of Pinteresting loveliness”, and I do believe they hit the nail on the head with that description. Because I could (and probably will) pin every single image sitting in this gorgeous gallery. It’s sweet rustic touches mixed with a fabulous urban setting, and the result is pure perfection. See it all here.

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From Illumniate PhotographyI love the simplicity of the look of this wedding, yet the careful thought that went into the detail. Keziah (the bride) is one of the most creative people I know, so as you can imagine her wedding was one big feast of Pinteresting loveliness! To name just a few of the cute quirks, she D.I.Yed hanging plants; used wooden school chairs to seat the guests; and used vintage newspapers as placemats. I also loved how involved Craig (the groom) was in the whole planning process.

Keziah and Craig chose to mix it up a bit by having their ceremony in the evening. They had a special “first look” in the forest with some close friends and family before the ceremony, and this was followed by some bridal party and couple pictures around the forest. It was so nice to know that there weren’t any guests waiting for us, meaning we could take our time.

The ceremony and Reception were both held at the Blue bird garage – a warehouse-like spot where a popular market takes place on Friday evenings which they converted into a perfect wedding venue!

Candles were lit and lights were strung and a most beautiful, spirit-filled atmosphere was in the room. What really stood out for me at the reception was the love that Craig and Kez have for their family and friends and people in general. What a beautiful thing.

Photography: Illuminate Photography | Wedding Gown: Sharon McLean | Cake: Gimmene | Catering: Basics Catering | Make Up: Jill Sangerhaus | Hair: Fringe | Wedding Venue: Blue Bird Garage | Candlestick Hire: Function Hire 4 U | Flowers And Wreaths: The Rose Café | Sationary: Marieke Goncalves

Adventurous Safari Wedding in South Africa

The only thing that could possibly top a rehearsal dinner in the middle of the South African wild, is a wedding following suit. This gem is overflowing with the raw beauty of an African safari coupled with impeccably crafted details at the hands of Afresh Event DesignNineteen Eight Five, and Wedding Concepts. Now throw in image after stunning image by Mike Falco For Christian Oth Studio and you have a gallery not to be missed.

From The Bride…While Jon and I got ready with our family and wedding parties, the guests were treated to an early morning game drive at sunrise. After our preparations, we boarded the safari jeeps once again for the ceremony at Inkwazi Hide, a large, wooden deck under a 200-year-old Acacia tree overlooking the Sabie River. A local African choir sang Zulu praise songs as I walked down the aisle and we were greeted by our officiant who spoke on themes of friendship, adventure and nature (punctuated by hilarious hippo grunts coming from the river). When we were pronounced man and wife, our guests surprised us by loudly trumpeting on Vuvuzelas. Afterwards, Jon and I snuck away for a few photos and our guests were treated to signature cocktails while taking in a glorious African sunset on a deck overlooking the river. When it was time, guests journeyed towards the candlelit reception dinner.

Memorable Moments…True to our adventure theme, some of our most memorable moments from the wedding were the unplanned and unexpected ones. Our 2-year-old ring bearer not only dressed up as a lion cub, but also burst out with spontaneous roars as he walked down the aisle. A curious hippo joined us during our couples shoot on the riverbed. And despite the demanding travel and early morning safaris, guests rallied and still managed to dance the night away. One of my favourite moments was during the last song of the night, Toto’s “Africa.” As the lyrics blared “I bless the rains down in Africa” at 3am, it started to pour and we all rushed outside to dance in the rain.

Local flavor…Since the locale was so rich in raw beauty and splendor, we wanted the African landscape to be the focus and also tried to stay true to local elements and flavors. Waiting for guests in their lodges on arrival was a handmade Guide Box, filled with South African favourites like rooibos tea and Amarula liqueur. Also included were some clues for an adventure-filled weekend: a compass, an Acacia twig, and a Field Guide with information on local customs, wildlife facts and useful Shangaan phrases. To ensure that the florals would hold up under the fierce African sun, we opted for a combination of King Proteas, succulents and feinbos. As guests enjoyed local wines from the famous Stellenbosch region, a group of traditional Zulu dancers set the African rhythms in motion by teaching guests tribal dances.

Personal details…We wanted the wedding to be not just a celebration with family and friends but also a heartfelt thank you and show of appreciation for their constant love and support throughout the years. We tried to achieve this through personalized details. These ranged from surprising guests with their childhood photos on their seating cards (a great conversation starter) to calligraphy on the place cards with goofy nicknames and individual welcome “telegrams” that described our favorite past adventures with the guest.

In gratitude…In the end, it was a true “Wild At Heart” wedding adventure. A bottomless THANK YOU to Kim and Michael for helping to create and document our dream wedding. Jon and I were so grateful to begin our new chapter together with such an incredible adventure with our family and friends.

Photography: Christian Oth Studio | Event Design: Afresh Event Design | Floral Design: Nineteen Eight Five | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Invitations: Lara's Designs | Catering: Lion Sand's | DJ: DJ Rene | Wedding Venue: Lion Sand's | Beauty: Mist | Planning: Wedding Concepts | Travel Logistics: Travel Concepts

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South African Safari Rehearsal Dinner

This rehearsal dinner goes out to all those wild at heart. Capital A Adventure was an underlying theme that was woven throughout this South African safari wedding starting with a rehearsal dinner amongst the wildlife and the stars. Have a look at the gorgeous imagery captured by Mike Falco For Christian Oth Studio and stay tuned for the stunning wedding coming up next!

From The Bride…Why Africa? Jon and I met in NYC through a mutual friend and over the course of our 8-year relationship, our favorite moments together are ones where we felt like we were on an adventure. So when it came time to plan our wedding, we wanted to cultivate that sense of curiosity and wonder by hosting a safari wedding out in the untamed African bush. We settled on my native South Africa and after five months of intense planning, 75 of our closest family and friends from different corners of the globe set out for our “Wild At Heart” wedding adventure.

Into the wild…After a long day on the road, our guests arrived at the Lion Sands Game Reserve, in the heart of Sabi Sands. All the arduous travel paid off as the remote locale allowed our guests to experience the majestic African landscape in all her unbridled splendor. After a refreshing afternoon tea, the guests hopped into jeeps and set out on their first safari game drive. The guides did not disappoint and fearlessly took everyone off-roading in search of the famed Big Five game. The wild encounters included four lions feasting on a freshly killed buffalo, a baby elephant tripping over its trunk, a pair of rhinoceros brothers napping together in the shade, and a mother leopard teaching her cub to track with a playful game of hide and seek.

Rehearsal Dinner in the Bush…After the eventful game drive, the jeeps brought the guests into an unprotected clearing where a casually elegant bush dinner awaited. The guests shared their experiences from the first day around a campfire and savored local meats such as kudu, ostrich and biltong. Glowing fireflies, oil lanterns hanging from trees and the dramatic Milky Way up above helped to illuminate this surreal evening.

Tea ceremony…After the relaxing dinner, our loved ones gathered around us in a protective circle as Jon and I served tea to our parents and elders to express our gratitude. A particularly poignant blessing from my 87 year-old grandmother resulted in moist eyes all around. I loved that the emotional moment was an unexpected melding of two cultures: a traditional Chinese ceremony taking place in the African bush, illuminated by a campfire and lanterns (with a few hyenas looking on as well).

Photography: Christian Oth Studio | Event Planning: Wedding Concepts | Wedding Coordinator: Wedding Concepts | Floral Design: Nineteen Eight Five | Stationery: Lara's Designs | Catering: Lion Sand's | DJ: DJ Rene | Accommodation & Travel Logistics: Travel Concepts | Beauty: Mist | Decor & Lighting: Afresh Event Design | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Lion Sand's

Private Villa Garden Wedding in Marrakech, Morocco

A destination wedding in Morocco sounds like my prettiest of dreams, and thanks to the gorgeous imagery below from Sarah Falugo it’s safe to say it looks like my prettiest of dreams too. Every detail planned by Boutique Souk makes my heart sing, and you can see all the reasons why right here.

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From Sarah Falugo PhotographyBritish couple Emily and Sam decided to celebrate their wedding in a private garden on the edge of Marrakech in Morocco. Fifty of their friends and family flew in from around Europe to help them celebrate.

Emily and the girls enjoyed some morning preparations at La Mamounia while Sam and his groomsmen had lunch at the fashionable ‘Grand Café de la Poste’. The ceremony and reception took place at a private villa in the La Palmeraie area of Marrakech, Morocco.

Following the garden ceremony the couple enjoyed a champagne reception under the palm trees before having a poolside meal of under the stars. In the evening the guests were entertained by fire-dancers and DJs.

Photographer Sarah Falugo traveled in from the UK to document the event. She also to joined Sam and Emily the following day for a photo shoot in the High Atlas at Richard Branson’s ‘Kasbah Tamadot’ where the couple honeymooned.

Photography: Sarah Falugo Photography | Flowers: Boutique Souk | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Bridesmaids Dresses: Coast | Groom's Suit: Reiss | Venue: Boutique Souk | Wedding Planning And Co-ordination: Boutique Souk

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa Wedding at Caversham Mill

Intimate and simply gorgeous, this Bride’s vision for a “summer camp for grown-ups” came to life in the prettiest of ways. With a stunning South African setting and love pouring out of every pretty picture by dna Photographers, this gallery is as good as they get. See it all here.

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From The Bride…I have rented a five-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for the past eight years, and five years ago, when one of our roommates was moving out, I posted an ad on Craigslist. I received the following response: “Hi! My name is Chris Shirley. I am a 23 year old Structural Engineer. I currently live downtown and am moving out of my current apartment on 1 June. I work on 45th Street. Your apartment looks great. I would like to meet up with you and check it out.” He moved in on June 1, and after a summer spent going to the beach, camping out for Shakespeare in the Park tickets, and walking my dog around Central Park, we fell in love.

Christopher proposed in Central Park three years later, and we were married in City Hall with my mother and our best friend as witnesses. We told only our close friends and family, but Christopher wanted to keep our City Hall wedding a secret, because he feared that no one would fly half way around the world for our real wedding if they knew we were legally married. I managed to keep it secret for two months, and then posted this on Facebook: “Christopher Shirley & I got married on November 23, 2011 at NYC City Hall. We weren’t going to announce it until after our actual wedding ceremony, but I’ve waited over 2 months and I have no patience left. We’re married and I love the boy!”

Christopher is from Johannesburg, South Africa and we love the South African countryside. We wanted to hold our wedding ceremony at his family friends’ home and Country Inn, the Caversham Mill in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Luckily, Christophers mother is an event planner, because we both work full-time and are in graduate school part-time. I emailed my mother-in-law a million photos from Style Me Pretty and told her we wanted “summer camp for grown-ups.” We wanted to go river tubing and midnight swimming, and romp around the hills with our best friends. We wanted to sing loudly at night, and take our friends on a game drive to see the Big 5 after the wedding. We also needed a vegan wedding, which was difficult but not impossible to pull off in South Africa. We are both vegans and animal rights activists, and to hear our meat eating friends proclaim that our wedding menu was so delicious they may actually consider going vegan was pretty incredible.

The rest, as they say, is history. My mother got her very first passport and flew 14 hours to South Africa. Our best friend married us under three beautiful old trees, and we had the most amazing time with friends and family who flew in from five different countries and four different continents to celebrate our marriage with us.

Photography: dna photographers | Venue: Caversham Mill | Venues: NYC City Hall

Namib Desert Wedding at Sossusvlei Lodge

I’ve seen a lot of amazing weddings grace the pages of SMP, but this desert beauty at Sossusvlei Lodge captured by Dror Eyal Photography and planned by Christelle Du Toit  is in a a league all of its own. Incredibly intimate and ridiculously stylish (hello gorgeous Jenny Packham  gown from Little White Dress Bridal Shop, I’m talking to you…), every moment sitting in this gallery is one for the books.

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From Little White Dress Bridal ShopCarl and Megan met while serving as Peace Corps education volunteers. Their paths crossed at a Peace Corps conference just outside of Namibia’s capitol city, Windhoek. However, the schools they taught at were 200km from each other. This meant for the first 8 months of their relationship, seeing each other meant hitchhiking on the desolate Namibian roads from one town to the next. In 2008 Megan’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and although she was only fifteen months into her Peace Corps service, Megan decided that returning to Salt Lake City was the right thing to do. Carl finished his twenty-four months of service and opted to join Megan in Salt Lake instead of returning to his hometown of Great Falls, Montana. Carl and Megan both started graduate school as they supported Megan’s mom through cancer treatment. Fortunately, the cancer treatment was successful.

During their time in Salt Lake City, Megan and Carl took every opportunity to travel. In 2011 they traveled to Gold Coast, Australia for the wedding of a dear friend. After the wedding, Megan took Carl around her old stomping ground in Sydney, where she studied in 2003. On the final day of the trip, Megan and Carl visited Taronga Zoo, which Megan bragged to Carl had the best views of Sydney Harbor. While at the zoo, the two came upon a deserted amphitheater used for bird shows that just happened to have a spectacular view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Then Megan realized Carl was kneeling down next to her. Carl proposed and pulled off nearly the impossible: he managed to surprise Megan. She had been so busy preparing to be in her friend’s wedding and planning for the trip that an engagement of her own was the last thing on her mind. The next day, they flew home elated and to a very excited family who, of course, had been in on the whole scheme.

Megan and Carl had decided that they would return to country they first met, Namibia, to get married. They knew that marrying in Namibia would pose interesting logistical challenges, but the two agreed it had to be done. Not only were Megan and Carl dying to return to the county they loved, where they fell in love, but Megan’s family had planned to visit during her Peace Corps service, but couldn’t due to her mother’s illness. In the summer of 2011, Megan contacted the Sossusvlei Lodge in the southwestern part of Namibia, located on the border of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, in the Namib Desert. The Namib-Naukluft National Park boasts some of the world’s largest sand dunes that are colored an intense burnt-orange, contrasting markedly to the deep blue African sky. The largest dunes are located around an area of the park called Sossusvlei, which is where the Sossusvlei Lodge takes its name. Such a tourist destination would perhaps help entice friends and relatives to join in on the journey. Christelle du Toit, hotel manager and event coordinator of the Sossusvlei Lodge, responded to Megan’s initial requests, and they exchanged a few emails coordinating logistics, and in one email, Christelle wrote: “It will be our pleasure to make your request come true.” It felt like a fairy godmother granting a wish, but the requestors had not given much detail. Megan and Carl wanted the wedding to be simple, personal and elegant, but neither had given much thought to wedding details. They two just wanted to travel! Christelle mentioned the menu was pre-set due to the logistics of being literally in the middle of nowhere, flowers would be difficult due to the location and heat, there was no electricity at the ceremony site, they could not accommodate more than seventy people because they only had seventy chairs and they had never put together a rehearsal dinner before. “Fine, fine, fine,” Megan and Carl said. The location and being together were all that mattered. In August of 2011, the bride and groom’s parents hosted an engagement party and announced that in two years time, on August 26th, 2013, Megan and Carl would wed at the Sossusvlei Lodge in Namibia and anyone interested in an African adventure should consider joining.

Since there were two years to go until the wedding, things did not feel rushed. Megan looked here and there for a wedding dress, but couldn’t find a dress that felt right, and would fit the occasion. She’d just about settled on a simple, white sundress when she came across Little White Dress Bridal Shop online. The reviews were outstanding and Denver wasn’t too far from Salt Lake City. Megan and her mom flew to Denver for a ladies weekend and were blown away by the experience they had at Little White Dress Bridal. The moment Megan tried on Jenny Packham’s “Eden” she and her mom were both in love. It was just right: unique, non-traditional, easy to travel with and simply stunning for a Namibian desert setting. Megan always says it wasn’t until that moment she realized why women get so excited about a dress. When you find the right one, you just know it.

At the beginning of 2013 family and friends got serious about booking their trip. Megan got a little nervous as the guest numbers grew and she considered how little she knew about what the actual wedding would be like. It was a bit of a leap of faith, except that forty closest friends and family were leaping too and there was no turning back. The anticipations and unknowns were thrilling.

Arriving back in Namibia put all of Megan and Carl’s worries at bay. The country is simply incredible: from the people to the scenery, it felt like returning home. Megan and Carl caravanned with twenty guests, driving four vehicles for five hours, along the lengthy gravel roads from Windhoek to Sossusvlei. At the Sossusvlei Lodge, Christelle was calm and collected as could be, and so happy to meet everyone. She went over the wedding schedule with Megan and Carl, but the details including the actual site would all be kept secret. In the two days before the wedding, guests enjoyed hiking the windswept dunes and photographing wildlife, indulging in delectable food and being consumed by a twinkling, vast, endless night sky.

Christelle’s team planned a rehearsal dinner at Desert Camp, which is the sister campsite to the Sossusvlei Lodge. While music was not allowed because it could have disturbed the other guests staying on the property, it was not necessary. Namibia is known for its incredible night sky, which is what everyone enjoyed while alongside a bonfire, enjoying ceremonial toasts with delicious South African wine. It was intimate and perfect.

Sossusvlei is one of the most famous places in the world to take a hot air balloon ride, and many guests planned to do so the day before the wedding. Unfortunately, a violent windstorm prevented that from happening on August 25th, so the only possible day was the actual wedding day. Megan and Carl along with 20 other guests arose at 4:30am to catch sunrise from a balloon. The rainbow-colored balloons were magnificent as they were slowly heated and filled by huge bursts of fire in the pre-dawn light. Megan and Carl spent their wedding morning silently floating over the Namib Desert, the landscape scarred only by the mysterious fairy-circles below.

Carl and his groomsmen, including his best man and the officiant, Ghidewon Arefe, made due by ironing shirts on footstools. Megan’s flower girls came to get ready with the bridal party. Christelle told everyone except the bridal party to be ready to leave at 4:15 PM sharp to be shuttled via sand buggy to the wedding site (wherever that was). The bridal party was shuttled out at 4:30 in a sand buggy Christelle and her team tied with a simple ribbon and wreathe. Christelle also personally made a bouquet for Megan of grasses from around the lodge so she would have something to hold as she walked down the aisle. The driver set off straight into the desert, and nothing but grass, sand, mountains and a few sparse trees were in view. Finally the group arrived at a nook at the base of a rocky outcrop with a giant camelthorn tree set between two huge boulders. Christelle hung wooden hearts on the tree that swirled in the desert breeze and lined the aisle with native grasses. Carl and Megan chose a rendition of “Fools Rush In” performed by Megan’s aunts for the processional. A lot of time and effort went into the ceremony program, which Megan and Carl were so excited to share with their guests. The first reading was Goodridge vs. the Department of Public Health, the 2003 ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Court that legalized gay marriage, which is an issue close to the hearts of the couple. The bride and groom’s parent’s helped honor relatives that couldn’t be there, those that had passed and also offered advice for the couple entering into their marriage. Next, Megan’s brother, Zach, debuted a song he wrote called “Your Someone” on his Key-tar, which he’d lugged from Salt Lake along with a battery powered amplifier, since there was no electricity at the site. The “Dude of Honor” read a passage from one of the couple’s favorite books, Travels with Charlie. Carl’s dad performed the Hungarian tradition of placing a gold and silver coin in the shoe of the bride to symbolize never having to go without, which honored Carl’s Hungarian grandmother and the couple concluded the ceremony with the breaking of a wineglass to honor Megan’s Jewish heritage.

Following a celebratory champagne toast, guests were whisked off to the hidden reception site, which was another five minutes into the middle of nowhere. By this time it was pitch black in the Namibian desert. Megan and Carl were driven separately to the reception behind the rest of the guests. Suddenly the driver stopped in front of a large boulder and told Megan and Carl to walk around the corner. Around the corner was a walkway made of dozens and dozens of flickering candles that seemed to lead into darkness. Arm in arm the new couple moved into the night with faint music as the only promise of life at the end of this path. The music grew louder and louder (luckily the reception site, although incredibly remote, did have electricity, thanks to a well-concealed generator). The couple came upon bonfires, a line of waiters standing before many tables of food and grills. The candles continued up the mountainside and seemed to climb into the starlit sky. DJ Stefan Piem who had traveled five hours on dirt roads from the coastal town of Swakopmund played a mix of old and new songs along with Namibian tunes. Friends had traveled from the USA, Europe and Australia to be there. The late-winter Namibian weather was cold, so guests piled pants, jackets and blankets on top of their formalwear and danced in the firelight darkness of the Namibian desert until 2:00 AM. Many of these guests remarked that they never would have considered traveling to Namibia, but it ended up being the best journey they’d ever had. Megan and Carl could not have dreamed up a better way to start their lives as husband and wife.

Photography: Dror Eyal Photography | Event Planning: Sossusvlei Lodge | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Invitations: Chicks N' Hens | Reception Venue: Sossusvlei Lodge | Bride's Shoes: J.Crew | Bridesmaid's Dresses: David's Bridal | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Groom's Attire: Hugo Boss | Groomsmen's Attire: J.Crew | Bridal Shop: Little White Dress Bridal Shop | Bride's Hairpiece: Love Veils | Flower Girls' Dresses: Zara | Travel Coordinator: Expert Africa

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Seychelles Wedding Film from Reel Love Films

I’ve never been to Seychelles.  It’s never even crossed my mind, if I am being honest.  But after viewing this breathtaking (and I mean breathtaking) film from Reel Love Films, it’s THE place I plan to vacation next. Because this island paradise?  This pretty little gem of perfection?  It’s beyond amazing… and the perfect spot for marrying.  One that these two sweeties embraced whole heartedly with an intimate group of amazing friends and family.  So sit back, relax and press play to dive into all of the pretty.  You’re going to love every last minute… believe you me.

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From Reel Love Films… Madel and Derick are from South Africa and are incredibly well travelled, but I think it has to be said that Fregate was something special. It’s a tiny private island in the Indian Ocean with almost unbelievable beaches; there are no cars, just golf buggies. Dotted around the island are the beautiful villas where guests stay, complete with their own butler and private pool. But the thing that made this place so special was the unique and incredible wildlife that lives with you during your stay. The place is full of bats, tortoises, centipedes, birds, flowers and the most magical sight of turtles coming to lay their eggs in the sand on the beaches… which happened just before the ceremony took place… pretty mind blowing! A special mention must also go to the staff who work there on the island looking after everyone, they are simply outstanding and made the week so very memorable for everyone.

Derick and Madel were joined by their close family and friends, who made the week so special for them. It was full of laughter, love and happiness, with some great adventures and sunsets. Madel’s good friend Riana helped plan the week and did a fantastic job styling the beach wedding, Derick and Madel welcomed Beccy and I into their lives for a week and we had the most amazing experience with them all, we wish you both all the luck and love for your future together and thank you so much for letting us be a part of your adventure.

From the Bride… We were on our America trip, June last year when I bought my dress at Nordstroms Bridal Boutique in Chicago! I had done quite a bit of research online and loved their dresses. I made the appointment online, knowing the dates we would be in Chicago. They were so helpful and professional; even made a few small adjustments and then sent it along to our next stop on our travels. It was a bit nerve-wrecking, but they did not disappoint!  My beautiful sandals was given to me as a gift by my friend, Estelle who was also at the wedding. They are by Lavorazione Artiziana; Greece.

Riana was my absolute ‘wing-lady’ those five days on Fregate and I could not have coped without her! She also introduced us to Fregate Private Island as our perfect destination and made the reservations for our group. Once we had finalised the booking, I begged her to join us for the duration of the trip, knowing how professional and organised she is. We have known each other since 2006 and had become good friends. She knew how much effort I had put into every detail and I knew she would make sure that it all ran smoothly!

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Cinematography: Reel Love Films | Photography: Rebecca Goddard Photography | Event Design: Lederle Safaris + The Bride | Ceremony & Reception Location: Fregate Private Island | Bride’s Shoes: Lavorazione Artiziana, Greece | Bride’s Dress: Nicole Miller via Nordstrom

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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South Africa Wedding from Tasha Seccombe

One of my favorite aspects of blogging for SMP (besides, well, everything) is the opportunity to pour over gorgeous weddings from all across the world. I like to think of it as virtual vacations to the most incredible places imaginable. And today’s destination adventure takes us to an ever-so-serene apple farm in South Africa. It’s every bit as sweet as it sounds, and with just one look at the gallery of images from Tasha Seccombe, this stunning locale will definitely take place on your must-visit list.

From the Bride…When Douglas and I got engaged, we both new that finding a venue for our wedding would be a challenge. We wanted a memorable wedding that would suit the people we are, what we enjoy, and include the things we both love. Our first choice was a beautiful farm. We believed that a serene, natural venue, would lend itself to a beautiful and relaxed wedding. We eventually decided on a family friends’ apple farm – Windermere – from which I have some great childhood memories. This was the start of a wonderful year of fun wedding planning (we would need to bring in everything from cutlery and tables to gas ovens and chopping boards) and interacting with some of the loveliest people in the Elgin valley.

We met Nadia Strauss from 4 Every Event, who is calm, level-headed and down to earth, and whose strong presence meant we always felt everything was under control – it really was. She did not at any point push her ideas onto us, and allowed us to express our wishes and showed us how they could evolve. We put together a mood board to capture the day. This was going to be the inspiration for every detail of the wedding. It took a long while to get these images together, to find the right pictures and make sure we were both happy with the final result. We wanted a country wedding, and we are both lovers of good food, good wine and fine dining. The marriage of fine dining and a country wedding had to be perfect. It was not to be shabby-chick or rustic, but rather an elegant, natural country affair, with a bit of the old world. Nothing was to be contrived or plastic, but real and wholesome. Quality was very important to us. There were a few key elements that would make this wedding special – flowers, trees, wood, bees and honey. We wanted lots and lots of flowers, lots of nature – an indoor-outdoor dining experience in the garden. The honeybee became our symbol of Mother Nature and everything would pivot around this idea.

We found a wonderful stationer – Lara Friday. We sent her our mood board and she was brilliant in interpreting what it was that we wanted. An elegant apple tree and a honeybee would bring together our simple, natural country theme. The colours were easy to decide on – creams, whites, sage greens, light browns and a hint of lavender blue – all found in a meadow. Our wedding day was a hot, still, sunny day. When I arrived at the church I thought I was stepping through the entrance of a magical, sunlit, wooded garden. A stream of rose petals led the way to the altar and a sea of smiling faces greeted me with warmth along the way. After the ceremony, Douglas and I drove off in a styling vintage car, which added to the old world flavour. The farm was breathtaking. The pre-drinks area was perfect for people to mill around under the trees and relax with some fresh homemade lemonade. The marquee was situated under big trees and we were lucky that it was warm enough to keep all the sides open, allowing us all to wine and dine in the outdoors while the stars came to life above us.

Nadia had interpreted the décor and flowers perfectly. The flowers were to look as though they had been freshly picked from a meadow that day. The tables were to look soft, elegant and natural which was achieved using a rectangular wooden basket brimming with flowers for the centerpiece and wood stumps to complement the theme. Each table had a different configuration, adding to the simplicity and natural feel. Jars of orange blossom honey were given to each guest.

My favourite touch was the cream lanterns hanging above each table. These were a special request I had made, and in them sat white candles of all different sizes, bringing a warm glow to the dining area, along with the wooden oak flooring below. Lanterns were to be used anywhere and everywhere in favour of normal lights to enhance the warmth and magical feel of the night. The food, provided by chef Gordon Manuel from South Hill, was outstanding and served very professionally. The wine, from the local boutique Highland Rd and Belfield wine estates, complemented the poached fillet risotto perfectly, and we finished off the meal with a slice of orange and almond wedding cake and berries drizzled with honey. The eating did not stop there, however, as we served cheese boards and much later on, gammon rolls for those who were still hungry. We partied late into the night and into the early hours of the morning, until the sun rose.

I will never forget my wedding day – the décor, the suppliers, the guests, they all added to what was the most memorable day of my life. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I can thank Tasha Seccombe, our photographer, for capturing some of the most natural photographs from the day, and whose eye managed to capture the mood perfectly, so that all I need to do is browse through and remember each and every happy moment.

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Wedding Photography: Tasha Seccombe | Cinematography: Vicky Goslin |  Floral + Event Design + Planning: 4 Every Event | Ceremony Location: Paul Cluver Chapel | Reception Location: Windermere Farm | Catering: Gordon Manuel | Stationery: Lara Designs | Cake: High Tea | Hair + Make-up: Lianne Kakebeeke | Wedding Dress: Robyn Roberts

South Africa Wedding from Adene Photography

We have to admit, here at SMP we do love a good getting ready montage. Ok fine, we are downright weak in the knees at the sight of one. Especially when the room is a perfect pale blue that blends sublimely with the bridesmaids dresses like watercolors on a canvas. On top of that, nothing compares to playing dress up with your closest friends before you walk down the aisle to marry the love of your life. In honor of this, I had to showcase these sweet-as-pie moments from Adene Photography that show a bride and her bests getting ready together. And as you peruse the gallery, take note of the gorgeous venue against the South African landscape…sigh.


From the Bride… I always wanted to get married in the Cape Wine Lands (South Africa) with its majestic mountains and beautiful vineyards.  I met Jozef on a blind date and it was love at first sight. Jozef was from the Cape Wine Lands and after dating for 2 years of dating, while we where sitting on a bench watching the sun set over Cape Town, he went down on one knee and asked me to marry him! We started with the wedding arrangements immediately and decided to get married at the Beautiful Kleinevalleij wedding venue at the foot of the Bains Kloof Pass in Wellington (South Africa).

We wanted our wedding to be very romantic and classic – timeless. The color scheme was dusty pink and light grey to create a classic romantic feel. Our all white venue complimented this perfectly. We wanted the King Protea (South Africa’s national flower) to be central through out the wedding. The King Protea is a lovely light pink color, which complemented our theme perfectly. We wanted all the flowers to be in glass to create a sense of elegance. Everything turned out amazing and the look and feel was exactly what we had envisioned. I was fortunate to have Adene from Adene Photography to, capture the all our special moments on the day. She did an amazing job, and made everyone feel completely at ease and relaxed throughout the day. Everyone tells you that you won’t remember much from the day due to all of the excitement, but I made a conscious decision to take in every moment and I remember every detail and feeling like it was yesterday!

I will never forget the wonderful day in the Cape Wine Lands where I promised everlasting love and devotion to the love of my life in front of my close family and friends. I fall more in love with my husband every day and still can’t believe how amazing it feels to be married and to have the opportunity to spend my life with my sole mate. 

Wedding Photography: Adene Photography / Wedding Venue: Kleinevalleij in Wellington, South Africa / Floral Design, Décor + Coordination: Sylvia of Special Events / Wedding Cake: Maggi of Edible Art Cakes / Wedding Stationery: Chrizanne of Sugar Bird Stationary / Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Stockenstrom / Bride’s Accessories: Lily Blue / Hair + Makeup: Helga Bridal

South Africa DIY Wedding from dna photographers

First off, I just have to tell you that reading the bride’s description of her day is sort of like reading a fabulous love poem because it reminds you of why you’re getting married and what’s really important. Not only is this gorgeous bride a wordsmith, she’s also one heck of a DIYer and with help of her loved ones, created a unique and spectacular day. dna photographers snapped up all the pretty details and love and you can see it all right here.

From the Bride… I’ll start by quoting the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson: ”Life is a journey, not a destination.” As for this blissful day, I would say it was and still is about the relationships and not just the wedding day.  And so, everything really started when I met Michael, who has always inspired me to get those things done, those wonderful ideas, that keep lingering in my mind. When he proposed, it simply catapulted us into an awesome, fun, passionate seven months of weaving friends and family, cotton and string, paper planes and striped paper straws, into a wedding day. While Michael went beer tasting with his dad, my mother and I spent interesting hours in the passage of my parents’ house, creating countless meters of bunting! My brother-in-law printed the most gorgeous serviettes for us, and my varsity buddy gave me her collection of old keys from student days. I was teaching my girlfriends how to crochet the lantern covers while Michael was networking with the farming community to organize straw bales!  

The venue? It was a little thumbnail image I fell in love with when I Googled “free state wedding venues.” The beautiful repetition of the timber trusses in an old sandstone dairy shed, out in the country off the beaten track, was pretty much cast in stone when Philna told us we could tie the knot anywhere on the farm. Michael and I love going out of our way for the thrill of adventure, and we both had a sneaky grin that all our friends and family would have to do it with us this time! They would need to get some dust on their polished shoes under those gorgeous eucalyptus trees … and come to think of it I would probably need some ankle boots then…

Just because you do things differently doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or detail. We prefer  a simplistic outlook, but also think what you do should be true, necessary and beautiful. Oh, and it must work.  I loved the idea of brass, timber and sandstone; from childhood, we both have been drawn to the expansive open spaces of the Free State’s cosmic landscape. But it was really the friends and family who climbed the trees to hang up the bunting and filled up the tree-chapel benches a few hours later, that completed the loveliness and made the whole day special, blessed and truly God-given.

Wedding Photography: Desmond Louw + Antonia Heil of dna photographers / Wedding Venue + Catering: Vlakbult Guestfarm in Clocolan, South Africa / Venue Contact: Philna Le Roux (083 761 7621) / Floral Design, White Chairs, Candelabra + Vases: Maretha of Function & Wedding House / Drinks: Clarens Brewery / Wine: Chamonix  / Decor: DIY / Wool for Crochet Projects: Orion Wool and Crafts / Wedding Invitation + Napkin Printing: Tobie Groenewald of I Love Screenprinting Studio / Napkins: DIY with Materials from Lowry’s Fabric Wholesalers in Cape Town / Tablecloths + Table Runners: DIY with Material from Fabric Castle in Cape Town / Burlap for Aisle: Fabric City in Cape Town / Brass Candlestick: Milnerton Market / Packaging: Ebony and Ivory / Decorative Hole Punch: Merrypack / Paper Materials: The Deckle Edge + NOR Paper (021 5113810) / Cake Stand: Price Home of Mud Studio / Glass Bottles: Consol Factory / Striped Straws: Natalie Royston (082 408 5739; info@whimsicalcupcakes.com) / Getting Ready Location: Annemarie of MAKAODI gaste plaas (082 854 6166) / Wedding Dress: Lisa Nel / Bride’s Ankle Boots: Etsy / Bridesmaids’ Attire: Made by the Bride’s Mother / Groom’s Attire: Country Road, Woolworths + Canal Walk / Groom’s Shoes: Woolworths / Groomsmen’s Suits: Their Own / Groomsmen’s Ties: Woolworths

Intimate Cape Town Wedding from DNA Photographers

When it comes to weddings, we love ’em big or small, but there is something about a sweet soiree that makes you want to wiggle out of your shoes before the dancing starts. They are often a bit more sweetly simple, yet stunning nonetheless, and always put a smile on our faces. Especially when the wedding is captured in a bundle of amazing images – which DNA Photographers always produces. Click here for the full bundle!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

Andy and I have travelled together since we first got together at music college in 2004.

Our first trip to Africa took place after only few months of dating – we headed to Nairobi and the hotel room we checked in to had a toilet a few feet from the bed with just a shower curtain around it for privacy! At the time I thought ‘I’m not ready for this!’ but of course the trip was great and it was the first of many. Since then we’ve been to Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Zambia, so it made sense for us to get married in South Africa, especially given the fact that Andy was working for a charity in Malawi for a year.

We were so lucky with all the aspects of our wedding, given we were planning it from the UK and Malawi. A lot of the choices we made went down fantastically well and were really pot luck! The photographers welcomed us for a pre wedding shoot the day of our arrival and put us at ease with a walk round Deer Park below Table Mountain and the wedding photos were spectacular.

I chose the vineyard venue because they took WWOOF-ers (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), something I had been involved with in New Zealand in 2007. I knew the ethos would be right and when we finally arrived along with 20 friends and family from the UK it exceeded everyone’s expectations. The swimming pool, beautiful scenery, table tennis, hiking, grape picking – there was something for everyone to do to unwind before the wedding, even a piano to play!

Diana and Johan were excellent hosts and provided the most amazing food throughout our stay, and the wedding day was no exception. Diana coped with a wedding plan on a scrap of paper and turned it into the most special day.

A few craft sessions in the UK provided the buttonholes and bunting and on the wedding day we were making and hanging pompoms. The music was provided by our friends – violins, guitar, flute, djembe, and a few singers and whistlers – which involved some intense practicing the morning of the wedding!

Photography: DNA Photographers / Flowers: Fennel from a field on the Fynbos Estate / Décor: DIY / Bottles, Vases, Table Clothes: Fynbos Estate, Malmesbury / Venue: Fynbos Estate, Malmesbury / – Food: Johan, Fynbos Estate / Wedding dress: 1950s vintage from Annie’s Vintage Clothing / Bride’s Shoes: ASOS bought on Ebay / Fascinator: made by a friend, alethea.marshall@yahoo.com / Engagement ring: Vintage, brides grandmother’s / Suit: Daniel Hechter Paris / Groom’s Shoes: Raffles Shoe Shop, Harare, Zimbabwe / Groom’s Shirt: Marks and Spencers / Tie: The Silk Tie Company / Flower girl’s clothing: Boden / Groomsmen clothing: Debenhams + Vegetarian Shoes

Wrap It Up Pretty Little Black Book!

While our summer, and by extension our Wedding Season, is cooling off in the coming weeks, the entire other half of the globe’s is warming up. So this Cape Town engagement session from dna photographers seemed the perfect way to send you off into your August weekend. After the week of gorgeous soiree after stunning affair we’ve had here on the LBB Blog, a finale like this is fully deserved. Have a wonderful weekend my LBBers! xoxo

Click here to see the full image gallery!

The week wrapped up in a pretty bow:

a Costa Rica highlight film with views as pretty as the bride
a sweet Southern soiree with all the fab fixin’s in South Carolina
a Lilly Pulitzer inspired fête in Costa Rica you’ll flip over
a Camarillo wedding dedicated to the girly girl in all of us
a super classic Carmel affair that is pretty as can absolutely be
a collection of tantalizing tabletops that are pure perfection
a fabulous Santa Barbara engagement session on a boat, complete with pup
a bunch of the prettiest garters you will ever lay eyes on
a super cozy and ultra gorg wedding day blessed with pretty rain in Sarasota
a Connecticut soiree with the perfect touch of Southern Hospitality
a fête in the Florida Keys that may just be the prettiest you’ve ever seen

A few links you need to check out ASAP:

a perfect appetizer: pear pancetta crisps with goat cheese + honey (YUM) via eat.drink.smile
a fab chevron printable for you party announcing via On To Baby
a gorgeous and chic Los Angeles DIY wedding via Grey Likes Weddings

Brides + Grooms to be – Don’t forget about our LBB! This week’s Don’t Miss List spotlights our Little Black Book VIPs who take the stress out of planning your big day. In between saying “Yes!” and exchanging “I do’s,” plan to perfect your soiree with the professionals WE couldn’t live without.

You’ll definitely want to start thinking about who is going to be capturing those memories you’re making, so make sure to pop into The Book for some of the best in the biz. KT Merry PhotographyLa Dolce Vita StudioLachance PhotoLaura Leslie PhotographyA Simple PhotoAdeline and GraceCraig Photography, and Doug McGoldick Photography are all phenoms behind the lens.

Our Little Black Book is the perfect spot to find your wedding planner too. You’ll find pros like Storied EventsStyled CreativeSuzy Berberian Weddings and EventsTC Event DesignTiger Lily Weddings, and Weddings with Tara hanging out in there. And our LBB designers rock. Synergetic Sounds and LightingWinston FlowersKD Event DesignsLilacs FloralsPat’s Floral DesignsYellow Canary, and Beautiful Days are all fabulous.

If you’re in the need of some fab stationery? Yep! We’ve got some absolute geniuses – Regas New YorkRosann Konieczny Calligrapher, and Smith Letterpress, among others.

And perhaps one of the most important things to consider – where you will be saying I do… Check out the LBB to find gorgeous spots like The Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel & Spa and SO many more!

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here
South African Wedding from We Love Pictures + Wedding Concepts

As wedding bloggers, we have a reputation of falling in love with a dress, ooh-ing and aah-ing over a bouquet, and swooning at a beautiful table. But we more often than not, we also fall head over heels for a couple. For a groom so handsome and sweet, for a French bride in Cape Town with an honest and open heart. It was no surprise that Wedding Concepts was able to create such a beautiful and personal wedding for this couple after reading the brides description of the day (and promptly adding the bride to my “Want-to-be-Besties” List). We Love Pictures has filled a gallery with so much pretty from this soiree, because it was pure torture for me to narrow the feature down to these images alone!

Click here to see the gallery!

We met in London in January 2006 in a pub. I had just moved there from Paris to work at the Communications Department of a French banking group. I didn’t know anyone and was hating all of it, the banking and West London (especially after having spent so much time in Berlin, probably my favourite city in Europe, in the past year) so to take me mood up after a boring day at work, I decided to have a few pints of Guinness on my own in the first pub I’ll find who’ll look nice. I was sitting at the bar, in a cloud of cigarette smoke (you could still smoke in bars at that time) explaining to the barmanwith hands moving in all directions and my very long brown hair all over the place (my Mediterranean origins I guess!) how I was hating that city when suddenly some random guy behind me (desperately trying to get the barman’s attention!) eventually asked me a stupid question about the tattoo I have on my right hand. The poor guy got instantly told how stupid the question was and how horrible that city was and so on and he started laughing his head off, to my greatest offence!! That was Richard! After what has been a minute probably, he told me something like “Calm down Frenchie and come have a drink with us!” He was funny, I joined them (he was with his best friend, Simon, who was his best man at our wedding and a few other friends) for a drink and then another one and then we went out for dinner and I had such a great time!!

We’ve been seeing each other on and off since then (I was allergic to relationships anyway and after resigning from the bank a month or so later and moving to East London to work in a DJ bar on Brick Lane where I stayed for a year, I went back to Paris in 2007 and, more or less at the same time, he moved to Africa to work) but we have always stayed really good friends since then and he has always been a great support, especially after my first daughter, Lou, that I was raising on my own, was born (in January 2009). From that moment we started to see more of each other as he was coming to London at least every 3 months to see his daughter from a previous relationship, Annie (who is now 8 and a real sweetie) and was always coming to Paris for a few days afterwards. We kept going like that for a while until I got pregnant with our daughter, Zoé (who was born in March 2011). From then we decided to give us a chance and move together to Cape Town which was a huge thing for both of us but especially for me as I’ve never really been in a relationship before and has never lived with someone but it was worth trying!

I knew he wanted to propose as month before leaving Paris with the girls as I’d seen by mistake an email he had sent to my mom and that she thought had deleted but hadn’t and when she asked me to check something on her mailbox, I saw an email from him and asked her what it was and she instantly shouted in the phone not to open it but, too late, I had (even though I said I hadn’t not to upset her even more). From then, my internal panic lights went flashing red and I was completely petrified, about to cancel everything as getting married has never even been something I was considering for me and moving together was already a huge thing for me! And because I wasn’t supposed to have seen that email, I felt I couldn’t tell anyone (remember I just had a baby, wasn’t sleeping at all as I was on my own with the two of them so everything was a big deal!). I managed to get over my first reaction and not cancel everything, desperately hoping he would wait until we had lived together for a while and were sure we were actually good together but not at all, he proposed on the day I arrived in Africa! Needless to say that after a 24hour journey on my own with Zoé, our baby girl who was 2 months old at the time and Lou, my daughter who was 2 years old at the time and had neverflown before and who managed to vomit all over her, her sister and I in thelast bit of the journey, I was about to have a nervous breakdown and was completely exhausted!! I guess it was a good thing as I said yes without even thinking of it (the panic would probably have me to say no otherwise!) and even though it took me a while to recover from the shock, I have never regretted my answer!

I was actually very nervous during the ceremony and the drinks afterwards as I couldn’t really believe what was happening and only started to relax and really enjoy after the so moving and beautiful speeches from our close friends and families during the dinner and we had so much fun at the party with the 3 Tons of Fun rocking the place and everybody dancing their ass off (excuse my French!). As most of our friends and families live all around the world and had never met before, it was a real joy to see them all getting on so well and having so much fun!

A fantastic wedding planner is really a must have and is worth the expense! Wedding Concepts has been absolutely brilliant. They a renown for creating the most glamourous celebrations and helped us so much through the whole process, from defining what we wanted and giving us brilliant ideas based on our tastes (like the coloured-theme décor which was so stunning on the day) to finding the good suppliers, DJ, videographers, photographers with whom she knew we would get on well and she got it right each time! She had everything in control and thanks to her amazing ability to manage everything, we didn’t have to worry about anything before, during and after the wedding and were able to really enjoy our day. She has also been a fantastic friend (and still is!) who, to say the least, came with me to all the dress fittings, no matter how busy she was (all my family lives in Paris and my Capetonians girlfriends were not always available to come with me as they all work a lot) and I’ll never forget that.

Wedding Coordination and Design: Kim Werner at Wedding Concepts / Sound and Lighting: AV Direct / Photography: We Love Pictures / Staff + Bar Hiring: Urban Tonic / Wedding Cake: Kanya Hunt / Flowers: Okasie / Lighting & Dance Floor: Something Different / Stationery: Lara Friday

Cape Town Wedding by dna photographers

There are a million and one things I could fawn over in this wedding captured stunningly by dna photographers, but that dress, oh that dress, has grabbed a hold of my heart and won’t let go. That vintage-inspired, heart-stealing frock by Francois Vedemme (complete with handmade corset) is just be-yond – and it’s the perfect fit for this beyond perfect wedding. The gown is just the beginning of the beauty in this Cape Town stunner, so be sure to march yourself on over to the full gallery because believe it or not, it gets better…

From the Bride… I wanted my dress to be very vintage-inspired, quirky and totally original. The dress had to be corseted as I have no waist to speak of and I wanted to show off my legs a bit for a naughty element, so the skirt is translucent in parts. I really love the current Abed Mahfouz and Elie Saab gowns, but I wanted something with even more edge. Francois is an absolute genius and I always knew I wanted him to make my wedding dress, so I gave him my brief and he came up with the rest! The corset is hand-made and hand-beaded by Francois and his team, and the dress is of hand-made imported lace. The veil was about five metres long — it started off even longer but it was literally gobbling me up so we shortened it on the day. I had an absolute obsession at the time with the colour jade, hence my shoes and earrings. The flowers in my hair and Sarah’s hair (the bridesmaid) are taken from a vintage 1930’s veil my mom and I picked up years ago.

Michael went for a very relaxed look on arrival and sported a white slim-fit golfer (from Urban) and tailored black stretch slim fit pants (by Terrence Bray). Groomsmen wore the same but in full white changing later for ceremony into a button up white slim fit shirt (also Urban) and their outfits were finished off with a classic pair of white plimsoles by Vans (apparently great for dancing!). For the ceremony, Michael insisted on changing, ensuring that he was fresh after mingling and greeting all guests on arrival. He  wanted something very “James Bond” — well-fitted, comfortable and classic with a European twist, hence the tapered pants (Terrence Bray)  and the slip on suede slippers (by Billionaires Club), off white dinner jacket by Gianfranco Ferre and pants by Terrence Bray. Accessories included sunglasses by Prism of London, a watch by Panerai and the handkerchief of his late grandfather.

We had originally thought of (or I should we say had often talked about) eloping, but the final decision to get married in Cape Town (where we fell in love, we might add, although we live in Durban) provided us with a day and memories that will live with us forever. Not only did the city provide us with the most perfect week of weather, but also having all our family and close friends under one roof after not seeing some for ages (even since school) was something truly special and everybody a great opportunity to catch up during the week, to get to know one another and simply celebrate life and our BIG day. Big thanks to all involved, especially Gail from the Grand Café and Evention who crossed all the T’s and dotted all the I’s! I think the things that stick out the most for me were how amazing it felt to be walked down the “red carpet” by my dad, how totally gobsmacked I was when I saw Michael (we hadn’t seen each other for days) and how good it felt to hold his hand. My dad’s speech was just so perfect and funny and touching! WOW!

From the Groom… The day really went by quickly for me. From arriving early to some 60 or so guests that had decided to do the same, to watching Barbara arrive and walk down the aisle (red carpet in our case) to Wojtek’s (Barbara’s dad’s) unforgettable speech the grand feast (although I hardly ate) and finally Goldfish performing some of their new tracks live — it all made for a truly top evening. Let’s not the forget the oodles of French champagne and of course the late night pizza and pancakes (yes, it was a late late night!)

Wedding Photography: dna photographers / Wedding Venue: The Grand Cafe & Beach in Cape Town, South Africa / Wedding Planning: Victoria Jackson + Sarah Steele of Evention / Floral Design + Décor: Evention / Catering: The Grand Café & Beach / Wedding Dress: Francois Vedemme / Bride’s Shoes: Miu Miu / Bride’s Earrings: Lulu Belle / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Jenni Button / Bridesmaid’s Shoes: Nine West / Groom’s Suit Jacket: Gianfranco Ferre / Groom’s Pants: Terrence Bray / Groom’s Shoes: Billionaires Club / Groom’s Watch: Panerai / Groom’s Handkerchief: His Grandfather’s / Groomsmen’s Pants: Terrence Bray / Groomsmen’s Shoes: Vans / Groomsmen’s Shirts: Urban