REAL BRIDES

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May 2012 R24.95 (incl. VAT)

THE HISTORY OF DIAMONDS

South Africa’s Exciting New Monthly Wedding Magazine

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MEANINGFUL WEDDING FAVOURS

Real Brides Share Ideas

Real Weddings



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Nabeelah & Abdallah Moosa

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Julie & Graham Mallen

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Kelly & Brandon Ford

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Pravashnee & Wesley Robb

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Find The Shoe That Fits

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Elisma & Graeme Michie

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Unveiling Wedding Traditions

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Sally & Brian Weaving

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Kerry & Calvin Harrison

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The History Of Diamonds

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Candice & Ryan Neumann

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Meaningful Wedding Favours

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Taryn & Sean Flanagan

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Mitishka & Myron Ramdhani

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Christelle & Markus Fourie

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Sarah & JC De Ridder

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Choosing a Wedding Theme

Cover Bride: Nabeelah Moosa Photographer: Pierre Bassani Photography

REAL BRIDES is published independently by RamCom Publishing (Pty) Limited. To advertise call: (031) 765 7314

Website: www.realbrides.co.za

IN THIS ISSUE Another wonderful array of a dozen Real Brides sharing their wedding planning experiences and their big days with readers. Their individual stories are packed full of good advice and their photos will no doubt give brides-to-be many good ideas ranging from venues right down to who did their makeup. REAL BRIDES is a bridal magazine with a difference ... a BIG difference. We have the edge are there is a brand NEW issue of REAL BRIDES out on sale every single MONTH. 1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 3


NABEELAH & ABDALLAH MOOSA “We had family fly in from America, London and Australia which made us feel very blessed.”

HERE we have the classic mix of beauty and brains. Nabeelah first met Capetonian Abdallah in an economics lecture at the University of Cape Town. Both were studying Actuarial Science and both had arrived early in order to get good seats in the lecture theatre. Thereafter they continued to see each other in every class every day and the rest is history. How long did you have to plan your wedding? I had the second semester of my third year of studying to plan my wedding. We got engaged on the day after my 21st birthday, the 23 July 2011, and our wedding took place on 8 January 2012.

Did you use a wedding planner? My wedding planners were my parents. With me being in Cape Town and the wedding being in Johannesburg I had to rely on my parents to do a lot. Without their efforts my wedding would definitely not have been as perfect as it was. We worked in conjunction with Aadil, from Unusual Décor, who did all our décor, sound, catering, and logistics. It definitely helped to be able to have a ‘one-stop-shop’ who was reliable and such a pleasure to work with.

Where did you get most of your ideas/inspiration? My family’s enthusiasm was a huge inspiration and so were the people that we chose to work with. I received many ideas and suggestions from them. For example, it was actually Aadil who suggested we look into tiffany blue as one of our wedding colours. After his suggestion I began looking online and the more I saw, the more I fell in love with tiffany blue. Some of our best ideas were created after looking at what had already been done and then trying to make it unique to our situation.

Your bridal gown – did you know what you wanted? When I began the search for my perfect wedding gown I did have an idea of what I wanted. I knew my gown had to be pure white, and I think my figure looks best in a mermaid cut dress so I leaned towards those features. However, I tried on different styles of dresses to reaffirm that what I had in mind would actually be the best option for me. Another important consideration was that my wedding gown couldn’t be revealing, and my hair had to be covered because I am a Muslim.

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“ I am one of the few brides who can say that there weren’t any ‘Oh no!’ moments. I think this can be put down to two things: people’s prayers and good organisation.” Venue: The Ballroom, Wanderers Club, Johannesburg Bridal gown: St Patrick Efigie from De La Vida Bridal Couture www.delavida.co.za Shoes: Benjamin Adams Videography: Absolute Productions Photography: Pierre Bassani Photography Headgear and alterations: Rihette (in conjunction with De La Vida) Make up: Piers Bridal car: Mercedes Benz S-Class

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How did you do about choosing your gown? Any tips? I searched online for many, many hours and I bought many bridal magazines. However, the sites and magazines can only tell you so much. I think the most important thing is to try on as many gowns as you possibly can. Each one is different, and after trying each one on you know exactly what you like about the dress and what you don’t like. This will bring you closer to choosing your perfect gown. De La Vida was actually the first place I went to try on dresses. I was immediately impressed by their warmth and friendliness. I chose them because when I looked online I fell in love with the St Patrick dresses and they stock these dresses. I walked out of De La Vida knowing that I had found my wedding gown. But, not wanting to rush into a decision, I visited a few more bridal boutiques but none of them compared to the service received at De La Vida, nor could I find a dress more perfect for me.

How did you go about choosing your bridal party?? I wanted my two younger cousins, Naa’ilah and Aaliyah, as my bridesmaids. This was something that I knew I wanted from the very first time I envisioned my wedding - before there was even a groom! I also really wanted flower girls and a page boy, and I was so honored when our family friends agreed for their children Naasiha, Sabeeha and Ihsaan, to be our flower girls and page boy respectively.

Highlight of the day? The highlight of my day was when I was walking down the aisle on the arm of my father – the man who had supported and groomed me my whole life - about to start a life with my new husband. I was surrounded by all my loved ones who had come to celebrate this milestone with us. I could not have been more content in that moment.

The most difficult part of planning a wedding? I think the most difficult part of planning is trying to predict the things that could go wrong and then trying to make sure that they don’t. I also found that it was tough working with people who aren’t as efficient as you would like them to be.

Any nice surprises? My husband surprised me by booking the honeymoon suite at the Da Vinci hotel for us.

How many guests? We invited 350 of our closest friends and family.

Were children included in your invitation? We were limited with our numbers due to the constraints of the venue so no, very few children were at our wedding.

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JULIE & GRAHAM MALLEN “Keep our wedding local and accept help when it was offered.”

GRAHAM is a long time friend of Julie’s eldest brother. As her brother had been living in the UK from the age of 16 the couple had not had any contact since Julie was about six and still running around pretending to be a horse! Graham attended Julie’s nephew’s christening ceremony and as they say, the rest is history. The most difficult part of planning a wedding? Sticking to a budget and the collision of visions! We had so many ideas and contributions from friends and family, it became a real challenge to incorporate them all.

Was the internet helpful in planning your wedding? I had family for inspiration, and being a local wedding I had little use for the internet from a planning point of view.

How many wedding venues did you look at before deciding which one to choose? We looked at two. The first was in the Kamberg, which was stunning, but since we were having guests from overseas it was easier to keep the venue more central. We settled on the Hilton Hotel in Hilton. The area has so many lovely options for accommodation that our guests had no trouble finding a place to lay their heads. Lynne Harris was the events organiser at the time and she was able to work wonders for us.

Did you use a wedding planner? No. We had so much support from family; it wasn’t something we gave much thought to.

Your best/most useful gift? Hmm…where do I start? One of my favourite gifts is our scrapbook-wedding album made by my sister-inlaw. It reminds us of our special day and our promises to each other.

Wedding favours? For the ladies we had a pashmina folded on their seats, and the gents had a lottery ticket stuck under their table. We asked for a 10% share on any winnings but to this day no one’s owned up!

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“Remember that although it’s your wedding day your guests are a priority. Try to entertain them as much as possible - especially during your photo shoot when they’re left to “float about.”

Venue: Hilton Hotel Bridal gown: Made by my Aunt, every little bead was hand sewn! Video: Family. Photography: Debbie Cooke Music: The band “33” from Hillcrest Make up artist: Lynne Harris 1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 9


KELLY & BRANDON FORD “The best part of our wedding was that everyone was on the dance floor from the time the floor opened to the time it closed!”

PHONE calls during late shifts whilst working in distant camps on a game reserve laid the foundation for this relationship. “Every now and again I’d get a call from “56 Brandon” and we’d catch up!” says Kelly. “One day, when my Facebook status was “I am sad” I got a call to ask if everything was ok. We decided to meet after about nine years of not seeing each other and we hit it off.” How long did you have to plan your wedding? We got engaged in Dullstroom at the most stunning Trout Estate (Brandon got me into Fly Fishing) in December and we were married in August. All in all it took about seven months.

Was the internet helpful in planning? Being in Pietermaritzburg everything seemed to be everywhere else but local but we managed. I got loads of info off the net but I wouldn’t say that it was hugely helpful! I eventually got everything I wanted and needed through magazines and shows.

Did you attend bridal fairs? The year we got married there was one bridal fair which was a few weeks before our wedding so everything was done by then. We went through to a shopping centre, which had people displaying and giving out information. Not very helpful because it was very spread out and not very well organised or attended by the suppliers.

If you did, what did you glean from them? There is loads to take away from the shows/fairs but – for us it was all a little over the top! It would have been amazing if we could have afforded everything we wanted but reality has to kick in at some stage!

Did you use a wedding planner? Weddings are expensive enough, but to be fair we didn’t even consider one!

Gift registry? We had Boardmans, @Home and a linen company on our list.

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“We had loads of people who joined us from the UK and from all over Africa, but nobody famous if that’s what you mean!” Venue: The Secret Garden Bridal gown: Bought in Durban chosen by my Mom & my Sister Video: Eugene Ciaglia Photos: Stuart Dods Music: Allan Macabe Make up artist: Belinda Maritz

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How many wedding venues did you look at and what made you choose the one that you did? We physically looked at only one venue! Brandon kept telling me to not fixate on only one venue but … I did! We had about three to look at but I wanted The Secret Garden - I studied with Jamie Stockley and know his wife, Dana. We loved the venue so what more can I say! Brandon also had a great feeling about the Chapel and the ruins on the property - old Scottish feel - he wore a kilt!

Your best/most useful gift? The best gift we asked for and got was a Kenwood Chef. I love it and use it the most out of all our gifts. The money we were given is doing very well in our account, so I would say money was the second best gift.

Did you request money instead of gifts? We did ask for money and we got rather a lot of cash which was super. We spent some of it buying a king size bed. At the time we didn’t know we would need it in order to fit us, and a pair of twins in it! Yip, twins!

Did you have a hen’s party/batchelorette party or kitchen tea? I had a Hen’s party, lots of fun but I’m not one for games! It was going to cost a fortume to hold a big party and invite everyone so we kept the numbers down. It probably hurt some people’s feelings but the cost involved with a wedding is just not funny.

What was your colour theme? I wanted bright yellow for the bridesmaids but they persuaded me not to go that route. As they are both blonde we went for my second choice, a beautiful deep red.

Highlight of the day or any special moments? Having the most important people in our lives sharing our most special day with us.

Any surprises? We didn’t hit our bar tab limit – which with our friends was quite amazing!

Guest favours? A pair of slops for each guest. There were blue and white ones for the girls and black and khaki ones for the guys. What a winner – some people still wear theirs. They were winners as many were worn on the night too. You know how it goes – you wear your fancy, pretty (unpractical) shoes and you often can’t wait to take them off!

Honeymoon? Brandon organised a stunning well-deserved getaway for us to Mozambique – Flamingo Bay. He did an amazing job. He has in fact been organising so many other peoples honeymoons lately that I’m almost jealous and kind of wish I could go through it all again just to go on some of the ones he’s planned! Take a look at www.Talonsafaris.com.

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PRAVASHNEE & WESLEY ROBB “Enjoy the planning process and enjoy every moment on your special day as it goes by so quickly.”

AS students Pravashnee and Wesley both took casual jobs and ended up working in the same place. They instantly clicked when they started chatting and just never stopped! How long did you have to plan your wedding? We got engaged on Valentine’s Day in February last year and got married about eight months later.

Where did you get most of your wedding ideas from or did you know what you wanted? I got most of my ideas from the internet, magazines and our brilliant wedding co-ordinator, Amy.

The most difficult part of planning a wedding? Keeping costs down, choosing suppliers as there are so many and planning the guest list. Also, finding a venue that was close that didn’t have hidden costs.

Did you have a specific idea for your dress? No, I battled for ages to decide on my dress but, when I saw it, I just knew it was the one.

Did you find bridal fairs and magazines useful? Yes.

What made you choose Bella Vista as your wedding venue? The amazing backdrop of the Valley of a 1000 Hills.

The best part of your venue? The view and the setting and the excellent service we received from their resident wedding co-ordinator.

What time of the year did you get married and why? We got married in October, which is Spring time - it’s such a beautiful time of year in Durban.

Do you think that people expected you to have a traditional wedding or not? Yes, I think people were expecting a tradtional wedding.

Honeymoon? We started at Ushaka Manor in Umhlanga then headed to Phuket in Thailand for two weeks and we spent three days in Hong Kong on our way home.

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“We wanted a small, intimate wedding so we had about 60 people.” Venue: Bella Vista, Botha’s Hill Bridal gown: Jasmins Photography: Kim Swan Photography Music: DJ Eric Rae Make up artist: Lynelle From Make Up Your Mind

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YOU’VE found the wedding gown of your dreams, now the quest to find those perfect shoes. What style to choose? The best heel height? What colour? Simple or fancy? When do I need them? Questions, questions, questions. Comfort is the most important thing for a bride to consider when choosing shoes for her wedding day. Remember you will be on your feet for a lot of the day, so if you don’t feel comfortable in skyhigh stilettos choose a style with a lower heel. When trying on wedding dresses, take along shoes in a height similar to the shoes you’ll be wearing at the wedding. For final alterations, have your actual bridal shoes with you if possible. The hem of your dress will be determined by the shoes you’ll be wearing, so it is essential to pick your heel height before the final fitting. A last minute change to shoes with lower heels could leave your gown too long.

Think about whether you’ll be walking on grass, on sand or walking long distances. Towering heels might not prove to be very practical. If you have a real desire to be tall on your special day, consider a platform shoe. They are much kinder on the feet as they spread your weight over the whole of your foot. However, if you really do want to wear those elegant four inch heels for walking down the aisle, you can always purchase a more practical pair to slip into later so you can socialise and dance the night away in comfort.

Choosing shoes can be very difficult as there are so many styles available. Heel heights can vary from flat to four and a half inches. Choose a style and heel height you will feel comfortable wearing all day. If you don’t normally wear a four inch heel, then think twice about choosing them.

If you find the right shoes but they are not quite the right colour, dye can sort them out. Any bridal shoe shop worth its salt will be able to point you in the right direction. A professional dyer can also dye your shoes to another shade after your wedding, so you can get more than just one days wear out of them. To be sure your shoes aren’t killing your feet on your wedding day; you’ll need to break them in. Starting a few weeks before your wedding, wear your bridal shoes around the house (not outside!) for a small amount of time. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, increase the amount of time you wear them. Be sure to walk and stand a lot, until you’re certain that you can wear those shoes comfortably for at least 4 or 5 hours. If you are going to be walking on slippery surfaces, gently scuff the soles with light sandpaper.

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ELISMA & GRAEME MICHIE “The reception was held in an old wine cellar dating back to the 1800s and the service in a beautiful garden encircled by tall trees.”

MEDICAL school was where this couple first met as students and a friendship turned to love when they were both placed at the same hospital in KwaZulu-Natal to do their internships. They later moved to Kimberley to do our community service and reckon that choosing to move to the middle of nowhere just to be with one another was surely a sign of true love! How long did you have to plan your wedding? Just under a year. Graeme proposed to me on my birthday in October and we married in September of the following year.

What stressed you most? The cost (mostly), and the guest list. With a limit on the budget and the number of people a venue can accommodate, it gets difficult to choose who to leave out, especially where family is concerned. But in the end it is important to fill the seats with people you really want at your wedding, not the people that you feel obliged to invite.

Was the internet helpful in planning your wedding? It was indispensible! We started off with finding a couple of venues on the internet that were within our price range, and in the area we wanted. A friend had recommended our photographer, and we were able to view his portfolio online before meeting him. I found my dress designer on the web, and got many ideas for the style and decor.

Did you attend bridal fairs? Not while planning our wedding, but I was maid of honour at a friend’s wedding, and the two of us went to the Célébrer Luxury Wedding Workshop at Val de Vie in Paarl. I found it catered to the higher-end of the wedding market, but I did get some good ideas.

Did you have a bachelorette’s party or kitchen tea? Yes, organised by my bridesmaids, starting off with a kitchen tea and presents, followed by massages, and a night out with the girls. I had to wear a naughty-nurse outfit and a pink wig!

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“We spent a week in Greece, a couple of days in Athens and the rest on Santorini, driving from wine farm to wine farm, relaxing on the black beaches and swimming in the blue Aegean. Highly recommended!”

Venue: Langverwagt, Kuils River, Cape Town Bridal gown: Jagadi, Cavendish, Cape Town Photography: Evert Theron Music: Capricorn DJs Makeup artist: Collins Ugwuzor, MAC Cosmetics 1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 19


How many wedding venues did you look at, and what made you choose the one you did? We looked at three in total. The first one was very nice but it was a bit impersonal, with everything in packages which could be mixed and matched. The second place hardly took any notice of us because they probably decided by the look of us that we couldn’t afford their prices (they were right!) But, on arrival at the third venue we immediately knew we had found what we were looking for. It lacked the pretentiousness of most of the venues in Cape Town, and is a familyrun business which gave it a more homely feel. The reception was held in an old wine cellar dating back to the 1800s and the service in a beautiful garden encircled by tall trees.

What was your colour scheme? Pastels and vintage colours.

Gift registry? To be honest, we forgot! Our house was set up already and not having a list encouraged people to get creative. We received the most amazing and personal gifts

Your best/most useful gift? We got a gnome who now sits in the corner of our garden! A bread maker and Nespresso machine were great gifts too. Gift vouchers for Woolworths, @ Home and Boardmans really came in handy.

Any surprises? The four foot tall carved wooden rooster, who started the evening in the Gents loo at the reception, ended up on the dance floor later that evening and since then has gone missing, feared dead! A family member later admitted to seeing said 75kg chicken sitting on the low water bridge, greeting guests as they left the farm. If anyone has seen him, please let us know!

What didn’t work? Stupid shoes!

How many guests? Of the 140 confirmed guests only three didn’t arrive.

Any special/interesting guests? The majority of our guests don’t live in Cape Town and had to travel long distances, which meant that the people we really wanted to be there made the effort and bore the expense to share our special day with us.

Guest favours? Free booze! And if everyone wasn’t travelling from afar, we would have given young trees to plant in their gardens. A nice reminder of a special day and offsetting our carbon footprint too.

Any tips or good advice for brides to be? Plan ahead, and keep a well-organised file. The Little Pink Book (available at Exclusive Books) was full of good tips and budget advice.

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Unveiling Wedding Traditions LOVELY traditions incorporate wedding rituals that have been used by brides across the world for centuries. Ever stopped to wonder about their origins and meanings?

The Wedding Veil The wedding veil originated centuries before the wedding dress. A popular explanation dates back to medieval times when the groom would throw a blanket over his bride’s head when he captured her and carried her away! During the time of arranged marriages the bride’s family would cover her face until the groom had committed himself during the wedding ceremony. Once he was committed it was too late for him to run away if he was not happy with his bride!

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue and a Sixpence in Her Shoe. Something Old – represents the link with the bride’s family and their past. A popular choice is antique jewellery or a veil that has been passed down the generations. Something New – represents success and good fortune for the bride’s new life with her husband and family. The most popular choice is generally the wedding gown.

Something Borrowed – reminds the bride that family and friends will always be there for her. This can be anything, however it must be returned for good luck. Something Blue – symbolises loyalty and faithfulness. The modern choice is blue incorporated in the bride’s garter.

During Victorian times courting couples sent love messages to each other using flowers, each flower having a different meaning and message. Some of the most popular flowers for bridal bouquets are orange blossom (happiness and fertility), tulips (love), roses (love and worthiness) and lilies (fidelity).

Bride On The Left During the wedding ceremony, the groom always stands on the right with his bride on his left. This dates back to a time when the groom would steal his bride and had to fight off other men! He would hold her with on his left arm leaving his right arm free to swing his sword!

The Best Man Traditionally the best man was the strongest and best fighter the groom could find as he was used to help fend off the bride’s father, brothers and other suitors! This was generally done if the marriage did not have the blessing of the bride’s family!

Toasts Throughout the ages, wine has been used for celebrating vitality, love and a life of plenty. We call it a “toast” from an old French custom in which a piece of bread was put in the bottom of the wine cup for flavour.

A Sixpence In Her Shoe – is a wish of wealth for the bride and her new husband. Tape the coin on the base of the shoe near the heel or inside the shoe under the arch. For added luck brides would select a coin from the year their grandmother was born.

Rings Engagement rings and wedding bands are traditionally worn on third finger of the left hand. This dates back to the ancient Egyptians who believed this finger followed the “vena amoris” (vein of love) running directly to the heart. The Medieval Italians believed that a diamond was formed and created from the flames of love. This was then given to the bride as a symbol of an unbreakable love.

Bouquets date back to ancient times when the bride carried strong scented herbs to ward off evil spirits, poor health and bad luck. Later, flowers replaced herbs and took on new meanings. In Roman times floral garlands were worn by the bride and groom, to symbolise hope, fertility and new life. Flower girls carried sheaves of wheat, a symbol of growth, fertility, and renewal.

Photo: Tink Photography

Bridal Bouquets


SALLY & BRIAN WEAVING “I was far more relaxed than I thought I would be.”

IN true South African style Sally and Brian first met whilst enjoying a braai with friends. Were you hands on when it came to planning your wedding? I was actually living in the UK, so my darling mother and aunt planned the whole day for us. This happened over a period of a year and hundreds of cups of coffee!

What was your biggest worry being so far away? Making sure that every detail was remembered.

Communicating must have been difficult? Being out of the country, the only way I could keep track of the design/ideas being implemented was through the internet. It was also a great way to check and make sure that Mom and aunt were sticking to the budget! I would find cheaper alternatives online and send them off to purchase.

Your thoughts on bridal fairs? I went one in the UK, it was amazing! However I found that it just made making decisions even harder – so much choice. It seems you can never have enough money for a wedding!

You chose to have your reception at a polo club instead of at a more conventional venue? I always knew I wanted to be married near horses.

Wedding Gifts? A sex book was the most unusual! Our gifts were however all so meaningful – that is what a wedding gift should be. I hate the fact that weddings have become so commercial and so focused on gifts. If you are lucky enough to be blessed with a little gift then treasure it. When Brian and I are in our 80s and are using the sugar spoon given to us by friends, we will smile and remember them and our special day now that’s a gift!

Thoughts on requesting money instead of gifts? I fundamentally disagree - on principle I would never give (or ask for) money.

Special moments? Becoming Mrs Weaving and having the most blessed feeling of knowing that every person who shared our special day with us meant something to us. We were surrounded by people who mean the world to us.

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“Our wedding favour was a disk of our favourite music, we spent many a night dancing to those tunes with our mates.” Venue: Karkloof Polo grounds Bridal gown: Boutique selection Video: Kerry and Harry Photos: Sasha Baker Music: Warren Naude Make up artist: Tanya Farrell

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Your colour theme? Light pastel green, brown and Champagne.

Any special guests? All of them! We were so lucky to have so many people fly in from around the world. It meant so much to us.

What worked best? The set up of the marquee - it was big enough to seat all our guests and there was still a huge space for the dance floor.

What didn’t? Having the bar in the clubhouse, this meant it got a bit segregated at some stages - our mates could not be far from the bar for too long!

How many guests? 180 plus a few wild kids running around on the polo fields!

Any tips or good advice for brides-to-be? Be patient and relax. A small detail that is missed may seem huge to you but no one will even notice! Your wedding is the most expensive, lavish day of your life so breathe, have a glass of wine and savour every moment!

Honeymoon? Mozambique.



KERRY & CALVIN HARRISON “No one famous - all our guests were special and they got more interesting as the evening wore on!.”

A determined mutual friend played matchmaker in this union. Kerry was working as a wedding co-ordinator at the time and Calvin sent in an ‘enquiry’ on behalf of his best friend who was getting married. After communicating professionally via email for a while Kerry arranged a tour of the wedding venue and only then realised this was the same Calvin that she was being set up with! The rest is history. How long did you have to plan your wedding? We got engaged at the end of November and got married early December the following year, so I had a full year to plan.

Most stressful part of planning a wedding? Trying to keep within our budget. We paid for almost the entire wedding ourselves, so that was really challenging. Having an accountant for a fiancé didn’t help when wanting to stretch the budget.

Did you find the internet helpful? Yes, definitely - from looking at venue options to finding ideas for décor. Google is definitely a bride’s best friend!

How many wedding venues did you look at and what made you choose your venue? We looked at about 10 venues. We chose Shalwyn Estate as the venue is set on a sugarcane farm and has an old potato shed that has been transformed into a wedding venue. The chandeliers are made from twisted willow and the whole setting and style of venue suited us as a couple, very modern/rustic. The owner, Leanne, is also extremely professional and goes the extra mile to ensure that your day is absolutely perfect.

Gift registry? Yes, we had one at Yuppichef, Boardmans and Mr Price Home. We tried to choose from a range of stores that would suit various pockets. I think a gift registry is important as you receive gifts that you have chosen and there are fewer duplicates.

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“As per usual with weddings, we had guests cancelling and even guests adding themselves on the day.” Venue: Shalwyn Estate, Eston Bridal gown: Maggie Sottero Brittney, from Olivelli. Video: DT Videos Photos: Neil Cuninghame Photography Music: Alan McCabe from DJ Worx Hair & Make up: Roslyn Faber 1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 27


Your best/most useful gift? All our wedding presents are temporarily packed away as we are busy buying a house and our current abode is too small to unpack everything. So, we have saved everything for our new home.

What worked best? We had canapés served on the deck with Pimms and lemonade; a croquet set on the lawn and Zulu dancers entertaining our guests whilst we had our photos taken. As long as your guests are fed, have drinks in their hands and are entertained during the time between the ceremony and the reception they won’t get impatient waiting for you to finish your photo shoot. This really worked well for us. We also had a photo booth which we set up in the corner of the venue. As the professional ones are quite expensive to hire we set one up a camera on a tripod with instructions and some hay bales in the corner with an old trunk full of dress up stuff that we bought. It was a real hit with our guests and tons of fun. We have some great pictures from it.

What didn’t? We didn’t have a list of photos that we wanted taken with family members so there ended up being no photos of me alone with my Mom-in-law or of Calvin with my Mom etc. If I had to do it all again I would draw up a list of photos I would want and ask a friend with a camera to make sure I got those photos with special people.

Any other tips or good advice for brides-to-be? Every bride probably tells you this, but the day really goes by so fast. Take a moment with your husband just to take it all in at some point during the evening. The other advice I would give is never to lose sight of the fact that it is your day and while you can welcome suggestions, make sure the decisions you make are based on what you want and not just to please others..

Guest favours? Wooden Chinese fans for the ladies and mini measuring tapes for the men. We also had a kiddies table and, as I work for Staedtler, I decked it out with colouring books, crayons, pencils, and goodie bags. This really worked well and kept the children entertained.

Any surprises? Nothing major, thank goodness. As per usual with weddings though we had guests cancelling and even guests adding themselves on the day. My bridesmaids were however brilliant and just took it in their stride.

Honeymoon? We had the most amazing honeymoon in Zanzibar. White beach, blue blue sea, beautiful sunshine, cocktails in hand almost all day and quality time with each other. It was absolutely perfect.

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THE sparkling diamond engagement ring on your finger has been drawing admiring glances ever since your proposal but, have you ever given a thought to the history and origins of those gorgeous stones that have come to symbolise love and commitment? From myths about valleys of diamonds protected by snakes, to the production of millions of carats in rough diamonds each year, the history of diamonds is one of mystical power, beauty and commercial expertise. The first recorded history of the diamond dates back some 3,000 years to India, where it is likely that diamonds were first valued for their ability to refract light. In those days, the diamond was used in two ways - for decorative purposes, and as a talisman to ward off evil or provide protection in battle. The diamond was also used for some time as medical aid. One anecdote, written during the Dark Ages by St Hildegarde, relates how a diamond held in the hand while making a sign of the cross would heal wounds and cure illnesses. Diamonds were also ingested in the hope of curing sickness! During the Middle Ages more attention was paid to the worth of diamonds, rather than the mystical powers surrounding them. Due to the heightened public awareness of the value of diamonds, mine owners perpetuated myths that diamonds were poisonous. This was

32 • REAL BRIDES • 1 April 2012

to prevent the mineworkers from swallowing the diamonds in an attempt to smuggle them out of the mines! The popularity of diamonds surged during the Middle Ages, with the discovery of many large and famous stones in India, such as the Koh-I-Noor and the Blue Hope. Today India maintains the foremost diamond polishing industry in the world. As the Indian diamond supply dwindled, smaller finds occurred in Borneo and Brazil, but these were not sufficient to meet the everincreasing demand. The mid-19th century discovery of diamonds near the Orange River in South Africa sparked the world’s biggest diamond rush, and helped to satiate the world’s increasing appetite for diamonds. During the mid-nineteenth century, diamonds were also being discovered in eastern Australia. However, it was not until late 1970’s, after seven years of earnest searching, that Australia’s alleged potential as a diamond producer was validated. On 2 October 1979, geologists found the Argyle pipe near Lake Argyle in Australia: the richest diamond deposit in the world. Since then, Argyle has become the world’s largest volume producer of diamonds, and alone is responsible for producing over a third of the world’s diamonds every year.


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CANDICE & RYAN NEUMANN

“We had a live guitarist play after the ceremony while we were having our photos done and he was such a hit with our guests.”

IT seems that ABBA music is timeless and it was at a fun ABBA-themed party hosted by friends that Candice and Ryan first met. How long did you have to plan your wedding? We got engaged on the eve of us moving into our newly built home in November 2010 and we were married in September 2011 so, nine months.

Most stressful part of planning a wedding? For me the most stressful part was the week leading up to the wedding as the three bridesmaid’s dresses were incomplete. One of my bridesmaids travelled from Australia a few days before the wedding; another had just moved home to SA from the UK so they both had last minute fittings. We literally picked up the completed dresses on the Friday morning on our way to the venue. We did 99% of the wedding preparations, decor and stationery ourselves. I, together with some special family and friends, arranged all the flowers the day before. So, the element of “is everything I have pictured in my head going to pull together and look beautiful?” was a slight stress.

Where did you get most of your ideas from? Various magazines but www.theprettyblog.com is where most of my inspiration came from - they have a great site and some beautiful ideas being blogged.

How many wedding venues did you look at and what made you choose the one that you did? Ryan arranged for us to spend the weekend at Cleopatra after we got engaged and we looked at one other wedding venue on our way there. We chose Cleopatra because the setting is unrivalled; the natural beauty with its rustic charm was perfect for us. We wanted our wedding to be a small intimate affair and the venue just had that special something that we instantly loved. Not to mention the food, is out of this world.

How many guests? 48

Wedding favours? Handmade little ceramic hearts glued onto a peg to be used as a bookmark or a seal.

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“For our honeymoon we went to Zanzibar, Pemba Island, the Manta Resort – what a little piece of Heaven.” Venue: Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse Bridal gown: Belle and Bravado Shoes: Aldo Video: Pierric Legasse - Videoplayback Photography: Kevin Bender Photography Music: DJ Richard Anderson Make up artist: Tammy Pienaar Makeup By Tammy 1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 35


What do you think about requesting guests for money instead of gifts? I think it is more common and acceptable these days as many couples have an established home, but I do definitely think that it is a lot less personal and would recommend couples have a registry somewhere so that guests have a choice - the Gift Collection is a wonderful option.

You have your own online Gift Registry, was this enterprise inspired by your wedding? In a sense yes. When I peeked into the whole wedding scene it was an industry that I knew little about. It is such a happy and special industry where, even though suppliers are there to make some money, there is an element of sheer happiness flowing through it. It was something that I wanted to be a part of. Having lived in the UK previously I had been spoilt by the online access you have to almost everything. Most of SA’s wedding registries are all in store and with my generation and an even more technological dependant generation to follow, I thought a simple hassle free online registry service might work. It is so lovely working with Brides, and Bridesmaids for kitchen tea items etc. You can’t help but get caught up in the infectious happiness. We cater to weddings/engagements/kitchen teas etc where you create your registry online together with your partner and your guests are able to buy your gifts online. The gifts are wrapped and delivered to your chosen location (wedding or home after honeymoon) on a specified date. We supply a complete list of who bought which gift. During the registration process guests are required to include their postal address which we supply to you for easy reference for Thank You cards. With more guests travelling from around the globe for the special day, this service is a winner. The Bride and Groom are then also invited to purchase the remainder of their registry at a discounted rate, should they want to complete their registry. It is safe and hassle free. The couple can add or delete items at any time and also keep a cheeky eye on what items are being purchased – I have one bride who used to check every day! Take a look at www.thegiftcollection.co.za.

Did you have a hen’s party/bachelorette party or kitchen tea? I did, and it is something I will always treasure. My bridesmaids organised a tea in the morning with all the girls and family and they asked me to select a few very special friends for an overnight getaway. After tea we headed to a gorgeous cottage at Bazley Beach on the KZN South Coast. As a surprise they organised for a photographer to take us down to the beach for a fun photo shoot. It was perfect, special memories were made. We all received CD’s of the images, memories that we can look back on and reminisce about. There is nothing I would change except I missed having my Aussie bridesmaid there to share the fun.




Meaningful Wedding

Favours

WEDDING favours are small gifts given to guests from the bride and groom as a gesture of appreciation or gratitude at the wedding reception. The tradition of distributing wedding favours has been around for several centuries. The first wedding known favours, known as a “bonbonniere” were common amongst European aristocrats. A bonbonniere is a small decorated box made of crystal, porcelain or precious stones. The contents of these precious little boxes were

Personalise:

generally sugar cubes, almonds or delicate confections, which symbolised wealth and royalty at the time. Today, wedding favours are used in cultures worldwide. Wedding favours have become a major part of wedding reception planning. Wedding favours are diverse and can range from the traditional sugared almonds to small gifts. Some favours may be personalised with the couple’s names and the wedding date.

Trendy:

You can add a personal touch to your wedding with personalised wedding favours like gift bags, favour boxes and napkins. Personalised wedding favours are affordable finishing touches that make the difference when your guests arrive at your reception. By personalising your wedding favours, you can leave a message with guests that they will remember. This can also be included in the theme of décor, such as ribbons, napkins and balloons.

Some couples like to add trendy touches to their wedding and this includes wedding favours. A trend may be a colour, fabric or decorative style that runs through all elements of the wedding. This could be something as simple as pink bows or ribbons to more elaborate favours such as costume jewellery. Selecting trendy wedding favours can be difficult, especially with the speed at which trends change.

Unique:

Many wedding favours add functionality to unique elegance for a combination that will thrill everyone celebrating your wedding day. Wine bottle openers and stoppers are wedding favours that can be used by your guests to celebrate any occasion for years to come. Glass coasters or picture frames are also commonly given, to capture special memories. Memorable wedding favours can be pre-packaged and decorated with bows and tags to place on your guest tables or in favour or gift bags.

Sometimes a couple just want to be different to all the rest. Therefore they will look for more alternative, carefully selected or unique handmade wedding favours to give their guests. Plants, personalised playing cards, donationS to a favoured charity in the name of each guest or homemade sweets and jams are just some of the wedding favours that stand out from the rest.

Memorable:

For more ideas on what to give your guests as a wedding favour read the interviews with our REAL BRIDES in this issue. Photos: projectwedding.com

1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 39


TARYN & SEAN FLANAGAN

“I had told Sean that I was wearing elbow length gloves, a massive tiara and a very “pouffey” dress, I think he was a bit worried!”

THIS fun-loving couple first met at a popular and always very social annual Old Boy’s day. She playfully tackled him on the rugby field, which resulted in their first kiss. Their delightfully different wedding was set against an idyllic backdrop of vineyards and majestic mountains and the happy couple were surrounded by friends and family who travelled from far and wide to be with them on their special day. You are based in KZN but got married in the Cape. Why? Yes, we are based in Westville, but got married in beautiful Franschhoek – it’s the place that Sean and I have said we would like to retire to one day. We absolutely love the area, it is just exquisite. I bought into it very quickly with all its wonderful French heritage - I have very, very distant French lineage. But, hold onto the fact that I descended from royalty from French Revolution times, Sean mocks me endlessly about that! We wanted a very intimate wedding and having a wedding further from home helped keep our numbers down. We also wanted to veer away from the traditional type of KZN wedding, as we’d recently been to so many weddings in the Midlands. We had also planned a trip with a bunch of our friends to Paternoster on the Cape West Coast after Christmas. So, as everyone was going to be down that side of the world, and would be in holiday mood anyway, we thought it would be a great opportunity to get married at the same time. We wanted to create a holiday for all out of the occasion.

Do you think it would have been any easier had you chosen a venue closer to home? No, not at all. It was in fact much easier having it further away, as we had space and did not breathe, eat and sleep wedding plans. With email and a great wedding planner you can plan anything. We also didn’t want to detract in any way from the beautiful surrounds of our venue so, besides adding a few flowers and great people; it was actually a very simple task.

40 • REAL BRIDES • 1 April 2012


“We went on a buddymoon straight after the wedding with 30 of our guests to beautiful Paternoster up the Cape West Coast. It was magical.” Venue: Holden Manz Wine Estate, Franschhoek Wedding planner: Jackie Sullivan Bridal gown: Pronovias imported by Carita Bridal carita@iafrica.com Bridesmaid’s dresses: Leigh Schubert Photography: Greg Lumley - info@greglumley.com 1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 41


Did having to travel impact of the number of guests who attended? Yes, unfortunately. A lot of people that we would have really loved to have been there were not able to make it. Our date as well, 27 December, also made it tricky for some.

Did you use a wedding planner? Yes, Jackie Sullivan, who is absolutely brilliant and based in KwaZulu-Natal.

The most difficult part of planning your wedding? Also it was difficult pleasing all family members. Because of the date and it being far away, it did not suit a lot of people, so we did get a bit of flack for that. But in the end we all had such a great time that I think all that was forgotten.

Having studied Fashion Design, did you design your own dress? I had my design in my head, but the Chantilly lace I wanted was just so expensive. I left my dress to the very last minute. I then chatted to a fellow college student who has since started her own bridal wear company. She has added to the designing side of things and imports a very beautiful line of Spanish dresses called ‘Pronovias’. I went to see her and I tried on three lace dresses. One had the exact silhouette I was after and the lace was just perfect - vintage and all hand stitched. So, I worked with that, but then changed a whole bunch of details to make it more my own. She was phenomenal, and her execution on the dress was superb. In the end it was just exquisite, I could not have asked for anything better. My dress was classic but simple. Because our wedding was simple, and outdoors, and with me also not being a very frilly person and a bit off the wall, I didn’t want anything too fancy. I had told Sean that I was wearing elbow length gloves, a massive tiara and a very “pouffey” dress and I think he was a bit worried!

What was your colour/theme? We didn’t really have a colour scheme at all. My bridesmaids were in salmons and mushroom colours. The groomsmen had a similar shoe colour with white shirts and blue pinstriped shorts. It was mainly whites, with hints of pink. The whole vibe was very clean, and simple.

Your best/most useful gift? We received a lot of vouchers, which were great as we didn’t have to carry too many heavy things. These were great as they went towards an ice machine we wanted for Sean’s bar.

Did anything go awry? The flowers. Our initial flower lady bolted, so we had to implement a back-up plan.

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Highlight of the day or any special moments? The highlight of our wedding I think was when we and our retinue returned from having our photos taken. We met in the car park and were introduced back to our guests by an authentic marching Kaapse carnival band comprising 12 band members all singing traditional songs and playing musical instruments. It was hysterical and such a treat for our guests. The band played for an hour and got the guests dancing along with them whilst we had pre drinks and canapés on the lawn outside. The little kids at our wedding loved them and played with their drums and tambourines. Special moments of our wedding were that we had our 18 month old son, Kingsley, walk down the aisle with my bridesmaids. He stood with Sean and I at the end of the aisle while we said our vows and through the whole ceremony. He didn’t want to leave us. We had postponed our wedding until Kingsley had been born and we had just gotten into the swing of being parents. Having our son being part of it meant the world to Sean and I. We stood together as a family.

Guest favours? Two of my four bridesmaids, Christie and Rusti (Joelle lives in the Cape and Casey lives in the UK), helped me make the favours. They were clay discs that said “To know life, you need to love many things.” Each had a thank you card on them with a beautiful ribbon threaded through. We also made the men’s corsages. They were ribbon and button rosettes. We made them one afternoon sitting around the pool on a beautiful summer’s day, drinking wine. Needless to say the rosettes got bigger the hotter it got and the more wine we consumed! But, they were a hit and looked great.

1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 43


HONEYMOON HEAVEN The grande dame of KwaZulu-Natal, Beverly Hills hotel, opened her doors in December 1964 and was Sol Kerzners’ first hotel, and the first five star hotel in KwaZulu-Natal. The hotel was named after Kerzners’ daughter, Beverly and has remained an icon and landmark hotel. The Beverly Hills continues to surpass global standards of hospitality and meet the changing needs of todays’ guest. All 89 rooms have private balconies and offer magnificent un interrupted views of the Indian Ocean. Accommodation style is varied and all rooms have dramatic uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean. All the rooms have plasma screen TV’s and DVD’s, with a complimentary DVD library available at the hotel. Whilst the style is classic, it carries a relaxed theme in keeping with the hotels beach resort status. The four beautiful Junior suites are spacious and sumptuous, and all offer an en suite bathroom, separate dressing room and a lounge area as well as a private balcony. The 10 large luxurious cabanas (eight cabanas and two cabana suites) are beautifully furnished in cane and sumptuous fabrics, with large travatino tiles and mirrored bathrooms and sliding doors leading onto private patios. Elegant in style with generous proportions, the overall tone is warm and inviting. A unique feature of Cabana 10, a cabana suite, is the luxurious large walkin shower with a window, affording a stunning view of the Indian Ocean, as well as a private courtyard leading off the bathroom. Great care and consideration has been taken to ensure that the rooms are comfortable and relaxing. The public areas exude gracious living. In the lounge large comfy sofas, high wingback chairs and card tables grouped in intimate circles complemented by low level lighting create a warm inviting atmosphere. The use of leather, large mirrors and crystal vases and exquisite fresh flowers captivate the senses and express the passion behind this glamorous hotel. Large sepia prints of early Durban landscapes and the extensive use of wicker and cane on

44 • REAL BRIDES • 1 April 2012

the terrace reflect the hotels’ intention to champion the glamour and sophistication of a bygone era. The signature restaurant, The Sugar Club offers beautiful views of the ocean in a romantic setting. Intimacy is enhanced by smaller table settings. The best and freshest ingredients are prepared into works of art. With a Diamond Award from Diners Club for the extensive Wine List, and a member of the Chaines des Rotisseurs, the food is rated amongst the best in the country. elements café bar is a chic and relaxed café style restaurant situated on the pool terrace, with an eclectic mix of aluminium, chandeliers, comfy couches and stylish ghost chairs. Large sliding doors open to panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. It is a superb place to meet friends for a cappuccino or cocktail or to enjoy a glass of wine from an extensive range of wines available by the glass. The pool setting with terrace and lawns is the piece de résistance! An open expanse offering dramatic uninterrupted sea views with each guest indulged with a lounger. Guests are pampered with our special pool experience of complimentary ice lollies, lip balm, and spritzers. Much is on offer in and around the hotel. Gateway Shopping Centre, offering a full range of designer boutiques, is a mere 3 km away. Microlighting, dolphin viewing, scuba diving and deep sea fishing are on the doorstep to tempt you as well as the country’s most prestigious golf courses all within close proximity. uShaka Marine World and Aquarium is a 20 minute drive, as is Sun Coast Casino and Spa. The hotel is a venue for celebrations and ultimate romance! Pure indulgence and absolute pampering ensure a memorable stay. Enquire about our Ultimate Romance Offer - call 031 561 2211 or email beverlyhills@beverlyhills.co.za.


Just a few steps from the beach, beckoning the traveller with sun, scents and unique sensations. The Beverly Hills has a fine reputation for gracious hospitality and intuitive service. From the moment you step inside, you will sense this is a special address.

beverlyhills@beverlyhillshotel.co.za • Tel: 031 561 2211 • tsogosun.com Lighthouse Road Umhlanga KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Another Tsogo Sun Experience


MITISHKA & MYRON RAMDHANI “Indian families are very close knit and get involved.”

EXCHANGING numbers after dancing the night away at a Club eventually led to a fabulous traditional Hindu wedding with a lovely modern twist. How long did it take to plan your wedding? About a year. We both had a very clear idea of the type of wedding we wanted so it was just a matter of finding the correct service providers to bring our vision to life.

The most difficult part of planning a traditional wedding? Indian families and traditions can be a little overwhelming! Striking the right balance between tradition and contemporary elegance was difficult.

How much of the planning did you do yourself or did you have help? Plenty of help, Indian families are very close knit and get involved. However, my Mum was the most amazing wedding planner and that really helped.

Where did you get married? Our hometown of Pietermaritzburg. It is traditional in a Hindu wedding for the Bride and her family to host the wedding ceremony.

Did you stick to traditional Hindu wedding customs? Yes, the entire Hindu wedding ceremony is essentially a sequence of customs and rituals – like placing my foot on a gold stone (Lohra) which represents faithfulness and loyalty to the marriage. Other noteworthy acts were the seven steps taken with my husband – representing the vows we took and then Myron placing the red Sindhoor onto my forehead and the centre path of my head symbolising the marriage.

Where did you do your wedding shopping? Most was done at Memsaab, an Eastern wear outlet.

How many guests did you have? Approximately 600. As I mentioned already, close knit families!

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“Tradition dictated that the menu comprise vegetarian starters, followed by a vegetarian biryani and finished off with a sweet Indian dessert.”

Venue: Olympia Hall, Pietermaritzburg Bridal outfit: Memsaab Video & Photography: Kim Swan Photography Music: Golden Events Hair & Make up: Make Up Your Mind Henna: Hajara Mansur Bridal car: Ferrari California

1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 47


Did you go the traditional gift route? We broke away from the traditional gifts for the wedding and placed a cash box at the venue. This allowed our guests the choice to gift cash or purchases from the gift registries we had set up.

The highlight of your wedding day or any special moments? We had pyrotechnics at the wedding and a confetti bomb of rose petals was set off as we were pronounced husband and wife. It was a priceless moment.

Any surprises or did everything go according to plan? Myron and I planned to do a dance to break away from the tradition a little. We went to dance classes and we had our carefully choreographed routine off pat. However, one of the rituals of the wedding ceremony is to “tie” the bride and groom together by pinning a ribbon to join them. When the time came for us to perform our beautiful routine, we couldn’t separate! We had to improvise.... fast!

Any special guests? My aunt flew all the way from Australia just for my special day. That meant so much to me.

Any tips for brides-to-be? Hire a good wedding planner/coordinator and reliable service providers. We used Bhagwans Caterers and Eresh Bhagwan was a godsend. Apart from catering the function, he also served as a wedding planner/ coordinator.

Honeymoon? Every day together is a honeymoon!

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CHRISTELLE & MARKUS FOURIE “The professional service and support we got from all the people at Kleine Zalze was excellent.”

AS work colleagues Christelle and Markus became very good friends and then a loving relationship eventually developed with time. What made you choose Kleine Zalze Lodge as your wedding venue? We thought Kleine Zalze was just a breathtakingly gorgeous place and it blended perfectly with our theme. It has a lovely relaxing atmosphere and it also has amazing scenery.

Did the venue meet all your expectations? Yes. The professional service and support we got from all the people at Kleine Zalze was excellent, they were very helpful. Their main priority was for us to be happy and satisfied at all times.

How soon did you start planning your wedding? We got engaged in Cape Town on 23 February 2011 and started with all the arrangements for our big day immediately. We were married exactly a year later on 24 February 2012.

Did you want to get married at a particular time of the year? February month in Cape Town – it’s the best time of the year.

What were your colours and theme? Our colours were mint green, silver and white with a glassy/crystal theme. The emphasis was also on lanterns.

How did you go about picking your bridal party? It was actually very simple. I’m a twin so my twin sister was always going be my bridesmaid. Markus was not going to celebrate his big day without his son beside him, hence it was decided that he would be the groomsman. They’re not only a sister and son to us but they’re also our best friends.

In hindsight, was there anything that you could have done without? We put in a lot of thought and detail into what we wanted for our big day so for us nothing was unnecessary.

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“We most definitely had a budget and we definitely did not stick to it! But, we have no regrets whatsoever.” Venue: Kleine Zalze Lodge, Stellenbosch Wedding Planner/Co-ordinator: Glee Events, Hanri Photography: Du Wayne Denton DJ: Cape DJ’s Live Band: Trilogy Music Dress: Amber Rain Bridal Studio, Benoni Decor: Glee Events & personal touches by my Mom and I Make up Artist: Marie Malherbe Hair: Claire from Onyx Salon Fragrance: Chloe

1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 51


SARAH & JC DE RIDDER

“We delayed our honeymoon to go skiing in Canada. It was well worth the wait.” A house - he lived upstairs and she lived downstairs. They met, became good friends, eventually started dating and love blossomed. How long did you have to plan your wedding? About five months.

Did you enjoy planning? The planning was fun, but sometimes having to deal with different people’s opinions became stressful.

Where did you look for ideas? Found our DJ on the internet and also looked at dresses and hairstyles on the internet. Wedding blogs were a good source for décor ideas.

How many wedding venues did you look at and what made you choose the one that you did? We looked at about four and when we visited Eden Lassie we both fell in love with it, it just seemed like the perfect spot for us to enjoy our special day.

Did you use a wedding planner? No, My Mom and I did all the planning.

Gift registry? We had a gift registry at @Home. It was fun picking out the items that we liked together. We also gave our guests the option of contributing towards our delayed honeymoon in Canada.

Your best/most useful gift? Our coffee machine – we use it every day. Useful loads of linen and lovely soft towels.

Your colour theme? With ours being a vintage wedding we chose ivory, French blue, soft pink and a light chocolate brown.

Special moments? Being a bride and marrying the man I love was the best feeling in the world. Saying our vows was beautiful and reduced me to tears. It was unforgettable.

Any surprises? I was not allowed into the hall before the reception - my Mom and family had decorated it the day before and kept it a surprise. It was stunning and I felt so loved.

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“Perhaps we should have got a video done, and had a flower girl.” Venue: Eden Lassie Bridal gown: Belles of Hilton Photos: Paul Henmann Music: DJ Benny Hair & Make up: Redlands Hair and Beauty, Pietermaritzburg

1 April 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 53


How many guests? 140.

Guest favours? Homemade fudge in a little bag with a thank you note. It was small but I think it enjoyed by all.

Any special guests? Friends and family travelled from all over SA and abroad to be with us. My best friend came out from Australia. JC had friends come out from Spain and America and his eldest brother flew out from Canada. My Gran (85) was also there – I was so happy that she got to enjoy our day with us.

What worked best? Having a venue where both the chapel and hall were at the same place was great. My cousin plays the bagpipes and he piped me and my bridesmaids into the chapel. Walking down the aisle to live music - cello, trumpet and piano - was beautiful. We cut our cake before the reception so guests were able to enjoy a drink and cake whilst we had our photos taken. The live music continued too. We arranged for a bus to fetch and carry guests to and from the venue to the hotel that we had block booked. This meant that people were able to relax and enjoy the wedding fully.

Any regrets? Perhaps we should have got a video done? And we should also have perhaps had a flower girl.

Any tips or good advice for brides-to-be? Keep things simple. Use a file for your wedding planning - it helps to keep things on track and it also keeps nerves under control! Plan photograph ideas ours were lovely but lots were posed groups - I would have liked a few more spontaneous shots.

Honeymoon? We delayed it to go skiing in Canada. It was well worth the wait and it was great to spend time together in a winter wonderland.



Choosing A Wedding Theme A theme adds a personal touch to a wedding and every bride-to-be is constantly on the lookout for ideas. First and foremost, the theme chosen should suit the personalities and lifestyle of the bridal couple. Once they’ve picked their theme, it becomes a lot easier to coordinate the wedding stationery, styling, favours, flowers, dresses, menu, music and all the other items required for the big day.

Shabby Chic

tails chosen e wedding de th e, em th ic ch items can be For a shabby d tear or new an r ea w of s gn antique. At should have si pearance of an ap e th e ev hi ac minine feel is distressed to alistic, and fe im in m , ft r; so a r vintage deco the same time, it from regula te ia nt re ffe di emphasised to c” in the name. hence the “chi ts ets, flower po t stands, buck ha as ch su r. ic déco Antique pieces r in shabby ch rds are popula oa pb cu d ol d an e are pillows at you can us th ils ta de age ng e linens, vint Popular weddi fabric, vintag or h s ot cl ro e ag hing with se made of vint liers, and anyt de an ch g e in ag yl st nt way of bedspreads, vi inine romantic ft, relaxed fem so a Chic is also is by It ab it. Sh on d inviting. an le ab rt fo m that looks co yle. lled cottage st sometimes ca emporary with and match cont ix m to er, is w no . Dried lavend A trend right abby Chic look Sh e th or h el uc ap m the ch vintage, very and affixed to s se as lls gr si w d ie do ress win tied with dr by Chic feel. D ab Sh e a m s sa nd e le jars. Thes church pews s in coloured le nd ca . d es bl an ta ption with wreaths ed on the rece uld also be us decorations co

Rom a

Cand ntic Wh leligh imsi t, – thi cal s is w champag ne, a hat a soft s beau roma ub tifu nti fairyt tle colour s to fi c wedding l aura of ale w eddin ne m a usic a theme en mbience gs sp eak t nd el tails. So w o e From gant the h hat c deco eart. onsti may ratio tutes lean ns, a rom towa cand rd red antic les; b or pin wedd ubbly organ ing t k hea ch za an hem rts; s d chi ampagne ffon m and w oft, delic e? Some ate fl in ateria As yo ow ls and e; pearls; u can large ers; roma see, t varia bows ntic m here tions ; are m usic. that w have any r ork w to be o m ell wi antic just h wedd th “ wedd earts in i and fl romance langu g, where ”… an ng theme ower you u ages d the s! Ho – on s e invita y t he w w ab favou tions ords out a don’t r tags ? of lo “ , plac Love ve ” e sett ings… in differe nt even on yo ur

Victorian Vin

tage

Love the idea of a vintage w edding? Is the your personal Victorian era favourite? Plan a wedding with and nostalgic elegance fun. When planning Victorian wed dings, you’ll ne suitable garden ed to find a setting or pavi lio n area. If you it outside, choo can’t have se a Victorian style venue or a view of beau a ch urch with tiful gardens or an elegant that will allow lo ng veranda guests to “strol l” about. Ensu car is a classic re the bridal vintage model – there are plen ty about. Victorian wed dings are a won derful choice. photos are be While your ing shot, have soft music fr playing whilst om the era your guests en gage in a gam on the lawn. Th e of croquet en serve up cr umpets and te the old world a to capture feeling of a typi cal Victorian ga rden theme. For the decor choose pieces that are elegan looking. Bear t and classy in mind that Victorian styl the frilly and e te nds toward feminine. Patt erns, which of floral designs, te n include are used heav ily. Fabrics are damasks and of te n velvets, needlepoints, and the mos colours includ t popular e aubergine, bo ttle-green and red.

Look out for more fun Wedding Theme ideas next month.


Nkuthu Gardens

Your wedding day is a day that will always be memorable. At Nkuthu Gardens, we specialise in making it memorable for all the right reasons. Nkuthu Gardens is situated on the banks of the Nkutu River, about 45 minutes away from the centre of Durban. Conveniently positioned midway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg makes Nkuthu Gardens easily accessible from all major roads. Discreetly tucked away from all the hustle & bustle of city life & nestled in a beautiful lakeside setting, our scenic beauty makes Nkuthu Gardens an ideal location for that perfect fairytale wedding. At Nkuthu Gardens we are able to host both ceremony & reception. This way, once the ceremony is over, guests can mingle before the reception begins with no need for anyone to drive to a different venue. We also offer on site catering &

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décor which further adds to the convenience of the all inclusive approach. This ensures that everything runs smoothly under the supervision & guidance of our in house functions co-ordinator. At Nkuthu Gardens you can be assured of a warm welcome & undivided attention from both management & staff. Perhaps more importantly, it is our experience, commitment and attention to detail that sets us apart. At Nkuthu Gardens, we take pleasure in offering you personalised service with flexible packages to suit your individual requirements. We are able to accommodate parties of up to 180 guests. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

www.nkuthugardens.co.za ~ info@nkuthugardens.co.za 167 Inanda Road, Waterfall ~ (031) 763 4149


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