Aleit Wedding Coordination Electronic Magazine - Edition Two

SECOND EDITION JULY 2011 WEDDING COORDINATION & STYLING

INDEX INDEXINDEX

FROM ALEIT FROM ALEIT

Opening letter

BREAKING BREAKING NEWS NEWS

Aleit Wedding Coordination reaches new dimensions

SHOWCASE SHOWCASE

Anne & Ryan - New York, USA Anneke & Asanga - London, UK Ashley & Malan - Cape Town, South Africa Tasha & Gordon - Chicago, USA

TOILE DE JOUY TOILE DE JOUY

Wedding inspiration from the city of love

BEHIND THE SCENES BEHIND THE SCENE

A glimpse of our biggest wedding to date

SERVICE PROFESSIONALS SERVICE PROFESSI

CLOSING LETTER CLOSING LETTER

Achievement! We have enjoyed our moment in the spotlight however, as we recently dealt with one of South Africa’s most prominent families - perfecting the arrangements for their son’s wedding. We invite you ‘behind the scenes’ - a glimpse at how a production of this magnitude is put together. And if you are lucky, there may be more to follow!

Inspiration! At a recent presentation in Manhattan, trend forecaster David Wolfe offered this piece of advice: “Old is good. Old is better than it’s ever been before!” He goes on to say: “The new black is grey. Purple, violets and browns will be popular as will bright, eye-popping colours.”

FROM OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR Well I never! South Africa’s very own Charlene Wittstock has officially married her Prince! Due to an exceptionally busy European schedule, we were not available to arrange the couple’s Durban nuptials that were held at The Oyster Box... but we are intrigued by the alleged choice of a ‘red and white’ theme. Mmmm...

As I type this, I am fighting the urge to run off and produce a moodboard encapsulating all the impressions that have been forecasted – the visuals are forming in my mind and I need to document them. BUT...and it’s a big BUT...despite all the advice about trends, there’s always the individual factor. No matter how much we listen to forecasting, it’s most thrilling when you are with a client and you suddenly see all the pieces fall in place perfectly. The lightbulb moment happens, the idea forms and you just know you’ve hit the jackpot. I believe that’s what real creativity is all about in our industry. That moment of excitement, of fantasy. That’s what I’m after – and hopefully you are too!

ALEIT WEDDING COORDINATION REACHES NEW DIMENSIONS

It’s been a long time coming but we’re finally there! The Aleit Group is proud to announce the collaboration of two of the most dynamic minds in South Africa’s wedding industry. Aleit Wedding Coordination has formed a unique association with Anne Mann of Anne Mann Celebrates. We believe this will provide our clientele with THE ULTIMATE experience in wedding planning.

Anne “My approach has always been a very personal one – a hands on experience. But it’s also important for the client to know that behind that individual approach is a team of professionals who are extremely well geared to deliver the goods - which is why I have surrounded myself with the best of the best, a group of professionals who all share the same passion, energy and creative vision that I do. So yes, you get my expertise and know-how, backed by the power of Aleit to create a unique and truly memorable wedding day. It’s a win-win situation whichever way you look at it.”

Anne Mann Celebrates - www.annemann.co.za

Aleit “After all, we are both self proclaimed perfectionists, overseeing each project with the ultimate care and dedication. Together we will bring a breath of fresh air and vigour to the industry. For years I valued Anne’s expertise, zeal and commitment to the industry and her clients. Combining our experiences and the assistance of our professional teams, it stands to reason that our clients are in the best possible hands. I believe this is the birth of something rather dynamic!”

Aleit Wedding Coordination - www.aleit.co.za

As per every momentous occasion, photographic certification is required and due to a maelstrom of media interest, a photo shoot was urgently arranged. This took place on a balmy afternoon at Aleit’s attractive Victorian home in Somerset West. Everyone was amazed at how well the house photographed….even if the main subject matter took a while to get into the swing of things.

We were thrilled that renowned photographer, Joe Dreyer, was able to take time out to document the joining of these passionate individuals.

The shoot started in the newly decorated Delft Lounge and this remains Aleit’s favourite images. “The royal blue of the wall that served as the backdrop makes Anne’s eyes stand out even more than normal and it gives a regal air to the photo. I like that!” We then moved to the kitchen and were welcomed by a warm glow emanating from the blazing logs in the old cement fireplace. The shoot was quickly interrupted as both Anne and Aleit needed to unwind, sip some wine and relax the cheek bones……the chilled Sauvignon Blanc did the trick. It must have as Joe has claimed this as his favourite shot of the day.

Perhaps it’s the dreamy yellow stripe that was added to the wall just last week.

As the light reached ‘peak moment’, Joe decided to cover one final angle on the sprawling wrap around verandah. The leafy green backdrop supplied by Aleit’s lush garden is probably the main reason that Anne has selected this as her favorite shot. That and the fact that the Sauvignon Blanc had worked it’s magic and smiling at the camera became somewhat easier.

By now cheeks were aching and tummies were rumbling! Quick to present a solution to just about any ‘problem’, Aleit demonstrated his culinary skills and effortlessly whipped up a five o’clock breakfast – a gourmet feast of note. What an amazing end to a wonderful day!

ANNE & RYAN

HOW THEY MET

“It all started when my dad and Ryan’s stepdad worked together in Hong Kong in the 1970s and became close friends. When Ryan’s stepdad married his mom in 1993, my father, sister and I attended the wedding which took place in Johannesburg. This was the first time I experienced the many wonders of South Africa, including (little did I know) my husband-to-be! At the time I was 10 years old and he was 13. This meant that it was not exactly love at first sight! However ten years later it was a different story all together. We reconnected during Ryan’s post-grad trip to the US which sparked a long-distance relationship. After three years of dating across two different continents, we decided to spend a year travelling around the world together.

After our travels we moved to Boston and became engaged.”

THE PROPOSAL

Ryan chose Washington DC as the ‘scene of passion’. Anne smiles as she remembers; “This was a city we had visited together just as we had started dating. He took me back to all the same spots we’d gone to during our first visit. It was so romantic.”

THE WEDDING DAY

“Our wedding day felt magical. We decided to get married in the Cape Winelands as both of our fathers are originally from Cape Town – and after all, the story does begin with them. We had also both spent many happy times in the city - it felt like it was the one place we both had in common.” Anne and Ryan had chosen Molenvliet as the location for their nuptial celebrations and they were overwhelmed with the outcome of the day. Having their South African and American friends as well as their family gathered together in one spot was a great achievement and testimony to their love. “The weather was perfect and we were just so happy!”

In fact perfect weather meant slightly warmer temperatures and guests comfort was paramount.

Small glass bottles filled with Passion Fruit and Soda, laced with mint and lemons were handed to guests as they arrived. Ladies then received hand held parasols, fans and “sole-mates” for comfort later on in the evening. A classical trio performed slightly more solemn yet romantic pieces during the ceremony and immediately after that, the sounds swung to Jazz as the charismatic musicians led the bridal couple and their guests down the road to the street party set amidst the vines. African inspired canapés were served, incorporating items such as boerewors skewers with fresh Mango, bruschetta topped with Smoor-snoek, Parmesan and Rosemary Shortbreads topped with Slow Roasted Tomatoes, Olives, Danish Feta and Basil Pesto, sliced Watermelon on silver trays, freshly shucked West Coast Oysters, slivers of Kudu Biltong on floating champagne flutes and assorted fruit Lolipops...to name but a few!

Eventually the time came to draw guests towards the reception venue. The Jazz duo re-enacted scenes from the Pied Piper of Hamelin as they led guests down the road to the dining hall. Finally - the much anticipated “aaaah” moment arrived as the doors swung open to reveal an exquisitely decorated room. A neutral base palette grounded the space with romantic drops of fairy lights alternating with vastly elevated dinner candles. Together, these elements filled the void between table top and ceiling. A mixed selection of flowers added warmth to the location – and ever so often a glimpse of passionate red would emerge from the stylish floral boxes! Nothing could be more appropriate; and the choice of key music pieces further illustrated the couple’s obvious love for one another as they entered the room to Paul Simon singing “Crazy Love” and opened the dance floor to Nina Simone singing “My Baby Just Cares For Me”.

THE BEST MOMENT

For Ryan the best moment was when he entered the reception venue with Anne on his arm and they were officially announced as ‘Mr. and Mrs. Thorp’.

Anne interjects; “He also liked seeing me in my wedding dress for the first time.” For Anne, the best moment was holding Ryan’s hand as they led their guests down to the pre-drinks area set amongst the vineyards.

THE HONEYMOON

“We spent our honeymoon at Les Pavillions resort in Mauritius. Ryan planned the entire honeymoon as a surprise so I had no idea where we were going until we got to the Air Mauritius gate in Johannesburg. We stayed in a beautiful beach bungalow opening onto a private patio and an absolutely idyllic beach. But it gets better! A few of our friends had called ahead to arrange fun activities for us which included a day trip on a catamaran, a hike and massages. We also had a romantic dinner set-up on the beach – just for the two of us.

It was the most perfect week and an appropriate ending to a magnificent period of our lives!”

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT US

“We had the extraordinary experience of planning our wedding 8 000 miles away. You would think that would make us nervous wrecks, but we knew from the start that we were in great hands with Aleit and his team. It is no exaggeration to say that the event would not have happened without them - the calming influence and superior organization of the marvellous Faye. The Aleit team made our wedding spectacular and it will be the standard against which we (and many of our guests) will measure all future celebrations!”

THE COUPLE’S ADVICE TO FUTURE BRIDES AND GROOMS “Hire Aleit to coordinate your wedding! If you’ve already done that – well then just sit back and relax. Also, arrange a little quiet time together during the wedding so that you can take a step back and drink it all in.”

ANNEKE & ASANGA

HOW THEY MET

Anneke and Asanga worked together and met at the communal coffee shop. Asanga was getting an early morning coffee and noticed how strikingly beautiful Anneke was. He decided to strike a conversation with the lovely lady...and the rest as they say, is history!

THE PROPOSAL

Anneke shares her story: “We were in South Africa for the December holidays, in fact it was New Year’s Eve 2008. We were on a game farm feeding elephants and Malaika, the baby girl elephant, presented a little gift to me with her trunk. It was a (fake) engagement ring! Asanga immediately went down on his one knee and proposed. He had apparently been orchestrating this from London while we were planning our trip!” We all agree that this has to be one of the more original proposals!

THE WEDDING DAY

“By now it’s got to be a clichéd expression, but our wedding day was an absolute dream! The ceremony was undoubtedly the most important part of the day for both of us. Then we were spoilt with the most amazing setting, and the ambience as a spin off from that, made the day unbeatable! Having an outdoor ceremony at Clouds Estate, with our closest family and friends in attendance was magnificent,” says Anneke. And it has to be said that ‘a dream’ was certainly the perfect description for this wedding. “Anneke looked so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes as she walked up the aisle,” says Asanga During pre-drinks, guests were treated to what must surely be one of the best views in the world. Drinks and canapés flowed in time to the melodies produced by the stylish Jazz duo. Elegantly decorated dinner tables hosted a formal dinner reception and the opening dance, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” paved the way for the party of a lifetime!

THE BEST MOMENT

“That’s a difficult one – but it has to be the ceremony.

Without a doubt. Our minister, Mark Wiemers was just wonderful...very profound.”

THE HONEYMOON

Anneke and Asanga celebrated their honeymoon in Kenya. One week on safari at the wonderful Porini Lion camp, (www.porini.com) and the other at Msambweni Boutique Hotel located on the East coast of Kenya (www.msambweni-beach-house. com). “Both experiences were simply heaven and come highly recommended. We were quite exhausted after the wedding and the combination of activity followed by total relaxation was spot on.”

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT US

“We were delighted with Aleit and his team - our day was so wonderful because of them. What makes them stand out, is their flair and ability to make a wedding liven up to the high expectations a bride and groom develop over the months of preparation. You have to work really hard together, especially if you’re like us who like to understand and agree upon ALL of the detail – no matter how minute. But it’s worth it - especially on the day itself. The fact that our wedding went so brilliantly is testament to these guys being the best in the business.”

THE COUPLE’S ADVICE TO FUTURE BRIDES AND GROOMS “Use a wedding coordinator! We wholeheartedly recommend Aleit. It allows you to enjoy the day and marvel at how lucky you are to have found each other.”

ASHLEY & MALAN

HOW THEY MET

An intellectual start to the relationship for Ashley and Malan, who were first introduced at a ‘meetand-greet’ that was hosted for incoming masters students at the London School of Economics.

“We like to think we met right in the middle as I had come from Canada and he had come from South Africa.”

THE PROPOSAL

Ashley and Malan’s first date was supposed to last an hour but ended up lasting eight. During this time Malan took ‘his date’ on the essential tourist bus trip across London. “We sat on the upper deck and huddled together as it started to rain. As the bus drove over Tower Bridge, we saw a rainbow over the Thames. Four years later, having foiled several of his attempts at a proposal, Malan finally managed to surprise me.

We were headed for Venice soon and I had my suspicions that this is where he’d ‘pop the question’. The weekend before we left, he blindfolded me and guided me into a London cab. As we got out he delivered the most beautiful speech, which ended with the words ‘will you marry me?’

As Malan lifted my blindfold, he slipped the ring onto my finger (which was shaking rather uncontrollably). I looked around and we were standing on Tower Bridge. It was simply magical! Venice became our ‘engagement honeymoon’ the following weekend. It was the perfect time for us to enjoy and absorb the immensity of the moment.”

THE WEDDING DAY

For Ashley and Malan the wedding provided a platform for their respective family and friends to assemble – their origins spanning three continents.

“Twenty five of our closest friends and family had flown to Cape Town from Canada, the USA, Ukraine, Holland and the UK, where they joined South Africans from all over the country to share this day with us.” The setting therefore was priority – it seemed a pity to have these guests embark on such an ambitious excursion and not treat them to the beauty of the Cape. The couple therefore settled on Maiden’s Cove in Camps Bay for their ceremony and the exquisite dining room of Hout Bay Manor for their dinner reception. African elements were introduced via the use of Fynbos inspired decor and ethnic entertainment - the latter taking the form of an African choir performing at the ceremony and a marimba band with African drummers entertaining guests during pre-drinks. In fact, the term ‘Afro-chic’ immediately springs to mind! “Our wedding day was the greatest experience of my life. It was a celebration of a commitment that already existed in our hearts which meant there were no nerves - just pure excitement.”

THE BEST MOMENT

“I can honestly say the entire day was perfect despite the morning being completely overcast.

Two hours before our outdoor ceremony commenced, the sky opened up and it was an ideal day for a wedding. As I approached the ceremony area I did not fail to observe that the set-up was just how I imagined it - and this immediately calmed me.” The couple says that one of their favourite moments was when they were led into the reception by the Zulu drummers. “It was I, the Canadian, who was dancing and singing along to Nksoi Sikelel’ iAfrika.” says Ashley laughing.

THE HONEYMOON

“Our wedding was purposefully slotted into the middle of a two week trip that we had planned in advance. My Canadian family and friends were all staying in villas in Camps Bay. Malan and I have been very lucky, we have travelled a lot together, and so we were happy to share the few days showing the stunning Cape to our nearest and dearest.” says Ashley.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT US “My mom and I are extremely close and she has exquisite taste. However, she lives in Canada and I planned the wedding over various trips to South Africa. Hayley (our wedding planner) became a surrogate mother for me. She was honest and caring but best of all she put my mother at ease.

That’s quite an achievement! Her attention to detail was immaculate and the care with which she treated our wedding made me feel like I was the only bride in the world. When I opted not to have my wedding on a wine estate, Hayley helped us search for the perfect venue. This was quite a job and we ended up using a parking lot overlooking Camps Bay (rented from the Cape Town city council). Even the South Africans said they had the best time of their lives!

THE COUPLE’S ADVICE TO FUTURE BRIDES AND GROOMS Ashley suggests that you make every effort to ensure your wedding carries your own unique thumbprint. Don’t feel pressurised to have a theme based on aesthetics alone.

In fact this dynamic couple chose a theme based on sentiment instead. “Start with a poem, a lyric or something sentimental.” says Ashley. Malan’s mother had given the couple a painting by a South African artist which they used on their invitations. “It is of two figures walking towards the radiating sun together. Inside the invitation we had a line from our favourite song by Talib Kweli translated into English: “Love has no boundaries.

Stay because I love you as you are. I crossed an ocean of possibilities, and I found you;” says Malan. The couple used this poem throughout the wedding – it was contained in several of their speeches and also printed in their gift book (a photographic essay of their favourite pictures from Canada and South Africa entitled ‘Across an Ocean of Possibilities’). The image used on the front of the invitation was also used on their stationery and embroidered onto the napkins.

Entertainment in small, constant doses is also very memorable. “We integrated elements from the different cultures we represent throughout the day. We arrived in an old London cab (from the city where we fell in love), we had an African choir, a marimba band and Zulu dancers performing at various intervals.” Ashley and Malan also requested a Scottish bagpiper (bride’s father’s heritage) and they performed a Serbian kolo dance (bride’s mother’s heritage).

“Personalising your wedding day to this degree helps to get rid of the nerves and the memories are more impressionable because these meaningful details keep popping up throughout the day.

“I wasn’t nervous saying my vows or giving my speech because I was so comfortable in the environment that we had created.”

TASHA & GORDON

HOW THEY MET

Gordon and Tasha met while working for Maersk.

One could say it was ‘love at first site’ as it took a mere 11 days for this couple to start dating officially. Their relationship blossomed and later brought them to the doors of Aleit Wedding Coordination - for which we are truly grateful.

THE PROPOSAL

“We were on holiday in Bali. One evening, (it was full moon), Gordon expressed an urgent need to go to the Internet café so I decided to relax at the hotel. About three hours later the receptionist knocked on our door and asked me to follow him to the reception as he had an important message for me. I followed him but he suddenly indicated that I should take a route through the bushes. I was quite surprised by this but went anyway. I found myself at the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean where there were one hundred candles scattered around a private dinner table overlooking the moonlit ocean. I walked around the corner and there was Gordon kneeling – he said; “You already know I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but will you marry me?” It was the most romantic night of our lives!”

THE WEDDING DAY

The Aleit wedding team departed Cape Town International Airport with a sizeable action plan – checked and re-checked a thousand times over - and an interminable list of THINGS NOT TO FORGET which, amongst other items, comprised of hand towels, the wedding tool-box, shoe polish, blossoms, clip boards, white umbrellas, stationery, ceremony reserved signs, printed Programmes and cerise pink and turquoise ribbon. Tasha and Gordon had chosen to host their ceremony on the wooden deck of the Suncoast Hotel.

On the day guests were transferred to the wedding in luxury buses while the couple and their retinue were transferred in a vintage 1918 Dodge and a MG! On arrival guests were handed a glass of homemade lemonade and treated to the sounds of an authentic sitar player. After the moving ceremony had been concluded, the guests were ushered back to the buses and taken to Czar Restaurant. Here they were welcomed by the waitrons who lined the entrance pathway offering trays of Eastern styled drinks such as Chai Martini’s and Mojito’s. Chilled hand towels were on offer for those requiring immediate refreshment and shoe polish available for the men who felt the need to spruce up. A henna tattoo artist got to work, embellishing the ladies beautifully. The couple entered the room to ‘It’s a beautiful day’ by U2 – a most appropriate choice. The food was served in abundance, the wine chosen carefully to compliment. But the piece de resistance – after the bridal couple themselves – has to be the exquisitely vibrant décor which set the tone for a night to remember. We’ll let the imagery do the talking! Sometimes things are best described this way.

THE BEST MOMENT

“Believe it or not, the best part of our wedding day was the photo session immediately after the ceremony. It felt so good to be married and this allowed me a moment to savour the special feeling with my new wife, our best men and the bridesmaids before we had to face everyone at the reception. We enjoyed a few glasses of Champagne and had loads of fun with the photographer.” says Gordon. “My favourite moment has to be walking down the aisle with both my parents and seeing Gordon. We looked in each other’s eyes and there was a clear realization that this was the beginning of the rest of our lives together.” says Tasha.

THE HONEYMOON

Tasha had no idea where they were going until the plane actually landed. Gordon planned the entire trip and had managed to keep every detail a secret (from everyone), even fabricating a decoy so that Tasha would think we were headed to Montenegro! “Instead, we went to three various islands in the Caribbean over a period of three weeks – St Lucia, Dominica and Antigua.

We explored the islands by foot, in a car and by boat. We went scuba diving, kayaking, toured the towns, went snorkelling and spent countless hours relaxing on the many beautiful beaches.

It was just the two of us in paradise and that equates to pure bliss.”

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT US Tasha approached the Aleit Group with a very specific idea in mind for her wedding, suggesting that the decor should symbolise a Balinese theme.

“Johnny managed to execute my vision flawlessly!

We wanted everything to be different and non traditional and Aleit and his team came up with the best ideas to make the night unique and special. It was amazing knowing we had such professional experts organizing our wedding. It was totally stress-free being in such capable hands.”

THE COUPLE’S ADVICE TO FUTURE BRIDES AND GROOMS “Take some time out to stand back, (just the two of you), and absorb the atmosphere. Watch the wedding happen around you and you’ll be amazed how pleasurable it is to see everyone enjoying your special night! We had amazing bridesmaids and best men and without our “super six”, we would not have coped! Make sure you choose your retinue wisely!”

Tasha and Gordon also urge couples not to be afraid to do things differently. “We went against tradition in so many ways and it made the night feel like it was just ours and totally unique. Our wedding was so special knowing we had done so many things that were out of the ordinary. Our guests have been talking about the wedding for months afterwards and we believe this was due to the diverse detail incorporated into the night.”

WEDDING INSPIRATION FROM THE CITY OF FROM LOVE WEDDING INSPIRATION Where better to find a flash of inspiration for your nuptial campaign than in Paris, the city of love?

Aleit returns to Cape Town inspired by the city where beauty, vintage and the exquisiteness of love are flaunted nonchalantly every day.

And from the armfuls of ideas he shares with us, the most striking has to be Toile de Jouy usually referred to as toile, a fabric consisting of a typically white or off-white background with a repetitive pattern depicting an intricate scene. This vintage story, so to speak, has a definite romantic feel, especially since it most often depicts romantic scenes such as lovers sitting on a bench or picnicking beneath the trees. More modern versions have departed from this ‘theme’ somewhat, but the overall effect is always dramatic – romantically inclined or not. We recently came across this red Toile de Jouy cocktail dress on the Pinterest Blog, which further confirmed a necessity to write about this as a wedding décor piece. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed conceptualising it!

This somewhat sophisticated vintage-chic pattern was traditionally printed in red, blue, or black.

Now the colour options are endless - depending on the effect you’re looking to create.

Two main looks can be achieved – and here’s how...

For a very dramatic over-the-top look Work from a palette base of black and white – carrying this through from the cake to the stationery to the flowers.

Go so far as to project a classic black and white film (preferably one set in Paris) on a big screen at your reception. This is most effective as a background to the band / dance floor. Ensure a romantic ambiance is maintained throughout the evening by dimming the lights, suspending gorgeous chandeliers and ensuring candlelight in every nook and cranny.

Introduce your Toile de Jouy accents by draping your tables in black or grey toile tablecloths or (and please, oh please do take note that we are suggesting this as an OR, not an AND), incorporate your toile pattern as a splash of accent colour through the use of napkins or scatter cushions.

Remember the use of patterns should be approached with caution and not wild abandon!

This is a decorative element that works especially well in the print medium and should be used with great effect throughout one’s on-the-day stationery.

For a more contemporary twist Of course toile does not necessarily need to be overly profound or dramatic (after all - toile dark and handsome is not every girl’s taste). Keep it light, fresh and modern by using sky blue and white. Add high glass vases with white hydrangeas.

You could even combine this look with a fresh stripe pattern to achieve a more eclectic look.

A word of caution, bear in mind that this busy pattern can go wrong just as easily as it can go extremely right; so ask your coordinator to create a visual mood board followed by a decor mock to ensure your Toile de Jouy wedding is exactly what you dreamed it would be!

M

AA GLIMPSE GLIMPSE BEHIND THE BEHIND SCENES THE S The wedding celebration of Jackie and Jacob Wiese was nothing short of spectacular! There – we’ve said it. Spectacular! It undoubtedly holds the title of ‘2011 – WEDDING OF THE YEAR’!

A sincere team effort between the Wiese family and The Aleit Team ensured the success of this production. From the dramatic tent to thousands of imported flowers (which brought tears to the florists’ eyes – seriously). From the incredible food to the gardens of Lanzerac which were replanted for the occasion. From the opulent linen customised for each table, to the gilded tableware. Every last detail was planned to the umpteenth degree.

Nothing was left to chance and the guests clearly enjoyed the end result.

As you can well imagine, a wedding of this magnitude calls for a set-up of epic proportions and we thought you’d enjoy a glimpse of this intricate process! The 500 square meter marquee was erected on the sprawling lawns located behind the historic Manor House at The Lanzerac Hotel and Spa. The slope of the lawn called for expert service professionals to build a deck able to withstand the tent, decor, equipment and 220 guests! The lead time to set-up a marquee wedding, on average, takes 3 to 4 days. The setup for the Wiese wedding had to commence almost two weeks in advance. The marquee with glass sides, clear gables and gorgeous soft grey draping, took three full days and then came the flooring, installation of specially commissioned carpeting, the installation of stairways and ballistrauds not to mention the flowerbeds which were ripped out and re-planted.

Let’s just say it was like building a complete venue – from scratch - in two weeks! Nineteen antique new crystal chandeliers were hung from stretched cables which caused a number of nail biting moments as the structural engineer had never seen so many lighting features of this size suspended from a temporary structure! Together with the flower filled vases also suspended from the rafters, extra safety precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the guests...as well and these magnificent and rather costly chandeliers.

And yes, we did get the all important structural certificates! We got the t-shirt too!!

Whilst the marquee was being erected on the lawn, a (temporary) forest was being created in the courtyard of the Manor House. Here, the guests enjoyed pre-dinner drinks amongst 150 trees and luscious plants that had been conscripted for the evening. The theme for the predrinks celebration was ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ and we can vouch for the fact that the result left everyone speechless. In fact, it even exceeded our expectations!

Now if there’s one thing wedding coordinators cannot control - it’s the weather! Two days before the wedding, the temperatures reached fever pitch during the day and cooled down dramatically at night. This of course causes condensation and condensation causes...everything to get wet!! The solution: 500 square meters of plastic placed over the expensive carpeting and table linen. But our woes did not end there...the imported flowers (the most perfect blooms we’d ever laid eyes on), had to be kept cool during the day and so an 8 piece air-conditioning unit had to be installed!

What we’ve learnt: However challenging the project and extreme the conditions, this wedding set-up proved that it CAN be done, no matter what!

What you need: A clearly chartered and foolproof action plan, a phenomenal team, the best service professionals, back-up plans in the form of A, B, C and D (we even had back-up version E), and a sturdy timeline that is never wavered from.

The Wiese wedding – one of inspiration, wonder and bliss – boasts with the most gorgeous pictures... so herewith then just a foretaste of what is to come in the next edition...

SERVICE PROFESSIONAL EXTRAORDINAIRES SERVICEPROFESSIO ANNE AND RYAN

ASHLEY AND MALAN

ANNEKE AND ASANGA

TASHA AND GORDON

Venue – MolenVliet Wine and Guest Estate Minister – Mark Wiemers Bar and Staff – Shake and Serve Catering – Dish Food and Social Wedding Cake – Roxanne Floquet Classic Trio – Aleit Music and Entertainment Hiring – Top Table and Exclusive Hire Lighting – To-nett’s Flooring – Instant Flooring Flowers – OKASIE Sound – Presentation Staging Stationery – The Letterpress Company Photographer – Jean Pierre Uys Photography Hair and Make-up – Le Look Venue – Clouds Estate Bar and Staff – Urban Tonic Catering – Gourmet Chef Hiring – Top Table Lighting – Something Different Concepts & Shows Flooring – Something Different Concepts & Shows Flowers – Floral Affairs Music – AME DJ – Piet de Beer Wedding – Cakes by Wade Photographer – Jan Hendrik Photography Hair and Make-up – Luciano dos Santos

Venue – Hout Bay Manor & PURE Restaurant Catering – PURE at Hout Bay Manor Wedding Cake – Hunt House Kitchen Musicians – Aleit Music and Entertainment Stationery – Elsje Designs Table Gifts – Aleit Shop Flowers – Aspen Flowers & Company Lighting – Something Different Concepts & Shows Photographer – Joe Photography Videographer – Palace Productions Hair and Make-up – Luciano dos Santos Hiring – Hireworx Wedding Dress – Rivini (Lismora Gown)

Venue – Ceremony at the Suncoast Hotel,

Recepetion at CZAR Restaurant Minister – Reverent Clive Jacobson Catering – Olive Twist Wedding Cake – Olive Twist Bar and Staff – CZAR Restaurant DJ – Chris Peinkie Stationery – Elsje Designs Flowers – Lifestyle Bazaar Lighting – Something Different Concepts&Shows Photographer – Joe Photography Videographer – Zara Zoo Hair and Make-up – Luciano dos Santos Flooring – Nomadik Stretch Tents & Canopies Tent – Nomadik Stretch Tents & Canopies Wedding Dress – KLûK

IN CLOSING IN CLOSING June has been an odd month - in a good way. Many high moments and many miles covered during our exceptional journeys abroad. Our normally frenetic studio has been operating with skeleton staff. It’s THAT time of the year. A time when we are all afforded a little luxury called ‘annual leave’. And boy is it well deserved!

Our dynamic front-of-house duo certainly deserves an Oscar for the performance they delivered over this period. Ryno and Jeanne-Lois had more than enough on their plate covering ‘first base’ for all and sundry.

My 2011 stint abroad was absolutely exhilarating – but 22 days is a long time to be away from home and I’m loving the feel of South African soil beneath my feet. I’m told that most men don’t multi-task very well. I can safely say that I am an exception to this rule. In-between media meetings, corporate and wedding consultations, executing an event and making new friends….oh, and celebrating my birthday, I managed to check emails at least twice a day. All in all, an amazingly productive trip!

The architecture in Paris and Prague inspired me beyond my wildest dreams and the buzz in London is, as always, really contagious. (This is probably why we partied until pumpkin hour with some of our favourite wedding couples).

Much love.

ALEIT SWANEPOEL Managing Director - The Aleit Group