The Aleit Group Online Magazine Twenty-eighth Edition

Twenty-eighth Edition // January 2014

Featuring Aleit Wedding Coordination Aleit Events The Aleit Academy Skin Renewal

22 1

THE OPENING TWENTY-EIGHTH EDITION – JANUARY 2014

3

EVENTS & WEDDINGS WEDDING TRENDS OF 2013 ABSA YEAR ENDS

2

ETZARD STRYDOM INTERVIEW WITH THE SYSTEMS ANALYST OF ATEK

• • •

Bloemfontein & Port Elizabeth Durban Cape Town

24

18 14 4

FEATURES THE ALEIT ACADEMY • • •

2014 3rd Year Specialisation Placements The Aleit Academy 1st Year Group of 2014 Graduation Ceremony 2014

5

IN CLOSING

TO END IT OFF

SKIN RENEWAL •

Sun damaged skin

INDEX // 3

OPENING //

Photographer : Joe Photography

Cheers,

Johnny Hamman Director - Aleit Wedding Coordination

THE OPENING

Twenty-eighth Edition – January 2014

My Love Hate Relationship with Pinterest I can remember that I was the first one of all my friends and colleagues with a Pinterest profile. As we all know your first month on Pinterest is extremely addictive, and you spend most of your time online - creating new boards and living in a fantasy world of; My Dream Apartment, Fashion that I have to have, Weddings that I would love to do, Furniture I must have, Crafts I would like to get to…. etc etc.

Suddenly my clients start sending me their mood boards for their wedding with fantastic ideas and looks. I just thought hells bells, this is the easiest way to get a look from a client. I can just copy her Pinterest board exactly.

Clients now go mad on Pinterest, sending me new ideas every second day. "How about this Johnny", "Oh wow Johnny look at this". It is a fantastic platform for creatives, or is it? It is a fantastic platform for ideas, or is it...? It is a fantastic way to tap your clients’ minds, or is it?!!

The answer I have now come to after two years of pinning is NO, IT IS NOT. It is a terrible way to communicate with your clients I think. I can now spot a Pinterest wedding a mile away. Attending wedding guests will ask me “how cool is this idea? I wonder who thought of that?” And then I just politely answer yes, wow, but I know immediately it’s yet another American Wedding on Pinterest.

Unfortunately I find that weddings have become internet idea based, and this is the saddest thing ever.

We used to come up with our own unique ideas without opening a single magazine, let alone the Pinterest website. Look don’t get me wrong, it really does help the client achieve their look, but is this really the way of the future in creating spectacular unique weddings? Well you can take the word unique out of the picture immediately, because by taking it off Pinterest you can be assured that it has been copied and done a thousand times.

The other big problem is that Pinterest makes it look so easily achievable, and of course if it is on Pinterest there is a mindset that it must be affordable. The reality is that most of the pins come from the states, from extremely elaborate weddings that everybody envies and dreams of, and can’t have, so the best they can do is create a virtual reality for themselves.

I am not saying that we should stop using this platform for inspiration, to see what is out there and what the world is doing, but we must remember to live in our own reality and sometimes close our laptops.

Remember what is the most important thing about your wedding day, take a step back and then design your perfect day that resembles you as a couple. Kim Kardashian's wedding is Kim Kardashian's wedding, not your wedding. Plus it only lasted a week :) which makes it tasteless anyway.

So this year I am going to do my best to create weddings like I did before the days of Pinterest. And let me tell you it is already paying off.

Happy 2014 everybody. Here's to beautiful original South African weddings.

THE OPENING // 5

FEATURING Etzard Strydom The Aleit Group is proud to boast that we have our very own IT company. Atek is a duo of highly qualified, professional IT technicians - and two incredibly nice gentlemen to boot. This month we feature Etzard, Atek’s very own Systems Analyst. On a lovely summer’s afternoon we caught up with Etzard and got to know a bit more about the man behind the Mac. You are the go to guy for all things IT in The Aleit anything that the Group can't do. A bunch of intelligent, Group, how do you keep yourself sane during good looking people. the day?

What has been your favourite moment/ memory In the course that I studied, IT Engineering, they working at the company to date? taught us how to deal with customers whether they are difficult or not. Working for the group is bliss and I'll have to say the day that I started lecturing. I really never have I had to throw a computer at someone. enjoy the opportunity to work with our students at The Just look down, take a deep breath, count to 10, and Aleit Academy. continue with your day. Life is too short to complain How big is the role that IT plays in a company like anyway.

The Aleit Group?

What is your favourite thing about working for The Aleit Group?

Very. Running a company that is very stable and efficient, takes a lot of connectivity. Seeing that every person The people. I love the people who work beside me. has a working phone, a computer, and maintaining it I'm very lucky and privileged to be a part of one big is quite a day’s work. No company in today's corporate happy family. Walking through the office door every world can survive without it. Cheques, mailmen and morning, seeing smiles on everyone's faces, makes typewriters have been replaced with online Business my day.

Banking, mail applications, laptops and tablets. My philosophy is pretty much the same as Murphy's law. If How do you unwind after a long day? it can break, it will, and if it's not broken, don't try to fix it.

In summer, you'll find me next to the pool, with a Tell us a bit more about Atek, you don’t only fix beer in my hand and some braai tongs in the other. computers :) What does an average day in the life In winter, I trade these for red wine, and music. of Etzard look like?

You knew about The Aleit Group a while before you started working here. How has your perception of the Group changed since you became a part of the team?

At first I thought I would struggle to fit in, as I am a very easy going person. But then I realised that once you get to know each person, you'll find that everyone is really down to earth. I also didn't know how big this company was and how capable everyone was. I really don't think that there is

Email and whatsapp messages. A lot of them. Listening to complaints about no internet, teaching people how to fix it. Trying out new software and devices, and also a bit of handyman work around the offices. We also spend a lot of time on the road. We believe that personal service means much more to the client, and we'll keep it that way for as long as possible. You won’t hear us complain though. Atek is always there to listen. Whether it be a lost phone or laptop, or a simple email not leaving your outbox. Atek fixes everything and anything.

Photographer : Inecke Photography

WEDDINGS | 2013 TRENDS //

HAIR & MAKE UP

floral trends

ceremony layout

cake trends

EVENTS | ABSA YEAR ENDS //

port elizabeth and bloemfontein The theme for last year’s Year End functions was inspired by the annual Brazilian Carnival held in Rio de Janerio.

Adding a twist to the theme for the small functions held in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth, introducing our very own unique special touch, we evolved it to Retro Glam Carnival.

Violet, Gold and Teal Blue were used as primary colours for these events. To add contrast, lounge pockets and cocktail furniture were used to separate the main colours and in sections to create lines in the venues. Different sized disco balls placed throughout in various vases and flower chandeliers added to the fun, retro feel of the event. Geometric vinyl shapes were made in hues of the key colours. Stickers were placed on various parts of the furniture, plinths and the DJ stand structure. For the dance floor we created a geometric vinyl structure adding to the evocative feel.

Entertainment wise we pulled out all the stops this year, with Brazilian influenced bands, DJ’s and belly dancers to keep guests dancing all night. Menus for the events were influenced by the delectable carnival street food for the Bloemfontein cocktail function and a more sophisticated menu was designed for the sit-down dinner at The Plantation in Port Elizabeth. A dessert table was set up at the events, filled with delicious mouth watering sweets, toffee apples, various treats and popcorn, which guests enjoyed in beautiful eco friendly bamboo containers.

DURBAN The Durban leg of the Year Ends was hosted at Berea Rovers Sports Club, a quaint sports field across from the colossal Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The bedouin tent on the field was the perfect setting for a Carnivale-themed affair, and guests were in for an absolute treat – the light rain and infamous humidity did not dampen their spirits at all! With tropical cocktails in hand, a steel-drum band welcomed guests into the tent with their spirited and up-tempo beats, preparing everyone for an entertaining night ahead.

The tent was lined with festive naked bulbs and beautifully styled with crisp white furniture and elegant bar stations.

Touches of celebratory colour were brought in by means of oversized lampshades, lush scatter cushions and imaginative vinyl art in shades of Emerald, Plum and Teal.

As the night went on, the party atmosphere grew as guests were amused by energetic fire-spinners as well as by the mystic acts of magician Andrew Herring who left many in awe and utter disbelief! DJ Freddy M on the decks in the DJ booth played hit after hit, ensuring all made their way to the dance floor to dance away the year that was.

Saffron Fine Cuisine delighted the guests with fresh and vibrant dishes served by waitresses adorned in visionary feathered head-pieces, adding to the lively atmosphere.

As the night drew to a close, and the clock struck twelve, guests departed from the fantasy realm, with photobooth strips in hand, and vivid memories of that which is Carnivale.

CAPE TOWN Year Ends are always the coolest thing to organise!

It is the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work for us at The Aleit Group. Everyone is excited for the party and the build up is so much fun.

This year the Cape Town leg of our year end festivities took place at the Absa offices in Cape Town. Everyone was curiously peeking out the windows, trying to catch a glimpse of what was busy being constructed right under their noses.

Underneath the bedouin tent we started putting together the breath taking festival look that we decided on for this year’s Year End. All the incredible entertainment acts and DJ's were lined up… ready for action.

The menu was an incredible hit and consisted of fun carnival foods such as candy floss, popcorn, corn dogs and slushy machines. Guests danced the night away with DJ's playing the very latest beats.

Entertainment equipment had guests testing (and in some cases showing off) their muscles with the likes of High Strikers. A Photo Booth provided hours of entertainment for guests to capture the evening with their colleagues and many happy memories were created.

As the evening’s festivities drew to a close, guests grabbed their last sumptuous snacks for the road before heading off on their well deserved annual leave.

FEATURES | THE ALEIT ACADEMY //

2014 3rd Year Specialisation Placements Our fresh new 3rd year Aleit Academy students have been doing some serious research on where exactly their specific interest and niche lies in the industry, before submitting their final options for their 2014 Specialisation Placements.

As one can imagine, they have chosen some insanely awesome placements yet again and we are as excited as they are to see them carve their path into possible employment for 2015.

Here are a few of the incredible places they are going, to name only a few‌ Andrew Conradie, will be involved in set design and general management of productions on The Expresso Show. Lizelle Geeringh will be joining Amazing Spaces in sourcing the most breathtaking event venues while Monique Harris will be giving some attention to her photography skills as she joins Inecke Photography to assist with event and wedding photo shoots.

Nanette Pienaar is paying attention to the voice whispering from her wild side as she joins Gondwana Game Lodge to see what exactly it entails to manage such a beautiful game reserve. Ian Dicks will be rubbing shoulders with the team from In and Out Events as they ensure events and weddings around the globe look fit for royalty.

Be sure to look out for them at any upcoming events you will be attending. We wish them all the best of luck on the final stretch.

The Aleit Academy 1st Year Group of 2014 We have been up to our eyeballs with applications, questionnaires and interviews to source the handpicked, select few who form our new 1st year group of 2014 and we are pleased to announce their arrival on Thursday, the 23rd of January 2014.

The Aleit Group staff are chomping at the bit to meet all the new students and introduce them to the dynamics of a typical day at The Aleit Group and give them a bit of background of when they will be working with whom.

Following these introductions, the Academy will ensure they kick into the culture of work hard, play hard as they finish off their induction week with a social braai at the Lourensford dam.

We will be introducing each student to you and the public after they have done their Academy Photo Shoot on the 13th of February. So be sure to keep your eyes on our website to meet our new intake!

Graduation Ceremony 2014 The 2013 Aleit Academy graduates will be joining us on Monday, 17th March 2014, as we celebrate their graduation. As a rule, the new intake of 2014 will be attending the ceremony with us to see where they will be standing in a few years time and also to show that hard work does pay off!

We look forward to this opportunity to put into words our pride and thanks to each of these students for what the have achieved within their three years of full-time studies at The Aleit Academy.

See you all in March. Watch this space for pictures!

FEATURES // 39

FEATURES | SKIN RENEWAL //

SUN DAMAGED SKIN Spokesperson: Dr Maureen Allem is a Medical Doctor with a special interest in anti-aging procedures, skincare and weight loss. She is also the Founder of Skin, Body and Health Renewal and the Oasis Spas.

As we grow older, we think back with horror to the days of our youth when we spent hours in the sun without the necessary protection of sunscreen or a hat. The result – those unsightly brown blotches that spoil a once porcelain skin making it appear old and tired.

Sun damage is responsible for 80% of all skin aging.

Most of the damage is done by the age of 20. Then there is a sharp increase in the prevalence of skin changes due to sun -ageing between the ages of 35 and 49 years.

Awareness of the damaging effect of UV radiation on the facial appearance, sun avoidance and protection before the age of 20 will help reduce the chances of developing sun damaged and aged looking skin later in life.

Ageing skin unsettles men as much as women because society believes a person loses their job marketability and attractiveness once visible signs of facial ageing set in.

RESULTS OF SKIN EXPOSURE Characteristics of facial sun damaged skin include fine and coarse wrinkle formation, pigmentation changes, freckles, splotchy red skin, sallow colour, dry texture, loss of elasticity, loss of skin tone, sagging subcutaneous tissues, underlying muscle hypertrophy and volume loss in the face and skin cancer. Scientific studies have shown that repeated ultraviolet (UV) exposure breaks down collagen and impairs the synthesis of new collagen.

BLACK SKINS Extreme sun exposure can still result in serious damage even in black skins. Although the risk of developing skin cancer is less than with other fairer skin types, it’s still present. They can be prone to an overactive production of melanin which can result in uneven pigmentation. In darker skin, the signs of sun damage are usually limited to fine wrinkles, a mottled complexion and sagging of the middle of the face.

SUN PROTECTION Even for black or olive-skinned beauties exposure to the sun is not recommended during the peak hours of 10am - 4pm and should further protect themselves by using a high SPF 30 sunscreen every day. Wear protective clothing such as caps and sunglasses.

TREATMENTS Once the signs of ageing and sun damage appear on the facial skin, it’s time to initiate the most powerful corrective treatments and topical therapies available such as growth factors to improve collagen content.

Clinic therapies include photo rejuvenation treatments and exfoliation treatments such as Pearl™ laser, Limelight ™ and chemical peels.

FOR ANY FURTHER SKIN CARE ADVICE: SKIN & BODY RENEWAL - 0861 263972 or www.skinrenewal.co.za

IN CLOSING //

TO END IT OFF It’s 2014 - the fourteenth year of the third millennium, the fourteenth year of the 21st century, and the fifth year of the 2010’s decade. Indeed this promises to be yet another exciting year having kicked-off with a much busier start than anticipated. New year’s resolution is the most thrown around word at this time of year, which simplified means “a promise to do an act of self-improvement”. On that note a very happy and prosperous new year. Strive to accomplish at the least two of your new resolutions.

Few things bring me as much joy as witnessing the incredible ascendance of The Aleit Group. If you follow us on Facebook and/ or Twitter you will be very aware of this fact. When time is taken off for some introspection and reflection of output one can but be greatful and thankful for an abundance of blessings. A sad fact, but the public will only ever see the end product. They rarely see the blood, sweat and tears that go into the production. They only see the show, just the red carpets, just the glory.

The Aleit Group is blessed to have a loyal pool of talent and patient fighters from varying fields. A personal welcome to Victoria Clegg, a graduate from our The Aleit Academy who joins our Johannesburg office on a permanent post as Project Manger.

Victoria has hit the ground running and has proven herself beyond a shadow of a doubt, she will most definitely play a pivotal role in the company. What an exciting events calendar ahead, starting with hosting one of our top corporate clients at the 37th anniversary of J&B Met, this year’s theme is ‘made to conquer”. Then on to the prestigious, annual, world renowned Minning Indaba. Furthermore on to a series of upcoming corporate events, it’s cheers to 2014, and the sky is the limit!

New years greetings and prosperous wishes Kindest Regards,

Thabo Matlhako Director - The Aleit Group

Photographer : FotoBros.

THE CLOSING // 41

SERVICE PROFESSIONALS EVENTS BLOEMFONTEIN YEAR END Venue Stationery Photography Decor & Styling Hiring Sound & Lighting Entertainment

Leopards & Lace aMedia Lana Photography Envie Grand Room Design Executive Sounds DJ ET

PORT ELIZABETH YEAR END Venue Stationery Photography Flowers Hiring Entertainment

The Plantation aMedia Lana Photography Fleur Design The Function Warehouse Two Tone Music Tequila!

Instrumental Duo

DURBAN YEAR END Venue Bedouin Tent Sound & Lighting Catering Bar & Staffing Photography Decor & Furniture Stationery Head Pieces Registration Security Paramedic Entertainment Magician DJ Photo Booth Transport

Berea Rovers Sports Club Nomadik DNGPS Saffron Fine Cuisine Thirst Bar Serives Joe Photography A Place aMedia The Little Hattery Atek Safe Zone ER24 Entertainment Online Andrew Herring Freddy M Photo Booth Pal Goodfellas

SERVICE PROFESSIONALS EVENTS CAPE TOWN YEAR END Catering Sound & lighting Registration Furniture Bedounin Tent Dance Floor Photo Booth Entertainment Acts DJ Transport Show girls Bar Structure Security Stationery Toilet Trailers Enertainment equipment Coffee bar Bar and Staffing Decor & flowers Safety Videography Photography DJ DJ Shuttles

Stir Food Presentation Staging Atek A Place Nomadik Connect-a-floor Inecke Photography SA National Circus DJ Phat Joe Good Fellas Black Orchid Burlesque Thirst Bar Services Evethu aMedia Sale's Hire Black Ball Coffee Right Shake and Serve Floral Affairs St John's Ambulance aMedia Joe Photography DJ Lloyd DJ Kyle MK Exotics