real brides magazine - august 2012

Don’t Blow The Budget

Real Brides Share Ideas

A Band For Life

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South Africa’s Exciting New Monthly Wedding Magazine

Real Weddings

Choosing AWedding

Theme

August 2012 R24.95 (incl. VAT)

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Bridal Shoesto the value of

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IN THIS ISSUE Another fabulous array of Real Brides sharing their wedding planning experiences and their big days with readers. Their individual stories are packed full of useful advice and their photos will no doubt give brides-to-be many good ideas - from venues to make up and bridal gowns. REAL BRIDES is a bridal magazine with a difference ... a BIG difference. We have the edge as there is a brand NEW issue of REAL BRIDES out on sale every single MONTH. Visit our website – www.realbrides.co.za – and you can also find us on Facebook.

REAL BRIDES is published independently by RamCom Publishing (Pty) Limited.

To advertise call: (031) 765 7314Website: www.realbrides.co.za

Cover Bride: Penelope RetsosPhotographer: Mario Sales Artistic Imagery

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26

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4. Penelope & Constantinos Retsos

8. Lara & Joao Morte

12. Kate & Jason Howard-Tripp

17. A Band For Life

18. Donna & Danie Van Huysteen

22. Kelly & Brad Smith

26. Don’t Blow The Budget

30. Debbie & Migael Dandoulakis

34. Shannon & David Manduell

38. Michelle & Kyle Dickson

43. Choosing A Wedding Theme

44. Stormé & Christopher Pool

48. Judy Leigh & Andrew Elliot

53. Wedding Faqs

54. Michelle & Oliver Burn

COMPETITION - 7. Win Europa Art Shoes vouchers to the value of R4 000

‘Like us on Facebook’ 1 August 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 3

Tell us about your proposal.Dino proposed at Castello di Monte, an exclusive

guesthouse in Waterkloof, Pretoria. He arranged a

romantic dinner next to a fireplace with a personal chef,

who just happened to be one of his best friends! He’d

made a scrapbook telling the story of our relationship,

which he gave to me just before he proposed.

Where did you start with your planning and how long did you have to plan your wedding?The most important aspect for me was to prepare a

guest list from both sides of the family. I was then able

to consolidate the numbers to get to the number of

guests we were going to invite. From there I was able

to start looking for a wedding venue. We had eight

months to plan.

Were you hands on with the planning of your big day or did you employ the services of a wedding planner?I was pretty hands on with my planning but I had the

help of my mother as well as our wedding planners,

Salamander Design Concepts, who were brilliant and

a pleasure to work with. I would recommend them to

any other bride.

Did you have clear idea of what you wanted for your big day?I had a very clear idea of what I wanted for my big

day – a fairytale wedding!

How many venues did you look at and what made you decide?I looked at three venues in total, but fell in love with

the Sandton Sun Hotel as soon as I saw it. We chose

it as our wedding venue because of its elegance,

class and warm ambiance, which ticked all the boxes

in terms of what I had dreamt our wedding would be.

PENELOPE & CONSTANTINOS RETSOS

This elegant couple had known each other for years, but it was only when a random series of events took pace that romantic sparks began to fly. Their union culminated in a truly joyous occasion with plenty of tradition - as one would expect from their fun-loving Greek community and friends.

“I would definitely recommend our wedding

venue. It offers superb service and excellent food.”

4 • REAL BRIDES • 1 August 2012

Venue: Sandton Sun HotelWedding gown: Gert van de Merwe Couture

Shoes: Europa Art Shoes – www.europashoes.co.zaHair: Haveli: Jaco

Make up: Andri LeonidaPhotography: Mario Sales Artistic Imagery

Video: Empire Videos & PhotographyBridesmaid’s dresses: Catherine’s Collections

Lighting and Sound: Sono LuminusDJ: DJ Phil

Wedding Cake: Sugar and Ice

“My highlight was our beautiful wedding ceremony and marrying the love of my life.”

1 August 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 5

Tell us about the search for your wedding gown, did you know exactly what you wanted?I had a good idea as to what type of dress I wanted

and searched through many bridal magazines to get

ideas. With the help of an incredible designer, Gert

van de Merwe, he created the dress of my dreams.

Shoes are always critical as the bride is on her feet most of the day. Did you have fun choosing and how many pairs of shoes did you try on?I have a shoe fetish and I loved shopping for my

wedding shoes! Europa Art Shoes had the largest

selection of wedding shoes, which made finding the

appropriate pair a lot easier. I still love my shoes and

will get plenty of wear out of them.

My shoes were silver stilettos, with a large bow

with crystal embellishments on the front. They were

definitely a good choice as I did not ever feel the

need to change shoes during the evening like so

many brides do. They were so comfortable that I

danced the night away with ease.

Your theme/colour scheme?I was inspired by cool water roses and my theme was

designed around these roses.

How many guests?We had 340 guests at our wedding!

How did you go about choosing your bridal party?Each and every person was specially chosen for the

treasured relationship we have with them, they were

made up of close friends and relatives. I had six

bridesmaids and Dino had six groomsmen who all

hold a special place in our hearts.

Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?My dress was something new; my garter was

something blue and my mother gave me one of her

bracelets for the occasion, which covered something

old and something borrowed.

Did you set up a gift registry?We did not have a gift registry for our wedding;

however we did have one for my bridal shower.

In your opinion what do you think worked best on your big day?I believe that making use of Salamander Design

Concepts as our wedding coordinators was one of

our best choices as the wedding went off without any

glitches and we enjoyed the evening without stressing

about anything. The atmosphere and mood created

by our family and friends was the most significant

factor in making our wedding an unforgettable

memory.

Was there anything that didn’t work out quite as it should have?No. Our service providers were brilliant and gave us

the wedding of our dreams.


“Don’t overdo the alcohol.I remember everything so

clearly and could spend time with all our guests one on one.

Even better - I didn’t wake up with a killer headache!”

Were you hands on with the planning of your big day and did Joao get involved?Yes, we were totally hands on – and that’s the way we

wanted it. It was a total DIY wedding and I think that’s

what made it so special and personal for us and our

guests.

Joao was amazing in that he helped me with everything

– making wooden message boards, cutting, sticking,

stapling and he took such an interest in all the details

for our day. My mum, who is an events co-coordinator

/ planner, did the most amazing job with all the decor,

boutiques and flowers. With me being a designer I

did all the fun little things like menus, name tags, wine

labels, buttonholes etc.

Being such a creative person did you have clear idea of what you wanted for your big day?Yes and no – I think nowdays we are so spoilt with

the internet, it can almost give you too much choice.

But, I did know that I wanted a very informal, layed

back atmosphere wedding - we are both pretty chilled

people and didn’t want a stuffy, formal affair.

How many venues did you look at and what made you decide on iNsingizi?We actually visited about four or five venues but also

looked at hundreds of others on the internet and in

books and magazines. As soon as we got to iNsingizi

we knew it was the venue for us. We totally fell in

love with the rustic but also sophisticated feel of the

venue. It was just what we were looking for. It’s just

the most tranquil, magical setting.

LARA & JOAO MORTE

THIS funky pair joins a growing band of newlyweds who actually met on the Internet. “People are always surprised to hear that we met on the internet,” says Lara. “Neither of us were meeting any potentially great matches at pubs and clubs so, we decided to give it a go… and here we are today!”


Venue: iNsingizi – www.insingizi.co.zaWedding gown: KPF Bridal Gowns

Makeup: Lynne HarrisDécor: Fresh Ideas

Photography: Kelly Daniels PhotographyVideo: Oliver Twist – Lauren Oliver

“There’s truly nothing that didn’t go exactly how I wanted it to. The weather was amazing and the

venue was fantastic. There is nothing I

could possibly fault.”


Did the venue meet with all your expectations?Yes and more. There’s honestly nothing I could fault

right from the planning stages to the wedding day

itself. Everything went off without a hitch. I would

recommend iNsingizi to anybody and everyone.

Nothing was ever too much trouble - even if it meant

us calling them up three times a day! The staff were

so wonderful, the food was great, and the venue was

simply breathtaking.

Any tips on cutting costs?Do as much as you can yourself. Brides may often be

tempted to cut costs in the wrong places and then live

to regret it later. For example, I ummed and aahed as to

whether I should spend money on a makeup artist as

we didn’t have a huge budget to work with. But, I’m so

glad that my friend Nat convinced me otherwise – it was

just divine to really feel special and pampered. Money

well spent.

How many guests attended?Our wedding was very small; we never wanted a

huge wedding. Unfortunately a lot of both Joao and

my family members are overseas and could not make

the day. We had 30 guests in total - just close friends

and family.

Tell us about the people who made up your bridal party and how you went about choosing them?I had two bridesmaids. The first was one of my closest

friends, Natalie, whom I met whilst waitressing after

finishing school almost 11 years ago. The other was

my dear friend, Cath, whom I met whilst backpacking

around Australia. She flew out for the wedding.

Any funny moments?We a few took dancing lessons beforehand and

had our routine fairly well down pat. On the night

however I totally forgot the whole routine and we just

had to wing it! We had such a good laugh about it at

the time.

The highlights of your day?One of them was having both my Mum and Dad both

there (as I am from a divorced family) to share our

day with us. The second was Joao and I making our

own personalised vows to one another. This really

made the ceremony special and memorable for us

as a couple.

From your own experience do you have any handy advice for brides-to-be?I know everyone says it but, seriously, it is you and

your husband’s day so go all out and enjoy it! If

something doesn’t go off exactly how you want it,

don’t stress, it’s really not worth it… have fun!


“Setting up the venue the day before is a must but, don’t do it yourself as you will be left looking and feeling exhausted on the

very day that you want to look your best.”

KATE & JASON HOWARD-TRIPP

Their brothers had been friends for years but Kate and Jason’s paths finally crossed at a black tie charity function. The sparks that immediately flew between them eventually became fireworks!

How did Jason pop the big question?Wow, it was an amazing surprise. I had planned a

huge 30th birthday bash for Jason in April 2011. It had

a Moroccan theme and we invited about 120 crazy

friends and some family. In the week leading up to

his birthday Jason had asked me what I was giving

him for his birthday and I jokingly answered “Me”. On

the evening Jason stood up and, instead of giving a

birthday speech, he proceeded to tell everyone that

he always said he would one day have his very own

“butler” and seeing that I had promised myself as his

birthday gift, he took it literally. He then got down on

one knee and proposed to me - Kate Butler.

How long did you have to plan your big day?We had a year but decided to enjoy being engaged

for a few months before starting with wedding plans.

Did you have a clear picture in your head of what you wanted for your big day?Yes, I wanted an elegant affair and Jason wanted a

boma and a bonfire. They say marriage is all about

compromise so that was lesson number one. So off

we went to find a beautiful private game farm with a

boma and a bonfire.

Where did you look for ideas and inspiration?I found all the inspiration I needed between bridal

magazines and Google – my two favourite things.

How did you find your venue and what made you decide on the one you chose?Like everything else recommendations come flying

in from well meaning family and friends and so our

search began. We travelled from the KZN Midlands

to the coast and finally found the Rain Farm Game

and Lodge – www.rainfarmgameandlodge.co.za. It

was a beautiful fusion of both our styles and fitted the

bill perfectly.


Venue: The Rain Farm Game & Lodge –www.rainfarmgameandlodge.co.zaWedding gown: GF Bridal Couture,

FourwaysShoes: Anelle Wedding Shoes

Hair: Scissor Sister & Partners Hair & Beauty

Make up: My amazing sister, Charleen Dunkley - www.skintruth.co.za

Photography: Wade Howard – www.oceandrivenmedia.com

“ We honestly didn’t stick to the budget and there were so many items I

bought that were actually totally unnecessary.

But, I had fun shopping anyway!”


Did the venue meet with all your expectations and would you recommend it?Yes and yes again. The Rain Farm has such a lovely

atmosphere and super helpful staff. Our field guide,

Mathew, was amazing and really made our photo time

entertaining. Tammy was so helpful in assisting with

the set up and ensured that the venue ran smoothly.

How much did you do yourself and did you use a wedding planner?Fortunately I’ve had the opportunity to coordinate a

few functions and with the help of family and friends

I was well equipped to take on planning my own

wedding.

Your theme/colour scheme?Although the reception was held in a boma we

still wanted an elegant theme, hence the silver

candelabras, pearls and orchids. We loved the

contrast of the rustic boma and elegant table settings.

How many guests did you have at your wedding?We decided to keep it intimate and had a total of 74

family and friends.

Tell us about the people who made up your bridal party and how you went about choosing them? There was never any doubt in my mind as to who my

bridesmaids would be - Louise and Tarryn are lifelong

friends. My matron of honour, Janine, is a friend very

close to my heart and has always been there for me.

Jason considers everyone a special friend and would

have had them all - just imagine getting suits for

that? Luckily reason prevailed and he chose two very

special guys.

In your opinion what do you think worked best on your big day?Choosing a reputable venue and planning an order

of proceedings that best suited us. For example we

did our cake cutting directly after the ceremony, which

allowed our guests to enjoy the cake, together with

snacks and beverages, whilst we went off to have our

photos taken. We also opened our reception with the

first dance and later opened the dance floor with the

father/daughter dance.

What was your best/most useful gift?We had hiccup with our honeymoon flight and a very

special friend covered the cost of re-scheduling all our

flights. This was obviously an unexpected expense

and such an awesome gesture.

The highlights of your day?The whole experience of walking down the aisle and

then our first dance were the most special moments

for me.


A BAND FOR LIFEMetalThe choice of metal for the bride’s wedding band is usually

dictated by her engagement ring. The groom’s ring will often

follow suit too. However, if the bride and groom have different

preferences there is nothing to stop the groom opting for gold

while the bride goes for platinum. Here are the most popular

options:

A yellow gold wedding ring is the traditional choice. 24k

is the purest but also the softest variety, so is not generally

recommended for wedding bands. 14k and 18k gold are less

pure but harder and therefore more likely to make a durable

wedding ring.

A white gold wedding ring will complement any silver or

platinum jewellery you may have already. However, a white

gold wedding ring is often plated with rhodium to enhance its

appearance, and this plating is likely to wear off with time.

A platinum wedding ring is another popular choice. This silvery

metal is highly resistant to damage. It’s much rarer than gold

and is therefore more expensive, but a platinum wedding ring

will last a lifetime.

A titanium wedding ring is a more modern choice since it is

only relatively recently that this striking greyish metal has been

used for jewellery. It is extremely durable and can be carved

without losing its strength.

ShapeWhen it comes to the shape of the bride-to-be’s wedding band,

the main consideration is how it sits with her engagement ring.

If the engagement ring is straight-edged, a classic, straight-

edged wedding band will sit snugly next to it. However,

the gemstone setting in some engagement rings will not

accommodate a straight-edged wedding band. In this case

you could opt for a curved wedding ring, sometimes known as

a fitted wedding ring or a shaped wedding ring.

Many curved styles can be bought off the shelf. Otherwise,

a good wedding-ring jeweller can custom-design a wedding

band to sit perfectly next to your engagement ring.

Band styleYou will probably never have considered this before but if you

turn a ring on its side you will notice the style – or profile – of its

band. The most common band shapes for wedding rings are:

Rounded-edge wedding ring: this gently curved style is the

most subtle and traditional option.

High-domed wedding ring: with its more pronounced curve,

this style is slightly taller than the rounded-edge design.

Flat wedding ring: this design has quite square edges for a

more modern look.

Other terms you might hear when it comes to wedding-

band shapes include D-shape wedding ring, court wedding

ring or concave wedding ring. Don’t be unnerved by all this

terminology; find a jeweller you trust who is prepared to give

you plenty of time and who will answer your questions patiently.

Other considerationsNowadays couples often favour jewel-set wedding rings. If you

like this idea you should consider the harder stones (such as

diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, topaz) as time takes its

toll on softer varieties. Diamond-set wedding rings are the most

popular option.

Couples often want to have their wedding date engraved on the

inside of their wedding rings and sometimes there is room for

other sentiments too. If you are doing this, make sure you write

down exactly what you want inside your ring – including use of

capital letters etc – and ask your jeweller what font or style will

be used.

Be sure to check out how long it will take for your wedding

bands to be ready. Allowing at least eight weeks is a good rule

of thumb.

Families often pass down wedding rings as heirlooms so this

may be an option for you.

Choose rings that you and your partner are happy with. Don’t

worry about other people’s choices, but do ask around and look

in jewellery stores, in magazines and online for inspiration.

FINDING suitable wedding rings might seem a far easier task than selecting an engagement ring, but it still involves many important decisions. You will hopefully be wearing your wedding ring for the rest of your life so it’s important to choose a design you’ll be comfortable with. Consider a variety of metals, shapes, thicknesses

and styles in order to find the right ones for you.


How long did you have to plan your wedding?Only six months as we wanted a short engagement.

Did you have a hen’s party/bachelorette party or kitchen tea?My bridesmaids surprised me with a high tea at

my Mom’s home. They then took me to Ballito for a

hen’s night out. The fun continued right through to

breakfast the next morning!

The most difficult part of planning your wedding?Getting six bridesmaids together and choosing

dresses they liked! Also, choosing my wedding

dress – I couldn’t decide whether to have a pink or

silver belt but when I found pink shoes they quickly

sealed the decision.

How big a part did the internet play in helping you plan your wedding?We found our venue on the internet and I also used

Pinterest (a content sharing service that allows

members to “pin” images, videos and other objects

to their pinboard) for lots of inspiration.

Did you attend bridal fairs and if so, did you glean any good ideas from them?Yes, I went to one. That’s where I got the idea for a

Photo booth. We used one and it was a real winner,

our guests loved it and queued up all evening just to

get in to it!

How many wedding venues did you look at and what made you choose the one that you did?We looked at just one, Cranford Country Lodge. The

setting and feel of the venue appealed to both of

us immediately. It is a beautiful picturesque country

venue. It was perfect as we could book out the entire

place ourselves. Many of our guests stayed over on

DONNA & DANIE VAN HUYSSTEEN

This lovely couple lived in the same complex and met through a mutual friend. They clicked instantly and within 10 minutes of meeting Danie had asked Donna out on a dinner date!

“Danie and I decided to write our own vows. I was overwhelmed by

his beautiful words of commitment to me - he had half the chapel

in tears!”


Venue: Cranford Country LodgePhotography: Saysha Baker

Music: Colin van WykMake up artist: Meryl Kaumpek

“Don’t sweat the small stuff! Do

what makes your heart happy.

Choose organised bridesmaids! Mine were a huge help.”


both the Friday and Saturday nights which turned it

into a weekend wedding.

Did you use a wedding planner?No. The two Moms’ and I planned well!

Did you set up a gift registry?Yes. @Home.

Your best/most useful gift?The money we took on our honeymoon and our

Nespresso coffee machine.

What do you think about requesting guests for money instead of gifts?Danie and I lived together for a while and had

accumulated 99% of all that we need so money was

a good option - apart from the gift registry we set up.

What was your colour theme?Old country, pastel greys.

The highlight of your day or any special moments?It was the day our dreams true. It was such a love-

filled day and everyone was so supportive of us,

we felt truly blessed. It was very special for me that

Danie’s son Matt played such a big role on the day

and he danced the night away with us.

Any surprises?Danie and I decided to write our own vows. I was

overwhelmed by his beautiful words of commitment

to me - he had half the chapel in tears! It was a

moment that I shall treasure for the rest of my life.

How many guests?100

Guest favours?The two Moms crocheted beautiful flower brochettes

for the ladies to wear. They were a huge hit.

Any special/interesting guests?Many of our guests travelled from around the world to

be with us and that was very special.

What worked best?The photo booth was amazing! There are pics up

on Photobooth Pal and on Facebook. Danie and his

best man Greg are spear fisherman and they caught

all the crayfish for the starter - it took them months!

Danie made his famous sauce to go with it and it

worked so well that everyone wanted seconds.

Was there anything that didn’t work?After starting the reception at 5 o’clock, we had

decided to end the evening at midnight. This didn’t

work. Our guests wanted the party to continue. We

found out the next morning that they had actually

paid out of their own pockets to keep the party going

long after Danie and I had left the reception!

Honeymoon?The Greek islands. It was amazing!


Kloof Country Club can cater for up to

200 people & 400 people for Marquee Weddings.

Tel: +27 (0)31 764 0555Fax: +27 (0)86 616 2526

Web: www.kloofcc.co.zaEmail: [email protected]

Tell us about your proposal.Brad says that the proposal is the hardest part from a

guy’s perspective so I will let him tell the story!

“I bought the ring a lot earlier than originally planned. I knew what Kelly wanted and when I started searching I came across a ring that a jeweller had just made, it was perfect and I didn’t want to let it go.“Trying to hide the ring and keep cool in front of Kelly was pretty hard so I knew the proposal had to be sooner rather than later or else I was going to botch it! Luckily she didn’t think I had even started saving for a ring, so I had the element of surprise. I had shown the ring to my friend Alex (one of my groomsmen). He fully supported me and said he would help me look at the local Lion Park to see if the picnic site was decent. “After that we organised the Lion Park excursion. Kelly actually ended up helping me get stuff together, which was good because if I had tried to do everything myself it would have been too obvious.“The Lion Park day was great, we played with cubs and had photos taken with the giraffe etc. Then we got our stuff from the car and sat down to have our picnic. I crept to the boot of the car to get the ring. To cut a long story short, after much deliberation about how I was going to pull the ring out, Kelly turned to me and said that I looked like I was up to no good! I blurted out ‘yes I am, will you marry me?’ and showed her the ring! Her reply wasn’t ‘yes’ but rather ‘is it real?’ Then ... after me almost dying, she said yes!”

How long did you have to plan your wedding?We got engaged on the 9th of April and married on

the 21st of January the following year so it was just

over 10 months.

“The whole day was extremely special. We tried to take in and

enjoy as much as we could. I think the main highlight was

just having everyone there that was special to us.”

KELLY & BRAD SMITH

THIS bride came jolly close to not ever meeting her husband as she was in two minds whether to attend a farewell party thrown for a mutual friend. Fate however intervened - she decided to go to the party at the last minute and she ended up by meeting the man of her dreams!


Reception venue: Kenton Town HallWedding gown: Bridal Designs

Shoes: Europa Art Shoes & Edgars (I had 2 pairs)Hair: Hair by Judy – Kenton-on-SeaMake up: Ncjprofessional Make Up

Photography: Andrew Elliot PhotographyWedding planner: Jenni van Wyk

Music: DJ - Duncan Crisp (PE)

“My dress didn’t turn out exactly as I had planned, but

because the final alterations were done and I was

already in Kenton, there wasn’t much I could do about it.”


Did you have a clear picture of what kind of wedding you wanted?Pretty much, we both knew we wanted everything

to be chilled and most importantly we wanted our

guests to have a good time and to enjoy our special

day as much as us!

The venue for your ceremony and reception?The actual ceremony was held on the balcony of

Brad’s parent’s house in Kenton-On-Sea which has

an amazing view overlooking the whole of Kenton.

The reception was held nearby in Kenton town hall.

Did you use a wedding planner?Yes we did, Jenni was amazing. I gave her a brief of

what we wanted and more importantly what we didn’t

want. She was very good at sourcing everything and

keeping everything organised - especially on the day.

What was your colour scheme?Our main colour was duck egg blue, with white and

touches of stone. It’s actually a very hard colour to

find and we ended up making our own table cloths

and bridesmaids dresses.

How did you go about choosing your bridal party?My bridesmaids were easy to pick. I had my sister-

in-law Robyn, my best friend from school, Greea,

and my best friend from varsity, Natalie. They were

all amazing and went out of their way to make sure

everything was perfect. Andre, who is Brad’s oldest

friend, was the best man and then there was Ben and

Alex who are both Brad’s really close friends.

What worked best?Probably having our wedding in a small town. Most

of our guests stayed just walking distances away

so drinking and driving wasn’t a concern and it also

meant that most of our guests were around for the

whole weekend.

You currently live in Spain, so what did you do about wedding gifts?Most of our friends and family knew we were going

to Spain so they gave us money instead of actual

gifts or they paid for a few nights’ accommodation or

car hire in Spain etc. So, it worked out well. We did

however still set up a registry as we didn’t think it was

pleasant to ask guests for money - especially when

they would be travelling so far to attend our wedding

anyway. A few people did give us presents that we’ve

stored in Kenton along with all our household stuff

and we will be able to use it all when we get back. We

plan to return to South Africa so it will be nice having

all the presents when we return.

Did you blow your budget?We were pretty accurate with our budget. There

weren’t any last minute expenses that we hadn’t

planned for or anything like that so we were lucky.


INTEREST rates, food and petrol seem to be constantly on the up and up leaving bridal couples facing the huge challenge of how to get to the altar without breaking the bank.

The costs of planning that dream wedding therefore leads to the singularly most important task on the “to do” list - setting up a budget and managing it wisely.

Busy brides don’t need the added stress of the everyday cost of living to complicate the wedding planning process. Here are some simple steps to help you save and spend wisely to ensure you can afford all the trimmings that will

make up your dream wedding.

Don’t The BudgetBLOW

• Getyourselforganisedearly-agreeonabudgetupfront. This will help to manage both partners’ expectations and help to avoid any budget blow-outs during the planning stage. The more time you have to organise your wedding, the more you will be able to ‘DIY’ to reduce costs further.

• Manageyourmoneywisely - set up a high interest savings account.

• Prioritise - stretch your money by making a wish-list ranking items in order of importance. Ask yourself what is really important to you and what could be considered a frivolous expense - most importantly, what will fit within your budget. You can then revise your list accordingly and stick to it.

• Scheduleyourwedding‘off-season’.InSouthAfricathis period tends to vary from province to province.

• Keep decorations simple by decorating strategically. Limit your expenditure by placing them only where people will see them.

• Buy the flowers you want and arrange them yourself. Prices tend to increase when florists hear the magic word ‘wedding’.

• Everybody has a talent. Ask friends or family to get involved by helping with decorations, cakes, photography or invitations.

• Shop around - don’t settle for your first choice. Look around, compare prices and make sure that you get the best deal.

• Doyourhomework:flickthroughmagazines,takeinthe details of friends’ weddings and put your own spin on the elements you like.

• Gotoexposfor ideas.Manyexhibitorsofferdealsthat could help you keep within your budget.

• Establish a honeymoon or special gift registry to help pay for your dream honeymoon or gifts.


Ana Paula Bridals011 918 3807 • 083 453 5618

684 Trichardt Road • Beyers ParkBoksburg Ph

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Pho

to-M

Tell us about your proposal.Migael phoned me on one of those manic Friday

afternoons at the office and asked me if I would like

to go to dinner. Very distracted, I said that would be

lovely. When we arrived at the restaurant, the hostess

walked us to our table which was covered in red rose

petals, candles and a huge bouquet of long stemmed

red roses. I asked what the special occasion was.

Migael said he loved me so much and wanted to say

thank you for everything I did for him. I dropped my

suspicions there and then. He had got my hopes up

a month before and I was broken when it wasn’t the

proposal! Little did I know that the false alarm was

in fact the time he was busy designing and having

my ring made! After dinner he ordered a bottle of

champagne. He took my hand telling me how much

he loved me and pulled out the little box containing

the most amazing ring and asked me to marry him.

I was in complete shock! After an exciting evening

and telling everyone we were engaged we spent the

night at a smart hotel. Our room had champagne,

chocolates, gowns, slippers ... it was amazing! It’s an

evening I shall never forget!

How long did you have to plan your wedding?Just over a year.

Were you hands on with the planning of your big day or did you employ the services of a wedding planner?I have an amazing Mom, two younger sisters and a

very supportive family. Together we planned and did

everything. It was great fun and filled with special

memories. Migael helped choose colours, décor,

flowers etc. and even went shopping with us girls. It

was great having him involved.

DEBBIE & MIGAEL DANDOULAKIS

THIS couple first met at a fabulous 40th birthday party held at a Greek restaurant. She thought he was the restaurant manager, when in fact he was the owner, and it turned out that he was actually friends with her Dad! During the evening he asked for her number but never called. She was intrigued and had to see him again, so she went back to his restaurant and they have been together ever since!

“My dress made me feel like the “Princess” I am!“


Venue: Saint George Hotel, IreneWedding gown:

Ana Paula Bridals - (011) 918 3807Shoes: A gift from my sisters

Hair: PassarioMake up: Did my ownPhotography: Photo-M

“We went on honeymoon to Knysna. It is

one of the most beautiful and

romantic places in South Africa!”


Did you have clear idea of what you wanted for your big day?Migael and I think very much alike. The finer details

needed to be confirmed, but in terms of the overall

look and feel, we knew exactly what we wanted.

How many venues did you look at?We looked at a few venues just to compare, but knew

right from the very beginning that we were going to

get married at the Saint George Hotel in Irene. We

were guests at a wedding at this venue a few years

back and loved everything about it.

How many dresses did you try on and what made you choose an Ana Paula gown?I visited a few wedding dress stores and was not

impressed by the stock, the assistance or the staff.

Ana Paula’s boutique was around the corner from

where we lived, so we popped in. I had battled to

find dresses to fit me and decided that I needed to

have one made. I tried on two that Paula had made at

her boutique, fell in love with them both and created

my own vision. She knew exactly what I was after

and drew it for me. That is until a month before my

dress needed to start being made! I found an image

of the most exquisite dress, which was completely

different to my original dress! This one was big and

just so fairy like. I rushed over to see Paula. She

said: “You only get married once and it is the only

day you can wear anything like this. You need to

look and feel like a princess”. So we changed the

design and my dress turned out even more beautiful

than I expected – even better than the picture! Ana

Paula is professional, friendly and made me feel like

a true bride. She adds her special touch to make

everything perfect!

Your theme/colour scheme?We planned to have a white wedding, no colour just

white draping, fairy lights, glass, mirrors and candles.

We subtly introduced colour with the bridesmaid’s

dresses in an aqua blue, which complimented the

sky, the pool outside our venue and the tinted glass

in the Chapel.

How many guests?120 guests of whom more than half were family. They

came from all around the country to join us which

made it all so special.

The highlights of your day?Oh so many! My dress made me feel like the “Princess”

I am! Migael sent me a huge bouquet of flowers while

I was getting ready. My family were there for me and

ensured everything was perfect. Every person we

invited made it to share our special day with us. Our

photographer captured every moment and made us

feel so comfortable. Our DJ, Alex, made the party a

huge success, as I never left the dance floor. And ...

we broke over 800 Greek plates!


Every couple wants their wedding day to be perfect, so finding the right venue is crucial. The scenic and naturally beautiful Nkuthu Gardens fits the bill.

Nkuthu Gardens, formally known as Crinkley Bottom Park, is now owned by Jeff & Anne Gard and the recent rechristening to Nkuthu Gardens was to ensure that the energy, positivity and personality of the property continues to grow. A new management team and revamp have made the natural beauty of the area shine through.

Situated on 7 acres of pristine ground on the banks of the Nkutu River, about 45 minutes from the centre of Durban, a beautiful lakeside setting and scenic beauty makes Nkuthu Gardens an ideal location for that perfect fairytale wedding.

Being conveniently positioned midway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg makes Nkuthu Gardens easily accessible from all major roads.

Boasting two separate purpose built venues, they offer the choice of a smaller more intimate function or a larger more glamorous one. Choosing an all inclusive venue offers a great deal of convenience.

Nkuthu Gardens are able to host both the wedding ceremony and the reception. This way, once the ceremony is over, guests can mingle before the reception begins, with no need for the bridal party and guests to drive to a different reception venue.

On site catering and décor further adds to the convenience of the all inclusive approach. This ensures that things run smoothly under the supervision and guidance of the in house function’s coordinator. Those wanting to spend the night can choose from nine tastefully decorated en-suite bedrooms.

At Nkuthu Gardens you will be assured of a warm welcome and undivided attention from both management and staff who take pleasure in offering you personalised service with flexible packages to suit your individual requirements.

Their experience, commitment and attention to detail set them apart.

167 Inanda Road • Waterfall • 031 763 4149Email: [email protected]: www.nkuthugardens.co.za

Nkuthu GardensA Real Fairytale Setting

“What worked best was the quaintness of the wedding and

the simple rustic decor.”

How did you meet?I had given up on love and spending the rest of my

life with a soul mate. I met David, who was in SA on

holiday, through a friend of a friend. I was hesitant

to meet him due to our 10 year age gap but in the

end I said “what the heck” and she gave him my

number. We met at a restaurant and there was

an instant connection – we talked our heads off till

past midnight. I declined a second date as I had a

bad dose of flu and David thought I was clearly not

interested in him but, it was in fact quite the opposite.

Tell us about your proposal.David went back to England and he returned to SA a

short while later to visit again. He called me to join

him for lunch. Whilst sitting chatting, out of the blue

he simply said “would you like to marry me”. My

answer was a strong “YES”. I walked around like a

kid that stole a sweet for the rest of the day!

How many venues did you look at and what was it that made you settle on Bella Vista?We looked at several, one being a private game lodge

in Hoedspruit but the cost was very high and not

many of our family and friends would have been able

to witness our marriage. I was eventually given the

name of Bella Vista. When we met with Janine from

Bella Vista we made up our minds within a minute

of arriving - we just knew we were in the right place.

Bella Vista offers the most amazing views over the

“Valley of a 1000 Hills” and the deck is spectacular.

Did Bella Vista meet with all your expectations?Absolutely! We were looking for the perfect “spot” to

create our “rustic” wedding. Janine made our day

perfect - a warm and incredibly professional hostess.

She helped make our day very personal and smooth

from beginning to end.

SHANNON & DAVID MANDUELL

Never say never could well be the motto for this delightful couple who were lucky enough to find love the second time around.


“We spent three luxurious nights

at the 5-star Makalali Private Game Lodge in Hoedspruit and

then we spent just over a week in the

Kruger Park.”

Venue: Bella Vista – www.bellavista.co.zaWedding gown: The Bridal Shop, Durban

Hair: Sandy – Botha’s HillMake up: I did my own.

Photography: Shelley Kjonstad 1 August 2012 • REAL BRIDES • 35

Your theme/colour scheme?We are earthy, nature-loving individuals so we

wanted the bushveld theme of our special day to be

as rustic as possible. Since game lodges are way too

expensive we had to try to recreate what you might

find in the bush with earth tone colours. There was to

be no red carpet and no flashy, shiny decor.

Were you hands on with the planning of your big day and who helped you?Yes, I made all the arrangements myself - with David’s

help of course. We chose our own music, the theme

and the entertainment. My mom and my aunt Penny

were also involved in the planning and Bella Vista’s

Janine was the fairy godmother!

There were lots of extra touches to tie in with your theme? My mom shopped around for the “perfect” rustic dry

flowers. Janine loaned us clay pots for the flowers.

There was quite a bit left over and Janine made up

several more arrangements to tie against the drapery

in the ceremony area out on the large deck. Those

and the bridal arch were nice little surprises from

Janine. She also laid out long hessian strips on either

side of the aisle on the decking and scattered bark

chips, dried yellow rose petals and other nice rustic

materials along each strip.

Each table had earth toned candles, a dry flower

arrangement in a clay pot and scattered dried yellow

rose petals as well as an earthy plaque with a wild

animal’s name to identify the table/seating plan. The

bridal table for instance was the “King Cheetah” table

as David absolutely loves cheetahs.

You are emigrating to the UK so what did you do about wedding gifts?Since we were leaving for the UK after our honeymoon,

we included a small message at the bottom of the

wedding invitations which read “should you wish

to give us anything for our wedding, cash or edible

treats would be most appreciated as we will not be

taking anything with us to the UK.”

How many guests did you have at your wedding?The moment we decided to get married we agreed

that the wedding had to be quaint and that the only

guests we would have with us on the day would be

close family and friends that we spend a lot of time

with. After all we had both previously experienced the

large “blingy” weddings. We settled on 50 guests.

Where did you source the Zulu dancers? It was my little idea, in keeping with our theme, to

source a small Zulu dance group. I asked around

at work (the AIDS Foundation of SA) and one of my

colleagues had once used this dance group. It was

arranged as a surprise for our guests. They blasted

out from behind the venue, singing, dancing and

drumming whilst we had our photos taken in the

garden.


Bella Vista is an established venue with a warm and welcoming ambience, perfect for creating a magical occasion – a great place for wedding

ceremonies and receptions.

The venue has a reputation for excellent food and superior service,a private establishment that is yours for the day.

Facilities include a function room with panoramic views of the majestic and breathtaking Valley of 1000 Hills and an adjoining large covered deck

which together can hold 170 guests, a service bar, a lower open deck, gazebo, swimming pool, secure parking and landscaped gardens

for great photographs.

Bella Vista boasts gold awards for In House Planning and Reception Venue from the South African Bridal Industry Academy.

We believe in a hands-on approach, seeing to the client’s every need and understanding the value of service excellence, welcoming décor and

exquisite cuisine. This is the philosophy of all at Bella Vista.

Contact Us:

84 Old Main Road, Bothas Hill, 3660

Tel: 031 765 2738Fax: 031 765 7387

[email protected]

Janine St Clair082 324 9765

www.bellavista.co.za

We aim to bring your dream to life by offering you a breathtaking venue and the freedom and support to create the day you have always dreamed of ...

Your Day, Your Way

“Lythwood Lodge was absolutely fantastic and

met all our expectations!”

Was your proposal a surprise?We had discussed marriage and had chosen the

ring together so I knew it was coming - I just wasn’t

sure when! Kyle proposed to me in the Transkei at a

little place called the Spotted Grunter! He did all the

arranging himself, and so looking back I should have

been more suspicious as organising is really not his

thing! There was nothing cheesy (as he would say)

i.e. no rose petals etc ... but there was champagne!

Did you have a hen’s night?I would say it was more of a kitchen tea/drinks party

than an actual hen’s night - although I did still have to

dress up like an idiot and face the public! I wasn’t up

for a full night out on the town so we had an afternoon

tea at my parent’s house where all the oldies could

attend. We played some games and did all the usual

hen’s party things and then us young ones headed off

to a local pub for a few drinks in the evening.

What did you do about gifts?Yes we set up registries at @home and Home etc. It was

so much fun selecting the gifts!

What was your overall theme/colour scheme?The theme had a vintage feel to it with soft pinks and

creams and coffee coloured flowers. Kyle and his

groomsmen (and both Dads) wore charcoal suits with

tails and I wore an ivory coloured dress. My bridesmaids

were dressed in pale pink.

Did you make use of a wedding planner?We just used the wedding co-ordinator at Lythwood

Lodge; otherwise it was me and my mom. I work

in Events so I’m pretty used to planning etc. And,

luckily my sister had just got married a year before so

everything was still pretty fresh! My poor parents!

How long did you have to plan your wedding?9 months.

MICHELLE & KYLE DICKSON

Kyle was playing in a hockey tournament and he met Michelle at a night club where everybody went to let their hair down after one of his hockey functions.


Venue: Lythwood Lodge – www.lythwood.comBridal Gown: Jasmine’s Bridal Boutique

Shoes: Via UnoHair: Claire Glancey

Make Up: Make Up Your MindPhotography: Dean Demos – www.deandemos.co.za

DJ: Dave Ward from Top JocksVideo: Video Occasions

“It turned out to be one of the coldest days in August - with rain!”


Did you know exactly what you wanted for your wedding?I had a basic idea but nothing was set in stone. I knew

what I wanted but I just wasn’t too sure how to get there!

I was very open to suggestions and relied heavily on my

mom’s creative touch and advice from the florist/decor

company. I’m not sure whether it’s easier to have a clear

picture of what you want or just to go with the flow. I also

had a fair idea of my colour scheme so I think that also

helped.

How did you come to choose Lythwood Lodge as your venue?I’ve always loved a Midlands wedding, but was torn

between a venue closer to home as it’s easier and

less expensive for guests not having to travel and

arrange accommodation. So I explored both options -

Midlands and North Coast (Ballito) areas. I looked at

about 10 venues in total. Some were suitable and some

not – we found that a lot of venues were restricted in

terms of numbers. But in the end the Midlands won!

Lythwood Lodge had the perfect vintage feel to carry

out my theme, a beautiful chapel on site and plenty of

accommodation. It just felt right - it had such a warm,

family feel to it.

Did Lythwood Lodge meet your expectations?Yes Lythwood Lodge was absolutely fantastic and met

all our expectations!

How long before your wedding did you send out your invitations?We sent out Save the Date fridge magnets together

with accommodation options about two months into

our engagement so that guests could book their

accommodation and sort out their diaries way in

advance. The wedding invitations were sent out six

weeks before the wedding.

How long did it take invited guests to respond?RSVP’s are always a mission! Most people replied on

time but there were a few that we had to chase. I would

say we got most responses about two weeks after

sending out the invitations so it was not too bad.

How many guests accepted your invitation?125 people.

Any interesting guests?Indeed - PJ Powers. She is my Dad’s younger sister. She

sang the most beautiful song for us at the ceremony and

then she sang some of her more lively traditional songs

at the reception – it really made for some great party

entertainment!

The best moments of your day?The whole day was a non-stop adrenalin rush of

highlights, so it’s hard to single out specific moments.

Tell us about your bridal party.I didn’t want a huge bridal party so I decided on two bridesmaids and then

Kyle chose two groomsmen to match. My sister would have been a bridesmaid

as well (so initially it was three bridesmaids) but she was going to be heavily

pregnant at the time and chose to step down. I chose two of my closest friends -

Joelene and Tertia. Kyle chose his brother-in-law Judd and a very close childhood

friend Graeme.


Did you stick to your budget?Budget? Ha, ha! Yes, I would say we did - thanks to

my very generous parents! Nothing was however over

the top and unnecessary so nothing went to waste.

Although it was such a shame to see all the flowers left

over the next day - we did however give our guests,

who stayed over at the venue, each an arrangement to

take home with them.

Any good advice for brides-to-be?Do not stress about the weather! There is absolutely

nothing you can do about it. I stressed the whole week

before our wedding – I became obsessed with the

weather forecasts! In the end it still rained but I had

an absolute blast! It is what you make of it! Also, don’t

stress the small stuff, it’s really not worth it, just enjoy the

whole experience.

Was there anything that didn’t go according to plan?The weather! It turned out to be one of the coldest days in

August - with rain! But what can you do, you really can’t control

the weather. We still however had the most amazing day and

the weather actually made it so cosy. I actually wouldn’t have

changed it even if I could! Other than that, everything ran

very smoothly.

Where did you spend your honeymoon?We spent 10 fabulous nights in Thailand - two nights in Bangkok

and eight nights at Club Med in Phuket! Definitely need a repeat

visit sometime in the near future!


AS a continuation to the first part of our series of choosing wedding themes, where we featured ideas for Shabby Chic, Romantic Whimsical and Victorian Vintage weddings, this month we focus on some more fun ideas to enhance your big day.

Most South African brides, on average, allow about a year to plan their weddings. So, a year on from now takes us into the colder months of Winter and this particular season gives rise to many interesting ideas for a theme.

Rustic Country Style Winter days are short and the nights are long so maybe you have a country-style wedding filled with good old-fashioned rusticity, simplicity and an air of relaxed charm in mind?

Country theme weddings can transport you and your guests to a simpler time, if only for a moment. Venues suited to this theme abound in South Africa.

For your colour motif, start with a palette of earthy tones: yellows and golds, tans and umbers, sage, russet and cinnamon.

A crackling fireplace, gas fires or even braziers would be a hit with guests. Lots of candles will also help add to the atmosphere.

For unusual country weddings consider favours such as homemade, country-style jars of jams or preserves with pinked squares of calico fabric tied around the tops with pretty ribbons.

Winter WonderlandWhat’s great about this season is that delicate snowflakes and sparkling ice crystals can usually be found within most winter themes and these are very easy to work with and enhance.

For starters, you might choose winter wedding flowers as your theme, using flower types and colours as your inspiration for centrepieces, favours, cake style and wedding attire.

You can also opt to focus your wedding theme upon the colours of winter. And don’t worry, you needn’t settle for red and green! Think clear crystal, pure white, and ice blue colours.

Other colours that suit a Winter theme are midnight blue, teal green, ruby reds, burgundy, gold, silver, and finally – jewels tones of ruby, sapphire, emerald, and purple.

Try to think of how you could use ice sculptures, mirrors and glittering ornaments to enhance your decor.

If you are using floral arrangements to decorate your reception table, choose glass vases and fill them with crystal or ice blue gel beads. Surround the arrangements with votive candles for a beautiful reflection.

There are so many options available to help plan a winter wedding celebration. Take your time and explore the multitude of enchanting ideas.

Make sure you pick up a copy of our

next issue of REAL BRIDES for more terrific wedding

theme ideas.

Choosing A Wedding Theme (Part 2)

Starry Starry Night Capture the essence of a celestial marriage celebration with this starry night theme wedding idea. Look for designs that signify a star wedding theme. For your invitation, select midnight blue or black paper and have your wording printed in gold lettering.

You can ask your invitation supplier to add gold stars down one side and across the tops of the invitations. You could also buy star-shaped stencils and gold glitter acrylic paints and stencil the designs on the invitations.You can also work with an all white palette and incorporate vintage looking street lights throughout the space. Votive candles, white roses and orchids as finishing touches can successfully bring the tablescape to life.


“Ticklemouse Country Fare is a family business, so it

seemed right to incorporate this into our big day. Inside

the packets were Black Forest brownie biscuits as favours.”

Tell us about your proposal.We had been living together for a while and we used

to go on family holidays to Pearly Beach fairly regularly

with Chris’ family. On New Year’s Day of 2011 we took

our Labrador, Duke, for a walk on the beach as we had

done so many times before and Chris proposed to me!

How long did you have to plan your big day? We started planning the week after getting engaged

and set our sights on a summer wedding in the

vineyards. Taking advice from others, it was decided

to have our wedding in February, which gave us a

little over a year to plan.

Did you have a clear picture in your head of what you wanted for your big day?As all young girls tend to do, I had been planning

this day for a while in my head! So yes, all that was

required was to realise the wedding I had always

dreamed of!

Did you enjoy shopping for your dress? Who went with you?I loved shopping for my dress, although it didn’t

take very long to find it. I had decided to go for a

shop bought dress early on as the needs of most

are generally catered for. After spending much time

on the internet looking at similar designs to the one

I envisioned, I found my perfect dress at Bride and

Co. After initially finding the right dress with my Mom,

the dress fittings were turned into fun events with my

Maid of Honour and bridesmaids. Chris was kept

completely in the dark about my dress. I wanted it to

be a big surprise and, despite much fishing from him,

it remained that way right up to our big day.

STORMÉ & CHRISTOPHER POOL

THE Springbok rugby team winning the World Cup in 2007 was a momentous occasion for South Africa and it is a day that this couple will never forget as it is also the day that they first started dating.


“Enjoy every minute of the

planning. The stressful times are the times you laugh at

afterwards. Don’t let the nerves spoil

your day.”

Venue: Kleine Zalze, StellenboschWedding gown: Bride and Co

Shoes: Zoom Hair: Stephanie’s Hair, Durbanville

Make up: Vanessa de BruinPhotography: Jo-Anne Stokes

Wedding Favours: Ticklemouse Country Fare

Engagement and Wedding rings: Lisa Rod-Stebbing


How did you go about choosing your bridal party?It was made up of special friends. Both the Maid of

Honour and Best Man were primary school friends

of mine and Chris’ respectively. It seemed fitting to

share these personal duties with our closest and

most special friends. Consideration was also given

as to the organisational ability of these friends, as

well as their ability to absorb the stress and nerves

from the bridal couple on the big day!

Not many weddings include flower girls and page boys these days, were you always going to go that route?Tiana and Rico are my cousins and they are very

special to both Chris and I and they regularly spend

time with us over weekends. We also promised

Tiana that she could be the princess for the day! It

was always in our plans to have them included in our

big day.

What do you think worked best on your wedding day?It is difficult to pinpoint a single element, but it was

fantastic to see how all the elements of months of

planning all came together seamlessly.

Were there any funny moments or anything that didn’t work out quite as it should have?I had a few funny moments while planning the

wedding where, because we planned everything

ourselves, my Maid of Honour and I had to drive

to some pretty obscure areas to collect chair covers,

tie backs and material. There were some funny

moments during and after the reception too but those

remain classified!

The highlights of your day?Seeing the finished product and of course the look on

my husband’s face when he first saw me walk down

the aisle! Priceless!

Did you stick to your budget?Yes, we managed to keep under budget while having

a full house wedding.

Do you have any tips for cutting costs?If you can’t plan your wedding yourself, which is

first prize, don’t be afraid to negotiate. We managed

to better all quotations from suppliers by being

persistent. Also be sure to shop around and don’t be

scared to support the little guy!

Honeymoon?We stayed overnight at the venue with family and

guests and, over breakfast we recaptured the night’s

events. We then left on a flight to Durban to embark

on a weeklong cruise to Mozambique, Barra Lodge

and the Portuguese Islands.


“We had a total of 6120 photos from our day! ”

Tell us about your proposal.On a trip to the Seychelles, Andrew managed to

surprise me by proposing in a ‘movie’ type way at the

poolside of the presidential villa at the Banyan Tree

on Mahe. He said he had a surprise present for me

and asked me to look away. When he asked me to

turn around again there he was on one knee asking

me to marry him with the ring sitting in a pair of Jimmy

Choos! (I am a shoe addict!). We then had a table set

up on the poolside for a romantic dinner for two – the

villa was on a cliff top overlooking the Indian Ocean

plus this all happened at sunset! We spent a week at

the Banyan Tree and it was the most amazing time.

How did your planning go?This was a relatively easy part although with Andrew

being a wedding photographer he had 10 year’s worth

of wedding do’s and don’ts - there was no Bridezilla but

rather a Groomzilla! We both have similar tastes and

knew exactly what we wanted. Plus we had all the best

service providers in mind, we booked them early, told

them what we visualised and we left the rest up to the

professionals! We had so many fun days and nights

preparing and planning our wedding.

What was your theme/colour scheme?We went for an elegant theme with a rather stark

palette with black, white and charcoal grey as the

base - the only colour was the red roses on each

table. We both love the filigree/damask pattern and

this tied in so well with our theme.

How many guests?190.

JUDY-LEIGH & ANDREW ELLIOTT

Judy-Leigh was 14 when she first met Andrew (six years her senior) when he was the photographer at her eldest sister’s wedding. Five years later they met up again – this time at her middle sister’s wedding where Andrew was once again the photographer. He was snapping away and when he was about to take photos of the by then all grown up Judy-Leigh coming down the stairs with the bridal party, Andrew stopped, lowered his camera and turned to his Mom (also a photographer) and said ‘Is that Judy-Leigh?’ They duly went on a first casual date and sat chatting for so long that the coffee shop closed up around them!


“ Have your say in order to convey your vision but when it comes to service providers, leave the professionals to do

what they do best.”

Ceremony: Kingswood College Chapel, Grahamstown

Reception: Nitarah Nature Reserve, Southwell District

Bridal gown: Bridal Flair, Port Elizabeth.

Shoes: Louis Vuitton, Cape Town Waterfront.

Hair: Cutting Lounge, Grahamstown.Make Up: Estelle Cunningham,

Port Elizabeth.Flowers: Val Hill, Flower Thyme,

Kenton-On-Sea.Photography: Jen Elliott (primary);

Tammy Freeman-Elliott (decor); Clint Muller & Studio 68, East London

Video: Studio 68, East London.Entertainment: Craig Hort, Enjoy

Productions, Port Elizabeth.


With your husband being a photographer, there was obviously a strong emphasis on this aspect of your wedding?Of course! We woke up to rain on our wedding day

but by the time we were ready it had cleared and the

weather became calm and mild. Andrew and I got

ready at the same guesthouse and he took many of

my before photos, plus we had the majority of our

couple photographs done before the ceremony as

we had many locations to get to. If we had not done

this we would have kept our guests waiting for three

hours! Thankfully we had Andrew’s Mom, Jen Elliott, as

our main photographer so we were really comfortable

and relaxed. With many instructions from Andrew to

his mother we got the most amazing photos. We then

split for an hour, did touch ups and the next time I

saw Andrew was at the front of the Chapel – what a

magical and unbelievable moment. Thank goodness

we had our fantastic videographers to capture this

as this really does go quickly and it’s great to be

able to look back on the ceremony and watch this life

changing event. Having our photos shot before the

ceremony did not take away from the moment of us

actually getting married - Andrew said it was not what

I looked like on the day that would be the memory but

rather the moment of marrying me and becoming my

husband that would be the memory he treasured. After

the ceremony we proceeded to a location close to the

reception venue for more photos. This was quite quick

as the majority of the photos had already been taken

plus our guests were occupied with drinks, music and

canapés until we arrived. Having a photographer for

a husband can be a pain at the moment of having

the photos taken but it is the best having all these

wonderful memories captured for a lifetime.

How many photos did you actually end up with?We had a total of 6120 photos from our day! Needless

to say we shall never forget one single moment! When

children arrive we’re not quite sure where we will put

their photos in our house!

Highlights of your big day?We entered the reception tent to the song ‘Walking

On Sunshine’ – it was so happy and upbeat and an

ode to both our family’s businesses, which were not

related but aptly named - Sunshine Juice (a fresh

juice manufacturer) and Sunshine Fruit and Veg (a

wholesale fruit and vegetable store and supplier). It

was obviously meant to be that our paths crossed!

The reception went off so well, from the amazing

vibe, energy and cheering as we walked in; the great

food; excellent music and the fun atmosphere (it was

a serious party!). We really could not have asked for

more on the day – it was perfect for us. Having so

many family members and friends all in one place

celebrating with us was the most magical experience.

Wedding favours?A gift bag which included a small frame, a candle,

sweets, mini personalised Jack Daniels whiskey, a

cellphone charm and flower seeds, all in a drawstring

shoulder bag decorated with an ‘I do’ motif.


How did you choose your ceremony and reception venue?Both my sisters got married at the Kingswood College

Chapel in Grahamstown and we all attended school

there so it was so special to have our marriage take

place there as well. It is a place filled with many

happy memories. As a reception venue we wanted

something in nature in a beautiful Eastern Cape setting

so we decided to go the traditional route with a white

marquee set up on Nitarah Nature Reserve some 24

kilometres from Grahamstown in the Southwell district.

The tent was set up on the banks of the Kariega River

in a stunning valley.

Any special touches?We sourced hearts, words and crystals to hang in

the trees surrounding the marquee. We had a sweet

table heaving with sweets, chocolates, fudge etc.

We thought our guests should not go hungry on the

night so we had cupcakes at each place setting; the

aforementioned huge sweet table; wedding cake plus

dessert of crème brulee and let’s not forget the starters

and mains – which were savoury!

Honeymoon?Our honeymoon was in two parts – Andrew had a

wedding to photograph the weekend after ours so

we went to a place close by which would not require

too much travelling – Prana Lodge in Cintsa, which is

close to East London and the start of the Wild Coast.

It was perfect as it was stunning and tranquil – just

what we needed. The second part of our honeymoon

was at Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa, Sainte-Marie

Island in Madagascar. This is a wild and interesting

place and made a great venue for our trash the dress

shoot. Although a sea snake wrapped itself around my

ankle and our outfits smelt of algae it was well worth it

as we had even more stunning photos!


QUESTIONS about a multitude of different aspects concerning weddings abound. Here REAL BRIDES answers some of the most frequently asked questions.

I’d like to include readings at my wedding ceremony, but I’m not sure how they fit in or who performs them.Having readings is a lovely way to personalise your wedding ceremony, adding sentiment and bringing a new voice to the proceedings. As it’s considered an honour to be asked to perform a reading, this always gives you the perfect opportunity to include a close family member or supportive friend who has so far been kept in the sidelines. However, this isn’t a time for shy types so be sure to choose a confident speaker who will deliver your reading in a professional manner.There will usually be one or two readings and the timings of these should be discussed with the person marrying you. Remember that whether you have a religious or civil ceremony, you should also have all the readings approved by the person marrying you.

I’d like to get married in Mauritius. What do I need to consider?Make sure you research your destination thoroughly before you book and check that language barriers won’t cause problems. Many tour operators can be a great source of information and point you in the right direction. Most importantly, make an appointment with the country’s consulate or embassy to check the exact documentation requirements you need to be married. There will be paperwork to fill in and bear in mind too that rules vary from country to country. As long as your marriage is legal in the country where you wed, then it’ll be legal anywhere.

I’m going to have about 150 thank you notes to write after my wedding. How can I make them all personal?All that’s expected is a few sentences showing your gratitude and saying how nice it was to see them at your wedding. People really aren’t going to be sharing notes, so you can confidently repeat yourself. Happy thanking!

We are working on a very tight budget and I’m doing my own make-up for my wedding. Should I still provide a make-up artist for my mum and bridesmaids?If you are a dab hand at applying make-up then why don’t you plan a couple of fun pre-wedding get-togethers with your mum and bridesmaids and teach them how to do theirs?

My wedding is in six months time and my married sister, who is to be my maid of honour, has just announced that she’s pregnant. As she’ll be 8 month gone by my wedding, should I ask her to step down?No ways! Your sister is pregnant, not sick! While she might not be able to knock back the champagne at your hen’s night, she can still fulfil traditional maid-of-honour duties, such as attending your dress fittings with you, joining you at make-up trials and actually organising your hen’s night. If she is taking strain your bridesmaids can always step in to lighten her load.

When my sister got married she was still waiting for invited guests to RSVP just 10 days before her big day. How can I get around this problem for my forthcoming wedding?While some people are just plain forgetful or disorganised others are just downright thoughtless. These days most bridal couples send out a “Save The Date” the object being to request guests to diarise the date. This is then followed up by the formal wedding invitation. Once the formal invitation has gone out don’t be afraid to get on the phone, or email, after two weeks. Better still, delegate the job to a family member. Waiting for RSVPs can stall your plans, stress you out and mess up your budget.

On my wedding day I want to have tiny fresh rosebuds woven into my hair but my hair stylist says it is not a good idea?Sounds lovely but your hairdresser is probably right. Even if it is a cool day your head naturally generates a fair amount of heat which might cause the rosebuds to open. This could leave you looking as if you have a rosebowl on your head! A better idea would be to shop around and find little silk roses to weave into your hair instead.

My Gran insists that I wear a string of pearls, which are a family heirloom, on my wedding day. They have been worn by generations of brides in our family. Trouble is pearls will not suit my bridal outfit. How do I get around this without hurting her feelings?Explain that they will not go with our gown and ask her to wear them for you instead. Or, weave the string into your bouquet but, just don’t forget to remove them before you toss it away!

Wedding FAQs

Got a question concerning your big day? Email us at: [email protected]


What took Oliver so long to propose?We met through surf ski paddling and had been

in a relationship since I was 16. We both always

seemed to be so busy. I was also studying and

travelling a lot. Oliver said he had been considering

his proposal for a year or two but that the time just

never seemed right! In September last year I went to

compete in Singapore in the world canoe marathon

championships. While I was away he told me that

I needed to take leave in December. In the long

weekend before Christmas we went to Thonga Beach

Lodge (KZN Elephant Coast). We had a picnic on top

of a high sand dune overlooking the rock pools and

Oliver proposed. He was very nervous, but what an

amazing moment!

How long were you engaged?Just less than 5 months.

So, your planning was tight time wise, did you use a wedding planner?We didn’t use a planner, we basically did everything

ourselves – with the help of my Mom, sisters and a

few other people. We didn’t want anything too over

the top. Our flowers, including bouquets, were just

large bunches of colourful gerberas which were all

put together by my aunt who used to be in the flower

business. We actually even sprayed some white

gerberas with blue flower spray as you can’t get them

in blue! They lasted all day and looked stunning!

MICHELLE & OLIVER BURN

MEET our sportiest bride to date – Michelle is a triple Springbok! She has Protea colours for Lifesaving, Canoeing and Surf Ski paddling and has competed in numerous world championships around the world. Oliver too is a highly accomplished paddler so it was a love of the ocean that brought this super sporty couple together. They were an item for 11 years before getting engaged on a sand dune and then tying the knot at a rustic venue just a stones throw from the beach.

“We sprayed some white gerberas with blue flower

spray as you can’t get them in blue. They lasted all day and

looked stunning!”


Venue: Umtamvuna River LodgeDress: Pink Chilly Bridal – Durban North

Bridesmaid’s dresses: Designed by me, made by my super Mom

Shoes: Melissa, I bought them online.Photography: Jon Ivins – www.jonivins.com

DJ: Executive DJ’s (DJ Ross)Make up: Candice Mathee

Hair: Hair International, Ramsgate

“Buy in bulk where you can, it’s cheaper and make

lists, they are critical to the smooth-running of

your wedding.”


Did Oliver weigh in with ideas and help out or did he leave it all up to you?He was really good and contributed some great

ideas and did a lot. He’d actually get quite offended

if I just went ahead with something without telling him!

I was so happy he got so involved ... after all it was

OUR wedding!

What was your theme/colour scheme?It actually took a while for people to grasp my vision.

We wanted the look and feel to be rustic, relaxed and

vibrantly colourful with no formality.

Tell us about your bridal party – who they were and how you came to choose them?My eldest sister Claudia was my Maid of Honour and

my middle sister Judy and my close friend Sharday

were my bridesmaids. Oliver kept it small – his best

man was his brother Keithley.

What was the most difficult part of planning?Getting people to understand the vibe I was going

for! Like our wedding cake – I had a definite idea

of exactly what I wanted and after quite a bit of

frustration I finally found Cakes Divine in Uvongo to

make it up as I wanted it. They set it up on the day

and it tasted amazing too! Time was a bit of an issue

but my mom and sister work for a school and they

did quite a lot of running around for me during their

holidays. My biggest challenge was trying to find all

the items I had in mind for the wedding. I often had to

settle for my second choice.

And, did you manage to stick to your budget?We didn’t really set a budget. We knew what we

wanted and just decided to find the cheapest way to

achieve it on each item. My parents were so generous

but we didn’t want to go overboard with spending

and everything worked out quite well. We spent a bit

more in some places, for instance I paid a little more

than expected for my dress but then we did save on

our DJ choice – who did a fantastic job on the day!

Is there anything, with the benefit of hindsight, which you think might have been an unnecessary expense?Not really. I think our money was generally well spent.

When I was buying all the sweets for the sweetie table,

Oliver and my Dad were concerned that I was going

overboard and the sweets would never all get eaten.

Well, on the day those goodies were such a hit and

were gone in no time! The real winners were definitely

the white easter eggs and the choc brownies.

How far in advance did you send out your invitations? We sent out an email “Save the Date” about three

months in advance as some of our family live in the

UK and needed to book tickets. We then sent out

invitations about two months before.


How long did it take people to RSVP?Lots of people didn’t RSVP – they just assumed that

we knew they were coming to our wedding! I made

up a list of people that we weren’t sure of and when I

called many of them said “of course we’re coming!”

So chilled! Maybe it’s a Durban thing?

How did you choose your venue?We wanted to get married in April or May, because

we knew it had to be outdoors and therefore less

chance of rain, and we looked online for something

beachy and rustic. We venue-hopped along the

KZN coast from north to south and also looked at a

couple of inland venues. We found the Umtamvuna

River Lodge quite by chance as we were looking for

a place that had square tables as very few venues

actually do. It was in fact the last venue we looked at.

It just fitted the bill perfectly – especially being close

to the ocean where Oliver and I spend so much of

our time.

How many guests? 85.

Any special guests?My maternal grandparents came from Joburg and I’m

so glad they did as my grandpa, who wasn’t at all

well, actually passed away while we were away on

honeymoon. I’m so glad we got a photo of the whole

family whilst he was still with us. My aunt and cousin

and Oliver’s aunt and uncle came out from the UK

and my Dad’s cousin from Germany, whom I had

never met, just happened to be out here at the time

of our wedding. Oliver’s brother came from his work

on rigs off Africa which was great as we don’t get to

see him that often.

What do you think worked best?Ours was not like a normal wedding as it was small

and more personal. One of the key things was our

MC , my brother in law, who played a vital role. He

kept everything going along really well which helped

create such a happy vibe. He did a great job.

I also made loads of to-do lists – I’m a freak organiser!

I had lists of absolutely everything to make sure that

everybody knew exactly what to do and when and

how to do it on the day.

Was there anything that didn’t work?The small hiccups tended to go by unnoticed. I did

however find out later that our cake actually fell over!

I had wondered why some of the cup cakes had no

decorations on them!

How did you settle on your photographer?We didn’t have much time and I was a bit worried as

all the best photographers get booked up in advance.

But, I need not have worried. We’d both got to know

Jon Ivins through sports photography – he’d shot us

a few times for various magazine and newspaper

articles. We asked if he could shoot our wedding and

he agreed. Jon did a great job, he was all over the

place and we are very happy with our photos.


real brides magazine - august 2012

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