I remember waking up very early on my wedding day with an overwhelming feeling of surrealism. Pampered and spoiled the whole day it never dawned that it was actually me who is getting married until I had worn my wedding dress.
My father drove me to a beautiful round church in Pretoria, recently debuted as a heritage site. We arrived a bit early and had to drive around the block first to allow everyone to take their seats. I remember when we stopped in front of the church I jumped out and told my bridesmaid to "hurry up, he is waiting for me!"
Walking down the aisle and looking at my soon to be husband I felt the weirdest sensation of emotion: I have never had such a big smile while tears rolled down my cheeks. It was marvellous!
The reception was at a different venue with a panoramic view of the Union Building and parts of inner Pretoria. It started raining right in time to cool-off overheating skins and neutralise blood fermentation caused by the welcoming drinks next to the pool.
The party ended where it started, except for being next to the pool we were in the pool with champagne and brandy.
It was honestly the best day ever.
For our honeymoon, we went to St. Lucia and the Drakensberg. Being cut off from the rest of the world after the rush of a wedding is the best way to embrace all romantic cliches. We had sangria and seafood platter for breakfast, we had midnight picknicks on the beach, we went on long horse riding trials, sat on the beach and watched the sunset and consumed fountains of champagne.
Never in my life have I felt so beautiful.I wore a ballgown dress, with embezzlements at the top and a plain bottom. I satisfied the something new, borrowed, old and blue tradition:
Something new: bracelets
Something borrowed: My mother's earrings
Something old: My pinky-ring
Something blue: Well, let's just say you couldn't see the something blue.
I wore gold shoes that matched my jewellery and my hair was half-up.
Oh - what I would do to be this beautiful every day.
We decided to get married in Pretoria as it is easiest for all the guests to attend. We got married at a hotel. They offered guests who wanted to stay over discounted room prices.
The best thing about guests staying the night was that everyone was safe and we could all have breakfast together the next morning.
I have attempted to have a modern and clean style. We had white linen with black and white striped runners. On the tables were 5 black pots with a variation of same coloured pink and yellow flowers. We had black candles and the centrepiece was two Arum Lilies, one white and one pink.
I had one bridesmaid and could wear whatever she wanted. She looked beautiful.
X-quisito Photography. They delivered a wonderful service and took breathtaking photos.
No, my mother and I organised everything. We even did the flowers ourselves.
The hotel made absolute fantastic food. We decided not to have a wedding cake as there were 5 desserts on offer.
There was no stationary. I have made the wedding invitation myself and it was emailed to all our guests.
We had a picture drawn of us a couple of years ago during one of our adventure-bonanzas and used that as I welcoming board outside the reception area.
