Stephan and I have known each other since the age of 13! We would bump into each other at youth outings, church services and various parties, but were strictly just friends! As the years went by, we found that we had more mutual friends and started hanging out. One evening, he told me he loved me (haha). It was so random, but cute! 6 years later, and we're married :)
Prior to us getting engaged, Stephan and I had bought our first home together. He stayed in our home for a few months, before we rented it out. Initially, I wasn't too keen on buying a house with him if I didn't have a ring on my finger! Lol! But he asked me numerous times to just trust him. And so I did! It was the 31st of March '16, Stephan told me to come around for dinner. I remember it storming out, and extremely cold! As I walked into our newly bought home, there were candles everywhere and a 4 course meal with ALL of my favourite meals, which he had cooked. Bearing in mind, we hardly had any furniture at this point, but there were two chairs, a table, plenty of food, wine and candles... I asked him what the occasion was and he told me he had just passed his final exam and felt like celebrating. I believed him! Just as I got up from my chair to do the dishes, (practicing the wifey skills), Stephan was on one knee and I honestly don't remember anything he had said before asking me to marry him! (that's the only part I really heard, haha!) I cried so much, I was thankful this proposal was not recorded. It was quite an "ugly" cry! Cutest, most intimate proposal ever, in our very own home.
Having my Mother walk me down the aisle on the day of my wedding, was one of my biggest highlights and such a blessing.
We went to Mauritius for honeymoon for 7 nights. Such an amazing experience!
My hair and make-up was done by Kyra Loubser. My dress was designed by Karen @ M.Couture. It was quite simple, yet almost vintage looking and I wanted my hair to match this look. I had a smokey eye and a red lip. Kyra really worked her magic. I've always said that my wedding shoe is going to be as simple as possible. I ended up purchasing a silver shoe with crystals. When I saw this shoe in the store, I just could not resist. My wedding shoes were from Macy's in New York.
Our wedding ceremony was held at The New Apostolic Church, followed by our reception at In The Vine, in Stellenbosch. We had a total of 120 guests and some of them stayed at the Botique Hotel at In The Vine for the night. Stephan and I stayed at The Lord Charles Hotel.
I'd like to say that I was a bride who went to the gym every day of the week leading up to my wedding day, but honestly - with all the planning, and running around looking for a venue, etc, that in itself felt like a really great work out for a year! Haha! One week before the wedding, I had my very first spray tan done at Dante Spa in Seapoint, Cape Town. Due to my eczema, I used Ordinary skin care products which is organic and highly recommended for sensitive skin. I exfoliated my entire body a week before the wedding and a day before the spray tan, with Ordinary exfoliator for sensitive skin.
It is bad luck to see the bride/groom the day before the wedding, apparently! But that was the only time we had, to practice our first dance. One dance to our wedding song, and I told him to go home immediately! Lol! We had the best DJ - Shane Langdon. We said our goodbyes to our guests at midnight, but because every song that played thereafter, was too good to leave the party, we ended up being the last people to leave our wedding! It was a I-cant-find-my-wedding-shoes kind of wedding/party and I danced so much that my foot went into complete spasm on the night (dancing barefoot of course).Hehe. Big thanks to the DJ!
