Friday is Fun Day - Take a closer look at what our finalists got up to at the official start of the SA Weddings Bride of the Year 2021 gala weekend!
Welcoming in the official start to the SA Weddings Bride of the Year 2021 gala weekend, our finalists were treated like the true VIPs that they are. Every single gala weekend starts with an epic FUN filled Friday, complete with couples activity, legendary Friday night dinner and unboxing their incredible prize hampers. Loaded with Proudly South African prizes for him and her, our Top 12 couples were certainly spoilt rotten. The perfect introduction to a memorable, fantastic and fabulous gala weekend in true SA Weddings style.
La Fontaine Boutique Hotel
Our Top 12 couples have worked incredibly hard to get to this point, so it is no secret that we always go above and beyond to make sure our guests of honour sleep in style! Partnering up with La Fontaine Boutique Hotel, our Top 12 finalists enjoyed a slumber like no other in this beautifully designed property, perfectly nestled in the heart of the picturesque Franschhoek Valley. La Fontaine Boutique Hotel is synonymous with eclectic elegance and that famous Winelands charm. The bold expressive interiors, beautifully designed rooms, idyllic setting and dedicated staff are just some the reasons why we love this oasis so much. The hotel ensures guests can enjoy some serious R&R whilst enjoying the property's luxurious amenities. A more hands-on team you will not find, anticipating your every need, Kim and the incredible staff at La Fontaine are truly one of a kind.
The guests of honour, SA Weddings team and MC Jason Greer enjoyed an incredible weekend at this magnificent property!
An absolute delight - we knew we were in the best hands.
Maison du Cap
Our media team, responsible for the on-demand social media updates over the weekend and the most incredible photography and videography were based at the ultra luxurious and oh-so-fabulous boutique guest house, Maison du Cap! Maison du Cap is the perfect property if you’re looking for a rejuvenating and serene getaway - a place to recharge those batteries in style. Located only a stone’s throw away from Franschhoek’s bustling centre, your days will be filled with plenty of offerings that this quaint Winelands town has to offer. The property is certainly a sight to behold and the devil is truly in the detail. Each room has been tastefully designed and exudes an air of sophistication that is unparalleled. The guest house offers a wide variety of amenities ensuring guests’ every need is taken care of. From bridal bestie bonding to the ultimate honeymoon retreat, Maison du Cap will ensure your stay will be one for the books!
Once our guests of honour were properly settled in, the real fun begins! Our Top 12 couples, MC and #SAWCY team were shuttled off to our next stop, the legendary Friday activity. On the menu, a delightful dose of good old fashioned bonding, a sabrage, lunch with a view and an opportunity to let your hair down. But first, let’s unpack our journey to our next fun destination.
Winelands Luxury Shuttles
To celebrate the man of the moment, our MC Jason Greer and SA Weddings very own, Katherine Ballantyne were transported in style by the incredible team at Winelands Luxury Shuttles. And when we say style, what we really mean is a brand new Mercedes G-Class that chauffeured our guests of honour to our fun Friday activity at the iconic Haute Cabrière Wine Estate.
The G-Wagon is a luxury SUV that fuses opulence and technology with comfort and power to give you an experience on the road like no other. The engine purred loudly and let us tell you, saying that these VIP’s looked ultra cool is an absolute understatement. If you’re looking for safe, luxurious and ultra proficient shuttle services, you’ve just found it.
Shuttle Up
Of course it takes an excellent group to transport the Top 12 finalists and their husbands plus the SA Weddings team to the Friday activity in one go. Thanks to Shuttle Up, our team and our finalists arrived safely and quite comfortably courtesy of this expert transport company! Dedicated to making every travel experience simple, seamless and fun - this dynamic and professional team know exactly what it takes to leave a glowing smile on their patrons faces every single time!
Ok so when we say we always plan something fun and interactive for our finalists, what we really mean is that we always plan a fun filled activity that guarantees plenty of smiles, lots of laughs, many opportunities to mix and mingle and of course, to let your hair down! Our Top 12 finalists have worked incredibly hard to get to this point so it is our great honour and privilege to make sure they are rewarded for all of their efforts.
Certainly no stranger to the Franschhoek Tourism scene, Haute Cabrière is a perfect slice of heaven on earth. The estate, passionate about “crafting memories to share in together through their quality wines, Burgundian and Champagne varietals”, Haute Cabrière truly believes in celebrating every single milestone in style! The estate which boasts the most breathtaking views of the Valley is truly a sight to behold and acted as the perfect backdrop for our fun Friday activity.
With our brood in tow, our Top 12 finalists were given a very professional sabrage lesson before attempting this celebratory act for themselves. Incase you are not familiar, Sabrage is a technique for opening a champagne bottle with a saber, used for ceremonial occasions.
An absolute crowd pleasure, plenty of cheer and camaraderie could be heard and seen. The perfect ice breaker for a day full of fun! The team at Haute Cabrière ensured our guests were fed well with a wide selection of their mouth watering cheese and charcuterie platters to be enjoyed with the best view in town and perfectly washed down with their ice cold bubbles. Did somebody say pure bliss because we sure did!
After an incredible afternoon at Haute Cabrière, we made our way back to La Fontaine to practice some serious R&R before heading to the dining room for an incredible in-house dinner. Our VIPs and guests of honour made their way down to the hotel bar where an ice cold flute of Graham Beck MCC awaited our guests. Of course, no SA Weddings celebration is ever complete without bubbles and Graham Beck MCC certainly started an evening to remember on the right note. With the motto of Celebrating What Matters, a more fitting evening to sip and savour on Graham Beck MCC could not be found.
Here we were joined by Craig Ballantyne, the other half of SA Weddings who opened up the evenings proceedings with a heartfelt speech. In true Bride of the Year tradition, Craig always welcomes our finalists before we enjoy an incredible meal together as one big happy family.
Chef Ashleigh prepared an ultra delicious feast for us to enjoy which showcased the very best of local produce found in the area. Prepared to perfection, Chef Ashleigh is an absolute master of her craft and this meal tantalised every single taste bud. A perfect 10/10 from all of the guests in attendance. To end the night off, our lovely finalists enjoyed some after dinner delights in the hotel bar before heading to their rooms to enjoy a luxury slumber after an eventful and fabulous day!
We shoot documentary style wedding videos that capture the natural feel of your day.
Come together at Haute Cabrière Estate - a place to create special memories while overlooking the estate vines and beauty of the Franschhoek valley.
Organic, nostalgic and soulful are just some of the words that have been used to describe my photography.
Maison du Cap offers you the perfect romantic base to explore the beautiful valley that is Franschhoek.
Cape Town based photographer specializing in Weddings, couples and all things LOVE!
Step through the doors of the true-to-history exterior and into the stylish interior with modern finishes and eclectic design.
