Willie and I chose to get married in the Kalahari, on the Dunes, at Sunset.
We had travelled to Vanzylsrus previously and had fallen in love with the Kalahari and all its splendour.
There are no words to describe the magical experience!!
Albie and Petro from Vanzylsrus hotel were incredible right from the start.
We only had 3 months to plan our destination wedding and they were with us every step of the way.
They took our layouts, ideas and sketches and breathed life into them.
My dress was an Enzoani creation that was supplied by Forever Bridal Boutique in Edenvale and my makeup was done to perfection by Marthie from Kuruman Beauty Gallery.
The Groom and entourage chose to wear shorts, vellies and leopard print Franklees underwear - which I also ended up wearing.
The ceremony on Tevrede farm was undoubtedly the most romantic, breathtaking scene that embraced the fiery Kalahari sunset.
The dune made us feel like we were on the edge of the world, floating above the Savannah, looking across at our future as a couple - and it was life altering.
The reception back at the hotel felt like we were in a wonderland, with incredible tree chandeliers and butterflies and windmills that epitomised the Kalahari.
Our guests raved about the Kalahari lamb shank and traditional groenboontjies and soet pampoen. Not to mention the koeksisters and melktert.
What started out as an intimate celebration was transformed into an absolute dream come true.
Willie and I are so grateful to the team at Vanzylsrus Hotel for this memorable wedding.
#wedding
#220122
#grateful
Due to Covid, we have chosen to postpone our honeymoon until we can fulfill our dream to travel to Europe.
I opted for a Cinderella look - but with a Kalahari twist.
My dress was the magnificent Enzoani Natsuko, supplied by Forever Bridal Boutique.
My veil was a 3 meter Cathedral veil, accompanied by a Tiara, which was also supplied by Forever Bridal.
I wore a leopard print G-string supplied by Franklees underwear online.
I also opted for Buffelsfontein veldskoen, which allowed us to venture into the Bosveld for the most breathtaking photographs in the Desert and on the Dunes.
My makeup was a work of art - created with an airbrush technique by Marthie from Kuruman Beauty Gallery.
My hair was enhanced with Great length extensions installed by Tracey from Gracies wig boutique and my Maid of Honour, Michelle Tegner is also a hairdresser from Floki hair boutique and Michelle completed the upstyle Cinderella look to perfection.
I completed my look with a generous helping of Caroline Herrera’s “very good girl” fragrance.
We got married in the beautiful Kalahari. The ceremony was held at sunset on a Dune on a local farm, called Tevrede.
The reception was held at Vanzylsrus Hotel in the small tranquil town of Vanzylsrus.
We managed to secure all the rooms at Vanzylsrus Hotel and our guests were able to book their own luxurious Accomodation according to the amount of time they preferred to stay.
Majority of our guests stayed for 3 nights.
3 months before the wedding, I started a regime in consultation with Machel Buchel and Lizaan from Medilaser - www.medilaser.co.za.
They did a full body assessment using the EMS method and then we did an EMS body sculpture routine on my upper arms and thighs.
I started with intermittent fasting and cut out all sugar and fizzy coldrinks.
This was enhanced with “Cinderella facials” and laser treatments every 6 weeks leading up to the special day.
Due to severe Covid, my hair was very fine and my amazing hairdresser helped me with gradual toning, restoration and treatments. This meant that I only had to use hair extensions to enhance the thickness of my hair and extend the length.
The entire theme was created from scratch using my own personal vision for a true “Kalahari” wedding.
We were blessed to hire a beautiful dune by one of the local farmers in Vanzylsrus, which had a breathtaking view of the Savannah that spread for kilometers.
We created an arch from an abandoned dome and erected it ourselves with some help from the hotel.
The hotel team created wooden doors to embrace the opening and we laid down a red carpet with a beautiful aisle runner.
All our lady guests were spoilt with white Chinese umbrellas and wooden fans and our gents wore Fedora hats.
The theme centered around Proteas, butterflies and windmills.
We used fresh proteas and silk flowers to ensure that the flowers didn’t suffer in the Kalahari heat.
We also used “ecofetti” which was ordered months in advance from www.confettibundles.co.za so that we didn’t harm the environment or wildlife that graced the local farm.
With the help of a graphic designer, we created our own ‘Brand’ and logo which we used every chance we got.
All items were branded - from the water bottles, to the tissues, ecofetti, mugs, teaspoons, hangover kits, Jagermeister bottles, fans and even sunblock and insect repellant.
The groom, groomsmen, master of ceremonies, father of the bride and father of the groom adopted a Kalahari look.
They all wore crushed linen shirts from Trenery, that covered a rustic sunset theme.
They wore chino shorts from Trenery and they wore brown leather belts that were branded with our wedding logo.
They wore proudly South African socks from Sox footwear and they wore leopard print underwear from Franklees.
Fedora hats completed the Kalahari look.
The Maid of Honour and Bridesmaid had their dresses made by a local seamstress that worked off a downloaded image.
They didn’t want to wear a traditional long evening dress due to the extreme heat in the Kalahari, so they opted for a mint green satin mini dress, overlayed with beaded satin and tulle skirts.
They wore beige wedge heels from Aldo.
We had the pleasure of enjoying 2 ceremonies.
The official service was officiated by Christa from www.marriageofficer.co.za.
Christa was magnificent. She made us feel so comfortable and made the vow ceremony so personable.
The second ceremony was hosted by a close personal friend who is still waiting for his marriage licence. Gavin Wyngaard was also magnificent. He became emotional when he reminded us of the sanctity of marriage and being soulmates.
The true essence of marriage was captured by both of these amazing individuals.
The photographs were captured by Johani Rossouw from Johani Rossouw photography in Vanzylsrus.
What a professional!
Johani was calm, professional and so very friendly.
She quietly went about capturing the moments without us even realizing that we needed to pose.
Being aufait with the Kalahari and the sunset moments, Johani managed to help us capture the essence of a true Kalahari sunset.
She brought her drone along and used it to capture incredible aerial photographs and group images.
Her follow up service has been phenomenal with regular check ins and updates.
All planning was done by myself.
Being a destination wedding in the Kalahari, most of the guests used their own 4x4 vehicles.
The bride drove in a Porsche Cayenne driven by the uncle of the Groom, Fanie Krugel.
The food was prepared by the Head chef and his team at Vanzylsrus Hotel.
It was delicious, traditional boere kos - lamb shank, boereboontjies, pampoen en mash for mains.
Entrees were Roosterkoek with biltong pate, jam en kaas.
Dessert was wedding cake, custard, koeksisters and melktert.
Really wholesome, hearty food.
The wedding cake was made by a local baker from Vanzylsrus - Adele.
It was a naked vanilla sponge with loads of butter icing - absolutely devine.
Mariette Martin from www.Mariettemartin.co.za designed the logo, online invitations with an RSVP link to the hotel, labels and even did all the printing.
Mariette also arranged for laser cut butterflies & windmills to use as decor.
The reception was a fairytale. It was held in the gardens at the Hotel under a sky full of stars.
The hotel management built the most incredible table arches that were draped with Kalahari tree branches and adorned with war white lights and large white butterflies.
The tables were decorated with white tulle and fairy lights and laser windmills.
The music was a playlist that was compiled using requests from all the guests.
The hotel management also created a photo booth and we used an Instax camera for all the fun photos.
