Eclectic Botanical Wedding in South Africa
If you love a garden wedding but the weather outside isn’t the best, or if you don’t want to worry about having a backup plan for rain, we wholly support the brilliant idea of bringing the garden inside for a botanical inspired reception. Michelle and Tremayne did just this after ten years of dating, and brought along Wesley Vorster Photography to capture the incredible flower-filled day. Get ready for some pretty!
From the bride, Michelle: Tremayne and I dated for 10 (TEN!!) years before we tied the knot in October last year, 8 of them being long distance. We wanted to do something eclectic, yet true to our personalities. Something close to nature, extremely romantic, but also a bit out of the ordinary and untamed! I’ve never been a follower of trends, and wanted to put my own stamp on our wedding. Since Tremayne is a winemaker, we felt that it was only fitting to be married in the Winelands, close to our home.
We had an intimate wedding of 68 people which included close friends and family. We had many family and friends who came from afar who we hadn’t seen in ages, so we chose to have a weekend affair and started the celebrations on Friday night. For the day, we wanted to relax with our loved ones, have plenty of food, wine and a massive party! A day to celebrate our relationship and the road we’d travelled. We didn’t really plan for a theme as such, but just styled our day according to what we loved.
I decided on the colour palette one day when I’d picked roses and olive branches from our garden at home, I loved the mix of peaches, creams, blush pinks, greens and the punches of red. I just loved how the colours complemented each other! The amazing Anli Wahl helped us bring our out-of-the-box vision to life and hung lush green kokkedamas (hanging plants) and terrariums filled with moss & ferns from the ceiling, to bring the ‘outside in’. As family is terribly important to both of us, I wanted to incorporate my late grandmother’s 50 year old olive green wallpaper as a runner on the tables as an ode to her, which we found in her home when we were clearing up her belongings after she’d passed. We combined it with gold tones, crystal vases and lots of flowing greenery, texture, garden roses in tones of peach, soft pink and a touch of red. My cascading, over-the-top, loose bouquet, floral headpiece, red lips (which I’m rarely seen without) and Tremayne’s check shirt brought everything together! Attached to my bouquet was my mom’s gold locket, with pictures of my late grandparents. On the mantelpiece, we placed candles which represented loved ones who had passed.
The day as a whole was emotional, joyous and full of love. Having a delicious breakfast with my bridesmaids and mom, our drive from Riebeek Kasteel to Roodezand, seeing our venue for the first time had me on the brink of tears, Tremayne sending me the most beautiful bouquet of roses with a bottle of champagne while we were getting ready. My mom putting my lace veil on for me. My Dad’s tearful face when I stepped out to meet my family before my Dad and I taking a long walk across the lawn while the Verve’s instrumental version of Bittersweet Symphony played. The moment I caught Tremayne’s eye from across the garden, walking towards him and knowing that we’d made it. Squeezing my mom’s hand before my Dad lifted my veil, to say goodbye. And of course, the speeches!
This bride is absolutely gorgeous!! Her bouquet, dress and choice of make up style was done to perfection!
Such vibrant photos! Beautiful wedding
Beautiful, stylish.