Backyard South African Wedding
Today’s wedding, sent over by the supremely talented Lad & Lass, has instant calming powers. Just looking through these images, I can feel how relaxed Nandi and Brett’s wedding day was, thanks in part to the expert styling of South Africa’s own A Vintage Affair. A dreamy, happy, and comfortable day – exactly what a wedding day should be.
From the bride, Nandi: We decided to get married at my parents home because we wanted to feel as relaxed and as comfortable as possible and we wanted our guests to feel the same. I envisioned the décor to look like it had come out of my parents’ home, the flowers to look like they had just been picked from the garden and the food to taste like an authentic Spanish seaside village. We dreamed of a day that felt effortless, endlessly happy, had eyes filled with tears of joy, feet dancing until the early hours of the next day, friends chatting, Champagne popping, family catching up and Brett and I smiling until our cheeks hurt. I think we achieved exactly that.
Our theme was home and our colours were muted pastels. We wanted the flowers to be the hero of the décor, the bridal party to feel relaxed and comfortable and for our guests to feel like they had stepped into a whimsical, laden with fairy lights, bursting with sweet peas, romantic wedding. I designed and made all of my invitations, made the traditional lace Chuppah that we were married under and made the confetti. That was overwhelming as it is, I’m glad I didn’t do anything else!
Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Relax, breathe and do your homework. Planning a wedding is the most incredible experience, take it all in, love every moment, don’t rush your decisions, be yourself, love your fiancé and try not to spend ALL of your father’s money!
View all images from this wedding in the gallery
Watch the video also created by Lad & Lass:
Wedding Music:
Processional: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World,” Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Recessional: “Sweet Thing,” Van Morrison
First Dance: “You & I,” Crystal Fighters
Father/Daughter Dance: “Forever Young,” Bob Dylan
Wedding Location: Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa / Photographer: Lad & Lass / Event Design and Flowers: A Vintage Affair / Wedding Venue: Bride’s Parents’ Home / Wedding Dress: Abigail Betz / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Zara, ASOS, Topshop, Forever New / Paella, Gazpacho, and Spanish Pintxos: Gusto / Wedding Cakes: family and friends / Artisan Breads: Sugar Breads
Love the ceremony seating. And the bride’s dress is soooo pretty!
Yay! So happy to be featured. 🙂
What a stunning setting 🙂
Love it oxox
Loving captures! hope you had a great ceremony, MP The Warren feel proud to held services for your special day
Oh my…is this even real!? Can’t even imagine anything dreamier.
I couldn’t attend this wedding but the photos and photobox sequence almost made me feel as though I had been there. The sense of detail, family and joy was so moving I cried just looking at them.
Years ago, kind of my mom’s generation, maybe even my nan’s generation Backyard weddings were the norm. You had to have a lot of money to hire a venue. Today perhaps we are starting to go full circle. As a UK based wedding photographer who travels internationally I get to see lavish venues, incredible locations, very, very expensive wedding dresses….
But the wedding we photographed, which stays with me years after, was at a village hall, the couple had garlanded it with flowers and taffeta and it looked so serene, it was the nicest wedding, simply and pure and we used a very simply and elegant way of presenting it for our couple https://www.imaginethat.uk.net/digital-matted-album/
Long may the backyard wedding make a great return, they are true to the spirit of wedding and great for wedding photographers
“Long may the backyard wedding make a great return, they are true to the spirit of wedding and great for wedding photographers”
I love this! We love backyard weddings!
How awesome! I’ve been to South Africa before, so it was pretty neat to see this come up in my email. <3
Backyard wedding is a nice wedding reception, not only because it is your background, you can do many things there.
Nice wedding indeed. 🙂
Love the paper confetti holder <3
So pretty! Awesome to see a South African wedding on Ruffled!
So gorgeous!!!
very nice
aaaaaawe Nandi what a beautiful bride you are love everything , sending you lotsa hugs and kisses May you guys have many happy years together
Much Love Margo
Gorgeous photos!