Handmade Cape Town Wedding

Give me a picturesque South African landscape and I will show you a gorgeous wedding. Shot by Catherine Mac, this Elgin Valley fete right outside of Cape Town has the perfect blend of rustic beauty and endearing handmade details made by the couple Kirsten and Gérhardt. I will let the bride herself take it from here:

From the bride, Kirsten: We wanted an intimate wedding with a vintage family feast feel. We opted for a very rustic venue and incorporated various vintage elements into the decor.

I love vintage things, mixing and matching and anything with a pretty pattern, hence the bunting and my vintage-inspired wedding dress. Gérhardt has a passion for flying, so we decided to make our own paper jet confetti to incorporate that into our day. He also really loves Africa & I got him Lady Peculiar cufflinks in the shape of Africa with a heart on the southern tip. With regards to DIY projects – I designed the stationery, made the favours, folded paper jets for confetti with the boys, made our seating chart, crafted my own veil, did my own make-up, made fabric hearts, boutonnieres, photobooth props and the list goes on…

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? I have a couple of pointers to share out of my experience:

-Don’t leave anything until the last minute
-Some things won’t go according to plan – BIG DEAL!
-Start planning well in advance, this well help you save on costs and be more organized
-Just relax!
-Don’t be afraid to delegate. I’m one of those people who wanted to do everything myself, but I had to learn to trust other people
-Remember that it’s your wedding and incorporate elements that are special to you as a couple
-Stick to your guns even if nobody understands your ideas
-Have loads of fun and savour every moment of your planning experience
-Make family members like your mother & mother-in-law part of the planning experience even if you don’t share the same ideas
-Invest in a professional photographer

See Also

This Majestic Multicultural Wedding at Villa Arvedi in Verona is the Chef’s Kiss

From the photographer, Catherine: Early morning misty bridal portraits, 100 meters of pink and white bunting, a lake-side ceremony in a boat house, a long-sleeved lace gown, a couple so sweet they smelled like toffee apples! I loved it all from start to finish and it was an absolute TREAT to be there to document Kirsten and Gerhardt’s special day! Between you and me, Elgin is one of my favourite places to photograph weddings! There is something quite magical about it. Simple. Rockhaven was the perfect place for Kirsten and Gerhardt’s fun daytime wedding and I almost died of excitement when I realized the ceremony was taking place in a boat house that completely opens up onto the lake.

Wedding Vendors (Cape Town, South Africa):

Wedding Venue and Caterer: Rockhaven Farm (Elgin) / Wedding Photographer: Catherine Mac / Wedding Flowers: Oak Valley Flower Farm / Wedding Dress: Made by bride’s grandmother / Wedding Invitations: Made by bride