Inside: A Chic Wedding Soirée In South Africa The Wedding Edition

The Story

Our story is like something out of a rom-com really. Picture a packed dance floor in London, the kind of scene where you can barely hear yourself think. But there, in the chaos of it all, our eyes met. Total movie moment. It’s funny how in a city as big as London, two people can still find a way to stand out to each other. That’s how we met over 8.5 years ago, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since.

We were celebrating our sixth anniversary with a quiet dinner at our favourite restaurant in Soho, just as they brought the champagne, Steve brought out the ring…I was so surprised, I had no idea he had been planning on asking me. When I realised what was happening, I was so happy, and said absolutely yes!

Venue

We chose Haute Cabrière in Franschhoek because the place is just stunning. The barrel room where we tied the knot has an old-world charm meets modern romance vibe. And the day before and after? Just imagine your favourite people enjoying the best food and wine South Africa has to offer. It was pure magic.

Fashion

Steve loves Alexander McQueen so we went for custom tailored McQueen suits – much more than just clothing; they were a statement. And for a bit of red-soled flair we both finished the look with a pair of Louboutins.

Jewellery

Our rings were made by a dear family friend, an elegant solid band for Steve and a double band of black diamonds set into gold for me. They are as unique as our journey together.

Tablescape

A vision in white, we left everything to the florist, our only requirement that it look chic, stylish, minimalist and that all the flowers be white.

Food & Drink

The food was like a culinary high-five to my South African roots. Local flavours with a gourmet twist. With a vineyard as the venue, expectations were high with the wine, and Haute Cabriere certainly didn’t disappoint. It was like each bottle was handpicked by the vineyard gods themselves.

Entertainment

We both love to sing along to movie classics, so there was no question about which song we would walk down the aisle to – “I Will Follow Him” sung by a local band. Our DJ kept up the playful vibe all evening, and the dancefloor was packed from the moment the speeches finished until they were ushering us out the door!

Beauty Regime & Wellness

My bestie is also a hair stylist, so between us we had the family’s hair covered on the morning of the wedding. As for pre-wedding pampering though, we made sure our skin was glowing with plenty of rest, hydration and a kiss from the South African sun in the days running up to the wedding.

Honeymoon

After the wedding, we took a ‘mini-moon’ in nearby Cape Town – just the right amount of time to bask in the newlywed glow. And we’re dreaming up a longer honeymoon, maybe sipping espresso on the Amalfi Coast or exploring the stunning sights of French Polynesia.

Advice

If I could give any couple some advice, it would be this:

Be there, like really there. Your wedding day will zoom by, so soak up every second. Trust me, you’ll want to remember the look in your partner’s eyes, not what time the cake was cut.
Make it yours. If you’re into high fashion, flaunt it. If you love a good street food vibe, serve it at your reception. Your wedding should scream ‘you’.
And, let the pros do their thing. You’ve hired them for a reason. They’ll have your back, so you can go on and have the time of your life.
That’s pretty much us – two men who met in a most clichéd way, fell in love, threw a wedding that was a feast for the senses, and are living to tell the tale. Here’s to many more years of dancing through life together, preferably with fewer crowded dance floors and more beach sunsets!