Beautiful, blushing brides and gracious grooms, we look at two couples who decided to make their weddings a little getaway for their friends and family.
Ellen & Mark Anderson
International Destination Wedding
Introductions
Our friends played cupid and organised a lunch for us. I already knew him from my yoga studio but after that day, I knew he was my person.
Planning the Wedding
I absolutely love planning and organising so the A-type in me just loved the process. There are some difficulties with planning an international wedding – language barriers, exchange rates and not being able to see everything in person. We knew what the venue looked like because we had been there a few years before. Having been to Bali a few times before also meant I knew the lay of the land and had contacts for things like transfers and accommodation.
The Venue
I loved the idea of a small wedding. It meant we could have all the people we love the most on an island with days in the sun, exploring the island, and getting together at restaurants in the evening. I knew having our wedding in Bali also meant the people who really wanted to be there would make it happen. I knew we would end up with only the people most important to us.
The Wedding Party
I just had my sister as my maid of honour, and Mark had his brother and his best friend as his best men. Having my sister up there with me was incredibly special. We organised transfers to take guests from the hotel to the venue and back. The night ended at 1 a.m. and everyone on the last shuttle had their shoes off and sunnies on. Once we got back to the hotel, there was a mandatory night swim and I even jumped in with my dress!
Some Advice
This is the one day that’s about you. Don’t worry about what anyone else will think and how they think it should be done. Take a moment, many moments, to pause, breathe and take it all in. Stand back from your wedding and watch it happen for a moment. Also, budget and keep a spreadsheet of absolutely everything. I included everything from how much it cost to print our invites and pay for a marriage certificate to how much we extended our bar bill.
Your Favourite Moment
I loved standing at the end of the aisle with Mark, just the ocean behind us, and the feeling of knowing we’re making this commitment to each other. I loved our first dance – we smiled the whole way through! Mark says his favourite moment was when we went down to a little private beach to take photos and looked up at the deck, watching the people we love most mingle and watch the sunset.
Kimeshnee & Matthew Jones
KZN Destination Wedding
Introductions
I clearly remember the night we met. After asking me to take some pictures, Matt and I instantly connected as if we had known each other for a lifetime. At that exact moment, I knew that Matt was someone who would be in my life for a significant amount of time to come.
Planning
Our wedding was an interesting one. We didn’t give ourselves much time to plan but thankfully we both have superwomen for mothers who aided us in so many ways. We didn’t ruminate too much on making decisions and went with what our hearts truly desired. I knew I wanted to get married in an old castle and my mother found the perfect venue nestled in the South Coast which gave me that look and feel. We also knew we wanted our loved ones to stay the night and share a meal together the next morning.
The Venue
Finding the wedding venue was a challenge for us. Matt loves the feeling of being lost in a forest and I love the vintage, old romantic venues. Lynton Hall was the perfect combination of both. It also held a special place in my heart as we held my father’s memorial service there in 2016.
The Wedding Party
Our wedding party consisted of nine bridesmaids and four groomsmen. My maid of honour was my cousin, Chiara. My bridesmaids were courageous, beautiful humans who all played pivotal roles in my special day. Matt’s groomsmen played an amazing role in making our day even more special than we can imagine. Beside him stood his best man, Duke Makina, who also doubled as our MC, and his groomsmen.
Some Advice
This is some of the best advice I got: choose two non-negotiables for you and your fiancé. Mine was having the best photographer and videographer and Matt’s was to be outdoors and take a few moments to spend alone together. Once you settle on those things, everything else falls away and you trust that you hired the best for the job. Whether something goes wrong or not, often the only people that are aware of the details are just you and your partner.
Your Favourite Moment
When Matt and I got to practise our wedding dance on the rooftop of the castle, there was this beautiful light and misty rain – showers of blessings from the big guy upstairs to remind us of his love. We watched everyone below us and felt unimaginable amounts of gratitude and love. We then got to do our dance again in front of everyone we adored and landed the lift with perfect precision!
Ellen’s Photos: Vaughan Treyvellan
Kim’s Photos: Andrea Cronje