Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the unique perspectives of 3 local grooms! Planning a wedding is not exclusive to blushing brides or professional event coordinators. If we were to disregard the frills for a moment, the fundamental premise of a wedding is rooted in unity. From venues and decor to music and catering, a wedding is a manifestation of the bride and groom’s love for one another. The following local grooms were kind enough to share a glimpse of their special day with us, proving once again that the phrase “better together” is well and truly justified!
Yuval Singh
Q. Tell us about your wedding attire and why you chose it.
I wore an ivory Anarkali Lehenga with a matching ivory turban, and an emerald green and pearl chain. My outfit was made in Mumbai as I wanted a royal Rajasthani look. I also wanted something simple and understated, so I went for an ivory outfit with subtle tribal embroidery.
Q. Tell us a bit about your groomsmen and the activities that you did together.
My five groomsmen and I had a fun photo shoot at the wedding. We also had a bachelor party a few weeks before the wedding, involving beach volleyball, breakfast and a good few drinks!
Q. How involved were you with the wedding planning?
I was very involved. Since my wife and I own a design business called ISHK, where we work on wedding invitations and stationery, we made all of the decisions together. We got really creative with all of the elements for our special day!
Q. Did you have a specific preference for the wedding cake?
Half of our cake was lemon poppy seed and the other half was chocolate. We both love these flavours so we chose it together. We also had a mosaic design, which was on the invitation, on the cake!
Q. Did you help to pick out a wedding venue?
Yes, we visited many venues together and eventually chose Brahman Hills in the Midlands!
Q. What kind of music did you have on the day?
Our reception evening had old school hip hop, R&B and house music. We had a guitarist playing beautiful instrumental music on our wedding day.
Q. What were your designated responsibilities for the wedding, and did you manage to fulfill them all?
I had to dance, say a speech, show up on time and smile. I did it all with such pleasure!
Q. What is the best advice you would give to grooms who are in the middle of planning a wedding?
Challenge the norm. Do something different and memorable. Let people feel your personality throughout your day! Also, get someone to properly coordinate your day. Don’t do it yourself!
Q. How did you feel when you saw your bride all dressed up on the day?
I felt a flurry of emotions as she walked down the aisle and I saw her for the first time. I felt the intense love between me and her.
Q. How would you describe your wedding in three words?
Colour, love, enchanting.
Q. What was your favourite part about your wedding day?
Seeing my wife walk down the aisle, and our parents’ expressions and happiness when we said our vows.
Q. What is one thing that every groom should be involved in when planning a wedding?
I would recommend getting involved in all of the big decisions – venue, décor, food etc. Work with your wife-to-be and share your input. Your lady will love your effort and passion as you plan one of the most important days of your life!
Sbonelo Ngcobo
Q. Tell us about your wedding attire and why you chose it.
I wore an all-black three-piece tuxedo with a black tie. The decision was made only after my wife found her dress because she just pictured how perfectly an all-black tuxedo would complement her white wedding dress.
Q. How would you describe your style on the day?
I would describe it as an unorthodox, modern James Bond. It was brave, because an all-black three-piece suit isn’t conventional for weddings.
Q. What was your favourite element of your outfit?
The simplicity and elegance of the look, especially the waistcoat! I felt like a movie star standing next to my wife in her wedding dress.
Q. Tell us about some of the groom-specific activities that you did with your groomsmen.
I had two friends and my younger brother as my groomsmen. We had a bachelor party together, complete with cognac, a hookah selection and, of course, bias drinking games that were aimed at making me drunk! On the day, we had our own room where we got ready and enjoyed a selection of whiskeys too.
Q. Did you have a specific preference for the wedding cake?
I was not keen on the traditional fruit cake with fondant icing, so from the beginning we both agreed on the naked cake.
Q. Did you help to pick out a wedding venue?
Yes, we travelled to a few places and eventually chose the wedding venue together. It was a team effort.
Q. What were your designated groom-responsibilities for the wedding?
I completed all my tasks, namely: picking up the suits for me and my groomsmen, choosing a food menu, handling the accounting and payment for the service providers, setting up the guest list with my wife, planning and organising the honeymoon (flights, VISAs, accommodation, etc.) and rehearsing for the first dance at a professional dance studio.
Q. What advice would you give to grooms who are in the middle of planning a wedding?
It’s important to be present and supportive throughout the entire journey. It is a big day for the both of you and there is a lot to arrange and plan. Having your partner there to lean on for advice, even if it is just to vent, is really important. Regardless of if you don’t have a lot to contribute in terms of decorations and flowers, just being there will mean the world to your future wife.
Q. How did you feel when you saw your bride all dressed up on the day?
It was a surreal moment. I was absolutely in awe and I fell in love with her all over again. She is my best friend, my “mate”, and when I saw her in that white wedding dress, I was overcome with joy. I felt happy and at ease. She looked absolutely breathtaking and all I wanted to do was hold her tight and never let go.
Q. How would you describe your wedding in 3 words?
Joyous, classy, loving!
Thomas Neves
Q. What kind of suit did you wear on the big day, and why?
I wore a navy suit with five buttons and a U-shaped waistcoat. The suit was reasonably priced and of very high quality. I picked the colour navy because I wanted to stand out from my groomsmen, who all wore similar suits and waistcoats in a light grey colour. I thought the navy was different to the usual black tuxedo, and I liked the way it looked on me.
Q. How would you describe your style on the day?
Smart, sophisticated, dapper and suave!
Q. Tell us about your groomsmen and the activities that you participated in on the big day
I had six groomsmen from all across the country; they all stood by my side on the big day. It was my two older brothers, my cousin and three of my best friends. We participated in an amazing groomsmen photo shoot. I like photos to look as natural as possible to capture a moment authentically, which came easily with our photographer, Tyron. Many laughs and beers were shared, as well as a good old fashioned brandy and coke at the start of the wedding to get rid of those wedding jitters before seeing my beautiful wife walk down the aisle.
Q. How involved were you with the wedding planning?
My wife and I planned the whole thing as a team, as we both have the same fun taste and wanted our day to be unique and special. I am a very hands-on husband and I give my all in everything that I do, so this project was no different! I even went as far as to make lawn games and fashion table numbers out of corks (many bottles of wine were consumed for this serious task). We also decided to decorate the venue ourselves because we knew exactly what we wanted.
Q. Did you have a specific preference for the wedding cake?
Yes! We wanted a basic, three-tiered naked cake with three flavours. This complemented our bohemian rustic theme.
Q. How did you feel when you saw your bride all dressed up on the day?
It was probably the best feeling ever, besides seeing my baby girl arrive in this world. I was an emotional wreck! I never usually cry, but when I saw my wife in her dress walking toward me, I knew then and there that my life had changed for the better. I had found my soulmate.
Q. What is one thing that every groom should be involved in when planning a wedding?
I think grooms should be involved with all of the planning because it’s a huge step towards your lives together. It’s also extremely fun seeing it all come together!