One of our most memorable weddings of the season! Our wedding couple, A and D were so appreciative and thoughtful and such a pleasure to work with.  This destination wedding was a full weekend celebration held at the Webersburg Wine Estate. Here they celebrated their special day in one of the Cape’s most beautiful locations with the scenery stretching out to encompass its wine farm and vineyards. With all on-site accommodation booked out for their wedding guests who'd travelled from abroad to share the occasion, guests were surrounded by a tranquil, farmland atmosphere, and that remarkable sense of having the place all to themselves.

At Webersburg you have a choice of holding your ceremony on the lawn area or, for a more intimate ceremony; couples can tie the knot in the romantic wine cellar - which is what A and D opted for. After the couple said their I-Do’s and were showered in confetti, guests were lead to the pre-drinks veranda which overlooks the dam area with its panoramic views of the vineyards and mountains.

The couple chose to have a garden reception where guests were seated under a Bedouin tent, wrapped in the romance and intimacy of the velvet night beyond the tent. The floral work, beautifully created and arranged by Fox&Co, included indigenous, fragrant flowers in bespoke vases, set aglow by candles and ambient lighting. Simply beautiful!

We loved how the couple had every finest detail thought of and most importantly focussed on their guests and enjoying a very special day with their loved ones. 

A and D, tell us a bit about your story?

Six years in the making...

We first met at a Christmas party in December, 2009—but we only chatted briefly.  On February 20, 2010, we met again among a group of friends, at what we now call the ‘group date’. After the dinner was over, the two of us headed to a local bar for a nightcap. Before we knew it, we found ourselves on a weekend away at a beach-resort.  The whole thing took off from there….

After four years together we started thinking—and talking—about getting married, and had identified 20th February  2016, which also happened to be a Saturday and 6 years to the date and date of the group date.  We knew we wanted to have a destination wedding, and we knew that our friends and family would have to come from far, so we chose a date and venue 18 months ahead of time. 

Where did you have your wedding and why did you choose this venue?

We got married at Webersburg Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, Western Cape and it was absolutely spectacular. We chose South Africa because it’s warm and sunny, because it would be a new experience for most of our guests, and since gay marriage is legal there.  We met in and continue to live in Africa, so we were happy to invite our family and friends to experience some of the greatest beauty that this continent has to offer.  Of course, the Cape Winelands is the most beautiful corner of this magnificent continent!

If you see Webersburg you’ll know why we picked it. Webersburg is an amazing venue, starting from the setting/location: the vineyards, the mountains, and of course the sweeping lawns and stately Cape Dutch manor house. The accommodation is lovely and there are many spectacular venues within the grounds (cellar, bistro balcony, the venue, etc.) that made it the perfect location for a weekend wedding. Spending a week at Webersburg with our family in the manor house was definitely a highlight (even apart from the wedding) and we definitely plan to come back (there are already requests for a future family event at Webersburg!). Just as important, we wanted a single venue where the large majority of our guests could stay, and with 24 rooms, Webersburg was perfect.

 

Why did you choose to have a destination wedding?

We wanted a multi-day wedding, where everyone is on holiday in a sunny warm place, with lots to see and do. We had been to two other multi-day destination weddings and really enjoyed them.  The fact that everyone is on holiday (and not rushing to your events after a day at the office) means that everyone is in holiday-mode—relaxed, focused on quality time, and ready to have fun.  Destination weddings are also ideal when the couple come from different countries; the destination is ‘neutral ground’ to which everyone who wants to attend must make the effort to travel.

What advice or tips would you give couples that are searching for a wedding venue?

Use websites for basic research and then a wedding planner to assist in the search. However, nothing beats a personal visit before selecting the final venue!  Also, walk yourself through the events that you envision for your wedding and see whether your venue will accommodate this.  Don’t underestimate the time and energy that will need to go into planning and executing the logistics of the whole thing. Moving people takes time and effort—the more centralized you can keep your wedding, the less stress you’ll cause your guests, and the more time you’ll have to spend enjoying their presence.  Find a place where your whole party can stay for the duration of the events.

What was your vision/inspiration in terms of the style and feel of your wedding?

We wanted something that was rustic, country style, and down-to-earth, yet planned and executed well. We wanted something that reflected us and our style but also local flavour, so we made sure there were many Cape and South African elements in it. We used several fynbos flowers in our flower arrangements, and incorporated South African meats in the menu (springbok loin medallion, snoek pate, Cape Malay fish etc.).

What were your most memorable moments?

The whole week for sure! We started off with two family days of sightseeing on the Cape, and amazing picnic lunches and dinners in Cape Winelands wineries. This was then followed by four different events at Webersburg all starting in the late-afternoon to allow our guests time during the day to explore the area. We had a wine tasting and cellar tour one evening, a braai the following, the Big Day on Saturday and then a Sunday farewell brunch.

A & D, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you both the very best and a happy life together!

All photographs featured were captured by Du-Wayne Photography: http://duwaynephotography.com/

Nicola at Where’s My Wedding