Gina & Mark's Succulents & Lace Celebration

Written by: louise

Posted on Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Good morning lovely ones! After yesterday's colour-clashing inspiration, I've something rather more soothing to share today. Gina & Mark combined fresh and calming white and green with a touch of classic navy for their South African wedding, held on Gina's beautiful family farm. She wore a beautiful lace gown from David's Bridal, and carried a bouquet of classic white roses with contemporary succulents. This lace and succulent theme continued throughout the day, with natural touches of wood brought into the décor in beautifully handcrafted details made by the couple, their family and friends. Their memories were captured by Estefania Romero.

It was February 2010 and the Winter Olympics was taking place in Vancouver. Having recently moved to Canada I was waitressing at a local pub while trying to look for a job at local advertising agency. Mark lived in a different province at the time and decided last minute to jump onto a flight from Ontario to Vancouver to see the Olympics, staying with his brother Graydon. He came for a drink at his brother's local pub and I was his server, we went on a date the following day and he moved to Vancouver a couple months later! The proposal was a complete surprise! Mark and I had flown to South Africa for the Christmas holidays and to attend my sister, Sally and Stephan's, wedding in January 2012. I couldn't accompany Mark on the flight back to Canada due to some immigration issues and had to wait in South Africa for a new work permit approval. Sitting on the long flight back to Canada with an empty seat next to him, Mark said he decided then and there that he was going to marry me and the planning began. He pretended to be on a ski trip with his parents but instead they all flew out to South Africa for the proposal. In the meantime my parents had convinced me to join them for a friends birthday celebration at Karigia Game Reserve just to get me there. It was on my arrival I was lead out to a viewpoint and there he was - roses, our favourite champagne and ring in hand! My dress was an ivory lace gown that was part of the David's Bridal Collection. I loved the feminine look of the dress. For me it was timeless and elegant, I added lace straps to it, I wore it with a detachable French-wide satin sash from Essence of Australia - this was a favourite of mine! Walking past a store window, I saw the shoes walked in and bought them, I don't even remember the brand they were perfect! My beautiful 3 sisters, Sally, Megan and Caroline wore bridesmaid dresses by Vera Wang in Midnight blue, they provided the splash of colour. We made lots of the details ourselves using wood from our farm and natural materials. At each place setting we had a painted block of wood with each guest's name, and pieces of wood were used as serving platters. We also made wooden direction signs and tables for the drinks, and friends of ours made the M & G signs which stood at the entrance to the wedding ceremony. My mum propagated the succulents we used on the tables, they grow wild in the mountains around our farm. We planted them in pots crafted by Thobelani, a craft venture based at Fairview, which are all made by women from the farm. The love birds, showing the Canadian and South African flags, where loving made by community friends, such a special touch. photographer My sister, Megan recommended our photographer Steff, Mark and I took a look at her website and could see how talented she was. We loved her work from the start and are so thrilled to have had her as our wedding photographer. favourite moment Mark speech was a favourite moment for me, he did such an incredible job and I couldn't have felt move loved or in love with him at that moment. first dance Yiruma - River Flows In You advice My advice is hire a wedding planner if not only to set up and pack up, this allows everyone to fully relax and take in every moment of the wedding day. Spend the money on a photographer, it is worth every penny. She will capture your day with such beauty and you will have those beautiful memories preserved. There is absolutely not one thing I would do different which is amazing since there is so much that can go wrong. I was very lucky to have huge community as well as a family support and talented and incredible suppliers.

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Suppliers

Photographer: Estefania Romero Photography // Dress: David's Bridal Collection // Sash: Essence of Australia // Bridesmaids dresses: Vera Wang // Groomswear: Banana Republic // Florist: Wedding Belles // Cake: Bev Schreuder, family friend // Stationery: Megan Wearing // Hair: Michelle Trigg at Transformation Hair Salon, Tarkastad // Makeup: Philippa Leith // Venue: Fairview Farm // Catering: Colleen Elliot // Planner / Coordinator: Hayley at Wedding Belles

Categories: real weddings · Tags: david's bridal, estefania romero, farm wedding, green, lace, rustic, south africa, succulents, vera wang, white