It's not every day that I get to showcase not just one but TWO beautiful weddings, but then it's not every couple brave enough to plan two separate celebrations! But for Lindi and Morgan, it was a way of experiencing both the intimacy of a small, private wedding with just their closest family and friends, as well as including their wider circle in a huge party. Both celebrations (held two days apart) are GORGEOUS, and we're kicking things off with the first, a Delft-themed dinner at the beautiful Babylonstoren. Moira West captured it as gorgeously as only she knows how, and there are so many clever touches that make my detail-loving heart sing! And don't forget to come back later, because there's a Gatsby-esque cocktail hour on its way!

The Proposal
Two Weddings
Morgs and I are a little older, we have been to quite a few weddings and we knew we wanted less of the formalities that come with a big white wedding. We wanted to avoid long queues at the buffet table, cold food and table seating dramas. Initially the solution was to have a small wedding of just our immediate family and bridal party. But we are both from huge families, and have a large group of friends. So when we sat down and started doing a guest list, we quickly realised we would be excluding so many people who we care about. We decided to compromise by staying true to what was important to us and go against the grain, and opted for a small intimate ceremony with a handful of people to witness our vows to each other with an intimate dinner afterwards, and two days later we threw a huge cocktail party to celebrate our marriage with all our extended friends and family. Although it was a mammoth task planning and co-ordinating what was essentially two weddings, two days apart, I wouldn't have changed it for the world. Our wedding day was so incredibly special and we felt like we got to spend time with all our nearest and dearest while still focusing on each other and the commitment we had made to each other. Our cocktail party a few days later was literally a massive celebration of love, which was made all the more special and fun by all our guests that had travelled from far and wide to joined us. After living together for two years we decided to take the next step and buy a house together and move to the burbs. We had the usual discussions about finances and realised if we were to buy a house it would mean we wouldn't be able to get married for a while as finances were a little tight. I was really excited to buy our first home together so didn't give much thought to anything more than that. Little did I know that Morgan had something else completely in mind! He had already designed the most beautiful ring with the help of a jeweller and was planning to propose on the day we moved in. Unfortunately things didn't go quite as he planned. Not only was the ring not ready, we couldn't get the keys for the house and I had been bitten by a spider and was violently ill on the day on the day of the move so he decided to cancel, much to my parents' disapointment.
About two weeks after we were in, settled and all the chaos had subsided, he called me at work to ask if I would be able to come home early as he had arranged we meet with a landscaper. When I arrived home I saw Morgan pacing back and forth at the front door. As I was walking up the driveway I asked him what was wrong, to which he answered by dropping down on one knee on the threshold of our new home and asking me to marry him. Anyone who knows Morgan knows he is a bit of a joker, so I was really confused and asked 'No, What are you talking about, where is the landscaper?' It took me a while to realise he was being serious, there was no landscaper and I promptly screamed and dropped the laptop I was carrying. He asked if that was a yes and opened the ring box and there was the most incredible ring I had ever seen!

You can see more from this wedding on Moira West's blog.

SERVICE PROVIDERS
Venue & catering: Babylonstoren | Photography: Moira West | Co-ordinator: Tanya Coetzee | Cakes: Wendy Macleod | Delft printed biscuits: Laura Mitchell from Cake Couture | Flowers & decor: Babylonstoren & Classy Hire | Stationery: Nicky from Moonbeams & Polkadots | Bride's dress: Elbeth Gillis | Bride's accessories: Lovisa | Hair & makeup: Marni Bezuidenthout | Bridesmaids' dresses: Bride & Co | Groom's attire: Ted Baker | Hiring: Classy Hire | DJ: Legacy of Sound | Celebrant: Azilia Reisenberger | Other: Ignite Events