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Our Favourite Wedding Venues in Cape Town

July 26, 2016/in Blogroll, Weddings /by Engage24 Team

8 of Our Favourite Wedding Venues in Cape Town:

We have put together a list of some of our favourite wedding venues in Cape Town for you (in no particular order). These are all wedding venues that we have created weddings at, and have loved every minute working at these various places for one reason or another. We love being able to recommend a venue when we’re familiar with it, the staff, the working procedures, and when we know that it is a venue that is accommodating, not only of the Bride and Groom and all their varying requests, but also of the very important suppliers and the value which they add to the day, by providing a favourable working environment where we can create and make pretty.

1. The Lanzerac Estate and Spa

Lanzerac is one of those venues that just has it all…the mountains, the vineyards, the rolling lawns, the Cape-Dutch architecture, the Spa, the gorgeous rooms, the multiple venues within the estate that all provide breathtaking backdrops to a couple’s special day in luxurious comfort.

View their website here.

For more on this venue, have a look at our blog for our venue review we did after working with them. Click here to have a look.

2. Hidden Valley Wine Estate

This is a venue which just makes your heart jump. Tucked on the hillside, surrounded by fynbos and blended beautifully architecturally into the landscape, it boasts incredible vistas of the rolling hills and vineyards that surround it. It has both an indoor cellar or garden terrace as ceremony options, a wrap-around veranda for a covered outdoor reception and with the most spectacular food and wine one could ever wish for it truly is a dream venue.

View their website here.

3. Cape Point Vineyards

It’s not often that you can be nestled on the side of a mountain, flanked by vineyards AND have an uninterrupted view of an endless sandy beach and rolling waves in the distance. The setting of the Cape Point Vineyards is a truly remarkable one with innumerable opportunities for timeless wedding photographs and a perfectly refurbished reception venue that includes just about all you need for 160 guests.

View their website here.

We did a wedding for Cheri and Simon at Cape Point Vineyards. Click here to see our blog on their wedding day.

4. Catharina’s Restaurant at Steenberg

This is perfect for more intimate celebrations. From 24 guests in a private dining room to 90 seated for exclusive use of the restaurant, it celebrates both an award-winning menu and wine list, carefully selected and suitable for every palette. I love the elegantly decorated booths with moody lighting in the bar for welcome drinks and the freshness of the contemporary interiors in the dining area, a perfect canvas for wedding flowers. This is a venue for the discerning Bride and Groom who are looking for a stand out venue that offers an exclusive experience all round.

View their website here.

5. Bona Dea Private Estate

This is an exceptional venue that offers the complete package from start to finish. When you enter the gates at its unbelievably beautiful location in the Hemel and Aarde valley you really do feel like you’ve discovered a piece of heaven. They have a full range of items available to hire, all selected to compliment the interiors and decor of the building, including thousands of fairy lights and their gorgeous ghost chairs. Our experiences here have been nothing short of incredible and to have such a remarkable space to work in as their banquet hall has really been a privilege.

View their website here.

6. Jonkershuis Groot Constantia

For couples looking for a local but traditional wine farm experience, surrounded by historical vineyards and a menu steeped in Cape Malay heritage, Jonkershuis in the core of the Groote Constantia Wine Estate is the place to be. Able to accommodate both smaller, more intimate celebrations as well as a formal sit down for 250 guests, this restaurant has a variety of locations suitable for any need. We love the authenticity of the place, the thatched roofs and rolling lawns.

View their website here.

7. Tintswalo Atlantic

Situated in one of South Africa’s eight World Heritage sites, Tintswalo Atlantic is a chic, 5-star luxury guest lodge at the foot of Chapman’s Peak. It is tucked away on a private stretch of beach with views across to the Sentinel and Hout Bay. Each suite is uniquely appointed and the warmth of the homely but stylish decor is both inviting and relaxing. It provides a setting nothing short of special for truly memorable occasions.

View their website here.

We did Christine and Bekircan’s wedding at Tintswalo Atlantic. Have a look here to see our blog on their wedding day.

8. MolenVliet

We fell in love with Molenvliet the moment we laid eyes on it. The grandeur of the double-volume banquet hall with it’s crystal chandeliers and white beams and all the opportunity this incredible space invites excites us. We love that everything falls away around the ceremony lawn making you feel as if you’re perched on top of the world with the distant mountain peaks as your audience – the way every bride and groom should feel on their wedding day. It has so many different areas where guests can celebrate. We love the comfy couches the lounges offer and the long deck overlooking the vineyards for pre-drinks and canapes. There is a host of accommodation available too for the wedding party and family, after all, who would want to leave this place anyway?!

View their website here.

Our Favourite 8 Wedding Venues in Cape Town

Elisha and Iulian – Casa Labia

June 10, 2016/in Blogroll, Event Decor, Event Flowers, Weddings /by Engage24 Team

Elisha and Iulian’s Wedding:

We created this intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg for the lovely Elisha and Iulian. This exquisite venue was the perfect setting for a bespoke occasion.

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

We asked the bride a few questions after her big day, as she reflected on the magnificence of this special day. Here are her thoughts and comments:

How did you meet? Tell us your story:

We always tell people we met at the Leuven Belgian Beer Cafe which was where we had our first date. But, we met on an internet dating set. We chatted for a few months before we met in person and by the time we met we felt like we’d known each other our entire lives.

Iulian always says he fell in love with me before he even met me. How cute is that?

(I couldn’t get enough of her – Iulian)

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

The venue, the dream, the big picture for your day – what was important to you and what did you want your experience to be?

We wanted to get married in Cape Town. Iulian just loved the city, the atmosphere, and the people. When he saw Casa Labia it reminded him of home and the Italian architecture was setting it apart. The surroundings the ocean in the front and the mountain behind … it was like the dream location! This was the perfect venue for us. Now we had to find everything else to match. And we didn’t compromise on quality.

Tell us the details on why you chose what you chose and who your lovely vendors were:

We bought all our attire in NZ. My dress was made especially for me by Shona Rubbery designs in NZ ( www.shonaruberydesigns.co.nz ) and she was absolutely amazing.

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

Shoes are Italian. My hair was by Monroe Classique in Muizenberg ( monroeclassiquehairstudio.devhub.com ).

The dresses for the matron of honour and junior bridesmaid were designed and made by my dear friend Braemore Lundall Sauls ( www.facebook.com/BraemoreDesign ).

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

One disappointing experience was our makeup artist not turning up on the wedding day. But Braemore – fashion designer extraordinaire, stepped in and did my make up.

My dear husband Iulian and his best man Claudiu, worn Gibson suits made by Cambridge, New Zealand ( cambridgeclothing.com) from NZ wool threaded in Italy. The suits shirts and silk teal cravats were purchased from Bachari Menswear. Leather Italian handmade shoes by Brando ( www.theiconic.co.nz/brando ).

The best man lives in Australia so… coordinating the clothing sizes and purchases between New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, was all worth while.

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

We brought the jewellery from Cape Diamonds, simple yet stylish design, just the way we like it – diamonds set in platinum with mounting shaped like a protea flower.

My husband Iulian and Joel from Cape Diamonds sketched the wedding band on a piece of scrap paper and the design was done in minutes. Amazing skill and art from Joel ( www.capediamonds.co.za ).

What went through your head when you saw Iulian for the first time?

Man I’m lucky! He is so handsome and the smile on his face and the faint tears in his eyes were so endearing. He says he keeps falling in love with me over and over again.

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

Tell us the key details that stood out for you from your reception:

It was all perfect. Tanya Mills and the staff at Casa Labia were awesome ( www.casalabia.co.za ). We enjoyed our wedding day without having to worry about anything.

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

The flower arrangements supplied by The Rose Cafe ( www.therosecafe.florist/weddings-and-events ) were outstanding, and what a match for the venue!

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

The gorgeous cake with the dainty damask detailing was by Kanya Hunt, ( www.kanyahunt.co.za ).

The photographer Shireen Louw ( www.shireenlouw.com ) was fantastic, personable, fun and easy going.

And the music … ‘The Hungarian Trio’ was an exquisite treat. Gabor serenading with his old Amati violin, Donat and Nerina playing everything from classic to modern ( www.hungariantrio.com ).

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

Advice from the couple:

Do whatever makes you happy. After all, it is YOUR wedding day!

Allow for mishaps. Imperfection is beautiful in its innocence.

Elisha & Iulian's intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg | Flowers by The Rose Cafe | Cape Town Wedding Flowers | www.therosecafe.florist

An intimate wedding in Cape Town, at Casa Labia in Muizenberg

Christine and Bekircan’s Wedding

June 10, 2016/in Blogroll, Weddings /by Engage24 Team

Christine and Bekircan’s Wedding at Tintswalo Atlantic:

The relationship between Christine and The Rose Cafe goes right back to our little store in Newlands village in 2008. Christine used to supply me with gift cards and that’s how our story with her begins. A few years ago we did the flowers for her sister Nicole and Eric’s wedding and now it was Christine’s turn to wed the man of her dreams. So it felt like a family affair to us and very special to be a part of her beautiful wedding at Tintswalo Atlantic.

We asked Christine and Bekircan a few questions on their beautiful wedding at Tinswalo Atlantic. Here are their thoughts:

How did you meet Bekircan? Tell us your story:

In 2008, I had recently moved to London and happened to be applying for my tax number on the same day as Bekircan. We had exchanged a couple of words of complaint towards the long wait and then carried on our separate ways. Him suited and booted and looking super stressed as he was late for a business meeting and me really relaxed in my slip slops and backpack (a real South African in the city look). A few weeks later when I was at a club a gentleman came up to talk to me and insisted he recognised me from somewhere. I thought this was a very weak chat up line and brushed him off until he mentioned the day at the tax office. Suddenly I clicked and we ended up chatting for the rest of the night, mostly about our home (Bekircan is from Turkey) and our families, which we were missing dearly. We kept in contact and met up a few times until I had to leave London for a job in the country. We continued to see each other and I returned to London a few months later where we carried on a relationship until 27^th June 2013 when he proposed, totally out of the blue might I add. We weren’t in a hurry to get married, but realised that as soon as we found our venue, we had to book it which made everything real and the year and a half of planning began.

The venue, the dream, the big picture for your day – what was important to you and what did you want your experience to be?

I was trawling through the internet from my desk in London and found a five star lodge in South Africa which looked absolutely perfect and I was surprised that I had never heard about such a gem.

We had agreed that a summer wedding was a must and I insisted that I wanted to get married in the most beautiful country, my home. We didn’t want a large wedding and knew that a lot of people may struggle to get across the world for our big day, but as long as our families were there as our guests we were happy.

I made a trip to South Africa and my Dad chauffeured me around to just about every wedding venue option possible (and some that were definitely not options). I was most excited about the little lodge that I had seen online in the UK and so arranged a meeting when my Mom and sister could join as I knew a few more opinions would help. Well let’s just say I needed more than a few opinions… and it was to try and put me off this beautiful lodge as it was way over our budget. Every other place I had seen and was to still see could not compare and the fact that my heart jumped into my chest and I felt that I was actually in love… with a venue, made the decision easy for Bekircan – he wanted the day to be perfect and that meant letting me have all my dreams come true.

So a wedding at TINTSWALO ATLANTIC it was and I still smile thinking about how heavenly it all was. Intimate, on the ocean, rustic/chic decor, a delicious menu, service to perfection and dancing under the stars into the early hours in my mermaid dress surrounded by all those I adore….

The day after our beautiful wedding at Tintswalo Atlantic we smelt smoke whilst driving home, but thought nothing of it as we had heard about a fire on the mountains nearby. Waking up the following morning to find out that my most favourite place on earth, the venue I was so in love with and had just had the most perfect day of my life at had burnt to the ground was a real shock. I could not believe it and I was totally devastated. Today the lodge has been totally rebuilt and still looks absolutely exquisite, but my heart belongs to the original and I feel privileged to be, as the wonderful Melissa du Rand introduced me at their relaunch; The Last Bride of Tintswalo Atlantic 🙂

The details! Tell us about the vendors you used…

My dress had to be lace and I knew I wanted it to have straps and a low back. A friend of mine referred me to her friend’s boutique in Wimbledon, Teokath of London ( www.teokath.co.uk ), where I found exactly what I had in mind in the Pronovia’s Marte gown ( www.pronovias.com ).

Rose gold for my shoes, as with my engagement and wedding rings, was a must so when I found a simple pair of strappy rose gold sandals from Reiss, it was too good to be true ( www.reiss.com/eu ) and Helga Strydom and her team did a perfect job with the hair and make-up for my bridal party and I ( www.facebook.com/Helga.Bridal ).

My earrings, bracelet and necklace were from my favourite jewellery designer, Monica Vinader ( www.monicavinader.com ). This was my wedding gift from Bekircan and I was totally spoilt (I bought Bekircan and I leather jackets from All Saints in London – slightly less romantic a gift).

Our rings are from Istanbul, Turkey. Bekircan arranged these. My band is rose gold to match my engagement ring and has diamonds all the way round, while Bekircan wanted a simple white gold band for himself.

I struggled with the bridesmaids dresses as I was in the UK and my two sisters were both in South Africa, one of them being very pregnant. Eventually I found perfect, full-length, flowy gowns at Bridal Allure ( www.bridalallure.co.za ).

The men’s suits were from Ted Baker ( www.tedbaker.com ), and their cravats from Cravat Club ( www.cravat-club.com ). With my brother in France and Bekircans brother in Turkey, we sent them the colour and style we were going for and asked them to go shopping on us to make things easier and be sure that their suits fitted properly. We think they looked dashing!

The wonderful Reverend Daniel Brits married us ( www.tacotsa.com ) and for our ceremony and pre-drinks on the pool deck we were serenaded by Jazz Between Friends ( www.jazzbetweenfriends.com ).

Capricorn Music were absolutely amazing and we danced the night away to their tunes. ( www.capricornmusic.co.za ). I’m a real sweet freak so I had to have a delicious wedding cake. I wanted the style to be really simple and Beate from The Birdcage in Stellenbosch nailed this – the best cake I have ever had. Complete with gold succulents by The Rose Cafe of course 🙂 ( www.birdcageteabar.com )

I am no model and Bekircan and I were really not keen on having the overly posed looking wedding shots. We wanted a natural, warm romantic feel to our images and that is exactly the look that the amazing Tania Timkova’s images reflect. I love her work and her sweet personality really helps makes you feel at ease. She travels worldwide to capture peoples love stories, from Italy, Netherlands and the USA to South Africa, so we were really lucky to have her in the country to capture ours ( www.neverendingmagic.com ).

Ismael from Filmish did an amazing job for us with our video and I always get tears in my eyes when watching it ( www.facebook.com/filmishsa ).

As mentioned before, we had our wedding at Tintswalo Atlantic. Melissa Du Rand was my main contact there and an absolute dream to deal with throughout ( www.tintswalo.com/atlantic ).

For my flowers I wanted a natural arrangement with a Protea in it to match the Proteas that were all around the venue and also because I am very proud of our national flower, especially since I have been living abroad. I also wanted to incorporate the gold echevarias somehow. Bekircan’s family still go on about the beautiful Proteas and always ask me to try and sneak some back in my bag whenever I come to South Africa. My bouquet is now dried and in my room at my home in Cape Town; I’ll keep it forever.

What went through your head when you saw Bekircan / Christine for the first time?

CHRISTINE:

So I was extremely nervous and excited. My poor Dad was really emotional too, but he managed to calm us both down and walked me along the boardwalk to my love. I saw Bekircan through my veil and tried to make out his reaction. The closer I got I could see he was really happy and emotional too. My Dad giving me away in front of everyone was really special and I felt really lucky to be standing next to this handsome man for whom all I could think was.. I’m marrying this man, I’m marrying this man!! And I couldn’t stop smiling into the sunshine 🙂

BEKIRCAN:

The only thing I was able to feel was my heart pounding and trying to break out my chest. All of a sudden I forgot how to breathe… And in that tiny moment I had my past and my future flowing before my eyes.

Tell us the key details that stood out for you from your reception:

Finally you can breathe and you look around at everything that you have been planning ever since you can remember and smile at how it actually did all come together on the day, as they all say it will.
I feel like I was on a high the whole time and I wish I could’ve stopped the clock as it all goes by so fast in a dreamy haze.

A couple of key details would be when my 97 year old Bonne Maman (Grandmother in French) called from Belgium to speak to us and wish us the best for our future together. She passed away a couple of months later and having a photograph of us on the phone to her on the day is a reminder that she was also with us on our special day. I also printed out photographs of mine and Bekircans parents and grandparents and had them framed and decorating the shelves so we had everyone there with us.

Another more jolly moment was definitely the dancing in the Jacuzzi in my wedding dress with as many girls and guys in there with me as it could fit. Care free fun that everyone remembers and still laughs about.

Tips from the couple:

I would suggest to any engaged couple, take your time and try to enjoy the planning process. Whether you’re doing it together as a couple or one of you is taking the lead. I was lucky I suppose as Bekircan left the decisions up to me so I pretty much had free reign.

Also, speak to people as word of mouth is a great way to get advice and contacts that will suit you.
Do what you feel comfortable with and not what is expected of you. It’s your day as a couple – we were in a few tricky situations when it came to things like language barriers – a lot of Bekircan’s family could not speak English – so we had an MC who spoke in English and Turkish to make everyone feel like they were part of it all. He was brilliant and is a very close friend so it worked out perfectly for us in the end, even though it was a bit of an added stress.

Make lists and a large spreadsheet to keep on top of it all.

Nothing is worth fighting over so make it work.

Planning a wedding from across the world is hard, but definitely possible and we were very lucky as all our service providers were amazing… especially The Rose Cafe 🙂

Christine and Bekircan’s Wedding at Tintswalo Atlantic

Lindsay & Brandon Wesner

April 26, 2016/in Blogroll, Weddings /by Engage24 Team

Lindsay & Brandon Wesner’s Wedding:

When Lindsay approached us to do their wedding flowers we were nothing less than excited – this girl’s got style. I knew this from the moment she mentioned the multiple tiered cheese cake they wanted, a refreshing change from the norm. I love doing flowers for personal friends and I loved every minute of planning and putting together the floral and decor concepts for this beautiful celebration, this gracious bride and her handsome groom.

The Bride’s bouquet is always a very important feature of the flowers on the day, not only for the bride but for the florist too, partly because the bride carries it with her all day, but it is often representative of her preferences, personality and character. This is always something that we are aware of when conceptualising her bouquet and it is often the last item to be designed as I like to get to know my brides so that I get a feel for them as a person and can really reflect this through their bridal flowers. Lindsay’s is one of our favourites to date, including a soft mix of coral and cream roses and tendrils of lisianthus, with touches of sea holly and miniature orchid blooms. The trailing olive leaves and asparagus fern added a whimsical flow to the simplicity of her elegant gown. Bound in wide cream satin with pearl pins it was finished with a beautiful silver and pearl brooch, the final touch to a carefully put together creation.

Lindsay’s bridesmaids looked perfectly pretty in their pastel coloured gowns and carried simple white and cream roses, framed by olive leaves off the olive trees on the farm, with trailing satin and organza ribbons in mint and coral.

At our first coffee date to discuss the concept of her wedding flowers further, Linds and I went through their colour preferences, flower choices, centrepiece design ideas and decor specifics. She loved the idea of one of the feature colours being very trendy gold which we used for the flower containers and candlesticks, adding glass candle holders for that fresh, twinkly effect it has under candlelight. They were set on using soft grey, minty greens together with a range of coral tones and cream and white and really wanted to incorporate some local greens and fynbos.

We guided Lindsay to use a banquet table layout for lovely, long, flowing tables, following current table flower trends, and suggested floral garlands of penny gum, olive branches and slangbos as centrepieces on the tables. These were perfectly suited to the castle-like, banquet-hall setting at Het Vlock Kasteel with the raw brick walls and natural tones of the earthy setting, and were punctuated with coral dahlias, snaps, roses and blue-grey sea holly.

Her lovely mum propagated aloes in her Bonnievale garden to place atop some of the gold candlesticks, adding height and texture to the table flowers, as well as for the potted aloe favours they gave away. The gold doily ‘chargers’ and table number picture frames were a brilliant addition by the bride and added a warm glow to the place settings. Each serviette was finished off with a mint ribbon and gold seal, bearing a monogram chosen by Lindsay and Brandon. So much thought went into every last detail.

Although Lindsay had a clear idea of the colours and the overall effect she wanted, she wasn’t sure what to hire or how much. With our guidance we were able to put together a truly beautiful table scape. We sourced a handful of King Proteas which we used on the main table as focal flowers, something that Lindsay really wanted to incorporate into the flowers on the day, and I think it was quite fitting that these regal blooms only appeared alongside the bride and groom. Floating candles bobbed gently in the glass candle holders and small gold, footed pots, in between the tall gold candelbra, adding soft candlelight at different heights along the tables. Low strung fairy lights added a more intimate ambience by giving the feeling of a lower ceiling, which in such a large venue can seem quite vast.

The romance between these two is clearly visible and there is such a lovely old world charm about them both. Lindsay is the epitomy of a lady and conducts and carries herself with grace and poise, and Brandon a gentleman through and through, not only in appearance, but in the way he treats his beautiful bride, so attentively and with such tender love.

As a venue Het Vlock Kasteel was a pleasure to work at. Friendly and accommodating they allowed us to work our magic in a cool oasis amidst the scorching outdoor summer heat. They really did provide the perfect venue for Lindsay and Brandon and a brilliant blank canvas which any florist is blessed to work in. In the most beautiful setting, surrounded by lush vineyards and rolling hills, Het Vlock Kasteel, a family run venue, is well recommended for destination weddings. Only an hour and a half out of Cape Town it’s far enough away to feel that much more special, but close enough for it to be a manageable travelling distance for all guests from the city.

It’s always a pleasure to work with the top vendors in the Cape. We’ve listed them here so that you know who they all are, but a huge thank you must go to Tasha Seccombe for capturing everything so beautifully and doing all our hard work justice.

Photography: Tasha Seccombe

Venue : Het Vlock Casteel

Catering & Waiting Staff: Heart Worx

Flowers: The Rose Cafe

Hair & Make-up: Beauty by Erane

Bridesmaids Dresses: Skylah Designs

Wedding Cake: The Mousetrap

Wedding Cake: La Mont

Hiring: Function Hiring 4U

Hiring: Rent a Candle

Hiring: Eensgezind

Flags & Bunting: The Roxy Foundation

Fairy Lights: CM Functions

Cocktail slushie machine: KC and the Drinks Factory

Beer Labels: Prime Labels

Jazz Band: The Band Five – krigerc@yahoo.com

DJ: DJ Jono

Videography: Precious Moments

Jewellery: Charly Adonis

Jewellery: GM Fine Jewellers

Cherie & Simon’s Wedding

April 12, 2016/in Blogroll, Weddings /by Engage24 Team

Cherie & Simon’s Wedding:

Wedding Flowers and Decor at Cape Point Vineyards

We recently did the wedding flowers and decor at Cape Point Vineyards for Cherie and Simon. I was introduced to Cherie and Simon through a friend and colleague, Katharine Price, who was coordinating their wedding day, and hosting them at the beautiful Maesteg Guest House which neighbours the Vineyard and overlooks the breathtaking Noordhoek Valley.

I met Cherie and Simon over a Skype chat and was instantly engaged with this fun-loving, bubbly bride and her chivalrous groom.

Working with these two was the greatest pleasure, as we all pinned away furiously on Cherie’s wedding Pinterest board, gathering ideas and images, most with lots of sparkle, and sharing the feel for the overall style and vision for the flowers and décor for their special day.

Cherie and Simon provided their guests with lawn games to keep them entertained on the terrace during the couple photos. This included giant Jenga, Croquet, Boule and Noughts and Crosses that they enjoyed during pre-drinks, all adding to the fun that this couple is all about.

From the start Cherie told me of her love for all things shiny and how this ‘magpie’ trait had earned her a reputation with her family, who lovingly teased her about this. It was very important to her, and to us, for this to be incorporated into the décor. We did this by using lots of twinkly fairy lights, silver sequinned table runners, mirror trays to reflect the gentle candlelight and the bright and beautiful floral rose bowls.

The couple have travelled extensively together, so they incorporated this into their day by naming the tables after the different destinations they have travelled to together and remembering the richness of their life experiences that brought them to this special day.

We sprinkled table crystals and scattered mercury tea lights for a gorgeous glow on the tables and added turquoise, glittered butterflies, supplied to us by the bride, to add an extra ‘pop’ of colour to their table flowers.

With the freshness of the venue and the white cloths off-setting the exuberance of colour, light and sparkle, the end product was magical.

Some of the talented people we worked with to make this special day a success:

Vendors:

Venue: Cape Point Vineyards

Flowers and Decor: The Rose Cafe

Photography: Juliette Bisset Photography

Coordination: Katharine Price Event Management Services

Lighting: EC Lighting Solutions

Lawn Games: Urban Tonic

DJ, Photobooth & Videography: Pie In the Sky Productions ltd – Rudi Van Zyl

Marimba Band: amaAmbush Marimba’s – Ross Johnson

Hair and Makeup: Make up and Delight– Lindsey Boucher

Bridal Car: Classic Cats – Luxury Car Hire – Quentin Strydom

Marriage Officer: Troy Goldie

Charactature Artist: Martinus Van Tee

Wedding Flowers and Decor at Cape Point Vineyards by The Rose Cafe

Dirk and Jen’s Wedding

January 20, 2016/in Blogroll, Weddings /by Engage24 Team

Dirk and Jen’s Wedding:

On a beautiful May day last autumn, we had the joy of planning and co-ordinating the wedding of a very special couple, Dirk and Jen – we just loved every bit of this wedding!

Dirk and Jen had seen our ‘Citrus and Slate’ styled shoot featured on The Pretty Blog a few months earlier and loved the combination of the neutrals, yellows and greys. They were also keen on using some local flowers in the mix for their big day, hence the incorporation of some white proteas and soft, grey fynbos. While the feel I got from them at our first meeting was that they had a preference of classic over modern, I also wanted to provide them with a contemporary feel, suited to the young couple they are – they were game. We put together a mix of both soft flowers – the roses, lisianthus, delphiniums and fynbos – and structured flowers – the proteas, tulips, and casablanca lilies – and opted for grouped arrangements for the larger focals, while adding a fun touch to the more classic table arrangements, with quirky craspedia balls and tulips dotted throughout.

Jen was wonderful to work with – gentle and gracious, uncomplicated while also knowing her likes and dislikes, trusting, and overall, such a lady – a real compliment to her adoring Dirk. I really wanted her bouquet to reflect her softness, stearing away from the bold yellow used throughout the rest of the wedding and opting for a romantic posie in neutrals, with a touch of silver brunia for depth and texture. Jen was breathtaking in her customised Stella York gown supplied by Olivelli Cape Town.

The bridesmaids bouquets on the other hand incorporated punches of fun yellow in the craspedia balls and tulips, while still maintaining a classic and elegant feel. The bridesmaids were graceful in beautiful, rouched buttercup gowns, also from Olivelli, which were the perfect gentle statement to accompany Jen in her soft, scalloped lace creation.

Dirk is a gentleman in every sense of the word. His love and admiration of his beautiful bride was evident from the first time we met and we were so priviledged to be a part of the journey of seeing this lovely couple give their lives to each other. He and his groomsmen were dapper in navy suits and bow ties. I loved how old-school so many of the details of this wedding were, somewhat reminiscent of ‘Downton Abbey’ splendour and what a fitting venue for such an occasion – the resplendent Lanzerac Estate, steeped in history and old-world charm. The cut-glass tumblers, the library, the chivalry – this wedding was a joy to behold.

Dirk and Jen really wanted their ceremony to be outdoors, surrounded by the beauty that is the surrounding valley. They loved the idea of the focal arch with ‘floating’ flowers and hanging glass vases. The striking setup provided the perfect platform for our floral additions of simple floral posies, grouped focals and silver urns full of yellow and white petals.

I just love this pic of Dirk and Jen, shortly after saying their ‘I do’s’, with a halo of golden light and the joy of their guests surrounding them. This was such a special moment as they were presented for the first time as husband and wife to their loved ones.

More than anything I loved being a part of all the details of this special day – assisting Dirk and Jen with the aesthetic decisions that needed to be made from the flowers and decor to layout and lighting, guiding them through the how’s, when’s and where’s, the on-the-day coordination, contingency plans for rain (and just look at the weather!), managing the suppliers, keeping everything running smoothly and according to the time schedule and generally ensuring that they had the most memorable day of their lives! It helped that they were such a pleasure to work with and had great style.

We decided on a banquet look and feel, opting for 6 long tables with Dirk and Jen seated in the centre, surrounded by their friends and family. They opted for the lovely wide plinth tables and ghost chivaris chairs from Urban Tonic, giving us lots of space for the table decor and spacious settings for the guests . The block table runners in a bold chevron yellow were right on trend, fresh on the latest catalogue, and added a fun element to the elegant reception decor. Jen loved the idea of having garlands of tulips hanging in between the fairy light curtains and the effect was stunning. We made use of Lanzerac’s dance floor and set up a chic satelite bar to the one side for the dancers to stay hydrated, ensuring the party went on into the wee hours. A service bar in the foyer of the venue, and champagne coolers positioned strategically between the tables, ensured that guests remained in the venue making for a lovely, vibrant atmosphere which Dirk and Jen were very specific about.

We have been incredibly blessed with easy going brides who choose us mostly for their love of our style and allow us the freedom to create something beautiful for them on the day. Dirk and Jen were incredibly generous with their trust of us and our ability to look after their dreams and make this into a day they will cherish for the rest of their lives. This made their wedding a really special one for us as we were allowed to own the design concepts and use our creative flair to piece together a carefully coordinated union.

We were very fortunate to have worked with some incredibly talented people on this wedding. Lanzerac Estate, who we have since done a feature blog post on, was the perfect setting for this fine day and our experience with Denise and the rest of the Lanzerac staff was proffesional, thorough and friendly. Dirk and Jen chose Peter Gilder for their rings and jewellery, Olivelli Cape Town for their gowns and Khaliques Sandton for their suits. Their stationery was perfection by Lezanne from Lezanne’s Designs and their 3 tiered, triple flavoured, masterpiece of a wedding cake was made by none other than Lulubelle’s Bakes.

To say that this wedding stands out as one of my favourites would be an understatement. I loved every moment working on this wedding and can only thank the very humble bride and groom for allowing us the opportunity to put together their special day. Dirk and Jen – wishing you many, many years of wedded bliss… you’ve had the perfect start xx

Some of the wonderful suppliers we worked with:

Venue: The Lanzerac Hotel and Spa, www.lanzerac.co.za

Bridal Gowns: Olivelli Cape Town, www.olivellicapetown.co.za

Stationery: Lezanne’s Designs, www.lezannesdesigns.co.za

Suits: Khaliques Sandton, www.khaliques.co.za

Jewellery & Rings: Peter Gilder, www.petergilder.co.za

Wedding Cake: Lulubelle’s Bakes, www.lulubellesbakes.com

Fudge Favours: Sweet Dreams, www.facebook.com/fudgemakers/

Cape Town Wedding Co-ordination: The Rose Cafe, www.therosecafe.florist

Flowers & Decor: The Rose Cafe, www.therosecafe.florist

To see more of this gorgeous venue, have a look here for our blog post on Lanzerac as a wedding venue.

Cape Town Wedding Co-ordination by The Rose Cafe

Tips On Finding Your Ideal Wedding Venue

November 30, 2015/in Blogroll /by Engage24 Team

Tips On Finding Your Ideal Wedding Venue:

Finding a venue for your wedding can be an overwhelming process. To help you, we have compiled a few of our top tips for things to consider when visiting a potential wedding venue, and the right questions to ask so you know the space will work for you.

The Venue:

Location:

A really important thing to think about regarding your venue is the location and what you would like to be surrounded by on your wedding day – mountains, vineyards, sandy beaches, a forest or something else that speaks of who you and your partner are and what you enjoy. In Cape Town we are blessed with such an abundance of venues that it can be difficult to know where to start, but the following will help you to eliminate the ‘wrong’ venues and shortlist the ‘right’ ones, for you.

Number of Guests:

The number of people on your guest list is the first place to start as this will determine first-off whether a space will be suitable. It is not worth visiting a whole lot of venues only to find out once there, and you have your heart set on the place, that they are not able to accommodate your guests. Most wedding venues tell you on their website what their capacity is and may even have a few different options for larger or more intimate celebrations. It is a good idea to find out this information before heading out on the road.

Ceremony:

Inside & Outside Spaces at the Venue:

Think about things like whether you want your ceremony to be indoors or outdoors and whether the venues you are looking at can accommodate your ceremony, or whether you’ll have to have it at a chapel elsewhere and then travel to the reception.

If the former is the case, consider where will you want the ceremony to take place at the venue, which direction it will face if there is a view to behold and whether you want to face the breath-taking vistas as you say your vows or whether you ‘d like you guests to enjoy the scenery as they look on. If your first option is an outdoor ceremony, always run through the contingency plan if the weather doesn’t play ball.

If the latter is the case, consider travel times from the chapel to the reception venue and accommodation and transport for the guests should they be staying at the venue or nearby and have opted not to drive themselves. If they are driving themselves ask where your guests will be able to park and ensure that it will not interrupt the beautiful views or be in the background of your photos. Find out if Uber or Good Fellas operate in the area and notify your guests of this so they can be sure of a safe ride home after the party.

Reception Venue:

Indoors, Outdoors, Tables and Seating:

When considering where to host the reception remember to ask if they have an outdoor option if you have your heart set on an outdoorsy wedding and if they provide a marquee, as some places do, or whether you have to hire one as this can all add to the costs and may change your mind about it. Consider the layout of the tables, find out if they are provided by the venue, whether they are round or rectangular, banquet size, how many they will seat and whether your main table will be a stand-alone front facing table or whether it will sit among the other tables so that you are surrounded by your friends and family.

If there is a view from the reception venue will you want the main table to face it and if so how will that affect the layout of the other tables.

Dance Floor:

Consider where you want the dance floor to be situated and where your DJ or band will be setup.

If you’re having a band, try to place them close to the dance floor so you can maximise the sound and the vibe. Sticking them in a corner might seem practical so they’re not in the way or an ‘eye-sore’ with all their cables and drums but you’ll lose out on the mood when the music starts.
Some people like to have their dance floor in the middle of the tables for easy access from everywhere in the venue and so that the party is in the centre of the room. This can however often spread the tables quite far from each other and the main table often ends up being a front facing table separated from the rest and looking over the dance area rather than the smiley faces of friends.
Some like their dance floor off to the one side with a satellite bar for easy access to drinks when the dancing starts.

Whatever your preference, this detail is very important and can make or break the ambience and mood at your wedding so consider it carefully.

Pre-Drinks Time:

This is often the time between the ceremony and the reception, where the bride and groom are off having their photos taken and the guests are left to fend for themselves, sometimes for a rather long time. Canapés and drinks are often served during this time and keep your guests happy while you’re off posing in the sunset.

Just an aside and not related to venue choices specifically, but something to think about, is limiting the amount of time you have for taking photos during this time so you aren’t away for too long – a good photographer will be able to capture your precious moments throughout the day and that pre-reception photo shoot doesn’t need to go on forever. Your photographer may also want to take these at a particular time of the day depending on when the sun will set – later if you are getting married in summer – so you may need to arrange the timing of the ceremony and the snacks and drinks to accommodate this.

Some things to consider regarding pre-drinks would be: Where you will want this to take place? Will the canapés be served on platters and brought around to your guests or will they be able to help themselves at a food station? Will you make use of a service bar – where the staff take orders and bring the drinks to your guests, or will have a drinks station setup where guests can place their orders themselves? Seating during this time is also really important as you want to make sure your guests are comfortable as well as fed and hydrated while they wait to welcome the happy couple. Some venues provide seating for free, some provide seating but you are required to hire it and some have none and you will have to hire in couches and cocktail tables and bar stools. This can really add to the costs – so make sure you ask all these questions when visiting the different venues you are interested in. You definitely don’t want guests’ hobbling around in stilettos with sore feet before the reception’s started because they’ve had to stand around waiting for you for so long already.

Food:

Consider whether you will be having a buffet or plated meal. If it’s a buffet ask where the food will be laid out and if it is plated consider easy accessibility to the kitchen for service staff to ensure your tables are served simultaneously as this will ensure you all eat together and make for a smoother running of events all round. Make sure you enjoy the food at the venue of your choice and request a tasting beforehand to ensure it’s up to your standards. If you don’t like it your guests won’t and that will make for hungry, unhappy wedding goers and will dampen the spirit of the celebration. Your food doesn’t have to cost the earth or be overly extravagant, but the quality is important.

Lighting:

Ask the venue about lighting inside and outside. What is included in the venue hire fee and what is over and above it? Ask them to point out the lighting to you so you know whether you will have to have additional lighting to create the ambiance you would like as this will really set the mood for the whole evening. If you’re having a summer celebration bear in mind you may want to have lighting outside so guests can enjoy the warm weather.

We hope this helps you with your venue hunting! All the best!

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