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Julian & Nicci | Wedding | Simbali Lodge
Wow, what a privilege to have witnessed the union of the Van Niekerks! Geapers, Nicci and Julian, you looked exquisite!
Maxim and Liesbeth | Wedding | Kuthaba Bush Lodge
What a beautiful destination wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge! Maxim and Liesbeth had a super fun and special safari wedding in South Africa.
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Laura Ingalls Wilder
Maxim and Liesbeth are from Belgium and decided to celebrate their union with loved ones in South Africa! Liesbeth’ parents have been staying for almost 20years in Witrivier, and Liesbeth went to school in Witrivier for a few years, and later on moved back to Belgium to go to school there. The majority of the guests at the wedding flew in from Belgium, and a few South African friends also attended, but unfortunately Maxim’s parents couldn’t attend the wedding…and they were sorely missed.
Maxim and Liesbeth did the legal union in Belgium last year, but they knew they wanted their dream wedding in South Africa with a safari-type feel…and wow, Kuthaba Bush Lodge is such a beautiful setting for a this! Each time I capture a wedding here the scenery just blows me away. I mean they have beautiful mountain views, a gorgeous dam plus a stunning and massive Fig Tree…and wildlife on top of that…wow, what a setting for a wedding!
If I could sum up this wedding in one word, it will be “relaxed”. Wow, I was a bit on my nerves because everybody was super relaxed and enjoying themselves, and there wasn’t a huge plan to finish up, other than Liesbeth had to walk down the aisle at 16:00. I mean people were swimming, and having lunch, Maxim got ready in probably 4 rooms (for some time I couldn’t find him, and when I did, he was busy in the girl’s room getting his face powdered by Tami James). I am not used to the groom getting ready with the girls…but it created cool photo opportunities, and lots of cool memories for them! This was by far the most “documentary style” wedding I have captured…this means I capture almost all the getting ready photos without interfering with the moments, everything happened spontaneously…which I love and which the couple will love!
Wow, Liesbeth had the most gorgeous wedding dress from Ladybird, and Maxim looked smashing in his Cafe Costume’s suit!
Ashleigh from The Love Knot did the coordination, decor and flowers to perfection. Eeeek, this lady is on fire! (So I had to create a picture for her almost where she is literally on fire..hahaha)
The task of creating gorgeous details at a far-off destination venue is not a simple feat but Ahleigh does it with style and flair. And with her mom at her side she had created the most beautiful table arrangements and flower decorations…well done! Everybody was in awe of the styling, well done girls!
Ashleigh also brought the cake, which was from the Baker Boys, and what a show stopper of a cake! Gracenote Music created the most amazing atmosphere with their live music and Alex, the DJ, had the people entertained the whole night…wow…the party was super fun! Even I was hopping up and down taking photos of everybody just really enjoying themselves!
Tami James did an amazing job with the makeup and hair. We were way behind schedule because everybody was super relaxed, which forced the makeup and hair to be done at the same time on Liesbeth! Wow, that was a sight to see, well done girls!
Enough said. Congrats again Maxim and Liesbeth and many blessings for your marriage! I usually say :”See you when I take pictures of your little ones!” but I guess I could fly over to Belgium to take photos of your kiddos one day…you never know!
Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end of the blog.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Teaser! Maxim and Liesbeth | Wedding | Kuthaba Bush Lodge
What a beautiful destination wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge.
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Laura Ingalls Wilder
Maxim and Liesbeth are from Belgium and decided to celebrate their union with loved ones in South Africa! Liesbeth’ parents have been staying for almost 20years in Witrivier, and Liesbeth went to school in Witrivier for a few years, and later on moved back to Belgium to go to school there. They know South Africa well and they wanted a safari-type wedding with family and friends. Some friends from South Africa joined and their family flew in from Belgium. Unfortunately Maxim’s parents couldn’t attend the wedding, and they were sorely missed.
Maxim and Liesbeth did the legal union in Belgium last year, but they knew they wanted their dream wedding in South Africa with a safari-type feel…and wow, Kuthaba Bush Lodge is such a beautiful setting for a this! Each time I capture a wedding here the scenery just blows you away. I mean they have beautiful mountain views, a gorgeous dam plus a stunning and massive Fig Tree…and wildlife on top of that…wow, what a setting for a wedding!
If I could sum up this wedding in one word, it will be “relaxed”. Wow, I was a bit on my nerves because everybody was super relaxed and enjoying themselves, and there wasn’t a huge plan to get done, other than Liesbeth had to walk down the aisle at 16:00. I mean people were swimming, and having lunch, Maxim got ready in probably 4 rooms (for some time I couldn’t find him, and when I did, he was busy in the girl’s room getting his face powdered by Tami James). I am not used to the groom getting ready with the girls…but it created cool photo opportunities, and lots of cool memories for them!
Wow, Liesbeth had the most gorgeous wedding dress from Ladybird, and Maxim looked smashing in his Cafe Costume’s suit!
Ashleigh from The Love Knot did the coordination, decor and flowers to perfection. Eeeek, this lady is on fire!
The task of creating gorgeous details at a far-off destination venue is not a simple feat but she does it with style and flair. And with her mom at her side she had created the most beautiful table arrangements and flower decorations…well done! They loved it! She also brought the cake, which was from the Baker Boys, and what a show stopper of a cake! Gracenote Music created the most amazing atmosphere with their live music and Alex, the DJ, had the people entertained the whole night…wow…the party was super fun! Even I was hopping up and down taking photos of everybody just really enjoying themselves! Tami James did an amazing job with the makeup, and we were a little behind schedule, so it was a first for me as well to see the makeup and hair being done at the same time on the bride! It was a sight to see, well done girls!
Enough said, enjoy the sneak peak and please leave a comment at the end of the blog.
David & Irene | Wedding | Kuthaba Bush Lodge
Wow, I am in love with David & Irene's safari style wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge! Irene's Bride & Co dress was out of this world!
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. — LAO TZU
I always say that a client that is referred to me is the best client. Irene is one of those clients. She got my details from Cheryl and I had so much fun during their wedding! David and Irene are such great people, and I fell in love with who they are as a person since we first met last year for the engagement shoot. I can still remember how we had this super duper planned day and it all went pear shaped because we couldn’t enter the property we wanted to go to. So we ended shooting in a barren field, and we used whatever we had and made the best of it! That is such a testimony of who they are…they are focused people but also easy-going and content with the world.
It was my first time to capture a wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge and I loved it. Some of the most memorable moments for me was when I found out that Irene did not have bridesmaids but "groomsmaids". I kinda expected to see David in a kilt, because he is half Scottish but he did not wear one. All the groomsmen had a handkerchief in their suit pockets made from kilt material. And the one thing that completely blew me away was Irene's dress. Wow, I loved her dress which she bought on Still White. Its a Bride and Co dress and she definitely made a statement!
I try to end every wedding with a sparkler photo. How this photo works is I run around them with a sparkler in the dark, and then the sparkler leaves a trial wherever I ran. The problem is I need to do this in complete darkness, otherwise I show up on the photo, so there is always a risk of me falling over a rock or something because I do not know where I am going. Well...this was the first time I fell down during on of the attempts, and I didn't get hurt...too much... I just picked up a few scratches...Funny enough on the night we made these jokes that I couldn't go and phone Discovery to claim for my health insurance because an employee of Discovery (Irene works for Discovery) has seen what happened...hehehe...we had a giggle...Those photos are always worth it, doesn't matter the risk I have to take!
Here is a list of the suppliers who made the day possible:
Venue, Styling & Catering: Kuthaba Bush Lodge
Flowers: De Villiers Blomme, Modimole
Make up and hair: Andelien Steyn Professional MakeUp Artistry
Wedding Dress: Still White & Bride & Co
Irene shoes & David Suit and Shoes: Woolworths SA
Irene's hair piece and earrings: Accessorize SA
DJ: Jannie Kruger
Video: Byron & Amy Wolff
Enjoy the pictures and please leave a comment at the end!
A beautiful safari celebration {Awe & Elandi's wedding}
Awe & Elandi's safari wedding at Zebra Country lodge is on my blog!
“In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.” Maya Angelou
Wow, what a wedding. I always say that the no matter what you do, it's always about the people, and people make and/or break your wedding day and your experience as a photographer. When we first met, I loved them from the first moment. I remember Awe was a bit reserved, but Elandi chatted like we were best buddies! Elandi got my details from her sister, Sunette, after the family shoot I did for Sunette and Stefan. We immediately clicked and I knew that the wedding was going to be special, and it truly was! Some say that "Laughter is the best medicine, and in almost every set of pictures I got to capture so many laughs, and funny moments. So much fun!
This wedding was full of so many emotions, and I just love the pictures of Elandi and her father. They are so special. I got to capture so many year's of love and this why I love what I do. Telling stories of love to be cherished forever!
I just love the venue, Zebra Country Lodge. They allowed us to the engagement shoot during winter earlier this year at the venue, and that made me very excited for the wedding. See the engagement shoot pictures here (click).
I just love engagement shoots. I got to know Awe and Elandi a little better, and I got to experience their amazing chemistry in front of the camera for the first time. They could also see the way I work, and get comfortable with me, because when they are more comfortable the better the pictures look at the end of the day. I always say that I can just imagine myself in their shoes when they arrive for a wedding and think "I hope the photographer will capture me in the best way" or "I wonder what I look like through his camera?". That is why I do engagement shoots, and almost always do engagement shoots with all my customers.
Something quite mysterious and funny, is that I found out at the wedding that we attend the same church. Elandi's dad, Arrie Genis, is the headmaster (he actually retired a day or 2 ago) for the Louw Geldenhuys Primary School, which is right across our church, and great deal of the kids in our church go to his school. The Genis family means a great deal to the Linden community, and they contribute in incredible ways. When we moved to Johannesburg, we moved to a flat (even before I got married) right across Linden church (our flat, Louw Geldenhuys and the church are on the 3 corners of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue in Linden). We then moved to Northcliff, and eventually to Fourways where stay at the moment, but we are still entwined in the Linden community. The mystery...how did we not cross paths before...? Don't know, but in any case...back to the wedding!
It was most probably the hottest day I experienced in a while, definitely the hottest wedding I shot at. I always feel sorry for the bride and groom when it's this hot...they probably wanted to wear shorts and a cocktail dress...I must say there were a pool not far from the reception hall, and the thought crossed my mind a few times..."I hope they jump in the pool with their wedding clothes...it will make for such a cool picture!"
The decor was out of this world, and full of personal touches. Elandi and Awe did the table flower arrangements themselves. They bought the proteas from Doornkraal Proteas and the roses from Malanshof Flora.
Elandi's beautiful make-up was done by Elzette van der Schyff, and her exquisite hair by Rory Sandilands from Blo Hairdressing Salon.
Elandi's exquisite wedding dress was made by Eurobride & her bridesmaids' dresses by Gelique. Awe rented his suit from Eurosuit and he just looked amazing with his waistcoat! The cupcakes and cake was made by Magnolia Bake and Cake.
Congratulations again on your wedding day, and may the Lord's blessing rest on your marriage, and may your love for Him give you the strength to love each other!
Enjoy the pictures and please leave a comment at the end!
