south african wedding - Polka Dot Bride

Natalie & Neil

It’s not often we take a trip across to visit the beauty of South Africa but today’s wedding couldn’t be a better place to start. The backdrop is nothing short of majestic which of course, lends itself to creating a very special wedding.

Natalie tells, “We met though a mutual friend at a Red Bull BC One Break dancing Competition for the first time, and no we were not competing 😉 We didn’t see each other until a month later at another mutual friend’s birthday where Neil invited me to dinner and we were together ever since! “

Modern Hearts captured some truly breath taking imagery for today’s wedding!

Old Mac Daddy Luxury Trailer Park in Elgin was chosen as the wedding location, Natalie remarking, “We had our heart set on the venue before we even visited it. It had the right space to hold our guests with the atmosphere we were looking for, beautiful valley with apple orchards, which were blossoming at the time! Something in nature, something different from a wine farm, which was really relaxed and comfortable. We spent the weekend there, the accommodation was fun, each trailer done to a different theme and amazing staff who looked after us so well and catered deliciously! ”

“There was a sudden storm the day before, which alternately cleared and and washed over again, a real Monkey’s wedding, which made for some amazing photos.”

Natalie wore a gown by Hillette Stapelberg.

Of her favourite memories of the day, Natalie says, “My father was quite sick some time before the wedding so we had to change dates, but it all worked out beautifully as he was in good shape and walked me down the aisle, gave a brilliant speech and danced to All you Need is Love. We had a last minute worry that the Best Man would not be able to make it all the way down to South Africa from the Caribbean a week before the wedding, but he did in the end which was wonderful! All in all the speeches were fantastic and funny and meaningful.”

Of their photographer, Natalie says “Modern Hearts were wonderful. We loved the work they had done previously and were so happy with what they did for us. They were very professional, and most importantly for us on the day unobtrusive while still catching real moments between all our friends and family. They did a beautiful job grading all the images and were accommodating at all times.”

4EveryEvent styled the wedding while a friend of Natalie’s made the elegant wedding cake.

Natalie remarks, “I did up mood boards for every element of the wedding. I worked with my dress designer designing my dress, designed the invitation, table numbers and seating plan. I also did a jewelry course where I made my husband’s wedding ring as well as gifts for the bridal party.”

For the first dance, Natalie remembers “We danced to Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’, a classic song familiar to everyone, but so apt and meaningful to us in that moment, also a lot of to twirl around to! ”