“Guests were met with a grand setting - featuring soft shades of cream, white and champagne contrasting carefully with handpicked golden elements, stylish amber glasses, fine silver plated charger plates and cutlery, and finished off with foiled, luxurious wedding stationery. ”

At Wedding Concepts our new year started in style with the most glamorous designer wedding bash at the stroke of midnight – literally! Zani & Andreas – both living in New York but with South African and Danish roots, wanted to showcase the unique sounds, sights & flavours of South Africa to their stylish and elegant global crowd on New Year’s Eve 2011. From a family of internationally known talents, personalities, musicians and now fashion designers, Zani (in an exquisite Vera Wang gown), her mum Felicia Mabuza-Suttle, and our Wedding Concepts team formed the formidable design force behind this opulent celebration.

The style & design of the wedding was to be impressive but with a sense of understatement that would be brought through using original and personalised elements. It was important that the creative design and atmosphere was a true reflection of the couple’s personalities: elegant, charming, romantic, intimate and fun – and with some quirky traits here and there for good measure. With this in mind, the Wedding Concepts team ensured a luxurious outdoor ceremony followed with an opulent marquee reception that would house the festive and final countdown till the clock struck 12. The lake-front ceremony setting afforded the guests a 180 degree mountain view whilst they listened to The Soweto String Quartet, followed by the 14 piece Silapha Zulu Dancers who lead the couple & their guests in African tradition from the ceremony to the cocktail hour, where they were met by a vibrant Marimba Band and colourful signature cocktails that the Wedding Concepts team had created especially for the couple.

For a grand welcome to the reception, a peaked marquee with a dramatic floral creation, two luxe-sofas and cascading chandeliers welcomed the guests – along with a lavishly styled dessert table featuring 13 delicious desserts surrounding a magnificent wedding cake – in all in the soft colours of the wedding of course. Guest were met with a grand setting – featuring soft shades of cream, white and champagne contrasting carefully with handpicked golden elements, stylish amber glasses, fine silver plated charger plates and cutlery, and finished off with foiled, luxurious wedding stationery. The opulent floral creations by the talented Okasie team were a talking point in their very own right. Exquisite lighting – provided by Something-Different – was key too: with a total of 12 crystal chandeliers suspended inside the marquee, hundreds of candles providing a soft glow on the tables and fairy lights cascading from the trees outside. The gastronomic highlights were to reflect the diverse flavours of South Africa with guests casually sharing a culinary feast presented “platter style”. For dinner “Simply Four” performed dance classics culminating in a brilliant Michael Jackson cover just before midnight, with the dance party that lasting until 4am.

This dazzling celebration was the result of the combined effort and meticulous planning of the Wedding Concepts Team, the lovely Felicia Mabuza-Suttle and of course the new Mrs Zani Anderskou. We wish her all the best of luck as she launches her own line of children’s clothing in February, called Polkadot What. Also a big thank you to the valued support of the rest of Zani’s family, father Dr. Earl Suttle , who is a keynote speaker and author, and also to Lindiwe Suttle, talented singer & songwriter as well as fashion icon.

Then finally a big thank you to the very talented Chris Munton, who photographed Zani & Andreas’ wedding. Top Billing were on site to capture all the glitz and glamour for a dedicated TV feature. So be sure to watch this space for updates on the broadcast.