“Guests arrived at the scenic wine estate in Stellenbosch which had been transformed into a contemporary Indian celebration fit for a modern Maharajah.”
For Rimple and Manish, their destination wedding to South Africa was firstly about honouring both their Eastern and Western culture and traditions but also creating a memorable celebration for their international guests that would be described afterwards as “fun, classic and felt like we were in a movie.”
Guests arrived at the scenic wine estate in Stellenbosch which had been transformed into a contemporary Indian celebration fit for a modern Maharajah. The ladies were a sea of colour dressed in their traditional sari’s which glittered and sparkled in the afternoon sun. The Guajarati ceremony took place under a majestic oak tree and honoured the couple’s love and the joining of their families. Guests laid witness as Rimple & Manish offered a prayer to Lord Ganesh as they took their sacred vows of duty, love and respect and looked on to the Dhruv Darshan – the Pole Star – as a means to gain direction as they embark upon their journey of married life. Lastly they exchanged symbolic garlands signifying mutual acceptance of each other and finally exchanged rings, thus ending the ceremony with a Western ritual.
The reception was a vibrant and specially designed contemporary blend of the traditional Indian wedding colours: orange, green and white. It was important to the bride that indigenous flora were used as much as possible as a reminder of their African based celebration. Strelitzias, pin cushions and proteas in modern arrangements were boldly displayed amongst fashionable presentations of lilies, orchids and roses. Soft and strategic lighting of candles, panels and orange and white Asian lanterns ensured these bold colours were highlighted as the sun set on this Bollywood celebration.
The menu was a colourful banquet of mouth watering Indian favourites prepared by genuine North Indian chefs. An actual tandoor oven was sought after and brought in especially to ensure the authenticity of the cuisine. Following the delicious feast the dancing then got into full swing. The DJ imaginatively mixed both Bollywood and Western dancing favourites to ensure that this was an ingenious marriage of East and West under an African sky; the perfect finale to an Oscar worthy Afro-Bollywood motion picture.
Credits:
Coordinator: Kate Rawbone
Photographer: Justin Badenhorst
