Wedding Concepts went to great lengths to find them the perfect venue for their mid-summer soiree.   After much deliberation, the quaint La Petite Dauphine was chosen to play host to the festivities.  With so many wonderful ingredients to work with, our biggest task was to stir up the right concoction for their guests to savour.  Each aspect of the venue was to play a role: The large Oak trees, the gravel terrace, the fruit orchards, the tranquil water features, the exquisite mountain vistas, the lush vineyards, the cottage style buildings, the thatch roofs – and even the beloved farm dog and tame rooster.

Our aim was to afford the international guest list a taste of authentic South African hospitality at its very best.  Both bride and groom were very involved in the planning process, and soon we had established a clear division of roles. While Katherine had an unblemished vision of the décor style and general ambiance they desired for the day, Arturo was the mastermind behind the striking musical line up and sequence of formalities.  Great attention was paid to constructing a timeline that would see guests comfortable and taken care of throughout the day, as well as subtly incorporating a theme of the couple’s mutual journey.  This was to be a celebration of the paths that had brought them together, the embracing of the present moment, as well as the ignition of their joined passage ahead.

And a day filled to the brim with symbolism it was…  At the ceremony, the specially printed first page of the guest book was signed by the couple and their siblings in recognition of the beauty of love and the strength of partnership that unite.  Not long after that, Arturo had his gorgeous, glowing wife in tears as he took up the microphone to serenade one of their favourite songs.  The wedding cake was cut with a sword – a family heirloom – whilst guests tucked into the delicious, rustic style canapés.  With dinner – and some of the best prepared speeches we’d heard in years – out of the way, a tequila bar boasting imported Mexican brands set the tone for opening of the dance floor: A specially rehearsed tango!  Much later, Mexican songs echoed through the courtyard as the first guests started making their way home with personalised thank you gifts – mosaic candleholders handmade and supplied by a local community upliftment initiative.

The decor at this countryside celebration mirrored the beauty of the natural surroundings.  The blooms were soft and rustic with splashes of sage green, grey and light pink.  The air was filled with the fragrance of freshly cut rosemary and delicate stationery elements in a matching botanical theme adorned the tables.  Potted succulents were scattered around the area to add some Mexican flair.  The weather played along perfectly and some hours later the courtyard was washed in the romantic glow of oil lamps and fairy lights.  It was a fiesta marked by high levels of energy, hilarious dance moves and unlimited laughter – one with memories we’ll cherish for a long time to come!

Images by Lauren Kriedemann

The post A sumptuous al fresco feast – Katherine and Arturo’s real life wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

To enhance this charming seaside venue we fashioned a contrasting mix of indigenous and classic florals alongside styled natural elements like hessian and twine; set against a fresh colour palette to really compliment the rustic elements beautifully.

Bespoke stationery and décor features really brought this celebration to life in every detail. Flip-flops and woven palm-leaf fans were stylishly presented for the ceremony with individual tags and elegant ribbon to complete the look. Handmade pin wheels and a lemon & mint foot washing station added a fun and youthful presence to the seaside ceremony. For pre-drinks, the hessian seating plan and wishing tree created much a talking point and added a splash of colour alongside the delicious mojitos!

The blend of a relaxed seaside setting with contemporary yellow accents turned this celebration into a designer beach soiree. Besides the distinctive attention to detail that the team from Wedding Concepts is renowned for, a wow factor that really took centre stage was the exquisite wedding cake adorned with delicate sugar frangipani petals.

Images by Du Wayne Denton

The post Helen & Gareth’s Blissful Seaside Celebration! appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

Something fun (especially for when the party really starts) is a Cigar Station, offering a selection of internationally imported cigars that include brands such the Brazilian tobacco leaves of the Al Capone’s, the Dominican made Bolivar, the Cuba from Havana or the handmade El Credito, to mention a few. Then to add that little something extra, personalise both the cigars and matchboxes with the design elements from your follow-on stationery!

What you need to know:

• Cigars can either be ordered as singles or per box. It is recommended that you buy per box (25 per box)
• Cigar cutters are also available on request
• A vast amount of accessories, such as pouches, lighters & ashtrays are available.
• Matchboxes can be personalised to be in line with your overall stationery / décor. Minimum order of 20.
• Personalised stationery / gift tag can also be designed.

Alternatively, your male guests might prefer something special that they can take home with them as a keepsake from the time spent with you and the memories made on your wedding day. A stainless steel hipflask filled with South African Brandy or Whisky is a fantastic and stylish option – especially for those chilly winter weddings!

What you need to know:

• Hipflasks can be individually engraved with your initials and wedding date or even a thank you message
• Alternatively they can be personalised with stationery, ribbon or a  thank you tag!

The post Gift Spotlight: Something for the Guys appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

A fantastic way of guaranteeing protection from the sun is to hand out stylish – and colourful –  hand-held paper parasols prior to the ceremony. These can be personalised with small tags welcoming your guests to this special occasion and thanking them for sharing the day with you. Not to mention that it also makes for impressive photos!

We now stock a variety of different coloured hand-held parasols so as to compliment your chosen colour scheme or even create a colourful and memorable highlight during the ceremony and pre-drinks. Our colours range from; soft mint green, baby pink, cerise pink to turquoise. We also stock a natural colour range as well as gorgeous white lace parasols for your wedding or event!

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