The intention for our creative team at Wedding Concepts was to showcase how an exceptionally styled celebration, with an on-trend colour scheme, could be achieved in the elegant spaces at the One & Only Hotel, as well as across key wedding design features.

“Malachite green is a rich and beautiful colour, and when combined with hues such as gold, white and black the overall mood created is one that speaks of sophisticated luxury!” says Wedding Concepts Creative Director Kate Diaz, “With such bold colours, the look needed to remain elegant within its surroundings, so to achieve this we only used pure white hydrangeas on the reception table!” she continues. Chic place settings and handcrafted stationery details brought through the airs of gemstones and minerals, which were balanced by black and white design elements.

Should you want to translate this colour scheme across various key elements of a celebration, the Wedding Concepts creative team suggests:

• Using lush furniture pieces along with beautiful textiles
• Handmade designer stationery that will adorn each stylish place setting
• Conceptual wedding design along each and every touch point
• And finally, couture fashion and jewelry design!

Wedding Concepts || One & Only Hotel – Trend Shoot Credits:

Creative Design, Styling & Coordination

Wedding Concepts

Photography

Wesley Vorster Photography

Venue

One&Only Cape Town

Flowers

Aspen & Co 

Dresses

KLuK CGDT

Elbeth Gillis Couture

Robyn Roberts Bridalwear

Models

Primrose Siziba

Sarah-Jane Thomas

Lounge Furniture

Something Different

Hiring

Urban Tonic

Two Birds

Plush Props

Authentic Planning

Stationery Design

Lara Friday

Jewellery

Matter of fakt

Black Betty

Shoes

Aliverti Fashion

Hair and Make-Up

Yolande Du Toit

The post Luxurious Trend Shoot at the One & Only in Cape Town appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

Like fashion, designing a timeless wedding is very much about focusing on those basic principles. Simplicity, quality and good taste. For Benita and Efize, a stylish and glamorous young couple from Lagos, our Team’s design objective was to create a classic décor concept that at first glance, seems quite simple – but upon closer inspection, one then notices the luxurious quality and the high level of detail that went into every single design element to create a look that is not only effortlessly cohesive, but sophisticated and elegant in its arrangement so as to create an overall décor concept that will forever be timeless.

The floral colour palette, being a key component, was kept to only white and cream flowers with very subtle additions of soft pink blooms. With towering mass arrangements adorning the many dinner tables set amongst three magnificent crystal chandeliers and dozens of crystal candelabras, this colour palette created a very rounded, romantic and tasteful look that was brilliantly inspired, yet gentle. To add a touch of modern glamour, rose gold was introduced through subtle decorative yet functional elements. Rose gold foiled stationary and individually decorated wedding favours adding subtle colour to each place setting, whilst modern lighting features such a rose gold pendants and gold-based Edison bulbs added another layer of functional colour. The glorious 5-tiered white fondant wedding cake was expertly gilded with copper leaf and then dressed with trailing individual sugar roses.

The Wedding Concepts design signature for this particular celebration was the inspired floor plan that was centered on the couple and their custom-built mirror dinner table for two. Set on a separate stage and perfectly positioned just underneath the largest crystal chandelier in the room, the couple was literally surrounded by their closest family and friends. Personalised “Wifey” and “Hubby” stickers were a fun youthful design touch to the back of their Philippe Starck ghost chairs and contemporary mirror plinths covered with crystal candles fringed the couples table, whilst a solid band of soft florals with trailing orchids added the final layer of luxury to the dinner table.

Timeless simplicity in design, breathtakingly striking in delivery – Benita’s and Efize’s destination wedding will be remembered as another stunning Wedding Concepts signature celebration.

Photography by: Du Wayne Denton

The post The Art of Elegant & Timeless Style – Benita & Efize’s Real Life Wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

Rosette and Lunga are a couple that exude natural elegance and magnetism. A woman with many titles such as supermodel, philanthropist and mother, Rosette was now going to become the wife of affluent businessman, Lunga Ncwana.

From the first meeting it was clear that the couple wanted a sophisticated and luxurious celebration but still keeping it relaxed, fun and truly enjoyable. The focus for our design team turned to creating unique concepts that would ensure various details across the day were not only personalised but also customised down to the last embroided napkin – which all 250 guests received at their place setting! Rosette’s love of pastel colours and hues of gold were reflected throughout the day and across all the key elements that go into creating bespoke wedding décor. A specially designed “logo” incorporating the couple’s initials was applied on the dancefloor as well as on all the handcrafted details such as exclusive gifts, luxurious wedding stationery and even on the custom-made floral photo wall which was a highlight for guests during Pre-Dinner Drinks!

The inspired creativity did not end there! The vast lawns, which were surrounded by panoramic views of the Stellenbosch mountain range, were transformed into a stylish open-lounge area with furniture that too had been custom-made. There were also unique lighting features at the reception as well as an unbelievable “double-sided” entertainment stage layout that would play host to some of South Africa’s top entertainment acts! The groom had always emphasized the importance of top entertainment throughout the day and Wedding Concepts subsequently engaged a number of A-list South African entertainers such as Hiphop Pantsula, 5-piece jazz ensemble Breakfast Included and the talented singing duo, Mafikizolo who had all 250 guests, including high-ranking government officials and other VIP guests, on their feet dancing!

The dinner tables were adorned with amazing floral “talk-of-the-town” centerpieces that added an incredible kaleidoscope of romantic colour to the reception. To top off this extravaganza, a 6-tier wedding cake with intricate floral and icing details on each tier once again brought through Rosette’s favourite colours. Stunning Gold applique adorned every second tier and it was a true design feature at the reception! Not to be outdone and for a refined close to the evening for the gents, our team created an exclusive “Grooms Cigar & Whisky Lounge” which was a specially appointed with stylish lounge furniture and offered some of Scotland’s finest scotch whiskies and single malts, as well as exclusive Cuban cigars for the groom to enjoy with his guests.

Rosette and Lunga’s top priority was to make each guest feel personally welcomed and with the incredible amount of tailored detail throughout the day, there is no doubt that this wedding will be remembered by all those who were lucky enough to have shared in this momentous occasion.

Images by Jean-Pierre Uys

The post A Fashionable A-List Celebration of Pure Glamour – Rosette & Lunga’s Real Life Wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

‘Classic elegance with a touch of golden glamour’ was the design brief to our team for this luxurious celebration. This was perfectly executed throughout the day – starting with the stunning outdoor ceremony which was kept classically white with an abundance of floral pomanders framing the aisle for a “WOW” factor that had everyone speechless!

Wearing a magnificent couture gown, the bride arrived in true style in a luxury Rolls Royce Phantom, with the groom – dressing in a hand-tailored white tuxedo – patiently waiting in for the ‘first viewing’ of his stunning bride to be!

The glamorous reception space was the Wedding Concepts design highlight of the day oozing glamour and opulence in soft shades of pastel, cream and gold! Creatively customised designer details featured all day and night: a personalised dance floor, an opulent wedding cake, customised stationery details and suspended lampshades in an array of colours customized just for the couple!

Striking floral centrepieces with suspended crystal beads added that extra touch of glamour to table – whilst a customised outdoor lounge was all about enjoying ocean views in elegant style.

With all the right ingredients perfectly in place, this stylish seaside soirée proved yet again – that combining designer details with an international guest list – and a touch of our Wedding Concepts flair – this destination wedding to South Africa’s shores is a celebration like no other!

Photography by: Tyme Photography

The post A Stylish Seaside Soiree – The Real Life Wedding of Carmelice & Bruno appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

 A picturesque venue in the Somerset West winelands played host to their celebration and our design team eagerly got to work and sought to interpret their modern Asian inspired look with a distinct “wow” factor. The rationale was that the chic would remain clean, uncomplicated and fresh, with white being used as the highlight colour. Suspended floral features are a huge décor trend in 2014 and our team chose to incorporate this look into the wedding’s brief. Across the full length of three 12-meter long reception tables, handpicked branches were expertly suspended from the venue ceiling. In total a 36-meter floral suspension! As assortment of sculpted florals and foliage were skillfully attached to the floating branches, and delicate trailing orchids further softened the look. This installation took a staggering 3 days to install! The modern colour palette of white, blue and silver-grey worked flawlessly together within the reception space and fashionable Phillip Stark ghost chairs finished the look off perfectly.

Small Asian inspired décor details were featured throughout the day and added beautiful thoughtful touches. Hand folded origami swans were incorporated into an escort card table, which later become a dessert station that was softly lit by customized lampshades, showcasing the couple’s hand painted insignia. This same design was carried through onto all the follow-on stationery. The menu featured hand drawn images of historical architecture as well as symbols of recognizable natural features from both Taiwan and South Africa.

At the reception, besides the exquisite reception tables, manicured Bonsai trees were placed around the periphery of the room to enhance the chic. After dinner a delicious Mojito cocktail mix was prepared in large Ming Pots and then poured into small Chinese cups. During Mark’s speech, each guest received a mini-Mojito so as to toast the couple in what they called a “Mojito Moment”. A fun ritual the couple experienced on their many travels together.

A cluster of large white Chinese lanterns created an Asian inspired focal piece over the dance floor and the sounds of the couple’s personal friend, DJ Dean Fuel, accompanied by a saxophone, filled the reception space. A picture-perfect ending to another dazzling designer celebration.

Images by Jean-Pierre Uys

The post Modern Asian-Inspired Minimalism Finds its South Africa Match – Margaret and Mark’s Real Life Wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

A blessing in disguise, living in New York, Vicky and Jon were the perfect couple to host their destination wedding at Lion Sands. Like the game lodge itself, the wild at heart bride and groom left no detail unturned. Vicky was in fact born in South Africa but raised in the US, and Jon, having never been to South Africa, or on safari – trusted Vicky and the Wedding Concepts team whole heartedly to deliver what was one of the most memorable celebrations to date.

Vicky is the quintessential detail driven DIY queen of all things whimsical. She wanted her guests to experience some of her favourite memories from her time spent in South Africa. The easiest way to do this was to start with a sneak peek and to have a personalised View Master showcasing incredible photos of wild life in Africa as their wedding invitation. If this wasn’t enough of a lure for their guests – then staying at one of the most luxurious and design focused lodges in Kruger sure was!

Waiting for guests in their lodges on arrival was a handmade Guide Box, filled with South African favourites like rooibos tea and Amarula liqueur. Also included were some clues: a compass, an Acacia twig, and finally – a Field Guide. This not only explained the rest of the weekend but ensured all guests knew that this #wildatheart wedding adventure, was just the beginning. After spectacular game viewing en route to the rehearsal dinner, set in a clearing in the bush (read NO FENCES), the guests received a mere glimpse into what they could expect the next day. It was here that some of the key Chinese traditions were incorporated. The well known tea ceremony was a wonderfully emotional moment with all their loved ones surrounding them.

The setting for the ceremony was certainly unique. Never before has Wedding Concepts arranged a ceremony underneath a 300-year-old Sausage Tree overlooking the Sabie River. A large male buffalo looked on as Vicky entered the ceremony and a local African choir sang Zulu praise songs. One of the few surprises for Vicky and Jon was when the guests blew proudly South African Vuvuzela’s as the minister pronounced them husband and wife.

The first look was an incredibly special moment as Jon saw his bride in her gorgeous Reem Acra gown before making their way to Inkwaze Hide for the ceremony.

After the heartfelt ceremony, guests were escorted by Safari Vehicles to Ivory Lodge – the most exclusive of all 5 Lion Sands lodges. Unparalleled and extraordinarily beautiful in its simplicity and lavish comfort and style, Ivory Lodge was the perfect setting for sundowner pre-drinks overlooking the Sabie River. Guests sipped on signature cocktails, sparkling wine and Vicky’s favourite – Bubble tea, in fact we dedicated a whole station to it.

After traditional Zulu warrior dancers set the African rhythms in motion, guests journeyed through oil lantern-lit pathways to River Lodge for the reception. River Lodge offered the perfect warm welcome as our team had converted their breakfast lounge into a candlelit 5-star banquet. Tables were adorned with a soft mix of King Proteas, succulents and delicate florals such as lisianthus and garden roses. For a personal touch, Vicky learnt the art of calligraphy and hand wrote each and every place setting herself. Our design team then added the final “wow-factor” touches such as inspired lighting concepts, lazer cut wooden stationery details and a glamourous photo corner comprising of various suspended oversized gold frames.

Guests took their seats for a delicious 3-course menu, and dessert was served canapé style as they took to the dance floor. Another one of Vicky’s favourites – milk tart – was a real hit with all the foreigners! Specially flown in from Cape Town, DJ Rene and his Dream Team filled the Kruger night with a brilliant mix of dance music, both old and new. And with curious hippos and nocturnal wild life looking on, guests danced till they could no longer.

Photography by: Christian Oth Studio

The post Wild at Heart at Lion Sands – Vicky & Jon’s Real Life Wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

Style and sophistication with elegance and refinement at the foreground, was the design concept for this gracious celebration –incorporating the bride’s favourite colours, Chartreuse yellow, shades of cream, soft pink and a touch of gold. The overall look was one of Parisian elegance – reflecting nuances of the bride’s time spent in Paris in France. Inside the grand marquee, guests were seated at long banqueting tables – which were designed in two different styles. One with ornately textured gold tables cloths, silver base plates and soft pink glassware, contrasted by contemporary Perspex “Ghost chairs”, the other with a Chartreuse striped linen, crystal base plates, amber glassware and gold chairs. All handmade stationery features, such as personalised menus including the name of each guests, were expertly crafted and designed to complement the overall look and feel.

The suspension of masses of sparkling crystal chandeliers and original custom made floral lampshades above the tables created an exquisite lighting display in the marquee; one could not help but look up in awe. Stylish table lamps with custom-made Chartreuse shades created extra height between the lavish floral features. Lush white draping made for a sense of elegance and intimacy in the 900 square meter reception marquee. For the pre-dinner drinks and cocktail hour – a large open-air outdoor lounge area was skilfully designed and planned right down to the last scatter cushion, with careful attention to effective & glamorous lighting at night. Striking fairy light strings were strung up amongst beautifully draped aisles – with elegant lounge pockets, creating a chic and inviting area for guests to relax in between courses. The estates magnificent 24 palm trees lining the lawns were also lit for the ultimate chic open-air lounging experience.

A grand experience is not complete without a menu to match! Together with Franschhoek’s renowned chef Reuben Riffel and his Head Chef Maritz, we designed a menu fit for a banquet of impressive proportions which showcased some of South Africa’s finest cuisine. Acclaimed French Chef Michel Morrand from Johannesburg contributed with his expertise in preparing some of the French inspired dishes on the menu. Various different styles of canapés were served, followed by a choice of two starters, a delicious main course buffet with a choice of 6 main courses and 2 plated desserts.

The incredible 5-tiered designer wedding cake was the focal feature in the centre of the marquee. Covered in pale ivory appliqué and delicate piped detail, the sugar paste petals cascaded delicately down one side, mirroring the design of the bride’s exquisite couture wedding dress. A second cake soon followed as at midnight the bride celebrated her birthday with a specially made birthday cake! After midnight and many heartfelt speeches, the bridal couple and their guests danced the night away in style until the early morning hours. And everyone agreed that this wedding will be remembered as a gracious amalgamation of African soulfulness and French design inspiration.

To view the Top Billing TV insert of this stylish A-list celebration – click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEPGzzNK7vE

Photography By: ZaraZoo

The post Grand Scale, Design & Magnificence! We Present The Most Exclusive Wedding of the Year: Philisiwe & Nathi’s Real Life Wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

Manar is a stunning beauty from the small East African country of Eritrea and Hussein originally hails from Palestine. Together they flip between French, Arabic and English with ease and possess a unique international connection. For their wedding, they chose Cape Town not only for its unique beauty, renowned world class cuisine and wines – but also because it was pretty much centrally located for everyone from around the world to attend!

With such an enjoyable and easy going nature, coming up with a décor concept from their initial brief was an exciting experience. Manar & Hussein liked the idea of a romantic “safariesque” look to feature throughout, but also wanted the look to make sense in the winelands setting. Our creative team conceptualised a décor concept where we would have the opportunity to work with different materials, textures, natural and earthy elements. The ceremony was kept slightly traditional with a white floral theme. Large wooden stumps with a variety of different white floral arrangements were added down the aisle to soften the look but also to add a fun natural detail. Stunning artichoke flowers and a mix of orchids and lisianthus kept the arrangements strikingly different.

For the reception, our team created an African-inspired earthy table setting complimented by its unique colour scheme. We were inspired by the romantic color palate of an African desert scape. Mauve, amber, maroon, dusty pink & purple florals worked beautifully alongside the natural -coloured stone stripe table cloth that was adorned with wooden discs. A modern mix of floral arrangements in glass vases of various heights took centre stage, and in keeping with the earthy look, they were filled with sand from 3 different deserts in Africa: The Kalahari, Sahara and Karoo Deserts! The different coloured sand mixed with soil from Cape Town created a stunning effect throughout. Flowers were a mix of indigenous florals such as proteas & silver brunia, succulents, artichoke flowers as well as roses and orchids which softened the setting. Amber glassware and wooden laser cut stationery pieces tied the organic look together beautifully.

The reception was an arrangement of round tables, and for lighting our creative team wanted to create a variety of concepts that would not only add a fun feature above each table, but that would also give the appearance of being an extension of the table décor. Each table had a tall arrangement with a light shade that would house a floral arrangement, or a suspended light shade with a floral arrangement inside it. There were no less than 5 suspended lighting objects above each table – including the striking customised over- sized wooden light bulb!

The food and wine from Overture and Hidden Valley were a gastronomic hit amongst the international crowd, and a charming 2 tier wedding cake repeated the recognisable silhouette of the African Acacia tree which was a design feature across all the wedding stationery and even on the dance floor!

A Moroccan themed shisha lounge along with colourful kelims and vibrant décor, created the perfect chill-out space for guests to socialise, puff away on a shisha and enjoy the wide range of international dance music on offer. And finally, an African and vintage-travel themed photo corner was the final piece in the travelling romantics dazzling South African wedding adventure!

Image by welovepictures

The post A Festive Celebration of Travelling Romantics – Manar & Hussein’s Real Life Wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

The wedding weekend commenced with a sensational cocktail event at one of Cape Town’s favourite seaside hangouts; The Grand Café and Beach.  With their shoes properly kicked off, guests could indulge the platter-served delicacies whilst savouring the spectacular sunset over Table Bay.  Minutes later, as a full moon started rising, it quickly became clear that all the elements were going to conspire to make this a truly magical celebration of a love that literally spanned across continents.

South African born Gaynor works as a designer in magazine publishing and knows exactly how an idea comes together…  She had no problem in articulating her vision of a relaxed though chic day with authentic South African flavours and sounds.  “All we really want is a big party where everyone feels looked after and entertained,” Gaynor aptly summed it up at the beginning of the planning process.

Our aim was to create a romantic dining room atmosphere set against a dramatic natural backdrop of winelands vistas.  The use of tablecloths in an oyster hue and walnut Tiffany chairs ensured that the base of the set-up remained suitably neutral, and so we turned our attention to getting the floral mix just right.

For the tables, we opted for one large centrepiece with a variety of rustic blooms in rich jewel tones which were arranged in an asymmetrical fashion and kept rather low.  Various other containers – a combination of glass, antique silver and ceramics – were scattered around the centrepiece, one of which contained a moss covered branch to lend some height.  The overall effect was as striking as it was stylish.  Beautiful Ming vases in white and blue adorned the tables while bookshelves behind the bridal table, floral carpets and potted Poplar trees created layered dimensions throughout the reception space.  Amber water glasses, floating candles in footed vases and delft plates rounded off the look perfectly.

Nic has a Chinese heritage and hence it was decided to incorporate Chinese elements into the look and feel of the day.  The stationery boasted a monogram of the traditional symbol for “Double Happiness” and this was carried through to the orders of service, menus, table names (all depicting the names of Nic’s favourite ski resorts) and personalised ‘thank you’ stickers on take away cake boxes.  Chinese lanterns in clusters, mirroring the bold colour palette of the flowers, provided a sense of warmth and playfulness.  Even the lounge areas boasted wooden Chinese side tables.

Gaynor and Nic share an offbeat sense of humour, and so it was decided to surprise guests with a Marimba performance at the end of the main meal which comprised of local Franschhoek salmon trout and Dukkah spiced lamb.  After a glorious outdoor ceremony, gentle Gypsy music and a wonderful line-up of speeches, this was the perfect ignition to a party that would carry on until the early morning hours.

We simply loved this wedding – not just for its decidedly different décor – but also for the inviting nature of the people we’d engaged with.  Thank you to all the suppliers who made this such an exciting journey!

Images courtesy of Annemari Ruthven

The post Exotic East meets whimsical West: Gaynor and Nic’s real life wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

With the majority of the guests coming from abroad, it was important that they got to experience South Africa and Cape Town for all its glory! The festivities began 2 days before with dinner at the Gold Museum and an interactive drumming session and a relaxed brunch at the revamped, chic seaside location, The Bungalow.  The wedding itself of course was the main affair and this took place at The Grand Beach in Granger Bay – a fabulous location for the üeber stylish French contingent to feel the sand between their toes.

The décor and design of the wedding was completely conceptualized by Wedding Concepts and executed to perfection by one of our favourite floral associates – Okasie. The celebration needed to reflect the fun and life-loving nature of the couple, so colour “en-masse” was the order of the day. Pink, blue, red, yellow and purple where the colours chosen for the guests tables and in keeping with a touch of tradition the bridal table was adorned in white. For each respective colour we had matching colour water glasses, floral arrangements & table features and even candles made to order in that specific colour!

The stationery, designed by Lara Friday, consisted of custom-made napkins printed in the same colour of the table as well as a seating plan with name badges for guests printed in their table colour. The combination of dazzling colour on the tables and the vast ceiling of the venue adorned with a mass of crystal chandeliers, created a sensory delight for guests as they entered the reception space. Intelligent lighting concepts produced amazing colour shifts with light reflecting off all the various chandeliers. And for a touch of nostalgia and romance, a black and white video montage of movie clips from the 1920’s and 30’s was projected onto a giant screen which formed the moving backdrop of the reception. Anne-Laure’s wedding dress followed this theme of old-school romance and designed by local designer, Errol Arendz.

Music was where the bride and groom really got involved. The groom’s Irish heritage was celebrated with the performance of the fantastic Shanty group who played Irish folk music for the ceremony and pre-drinks. DJ Darren Rose from The Beat Collective took care of Anne-Laure’s musical taste and had just the right set of tunes to keep her Techno heart happy content. As a surprise feature for the guests, and to kick off the first dance, we had the larger than life divas of Three Tons of Fun perform, and what a great party starter they were! Even the bride and groom joined them on stage as their spirited performance brought every single guest onto the dance floor!

We loved that Richard & Anne-Laure were bold in their choices and excitedly accepted every single one of our imaginative concepts. They trusted Wedding Concepts 100% to bring their ideas to life and to put our creative and designer signature to their celebration, which resulted in an incredible three day designer soiree for their family and international guests.

Photography by welovepictures

The post A Dazzling Kaleidoscope of Colour! Anne-Laure & Richard’s Real Life Wedding appeared first on Wedding Concepts.