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

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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

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Anna had never visited South Africa but wholeheartedly trusted David when he suggested getting married in the Franschhoek Winelands at the exclusive Vrede en Lust Wine Estate. Having lived in Australia, Texas and now Singapore, Anna & David’s guest list of 85 would consist of guests from all over the world. This celebration had to be on par with international design and wedding trends, all whilst show-casing the best of what Franschhoek has to over: incredible cuisine and award winning wines!

The look and feel we settled on was to be elegant, modern, sophisticated and above all – stylish. During the months of planning, the emphasis grew on modern contrasts with a distinct return to opulence and a by-gone era of glamour. This would be highlighted with an abundance of flowers, masses of crystal chandeliers, variations of height on the tables, pure silver cutlery and cut crystal glassware. Customised dark wood reception tables were specially designed and made for this celebration. The contrast between the white and cream florals and the crystal table features was striking and we kept the look clean and modern by excluding table linen. Stationery was kept classic but did not disappoint in elegance. Each menu received gold foiling features with a delicate touch of water colouring to bring through a hint of pink. This was finished off with a real orchid flower for every single place setting. With Anna soon to become known as “Mrs Bird”, guests where shown to their seats by the means of petite lazar cut Swallows delicately placed onto the edge of each crystal wine glass with their names printed on the Swallows wings.

Entertainment highlights included amazing performances for the ceremony and pre-dinner drinks by acclaimed jazz group Breakfast Included; and a surprise to guests, a vibrant performance of traditional Zulu warriors right. A decadent sweet and candy station ended an expertly prepared 4 course menu which consisted of only the best locally sourced produce in the Franschhoek Valley. 80 beautifully handcrafted mini cakes substituted a traditional tiered wedding cake and large cheese boards and gourmet Polish-style hotdogs made for delicious late night snacks.

With the reception exuding a sense of old-world glamour, the dance floor and party space was kept slick and contemporary! A modern extension to the reception venue was added on by means of a Bedouin tent, which was then completely floored and completed with a hi-tech LED dance floor taking centre stage! An 8 piece band and DJ had a beautiful ABS stage built for them and brand new customised lounge furniture created stunning pockets which framed the dance floor. Intelligent lighting filled this space and the marquee to create the perfect party atmosphere for guests to literally feel like they were dancing the night away on stars.

To finish off a magnificent wedding weekend, Anna & David had a Trash the Dress shoot to really add a different look and feel to their memories in South Africa. The various locations at this particular farm really provide incredible backdrops for some beautiful photographs.

Photographs by Jean-Pierre Uys

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For nature loving, fun and stylish couple Lindsay & Chris from Botswana, our team went on the wedding mission impossible: finding and transforming an untouched location in the African bush – raw, authentic with wildlife included – into an elegant marquee setting that had to simply be extraordinary. Lindsay & Chris’ single request for the look of their wedding was to create “A Wonderland in Africa”. It needed to be stylish, it needed to be sophisticated, but most importantly it needed the ultimate wow factor to transform the rustic bush setting.

The colour palette of gold, coffee and safari green originated with the exclusively handcrafted wedding invitations. A motif of two African elephants standing proudly on either side of a majestic baobab tree would become the couple’s personal “emblem” that would carry through various design elements of the celebration. Elephants – both real and customised – both made an appearance on the day!

African Bush settings are notorious for their warm weather, so when constructing a glamorous marquee in Victoria Falls it was important to keep guests enthralled and of course comfortable in the heat! So to give the sense of a lavish modern day “Out Of Africa”, our team opted for the ultimate grand dame of marquees: a lavishly draped structure with uninterrupted views of the great Zambezi River.

With lavish draping comes spectacular lighting! Trees were adorned with fairy lights to add a touch of romance and flood lights brought the Zambezi to life once the sun had set. No less than 14 crystal chandeliers adorned the inside of the marquee. 16 moving colour spot lights down the apex of the marquee and 50 LED lights all installed underneath the draping created the most incredible theatrical display of mood and colourful lighting impressions. Moments and decor elements were given a sense of impact as they were highlighted beautifully through soft glowing effects. And when the party really started and guests hit the dance floor, the vast marquee was washed in a rainbow of colour to amplify the festive mood.

The table settings were kept stylishly classic with arrangements of delicate cream and white roses, posies of fashionable Baby’s Breath and white carnations. The florals contrasted beautifully atop exclusive taupe linen, chic glass charger plates, crystal candlesticks and amber glassware. Customised Gold foiled menus and gold perspex table numbers added the final touch of style to the table setting.

The bridal table had a touch of modernity with ceramic floral pieces mixed amongst candles and real posies of roses and carnations. To honour our wild location, we created a “Trophy Wall” with a twist. Made from natural materials a striking feature of kudu, buffalo, springbok and sable sculptures adorned the Trophy Wall which created an awe-inspiring art piece behind the bridal table. Taking centre stage was a one of a kind elephant sculpture – created only for this bespoke celebration.

Guests indulged in an unforgettable Zambezi carte du jour of entertainment and fare! Colourful cocktails, imported French champagne and the best South African Cap Classiques were all served alongside an exquisite 5 course menu fit for Livingstone himself! Celebrated DJ’s and a live saxophonist kept guests festive throughout the day with a vibey combination of uplifting lounge tracks and later on – party starters for dancing!

However, as the sun eventually set over the Zambezi and on our dream wedding experience, we took a moment to take in every single designer detail that was flawlessly managed to come together beautifully, so as to deliver yet another magnificent flagship Wedding Concepts celebration – and this time, all on wild foreign soil.

Images by Ryan Graham

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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.

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The Wedding Concepts team’s objective was to create a look that would be memorably glamorous while being understatedly elegant, tied together with a soft and sweet colour palette. The 600 square meter clear span marquee, intricately setup over 5 days, was filled with hundreds of fragrant roses, carnations and scented pink candles. A cluster of delicate Chinese Lanterns were suspended above the impressive 100 kilogram, seven tier wedding cake – adorned with roses and orchids. As part of the 46 musicians that included DJ’s, classical musicians, pipers, vocalists and contemporary artists, a 20 piece Piping Marching band greeted the bride when she stepped out of her father’s Rolls Royce. An afternoon alfresco affair followed the ceremony with signature canapés, interactive food stations like sushi, French champagne and oyster bars as well as warm winter offerings for guests to indulge in. Alongside all the sumptuous snacks flaring barmen served personalised cocktails like Apple Spiced Martinis and Pimm’s & Ginger Ale – all from behind a custom built white, leather clad bar.

The carefully selected menu for the reception in the marquee was hearty and wholesome. After speeches and the first 2 dances, guests were ushered to a surprise venue. The Ball Room was transformed into a custom designed, night club, complete with dance floor, chic lounge furniture, intelligent lighting and 12 piece live band. The pink and white illuminated eternity bar served a range of signature cocktails and a large ice sculpture carved into the couple’s initials was the focal point of the extravagant dessert buffet. For those with a super sweet tooth, a Sweet Station with candy in pink and white was on offer for the rest of the party. Ladies received personalised pashminas and ballet pumps to party in style and comfort whilst the guys celebrated with a range of international cigars. Like Cinderella, it would only be in the early hours of the morning that the bride would step out of her crystal studded Christian Loubtoutin heels after dancing the night away in what was her fairy-tale wedding with her Prince Charming.

From our point of view: Carla & Kyle’s wedding was a truly spectacular celebration and our team is excited to already be designing more bespoke celebrations in both Johannesburg and across the rest of the country.

Credits:

Coordinators: Christina Holt and Kate Rawbone

Photographer: Ryan Graham

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Outdoor and indoor designer lounges in soft shades of pink, purple and white were especially created for the couple together with free flowing French Champagne and the sheer natural beauty of the Cape Winelands. Four different bands entertained with Classical, African, Jazz & Swing music and with a DJ creating a once in lifetime party for the well heeled guests and everyone agreed – this wedding was nothing short of absolutely spectacular. We agree!

Photography by: Zara Zoo Photography

The post Nwabisa & Mikki – The Most Talked About Wedding of the year! appeared first on Wedding Concepts.

The Wedding Album

Considered as “The Vogue” of South African wedding magazines, the current issue of The Wedding Album is truely en vogue with its latest offering of fashion, real-life weddings and original inspirations. As with previous editions, Wedding Concepts assisted their wonderful team with their 3 themes that fall into details pages of The Album.

For each issue we give our support in the form of expert advice on all things wedding related and our brief is always to produce a details section, a decor page, flowers, stationary and food for each theme. For any bride, these pages are invaluable because they are able to be inspired by exact table settings, flower arrangements, invitation ideas and so on for each theme. Again we are very proud to have been a part of this exciting and creative magazine shoot but also  so happy to have had many of our valued suppliers involved! A big thank you to those who made such an effort for this particular shoot and special thanks to Kate Rawbone for her work on production of this shoot.

Vintage Affair – Reinvent the timeless silhouette of an Irving Penn Portrait

Queen of the Hills – think Helen of Troy & Joan of Arc. Invite the troops for an elaborate medieval feast to toast yourselves victorious

Farm Girl – Pastoral romance meet modern earth child in vintage lace & an organic, handmade approach that’s natural & consciously crafted

And we’re not done yet! We also have Lynne & Gavin’s beautiful real-life wedding coordinated by the very talented Kim Werner also in the latest issue of Wedding Album! To view the wedding in its entirety, click here.

Your Wedding Day Magazine

Your Wedding Day is a South African bridal magazine that is published annually and celebrates everything from real-life weddings to sharing other brides’anecdotes and inspired and treasured moments to those vital details and how-to’s that effectively promote the industry’s most important bridal suppliers.

Your Wedding Day is a magazine focused solely on real weddings, real inspiration and real ideas in South Africa and with the help of valued and well known wedding suppliers, this magazine takes on the role of each bride’s personal wedding stylist, showcasing real-life weddings and inspiring her with ideas. For this issue, Christina Holt, MD of Wedding Concepts, shared some expert advice to those couples who may have found an ideal outdoor setting perfect for a dream marquee wedding.

Also featured in this issue is an stunning article featuring Top 6 Cake Trends for 2011. With beautiful 3 and 4 tiered cakes prepared by the always bubbly oompa-loompa’s from Charly’s Bakery and a stunning 5-tiered Lindt Chocolate wonder from The Hunt House Collection by Kanya Hunt, this fun shoot was shot on site at Wedding Concepts HQ, with production by Kate Rawbone and styling by our Creative Director, Hannes Loubser. Congrats to all those involved for this very fun and always creative photo shoot!

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