Take our word:

Marquee weddings are the quintessence in exclusive designer celebrations. Spectacular lighting is key and gives you a chance to design your own light features – matching your wedding colour palette and décor. Have you thought of designing lampshades with you initials? We have!

The Story:

Who said that a wedding on a rainy day couldn’t be stunningly stylish and beautiful? After all, rain on your wedding day is meant to be good luck! When a well-known Durban based couple asked the Wedding Concepts team to coordinate their high profile wedding celebration – the brief was simple: an elegant affair filled with spectacular florals, highly personalised details and shades of grey, white & pastels to subtly but surely impress their 400 VIP guests. To match the ample décor brief, the entertainment line-up was something to be reckoned with – that too needed to be world class and brimming with local talent!

In the heart of the Natal Midlands at the scenic Zunguness Estate our team went out to design the wedding that would have Durban talking for a long time to come. A clear span marquee structure was constructed over 5 sunny days. 800 square meters stood proud at Zunguness Estate waiting to be filled with florals flown in especially for our clients. The marquee was so large, that six 2-meter tall designer lampshades personalized with the couples initials, filled the apex and provided glamorous decorative lighting and a stunning focal feature. All in all 40 customized lampshade decorated the luxurious marquee space.

Opulent floral features adorned each table, with various towering levels of height adding subtle drama, abundance and glamour. Soft flowers in delicate shades of soft pink, yellow, peach and white complimented the custom-made dove grey linen table cloths.
Bespoke stationery details fit for royalty played a pivotal role in impressing guests from the moment they arrived. Personalised elements that had been carried through from the couples’ invitations were noticeable in the finest of details, as well as some of the larger décor concepts within the grand marquee.

The prominent guest list, which included political and African Royalty, all joyfully took part in every single aspect of the day. From a sentimental and emotional ceremony, to pre-drinks which kick-started the festivities, right down to the understated yet undeniably elegant reception marquee.

Pre-drinks was a styled lounge like no other! Spanning a lawn the same size as the marquee venue, styled prawn stations and two chic cocktail-bar structures ensured guests were well fed and were able to sample of the couples personally selected wines and French Champagne. Even as the rain came down, the atmosphere and energy of the guests surpassed the dreary Natal clouds!

The entertainment line-up was a star-studded affair from the word-go. Famed gospel duo, Sgwili and Babo, provided their magical touch during the ceremony, and Dr Brian Thusi – who requires no introduction to South Africa Jazz lovers – more than covered the pre-drinks session with his impressive 12 piece band. A professor of music who comes with a quality pedigree and reputation, Brian has been an influential artist in the South African jazz scene for many years, and guests could not help themselves but to dancing to his insatiable rhythms during pre-drinks! DJ Muntu took over for much of the reception and kept the energy going right up until the first dance, which is when famed songstress, Lira, took over for a spectacular performance!

Whilst guests danced and “stepped” to Lira’s performance, what can only be described as a dessert extravaganza became available to guests. A 10-meter long dessert station covered in some of the couples favourite sweet treats and a striking grey & white wedding cake extravaganza, stood proud alongside the dance floor, challenging the dance floor for attention!

Despite the rain the impressive marquee was filled with jubilant celebrations till the early hours, which goes to show that rain really is good luck!

The Photographer: Jules Morgan