Take our word:

Think big – stay small! By hosting a large designer wedding with true attention to the smallest details – you’ll create the perfect blend of intimacy on a grand scale.

The Story:

Every so often at Wedding Concepts, our team gets to design and execute weddings of such grand scale and magnificence – they need to be seen to be believed! For the glamorous celebration of Philisiwe Buthelezi & Nathi Mthethwa we were asked to create & coordinate a wedding reflective of sophistication and understated chic for their prominent 600 guests.
With a prestigious guest list including many government ministers, dignitaries, celebrities and well-known entrepreneurs,  this wedding not only took the title of the Grandest Wedding of the year – but certainly the wedding with the most exclusive and sought-after guest list.

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

Photographery by: ZaraZoo