love day

Jan-Jan and I knew each other at Stellenbosch University although that's not really the story of our meeting. A few years later, while I was living in New York and Jan-Jan in London, we were reconnected through a good friend and, after much planning, met up one balmy December night in Jo'burg. Our dinner turned into a days-long date and a drive across the country, before I had to head back to New York. But love was in the air and the trans continental visits began. A year later Jan-Jan surprised me very early one morning on the doorstep of my East Village apartment in Manhattan and asked me to marry him. I was still in my pajamas. I said yes. He knew I would.

LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES
So with a bride-to-be in NY, a groom-to-be in Johannesburg, and a wedding on a farm outside Malelane, the wedding planning began. Luckily I came equipped with a Supermom and much thanks is owed to her for logistics, site visits, opinions, dressmaking (my mother made 6 bridesmaid dresses, one rehearsal dress and two wedding dresses for the occasion) and most other things. To bridge the cross continental wedding planning gap my two wonderfully imaginative and dedicated sisters and I started a blog to share all our wedding ideas. I also took full advantage of being a bride-to-be in NY and attended wedding events, participated in bridal forums, and tried on designer dresses. With three weeks to go to the big day I packed my bags and moved back to South Africa. Jan-Jan and I were together at last!

LOVE DAY
Three days before the wedding we put all our months of planning into action. Flowers were all done by my aunt, my bridesmaids and I embarked on non stop craft, table setting, and menu making, my uncle and father were climbing trees to hang lanterns, my mother in law was giving dancing lessons. The whole family was involved. It was the most wonderful atmosphere to be getting married in.

It is hard to describe one's own wedding day. It was beautiful. Fun. Nervewrecking. Breathtaking. The reception took place at my uncle's home on his farm. It is situated right on the Crocodile River and overlooks the Kruger Park. In essence, I was surrounded by people I love, in place that I love, marrying the man I love. I couldn't ask for anything more.