I was very VERY excited when one of our favourite photography couples Chanelle and Craig of Segerius Bruce Photography offered to send us their own wedding set in the beautiful South African countryside.
Not only is the whole affair incredibly chic and stylish but Chanelle and Craig took some time to have some really creative fun with their shots and as a result have some super cool memories of their Big Day.
Oh and Chanelle wore one of my favourite bridal gowns EVER.
Enjoy the gorgeousness folks.
Honey To The Bee
OMG I was totally and utterly obsessed by Jenny Packham’s dresses as soon as I saw a very Boho styled advert of hers in a wedding magazine. I tried on quite few wedding dresses here in the UK and spent one Friday evening at Harrods (when they still stocked JP’s gowns) trying on loads of her creations – I had the whole place to myself and it was fabulous!
I went over to South Africa 8 months prior to our wedding in order to do some planning and so on. While I was there my Mom and I went dress shopping together as I felt it was something I had missed out on doing with her (that’s the trouble with living so far away from family). I ended up putting down a deposit on a dress. Upon my return to the UK I kept looking at Jenny Packham’s website and couldn’t get her dresses out of my head. In the end I caved in and canceled my South African wedding dress order so that I could pursue my true dream dress! I ended up with the beautiful “Honeybee” design and just loved the layers and detailing along with a bit of a vintage look and feel. For the evening I wore lace vintage style bolero jacket also by Jenny Packham.
I wore little diamante pins in my hair with a comb that had some vintage inspired detailing – I chose a short Veil as I do like the look of a veil in photographs.
Over The Rainbow
I chose Rainbow Club shoes – 2 pairs! I really loved the high heeled lovelies called “Sandy” so I bought those along with a pair of pretty flat sandals called JEMS also from Rainbow Club both in Ivory.
The Chief of Hair
A local salon in Howick about 15 mins away from the venue did both the hair and make-up. I had a bit of a hick-up in the morning as the hairdresser got a bit carried away with the teasing and I had to wash my hair, condition it and start from scratch. My step-sister who was also my chief bridesmaid for the day had to stand there watching over the hairdresser second time around to ensure he didn’t do the same again! She even gave him a little slap on the hand when he started getting over zealous!
Chocolate And Orchids
Craig and I just love orchids and have always commented on green orchids in particular when we have come across them. Right from the start I knew that Chocolate brown with green orchids would be the colour scheme for our day.
Lynne & Mike are the husband and wife team who live in and own the traditional colonial house that makes up the venue. They are both so warm, inviting and welcoming and we where allowed to have full use of most of their home on the wedding day. Our friends and family where able to stay on the property in little bungalows dotted around estate.
Lynne has a background in interior design which is fantastic. She took care of EVERYTHING for me, from sourcing the flowers, vases, fairy lights and more. I had made up a scrapbook of ideas from wedding magazines like Cosmopolitan Bride, You & Your Wedding and Brides as well as finding things online. I took my mood boards in a book with me to SA when I visited 8 months before our wedding and Lynne was able to look at that and interpret everything I envisaged. She was a total God-send, especially since I was essentially organising a destination wedding from the UK.
A Surprise Groom
I didn’t even know what Craig was going to wear! It was all a surprise for me. Craig sourced a Vintage suite in Chocolate brown by John Collier to go with our colours for the day and he told the groomsmen to roughly go for browns in their outfits too.
The bridesmaids wore a two piece top and skirt combo from Monsoon. I thought it would be nice as they would probably be able to wear the skirts again.
I have to say as well as Chanelle’s bridal style perfection the groom is looking pretty darn fine too!!
And such pretty maids – loving the use of colour.
Come back for all of the lovely lovely details in part 2!
Big Chocolate Love
Charlotte xxx
Cool wedding photos – especially the “getting ready” ones in the trees.
I just have to say that it’s such a small world – I just clicked on the link to their website and there are pictures of one of my best friends all over it! Well maybe just on the Paris shoot. I know she went away for a photo shoot in Paris and came back with some amazing pictures and this completes the circle! That’s her on the pink scooter! She of MAC make up present fame!
Wow what a gorgeous couple – they look like models never mind photographers!
That dress is truly beautiful, I may have dress wobbles
Venue is unbelievable too, actually I have general wedding envy!!
Can’t wait for the next bit – hurry up RMW!
How awesome! So much fun being featured. Thanks so much RMW
Ohh so cool to see what your wedding was like Chanelle! What a beautiful setting for it!! And you looked gorgeous. <3
I love the simplicity and beauty of the venue, especially the wedding ceremony area! I might have to copy the layout of the flower petals – I liked that they were to the side of the aisle runner instead of on it.
Great to see your photos Chanelle – what a beautiful setting and the photos look fantastic! xx
A beautiful wedding indeed. Superb photography and direction. An incredible setting and great to see you so happy Chanelle