Yoké and NJ

About the Bride

I am a 25 year old Media and Marketing Manager who lives in Hartbeespoortdam. Well, I wanted to get married because I met the man who I want to spend the rest of my life with.

About the Groom

NJ is 28 years old and also lives in Hartbeespoortdam. He is a Production Manager at an agricultural company. And obviously he got married because he met the most wonderful woman in the world…

How did you meet?

We were in school together but, it was only a few years after school that we realised there is potential for something else between us.

How long were you together before the wedding proposal?

We were together for 3 years.

About the Proposal

He caught me completely by surprise! We went away for the weekend with friends (everyone knew except for me!) Early on the Saturday morning he woke me up and said we must go for a walk – his idea of a walk was dragging me up a mountain! I complained and moaned all the way, but once I saw the view from the top, it was worth it. The mist settled in the valley and the sun was beginning to peep out from behind one of the other mountains, beautiful! As I turned around (from the view) to ask him something I saw him on his knee with the most stunning ring in a little box. He said that I complete him and that he wants to share all his life adventures with me. Obviously I was in tears. I had the ring on my finger before I even said yes!  In his bag he had little Champaign bottles and we celebrated while looking at the magnificent view.

After I phoned just about everyone we climbed down the mountain and took a walk to one of the dams close to the house, there our friends (who got married 2years ago) prepared a wonderful breakfast for us. We celebrated –again!

How far in advance did you choose to have your wedding after the proposal? And, why?

We never wanted to be engaged for ages, but I also wanted to have enough time to arrange the wedding. To be honest, I already had a meeting with our wedding planner before the engagement, we even started to look at venues!

How did you go about the wedding planning process? Did you do it yourself? How long was the planning process? How did you find it?

After I decided on my wedding planner - Michelle from Silver Lining – we had a meeting and talked over what I had in mind for the wedding. At first we secured the venue and a few other details but the major arrangements only came about 6months before the wedding. I must confess though, Michelle did everything! She made my wedding arrangement experience a dream, I never had to worry or stress she did that on my behalf. Everything I wanted I got, never did I hear that it is impossible.

Did you have a hen party / kitchen tea / stag night / bachelor / bachelorette party? If so, what did you do and what did you enjoy most about it?

I had a kitchen tea and a hen party and my husband had a bachelor.

The kitchen tea was hosted by my mother. It had a Gatsby theme which stemmed from my love of swing music. I knew the date of it in advance, but I had no idea what they had planned. They held it at the most beautiful little garden coffee shop. After that I was in the hands of my friends…. I had so much fun, not because of what we did, but because I spent the day and the evening with all my girlfriends, they are after all the ones who I have always shared my life with.

NJ’s bachelor party was a more brutal affair… They went paintballing – as boys so often do. After shooting each other to peaces they went camping. The next morning I had to make breakfast for all of them! I could see how much fun he had with all his friends and that made me happy. To this day they talk about the ‘Do you remember that…’ stories.

I hope everyone knows that your bachelors or bachelorette’s is not about what you do or how drunk you get, it’s about the people you spend it with. All those friends who are close to your hearts and that share your lives.

Wedding Details

Oh goodness! –Can’t I just give you my wedding planner’s number? I was up at 6, my mom, dad and brother woke me up with coffee in bed. We had a small breakfast and than the running around began!

I was very blessed to have the most wonderful people around me. My parents, my bridesmaid, those who did our hair and makeup, they were all so special. Even our photographers were part of the family for the day! If I can give any advice to a bride it would be to choose the people around you carefully, it is such a beautiful day and it is a privilege to share it with people who are kind and who make you feel special.

We opted to do our photos before the ceremony as we did not want our guests to wait for hours on end, It worked for us. Our photographers had such a brilliant idea to make the first time NJ saw me special, we have wonderful photographs of that first meeting, it was intimate – just the two of us, we cried and hugged and it is something I will always hold dear.

After all the photos everyone moved to the church, only my dad and bridesmaid stayed with me. Not one of them was allowed to look at me because I would start to cry! As we drove to the church it hit me: I was getting married! It was overwhelming yet the most exciting feeling ever!

The music in the chapel was a bit of a problem for me. I never wanted the traditional wedding march or the too-often-used strings, I wanted something different. We decided to use an a’Capella group. This was one of the best decisions, they were amazing! It was something different that made our wedding ‘ours’.

As we were standing in front of the church, Lize – my bridesmaid, helped to get my dress ready and then she walked in.

Locked into my dad’s arm, the doors opened and I walked in. As I walked down the isle I saw the faces of all our friends and family. Some were crying and others were smiling, all of them were there to share in our special day!

The ceremony went so quick! Before I knew it we were saying our vows, I liked that very much, saying every word myself. Then, there it was, man and wife!

We signed the registrar while the guests walked out.

After the confetti and the many congratulations’ we cut the cake. We decided to do it after the ceremony because during the reception in gets lost in all the commotion.

NJ and I took some photos in the chapel while all the people got there seats, by this time it was around half past 6, the lights of the chapel were so romantic, it made for very dreamy photographs.

As we walked into the hall that evening, hand in hand, it was by far the happiest I have ever been. Everything was as I dreamed it, every little detail was taken care of and beside me was the man I loved the most. We had an amazing evening, we danced the night away with all our friend and family.

Tips and / or advice for future bridal couples?

Find a wedding planner like mine! One who understands your vision of your wedding, someone who will change the world if that is what you wish.

Plan your budget carefully, but most of all be realistic about it! A wedding is expensive, if you budget correctly from the beginning you won’t have nasty surprises when the payments are due. Spend money on the things that are important, your dress for one!

Through the whole process, please remember that you have a fiancé! They don’t find the planning process as interesting and exciting as we do so try to have a conversation (now and then) that doesn’t involve the wedding.

What was the most memorable part of your wedding day?

Everything! It’s difficult to narrow it down to only one moment. I think that is what makes your wedding day so special, its memorable in it entirety.

Did you go on honeymoon? If so, where? And, why there?

Jip, we went to honeymoon! We went to Mauritius, we wanted the cliché ‘let’s lie on the beach under a palm tree with a cocktail,’ and it was worth it! I will recommend it to everyone.

Related Information

•  Gauteng Weddings
•  Gauteng Real Weddings
•  Gauteng Wedding Specials
•  Gauteng Wedding Competitions
•  Gauteng Wedding Planners