Lynelle and John

"Let me get this right: You want a wedding for sixty guests, a venue with a sea view and accommodation, enough space for two marquees, a lounge  – and a hidden Cuban Bar. You want your flowers in garden planters, not vases and guests must sit on hay bales for the ceremony" - I typed, making sure I understood the email brief from Lynelle Parsons and John Hooker, who live in London and were returning to KZN for their wedding.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread and so do wedding planners who are always up for a challenge. "Where was I going to find the right venue?", "Who could create a Cuban Bar and how was it going to be hidden?" were only some of the questions I asked myself.

The perfect venue turned out to be Izotsha Creek Estate, inland from Shelley Beach on the South Coast. Although a distance from the Ocean, it has magnificent sea views. The long open patio next to a rocky pool was ideal for the reception / lounge area while the tropical garden yielded space for the ceremony marquee. 

The wedding began with a cocktail party in the lounge section, giving friends and family an opportunity to meet and greet Lynellle and John who have been living in London for several years.

Lynelle slipped away to change into her wedding gown while guests made their way to the ceremony marquee and settled themselves on fleece covered hay bales. An unusual twig bridal arch added to the rustic ambience.

Dinner was served in the main marquee where several giant arrangements and growing palms in large planters created a sophisticated statement. A photo booth where the photographer supplied comical props kept guests amused while others queued for the buffet.

The Cuban Bar, hidden behind black drapes under a roofed section of the patio was the surprise element after dinner, when opened for dancing and serious, all night partying. A Cuban flag, rustic wooden bar, hessian sacks, tatty chairs and hay bales combined to resemble a dodgy bar in downtown Havannah. The aroma of Cuban cigars and coffee added to the atmosphere.

This wedding received my award for the most unusual one of 2011.

Related Information

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