Yolandi and Ludwig

A little info about the bride (e.g. age, where you live, what you do, why you wanted to get married)

33, currently living in Sea Point, Architect at dhk Architects, we’ve been together for 10 years and we just knew that we’ll be together forever – he’s the love of my life!

About the groom (e.g. age, where you live, what you do)

34, Sea Point, head of operations at a fund management company and an aspiring pilot

How did you meet?

We arrived at the same time at the then Health and Racquet Club in Groenkloof, Pretoria. We parked next to each other and I had to run in as I was late for a gym class. Ludwig came strolling in and we made eye contact which seemed to last forever. When I arrived back at my car after the class, I was disappointed to see that he had already left. I got into my car and as I was about to drive off, noticed a little note on my car’s windscreen. It was a note from Ludwig saying maybe it was meant to be for us to arrive at the gym at the same time and if I was interested to give him a ring and we could possibly arrange a date.

It took me the whole evening to build up enough guts to send him a text message with my details. He rang me back immediately. We hit it off and chatted for what seemed to be an eternity. We arranged that we would go on our first date to his friend’s birthday party. It turned out that I knew many of his friends and we had an awesome evening. We have been together ever since!!

How long were you together before the wedding proposal?

Exactly 10 years

Tell us about the proposal

Seeing that Ludwig took me flying on our second date, he wanted to arrange that he’ll take me flying again, land somewhere at a deserted landing strip and arrange with friends to set up a romantic table for us, but the only plane in and around Cape Town which he has a rating on, happened to crash land the week before the anticipated proposal.
Instead he arranged that we drive up the West Coast to Club Mykonos without me expecting anything.

He wanted to propose the whole day, waiting for the right time. After many cocktails we were supposed to go for a romantic dinner at the Strandloper which ended up being closed o that particular evening. We decided to have a nice braai on our balcony instead. So while the fire was burning, the champagne were flowing and the moon rose over the ocean he went on one knee and asked if I would marry him – I was so surprised and overwhelmed!! I immediately said YES!! We didn’t even have a camera there to take photos of the big event It was the best surprise ever.

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

We got engaged 3 October 2009 and knew we wanted to get married somewhere in December 2010. We would be together for a decade then, and seeing that our friends are scattered over the world and South Africa, we wanted to set the date so that people could plan their December holidays accordingly. We went venue hunting and we made it clear that we either wanted to get married 6, 16 or 18 December. Another friend of ours got engaged shortly after us and had the same dates in mind so we agreed that they will get married on the 6th and we’ll get married on the 16th or 18th as we have many mutual friends. Finding a venue for these specific seemed to be difficult, but once we saw Le Bac and met Carla Foxcroft we knew this were the venue for us. They were busy building 20 accommodation units and we loved the fact that people could stay on the premises on the night of the wedding.

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?

I did almost everything on my own – designed the invites, arranged a wedding dress designer, sourced the venue, minister, dj, flowers and most other things all by myself. I made use of the website www.perdekoop.co.za where I downloaded a dj list, wedding planner & guest list. A family member recommended Barry Geyer from Event and Design to assist as wedding planner. Seeing that most items had been organised already, we agreed on a wedding week package. Barry and Carla from Le Bac both assisted with so many things that made my life so much easier and stress free. They arranged tables, decor, food etc. etc. I knew exactly what I wanted and they made it all happen!

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?

My bridesmaids arranged a day/night out of town at Monkey town near Noordhoek. We had a lovely afternoon of opening gifts, drinking bubbly, eating awesome food which they prepared and we danced the night away and could literally just fall down and sleep. Waking up to the most incredible view over the ocean with all my girlfriends made it so special. Ludwig was abducted by friends from work one Friday afternoon. They got him dressed up in stockings, women’s underwear, jewellery and make-up at the Somerset West N1 petro port where he had to beg for money for the ‘honeymoon fund’.

They then drove all the way out to a place called Rusty Gate Farm, between Greyton and Villiersdorp. They had a fab boys weekend away. Watching the rugby, having a braai and having a good old laugh. Again, the fact that everyone stayed there, no drunk driving etc made it special as everyone made an effort to get there and have a good time.

Wedding Details

Driving towards the Strooidak church in Main Road Paarl was quite an experience. There are about 11 churches in the main road and all of the churches had a wedding happening at the same time of day. All the wedding cars hooted to one another and spectators waved and hooted whilst we drove past. 4pm – arrive at church and walk down the aisle of the historic Strooidak church in Main Road Paarl. I managed to forget my specially made bouquet at the venue where I got dressed and my wedding planner had to improvise by cutting off one of the bright pink orchids placed in the foyer of the church. The walk down the aisle towards my future with my dad next to me was quite emotional and tears were rolling down my cheeks all the way. I will never forget the look on my husband’s face as he waited for me to become his wife.

We had the most incredible minister, Pieter Barnard, and the most incredible sermon. There were laughs, truths & dares and he managed to captivate everyone present and created memories which will last forever. Our friend Leon Schoeman sang a reworked version of Jeff Buckley’s ‘Halleluiah’ in Afrikaans. Our best man couldn’t get the rings to us soon enough and everyone cheered as we took our first kiss as husband and wife.

We stepped out into the bright sun where we were shower with black & silver streamers and we symbolically let go of a couple of balloons. Black and silver to symbolise good and bad times and one red balloon to symbolise that love will concur all.

We then took some family photographs in the churchyard amongst a sea of agapanthus. We drove off to the Taal Monument and had to beg to be gained admission to take some photographs at this historic monument. Driving back to towards the venue gave us time to reflect on the day, the emotions & feelings and looking forward to what’s to come.

We arrived in style at the venue and drank many cocktails with friends. I arranged a photo booth to keep guest busy whilst we took our photos and it turned out to be the best idea ever! We have many amusing and special photographs in an album of all the guests!

The reception was memorable with many amusing speeches, awesome food and the bubbly flowing. We were supposed to take some more family photographs but had such a great evening that we completely forgotten about it. We didn’t want the usual formalities of cutting a cake and throwing the bouquet and garter – we had different flavoured special Italian ice-cream and sugar cones as desert and we improvised by scooping ice-cream instead of the usual cutting of the cake. The garter & bouquet was casually thrown to the crowd which announced the opening of the dance floor.

We danced the night away till about 2 in the morning after which the party continued at the accommodation units on the Le Bac premises.

Tips and / or advice for future bridal couples?

Get someone to design and make your invites for you. Don’t think that you will save time and money if you do it yourself. Most professionals charge a fee per card and work out much cheaper and look more professional than what you can do on your own.

Don’t worry so much about what other people will think. It’s your day and your special moment, don’t let family interfere so much or try to please others.

Use contacts with good references from others. Don’t try to do everything yourself – you’ll get lost in all the finer things and you might end up missing out on the enjoyment of the process.

Don’t spend money on things like cake and puddings – when the guests start drinking, they won’t feel like something sweet – rather provide salty snacks late in the evening and biscotti with the coffee and tea. Involve the groom in the planning – they want to be involved in the process as much as you – it’s their big day as well!

What was the most memorable part of your wedding day?

The little time-out moments me & my husband shared. Staying behind alone in the church after everyone has walked out. Taking our photographs together created some lone time. Music has always been important to us and we’ve shared many memories to special songs. Walking down the aisle on Peter Gabriel’s ‘Blood of Eden’. Walking  up to the venue and awaiting guests  on the beat of ACDC’s ‘All night long’ feeling like rock stars, walking in on George’s Michaels ‘Gotta have faith’ for the reception & opening of the dance floor on The Cure’s ‘Love song’. It all meant something to us and created our own private moment each time.

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

Yes, due to the December peak time holiday costs, we only went on our honeymoon 12 January 2011. The destination was a total surprise to me except that I knew that we were going to Thailand for a couple of days and to Singapore for 2 days.

We spent 5 days at the Phi Phi Island Village Resort www.krabi-hotels.com/ppisland/ , 2 days in Patong Beach, Phuket after which we flew to Singapore for two days. We had two different experience combined into one honeymoon. We had the most incredible time away and loved every minute of it!

Related Information

•  Cape Town Weddings
•  Cape Town Real Weddings
•  Cape Town Wedding Specials
•  Cape Town Wedding Competitions
•  Cape Town Invitations & Stationery