I learnt that life really is about who you know. I am a member of a local club and got the venue for free as a result. It was an old converted house with faded curtains and dark, heavy wood, but it was free and available. Next, I called a friend who so generously and graciously lent me her wedding dress for the bride-to-be. The same friend, we’ll call her Brigitte, also revealed her hidden talents in the way of hair and make-up and lo! We had a bride!

I designed a (beautiful, in my opinion) invitation on my computer, converted it to a PDF and emailed it off to as many people as we knew. I texted the rest. There was an open bar, and guests were asked to bring a plate of snacks. It helps that I also know a chef / baker, who surprised us with the most awesome culinary creations (thanks Michael!). Two friends of ours love singing and have the equipment, so they agreed to cart their keyboard and guitar to the venue and belt out a few soulful tunes.

Next, we called a local receptionist that makes stylish cupcakes in her spare time and told her our dilemma. Not only did she bake and decorate them all beautifully, but she even decorated and donated a gorgeous cake stand for the display at no extra charge.

On the morning, Alida and I made our way to the Department of Home Affairs to meet Roy there and get the admin out of the way. We were met with bolted gates and hapless security staff informing us that the department was closed due to the labour strike. What? I did not plan a reception in four days to celebrate a couple that were no more married than they were 10 years ago. I called a friend, who called a friend, who knew a marriage officiant. He agreed to meet us in one of the most intricately designed suburbs in Port Elizabeth at 16h00. This meant getting Alida ready three hours sooner than expected, but it had to be done. With the help of road maps and a sense of humour, we found our officiant (who referred to the marriage certificate, vows and institution of marriage as a “dinges”, the Afrikaans word for “thing”). By 16h30, she and Roy were married and giggling like coy little children.

The reception was more fun than I could have planned had I been given six months. Our friends all helped so much in getting together and spoiling Roy and Alida with beautiful presents and making them feel every bit as special as they are, even with only a few days’ notice. This experience has shown me that the magic of a wedding truly lies in the love, fun and romance of the day, and not in the details that so often cost us unnecessary time and energy.

Submitted by: Amelia du Plessis

• Wearing white – for just a slightly different look, opt for pastel colours or gold. If you want a really unique look, go for charcoal, fuchsia or turquoise.
• The tiered, white cake – this is very traditional. To break from the mould, opt for brightly coloured cupcakes, a heap of chocolates and truffles, ice cream in a cone or a candyfloss stand.
• Floral centrepieces – exchange the traditional table flowers with a pile of old books, a guest book or board games to keep guests busy while you have photos taken.
• A registry for gifts – if your home is already full of all the necessities, tactfully ask guests to contribute towards your honeymoon (in cash or in the form of romantic experiences, such as a champagne cruise), or make a donation in their name to a charity of your choice.
• Matching bridesmaids – although this may seem like the natural way to go, choosing different coloured dresses in a specific style that suits each girl still creates a cohesive picture and leaves your entourage feeling and looking their best.
• A veil – instead of the traditional white headpiece, don a wreath of flowers, an elegant fascinator, hippy-style ribbons or nothing but a gorgeous hairdo.
• The first dance – if you prefer for all attention not to be on you for this one, invite everyone up for a fun line dance (you could include a quick lesson) or the Chicken Dance.

Just hours before their wedding, on 11 January 2005, the photographer captures Nick lying alongside his wife-to-be as she receives another session of chemotherapy. As the day progresses, an emaciated, but still beautiful and radiant bride gets ready for her big day, oxygen tank and all.

As she is serenaded in her wheelchair, her happiness, and that of her proud groom, is undeniable. Looking at the pictures and reflecting on their story of love should make all the brides- and grooms-to-be appreciate their prospects of spending the rest of their lives together; a privilege that Nick and Katie would never know.

Both external exhibitors and tenants showcased everything that the discerning bride could possibly desire from gowns, venues and invitations, travel destinations, hens and bull’s party favours to flowers, cakes and photography. The Centre was buzzing over the two day period with brides-to-be gathering information and contacts to make their wedding day spectacular.

DJ’s created ambiance while Belly Fusion and KZN Dance Centre entertained the crowds with routines at various times and areas within the Centre on both days.

Visit www.hillcrestcorner.co.za to find out about upcoming events and promotions at Hillcrest Corner – these are definitely not to be missed!

The courses begin again in September and October of 2010 and are based on the interest shown in the different educational and training programmes. The courses are designed by professionals within the wedding industry so that they are accurate and relevant. All of the courses have been endorsed by:

• Bride and Co
• The Wedding Expo
• Oakfields College
• Marriage Meander
• Shattered Glass Disco
• le Papier
• Little Pink Book
• Redeye Capture Life
• Khali Collins – The Wedding Specialist

For more information, visit the SA School of Weddings page on Celebration.co.za.

The wedding took place at the Astor Courts in an affluent part of New York. This venue is charming in its graceful appeal as well as its positioning on the magnificent Hudson River. All 400 to 500 guests were treated to an elegant affair characterised by its genuine air of romance. These guests included well-known names and faces within the political and entertainment industries.

Although the details remain unconfirmed, it is believed that Vera Wang and Oscar De La Rente collaborated in the design of Chelsea’s breath-taking gown.

The newlyweds are currently living in New York. Marc works at a Manhattan hedge fund and Chelsea will no doubt pursue the career for which she has her Master’s Degree in Public Health.

Penelope, 36 years old, wore a gown designed by John Galliano. But, it seems that we will have to wait some time before seeing the gorgeous creation, as this couple continues to live their elusive life together. Reports have confirmed, though that she looked spectacular enough to ensure that 41-year-old Javier’s eyes welled with tears when he first saw his blushing bride.

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem have appeared in three films together. Cruz had made a recent comment during an interview that marriage was not in the pipeline for the two lovebirds, just months before tying the knot. This has, of course, sparked rumours that the gorgeous brunette is pregnant. All this excitement!

Held in Kroonstad, the Strydom wedding was set amongst the gorgeous South African bushveld. Isolde wowed guests and her husband-to-be in a classic-styled dress and a faux fur shoulder shawl. Her wine-red roses were a stark contrast to the pristine white and the corset-shaped wedding cake a delight.

Despite having only been married since June, Louis and Isolde already have their first child – a 10-month-old Beagle called Milo.

Picture courtesy of You.co.za

These include:

• The Wedding Singer
• Sweet Home Alabama
• The Wedding Planner
• Runaway Bride
• The Notebook
• So I Married an Axe Murderer
• Moonstruck
• Father of the Bride
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding
• My Best Friend’s Wedding
• Meet the Parents
• An Officer and a Gentleman
• Four Weddings and a Funeral
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
• Green Card
• Fools Rush In
• Love Story
• She’s Having a Baby
• Big Fish
• True Romance
• How to Marry a Millionaire
• When a Man Loves a Woman
• Ever After
• First Knight
• Honeymoon in Vegas
• Best Men
• The In-Laws
• That Old Feeling
• The Way We Were
• Only You
• Muriels Wedding

Your wedding day will be filled with excitement and love, not only between you and your new spouse, but amongst family and friends as well. Wedding guests often spend exorbitant amounts of money spoiling you, as the couple, with gifts and favours. However, many couples today already have well-established careers, homes and accessories. This means that a lot of the gifts, while appreciated, are somewhat unnecessary.

In response, an increasing number of couples have decided to use this occasion as an opportunity to donate to charities. While this may mean some sacrifice on your behalf, it yields an immeasurable amount of joy and satisfaction, knowing that the celebration of your love has benefited others to such a large degree. There are a few ways to contribute to charities and non-profit organisations:

• Leftover love – some organisations may be able to use food and beverages that have not been used during the course of your wedding. This is particularly true of a buffet-style meal, where food goes untouched by guests. Plated food is not ideal, unless it is being donated as food for animals, as the recipients may feel less dignified being given half-eaten chicken schnitzel, for example.
• Flower power – donating your bouquet and the flowers used in your décor to a hospital, children’s home or a home for the aged will cheer these ones up and remind them of their importance to others.
• Décor delight – if you have used certain elements in your décor that you will not use again, why not donate these to a home or playschool? Examples include props, candles, scatter cushions, candlesticks, and so on.
• Clothing comforts – while your wedding dress may be too sentimental to donate, the bridesmaids and groomsmen outfits may be just what your local second-hand shop needs. If you are willing to part with your dress, it is sure to save some future bride a lot of money as she prepares for her special day.
• Cash donations – instead of having a personal gift registry or accepting gifts from guests, consider mentioning on your invitation that, should your guests want to give you something special, they are welcome to make a cash donation to a charity in your name. Mention how much you would appreciate this gesture and that it would help you to enjoy your day even more. You may consider giving them a choice of your favourite charities, or simply allowing them to donate to a charity of their choice and simply let you know what organisation it was. You could be quite innovative, having some sort of card that they can fill in with the details and placing this on a tree or in a box for your later perusal. This will help them to see what an important initiative this is to you as a couple.
• Wedding favours – instead of spending money on giving each guest a small gift, you may opt for giving that money to a charity. Let guests know that you have done this by placing a small note at each place setting. This should say something similar to: “Thank you for being such an important part of our celebration. We wanted to share our joy by making a small donation in your name to Save-a-Pet”. If you choose to follow this course, it is imperative that you choose a charity that will not offend any of your guests.

Before selecting a charity or charities that you would like to support, it is vital that you find out more about them to ensure that you are happy with what will be done with your donation. This can be done by calling them directly or by examining their website. Always make a point of thanking your guests very genuinely and generously for their support and understanding in this regard. Give them the website address or a short précis on the work and aim of the charity so that they can feel comfortable with their part in the donation.