Change of Plans

24 January 2010

We are getting married in Mauritius!!!

Mauritius

Dean and I were chatting the other day, when I happened to mention that maybe we shouldn't do the whole traditional wedding thing, but rather just go away with our families and "elope". We brushed the idea aside for a while, but Dean brought it up again while we were attending a friends wedding. The wedding was beautiful, but we both felt that a big traditional wedding didn't actually suit our personalities. We were getting so bogged down with details like accommodation for everyone, invitations, flowers etc that we were losing touch with the whole meaning of the day.

So we have decided to get married on the beach in front of Dean's family beach cottage in Mauritius. With just the two of us joined by our close family.

Now I'm looking forward to my wedding again, when I was beginning to dread it. The ceremony will be held on the beach with a candle-lit dinner afterwards. How amazing does that sound? Simple and full of love and happiness.

I can't imagine a more beautiful location to get married!

319 Days to go!

Tuesday 10 November 2009

We have paid the deposit at Kearsney and have set the date for 25th September 2010.

I can't wait!

The future Mr & Mrs van Niekerk

Venue Hunting

Monday 12 October 2009

We went past Kearsney College, Dean's high school, yesterday on the way home to Prince's Grant. I really fell in love with it, I think it will be perfect for the wedding. They have a beautiful chapel for the ceremony and we can have the reception in the Greyhound old boys club. The Greyhound is going to need a bit of work to make it fit for a wedding reception, but with some draping and appropriate decor, it will be stunning. The grounds are perfect for photographs with tall trees, pretty flowers, green fields and attractive buildings.

The Stunning Chapel at Kearsney

As you enter Kearsney

We are still going to have a look at Zimbali and Hotel Izulu as potential venues, but I really have a good feeling about Kearsney. I like the fact that Dean and his family have history here.

Midlands Meander

Sunday 11 October 2009

The van Niekerk family gathering @ the Hillhouse

We had a fabulous time in the Midlands this weekend. Chrisy organised for the van Niekerk clan to stay in this awesome converted farm shed called the Hillhouse. It was situated right next to Midmar dam. Most of us were very impressed with the arty, boho chic decor, except for Dean's dad who was not impressed with the old, torn leather chairs in front of the fire place. He was convinced they might have rats living in them. Dean and I tried to convince him that 'Cape Tonians' would pay a fortune for that kind of "vintage" furniture, but he was having none of it!

The Hillhouse

Mark, Dean's dad, loving the "vintage" chairs

Dean's artwork on the blackboard at the Hillhouse

Dean's cousin, Julie, had her wedding at a place called Granny Mouse Country House. It was a beautiful venue.

Granny Mouse Country House and the beautiful little chapel

I was quite nervous leading up to the wedding as I would be meeting a lot of the van Niekerk family for the first time. But I had nothing to worry about, everyone was really down to earth and very friendly. My only problem was that I couldn't keep the tears at bay during the speeches. I have no idea how I am going to get through my own wedding without being an emotional wreck!

The Newlyweds - Julie and Chris

Dean and I at the reception

Christy looking stylish

Jed and Jenna

When I wasn't crying during the speeches, they were quite entertaining

In Search of the Perfect Venue

Thurday 8 October 2009

We have decided that the best place for us to get married would be somewhere on or near the North Coast of KZN.

We have been invited to Dean's cousin Julie's wedding in the Midlands this weekend. We have decided to take this opportunity to view a few possible venues around that area as well as spend a few days with Dean's folks at Prince's Grant.

Venue possibilities:

• Hotel Izulu Ballito
• Zimbali Lodge Ballito
• Kearsney College Hillcrest

My Engagement Ring

Monday 28 September 2008

Yay! I received my engagement ring today. Dean and I decided to keep things simple and go for a classic solitaire design set in platinum. I am very happy with the way it turned out.

The Ring!

Back To Reality

Monday 17 August 2009

So, we are back home. Now I actually need to start planning a wedding.

Priority list:

1. Tell friends and family about engagement
2. Choose bridal party
3. Pick a date
4. Pick a venue
5. Pick a theme/colour
6. Make a budget
7. Open a dedicated wedding account
8. Attend bridal show in September
9. Draw up a guest list
10. Lose 10 kilo's!

Friends and family

All our friends and family are very happy about the engagement. Everyone loves Dean.

Bridal party

Maid of honour - Leigh-Anne Barnes

Bridesmaid - Ali Joyner

Bridesmaid - Christy van Niekerk

Best man - Bryan Roseveare

Groomsman - Jed van Niekerk

Groomsman - Shane van Niekerk

Flower girl - Anna Schmitz

Page boys - Ben Schmitz, Jake Barnes and Samual Barnes

Pick a date

Dean wants to get married this year! But he's a boy and has no idea the time and effort it takes to plan a wedding. So, after talking some sense into him we have decided that September 2010 would be a good time for the wedding. A spring wedding, yay! I want to have time to enjoy the engagement and not be too stressed out. We also need time to save some extra money as weddings tend to be quite expensive or so I have heard. Lastly I need some time to complete no. 10 on my to do list.

The venue

Where to have the wedding? We live in Jo'burg, my family are in PE, Dean's family are on the North Coast and we have friends everywhere. I have always dreamed of having a wedding on a wine farm in Cape Town, but that would be a bit impractical now that we no longer live there. So, this issue still needs to be decided.

The colour scheme

Dean has one request, that we don't have hideous, brightly-coloured bridesmaid dresses.

What was she thinking?

So, I think we are going for simple, classic, knee-length, black dresses for the bridesmaids. And for the flowers and decor I like a very classic, romantic look. I like cream/white roses, silver candelabras and fairy lights.

The budget

This is something I'm obviously a bit nervous about, but I'm just going to try to get a feel of what things cost before I start drawing up a budget.

Bridal Show

There's a bridal show in September which should help me get some ideas.

Guest list

We have drawn up a provisional guest list and are looking at about 100 - 120 people.

Slim down

I have managed to lose some of the weight I put on last year, but still have a way to go. It's time to start hitting the gym a bit harder as well as eating as healthy as I can. Don't worry Dad, I won't lose too much, I promise.