If you haven’t seen PART I of Mareli & Grant’s love celebration at Beloftebos, go on, head on over, you won’t regret.

Mareli & Grant got engaged on a ski slope in France. The story tied in so wonderfully with the theme & detail of their day. Every table had the name various ski slopes in the French Alps. I simply loved all the colour, the cake, origami, the paperplanes flying during the reception & Beloftebos off course which was the perfect setting to name but a few. Oh, yes! and Mareli sang, she has got the voice of a nightingale. So so beautiful. But most of all the joy & love between these two special people. The joy amongst the friends & family. This is how all weddings should be.

Here’s Mareli’s story about their engagement:

“It all happened on a ski slope in a little town called Meribel in the French Alps. Grant had been carrying the ring with him since that morning. The weather had been very cloudy and misty the entire day. We decided to go do one last run. Up at the top of the mountain, you could hardly see the person in front of you, the mist was so thick. We slowly made our way down the slope, sticking together and taking it easy. The next minute the mist and clouds just disappeared and the view of the whole valley opened up and this is when Grant decided that that was the perfect moment…

In order to get my attention he proceeded to try and ski passed me and in this attempt crashed straight into me, falling head first down the slope, losing his ski’s and poles as he skidded to a halt. I luckily stayed standing, ski’d over to him with much concern, but then burst out laughing when I saw him laughing. “Babe, are you ok?”, I asked, to which he answered, “yes fine, but look how beautiful the view is”, pointing in the other direction, successfully diverting my attention.

He then pretended something was wrong with his boot, down on one knee, actually trying to get the ring out of his pocket. I looked back at him and said: “I see, it’s beautiful, but are you ok? Is there anything I can do for you?” To which he replied “Yes, you can give me the honour of spending the rest of your life with me…” All I could do was nod my head and the tears were flowing down my cheeks. He did want to hear the word, “yes”, so he asked me again…”

Thank you so much for choosing me to capture your memories. I am honored.

And thanks so much to my assistant, Marisa for helping me out.

xoxo

Ahhh, Mareli & Grant. You are two truly genuinely special people. Some of you might remember their “silly romantic” Engagement session in Camps Bay. Even back then I just knew their wedding celebration will be like no other, which is exactly why I loved it so very much. It was overflowing with pure joy, which was the most remarkable thing that stood out for me from the entire day.  Marisa (my assistant) & Ian from Vision on Fire noticed the very same thing I learned later that evening.

The setting was just perfect. Under the big Oak trees in Beloftebos near Stanford. The details and theme was based on Mareli & Grant’s experience in France, where Grant proposed on a ski slope. (pls make sure to check back for part II , where I’ll post more of that story :: you won’t regret.)

I loved the way Mareli & Grant’s personalities were truly 100% reflected in..EVERY last detail. From the paper planes flying during the reception (Grant is a pilot), Mareli’s dress (which weren’t exactly a dress, but a 2 piece), you’ll see for yourselves. It’s so Mareli. To the colourful decor and bridesmaid’s dresses which you’ll see more of in PartII to the cake. THE cake!! Loved, loved the cake – there were so many details to mention.

But for now, I hope you enjoy Part I of their celebration just as much as I did capturing it and even reliving that joy when I saw them on the screen weeks later.

xoxo

For you who knows me well, I’ve got a genuine love for the ocean, I find comfort in the ocean, it revitalize my being, hence the fact that I lived on water for almost a decade and the obvious choice is to live really close now. So when a couple is really keen to either get married on the beach or have a shoot there, I am in seventh heaven {or seventh ocean for that matter}

Lucile and Gertjie came all the way from Robertson for their engagement session, which I think was so worth it. And tomorrow I’m going all the way to Robertson for their farm wedding! And I just know that it will incredibly special. From what I’ve heard, amongst other things, they have made a chandelier for the barn. {Not have it made, they made it themselves!} I cannot wait guys. Tomorrow is going to be just fabulous

xo