More Destination Wedding Venues

We love the trend that is becoming evident in modern weddings. Couples seem to be choosing to have smaller, more intimate weddings, sharing the event with close friends and family rather than large weddings where some guests are almost unknown to them! This could be due to the economic realities we live under, as well as the fact that many weddings are not the bride or groom’s first wedding, and if the couple are paying for their own wedding, they get to invite who they want to share their wedding day with.

This smaller, more intimate type of wedding lends itself perfectly to a destination wedding. We are so fortunate here in South Africa as we are privileged to have many quaint villages and stunning localities to make for really memorable destination weddings.

One of our favourite beach destination venues is Grootbos which is situated overlooking the ocean on a Fynbos reserve between Gansbaai and Hermanus in the Western Cape. Grootbos has had the honour of being named in the Top 50 Hotels I in the world. This particular part of the ocean offers the best land-based whale watching in the world. You can choose to have your ceremony in a number of places. If you have always dreamed of a beach wedding, they can set up your ceremony on the beach at sunset. The other alternative is a forest wedding ceremony amongst their 1000 year old milkwood forest trees which makes for unique and beautiful wedding pictures.

Grootbos are well-known for their excellent cuisine, and being so close to the ocean, for their fresh seafood, so you need have no concerns about your reception menu. There is a cosy, intimate underground wine cellar where they hold smaller receptions. Decorated with flowers and bathed in candlelight, the wine cellar offers a stunning reception venue. Alternatively your reception can be held on the terrace overlooking the ocean or in our cosy dining area which boasts amazing views from Cape Point to all the way round to Cape Agulhas.

For your honeymoon, their luxury honeymoon suite has its own private splash pool, private balcony and beautifully furnished accommodation. All meals are included (and these are all delicious!) and there is a plethora of activities ranging from horse riding to shark-cage diving for the adventurous, to hikes through the fynbos. Have a look at their profile on www.saweddingvenues.com/grootbos.aspx.

An area that is becoming increasingly popular for destination weddings is the beautiful Eastern Free State. These venues are situated on farms outside towns that are within easy reach of Gauteng, and are thus perfect for a weekend wedding where the bride and groom and their guests wish to get away from the city and enjoy a relaxed wedding in beautiful surroundings in big sky country.

Clarens is a very popular destination with its art galleries, coffee shops and interesting stores and is thus perfect for a destination wedding. Oranje Guest Farm is a charming venue for your wedding. Have a look at their profile at www.saweddingvenues.com/oranje-guest-farm.aspx.

Clocolan which is situated between the towns of Ficksburg and Ladybrand has a few lovely country wedding venues. One of these is Zuikerkop which is situated on a farm surrounded by rolling green fields, flat-topped koppies, abundant game and unrivalled skyscapes. Have a look at www.saweddingvenues.com/zuikerkop.aspx. You could consider this as a wonderful option for your destination wedding.

Another gorgeous venue with 150 year old sandstone buildings so characteristic of the area is Essence of the Highlands. This venue has magnificent views with clear blue skies in the day and amazing stars during the night. If you look at www.saweddingvenues.com/essence.aspx you will see what we mean! These venues offer accommodation for your guests and an unforgettable experience if you should choose to have your wedding there.

Weddings in Small Towns

In the past year one thing that I have noticed from our brides is a desire to get out of the city and get married in a small town. It is easy to understand why this has become so popular in this gorgeous country of ours. We have some amazing small towns to choose from not too far from the city. I also think that by having your wedding out of town you make an event out of it. Everyone has to travel to the wedding destination and most probably end up staying in town for a couple of nights. It really creates a celebratory atmosphere. So what are some of the best towns to have your small town wedding at? I have made a list of my favourite five:


1. Clarens, Free State – This is a very popular little town at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. Its quaint village atmosphere, breathtaking scenery and mild climate make it a popular choice for brides to have their small town wedding from Joburg, Bloemfontein and even Durban. There is a lot to see and do in the area making great day activities for your guests. Our featured venue in Clarens is Oranje Guest Farm. I absolutely love this venue because it has an authentic Free State feel to it and its beautiful sandstone buildings bring real character to the venue. The venue can accommodate up to 170 guests and there is even an old chapel located on the farm. There is an organised team of ladies who are ready to help you with any of your needs, which is great if you planning your wedding from Joburg! For more information have a look at their profile: http://saweddingvenues.com/oranje-guest-farm.aspx


2. Brits, North West – May sound like an unusual choice to most people, but I really love the area and find that it is far less hectic than its neighbour Hartebeesport Dam and so close to Joburg and Pretoria. One of our most popular venues is located here, Zakopane Country Village. With its idyllic setting and impeccable food and service, it’s easy to understand why Zakopane has fast become one of the sought after wedding venues in South Africa. Zakopane Country Village boasts an on site chapel and can host wedding for up to 160 guests. Have a look at their profile: http://saweddingvenues.com/zakopane-country-village.aspx


3. Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape – I love this little quaint village just 1 hour away from Cape Town so much. It is so unpretentious compared to its other wine route counterparts and oh so beautiful. The town is culture rich and pays host to two festivals every year, the olive festival in March and a Shiraz and art Festival in October. My favourite venue in Reebiek Kasteel is Delsma Farm and is situated on the banks of the Berg River. This farm is gorgeous and has so many ‘wow factors’ it is hard to name them all. Just have a look for yourself : http://saweddingvenues.com/delsma-farm.aspx


4. Knysna, Garden Route – Ok it is a stretch to call Knysna a small town, but it has SO much to offer I just had to include it. Plan the wedding off season and you won’t even notice how developed Knysna has become. The setting is perfect and the natural beauty of the place means that there are infinite lovely places to take pictures. My wedding venue of choice in Knysna is Portland Manor. It is a historical country manor with enough space to accommodate most of your wedding guests. Portland Manor really is country comfort at its very best! http://www.saweddingvenues.com/portland-manor.aspx


5. The Natal Midlands – Everyone loves this part of the country and with good reason. There is an enchanting air to the Midlands making it an extremely popular area to get married in. With the Drakensberg mountains as your backdrop what could be better than getting married in the Natal Midlands? Our venue in the Midlands is Lastingham, offering the finest in KwaZulu Natal hospitality and class. The setting is perfect and the owners Mike and Lynne like to concentrate on the details, ensuring your wedding runs perfectly. Check them out: http://saweddingvenues.com/lastingham.aspx


So start looking into having your wedding in a small town and discover that there is so much that these little gems have to offer.


Kathy

2011 – What a fabulous year to get married!

So he popped the question and you getting married! Congratulations. By the amount of people coming to our site www.saweddingvenues.com we can tell that there were a lot of engagements over the holidays. Suddenly your status has changed to ‘Engaged’ and planning your wedding is your top priority. So many things to do and not enough hours in the day to do them. So let’s get going!


There has never been so much activity on the internet as there is at the moment. All the professionals are online right now blogging, twittering or facebooking about what they do and how they do it. To find inspiration and ideas for your wedding day you don’t even need to leave your computer. Seriously, how cool is that! Twitter I have found to be the easiest way of getting advice from the professionals. So, sign up today and you can get thousands ideas for your wedding. I also find great deals on Ebay, have a look. But you can find absolutely everything on there! Just be careful, it is extremely addictive. 


There are two royal weddings this year too. If it is not really your thing it is going to be great to see some of the trends that these two lovely ladies are going to be incorporating into their weddings and if it is your thing, well you are in for a treat! I think the whole world has been looking forward to the day when one of Lady Diana’s sons wed! Diana and Charles’ wedding was so enchanting I can only imagine what William and Kate’s wedding is going to be like. 


There are more choices than ever now. It may be daunting for some people, but for me I just think that it makes things more exciting. 


So all the best to you and your significant other in planning one of the most important days of your lives.


All the best!

2011 - Local and International celebrities plan their weddings!

2011 a Year for Celebrity Weddings!

2011 will be filled with bouquets and white dresses as celebrities - local South African and international - plan to tie the knot.

Headlining the local nuptial scene will be the first family. President Jacob Zuma is expected to wed his sixth bride. Gloria Bongi Ngema became his latest fiancée ­after traditional Zulu gifts were ­exchanged in December 2009.

Zuma’s glamorous daughter, Duduzile, will wed her businessman fiancé, Lonwabo Sambudla, after the traditional umembeso ceremony which took place in ­Durban last month.

Zuma’s son, Mziwoxolo, will marry his fiancée Phumelele Shange after the umembeso at the bride’s home in Lamontville, KwaZulu-Natal, in November.

On the entertainment scene ­Skwatta Kamp rapper Slikour and his girlfriend, Jill Mulligan, are speaking of taking vows after the birth of their child, and new parents model Lee-Ann Liebenberg and her fiancé, former polo player Nicky van der Walt, are also looking to marry this year.

Rounding off the SA list is former South African swimming star Charlene Wittstock, who will marry Prince Albert of Monaco in July.

Scandalous

Internationally, the paparazzi are licking their lips over another two royal weddings in the next year, with Prince William’s recent proposal to his long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton topping the list.

Also set to tie the knot in April is Zara Phillips, Queen ­Elizabeth’s granddaughter, who is to marry English rugby player Mike Tindall.

Actress Louisana Lopilato will wed Grammy Award winner Michael Bublé in April.

The star-studded weddings will include a good stirring up of controversy as singer Shania Twain marries Frédéric Thiébaud, husband of the former friend for whom Twain’s husband left her.

Also sure to keep people talking is Playboy boss Hugh Hefner, 84, who will walk down the aisle for the third time with Playmate Crystal Harris, 60 years his junior.

Former couple Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey will also be getting married - but not to each other. The actress will wed former football player Eric Johnson, while the former singer weds his actress girlfriend, Vanessa Minnillo.

Singer LeAnn Rimes has become engaged to CSI Miami hunk Eddie Cibrian. The Can’t Fight The Moonlight singer’s actor boyfriend reportedly popped the question over the Christmas period while they were on holiday in Los Angeles.

Singer Lily Allen has also ­announced her engagement after boyfriend Sam Cooper proposed to her on a beach in Bali on Christmas Day.

Oscar winner Natalie Portman has announced she is both ­engaged and pregnant. The ­actress is set to wed ballet choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

And the ever-controversial Britney Spears has set off engagement rumours after she tweeted a photo of herself sitting on Santa’s lap - with a ring on her left hand.

In the photo, Britney has a ­diamond ring on her ring finger, which has prompted several websites to suggest that perhaps her boyfriend, Jason Trawick, proposed to her over the festive ­period.