This is the kind of wedding I live for, the kind that makes me wonder why anyone would get married anywhere else but our beautiful country (take note, Clooney, although I'd rather you eloped with me). Being talented graphic designers, the bride and groom also have exquisite taste, turning a protea-themed, rustic slash boho style wedding into something more than I've ever seen before. For one thing, there's the floral arch - serious wow factor, and it has me falling in love with our big, bold, beautiful national flower all over again. Then Carlen's flower crown and soft curls, and graceful Elbeth Gillis dress (one of my personal favourites of Elspeth's designs, in fact). Succulent favours in tin mugs branded with the awesome protea logo the couple created. Tables filled with burlap and wildflowers and glass clear as the summer sky. A trio of fashionable bridesmaids. And to top it all off, dreamy pictures by the incredible Sybrand Cillié. In fact, the service providers list reads like a who's who of brilliant SA wedding suppliers (and I'm delighted that SBB was part of helping Carlen & Lynton put their team together and plan their big day from abroad!). I love every inch of this one, and I'm sure you will too - so enjoy!

The Proposal
It was tricky picking a venue from our London home and we had to go off the weddings we've seen on SouthBound Bride and other blogs. We had a few shortlisted and decided on Vrede en Lust on the fact that they had a very good rate for on-site accommodation and all weekend hire for the month of January, a late closing time and the obvious of an amazing setting, indoor/outdoor feel and prompt and very helpful email correspondence. We wanted a venue that represented the best of the Winelands for the out of towners, and great food and wine! We could not have been happier with Vrede en Lust. Such an amazing venue and the staff were just unbelievable! The venue is very close to my heart as I studied at Stellenbosch University and grew up with regular visits to the Winelands. Lynton was a little more keen for a beach wedding (Durban boy), but I was paranoid about wind! (From the groom) We went away on a weekend trip from London to Wales for Carlen's Birthday and stayed in a cute little boutique hotel/cooking school. I had saved a bottle of Zorgvliet Richelle red (all my friends and Carlen knew it was for the day I popped the question). On our walk that evening I spotted the perfect place on the river, but got greedy and thought we might come across an even better one - not to be! Back at the hotel I asked Carlen to choose either my left hand - holding a small bottle of complimentary Rosé, or my right - the champagne option. There was one other option at which point I reached down and pulled out the special bottle. At first Carlen was not happy that I wanted to open it on her birthday, until the penny dropped! After that initial confusion she thankfully said yes! DIY Elements
The Flowers
Advice for Future Brides & Grooms
I would say try to spend your money on venue, DJ, food & drink and photographer. They are the elements that will help make your wedding fun and unforgettable. Everything else you can make work around your remaining budget.
Find suppliers that have a good reputation and whose work you admire. They will try and work with the budget you give them.
Don't leave the little last minute details too late... they actually do take up a lot of time and can cause some late nights before the wedding!
Make a list of things to be done on the day and persons responsible. Brief them before the day and then trust that everything will be done without checking up. You don't want to be organising from your make-up chair or call around for things you just remembered to be done. You also don't want people of the bridal party to be running around too much.
But most importantly, don't sweat the small stuff and be present in every moment! We also had to book the flowers from London and Heike's personal response really stood out for me. We met up with a brief of what we knew we did not want and types of flowers we did want included and the protea as a design queue, but pretty much trusted her to deliver something amazing. I also really wanted a bespoke rustic wedding gazebo, but had no idea where I could find one. A week before the wedding she said that her husband, Andrew, would build it for me! I think it was the first one he made and it will definitely not be the last. I only saw it for the first time when I walked down the aisle and I was so impressed with what they created! It now proudly stands in my parents' garden.
Heike also put me in touch with her sister Silke to do our dessert table and with the help of her Mom decorated it in the same flowers. The table looked amazing and there were zero mini desserts left over. Heike also saved the day for us and organised new tablecloths when the ones delivered were way too small! Thanks Heike and team! As we're both graphic designers, we could do all the design elements ourselves. We designed little wooden laser-cut save the date magnets, but they ended up in a postal twilight zone for six months! So we decided on a website and Mailchimp invites, which was a pretty good way to see who opened the invites and at what time (we could even prompt those who received it but did not click through to the invites!)
My Mom, Dad and nephews made all the wedding favours, my brother and sister-in-law helped with the cake boxes and other last minute printing, cutting and delivering of bits and pieces. We also used some airplants and succulents from my Mom's garden.

Wedding Details
We are both graphic designers so it was important for us to follow the theme from our 'save the date' and website invite through to the menu's, table setting, etc. It was also meant to be on the thank you cards, which sadly have not made it out of our door yet! [Look out for Carlen & Lynton's awesome Save the Dates on our Facebook page today! -G]

You can see more from this wedding on Sybrand Cillié's blog.

SERVICE PROVIDERS
Venue & catering: Vrede en Lust Wine Estate | Photography: Sybrand Cillié | On the day Co-ordinator: Willem Haasbroek | Videography: FJS Productions | Dessert Table: Silke Viljoen (number on request) | Cake: Delicately Different | Flowers & décor: Fleur le Cordeur | Stationery: Carlen Voigt | Bride's dress: Elbeth Gillis | Bride's shoes: J Crew | Hair & makeup: Jeanette Genis & Algria Fereira (number on request) | Bridesmaids' dresses: Ebay and ASOS | Groom's attire: Top Hat | Hiring: Something Different; My Pretty Vintage | DJ/Entertainment: DJ René | Entertainment: Mr Peterson and The Guys (number on request) | Minister: Patrick Boucher (number on request) | Babysitters: Holiday Nannies