My love affair with Fiona Clair 's photography goes a way back, but it didn't take long for new SBB team member Candice to fall head over heels with her work as well. So when we snapped up this winter pastel wedding set in the Natal Midlands, we couldn't stop gushing to each other about how gorgeous every single image was. You probably know by now that I'm a sucker for pastels, and I LOVED Jolene's take on the palette, taking it from summer staple to winter whimsy completely effortlessly. Add in mixed metallics (♥), painted bottles and origami, a vintage plate table plan, a handpainted banner proclaiming 'Oh happy day!', an illusion lace dress, flower crowns, faux fur shrugs... every detail, basically. Oh happy day, indeed!

Love Story The Proposal Wedding Style Most Memorable Moment
The most memorable moment of our day, for me, happened during our ceremony. Ryan (our officiant) asked Stef and I to look at our family and friends, the people who were there to witness the biggest day of our lives, and to take in what it really meant to know that the people we had invited to our wedding, were the same people we were inviting into our marriage. He reminded us that our guests were not just here for our celebration, they were here to bear witnesses to our marriage and that by doing so, they had a responsibility to support our marriage from this point onwards.
We turned to face our friends and family, and I could feel the support and the love radiating from them. It was so powerful, so profound and by far my favourite memory of the day.
Stef and I drew our inspiration from the love we share for our family and friends, and we tried to incorporate this into our day as much as possible. We chose "Love, Joy and Happiness" as the key factors that we wanted our day to invoke, and that is why we called our wedding "Oh Happy Day." As far as décor went, Stef left the smaller details up to me. I spent a lot of time in the run-up to our wedding day browsing the net for cost effective ideas that would look beautiful and vintage, but simple. I absolutely loved the metallic mix of matte gold and rose gold, combined with both fresh and origami flowers.
Stef and his family have a house in Leisure Bay, down the KZN south coast, which holds a very special place in his heart. This is Stef's "happy place," where he has spent every Christmas for the past 28 years. It is also our secret place where we retreat to when we need time out. I remember we had decided to go to Leisure Bay for a weekend over September last year - things had been particularly busy for us over this time, and Stef had suggested we take some time out for ourselves. It was on Peter Pan beach that he asked me to be his wife. The beach was empty at 6pm except for us, and everything was fresh and clean following the first rains of Spring. Stef picked me a wild lilly that had been growing next to the rocks and placed my ring inside but it took me a while to figure out what was happening! I had an inkling that a proposal was on the cards but I never thought it would be that weekend - I was in my comfiest track pants and a manicure was way overdue! I think our proposal was absolutely perfect in every way - just the two of us in our happy place and most especially, because Stef had managed to surprise me (and that isn't easy!)
Stef and I met at his Matric dance and our paths had crossed many times before he finally asked me out on our first date three and a half years ago. The restaurant he took me to that night was empty except for the two of us, so it's a good thing we're both friendly, outgoing people because if one of us had been the shy-type, it could have been a disaster first date! Luckily, it was perfect (but I still made him wait another two weeks before the next one!) :)

You can see more from this wedding on Fiona Clair's blog.

SERVICE PROVIDERS
Venue and Catering: Calderwood Hall | Photographer: Fiona Clair | Videographer: The Shank Tank | Flowers & décor: By Jackie |Stationery: Rainmaker Marketing | Bride's dress: Olivelli Durban | Bride's accessories: Joy bridal shoes available at Olivelli Durban, Swarovski (earrings) | Hair & makeup: Nixon Makeup | Bridesmaids' dresses: Infinity dresses made by Camilla Smith (079 235 6079) | Groom's attire: Suit Yourself