For our third gorgeous wedding of the week, we're heading to the KZN countryside for a relaxed luncheon bathed in golden light and awash with proteas. Because in case you haven't noticed by now, we bloody love proteas around here. And I love that Lauren and Luke used them as the basis for their colour scheme, along with lanterns, mismatched glass jars and vases and custom laurel monogram napkins. Add beautifully rustic wooden tables and lace bunting, blush dresses for the bridesmaids and Lauren's dreamy lace-back dress, and it's everything an elegant country wedding should be. Everything and more, since it's photographed to romantic perfection by the lovely Eileen of Bright Girl Photography. What a way to end the week!

Love Story The Proposal Wedding Style The Honeymoon
We had a mini-moon which we planned straight after the wedding. We went to Hartford House in the Midlands for a couple of days and then to Nambiti Hills Private Game Reserve. I loved every minute of being with my husband, unwinding after the stress of wedding planning.
We are planning an overseas holiday to Europe (France, Italy and Spain) next year for our one year anniversary.
Ever since I was a little girl, I've always had the idea of a late afternoon lunch wedding. I'd watch grown ups in Hollywood movies have afternoon events at someone's house. We wanted a day where guests could be content lazing in the sunshine and playing games, while sipping on their cocktails and champers. We didn't have an exact style but we were going for a feeling. We wanted the guests to feel relaxed and for the natural beauty of the venue and surroundings to stand out. We used the protea as a base colour palette and mixed creams, dusty hues of pinks and greenery to get an overall theme.
A year after our very first date, we headed back down to Port Elizabeth (Ironman Part II). Luke is rather romantic, so when he 'strongly' suggested we should go for dinner at The Boardwalk (PE's beachfront entertainment complex) before we meet up with the rest of the team, I thought nothing of it. We sat on a lovely private balcony overlooking the lake and chatted about how far we'd come since the year before. Earlier in the week, The Boardwalk had put on a symphony of lights, water-cannons and opera signing, so when it was announced over the PS system that there wouldn't be a water show that evening, I remarked "That's really professional of them to let people know..." (I didn't know they were actually announcing it to give Luke his cue, haha!) After hearing clapping and cheers from other parts of the Boardwalk, I looked across at where the water show had been the night before and saw lights with a large sign of a man on his knee that read "Will you marry me?" I turned back to Luke who had dropped to his knee and the rest was history! I was so happy, emotional, overwhelmed and crying so much I could barely see the ring through the tears. P.E. will always hold a special place in our hearts because of that. It's where we shared our first kiss, our first date, and where we got engaged.
Luke and I were introduced to each other by a mutual friend during endurance training but only chatted a handful of times regarding bicycles or racing. For my first big race, I planned to go down to Cape Town and cycle the Cape Argus. Nervous as hell, I arrived in my batch on the morning of the race and Luke ended up being in the same seeding batch! We rode the entire Argus together, chatted about our lives and careers and giggled over jokes the entire route. Afterwards we went our separate ways, as we were both in relationships at the time. A couple of months later I was single. My friend, Janene, convinced me to try triathlons, so I joined up with her training squad, and, lo and behold, Luke was part of the same group! Everyone was gearing up to go to Port Elizabeth for Ironman South Africa, so as a novice, I went along to watch and support everyone participating. On the Monday after the race, Luke finally asked me out for an 'informal lunch date' of pizza and wine at the local Primi. We spent the afternoon in the sunshine laughing and chatting and have been pretty much been inseparable ever since!

You can see more from this wedding on Brightgirl Photography's blog.

SERVICE PROVIDERS
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Sibton Hill | Photographer: Eileen from Bright Girl | Videographer: James Gibbs | Dress: Imported. Alterations and fitting by Bianca Warren, Signature Store (The Square) 082 465 5640 | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bianca Warren | Groom's attire: Zara (Gateway), Country Road (Gateway), 'His Apparel' (I Heart Market) | Groomsmen and Family: Suit Yourself | Make up: Tammy from Pro-make up | Hair: Drew Christie 082 335 4625 | Tent and dance floor: Nomadik Tents | Wooden tables (main tables): Emily Lockhart 084 468 9890 | Trestle tables (serving tables): Caron 0842931439 | Proteas: From a farm in the midlands - Cindy 083 8754263 | Decor: mostly DIY from bride, bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents | Candle holders, lawn games, other flowers: Lindy from Labola | Cake: Bride | Food: Jeanie Campbell 084 493 2802 | Coffee Station: Love Coffee, Windermere Rd, Durban | Mixologist (cocktails): Michael Stephenson (Lucky Shaker) 078 450 6751 | Beer Kegs: Jared Hogg | Craft Beers: The Standeaven Brewery | Sound And Lighting: The Hirezone