I love weddings, that's news to nobody. But as well as the planning and design stuff, I also happen to love being a wedding guest (and I get to do it next weekend, yay!). There are some weddings on the blog where as I'm looking at the pictures I just think wow, I would have loved to be a guest at this wedding. Today's is one of those, because it looks like so much FUN. Everything about Tumi and Moe's big day (photographed by the fantastic CC Rossler) is right up my street - it's bright and fun, and heartfelt too - the couple really wanted to express their love not only for one another but for all their guests as well. Plus, it's the very definition of Proudly South African - I am completely in love with the way that Tumi used a navy and yellow African print as the base inspiration for her design (resulting in the cutest bridesmaid outfits!), as well as incorporating a traditional game into cocktail hour and carrying a protea and fynbos bouquet. Bottom line: it's a truly SouthBound wedding, and I'm so thrilled to share it with you!

The Proposal Wedding Details
Proudly South African Details
I had a protea bouquet and we included "jeqe" (a traditional South African dish - which could be described as steamed bread) on the menu. We did a wedding "step" (which is when the bridal party dance into the venue) - an African wedding without one is sacrilege. The African print fabric used for our outfits (bridemaids' skirts; pocket squares; Moe's bow-tie and my second outfit bustier) is proudly African. We also made a giant Mmele/Morabaraba/Mlabalaba game, which is a traditional African, two-player, strategy board game played in South Africa and Lesotho.
We love each other. Dearly. I think it was evident. We also love everyone we invited. We used folded hearts as place cards. We managed to write a few words in them for some guests. I was ambitious and ran out of time but still wanted to, better some than none. We had giant L-O-V-E letters in the reception yard. Our table names were things we love about each other. My friend recited a poem she wrote for us, centered around love.
We had a braai the night before. We kept the wedding day relaxed and not too formal.
Moe wore shorts. We had an open bar. (That sums up his personality.) I kept my hair natural (Samke managed to gorgeously extend and style it) and the decor basically summed up all the things I like. Our bridal party's attire and gifts sum us up too: hip-flasks filled with whiskey for the gents, and a practical but ladylike goodie bag that included heel-stoppers for the ladies. Hehehe. He didn't really propose to me. We'd obviously been planning our future and talking about marriage but I didn't expect him to do it when he did. He sent a letter home (as done traditionally to state intentions to marry the maiden of the family) and my mom told me about it very nonchalantly. Magadi (lobolo in Setswana) negotiations began in November, while we were in Thailand might I add, and were completed in April with a big traditional celebration. Two days before the celebration, he actually proposed, which took me totally by surprise! He surprised me with a dinner to celebrate ten years since we first started dating and somewhere between me poking my dessert and looking up at him, he went down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He realised he hadn't actually asked me. I obviously said yes!

Most Memorable Moment
Moe: It might be clichéd, but for me, it was the moment I stepped into the chapel to walk down the aisle. After that, it was hearing that every single one of our guests had a blast! There was a couch area for the grannies, fireplace for the over 40s and dance floor for the young (young at heart included).
Tumi: There are so many! Moe slipping my gorgeous ring onto my finger (I didn't have an engagement ring); our first dance (it felt like we were the only two in the room) and chasing people away in the early hours of the morning. A LOT of fun was had and the venue had to close.

You can see more from this wedding on CC Rossler's blog.

SERVICE PROVIDERS
Venue: The Glades Farm | Catering: CHC Catering | Photography: CC Rossler Photography | Co-ordinator, flowers & décor: Gabi at Vanilla House | Videographer: Aubergine Productions | Wedding website: Wix (see our wedding website here) | Ceremony venue: Crab Apple Chapel | Bride's dress: Aliexpress; tailored by Be My Bridesmaid | Hair & makeup: Samke Shelembe at Embelesh House of Beauty | Bridesmaids' outfits: Skirts sewn by Rivonia tailor; tops YDE | Groomsmen's attire: Woolworths | LOVE letters: Midlands Style Events