The post The Cradle | Jo-Anne & Craig appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

I was so excited when Kate e-mailed me about their planned wedding in the Kingdom of Swaziland, where she grew up. Even more excited when they booked me!

Kate & Justin, who lives in Ireland, met each other in Tanzania on a trip to climb Kilimanjaro. Friends and family came from Ireland, Johannesburg as well as Cape Town to celebrate their big day with them. The morning started out a little cloudy but soon started to get warmer. The local church in the Mhlambanyatsi village was revamped a little for this special occasion and decorated with South African proteas and strelitzias.

There were so many breathtaking locations where we could do their photos, but unfortunately we only managed to get to one or two before a huge afternoon thunderstorm sent everyone inside. It was dark already by 17h15 because of the heavy clouds and pouring rain!

Kate & Justin, hope you had a fantastic time on honeymoon in Mozambique! Thank you so much for having us, what a great honour it was to share in your big day! Hope you enjoy the pictures!

The post Swaziland | Kate & Justin appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

The post Liesel & Stefan appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

Shaun proposed on board their flight to Hong Kong in 2011, 30 000 feet in the air! How’s that for a unique engagement story!

They’ve had some ups and downs (like most couples have) and have been through so much together. But it has only made them stronger. They are the best of friends and enjoy travelling and new experiences, people and places.

They chose to get married at Toadbury Hall in Muldersdrift and what a lovely day it turned out to be. A few days before the wedding, we had some really cold and overcast weather, but they were blessed with clear skies. It was my first time shooting at Toadbury and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with what a stunning venue it is. Deena & Shaun, I hope you’ve had an unforgettable honeymoon in Mauritius! Thank you so much for having me photograph your wedding. Hope you enjoy the pics!

 Suppliers list:

Dress: Maggie Sottero – from Amante Bridal

Shoes: Emily Moon

Cake: Cake Sensations

Hair and Makeup: Composure Hair and Makeup Artistry

DJ:  Soundworx

Flowers: House of Flowers

Draping: FF Decor

The post Toadbury Hall | Deena & Shaun appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

I absolutely loved the navy colour being combined with soft yellow and the gorgeous bouquets made by Carol-Anne from Eco-chic weddings, each one being different. The bridal party included Aneke & Ilse’s besties and I really enjoyed the city as our shooting location. At Il Giardino, a superb restaurant at 44 Stanley, the already amazing venue was beautifully transformed into the wedding reception room with lovely orchids and succulent plants in trophy cups. With a little bit of drizzle during the outdoor ceremony, Aneke & Ilse exchanged vows whereafter the party began, complete with fresh popcorn and candy floss. Thank you so much, Aneke & Ilse for choosing me to photograph your wedding.

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Suppliers list

Photobooth: Funky Photo Booth

Stationery: MStudio

Outdoor lighting: Decor Lights, Tom Julyan - 082 4156 419

 Popcorn & Candyfloss: Pop & floss

Cakes : Isabella’s

Flowers & Decor: Carol-Anne Frey – Eco-chic weddings

 Bridesmaids dresses: Fascinating Julia

Orhid hire: Dawie – 079 490 8413

Venue: Il Giardino 

Make-up: (MAC) Jacquline – 082 8578 730

 Hair : Jade -082 4686 039

The post 44 Stanley | Aneke & Ilse appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

“More than 15 years later, she (now living in South Africa) saw on Facebook that they had a mutual friend in SA. She contacted him via Facebook to meet up for dinner and he said yes! He had also moved to SA – it must be destiny! It was a lovely dinner, but she thought he only wanted to be friends until he leaned in for a kiss! Dinner went on for hours full of laughter – It was love at first sight. They dated for almost 2 years and then one night when she came home from work he proposed. Down on one knee and a kiss sealed the deal!”

Kirsty & Novak had their wedding at Lombardy boutique hotel in Pretoria. When I heard that they are planning their wedding colours to be yellow and grey, I think I might have slipped a squeak of excitement, as the combination of yellow and grey is my favourite at the moment! Their lovely wedding stationery was done by Chrystalace and added to their playful theme. Kirsty, with her bubbly personality, looked absolutely radiant in her Maggie Sotero wedding dress and the braid in her hair crowned her like a queen. Thank you so much, Kirsty & Novak for having us and for choosing me to photograph your wedding day.  Hope you like the pics!

Using the bouquet as a mic…just minutes before walking down the aisle

Kirsty’s sister tuned in via Skype…

There was one huge storm brewing, but we managed to finish the couple shoot just in time. I LOVED Kirsty’s long veil!

The post Lombardy Boutique Hotel | Kirsty & Novak appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

Just outside of the beautiful little Free State town of Parys, was where we were headed for their wedding. It was my first time shooting at The Nutcracker and I loved the rustic feeling that this venue has, with the tables and chairs not matching. Esti’s Maggie Sotero wedding dress was breathtakingly beautiful and fitted her and her personality so perfectly. With the babies breath crown in her hair, she almost looked like a ballerina princess to me!

Here’s a few pics to show just how beautiful the day was…

Thanks to Lerika for second shooting and keeping me company on the road.

Baie dankie julle twee vir die geleentheid om te kon deel in julle dag! xxx

The post The Nutcracker | Esti & Paul appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

With that amazing song playing in the background, I’m writing this post, thinking back to the beautiful wedding of Alexis and Joe at Morrells a few weeks ago.

 When I first met them, they mentioned that they would love to live in France one day. With that in mind, Morrells, with it’s fantastic atmosphere, french provincial decor as well as superb food, was the perfect setting for their wedding.  Their love for everything french was also reflected in the seating plan, each table being named after a different area in France.

Joe, being a professional musician himself and music producer for quite a few south african as well as international artists and bands, seemed quite relaxed before the ceremony, despite the heat. But little did I know that he had a surprise up his sleeve. Well, it was a surprise to me! With a string quartet playing in the chapel to the well arranged intro of the song “In your eyes” from Peter Gabriel, Joe started to sing as the doors opened for Alexis to walk down the aisle (hear a live version of the song here). Oh it was the most glorious entrance I’ve ever witnessed! The couple was very privileged to have had Joe’s Dad, who is a minister in the USA, conducting the ceremony for them.

After the family photos, we had a quick 10 minutes in the lovely gardens taking pictures of them as a newly wed couple, whereafter the celebrations started with guests coming from Cape Town and as far as the USA.

Alexis & Joe, thank you so much for choosing me to document your wedding day! Hope you’ve had a fantastic time on honeymoon and that you’ll like the pics. Thanks also to Ilze du Plessis for assisting me.

Alexis looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress from Pronovias.

The post Morrells | Alexis & Joe appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

They met each other during their article years at Ernst & Young, as they are both CA’s. Werner organised everything by booking Maveshree in for a day at the spa at Kloofzight lodge. While she was busy relaxing and being pampered, he had time to arrange everything without her suspecting a thing. When she saw the dinner table set up for them, with petals in a heart shaped around it, she realised something was happening!

I love how they laugh together…

The post Kloofzight | Maveshree & Werner appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.

Just a few weeks ago, Justine organised another quick photo shoot for them. This time with Miles’ new baby sister, Charlie, whom at the time of the shoot was two just weeks old. Miles had grown so much and he has turned into a little man being just over two years old now.  It is so lovely to have been asked again by the same family & how wonderful to see them grow. Hope you enjoy the pics!

The post Holmner family | 2013 appeared first on Melanie Wessels Photography.