31 March 2012.
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| Flowers by Belinda |
We wanted it to be perfect and perfect it was.
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| Set up |
Friday 18 May 2012
Engagement Party: Chris and Ché
31 March 2012.
We wanted it to be perfect and perfect it was.
Who should Pay for What?
This is the general rule of
thumb
The bride (and/or her family) pays for:
- Invitations and all wedding stationery for church and reception
- Bride's and bridesmaids' dresses and accessories
- Flowers for the church and reception
- Photographer/videographer
- All reception costs, music, etc. (excluding drinks, barmen and related expenses)
- Wedding cake.
The groom (and/or he's family) pay for:
- Legal expenses (e.g.: antenuptial contract)
- Ceremony expenses (marriage officer's fee, organist, soloist, tips, etc.)
- Bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets
- Buttonholes and corsages for the wedding party
- Hiring of clothes for himself and best man (if necessary)
- Gifts for the bridesmaids and best man
- Drinks at the reception and related expenses, i.e hiring of barmen,
- Hiring of glasses, etc.
- Transport for the bride to the church and reception
- Wedding night accommodation and the honeymoon
The Engagement Party
Do have an engagement party.
It is the most fabulous way to celebrate with friends and
family when you and your other half make that big decision.
Make your engagement party more intimate than your
wedding. You do not have to invite every
Tom, Dick and Harry. Invite those who
are closest to you and your respective families. Have it at your parents’ house. That way it’s more personal and has a familiar
and family atmosphere.
Make it fun and themed around your wedding (not the exact
theme). Make it a cocktail party or a
sit down meal or even a good old braai.
Whatever you do, make it special.
It’s about you
Remember that your engagement party is about you and your fiancé. Yes you want to talk to everyone, and yes you
need to meet your parent’s friends whom you haven’t met and thank everyone for
coming etc etc etc. But. Don’t forget about each other.
Chris and I made the mistake of trying to talk to everybody
at our engagement party and when we sat down at the end of the evening, we realized
the only time we had spoken to each other was when we say down for dinner.
Take lots of photos
Make sure to document every moment (it helps if you have a
friend who knows how to take gorgeous pictures).
Food
Food is non-negotiable.
Serve it.
Whether you decide on canapés or a good old sit down meal,
food has to be served (to absorb alcohol). However, please make sure your guests have a
table and chair when they are eating if you decide on a meal. There is nothing worse than sitting on the steps
of someone’s verandah and eating off your lap in your party frock.
Drinks
Supply your guests with all drinks. Do not ask them to bring a bottle. It is so not cool. Even if you just have the prerequisite beer
and wine and champagne. You don’t have
to have hard tack (although for the whiskey swilling gentlemen, it’s sometimes
nice to have their tipple), but do supply general drinks from the good old
bottle of water to a nice bottle of Moët for the toast.
And remember to have fun and enjoy yourselves. This time is so special and if you blink, you
will miss it.
Monday 14 May 2012
Telling your Parents
Your parents should be the first to know about your engagement.
Before you post it on Facebook/bbm status/ Twitter. Before you squeal your delight to your bff. Before you call your cousin five times removed in the Amazon. Before you tell your dog/cat/horse/goldfish.
Your parents will be pissed if you don't tell them first .
Chris and I called my parents as soon as I could actually talk without crying/speaking in gibberish. They of course were ecstatic. As it turned out, Chris had asked my Dad almost 2 months prior to asking me. He was even more perfect than I thought.
Once we had told my immediate family we called his family.
Once we had done that, we then called my aunt and godparents.
And of course then decided to just update the good ole bbm status with the news.
However, if you do want to just enjoy the moment and tell your families when you have basked in the idea with just the two of you, then do so. We decided to enjoy it afterwards. To spend the rest of the evening under the blanket of stars, drinking a bottle of bubbly (well more than one) and planing our future. That was one helluva way to enjoy our first few hours as an engaged couple. Under the African skies.
Before you post it on Facebook/bbm status/ Twitter. Before you squeal your delight to your bff. Before you call your cousin five times removed in the Amazon. Before you tell your dog/cat/horse/goldfish.
Your parents will be pissed if you don't tell them first .
Chris and I called my parents as soon as I could actually talk without crying/speaking in gibberish. They of course were ecstatic. As it turned out, Chris had asked my Dad almost 2 months prior to asking me. He was even more perfect than I thought.
Once we had told my immediate family we called his family.
Once we had done that, we then called my aunt and godparents.
And of course then decided to just update the good ole bbm status with the news.
However, if you do want to just enjoy the moment and tell your families when you have basked in the idea with just the two of you, then do so. We decided to enjoy it afterwards. To spend the rest of the evening under the blanket of stars, drinking a bottle of bubbly (well more than one) and planing our future. That was one helluva way to enjoy our first few hours as an engaged couple. Under the African skies.
Thursday 10 May 2012
The Proposal
I got engaged on a beautiful summer's evening in February.
February 11th 2012 to be exact.
It was a magical moment full of new hopes and dreams and promises, but best of all, filled with love and the new beginnings of sharing the rest of my life with my best friend.
Chris whisked me away to a gorgeous lodge which we both love. Stonehouse Mountain Lodge in Hartebeesport is one of the most stunning and peaceful hideaway's I have been to. The lions from the local sanctuary can be heard roaring at night creating a surreal African vibe that makes you think you are in the middle of the bush. The night sky is filled with a blanket of stars and from the villa's you can see forever. The place makes me feel free.
Our Friday evening was pretty uneventful (save for my 4x4 driving skills on the way) and so we woke up Saturday morning and decided to take a drive (inclusive of more 4x4 driving skills).
Hartebeesport has become so built up over the past ten years that, when driving around, you no longer feel as though you are in teh country. Rather just an extension of good old Jozi.
After taking in what scenery there is still left and doing some firewood buying and
February 11th 2012 to be exact.
It was a magical moment full of new hopes and dreams and promises, but best of all, filled with love and the new beginnings of sharing the rest of my life with my best friend.
Chris whisked me away to a gorgeous lodge which we both love. Stonehouse Mountain Lodge in Hartebeesport is one of the most stunning and peaceful hideaway's I have been to. The lions from the local sanctuary can be heard roaring at night creating a surreal African vibe that makes you think you are in the middle of the bush. The night sky is filled with a blanket of stars and from the villa's you can see forever. The place makes me feel free.
 |
| If you are going to drive a Landy, you may as well drive it properly |
Hartebeesport has become so built up over the past ten years that, when driving around, you no longer feel as though you are in teh country. Rather just an extension of good old Jozi.
After taking in what scenery there is still left and doing some firewood buying and
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