Anita Froneman, Author at Wedding ETC

In Venues

5 Amazing SA wedding venues

October 16, 2019 No Comments

Where you get married is an integral part of the big day. You want your surroundings to be absolutely stunning and the photos to be a beautiful reminder of the day. We found these spectacular, slightly off-the-beaten-track venues to keep in mind as you go on the search of the perfect space.

Granny Mouse Country House

Considered one of the most romantic venues in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, the Granny Mouse is a sight to see. The chapel has panoramic views over the Caversham Valley and is the perfect combination of countryside and luxury. It has an old time charm to it, and is far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B29JoPCJrg7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxFfPsGplPJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Lord Milner Hotel

This venue is in a somewhat obscure place of the country, but trust us, you want to go there. On the fringe of the Karoo, the hotel is one of those rare places that takes you back in time and makes you feel like you’re not even in this century. Named after Lord Alfred Milner, the hotel is also a heritage site and was completed in 1899, and shortly thereafter served as the Headquarters of the Cape Western Command.

Forest Hall Estate

If you want a fairy tale inspired venue, this place is for you. Situated outside of Plettenberg Bay along the Garden Route, the venue is one with nature and has an enchanted forest look. Almost no need for expensive decor, as nature is your backdrop!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIBrCLH2BB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBnD6XH7fK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Oranje Gasteplaas

It’s not news that Clarens in the Eastern Free State is arguably the view-mecca of the inland. Nestled in the Maluti mountains, you get the veld atmosphere without having to sacrifice class. Think open green fields, cattle grazing and mountainous peaks popping up all around.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSOK0l6F9NS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnZD_4LgYXl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Flycatcher Castle

This awe inspiring structure is on the outskirts of Graskop towards God’s Window in Mpumalanga. Set in the style of a 17th century Italian castle, the venue is an experience in itself. The castle was constructed using hand picked relics and works of art to create a magnificent masterpiece set in one of the most beautiful areas of the country.

Picture: Matjiesfontein.com

In Weddings

Objections that have ruined weddings

October 15, 2019 No Comments

In a dramatic turn of events, sometimes when you hear the phrase “Speak now or forever hold your peace,” it’s followed by a notable entrance. Someone bursts through the doors just in time, yelling “Don’t marry him!” and the scene then more or less concludes with bouts of tears and the wedding being cancelled. The couple who was actually meant to be together, of course, end up declaring their unending love to one another and ride off into the sunset. Yes, I’m talking about every hopelessly romantic movie ever.

In real life, though, things don’t always end that dreamy. Objections do happen and in fact, sometimes it’s really, really awkward! Here are some of the worst (or best) stories of objections when people did not hold their peace.

– At a small and intimate wedding, a man claiming to be the bride’s lover jumped up during the ceremony and started yelling at the groom. He was screaming that he wasn’t going to let him steal his woman, pointing a gun and threatening to shoot him if he didn’t give her up. Reddit user jjett89 attended the wedding and rightly said it felt like an episode of the Jerry Springer show. The guests were screaming and running for cover as the looney lover stole the show.

– Setting: A vibey, hipster beach wedding in a small town in Canada. The groom waws from Trinidad and Tobago, so all his relatives travelled far and are dressed wildly different from the Canadians. Everyone was loving it. As the ceremony progresses, everyone was getting teary from the vows. Then the line comes. “Any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now.” The father of the groom gets up, stumbling and making a scene. A collective gasp followed by silence overtakes the scenic venue. Everyone is holding their breath. But he’s just standing there with glassy eyes. Turns out he was high on marijuana. The 70 year old man in a suit, sunglasses and dreadlocks laughs and says “No, I kid, I kid!” and the audience cracks up laughing as he sits back down. What a jokester.

– During a very prim and proper wedding, a man and says, “Yeah, I object. That’s my wife.” As everyone sits in shock, he claims that they got married at 18, she abandoned him and they never divorced. He had been trying to get a hold of her, and he actually told her that if she didn’t at least get a legal divorce, he would show up at her wedding. She had just ignored him, never answering his calls after leaving him at age 19. Complete disaster. The wedding was cancelled. The groom married the bride a year later after the divorce went through, in a small private ceremony. And here’s the kicker: two years later she just walked out on him.

– Here’s one you don’t hear everyday. When the pastor got to the part “or forever hold your peace,” the bride said, “Yes, I’d like to say something.” Then she turned around to her guests and said, “I’d like to thank my maid of honour for sleeping with my fiancé last night.” With that, she threw her bouquet and stormed off. The story apparently even made it on the radio at the time.

– This one does not have much theatrics to it, but the sheer mess of it will leave you stunned. The bride and groom were siblings, and their estranged father hadn’t told them until he objected at the wedding. They already had a child together, says didyouknowfacts.com. Twisted.

Picture: Unsplash

In Fashion

The almost-not-there bridal jumpsuit

October 11, 2019 No Comments

Some brides dream of the day they get to wear a wedding dress. A long train sweeping the earth as you glide down the aisle. Or maybe indulging in metres of gorgeous silk, swaying as you move and enfolding you like a cloud as you sit down. Not all brides, though. Some want all the glamour without all the fuss. No tripping over the seams or restricting your movement as you rock it out on the dance floor. This new trendy jumpsuit is all the rage, but you’ll have to squint your eyes to see it.

Created by Spanish bridal label Pronovias, this full-length, long sleeve semi-nude suit has hand-sewn florals covering the basics. The design comprises more than 200 crystals embroidered into lace and chantilly, and it took more than 244 hours to complete.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by cristipedroche (@cristipedroche) on Jan 4, 2018 at 4:43am PST

While it might sound daring to some, we’re all for the “you do you” mantra and whatever makes you feel good, will make you look good, too.

Picture: Facebook/Stellari

In Engagements

5 unusual wedding proposals

October 10, 2019 No Comments

The way your partner asks you to get married will probably stay with you forever. From extra-terrestrial visits to swimming with mermaids, these guys made sure their proposals were unforgettable.

1. Our love is timeless

On their second anniversary of dating, Steve and Amanda buried a time capsule that contained a few sentimental items and letters they wrote to each other in a forest they love to walk in. One Saturday, about six years later, Steve casually suggested they dig up the capsule just for fun. Inside was one letter he specifically urged her to read. It was a beautiful letter asking her to marry him. He had snuck it in there all those years ago, already knowing then that she is the One. His genius not ending there, he made sure a photographer caught it all on camera!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by How They Asked (@howtheyasked) on Sep 27, 2019 at 9:27am PDT

2. Will you be my player 2?

Retro Shanerator and his girlfriend are avid gamers. Rather than creating one of the insanely challenging Super Mario levels that have been making waves on the internet, he decided to create a fully playable level with his proposal written out via game blocks. He then set the proposal in motion, having his girlfriend play through the level he’d just created. This guy’s not playing around.

3. Hold your breath for this one

Now, this proposal was straight out of a fairytale. Literally. Eric Martinez popped the question to Cammy Cuoco in the middle of a photo shoot during their vacation in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Cammy had always been obsessed with mermaids and her favourite princess is Ariel from the popular Disney movie The Little Mermaid. Coincidentally, their photographer (who was in on the whole thing) had previously been a fashion designer and made the bride-to-be a spectacular mermaid outfit to surprise her with for the shoot. Magical indeed.

4. Love you to the moon and back

Varun Bhanot told his girlfriend, Anisha Seth, that they would be going up in a helicopter to celebrate his birthday. Anisha, who loves all things sci-fi and space related, got into the helicopter expecting to fly over the Cheshire, England countryside. Unbeknownst to her, Varun had spent nearly three months calling farmers asking if they could accommodate a crop circle on their land and eventually found someone willing to help set up a proposal that’s out of this world. While up in the air, at just the right moment, Varun made a heart-felt speech and told Anisha to look out the window. When she looked back at him, he had the ring ready. We’re pretty sure it wasn’t too outlandish for her.

5. I love you in every language there is

Niriksha and Michael have been besties for years, and even went to school together from Kindergarten. One weekend, he told her they were going on a surprise breakaway. They are both from the US, but Niriksha had studied in Paris (her favourite city in the world) and that’s where they were headed. He took her to a wall called Le murs de je t’aime, which has the words “I love you” in all the different languages written on it. Pretending to want a picture on impulse, he gave his phone to a stranger (who was, in fact, the hired photographer) and got down on his knee. Luckily, she said “oui”.

Featured image: Unsplash

In News

5 very unusual weddings from around the world

October 9, 2019 No Comments

On a couple’s wedding, they should be able to do what makes them happy. Even if the guests have to shut their eyes or bite their tongues. Call it weird or call it wonderful, these weddings certainly were unusual.

1: If you’ve got, flaunt it

Ellie Barton and Phil Hendicott decided to spend their wedding dressed to the nines. Or should we say undressed? The pair of exhibitionist Aussies exchanged vows in front of 250 guests wearing nothing more than their wedding rings – and a bouquet of strategically-placed roses. The bride, not sacrificing style for freedom, wore a long white wedding veil. And the groom, well, a black top hat, but not where hats usually go.

2: Dive in head first

Some might think tying the knot will be enough of a rush on it’s own, but these adrenalin junkies tied it quite literally. Jeroen and Sandra Kippers of Brussels, Belgium, were lifted on a platform about 48m feet in the air for their wedding ceremony. They were joined by the officiant and about 20 guests. Another platform held the musicians. After the vows, they made it official by bungee-jumping over the side!

3: After death do us part

A heartbroken woman decided to “marry” her murdered fiancé in a hospital morgue. Kevin Lavelle, 29, was tragically murdered before his wedding could take place. Michelle Thomas organised a “wedding” in the morgue of Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital in England, where Kevin lay. In front of an open coffin, the priest blessed the wedding rings that Michelle had bought specially for the service. Now that’s commitment.

4: You take my breath away

Underwater weddings seem to have become a trend and many couples are trading in the aisle for the seabed. If that’s still not adventurous enough for you, there are even shark diving packages that invite some predatory guests to the ceremony. You do have to be a certified scuba diver, obviously. Just don’t get thrown in the deep end!

5: You sweep me off my feet

You won’t have to worry about your weight at this one. And if it feels like you’re floating, you probably are. Noah Fulmor and Erin Finnegan became the first couple to be wed in microgravity over the skies of south Florida. They said “I do” aboard G-Force One, a modified 727 similar to the Air Force’s “Vomit Comet” which can provide periods of weightlessness lasting several minutes via a parabolic flight path. It’s operated by Zero Gravity Corp., the first and only company cleared by the FAA to offer simulated-weightlessness flights to the general public.

Featured Image: Popular Science

In News

The runaway wedding photobombers

October 9, 2019 No Comments

What started as a group of runners getting together after work is now a sought after addition to many a couple’s wedding photos. They call themselves the Wedding Hashers, and they love nothing more than to photobomb couples posing for their wedding photo’s beneath the famous Brooklyn Bridge in New York during a run.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WeddingHashers (@wedding.hashers) on Sep 2, 2019 at 6:56pm PDT

The runners dress for the occasion too. These guys and girls got themselves special t-shirts that look like tuxedos.

“The views … make them ideal picture spots for people in general, but particularly for couples taking wedding photos. One day, we thought we’d ask a couple if they’d mind if we took a picture with them. They actually got a big kick out of it, as did we, and a new hobby was born,” one of the members of the running group told Tux-tees where they ordered their shirts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WeddingHashers (@wedding.hashers) on Jun 10, 2019 at 7:44pm PDT

Sometimes, they even catch proposals at this scenic venue and join in on the special moments. “We post the photos on Facebook with a description of the couple, where they’re from (in addition to locals, we’ve taken photos with couples from Australia, China, etc.), and our best wishes for a happy and healthy life together,” he added.

Picture: Instagram/WeddingHashers

In News

Bride transforms father’s ashes into nails

October 8, 2019 No Comments

Wanting your father to walk you down the aisle on your special day is not strange. Glueing his ashes into your nails, however…

Charlotte Walton from England had a very close relationship with her father and she knew it was his desire to be there when she got married to the love of her life, Nick. Sadly, her father passed away earlier this year after fighting cancer.

“I was heartbroken when he lost his battle because I knew how much he wanted to see us marry. I wanted him to be there but it wasn’t meant to be,” she told Standard Digital.

Then her cousin, Kirsty had the idea to glue her dad’s ashes into her acrylic nails. “Kirsty is the queen of nails and I thought her idea was amazing,” she added. “Having the ashes attached to my nails felt like he was holding my hand, I knew it wasn’t the same as him really being there, but it was as close as we could get.”

When asked what she did with the nails after having it taken off, she answered that of course, she kept them. “Now they’re framed with decorative crystals all around my home.”

Pictures: Mirror

In Fashion

Trending wedding bags and belts

October 7, 2019 No Comments

Choosing those little accessories that bring your look together can be a daunting task. You might think you don’t have time to search for bags and belts but the devil’s in the details and something seemingly small can make or break your whole look.

Carrying a purse or clutch on your wedding can be super useful for keeping all your necessities together, from lip stick (always need to be photo ready) or tissues (you know his speech will make you tear up). As for belts, think dainty and tasteful with maybe even a sliver of bling for a little (or a lot of!) sparkle.

They’re all the rage this year, and we’ve found the latest trends.

Three bag ideas:

1. The silky clutch

If your style is elegant and mature, a smooth silky clutch will complete the look. Catching a bit of shine, silk is a good option if you want to be subtle yet stylish. And of course, the texture is pleasing to the touch so no scratching or getting caught in your dress!

2. The beaded pouch

Beads can be made into any design or pattern that your heart desires. It is also a fun way to show your creative side, or to match your dress if it has beading on it. Just make sure the beading is done well to avoid it coming loose and spilling beads all over the floor. No one wants to be crawling on their knees picking up beads.

3. The sling bag

Don’t want your hands full? Fair enough. A sling bag is easy, classy and won’t be in your way if you want to be holding your new hubby’s hand. Small links are in, rather than string. It adds an edge and is available in almost any colour.

Three belt ideas:

1. The bow

It might sound old fashioned, but a bow on your dress does not have to be that hideous thing your mom had on her matric farewell dress. In this case, size really does matter and small is the way to go. In no way should it steal the thunder of your dress, but rather add a subtle and feminine tone.

2. The bling

Now, to some people, the word “bling” sounds cheap. Don’t stop reading just yet. If you have a plain design and love simplicity, wearing a diamanté belt will lend some sparkle. No one ever said go over the top. Less is more and your eyes will still be the brightest thing about you.

3. The colour

Want to steer away from the traditional all white attire? Add a splash of colour to brighten up your outfit. You can opt for matching the wedding’s decor theme, or go all out and choose a way different colour to make sure you stand out. After all, on your wedding day, you should definitely get all the attention!

Picture: Pixabay

In News

Outcry over Handmaid’s Tale-themed wedding picture

October 7, 2019 No Comments

A recently married couple and their photographers had social media up in arms with their wedding picture that include figures from the popular series The Handmaid’s Tale.

The picture, featuring the couple Kendra Munro and Torsten Mueller surrounded by hooded figures dressed like characters form the show, was taken in front of the “Hanging Wall” which is used as part of the set on the show. The wall is at Cambridge Mill, a restaurant and wedding venue in Ontario, Canada.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood released in 1985 and later made into the television series. The story depicts a future in which fertile women, called handmaids, are forced into surrogacy to bear children for the rich. “The hanging wall” is specifically sombre because it is where those who refuse the tradition are hanged in the series.

The “handmaids” were digitally inserted by the photographers, Van Daele & Russell Photography. Response to the now infamous picture included commentary on the nature of the series and argues that “human subjugation” is not a suitable “theme” for a wedding. Others were outright furious and posted that “This is in such bad taste, is so f***ing incredibly tone-deaf, and ain’t how you honour this literary work [sic],” according to The Independent.

The photographers have since responded by telling PetaPixel that the couple as well as themselves are big fans of the show and that they decided to do it in the hopes that it would start a difficult conversation. “I joked about adding in some handmaids (since it seemed the natural thing to do since we were there … I’m certain any ‘creative’ or photographer would have the exact same thoughts)”, says Shawn van Daele.

“We didn’t expect the photo to go viral, but we are SOOO HAPPY IT HAS because hopefully it will wake people up to how they too contribute to the oppression and hatred that they’re rightfully worked up over.” In the end, Van Daele wants to remind people that this wasn’t “a ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ themed wedding,” it was their wedding day. One photo in a series of thousands from their wedding day that was intended mostly as a keepsake for them.

The picture has since been removed from the photographer’s website, reportedly on request of the couple.

Picture: Twitter/Van Daele & Russel

In Finance

Cape Town couple spend R6 000 on wedding

October 7, 2019 No Comments

When you think “wedding day”, you probably think big. Big excitement, big ceremony, and definitely big bank account.

This couple decided to switch things up, opting for a small, lower-than-usual budget wedding ceremony and saving their money for the honeymoon and a car instead.

Wongalethu and Honey Vakala said this is the best decision they have ever made. “My family had big plans, my mom invited all of her friends, colleagues and some of the community members and even booked the wedding venue. I had to stand up for my wife and show her that the man she is marrying has a backbone. I cancelled all the plans my mother had for my wedding day and she didn’t take it well,” Wongalethu told Drum.

It wasn’t all sunshine and roses, though. It also meant that they could not invite a number of people that they really wanted to share their day with, including marital counsellors, some relatives, colleagues and close friends. “We don’t have any regrets on how everything turned out however, we regret not inviting the people who we really wanted to be there,” he said.

They managed to save money through people in their community offering to make various contributions, which made the day extra special to them. “A friend of ours in Long street offered to tailor make our wedding attire which was such a blessing,” he added.

The couple got married on Heritage Day,September 24 in a small church in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, where they are from. The wedding cost them R6 000 and they have no regrets.

They used the rest of their money to put a deposit on their brand-new car and went on a lovely island honeymoon in Thailand.

Picture: Facebook/Wongalethu Vakala