The COVID-19 pandemic has placed many restrictions on various industries, including weddings. This creative couple found an ingenious way to go ahead with their wedding safely while still having their family physically present, despite travel restrictions.
Norwegian bride Camilla Øyjord and Swedish groom Alexander Clern wanted their families there for their big day. However, travel restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic made this difficult.
As Sweden does not have a formal lockdown in place, its neighbouring countries have placed restrictions to prevent their citizens travelling to the country. This couple found a loophole by hosting their wedding ceremony across the border of Sweden and Norway.
A Norwegian bride married her Swedish groom at a ceremony conducted at the border between their countries – with both…
Posted by Katherine Rohan on Tuesday, 21 July 2020
The wedding was held in the woods of the south-eastern Holebekk region, and family and friends remained in their respective countries, separated by a white ribbon to mark the border. Police were present to make sure guests did not cross the line. The couple even organised separate catering for their guests on either side of the border.
“We did not want to change the date… all we wanted was to get married!” Oyjord told the BBC. She says the idea came to them as a joke, but as they neared their wedding date they saw it as a viable solution.
Feature image: Unsplash
Birthdays are a special day for many people. We get to feel our best, be spoiled, and we’re celebrated just for being born. Adding a proposal to a…
South Africans are lucky to have a myriad of magnificent wedding venues across the country. From beachside venues and vineyards to countryside stunners and modern museums, there is something for every bridal couple.
If you’re looking for a venue straight out of a fairytale, we’ve got the perfect one. Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg mixes old world glamour with modern finishes to give you the best of both worlds.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsD8i_0hSlr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCv55BpDHZq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Shepstone Gardens is situated in Hope Road, in the heart of Mountain View in Johannesburg. The main house was one of the original Witwatersrand Ridge houses commissioned by the Modderfontein Dynamite Company after the Anglo Boer War at the turn of the 20th Century.
The venue has been privately owned by the Rayner family for the past 35 years, and they have worked to restore it while still maintaining its heritage and charm.
On the grounds are an on-site chapel, a glass marquee and a grand hall. The on-site chapel has intricate stone walls, large stained-glass windows and a stunning glass roof that screams opulence and whimsy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-R7H_PjQ_M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ldOv-jsw7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCQE_qfjgsw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
If you’d like an outdoor ceremony, you can say your I do’s at their natural arch, which is is perched right next to a functioning bell tower to add that extra fairytale-esque spin to your big day. To bring you back to earth, the Johannesburg skyline acts as a beautiful backdrop, creating an interesting juxtaposition of city and garden.
The glass marquee is a mesmerising location. Marble floors, stone pillars and chandeliers create a striking finish against the vibrant green of the grounds. It’s opulent and glamorous yet down to earth at the same time. The glass marquee can be used as a ceremony or reception venue, the choice is up to you.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBm7OQD9G-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-gpKGQjx2m/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAuY2klDO1G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
If the glass marquee isn’t your style, another option is the grand hall. This space offers wood flooring and tall pillars that acts as more of a blank canvas to truly allow your decor to take centre stage. It’s the more timeless, old school option of the two locations. It’s even got a library next door that can be used as a cozy lounge or a separate area to display your after dinner sweet treats.
Shepstone Gardens offers in-house catering and decor, making the planning process even easier. What we love is that they also offer the Lorax Initiative in partnership with Food & Trees for Africa. For every wedding guest that sponsors a tree as a wedding gift, Shepstone Gardens will match it and sponsor another tree.
“The joy that is experienced around the beauty of Shepstone Gardens is afforded because of a deep love and care for the earth it has risen from. It is fitting, then, that we perpetuate that love and spread it far and wide to where it is needed most,” they explain on their site.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByNBg4aj12Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Shepstone Gardens is perfect for the couple wanting a little of everything from their wedding day. It’s classic and whimsical, modern and elegant yet grand all at the same time.
For more about this amazing South African wedding venue, visit their website HERE.
Feature image: Instagram / Shepstone Gardens
Princess Beatrice of York shocked the world when she married beau Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in secret this past weekend. The pair were forced to cancel their big day…
South Africans love their rugby and beam with pride over the Springboks. You know a player is legendary and much-loved when he even has a nickname.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Q4YlhDtlg/
Tendai Matawarira, known as ‘The Beast’ has been married to Kuziva Makore for a decade this year. Their love story is one of long-distance romance and destiny. The sports star is originally from Zimbabwe, where his mother saw Kuziva singing in a church choir in 2009. She must have struck a chord, because his mother gave Kuziva her son’s number, according to iHarare.
“My mother saw something in Ku that was perfect,” Mtawarira said to News24.
“He’s the sort of man I dreamt about,” Makore, a Psychology student and nail technician, added.
They began talking over the phone but didn’t meet for three months, as Mtawarira was travelling on a rugby tour. They fell in love nonetheless, constantly texting and calling.
Their wedding was a traditionally arranged one and the two tied the knot in Durban, South Africa in 2010. It turns out mother does know best!
The rugby player is famous for being ruthless on the field. He might be tough on the outside, but clearly has a soft spot on the inside.
“Happy 9th Year Anniversary my Queen. Doing life with you is such a privilege and SOOOO much fun. Thank you for being the most caring, loving wife and mother I could have ever hoped for. I Love U more than life itself Booblan aka Best friend. Super excited for what God has planned for our family and our future,” he wrote on Instagram for their ninth anniversary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2UCtSWDUJu/
They have two children together, a daughter and a son.
Image: Instagram/Tendai Mtawarira
A wedding day is about celebrating the love between two people. It can also be an incredible opportunity to give back. Here are six ways to utilise your…
We predict micro weddings will be a massive trend for the remainder of 2020 and even 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With strict regulations on guest lists, couples will have to be much more discerning when it comes to their wedding party.
Micro weddings may seem limiting but they actually allow for so much more opportunity because your budget doesn’t have to stretch to accommodate a large guest list. With less guests, your money can truly be spent on those luxurious and special parts of a wedding that you might not have been able to afford otherwise.
Just because you’ve only got one or two tables does not mean that they have to be boring. Now is the time to go bold with design. Think of extravagant overhead installations, unique lighting and explosions of floral bouquets.
Here are a few ways to make your intimate wedding table look grand:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_p5p4FnYpc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-xBrOUnLoS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCITTZTgSdP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IpIdTBbZb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B–H9A9nwN8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Z2ZRRnIc7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IbcOnhpwx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCM8QohHHUu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_JEl3JHDzt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCJNZR3gja6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCyuX8mjj4E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Feature image: Pexels