One excited groom-to-be took his girlfriend surfing, got on one knee mid-ocean on the surfboard, then lost his grip and dropped the ring into the sea. Luckily, though, it wasn’t the real one, and it all ended well. The real ring was waiting safely on shore and she said yes!
Christopher Garth and his girlfriend, Lauren Oiye from Honolulu, Hawaii have been dating eight years and both love surfing. When he decided it’s time to pop the question, Christopher took Lauren to the surf spot they went surfing on their first date. She had no idea what was about to happen.
Lauren took to Instagram to share their love story, as photographers nearby got some snaps:
“Story time: we caught a wave together at the surf break we met at and had many of our first dates. I turn back to make sure he was on the wave with me and he was on one knee with a ring box and screamed out “Lauren, I love you! Will you marry me?!” At first I thought it was a joke and then realized it clearly wasn’t. And of course I am beside myself that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man that I LOVE from the depths of my entire being, is a bigger feminist than I am, and makes me laugh everyday and reminds me how simple and beautiful life is. Christopher Garth, I love you and am so grateful the stars aligned and our ancestors that came before us so beautifully orchestrated this for us! Here’s to a lifetime of laughter and keeping things simple and authentic!
I said YES”
View this post on Instagram
They also had a styled video made:
Picture: Instagram/Laurenoiye
Your long list of wedding planning to-do’s is slowly but surely shortening. The next item on your list happens to be flowers. The problem: there are so many…
Recently, world-famous musician Lady Gaga was a bridesmaid at her make-up artist Sarah Tanno’s wedding. As can be expected, she went all out and made a statement no one could miss.
At the ceremony in Mexico, the superstar wore a neon pink satin dress with equally neon hair to match. The groom, Tim Stewart, is also a guitarist for the singer. On her Instagram story, Gaga posted a picture of her at the beach wedding saying “Two of my best friends just got married. Time to party!”
Tannon, a renowned and sought-after make-up artist, posted pictures saying “I’m still on cloud 9. We have the most amazing family and friends. I love my photos already”
Lady Gaga looked spectacular in her pink-all-over outfit and we love it. Not all bridesmaids love their dresses. However, she rocked the look, making her-officially-the coolest bridesmaid ever.
Picture: Instagram/Sarahtannonmakeup
Vineyards are a lovely setting for a wedding with romantic appeal. This type of venue is a breath of fresh air from your typical wedding venue and it…
Romance among the vines, what more could you ask for? South Africans and international couples alike have been choosing from the country’s many beautiful wine farms as wedding venues. For a modern yet traditional venue, look no further than the luxurious Louisvale wine farm.
Located in the picturesque Devon Valley area of the Stellenbosch wine district, Louisvale carves its own spot in the fluctuating foothills of the 3-million-year-old Cape Folded Mountains.
A distinct history is honoured here. The first man-made structures in the area were created by the Nomadic Khoekhoen. Their designs typically featured domed structures resembling tortoises and made from Taaibos laths covered with woven reed mats and animal skins. When the European settles arrived in the 17th century, they brought with them Cape Dutch architecture.
Louisvale as we know it today combines these design aesthetics: Neo Cape Dutch meets modern Khoekhoen architecture. With a Rheinzink dome roof, open spaces, floating glass and a stunning concrete floor infused with abalone shell chips, the function area is nothing short of breathtaking.
The original manor house still stands proud, perfectly juxtaposing the modern function area with its traditional gables and lime washed, plastered walls.
It’s easy to see why Louisvale would make the perfect wedding venue. Couples can have their wedding ceremony outdoors with an impressive 280° view of the winelands, then move their wedding indoors for the reception. With floating glass windows that can be slid open, there is no sacrificing the incredible view.
It costs R50 000 to rent out the venue for the day, which includes all existing furnitures, tables, ceremony chairs, standard cutlery and glassware and exclusive use for the day. The bridal party organises their own decor and can bring in third suppliers for whatever they desire.
For in-house catering, Louisvale’s menu’s start at R500 per head depending on the final menu selected. And believe us, you’ll want them to cater. From grilled lamb steak on a bed of creamy polenta to confit duck leg with butternut puree and a citrus glaze, their dishes will have your guests’ mouths watering.
Louisvale is well-known for their high quality wines, many of which are award-winning. From Chardonnay to Merlot, every wine is expertly crafted by winemaker Simon Smith to suit multiple taste palettes.
Louisvale is perfect for the modern-yet-traditional couple. Ring in your nuptials at this beautiful venue for a memorable day and even more memorable views.
For queries and inquiries on holding your wedding at Louisvale, please contact [email protected]
Address: Devon Valley Rd, Devonvallei, Stellenbosch
Trading hours: Monday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm.
Image: Instagram
Your make up will determine your whole look, and it’s important that it suits your personality, dress and overall theme. Here are five looks that have always been…
We can’t claim that groom showers are a new trend. We can, however, say that it is a trend that has seemingly slipped under the radar. Now, you may be wondering what a groom shower is, why you would want a groom shower, and how you should go about planning one. Not to worry, we’re here to give you the low down. A groom shower, or BRO-dal shower as we’ve seen it called, may be something you want to consider.
A groom shower, much like a bridal shower, is a celebration of the upcoming nuptials. It is an occasion for the groom to bring together all of his closest male friends and family. Guests bring gifts, there is food and drinks galore, and everyone simply comes for some good conversation and quality time with the groom-to-be before the wedding. This is much, much different to the bachelors party. It’s much more low-key and family friendly.
Family friendly is key here; it’s what makes this event appealing. Some of your older or more conservative relatives may want to have pre-wedding celebrations with you, but you probably don’t want to invite them to the bachelor party. You may also have younger relatives like nephews or young cousins who probably would love to celebrate with you too but for obvious reasons, they wouldn’t be allowed at the bachelor party. A groom shower is how you accommodate everybody and make sure that you’re celebrating with everyone who is important to you.
So, how do you plan this type of event?
It’s probably best to keep it simple. You’ll have a wide variety of guests, so anything too specific or outlandish might be difficult to pull off. Fill the table with some snacks, put some decorations up, and perhaps plan some party games. Just don’t forget to invite all the relevant people.
If you want something a bit more interactive or activity-based, here are some ideas:
– Sports
You could plan a sports match of some kind. Separate your guests into teams and have a soccer (or your preferred sport) tournament.
– A cookout
A beer and a conversation around a fire. A classic way to spend a relaxing day.
– Mini fishing trip
Well known for its facilitation of bonding, we think a day trip to catch some fish is a great option. This one may be a bit tougher to co-ordinate.
How ever you decide to spend the day, groom showers are a great way to include everybody in your celebrations. You may want to drop some hints to your groomsmen so they can get to organising.
Images: Unsplash