You may love the idea of an intimate dinner in an outdoor barn or the thought of waves lapping your feet as you say your vows, but often these spaces come as they are – meaning you’re left with the additional costs of decorating your chosen venue too.
If you’re working on a tight budget or prefer having a fully kitted venue from the get-go, check out these beautiful spaces around South Africa.
Planet Restaurant & Bar, Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel
Opulent is the only word that can describe this luxe eatery situated at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. Dotted with a number of majestic arches and boasting an intricately carved ceiling and large windows, it’s a well-lit space for a lunch-time fête. When the sun goes down, the room transforms into a nocturnal haven with sparkling light fixtures and a crystal-studded floor. Your guests will enjoy the warmth from the marble fireplace at the bar area, an ideal spot for welcome drinks.
Website: belmond.com
2 La Maison and La Grange, Morells Boutique Estate
Morrells Boutique Estate is a chic French-inspired sanctuary in the heart of Johannesburg boasting not one but two amazing venues that are perfect for your European-style wedding. Experience an escape to the town of Provence at La Maison, which houses a piano room, cigar lounge, chapel, rose garden and olive grove. Prefer a more relaxed vibe? La Grange’s quaint bistro sports eclectic furnishings and is perfect for coffee catch-ups when you slip away from the dance floor.
Website: morrells.co.za
3 The Venue, Casa Labia
Feel like royalty at this gorgeous Muizenberg mansion that was once the seaside residence of the Italian plenipotentiary Count Natale Labia. Intricate wallpaper and stately chandeliers add to the grandeur of its interior while the estate also houses an art gallery so guests can indulge in a spot of culture while celebrating your union.
Website: casalabia.co.za
4 The Pearl Room, The Oyster Box
An all-white zone decked out in glistening mirrors, the Pearl Room is every minimalist’s dream venue. Sleek lines and metallic touches form an eye-catching impact that will transport you into a snow-white world not unreminiscent of Elsa’s snow palace in Frozen – without the chill!
Website: oysterboxhotel.com
5 Forest Lodge Boma, Grootbos Nature Reserve
If you’ve been yearning to have your nuptials beneath a canopy of greenery, Grootbos Nature Reserve’s Forest Lodge Boa is an utopian reception site. Paraffin lanterns and cotton linen keep it simple while braziers add a touch of warmth and radiance to this enchanted forest setting.
Website: grootbos.com
Feature image: Instagram / Belmond Mount Nelson
Get your fairytale ending with a princess-cut engagement ring. This cut is incredibly popular, and graces the ring fingers of celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski, Cameron Diaz and Kate…
Congratulations are in order for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, who recently celebrated 12 years of marriage.
DeGeneres and De Rossi married on August 16, 2008 soon after same-sex marriage was legalised in California. They said ‘I do’ at their Los Angeles home with only 19 guests present. Both brides wore Zac Posen outfits for the big day.
Late philosopher and self-help guru Wayne Dyer officiated the ceremony.
“Today we have taken a giant step forward toward the ideal that all of us, with no exceptions, are not only created equal, but we each have the unalienable right to pursue our own happiness,” he said during the ceremony.
“I have often said that true nobility is not about being better than anyone else, it’s about being better than you used to be. With your exchange of vows today, you symbolize for many who have gone before you, who were forced to live their lives in quiet desperation, lurking in the shadows, that we as a people, are truly becoming better than we used to be.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCtSkfOjoRN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The pair met at a party back in 2000, and De Rossi told Oprah she fell in love instantaneously. However, at the time she had not come out as a gay woman, so she could not express her feelings. In 2004, they reconnected at VH1’s Big in ’04 Awards.
They went public as a couple in 2005 at the HBO Golden Globe Awards After Party. They soon moved in together.
Speaking to People Magazine, De Rossi said: “It’s the first time that I’ve known in every cell of my being that I’m with somebody for the rest of my life.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3kRZP3pN59/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Over a decade later and the couple still seem as loved up as ever. They did not post any honororary social media posts to celebrate their anniversary, presumably because of the ongoing internal investigation at DeGeneres’s show following allegations of a toxic work environment. De Rossi has come out to say that she stands by her wife.
Feature image: Instagram / Portia De Rossi
The white wedding has earned its place in the traditional Western society, but in recent years, more and more couples have deviated from tradition. Sometimes, you just want…
The much-loved power couple, actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have captivated Hollywood (and beyond) for years. Will, known for getting his big break in the hit show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has gone on to star in countless runaway success silverscreen films. He also launched a music career, getting the world to strut their moves on the dance floor to hits like Switch.
Jada, an equally successful entertainment powerhouse, also started out on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where the two met. She has also starred in movies like The Matrix and did voice acting for the Madagascar trilogy.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7mwUQulLaS/
But underneath all the glamour and fame, the two have also made headlines for their embattled marriage. According to Oprah Magazine they started dating in 1995 after Will’s first marriage to actress Sheree Zampino Fletcher ended. Will asked Jada if she was seeing anyone, and she replied no. “Cool, you’re seeing me now,” he responded smoothly, and things took off!
The lovebirds got engaged in 1997, and the day after the engagement, they found out that Jada was pregnant. They held a private ceremony at a hotel in Baltimore, Jada’s hometown. According to People, there were no invitations sent out as the pair wanted to stay below the radar.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7mvJaPl76r/
Throughout the years they have stuck together, but not without a few bumps in the road. After a public statement Jada made in 2013, many took her comments to mean that she and Will are in an open marriage and seeing other people. “I’ve always told Will, ‘You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay’,” she said.
Later, however, the actress took to social media to clarify, and said that this was not the case. “Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship… this means we have a GROWN one,” she said on Facebook.
However, more recently, another incident rocked the boat. In 2016, rumours did the rounds that Jada had an affair with singer August Alsina. Jada and Will were reportedly on a “break” at the time, and Jada became good friends with Alsina after which they began a relationship. At the same time, Will was said to be “involved” with model Heidy de la Rosa.
“We decided that we were going to separate for a period of time,” Jada said, according to Elle. Neither of the two regarded their extra-marital relationships as wrong, and they never got divorced.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8g4wcPh64V/
The two did decide to get back together, however, and are still together today. Stronger than ever, the movie stars say they are and will remain married, but not in the traditional sense.
“We don’t even say we’re married anymore,” Will said. “We refer to ourselves as ‘life partners’, where you get into that space where you realize you are literally with somebody for the rest of your life. There’s no deal breakers. There’s nothing she could do – ever – nothing that would break our relationship. She has my support til death, and it feels so good to get to that space.”
The couple share two children and will celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary this year.
Image: Pinterest
Kurt and Edith Leuchter from the Sun Valley East community in southern Palm Beach County have reached a significant milestone in their relationship. This unique couple survived the…
It’s been four years since funnyman Kevin Hart and model Eniko Parrish said ‘I do’. A pregnant Eniko took to social media to write a sweet message of devotion to her husband.
“HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MY LOVE ? Here’s to US! to our love, our adventures, our hearts, and our forever. 8.13.16,” she wrote on Instagram, along with an image of the two on honeymoon in St. Barths.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CD1VayJjckd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Kevin and Eniko met in 2009. While little is known about the early days of their relationship, we do know that they made their first public appearance as a couple in 2011 after Kevin’s divorce to first wife Torrei Hart was finalised.
On August 9, 2014 (Eniko’s birthday) Kevin popped the question and, of couse, Eniko said yes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/r3IBKXCYpS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
They married on August 13, 2016 in a lavish ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. Eniko wore two custom Vera Wang bridal gowns for their big day. Kevin’s son Hendrix acted as his best man, and daughter Heaven was also in the bridal party.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJE9PuOhb97/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Despite infidelity on Kevin’s side, the couple have maintained a united front. In November 2017, they welcomed their first child together, Kenzo, and in 2020 they announced they are expecting their second child together.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAA9L4VjC3t/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Feature image: Instagram / Eniko Hart