Monica Dart Photography Blog » Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog South African and destination wedding photography Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:21:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Cape Town Wedding | Sally & Leighton | Vrede-en-Lust | Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/sally-leighton-vrede-en-lust-franschhoek_6897.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/sally-leighton-vrede-en-lust-franschhoek_6897.html#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:47:59 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=6897 When Sally, a former Air Hostess, contacted me to photograph her and Leighton’s wedding, she said she had chosen me because of the boudoir shoot I did on an aeroplane several months ago….!  I haven’t photographed a wedding at Vrede-en-Lust in a while, so I was happy to get a chance to do their intimate wedding.  Family and friends flew in from the UK and USA to celebrate the day with them.  Weddings don’t always have to follow the traditional route: They first met guests on the lawn for drinks, followed by the couple shoot, speeches, ceremony and reception.  It made for a super relaxed day where they could enjoy the wedding and fantastic weather with everyone.

The first time I have ever photographed a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes! In shoe heaven!

Hair and Make-up – Helga Bridal

Flowers and Decor – Leipzig Floral Design

]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/sally-leighton-vrede-en-lust-franschhoek_6897.html/feed 5 Cape Town Wedding | Helena and Andrew | Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/helena-and-andrew-mont-rochelle-franschhoek_6855.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/helena-and-andrew-mont-rochelle-franschhoek_6855.html#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:20:20 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=6855 Helena and Andrew are from New Zealand and chose Franschhoek to celebrate their very intimate wedding.  No guests, just the 2 of them committing their love to each other under some beautiful trees and amongst the stunning backdrop of the mountains.  The lovely Kate Rawbone from Wedding Concepts organised all the finer details for them.  With Wedding Concepts, I always know: No. 1 -  The wedding is going to be organised to perfection and No.2 – The venue and details are going to pretty special. Franschhoek really is one of South Africa’s gems and having the chance to shoot at Mont Rochelle was breathtaking.  Thanks Helena and Andrew for being so relaxed – I had a great time with you both. Hopefully see you in NZ next February if all goes to plan!

Video:  www.visiononfire.co.za

Flowers/Decor:  www.leipzigfloraldesign.co.za

Hair/Make-up: www.yolande.co.za

Minister: Gordon Oliver

Musicians: Palm Strings Duo www.palmstrings.co.za

Accommodation booked at Mont Rochelle booked by: Travel Concepts: http://www.weddingconcepts.co.za/travel_concepts/

]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/helena-and-andrew-mont-rochelle-franschhoek_6855.html/feed 7 Tarryn & Shaun | Backsberg Estate | Franschhoek – Part two http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/tarryn-shaun-backsberg-estate-franschhoek-part-two_6265.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/tarryn-shaun-backsberg-estate-franschhoek-part-two_6265.html#comments Sun, 12 Jun 2011 08:55:30 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=6265 If  you haven’t seen part one yet, follow this link.   Here is part two of one of the most fun weddings I’ve ever been to!  Tarryn and Shaun – thank you,  I had a great time being part of your day.x

Hair/make-up: Lyndel from www.themodsquad.co.za

Live Band: Paridigm – contact: tiaaneksteen@mobileemail.vodafonesa.co.za

]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/tarryn-shaun-backsberg-estate-franschhoek-part-two_6265.html/feed 9 Jacqui & Neil, Allee Bleau, Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/jacqui-neil-allee-bleau-franschhoek_5195.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/jacqui-neil-allee-bleau-franschhoek_5195.html#comments Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:01:39 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=5195 Part One:

Jacqui and Neil flew over from the UK to get married at the stunning Allee Bleue venue in Franschhoek.  The getting ready, the ceremony and the reception all took place here on the sunniest day among the gorgeous vineyards of Franschhoek.  (Several days prior to that we arranged to meet in St James and do an engagement shoot – if you missed that pop over to the 5th April 2011 entry on my blog.)  Jax and Neil have been two of the most easy-going couples I’ve photographed – they are so affectionate with each other they made photographing them an absolute pleasure.

This blog has taken a little while longer than planned to be published as i’ve had a ‘challenging’ (arrrghhhhhhh!!!!!)  time with the South African internet – but it seems to be all back on track now…so I present to you part one!  Keep a look-out for part two to follow tomorrow, where I’ll be uploading some photo’s from my first South African “Love Shack Photobooth”!

My first time blogging a pair of MANOLA BLAHNIK SHOES! I was in shoe heaven….so had to upload 2 photo’s


The guys were getting ready a little way away


]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/jacqui-neil-allee-bleau-franschhoek_5195.html/feed 3 Jacqui & Neil, Allee Bleue, Franschhoek Part two http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/jacqui-neil-allee-bleue-franschhoek-part-two_5293.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/jacqui-neil-allee-bleue-franschhoek-part-two_5293.html#comments Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:02:57 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=5293 Part two of Jacqui and Neil’s gorgeous wedding.  I have to say Allee Bleue is a fabulous venue – the staff are brilliantly efficient, the chef incredible and the overall venue an absolute dream place for a wedding. While we headed off to do the couple shoot, my assistant Anel stayed behind and took some photo’s of the willing guests at our new Love Shack Photo Booth.  It was our first time doing the booth in South Africa and everyone had a good laugh.  We stopped at the old railway track in Franschhoek for some photo’s and then The Riverside Cafe very kindly let us use the area behind their restaurant which has part of the Berg River running through it.   Thanks for being so wonderful to photograph and for the most incredible wedding – a photographers dream: Manola Blahnik shoes….a gorgeous dress….beautiful details on the table…the perfect weather…funky gum boots…and a very happy and willing bride and groom up for anything! Jax and Neil – thank you!

Flowers: Leipzig

Decor: myself and Leipzig

Cake: Emma’s cakes

DJ: DJ Morse

My hair: Helga Bridal

Bridesmaids Hair: Tracey and Amy from StarStyle

Make-up: Rochelle Fisher from Eternal Youth

Videography: www.vickygoslinvideo.co.za

]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/jacqui-neil-allee-bleue-franschhoek-part-two_5293.html/feed 8 Mark and Valeska – Franschhoek Country House & Villas http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/mark-and-valeska-franschhoek-country-house-villas_4872.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/mark-and-valeska-franschhoek-country-house-villas_4872.html#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:13:39 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=4872 Mark and Valeska contacted me a few days before their wedding and asked if I could photograph it for them.  Being a Monday, I was free and headed off to Franschhoek on a beautiful sunny day.   Valeska is from Germany and Mark is from the USA and they both spent a few weeks in South Africa traveling around before and after their wedding.  It was fun to have the wedding party so small – the two of them, the minister and his wife, one witness and me! The ceremony was held in the beautiful gardens of Franschhoek Country House & Villas.   Usually my time with the bride and groom is around 45 min to an hour, but with Mark and Valeska I was lucky enough to have around 2.5 hours!

Franschhoek Country House & Villa’s also offer spa treatments…..it’s an absolute Franschhoek gem…..and for those of you that have actually been to France, it actually feels like you’re in a French village.  Bowls of bright yellow lemons adorn the venue.  Fresh and inviting!

Thank you Mark and Valeska – I had such a good laugh with you both and you were so much fun to hang out with.xxx


]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/mark-and-valeska-franschhoek-country-house-villas_4872.html/feed 12 Marijke & Damon’s wedding, Boschendal, Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/marijke-damons-wedding-boschendal-franschhoek_4622.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/marijke-damons-wedding-boschendal-franschhoek_4622.html#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:44:18 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=4622 Marijke and Damon are from the Netherlands, and flew to SA to get married.  It was a small, intimate wedding, with both sets of parents joining them.  I asked them how their proposal happened and Damon said he’s proposed to Marijke while they were out on the water, windsurfing – this is by far, the most original proposal I know of!  Things were done a little differently.   Marijke got ready, and as she walked downstairs, Damon was waiting for her with flowers.  We headed off to do their bridal photo’s first, then to the ceremony at Boschendal.  I spent 3 hours with them on a lovely, hot day in Franschhoek, and a few days later we met up in Blouberg for a drink.  Here are some images from their beautiful afternoon.








]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/marijke-damons-wedding-boschendal-franschhoek_4622.html/feed 10 Kim & Robert at Val D’ Or, Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/kim-robert-at-val-d-or-franschhoek_4546.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/kim-robert-at-val-d-or-franschhoek_4546.html#comments Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:56:13 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=4546 Kim and Robert currently live in Egypt where they both met at a school – Robert is the principal and Kim is a Phys.Ed teacher!  They had a small intimate wedding at the lovely Val D’Or in Franschhoek with close family and friends.  It was so lucky that we came across a trampoline at the venue, as both seemed to love jumping around on it, and as a result I got some really fun shots!

]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/kim-robert-at-val-d-or-franschhoek_4546.html/feed 21 Derek & Adrie’s wedding at Klein Genot, Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/derek-adries-wedding-at-klein-genot-franschhoek_3526.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/derek-adries-wedding-at-klein-genot-franschhoek_3526.html#comments Sat, 09 Oct 2010 11:35:52 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=3526 Adrie and Derek live in London and flew out to Cape Town to celebrate their wedding with close friends and family at Klein Genot in Franschhoek.  I love Klein Genot – besides been tucked away in the most beautiful lush vineyard, the food is the best i’ve eaten at a venue…and the dessert….white chocolate mousse was heaven sent! The interior of the venue is fantastic – the area where the reception was held is cozy and then there’s a room leading off that area with sofa’s and a bar….and a balcony area which overlooks the vineyards and mountain.  Quite breathtaking and definitely one of my favourite venues.  Adrie & Derek have so much fun together – they are always making each other laugh or doing silly things to crack each other up – the recipe of a good relationship.  Thanks to you both for being so relaxed, warm and welcoming – I had an amazing time at your wedding.  Looking forward to seeing you both in London next year!

A week prior to the wedding, I did a boudoir shoot of Adrie in Seapoint.  This is a lovely gift for a parnter (or if you’re not getting married, it’s a lovely gift to celebrate your body or celebrate a landmark birthday).

Flowers & Decor: Nadia Strauss from “4EveryEvent” did the most incredibly beautiful display with the flowers and decor.

Cake:  Wade:  www.wadescakes.co.za – Wade’s cupcapes were so delicious, you have to sit down and close your eyes when you eat them (you may just pass out!)

Make-up: Liz Kaplan tel. 082 8989770


]]> http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/derek-adries-wedding-at-klein-genot-franschhoek_3526.html/feed 7 Louise & Clive, Rickety Bridge – Franschhoek http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/louise-clive-rickety-bridge-franschhoek_2831.html http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/louise-clive-rickety-bridge-franschhoek_2831.html#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 20:44:20 +0000 Monica Dart http://www.monicadartphotography.com/blog/?p=2831 I have to share this story of synchronicity and how I came about photographing Louise and Clive’s wedding at Rickety Bridge in Franschhoek.  My friend Sean Calitz photographer referred me to his close friend Louise who lives in Australia and was planning a wedding in South Africa.  So Louise and Clive booked me for their big day.  A little while later, while Louise was out and about in Sydney with her friend Alicia, Alicia said she new of a photographer (me!) in Cape Town .  They were both then completely shocked that Louise had already booked me.  It so happened, that last year when I was in Egypt on a girlie holiday, I met and became friends with Alicia (who lives in Australia)…and had no idea that Alicia and Louise were friends.  Small world!

Ok, back to the wedding day….a beautiful sunny day, a small wedding party, a lovely intimate ceremony, and a fantastic wedding brunch under a marquee!  The day couldn’t have been any better.  What is great about Rickety Bridge when it comes to photo’s, is that even if the wedding takes place in the middle of the day with full sunlight, there are loads of areas in the shade for shooting in.

Louise and Clive – wow, it was so cool to meet you both and thanks for being so patient with me uploading my blog!  See you in Australia next year (well that is the plan so far!)x

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