Bret is a pilot and Nicole an air steward and they met in the air! They live in the USA and flew to South Africa with Bret’s best friend and Nicole’s sister Lydia. It’s not often I get to shoot a wedding with such a small bridal party of 4! We did some creative photo’s in Franschhoek at their guest house, then headed off to Haute Cabriere for the ceremony in the cellar. Following this we headed into Franschhoek centre to ‘play’ some more and had a blast in the streets. This was the longest time I’ve ever had with a couple doing the bridal photo’s – 4 hours in total (with 20min for the ceremony).
Archive for the ‘Haute Cabriere’ Category
Bret & Nicole, Haute Cabriere, Franschhoek
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010Jonathan & Anne, Haute Cabriere Franschhoek
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009PART ONE:
I feel incredibly blessed with the clients I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph in 2009. Photographing weddings is just fantastic – I get to meet people from all different backgrounds and get to spend one of the most important days of their lives with them. I love my job completely – even saying that sounds funny as I look at it more as a time of ‘playing’ and less of working. It fills me an energy and love I find hard to express in words. All I know is that when i’m shooting I get transformed to another world, where creative ideas are endless and I have this ‘zing’ inside of me that makes me want to break out into song. Anne and Jonathan were married at Haute Cabriere the 29th December 2009 – my last wedding for the year. I have one word for this awesome couple: Dynamic! I met with Anne and Jonathan at Vida e (mocha’s made in heaven!) several days before the wedding to run through the days events. I don’t know who was more excited – them or me. We all chatted excitedly, sometimes at the same time and I felt like we were sitting in a cozy lounge somewhere, we were so oblivious to the buzz of the last minute Christmas shoppers around us. I left the meeting on such a ‘high’ and had new ideas flying around inside my head.
Anne got ready at Auberge Clermont – I felt like I was back in Provence! Brides, if you are looking for somewhere stunning to get ready, this is THE PLACE! Magic magic magic! and right in the heart of Franschhoek! Once Liz Kaplan had done Anne’s hair and make-up, she looked liked she’d stepped off the red carpet. She looked like a sultry version of Marlene Dietrich!
Photographer Bernard Bravenboer was my second shooter for the day – he started off photographing Jonathan and his family getting ready at La Petite Dauphine and then headed over to Haute Cabriere. The Jewish ceremony took place in the cellar among wine barrels – low lighting with candles and kind of a medieval feel. Vows were exchanged under the ‘Chuppah’ (a Jewish canopy made of fabric). While the guests had drinks and canapes, Anne, Jonathan, the best man and I headed off to a lavender field in Franschhoek. The lavender was in full bloom and and after doing some fun shots in the field, Anne threw herself back onto the lavender. Jonathan kept saying ” you look so beautiful…you don’t understand!….seriously, you DON’T understand!” A combination of the light on the veil and the wind lifting it up into the air all added to the charm of the day. After that we headed into the Franschhoek town to do some urban shots. Currently living in JHB, Anne and Jonathan are getting ready to go on a 6 month adventure around Asia! Jonathan is crazy about photography and is taking more equipment than clothing with him. Jonathan, there is a book waiting to happen! After their travels through Asia, they will be moving to London to live. Thank you both so much for oozing so much energy and warmth and giving me the creative license to ‘play’ to my hearts content. I can’t wait to meet up with you both again in London in the future! Bon Voyage!!! PS…you guys, I am so thrilled with your photo’s “YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND!”
Dress: Lunar life
Makeup: Liz Kaplan Tel.0828989770
Cupcakes & macaroons: Nadine Postech of Top Nosh

Jonathan & Anne – Part two
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009I decided to do two blog entries for Jonathan and Anne’s wedding as they will be travelling in Asia for 6 months and won’t get to see their album until their return!

Hamish & Jenny at Haute Cabriere, Franschhoek
Saturday, May 16th, 200916th May 2009
Jenny and Hamish got married on one of the STORMIEST days in Cape Town! It was also my last wedding for the South African wedding season! It poured so much that Jenny had to get ready at Haute Cabriere, as even getting from the car to the ceremony would have left her soaked. The light though, was incredible – with thick, dark and dramatic clouds and bursts of sunlight. We managed 20 minutes of shooting outside before the heavens opened again, but what a fantastic wedding! Hamish and a few of the guys wore traditional kilts which looked really cool and fitted in really well with the Scottish-type weather. I have to mention the favours on the tables – the best, and I mean without a doubt, the BEST shortbread biscuits I have ever eaten!!!

Jess and Neil at Allee Bleue, Franschhoek
Saturday, April 25th, 2009Every time I photograph a wedding, I love to get to the nitty gritty of how the bride met her groom. In this chaotic world of billions of people, the fact that two people can ‘find’ each other and connect on such an amazing level, is just beautiful. Jess left the UK on a whim over a year ago to spend some time in Cape Town. Not knowing anyone, she phoned a local church to request a pick-up on her first Sunday, and Neil arrived! They both flew to London 3 months later where Neil proposed….and the rest is history!
Their wedding took place at the elegant Alee Bleue in Franschhoek.
Make-up & Hair: Helga Bridal; Flowers: Leipzig Floral Design

Lynette & Justin at Haute Cabriere, Franschhoek
Saturday, March 21st, 2009Lynette and Justin got married at Haute Cabriere, Franschhoek on a beautiful sunny day. Lynette was the calmest bride i’ve ever photographed – there were no nerves showing even when she got up to take the mike! A very awesome wedding and such a cool couple!

