Ruan and Hester Spies
Hester remembers:
How did your groom propose?
I was woken up at 2am on December 4 2010 by Ruan with instructions to get dressed and climb into the car. I tried to persuade him to tell me what was going on – he just smiled and wouldn’t budge. During the two-hour drive Ruan kept looking a the weather a big anxiously. We arrived at Kloofzicht Lodge… and were picked up for what seemed to be a game drive. What happened next was a husge surprise – we ended up at the launch site of a massive hot air balloon. As this was a “must do” on my bucket list I was overwhelmed with joy! The mist cleared and we ascended into a beautiful sunrise above the Cradle of Humankind. Once we were a safe distance above the lions and rhinos, Ruan asked the pilot for a moment’s privacy. The proposal started with some giggles as my husband tried to go down on one knee, but the confined space of the basket limited his romance. The pilot, who stood 10cm away from us, could only smile and capture the precious moment as my husband popped the big question. It was the most memorable day with a spectacular view.
Tell us about the theme of your wedding.
Our wedding had a romantic theme, which expressed both our tastes and personalities, Our invites, created as a gift by our good friend, Cashandra Willemse, gave guests a glimpse of what to expect at the reception. The colour scheme was mostly navy blue and cream, accentuated with soft pinks and purples. To establish our own sense of style we made most of the decor elements ourselves. We connect with our guests by adding a personal note as part of the table placements. The notes highlighted a special memory about that person. Feather Hill Wedding Nest, our venue, completed the picture with beautiful natural areas and a view to die for!
And the menu?
For starters, we had honey-roasted pears with camembert. The main course featured roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic; fillet of beef with mushroom cheese sauce; tagliatelle with spinach and cream; creamy potatoes; roast vegetables; and pumpkin fritters with caramel custard sauce. Dessert included strawberry cream cheese tart, baked chocolate sauce pudding, vanilla ice cream and vanilla custard.
What was the highlight of the day?
There were many highlights on our wedding day, but the one that stood out for my husband was when I surprised him by singing a song after my speech. This was a song that was written for him on our first Valentine’s Day together, six years ago. The amazing thing was that I did not need to change a single word, because I still feel exactly the same way.
Any special advice for brides to be?
Use your time and money wisely. Start off with a plan that includes a to-do list and a budget.
Once you have some ideas stick to it and try to spread the tasks evenly across your calendar. If you are crafty, DIY it. Not only will it provide a personal touch, but you can also save money. Don’t forget to enjoy the day.
Little black book
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Bride&co 011 807 4000; brideandco.co.za
Cake: Lien Eloff at Spesialiteitskoeke 082 332 7458
Decor: Multi Styl 018 290 7316; multistyl.co.za
Dress: The Wedding Box 011 880 2838; theweddingbox.co.za
Entertainment: The Simpsons 072 105 2838
Flowers: Siatum Snyblomme 082 463 0205
Food: Feather Hill Wedding Nest 018 285 1050; featherhillspa.com
Groom’s outfit: Eurosuit 011 807 4000; eurosuit.co.za
Groomsmen’s outfits: Eurosuit 011 807 4000; eurosuit.co.za
Hair: Cutting Edge 018 294 8189
Make-up: Carlien Louw; email louwcarlien@yahoo.co.uk
Photographer: Custo Photo 078 742 6933; custophoto.com
Venue: Feather Hill Wedding Nest 018 285 1050; featherhillspa.com
Videographer: Hallxp 082 368 3223
This feature is taken out of Wedding Inspirations magazine Autumn 2012