We shine the spotlight on three beautiful brides and their countryside weddings. Read more about their venues, décor, dresses, favourite moments, and more. If you’re a bride-to-be, we hope this inspires you as you plan your special day.
Roxann & Warren Green
They say your wedding day is one of the best days in your life and while I never truly believed how one day in a white dress could be all that, but I must admit, our wedding day will forever be one of my favourite days ever.
How did you meet? I am sure you’ve heard married couples tell you throughout your life when you ask them the secret recipe to finding the one, ‘when you know, you know’ and as I always thought, LOL. Like what on earth does that mean? What will I know? I have way too many questions to live my life simply waiting to meet my husband on a feeling of ominous “knowing”. And then one day, you match with a man on Bumble (online dating for those born before online anything), he takes you on a date and all of a sudden it clicks and “you know”.
I believe this “when you know feeling” is more about knowing that you have found someone you are willing to choose every single day, willing to compromise for and willing to fight like hell for because life without them isn’t really an option, they are your person, your forever.
And that is how we came to this day on 22 June 2024—the day that I married my best friend. Maybe I am the minority to say I didn’t grow up dreaming of my wedding day, I wasn’t the girl with the Pinterest boards and the list of what the day needed to look like. As long as Warren was the guy at the end of the aisle, that’s all I truly cared about.
The challenge: I will be the first to admit, getting engaged and then moving overseas together and trying to plan our wedding from a different country is not up there on the greatest idea’s ever list and probably caused us a bit more stress than the average person. But to me, this wedding was never about what it looked like, it wasn’t about the venue, decor colour or TikToks, it was about the people, the moments, the memories—that was my dream.
Why did I love that we chose Haycroft as our venue so much? Because we found a place that could accommodate most of our wedding guests so we could make a weekend out of it and spend time with the people we miss so dearly while living in Amsterdam. Also, it had a very pretty FOREST CHAPEL, which was a wish list item from Warren so, win.
Why will I forever cherish this said pretty forest chapel? Because I had the honour of having my Dad walk me down the aisle and then Gordon, my now father-in-law, marry me to his son.
Why did I love my dress? Because I decided to try on a few dresses while visiting my parents in Texas to get an idea of what I liked and ended up having the best day with my Mom trying on what felt like 100 dresses, having Wingstop for lunch in-between with my Mom and Dad, so I didn’t get hangry and then after going to one more shop and finding my “dream dress”. Putting it on and knowing that I could not leave without it, calling my dad in to see it and seeing his face. Also, it was very pretty and the absolute perfect dress for me, so again, win.
Why did I love our first dance so much? Because Warren and I were sitting on the couch in Amsterdam listening to country music when we decided that “Tennessee Whiskey” would be our wedding song, because we both loved it so much and no other song would even come close to being as perfect.
Why did I love the decor, flowers and colours for the wedding? When we were in Texas, Mom and I sat on the couch for hours going through Pinterest, talking, laughing, and finding everything we loved from colours and runners to baby’s-breath flowers.
The Moment:
It goes without saying that there are so many moments, some we simply wish to keep as our own, others that simply wouldn’t do the moment justice typing it out and so to pick one moment that was my favourite is quite literally impossible—it was every moment leading up to this day and on the day that all made it the best day ever, that I will cherish forever.
Pooja Singh and Ameel Bobat
Which venue did you choose and why?
Brahman Hills was our top choice from the start! After visiting, we explored a few other options, but our hearts remained set on Brahman Hills. Its flexibility accommodated our unique two-day celebration, featuring an intimate traditional ceremony and a larger civil ceremony and reception. Once we confirmed our dates, we quickly finalised our booking at Brahman Hills.
Tell us a bit about your décor
Brahman Hills perfectly accommodated our multicultural wedding vision. We chose suppliers who shared our goal, including Weddings by Jackie for décor. As nature lovers, we wanted décor that complemented Brahman Hills’ natural beauty. We opted for simple yet elegant arrangements to enhance the venue’s charm.
Tell us a bit about the flowers/floral arrangements
We chose soft pink, orange, ivory, and green hues for our traditional ceremony. For the civil ceremony and reception, we added warmth with burgundy and rust tones. Jackie and Alexis beautifully executed our vision, creating lush arrangements. My bouquet, designed by Cinnamon and Lace, featured warm colours and pearl accents, perfectly complementing our overall aesthetic.
Who was part of your wedding party?
Our wedding party was our nearest and dearest family—our parents and siblings.
Tell us a bit about your fabulous dress
Although traditional Hindu brides wear red, I opted for ivory. I found a stunning lehenga in India, complete with a three-metre-long veil. For dinner, I changed into a lighter Payal Singhal design featuring mirrorwork. My reception dress, by Seema Gujral, was a dream come true—fully adorned with pearls.
What was one challenge you faced?
It’s funny to think of one challenge when I am sure there were many, but none seem that important now!
What is your advice for future brides based on your experience?
Being the pedantic planners that we are, we were told to enjoy our wedding—and we truly did! It’s a culmination of hard work, bringing loved ones together, and celebrating your union. Our advice? Be present, cherish the small details, make the most of the celebration, and make time for photos!
Why did you choose the Midlands to get married?
The Midlands holds a special place in our hearts. Having spent many dates there, it felt familiar and comforting, especially since I’m from Pietermaritzburg. Its proximity to “home” made it an ideal destination for a weekend getaway that our guests could treasure.
What was your favourite moment?
We loved all of it! The warmth and love from all our guests were overwhelming. It was just so special seeing it all come together and for our families and friends to enjoy the personal touches.
Tracy & Richard Widdows
Which venue did you choose and why?
We wanted a lively wedding with our loved ones, so a micro wedding was never an option. We searched for venues with accommodation for our guests and a safe, private outdoor space for kids to enjoy. Having previously attended a wedding at Bellwood Cottages & Wedding Venue, I knew it suited our needs. After Richard viewed the venue, we knew it was the perfect choice!
Tell us about your décor
Our wedding aesthetic was more about a vibe than a specific colour scheme—clean, yet colourful. We drew inspiration from the lilac-breasted roller, a bird associated with marriage in African cultures. This allowed us to incorporate a range of colours, including royal blues, navy, cream, purple, pink, and turquoise. We incorporated a lot of glass elements, such as unique shaped vases to let the colours pop, and underplates, which Mandy from Hello Bride thought to tuck flowers under!
Tell us a bit about the flowers/floral arrangements
We chose a vibrant floral colour palette inspired by the lilac-breasted roller, with no restrictions on colours or textures. To tie everything together, we dyed the greenery navy blue, which complemented our wedding party’s outfits perfectly. My bouquet was a last-minute addition, created by Flourish Flowers from a picture I found online. I wanted it to look like a freshly picked bunch of wildflowers.
Who was part of your wedding party?
Richard’s brother Craig served as both best man and officiant, accompanied by groomsmen Mackie and Calvin. My childhood best friend Leonie was my maid of honour, joined by bridesmaids Ann and Nicole.
Tell us about your fabulous dress
I found my dream dress at a boutique in Durban North. It was second-hand, but it fitted perfectly. The owner pulled it out for me to try on, and I was amazed by how it complemented my body shape. I felt wonderful, and I didn’t want to take it off! After trying on several other dresses, I knew this one was the one. We made a few alterations, including cutting off the train, and I’ve never regretted it.
What was one challenge you faced?
Choosing bridesmaid dresses was the most stressful part of wedding planning. With endless options, I wanted to ensure the ladies looked and felt amazing. I joked, “They can’t upstage me, I’m the bride!” In the end, we opted for simple, scaled-back outfits that complemented each person’s style and body shape, paired with stunning hair and make-up by:
- Kimberly Kate Artistry (including Bride HMU)
- Rachel Sarah Artistry
- By Bianca Furnarello
What is your advice for future brides based on your experience?
Do exactly what you and your partner want. Don’t want a bouquet? Don’t get one. Want your husband’s brother to do your ceremony? Find a legal officiant who will go along with it. Want to get married on a Friday and ask people to take the day off work? Do it! Just do exactly what you want, you’ll have fun and the people who love you two will see that and also have fun.
Why did you choose the Midlands to get married?
This beautiful escape feels worlds away from the city’s hustle and bustle, yet it’s just a short and easy drive.
What was your favourite moment?
Seeing my husband-to-be at the end of the aisle, knowing this is our special moment and everyone we love is here right now watching us do this!
Photo Credit:
For Roxann & Warren: Skye Kyra Photography
For Pooja & Ameel: Estilo Photography
For Tracy & Richard: AimyLouise Photography