Weddings are special occasions and can be challenging to plan, but the end result is always worth it. We look at three couples and their advice on how they brought their dream wedding to life.
The Groves: Lorren and Michael Mandy
WHEN WAS YOUR WEDDING?
30 April 2022
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GET MARRIED IN THE MIDLANDS?
I chose the Midlands specifically because of where it is situated. We live in the Free State but we both went to school in the Midlands. My parents and family live in Natal and Michael’s family have a beautiful family home in the Midlands. The Midlands just brings a different kind of magic to a wedding, and everyone loves being in the Midlands! Choosing to have our wedding at The Groves just took that Midlands magic to a different level. The charm and warmth that the venue brought to our wedding was unbelievable, not only the venue but the people at the venue too!
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?
Planning a wedding – what a daunting task! But I would do it all over again if I could! I gave myself a year – a full year to plan the wedding of my dreams! Once I got engaged, I gave myself two months to enjoy the engagement and then I got straight into the planning. A venue was first on my list. Once you have a venue, organising other suppliers becomes just that much easier. From there, I just went step-by-step seeing which suppliers could work with the date I had booked at The Groves. I did end up moving the date I had booked because the photographer I loved (Jade Shelton Photography) didn’t have that date open. And so it went on… DJ, musicians, makeup, hair, etc.
WHAT WAS ONE CHALLENGE YOU FACED?
The biggest challenge I faced was two days before the wedding. Our musicians’ (Acoustic Element) flights got cancelled twice and the hairstylist suddenly told me that she could no longer make the wedding because she had to write an exam. The week before the wedding was chaotic, but somehow the musicians arrived and a new hairstylist was doing my hair the morning of the wedding. It’s all a bit of a blur!
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE BRIDES BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE?
This is going to sound so cliché, but really just enjoy every moment. It all goes by so quickly! If you need help, don’t be scared to ask. Your suppliers are there to help you! Also, be kind to your suppliers. They will reciprocate it in ways you could never imagine!
IF YOU COULD SUM UP YOUR DAY IN THREE WORDS WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Magical, memorable and happy.
Weltevreden Manor: Adrian and Nicky Brown
WHEN WAS YOUR WEDDING?
21 May 2022
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GET MARRIED IN THE MIDLANDS?
We got married in Central Drakensberg in a clear tent. We live in Central Drakensberg and will be launching our Champagne Sky Venue. We love the area and believe it has massive potential.
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?
I planned the entire event myself. I own a company that runs event staff called Service Excellence.
WHAT WAS ONE CHALLENGE YOU FACED?
Our venue was not ready so we used a tent. We most certainly faced a huge amount of rain but the day was stunning and more than we could have asked for.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE BRIDES BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE?
My advice is to hire experts. They save you money. There are ways to cut your budget but there are certain aspects you cannot manage without when you choose to use a tent as your venue.
IF YOU COULD SUM UP YOUR DAY IN THREE WORDS WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
The best day.
Fordoun Hotel & Spa: Emily and Owen Hancock
WHEN WAS YOUR WEDDING?
8 October 2022
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GET MARRIED IN THE MIDLANDS?
Nottingham Road is where I grew up and Fordoun holds a special place in our hearts. Beyond the sentimental reasons we love the venue, its modern feel and beautiful scenery are amazing. We also love the Fordoun staff. They are lovely and made our wedding the amazing day it was.
HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?
We currently live in the U.K., so planning the wedding from another country was a challenge. The most important things for us were the venue and the caterer (Chef & Thyme). We planned our date around both of these suppliers. Once we had these locked in, we found our photographer (Uniq Images), DJ (Durban Jocks), and photo booth (Photobooth LAB), all used by friends of ours, which were the next priorities.
For us, it was making sure that our guests had the best time, if they were having fun then we would have fun. We also had the whole Nottingham Road community pull together for flowers and décor which was incredible. We chose to add a personal touch with tables named after countries we had travelled together accompanied by a story and photo.
WHAT WAS ONE CHALLENGE YOU FACED?
COVID was the biggest challenge we faced, having to move our wedding twice. We cannot thank our suppliers enough for being accommodating and making it so easy for us to keep adjusting our wedding date.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE BRIDES BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE?
My advice would be don’t sweat the small stuff, focus on the big picture, and focus on your guests. If they have a good time, you will have a good time too. Nothing on your wedding day will go exactly to plan – embrace it! My advice for grooms would be to listen to your bride. She knows her stuff.
IF YOU COULD SUM UP YOUR DAY IN THREE WORDS WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Laughter, genuine and magic.
Photos: Lorren and Michael Mandy: Haze Creatives / Jade Shelton Photography
Adrian and Nicky Brown: Little Things Photography
Emily and Owen Hancock: Jo from Uniq Images