Claire and Marc’s South African wedding was held on the groom’s family farm that has been in the family for generations, the perfect setting for a large and inclusive celebration focused on simplicity and fun. The outdoor ceremony overlooked the Tugela River and the misty hills of the Drankensberg Mountain Range, simply decorated with a rustic ceremony arch to highlight the surrounding beauty. The reception was held in a bespoke marquee in the garden of the farmhouse and groom’s childhood home, full of rustic vibes and neutral colors that honored the farm venue – lots of fairy lights, hay bales, wooden furniture, and beautiful, indigenous flowers arranged by the groom’s mother, creating a magical day in a breathtaking setting. We love the bride’s classically elegant Elizabeth Stockenstrom wedding gown and super-sweet first look with her bridesmaids for a twist on the traditional bridal portrait. Mint Tea Photography captured every moment of this magical day, from the breathtaking setting to the laughter and love shared between the bride and groom.

The Couple:

Claire and Marc

The Wedding:

The Bend Farm, Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal

There were so many memorable moments it’s hard to pick just one. From getting ready with our closest family and friends, to the beautiful ceremony, to moving and entertaining speeches, to dancing the night away. One moment that does stand out for both of us was after our photoshoot when we took a moment for ourselves before joining our guests. It was during this time that we reflected on the significance of the occasion and how grateful we were to every person that was a part of it. As we watched our guests enjoy sundowners in the distance, our hearts were full.

Marc and I are both very sociable people so the most important thing for us was to have as many of our loved ones with us on our special day as possible and to ensure it was a celebration to remember. Luckily our venue was able to cater for this and we focussed on keeping things simple and fun, which also reflects who we are as a couple. We had an idea of what we wanted in our minds but seeing it all come together on the day surpassed our every expectation. It was a truly magical day in the most breathtaking setting, filled with so much laughter and love. A day we will treasure forever.

Our photographer, Sarah da Silva from Mint Tea Photography, was outstanding. She is both professional and fun, which not only put us at ease but also meant that we really enjoyed the photoshoots. She works efficiently which was important to us and we couldn’t be happier with the photographs. My hair and makeup artist, Lauren Smit from Makeup by Lauren, was also exceptional. Not being a person that wears makeup often, she was able to create exactly the look I wanted – soft and feminine with a natural glow. Her calm, gentle, warm energy is what every bride needs on their big day. Finally, our wedding planner, Jani Maritz from Forever and a Day, was incredible. She was able to translate our ideas into reality and we were able to completely relax on the day knowing everything was safe in her hands.

We got married on Marc‘s family farm in the Drakensberg which has been in the family for many years so it was very special for us. The ceremony was held at the top of the farm overlooking the Tugela River and Drakensberg mountain range, while the reception was held in the garden at the farm house Marc grew up in. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful venue or a more perfect day – especially considering that the mountains were covered in snow a week later!

In keeping with the farm setting, we chose neutral colours and tried to create a look and feel that was rustic yet classic – lots of fairy lights, hay bales, wooden furniture, and gorgeous flowers arranged by Marc‘s mother and her assistants. We personalised the day by having the farm staff and their families sing for us at the ceremony and using proteas as the main flower as they are my favourite flowers andindigenous to the Western Cape where I am from. We tied in Marc‘s profession as a pilot and love for aviation by including handcrafted tin aeroplanes on the tables and the cake as well as folded paper aeroplanes as part of the confetti.

We decided to do something a bit different in terms of our song choices. Our processional song was Holocene by Bon Iver, while our recessional song was the soundtrack from Me Before You – Not Today by Imagine Dragons. For our reception entrance song we chose one of our all time favourites, Special Star by Mango Groove, and our first dance was to the feel good anthem Wonderwall by Oasis.

Congratulations to Claire and Marc and special thanks to Mint Tea Photography for sharing this stunning wedding with Junebug! For more farm wedding inspiration, check out this colourful DIY South African wedding at Lunikhy Game Farm!