A MAGICAL WEDDING JOURNEY

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND EMBRACING JOY

My road with Inge and Heine’s love story began in the romantic city of Paris, where I  captured  a couple photoshoot against the backdrop of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Not long after this, they got engaged and asked me to capture their special day. Little did they know that their journey to the altar would be filled with unforeseen challenges and delays.

Inge and Heine’s journey to their magical wedding was filled with unexpected challenges, but their unwavering love and determination prevailed. From a stroke scare to a global pandemic, they faced each obstacle with grace and resilience. Their story serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, love can conquer all. Join us as we celebrate their extraordinary journey and the enchanting beginning of their happily ever after.

Suppliers:

Wedding venue:  The Olive Press, Boschendal

Wedding Planner:  Meagan Oosthuizen

Florist:     Fleur Le Cordier

MUA:  Evelyn Francis

Wedding Dress:  Elika.in.love

Furniture:  Baie Goeters

Cake:  Kanye Hunt

Furniture/Decor:  A Create

The post A magical Olive Press Boschendal wedding appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

Exciting news!  A local Cosmetics company unlike any other has just launched in South Africa.  Eunoia Cosmetics had their  launch at the gorgeous new venue, L’Atrium,  in Paarl.

About Eunoia Cosmetics

The word, Eunoia, means beautiful thinking which encompasses their companies philosophy. Their philosophy is that make-up should not harm people or animals and should certainly allow your inner beauty to shine through.

All their ingredients are carefully sourced and their products are certified to the highest standards.  Their products are rich in vitamins and botanical extracts, cruelty free and not tested on animals.

The majority of their products are vegan certified.  A handful of their products are not  as they contain beeswax.  Foundations, while complementing complexions, will not clog the pores (non-comedogenic) and it is safe to use on sensitive skin.

Eunoia offers an assortment of lipsticks in exciting colours, specially formulated to nourish and repair your lips.  They have eye shadows to enhance your beautiful eyes,  whether for work or play.

The Launch evening

Guests mingled with many influential instagrammers, as well the, Who’s who in the Make-up world.  Christine Meintjies and her husband, Ian, from the Pretty Blog  and The Local Edit made an appearance, as well as  the former Miss Universe, Rolene Strauss.

N Concepts treated guests to a beautifully styled walk around of the cosmetics as well as  having attentive waiters topping up the Champagne and Wine glasses throughout the evening.  Delicious canapés were supplied by Kos Kouture!

ABOUT THE CEO

The CEO of Eunoia Cosmetics is  Judy Vermeulen, who has spent the past two years researching this  range.  With Judy at the helm, we are sure that Eunoia Cosmetics will become a power player in the South African cosmetics industry.  We wish her much success.

Go give Eunoia Cosmetics a follow on Instagram!

The post Eunoia Cosmetics launch appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

THE COUPLE

This Bohemian wedding at Die Woud made me flash back to a decade earlier when I met Leandri  while I photographed her for her matric dance.  I never forgot her as she looked like a gorgeous glamorous Hollywood Movie Star.  She subsequently left for The States to Au Pair in Michagan and as a result met Jon!

Unfortunately time waits for no man and her visa was expiring and Jon realised that he didn’t want her to leave so he followed Beyonce’s advice and put a ring on it!  That was 5 years ago and the plan was always to come back and have a traditional wedding in front of her family.

But then a crazy pandemic got in the way and delayed everything but finally we all got the call that they were going ahead with the wedding.  And Cyril did us all a major favour a few days before the celebration by making curfew later!

THE DRESS

Leandri’s wedding dress was a collaboration between herself and Janita Toerien.  Leandri studied fashion design herself after  high school.  It was a romantic dress with beautiful detail in the sleeves and bodice.  Totally different from her matric dance dress but absolutely perfect for a romantic wedding in a forest.

THE MAKE-UP & HAIR

Janita’s talented sister, Marnel, also did all the make-up for the bride tribe.  Once again Marnel outdid herself and the bride looked exquisite.  Furthermore, the brides old school friend, Anine Visser created magic with Leandri’s hair.

BOHEMIAN WEDDING  AT DIE WOUD

Leandri and Jon had a bohemian style wedding with vibrant pops of colour at Die Woud, in Caledon which is in the Overberg area.  Die Woud is situated on a working farm but is nestled  by majestic Wattle  and  established Oak trees which creates the illusion that the outside elements are part of the setting.

THE DECOR

This charming young couple were married outdoors in the woods beneath a macrame arch. Followed by a  magical reception that was held in a glass house marquee which was adorned with naked bulbs, candles, chandeliers and created a romantic ambiance.  San-Marie from Creative Nook fulfilled and went beyond  all the expectations of the young couple to deliver a creative, textured and colourful fantasy.  Needless to say, it was pure magic!

THE PARTY

Some of the couple’s loved ones travelled from the USA to attend this special day.  New friends were made as Leandris’ local family welcomed Jons’ family from Michagan  with open arms.  Needless to say, before long they were all warming up together over  fine wines and great music from the sensational DJ Pepe.  The party got into full swing and everyone hit the dance floor and as a result  great friendships were formed.

Vendors:

Venue:  Die Woud

Decor Planning, lighting, flowers and furniture:   Creative Nook

Wedding Dress:  Janita Toerien

Make-Up:  Marnel Toerien

Hair:  Anine Visser

DJ:  IamDjPepper

Cake:  Krummelscakes

Video:  MVR Films

Signage & Stationery:  lovewildlydesign

Second shooter:  Savannah Rademan

See previous wedding here:-

The post Bohemian Wedding Bliss in the Overberg at Die Woud appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

  Book your fun maternity photoshoot with me today!!!  Book here!

Simone and Jens wedding can be viewed here!

Thank you to Simone and Jens for always bringing their playfulness to our shoots!  And after being in lockdown for months it was a breath of “cold” air!

The post 5 ways to have fun during a maternity photoshoot! appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

Will you change your wedding plans after covid19?

Will you change your wedding?

I have been giving some thought as to how weddings will be affected after we are out of the Corona Virus lockdown.

Will this be the pandemic that will completely change the wedding industry?  Should we reassess what is important to us and go forward with a completely new outlook on life?

There is a good possibility that weddings will be forced to minimise the number of guests being invited.

While this might be true, does this mean that you should postpone your wedding or go ahead.  You have your vision but are not allowed to bring it to creation.  On the other hand, should you rather taper your wedding to make sure its legal.

In fact just before lockdown, I was already starting to see a shift in the way couples were preparing for their weddings.

As a result of the economic situation in South Africa, young couples were rethinking their wedding plans.  Many were selecting to do “elopement-style” weddings.  Not quite elopements but definitely very much scaled down.  Having a wedding but only being surrounded with their very near and dear family members.

Change your wedding to an Intimate wedding?

Scaling down your wedding does not mean that it doesn’t have to be pretty.  In fact, I have seen that this gives brides the opportunity to spend a little more on their details.  Flowers can be very costly when setting up a venue for 200 people but if you are only setting one table for 20-25 people, you are able to choose your dream buds.  If you are only feeding 20-25 people, you are also able to serve a gourmet styled menu.  It gives you the opportunity to splash out and buy that wedding dress that you might have had to think twice about if you had entertained a large crowd.

If you are only inviting a small amount of people, this means that your venue need only be small and intimate.  A smaller venue once again means that less decor is required.  It doesn’t mean that your wedding has to be “cheap”, it means that you can have a stunning wedding within your budget.

How to get your friends to be involved in the celebrations

Does that mean its sad that your friends are not at your wedding, of course it does.  Does it mean that they can’t celebrate with you – no it does not!  But there are many ways to skin a cat. You could live stream your wedding ceremony.  I have already seen this been done at one of my earlier weddings this year.  It might be impossible for awhile for guests to travel from overseas with borders being closed, not to mention expensive.  Live streaming allows them to feel as if they been a part of your special day.

Equally important are your friends and family who are local but have had to be cut off the guest list in order to ensure your wedding remains legal, those special people would also love to see you both take your vows.  Yes, its sad that they can’t be there, but they will definitely understand that this is beyond your control.  Rather promise them that once we go back to our new normal, you will throw a house party for all your friends or find another way to celebrate your union.

Will this be our new normal?

The real reason to go ahead and get married!

But never forget that the most important reason about getting married, is not to have all your friends and family surrounding you but to take those vows to promise to love and cherish each other no matter what.

Here are some inspirations for a  small intimate wedding!

An Intimate wedding can be found here!

The post Will you change your wedding plans after covid19? appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

CAMPS BAY – KYLIE AND NICK

I met Kylie and Nick at Camps Bay Tidal Pool just before the coronavirus erupted .  They had flown in the day before from Boston in the USA.  These cuties are getting married in Canada next year.  They were taking this opportunity to introduce Kylie’s parents to Nicks hometown.

When we first got to our location, the weather was a bit grey but having experienced Camps Bay quite a few times, I asked them to be patient as I had a feeling that we would get a glorious sunset!

We were definitely spoilt that day as the light was pretty incredible at times.  I just loved how the light highlighted the nooks and crannies of the majestic beauty of the Twelve Apostles mountains.

Nick and Kylie

Although Nick is from Cape Town and Kylie is from Canada, they actually met in Boston, USA as they are both working there, however not in the same industry.

Nick is in finance and Kylie is a midwife!

I must admit that I thought Kylie would handle the chill factor at the beach that evening as she is from Canada.  But I think the jetlag got to her and quite quickly she was covered in goosebumps.  Although Nick did an amazing job of keeping her warm.

Kylie was a trooper and stayed around until the skies suddenly erupted with the most amazing colours.  It definitely made getting a bit chilled all worth while. A few days later the world our world changed as we had known it.  Within days flights were cancelled and traveling became a bit of a taboo.  Kylie and Nick were continuously on my mind wondering whether they got to enjoy the rest of their holiday and whether they travelled home safely.

I will definitely keep this gorgeous young couple in my prayers especially as Kylie is a nurse and will be working in the danger zone at times.  God Bless and stay safe!

Previous Rickety Bridge Wedding!

8 things to do in Camps Bay!

The post Camps Bay engagement photoshoot – Kylie and Nick appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

This coronavirus free wedding happened just before the whole world went crazy.  When guests were still travelling from all over the globe to watch their special friends tie the knot on their home soil!

How things have changed in just under a month.  All my weddings have been postponed until later in the year.  All gatherings over 100 people were banned and then further stringent rules were put in place.  Venues had to close at 18hoo and no alcohol was allowed to be sold.

Consequently many weddings were postponed and  I totally understand the reason for postponing.  Weddings are definitely meant to be a celebration surrounded by all your loved ones far and near.

Carl and Kelly

Carl and Kelly are both South African and both left our shores to work on the Super Yachts .  Both jokingly said that they were keen to meet someone with a great passport but they met and fell hook, line and sinker for each other and decided that both were worth sticking to the “Green Mamba” (South African) passport for!

All their “yachtie” friends  and Durbanite family flocked to Cape Town to watch these two lovebirds tie the knot in front of friends and family at the picturesque Suikerbossie in Hout Bay.  Carl is originally from Cape Town hence the reason that they chose to get married in the Mother City!

The Wedding Day

They had thought of everything for their wedding.  Kelly and her aunt baked the wedding cake.  Kelly and her bridesmaids decorated the reception area.

Games were arranged on the Suikerbossie lawns to keep guests entertained during the bridal party photoshoot as well as a Photo Booth.

Suikerbossie laid out a delicious Harvest Table for all the guests to enjoy while they waited for the wedding party.  And if that wasn’t enough, the G&T’s were flowing all afternoon.

Carl and Kelly are super cute together and are totally comfortable with one another and were one of the fortunate couples to have had a Coronavirus free wedding!   Another couple of weeks and this wedding might not have happened.

To all my couples who have had to postpone because of the Coronavirus, your day will come.  It might have been delayed but when we do get to celebrate, we will celebrate in full force.  I am still excited to see all of you as beautiful brides just like Kelly!

Suppliers:

Venue:-  Suikerbossie Hout Bay

Dress:   Enzoani by The Wedding Boutique

Make-up artist:  Black Rabbit Make-up

Bridal lingerie:-  Free People

Photo Booth:  Bambooth

Videographer:  Gustav Films

See Kylie and Nick at Camps Bay

The post A coronavirus free Suikerbossie wedding appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

Nina & Alex

This intimate Yzerfontein beach wedding took place in the middle of January in the middle of the week!

Most of the guests were from Johannesburg and flew down to Cape Town to celebrate with the happy couple and joined them in the beautiful west coast.

The minute I met Nina and Alex, they felt familiar to me.  I had just finished watching Younger on Netflix and Nina is the spitting image of Hilary Duff except Nina is a darker version.  It was surreal.

Alex on the other hand, reminded me of my sons best friend.  It wasn’t the looks but the mannerisms.  They were so familiar to me that I felt as if I had known them a long time.

Nina was a wedding event planner in Johannesburg and her attention to detail was phenomenal.  Even though her wedding was intimate, everything had been thought of and the decor was next level beautiful.

In fact, that is how Nina and Alex met.  She was the event planner at his brothers wedding.  Now doesn’t that remind you of Jennifer Lopez in the Wedding Planner!  How utterly romantic!

This intimate wedding took place on the beach in front of the beautiful Thyme & Tide Guesthouse in Yzerfontein.  Nina and Alex booked out the whole house for their wedding day and their guests were able to enjoy a beachfront property at its best.  Sitting on the decks and watching the sun set over the ocean while Nina and Alex had their photoshoot was an absolute treat.

While the guests enjoyed the sunset and the children swam in the pool, a small army of chefs were busy in the kitchen preparing a sumptuous gourmet meal for everyone to enjoy.

After the sun set, the happy couple returned to be surrounded by their loved ones and enjoy their wedding day with those who were really close to their hearts.

Their special  day was total perfection!

Suppliers:-

Make-up & Hairstylist – Makeup by Lauren

Florist – yes exclusive flowers

Dahlia’s – Adene’s flowers

Minister – Stephen Van Basten

Stationary – Oh Yay

Wedding cake and cupcakes – Florentines

Jewellery – GC Manufacturing

Planning & Designing- the beautiful bride, Nina!

Previous wedding can be viewed here!

The post Intimate Yzerfontein beach wedding appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

Janine and Francois

An intimate Rickety Bridge wedding like none other.  Janine and Francois tied the knot in front of their children.  It gave the children time to spend with each other and connect as a new “step” family.  It was a wonderful idea to get them all to connect with one another.

I met Janine five years ago when she approached me to take some photos of herself as she celebrated her 4oth birthday.  We had an awesome time that day as she really put a lot of effort into having a wonderful photoshoot.  The theme that day was a 50’s photoshoot.  She hired a stunning old cadillac and she got Lianne Morton to do her hair and make-up in a 50’s style.  She looked amazing.  Needless to say, I was super thrilled when Janine told me that Lianne was doing her bridal make-up and hair.  It felt like a flashback to the day that we had all had fun together.

So it was no surprise to any of us that Janine had gone to a lot of effort with her wedding day too.  It may have been an intimate wedding but all the details were there.  Janine looked stunning in a wedding dress that she purchased online from Zando from their wedding range after being horribly disappointed in a wedding dress that she had had made.  The dress was beautiful but she made it even more so by adding her own touch to the dress with creating some back detail with strings of pearls.  She also put some thought into creating an unusual veil which looked amazing upon her dark, luscious locks.

She was an absolute vision as she glided down the aisle toward her handsome husband, Francois!

Without a doubt Francois could not keep his eyes off her!

Suppliers:-

Venue:-     Rickety Bridge Franschoek

Make-up & Hair stylist:- Lianne Morton

Florist:-  Roxanne from Bloom

Cake:-  The Fat Fairy

Decor:-  Muse Concepts

View intimate Yzerfontein wedding here!

The post Intimate Rickety Bridge Wedding appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.

Simons Restaurant, Groot Constantia

This elegant  Groot Constantia wedding was an absolute joy to photograph.

Groot Constantia is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa.  It was granted to Simon Van Der Stel in 1685.  The architecture has a definite Dutch influence and later this style became more famously known as the Cape Dutch style.

This stunning wine estate is popular with locals and tourists alike.  Its also a wonderful and scenic wedding venue and has two restaurants on the estate.

Kirsten and her family grew up in the area and were schooled locally at Westerford and she studied further at UCT!  But like many youngsters, moved to London to further her career.

Their love story!

Kirsten and Greg met on a blind date.  I remember Greg telling me about it.  His version is that he saw this beautiful girl walk through the doors of the restaurant and started to pray “Please let it be her, please let it be her!” Imagine his delight when she was his blind date!

Greg

Kirsten wasn’t interested in a relationship at first but they did become friends.  Needless, to say, it wasn’t long before Kirsten found herself falling under Gregs spell.  This strong, rugged man from Botswana, is in fact, the most gentle soul who loves his family and friends fiercely.  She fell in love with his strength, his integrity, his loyalty and the way he made her laugh without even trying.

Long distance relationship

Their relationship had to endure a long distance relationship for a year when Kirsten went over to London to work for a year.  After the year, they decided that Greg should join Kirsten in London.

Needless to say, he didn’t need much persuasion to follow her over to London!  Greg doesn’t strike me as a fool …and he would have been a fool to have not followed her.

Kirsten

Kirsten is not only beautiful on the outside but she is beautiful on the inside too!  She has a warmth and calmness about her and embraces her friends and family into her circle with such ease.  Gregs family seem to be as besotted as he is with her and they aren’t the only ones either, I must admit I too, am completely smitten.  She is just lovely to be around but so is Greg!  As a couple they seem perfect for one another.  Greg is strong, protective and a complete gentleman.  They seem to be perfectly suited for one another.

Kirsten looked chic and elegant in her gorgeous wedding gown.  She later changed into an elegant one shoulder mini dress for the dancing and became the “Dancing Queen” of note!  This elegant Groot Constantia wedding was definitely one for the books!

Kirsten and Greg would like to thank the following people:

A big thank you to Mary-Ann and Mike Lumb for their friendship and hospitality!

The bridesmaids, Philippa, Claire, Yvette, Megan and Mary-Ann!

Their parents, Alistair & Julie and Dougal & Gail!

Francesca for all her help on the day!

My green love affair for all the flowers and table decor

The DJ Company for keeping the dance floor going all night!

The fantastic staff and managers from Simons Restaurant for making sure everything was perfect!

A big thank you to our make-up artist, Sarah Hoberman

and our hairdresser, Marite Crous!

we are forever grateful!

The post Elegant Groot Constantia wedding appeared first on Jo Ann Stokes.