Dyan and Klaus Juan’s Milnerton, South Africa Destination Wedding

When was your wedding?

19 December 2007

How and when did you meet?

We met at the Temple Walkabout in London on Easter Friday (14 April 2006).

How old are you both?

KJ is 22 and I’m 34. Yes I’ve managed to get myself an absolutely gorgeous toyboy :‐))

Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?

He proposed on our 1 year anniversary. I knew KJ was making us dinner that night, so I had to deal with smelling all these wonderful things cooking all afternoon. When it got dark he asked me to go into the bedroom until he called me. About 20 minutes later he came and fetched me and took me out into the garden. While I was in the bedroom he’d put candles all the way around the garden and in the flower pots and flower beds. It looked amazing. He’d also put a blanket in the middle of the grass with a low table and our dinner served up and ready to eat, with a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket next to it. After dinner, and consuming quite a few glasses of champagne (him not me), he knelt in front of me and asked me to marry him. Needless to say I started blubbing straight away but somewhere in there I managed to get out a ‘Yes’.

Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?

We both had our stag and hen’s nights on the same evening, the 1st December 2007. KJ’s friends took him to the rugby at Twicks, SA vs The Barbarians. First they dressed him up as Mrs Claus (so that would make him Mrs Klaus Claus, get it ? :‐)) in white fish net stockings, a very short red Mrs Claus dress, a purple bobbed wig and some very questionable makeup. They then proceeded to drink their way through Twicks and the surrounding bars. I got home later that night to find Mrs Claus in my bed with her bum in the air. My evening was a lot more sedate, just the way I like it. The girls took me out to a lovely indian restaurant in Wandsworth and gave me some interesting ‘gifts’. I use the term ‘gifts’ very loosely mind you :‐)) During dinner we played a game where they asked me questions about KJ and any that I got wrong I had to do forfeits at the club we were going to afterwards. So after quite a few forfeits, almost as many shots and a few too many vodka’s, I was taken home, to find Mrs Claus, in our bed, with purple hair, and a white fishnetted bum in the air. I of course had to take pictures….

How did your groom help with the wedding planning?

In this regard, KJ was most definitely not like most grooms who just want to know the date and the venue so that they can show up. KJ wanted to be involved in everything, from selecting my dress to choosing my shoes and what my hair would look like. Needless to say I had to reign him in big time up, as girls grow up having ideas of the perfect wedding, and these ideas do most certainly not include the groom trying to change things! So I got him to help me make the place settings for the tables (he tied beautiful ribbons for the place settings and the menus), make the menus and the table numbers and I put him in charge of the seating arrangements. That was a real fun exercise considering both our parents were divorced and we didn’t want any clashes. So in the end we didn’t have a bridal table, but a table with our friends, and then the parents were put on the other tables instead. Much better idea.

Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?

Yes we definitely did use confetti. We went into your London shop and were like kids in a candy store. We changed our minds so many times as to what our tables were going to look like, until we decided on the perfect one. We got so many good ideas from your shop and the website.

Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?

Yes we did from your shop in London, our favour was the butterflies that we bought for the champagne glasses. They looked so beautiful on the tables and everyone commented on them as they’re quite unusual. We also bought lots of balloons, ribbons, name place settings, coloured paper and the shiny confetti (silver butterflies and red hearts).

Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it

My dress was bought from Berketex Brides. Their Croydon branch was having a sale, so on my birthday (23 September) two friends and I went through to find the perfect dress. And find the perfect dress we did. It was also the first one I tried on. Just felt wrong buying the 1st one as a bride likes to see herself in lots of dresses before deciding. But this one was perfect from the start. It fit perfectly, wasn’t big and poofey and was plain and simple. Just perfect. It is an ivory, A‐lined neckline and it’s cinched in at the waist and drops to the ground.

Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?

As we were on a budget, I didn’t have any bridesmaids. But I did have my 2 and a half year old niece as my flower girl. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?

There were no best men or ushers.

Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?

Religious ceremony

Where did you hold your ceremony?

We had the ceremony on the beach in Milnerton, South Africa

Where did you hold your reception?

Over the sand dune at the Milnerton Golf Club House. So literally a hop, skip and a jump from the ceremony to the veue.

Did you have any special wedding transport?

My mom was kind enough to lend me her new A5 Audi for the day. Her boyfriend was the chauffeur and my dad and I sat in the back. That was a fun ride I tell you :‐))

How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?

There were 40 guests at the wedding and they all attended the evening reception.

Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?

There was no theme, but the colour scheme was red and white.

Did you give your guests favours?

There were chocolates and boiled sweets put into the champagne glasses on the tables.

Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?

I did all the flower on the day, I guess that means that I can now add florist to my resume :‐)) All the flowers were really plain and simple. My bouquet was made up of red long stemmed roses, Lavender, Chincherinchees, some bright green flowers (not sure of the name), and some greenery… The table decorations were even more simple. Every table had a fish bowl that was placed in the middle on a mirror with six Chincherinchee’s twisted in various directions inside the bowls. They looked really effective and everyone commented on them. The reflection off the mirror from the flower and the water, along with candles in the evening, was really lovely.

What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?

The venue did the catering and we had the following: Starter Cajun Chicken Salad Main Deboned Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb served with rice, roast potatoes, cauliflower in white sauce, carrots and peas Beef lasagna served with vegetables or salad Dessert Fruit salad and ice cream Peppermint tart

What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?

We had a 3 layered chocolate cake. Each later was a different kind of chocolate, with red roses for decoration. It was made by a shop that was local to us, the Spar (not the same as the Spar in the UK).

Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?

I think that we most certainly entertained everyone enough without bringing in anyone :‐))

Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?

As we were getting married in South Africa and wouldn’t be able to bring gifts back with us for obvious reasons, we asked our guests for cash or gift vouchers. Most of the vouchers came from John Lewis.

Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?

We spent our first night at the Victoria and Alfred Hotel at the Waterfront in Cape Town. My mom booked us in as our wedding present.

What was your most memorable moment of the day?

It’s difficult to say as there were so many, but definitely one of them is going back out to take some pictures on the beach as the sun went down. As you can see from one of the pictures, it was a most glorious evening and the pictures came out magnificently.

Did you experience any “nightmare” moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?

I was quite surprised how calm and relaxed I was during the entire 3 months leading up to the wedding, and on the day. I think I missed my calling in life, I should become a wedding planner because I loved it. The only nightmare moment was this, I was told that it’s acceptable for a bride to be 7 minutes late for her wedding. I was 40. Need I say more?? Friends were asking KJ if he was sure if I was still coming. Nice

Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?

The only thing that I would do differntly is this. We had a cake made for 40 people, only 7 or so ate their share of cake. It was such a stunning cake that we couldn’t throw it away, so over the next 2 weeks, KJ and I made our way through it. And now our clothes don’t fit. And we have to go on a diet. And we’re both grumpy, but man was that cake tasty :‐)) Seriously though, the one thing I was told by my married friends and family is this, at various times during the wedding, take time to stand back and look at all that is going on around you. Enjoy the moment and see how everyone is enjoying themselves. The day goes so quickly and before you know it it’s over. So good luck to you all, you will all make beautiful brides, you will all have perfect weddings, and you will, hopefully, all live happy and fulfilled lives together. You can do, everyone has it in them.