One of our favourite things ever is catching up with brides and grooms after their big day and, of course, seeing all the pretty photos!
Towards the end of last year, we worked with the lovely Janine to create the perfect dress for her and Anton’s intimate Tankwa Karoo wedding.
Here’s our Q&A with Janine:
Can you briefly share your and Anton’s love story?
Anton and I dated in high school when we were both 16 - we were each other's first boyfriend/girlfriend! It only lasted a few months but we remained friends, although never without a slight touch of emotional attraction.
After we both moved to Cape Town for studies we dated other people and went our separate ways, but saw each other every now and then. Anton eventually moved to Europe where we met each other once in Lisbon when I was travelling and once in Spain to walk a section of the Camino together with mutual friends.
In the summer of 2018, Anton came to visit in Cape Town. After many beach missions, braais and walks in the mountain, we both finally admitted that we (still) have feelings for each other. He went back to the Netherlands and we planned to meet again in Portugal to walk the Camino for 3 weeks.
After that, the deal was sealed! I visited him again in December 2019 and we went to Lanzarote for a romantic getaway. Anton proposed on our first night! We decided we would like to get married in South Africa in May 2020, whereafter I would move to him in the Netherlands.
Alas, Covid messed with our plans and he could not make it here during lockdown. I eventually moved over in June 2020, and we could finally get married by coming back to South Africa in December.
How would you describe your wedding day? What are your favourite memories?
We spent a magical weekend with our closest family and friends (we were 19 people in total) on a beautiful farm in the Tankwa Karoo. On Saturday morning we walked up a small hill to get married next to a quiver tree just after sunrise. The weekend was super relaxed and most of the time was spent hanging out around the fire or swimming pool. We wanted it to be a weekend where our witnesses could build relationships and really get to know each other better, and that is exactly what happened :)
What advice would you have for any couples in the thick of wedding planning right now?
Keep it simple. We did everything ourselves and each guest had a task for the weekend. The music, photos, even the food was just us making a team effort and it really added to the specialness of the weekend. Our photographer was one of the guests so it was a big blessing to have him there, but made the weekend super relaxed by not having to stress about service providers, movement orders and all the other things that lead to potential, unnecessary stress. It's about making memories, so keep it authentic to yourself.
Tell me about your dress! What did you love most about it? Can you share a bit about the design process with Deeva? Was it what you always imagined your wedding dress would look like or did the outcome surprise you?
Deeva and I have worked together before - we designed the Loub together for my bridesmaid dress in 2019, so it was inevitable that I would ask her to make something special for me.
When Covid hit, we put the process on hold, and then only in October, we started talking again about design and material etc.
It was amazing to be able to design something together with me being in the Netherlands and Deeva in Cape Town. She totally got what I wanted - a simple, comfortable linen dress with a wrap style back - and I could not have asked for a better outcome.
My first fitting was less than 2 weeks before the wedding and it fit perfectly! This gave me just enough time to do some hand embroidery on the front of the dress. I love the simplicity of the dress and would definitely wear it again!
Images by Tyron Kuypers