Summery pink WESTERN CAPE DESTINATION WEDDING featured on Hooray Weddings
With the OHD team just back from having pulled off the most incredible Western Cape destination wedding last week, I thought now was the perfect time to look back at this utterly gorgeous Franschhoek fête from February. Dani and Ross’s wedding was one of our last before the pandemic hit, which made it even more special to us as the months went on. And what a wedding it was! From the stunning Franschhoek setting to the Vera Wang bridesmaid gowns, and the flower-decked Morris Minor getaway car, and of course the gorgeous pink-on-pink palette, it was full-on fairytale. This gorgeous Western Cape destination wedding was featured on the Hooray Weddings blog – you can see the full feature here.
Dani and Ross met and live in London, but chose to have a wedding in their home country of SA. As a destination wedding planner, I take my hat off to any bride living abroad who plans their big day in another country, and we do everything in our power to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible! From our first creative consult, Dani and I hit it off. Both of us enjoy the finer things in life, have a weakness for soft pinks (without being too girly), and love to get new stamps in our passports. A match made in wedding planner heaven!
Dani wanted a lighthearted contemporary design that was pretty, romantic, and feminine, with splashes of fun and sophistication along the way. The stunning mountain vistas, amazing food, and friendly atmosphere of Franschhoek were the perfect fit, and they settled on La Paris as their amazing Western Cape destination wedding venue. Dani loved the idea of summery pops of colour to represent their fun, party-loving personalities, so we designed a palette incorporating different shades of pink, from punchy coral to cool watermelon, soft blush, and bright fuschia. Colour was bountiful, from the amazing statement floral ceremony arch to the table linens and paper goods. It definitely had the wow-factor!
I always think personal details are so important to any wedding day, and there were lots of them sprinkled throughout this celebration. It’s not just about creating something pretty, but about the love and meaning behind it. One special detail was the Morris Minor 100 getaway car, which was extra meaningful because it belonged to Ross’ stepfather, who had sadly passed away. Dani and Ross also love oysters and champagne, so of course we had to have the Oyster King shucking for the guests, as well as lots of bubbly served in buckets of petal-filled ice. Guests were able to enjoy this luxury experience along with acoustic music from the fabulous Bottomless Coffee Band.
For the reception, we created a magical hanging garden of roses, peonies, hydrangeas and more, as well as summery bougainvillea to reflect the gorgeous ceremony arch. Crystal chandeliers dripped from the ceiling, and thousands of tiny fairy lights twinkled along the brick walls. On each table, tall white tapers were placed in modern glass candleholders, and each setting was decorated with a simple coral menu card. The effect was one of light and space, while also being intimate and atmospheric. And there was no better moment of wedding planner satisfaction than to see Dani’s face as she walked into the reception area for the first time. We knew we’d nailed it!
As a bride planning her Western Cape destination wedding from afar, I loved that Dani was so open to taking our advice. Part of our role as your destination wedding planner is to match you with the right suppliers to execute your desired vision. Even though the wedding was in the Cape, Dani was totally on board with our direction, allowing us to source the perfect vendor team (including some who happen to live in other provinces). Although OHD is based in KZN, we always bring with us a vast network of contacts so that we can curate the very best people for you to work with!
If you’re planning a Western Cape destination wedding (or one in another province), my advice is to be patient with the process – especially if you live abroad and there’s a time difference. Things may not always happen as quickly as you’d like, but trust your planner and know that you are in safe hands. Also, if you want a destination wedding in South Africa, be prepared to invest in the luxury experience for both you and your guests – it will absolutely be worth it!
Here’s what Dani had to say about working with Oh Happy Day:
“I am so blessed I chose OHD because they were amazing. As a bride living abroad, I was really concerned about how I would manage everything from so far, but they made it seamless. We spoke on FaceTime, WhatsApp calls and messenger so often, that I felt like I had my close friends looking out for me and planning my big day, rather than strangers that I hadn’t met before (and I did only meet them in person a few months before the wedding!) They really take your day personally and go over and above to bring your dreams to life.”
Dani and Ross, thank you so much for trusting our team with your vision. And a huge thank you to my incredible team, for making this Western Cape destination wedding such a huge success!
Photography: Roxanne Davison
Design, Planning, Coordination and Styling: Oh Happy Day
Venue: La Paris Estate
Decor and Flowers: nConcepts & Designs
Videographer: James Peters Films
Dress: Gozde Karadana
Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang
