WEDDING DAY

CHEMISE & BRANDON

Last Saturday afternoon I was off to Neethlingshof, a Wine estate in Stellenbosch, to film the Wedding or rather video the Wedding of Chemize and Charlton. It was their Wedding Day and they had come all the way from Pretoria in Gauteng to get married in the Cape. They spared no expense in celebrating their Wedding Day, hence they chose the Lord Neethling.

The Lord Neethling or just Neethlingshof has become a very popular Wedding venue since it provides an all-in-one facility to host Weddings. There is the garden gazebo which doubles up as the church and podium for the pastor or minister who presides over the Wedding. It is also spot where the couples profess their vows, as well as the spot where this couple share their very first kiss as Mr and Mrs Petersen. There is more than ample parking. There is two large patches of grass divided by a pathway, with seating for the guests on both side under conveniently placed umbrellas, as can be seen on the photographs below. There are flower gardens and a dam surrounded by grass, very ideal for a picnic or a photo shoot.

It was a gorgeous day, probably 30 degrees in the shade. The sun was beating down and virtually everyone was occasionally wiping a perspiration drop or two. Even Chemise and Brandon wasn't spared from the heat.

The main Dutch style house hosts a buffet area and adjoins the hall where the speeches took place and where their guests partook in an exquisite meal. There were place settings for all the important people in their lives each specifically tagged by name. The center piece on each table was very insightful, each seating ten guests. The patio was set aside for drinks under the shade from the luscious tall trees. Alcoholic punch and other beverages were in abundance. There is also a stoop that overlooks a picturesque valley and a mountain range.

The mother of the bride Cecelia is a wonderful person and I'm certain Chemize is a carbon copy of her mom. Chemise looked really lovely in her shoulderless Wedding Dress flanked by her bride's maids dress in burgundy. The bride and bride's maids dresses matched the cream and burgundy three tier "Red Velvet Cake" that was the "piece de resistance". The bride's maids each wore a gold high heel shoe but as the day dragged on they were all bare footed or were wearing pumps. The groom looked really spiffy in his two toned suit and the bestmen looked good in their tuxedos. One of the bestmen was a scream, telling stories with anecdotes and wise words that kept the guests in stitches. The Wedding continued past the bewitching hour with several speeches, lots of eating, drinking and dancing.

email - photojani@yahoo.ca

NB! All photographs are smaller, low resolution copies of original works and remain the property of Photojani Photographic Studios. None of these photographs may be downloaded without the explicit written permission of the copyright holder. Photojani Photgraphic Studios © 2012 - Ph 0847458258, email photojani@yahoo.ca

MUHAMMAD & HAJIRA

Three weeks ago, whilst shopping for a high heel shoe, my friend Nazeema called me, wanting me to shoot her son Muhammad's Wedding. She's a very dear friend and there is no way on God's green earth, that I was not going to do it for her, even if it meant double booking for another Wedding. It was a spur of the moment Wedding. When Muhammad asked Hajira's parents for her hand in marriage, they felt it best not to set a date in the distant future nor even have an engagement, but let her marry as soon as possible. So this Wedding was planed and executed in three weeks flat.

The Wedding of Muhammad to Hajira was quite unusual to that of every other Indian or Muslim Wedding. These Weddings are known to be really elaborate, with lots of pomp and splendor and are very time consuming. As Muslim and Indian Weddings go, the groom's family normally hosts a breakfast for the men after they attend the Nikkah (marriage ceremony at the mosque). Thereafter the groom goes to meet his wife, places a diamond ring and wedding band on her finger and is ready to take her home. But, the families won't allow that. They are as much part and partial to the Wedding Couples Day as is "something old and something blue". The groom's family normally also hosts lunch for all their guests and for the bride's immediate family (the in-laws) so that they can meet the rest of the family and interact with one another. The inverse is done by the bride's family at supper time, to reciprocate and meet the groom's family. Somewhere in between lunch and supper the Bride and Groom and some family members go off to have some photographs taken.

However, Muhammad and Hajira's Wedding Day didn't start as early as other Weddings do, nor did they host a breakfast for the men after mosque. After the Nikkah there were some snacks at Muhammad's family home for those who attended. Hajira had on a really beautiful morning gown and an even more Beautiful afternoon Wedding Dress with a miniature bridesmaids to match. Muhammad wore a stunning tux and looked very smart. Rings were exchanged, Hajira's Diamond Ring was dainty but really gorgeous. Lunch was a collective effort by both the bride and groom's families and it was hosted in a nearby school hall. Brides maids with high heel shoes, flower girls and page boys were in abundance. Photographs were taken on stage and very soon after, the proceeding was over. There was no fuss and bother, no tradition, no toast, no train of Hujjaj and no mink stole. After dessert, the guests left while the sun still had a few hours before it would set and the newly weds left for their new and beautifully furnished home. Everything went down wonderfully, it was really cool and I hope that this wedding could set a standard for deviating from the traditional eighteen hour long Weddings with all its procedures that both the Muslims and Indians are famous for.

Should you be getting married soon or just planning a Wedding, checkout some of the links to fabulous Wedding jewellery, exquisite Wedding gowns, exclusive bridal wear, sexy high heel shoes, sophisticated wedding planners, bridal indabas and so much more.

email - photojani@yahoo.ca

NB! All photographs are smaller, low resolution copies of original works and remain the property of Photojani Photographic Studios. None of these photographs may be downloaded without the explicit written permission of the copyright holder. Photojani Photgraphic Studios © 2012 - Ph 0847458258, email photojani@yahoo.ca

WEDDING DAY

17 December 2012

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AT NEETHLINGHOF

CHEMISE & BRANDON

14 December 2012

WEDDING DAY IN RONDEBOSCH EAST

MUHAMMAD & HAJIRA