The Aleit Academy was launched on 10 September 2008 and introduced South Africa’s leading Events Coordination Diploma in style. We mingled with leaders from the hospitality and media industries and showed off our party planning flair – the Aleit Studio was transformed into a laid-back lounge environment, complete with slick white furniture and minimalist flower arrangements. Students from the Institute of Culinary Arts concocted an irresistible selection of canapés, while jazz musician Gary Deacon created a vibrant atmosphere with his toe-tapping tunes.

We’re excited about the upcoming launch of the South African Wedding Coordination Association (SAWCA). As a member-driven association it will represent the finest planners in the industry and affirm their reputation for professional service. It will also assure discerning clients that they’re dealing with the cream of the South African wedding coordination industry.

Check out the press release for more information.

The Summer 2008/9 issue of SARIE BRUID offered us a fantastic opportunity to flex our creative muscles. Working alongside the talented SARIE team, we coordinated several beautiful shoots that brought different wedding looks to life, including vintage, opulent elegance, beachy organic and relaxed farm styling. The result? A series of gorgeous photos that will inspire any bride-to-be.

Photography by Dawie Verwey and Diaan de Beer

Get more information with your copy of SARIE BRUID, available at leading bookstores and newsagents nationwide.

It’s time to feature some of our most recent and beautiful weddings. Always a popular location for memorable occasions, the Cape winelands take centre stage in this month’s showcase.

• Janine, Lawyer and Warren, Corporate Financier
• Clare, Product Manager and Andy, Sales Manager
• Nicky and Veon, Banking and Finance experts

Ethereal, exclusive and entrancing. That’s Clouds Estate, a secluded winelands venue that hosts some of our most memorable weddings. Perched above the Banhoek Valley between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, Clouds boasts dizzying views of the surrounding mountains and vineyards. There are several different settings for your reception and ceremony, including the verdant gardens, an expansive terrace and acres of rolling vineyards. Many of our clients fall in love with this dreamy venue, including Rochelle and Edward, Pamela and Gerhard and Aileen and Japie.

If you’re like us, you’ll find any excuse to talk about wedding trends and ideas. We’re thrilled about our new blog, www.thealeitblog.com. Updated on a regular basis, it showcases our finest work, as well as titbits of inspiration and information. Cyberspace just got a whole lot more chic.

“Screeching microphones, booming echoes and fuzzy noises just make me cringe. It’s so awkward when bad sound equipment ruins the speeches and live music. That’s why more couples are hiring sound engineers to manage the acoustics. It may be expensive, but their technical expertise guarantees that your day will be free of any audio hiccups. After all, no one wants their wedding to sound like a student garage band rehearsal!”

Be ahead of the trend this season and host your wedding at a boutique hotel in the city. Right from the ceremony to the after party, there are few venues as elegant and convenient. Boutique hotels are invariably located in beautiful settings and boast only the finest decor and facilities. To top things off, you’ll also enjoy discreet service and sort out all your guests’ accommodation needs. Celebrations can continue into the night, enwrapped in the comfort of trendy five star luxury.

“From crisp white linen to the all important wedding dress, there’s never a good place to have a glaring red wine stain! My secret weapon is soda water and salt. Just pour a little bit on the stain and leave the mixture to bubble and soak. The stain should come out if you blot it – it’s absolute magic. Trust me, it happened two weeks ago!”

Here’s another excuse to go shoe shopping (not that you really needed one). In our experience it’s best to be very fussy about finding the right wedding shoes. Not only should they complement your dress, they’ve also got to be comfortable when you walk down the aisle and show off your moves on the dance floor. It pays to invest in a pair of designer heels - they’ll have a snug fit and the chances are they’ll be fashionable for years to come. We just love Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik.