Kelly met Michael through mutual friends, although they had briefly became acquainted when they were studying at UCT. As Michael says, “our paths separated until a few years on when we were both invited out dancing by mutual friends. I remember arriving and seeing this beautiful woman standing with my group of friends, flashing me an enormous smile as I approached. A few drinks, some dancing and a kiss was all it took and we’ve been inseparable ever since.”

After Kelly finished her articles in accounting, she worked at her company’s Amsterdam office for three months. The couple intended to meet up to enjoy some travelling around the UK and Europe, but Michael surprised Kelly with a trip to Venice. It was here in the beautiful island of Torcello that he proposed to Kelly, with a beautiful engagement ring from Tiffany & Co that he had secretly bought in New York. Kelly was completely surprised and blown away. As she says, “the amount of effort he had gone to was totally unexpected!”

The wedding day was celebrated at South Hill, a beautiful venue located in the heart of the Elgin countryside. An outdoor ceremony took place in the lush gardens, with beautiful blue skies framing the picture-perfect setting. The reception was held in a freeform tent that, allowing guests to take in the magnificence of the surrounding vineyards and gardens. To create a delightfully romantic ambience, the decor scheme included floral prints, delicate flower arrangements and shades of pink as accent colours. “After planning for 18 months, surfing wedding blogs for inspiration, deliberating over and choosing all the elements of our wedding, seeing all of our vision, personal touches and details coming together perfectly was fantastic!”

With everything happening just the way that Kelly and Michael wanted it to, the couple savoured every moment of the day. As Kelly says, “I know this sounds cheesy, but it really was the happiest day of my life. I just couldn't stop smiling. One of the most special moments for me was when I was saying my vows during the ceremony, I was completely overcome with emotion.” Michael also has special memories of the ceremony, where he saw Kelly in her wedding dress for the first time. “I have never experienced such an exhilarating high. She was so elegant and beautiful, it made my heart leap! There can’t be anything better than marrying your best friend.”

The couple enjoyed the planning experience, which allowed them to relax and enjoy every moment of their wedding. “From the first meeting with Aleit, we loved him. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious and he made our planning process so much fun. Hayley was a rock and never made us feel like anything we asked was too much effort - she was the perfect combination of professional, approachable and friendly.” Michael adds that “after an hour of laughter and brainstorming ideas we knew that you had to be part of our big day and never once did we rethink that decision... We couldn’t imagine having done this without you guys and would have you do it all again tomorrow! Now there’s an idea!”

The honeymoon was carefully arranged by Michael, who chose the dazzling Conrad Resort in the Maldives, which Kelly had long described as her fantasy destination. An overwater villa, a private Jacuzzi and a luxury picnic on a private island were just some of the indulgences that the newlyweds enjoyed. The honeymoon was completed by another five days in Singapore, which Michael described as “a perfect end to our perfect wedding!”

Advice for other Brides and Grooms

• Cherish the time spent planning and the wedding itself. It is a once in a lifetime experience!
  
• If you're a stress ball, hire a wedding planner like Aleit Wedding Coordination. With them on board, all the details that you stress about during the planning and on the day will be taken care of, leaving you to relax and enjoy the wedding.
  
• Grooms, if you’re getting married outside on a hot day things can get rather warm under all of your suit layers. Bring two shirts just in case. If needed, you can change just before the reception and be fresh to celebrate into the evening.
• Grooms should get fully involved with the planning. It is an unforgettable bonding experience between you and your bride.
• Surprise your partner with small, personal touches that they didn’t know would happen on the day. It really takes the experience to another level.. As Michael says, “I am a big Ferrari F1 fan, so Kelly got our musicians to play the Italian national anthem for me when I took my place at the top of the aisle. It put the biggest smile on my face and was totally unexpected!”

Venue: South Hill Wine Estate
Minister: Kevin Needham
Catering: Dish Food and Social
Cake: Wade’s Cakes
Bar: Urban Tonic
Classical Trio: Ace Trio
DJ: Rian Geldenhuys
Stationery: Elsje Designs
Decor: Alwyn from OKASIE
Lighting: Something Different Concepts and Shows
Floor: Event Flooring
Photographer: Riekert Cloete
Videographer: Photo Video Production
Staff: Urban Tonic
Hair and Make-up: Candice-Leigh
Hiring: Exclusive Hiring and Top Table