Final Decision

Last week Sunday it was time to show my parents Constantia Uitsig and test out the food at the River Cafe where we would have the reception.

The restaurant was fully booked for lunch with excited diners and it was a beautiful day, but not too hot. The whole reception area smells of Jasmine, which grow around the pillars and on every available surface. For those that don't know, Jasmine is my absolute favourite! Our waitress was awesome - immediately spotted my ring and complimented me (which bride to be doesn't love people complimenting their ring!) - and was otherwise very hands on. My parents were already impressed just by her service and the amazing wine, and then the food arrived. I ordered a burger with BACON sauce! I mean how can you go wrong there? It was phenomenal! Everyone else enjoyed their food too; so, overall, lunch was a success (the chocolate fondant to die for!)! Just look how delicious:

After lunch we drove up to the hotel where the ceremony would take place and again everyone was impressed. So it was decided that Constantia Uitsig is going to be where we are getting married! I am beyond excited and also relieved to have the most urgent decision made! Next up I need to find a photographer and the officiant so please pass on any contacts :P

Another Option: Saxenburg

Last weekend we had a wonderful family lunch at The Guinea Fowl restaurant at Saxenburg Wine Estate. The weather was quite gloomy and otherwise not very 'wedding' but the events coordinator managed to create such a beautiful picture, we could already see ourselves there.

The inside has fairy lights everywhere and tiffany chairs, so quite posh. As for the food - wow - our lunch was phenomenal! Not only this but the many menu options available for our reception are just incredible. We would probably have a buffet as this gives guests more choices.




As for the ceremony area, they have installed a permanent wire gazebo with a rose lined aisle. Very pretty! It is outside the big manor and is really picturesque.

The only downside was that there are only cottages available to stay in on the night and they are separate to the venue i.e. managed by the wine estate. Constantia Uitsig has a hotel and a spa on site, which I do prefer.

Our First Weekend of Viewings: Constantia Uitsig

Constantia Uitsig was definitely the best meeting we had as Louis, their events coordinator, was on site to show us around. They have two places where you can have the ceremony, one of which is free while the other has a fee. Of course I like the one that is not free but I don't think I am crazy because it is gorgeous! There are two huge tree's and steps coming down leading to the aisle. The only problem is that guests mights bake in the sun, but honestly it is a little inconvenience for such beauty!

I can already picture myself walking down that aisle! Although I would like more flowers.

We then drove down to the River Cafe restaurant. Not only is the restaurant beautiful, with receptions seated outside on the terrace; it is also floral, with plants wrapped around the pillars AND has no venue hire! Seems like a win-win! My only gripe is that my bridesmaid's sister is getting married here in February and I wouldn't want to copy her. But all brides have their own visions for the space so I am sure they will be different enough!

Our First Weekend of Viewings: Groot Constantia

Saturday morning started off a bit rough as I had a bit of a Bridezilla moment, which ended up with me, alone, meeting my bridesmaid Bee at Groot Constantia. What an amazing place! It is HUGE and features 2 restaurants that we could use for the reception. Preferring Simon's menu, we started there and were shown the venue room at the back of the restaurant. It is pretty bare, which is actually ideal as that allows you to decorate as you please and create your ideal atmosphere. Inside the venue room is a bar, which is great for the cash bar.

Just while searching for that picture I realised just how much of the decorating I will have to do! None of those fairy lights were there, along with the ceiling draping.

As for the ceremony, the area outside the other restaurant, Jonkershuis, is absolutely stunning! It has a view over Constantia Valley and is beneath tall trees but it is not what the man showing us around mentioned as the ceremony spot. Hopefully they can be accommodating.

There is also an abundance of picturesque spots for the photo's afterwards. An old staircase, a Cape Dutch style house, vineyards, mountains, flowers, weeping willows. A definite photographers dream!

Next Matt and I went to Buitenverwagting. Of course it was beautiful but there was nobody on site who could show us around (I really find this strange considering when else are couples supposed to venue shop if not on the weekend). Luckily, there had been a wedding there that morning, which we found by an abandoned table and flower arrangements as well as rose petals on the floor. The view from this spot was not nearly as beautiful as Groot Constantia so it did not make the short list.

Klein Constantia does not have a venue but right next door, Little River (or something like that) does offer weddings. It was pretty disappointing as it seemed to be more of a team building place than a wedding venue.

Shock to the System

Now that all the excitement from the engagement and the engagement party has passed, I face almost a year and a half of wedding planning. Everyone keeps telling me how much time I have to sort everything out and make it perfect but for me this time just means I will be a stressed out Bridezilla for longer.

As most people already know, I am super organised and planish (as Hannah would say). Possibly this is just my German heritage shining through, as is so nicely summarised in How to be German, but I am feeling stressed out by my OCD organisation. My mind races with the 15 different lists, that somehow are merged but also not. I think about what shoes and earrings I will wear, what happens if it rains, what happens if it is too hot, will I sweat in my dress, do I have a contingency plan for every possible scenario etc, but all of these things are pretty far ahead in my wedding planning future.

Right now, my only focus is the venue! But, of course, with Cape Town being as gorgeous as it is, I have around 5 000 000 venues to sift through. SA Venues has been a good base to start from as they list venue's by the different area's in Cape Town, which really made me feel like I was viewing a 'complete' list. Due to the many venue's there will be several rounds that the venue's need to get through in order to be the winner.

Firstly, I check out their website and view photo's of the venue. At this stage, many venues are already eliminated based on the number of people they can host. One venue could host a laughable 6 people! How they call themselves a wedding venue is beyond me. In other instances, 400 people can be hosted, although I have found that those big venue's often have a minimum number of guests that does not suit our semi-small party of 90 people. If all is clear, I email the venue asking for the wedding packages and if they are within our budget, we schedule a viewing. If we love a place they get a place on the short list. I do feel like gmail will be charging me email fees after the last 2 weeks considering the amount of email traffic on my account, but being informed is key!

As you may have already guessed, this blog will keep all of you updated on the wedding planning, as well as being a place to air my thoughts and gather my ideas. Matt has said several times that this is my wedding and he will show up when and where he is needed and will partake as needed but I have free reign! Here is an adorable picture of cats getting married. Yes, I am one of the 600 000 000 people on the internet who loves cats, deal with it :D