I found this very useful informative article on how to choose a wedding venue - thought i'd share it with you - 

Choosing a Wedding Venue

When preparing for your wedding, you will soon realize that choosing a wedding venue can be a very difficult task. In this article we will take a look at some of the important things to consider and hopefully help to make this decision a little easier for you.

The first thing you need to take into account when considering wedding venues is whether you would like to have the ceremony and the reception at the same place or not. Some venues cater only for the reception, while others have facilities for both and depending on your preference this will already narrow down you list of choices considerably. Some couples prefer to get married in a church and then move to a separate venue for the reception, while others prefer to have the whole wedding in one location. There are pros and cons to both options, so it's important to discuss both options and come to a decision about this early on.

The second thing to consider is the number of guests that will attend your wedding. Each venue has a maximum number of people they can cater for, so it's important to have a clear idea on exactly how many guests you will have before starting to look for venues. Some wedding venues can cater for 160 people at the reception, but only 100 or less at the ceremony and it's crucial to enquire about these limitations up front to avoid any misunderstandings later on. Once you have done this you can eliminate the venues that don't have enough capacity from your list.

The next thing to take into account is the extra services and facilities that the venue offers. Are you going to arrange your own catering or do you want it to be included with the venue? Should the venue have accommodation for guests who are from out of town? Do you have any other special expectations for the venue? Some wedding venues offer a complete package that include the catering, flowers, wine etc, while others only offer basic facilities, so it's crucial to decide what exactly you expect from them before you start searching for appropriate venues.

Another important thing that will determine which venues go onto your shortlist is their availability on your planned wedding date. The popular wedding venues are usually booked way in advance and depending on the time of year you plan to get married it may be difficult to get the venue you want on the day you want.

The last (and probably most important) thing to look at is cost. By the time you start looking for a wedding venue you need to have a very clear idea of the budget you have, because this is one of the most expensive components of your wedding. There is no point in wasting time on venues that you can't afford, so eliminating the ones that are out of your budget will save you a lot of time.

Once you have taken the above 5 things into account you can create a short list of possible candidates to consider. You can then focus on choosing the one that both bride and groom feel most comfortable with.


for more info check out weddingvenuescapetown.net

Wedding photography - points to remember

1. Make sure you talk to your photographer and that they understand you requirements.  Let them know what your b udget is, how long you expct them to stay and what style of shots you want.  To make sure you don’t miss any main shots, draw up a shot list (location and of who).

2. It’s a good idea to get photos with your closest family before you leave the reception.  Take shots of you with mom, dad and the rest of your immediate family at the beginning when everyone will be looking their best.

3. According to Gisele, you should always have your mouth slightly open when being photographed , enough to put a penny between your lips, it’ll help them look fuller.

4. Rings, now girls I know you have been practising this and can get a ring on a man’s finger in .3 seconds flat – Well done! I can’t however shoot that fast so give the photographer a moment… take your time

5. As you pull up in the bridal car wind your window down, that way the photographer has a good unobstructed shot into the car without having to deal with the window reflection.

6. Don’t be too quick to get out, wait for the photographer – It might be “old school” but a photo of your dad (or whoever for that matter) assisting you out of the car makes for a great shot.

7. Cake: Think about the background when placing it, I love the colour red but I’ve never seen a big red fire extinguisher in the background improve the way the cake’s looks

8. Be totally ready at least 30 minutes before leaving for the ceremony so you can do a few bridal portraits, your makeup will be perfect and so will the dress.

9. Take your time down the isle; give your photographer lots of opportunity that great shot.

10. Give your photographer between 20-30 minutes to get the formal pictures.

11. Cake Cutting: Make sure you inform your photographer in advance! I like to set up a few lights to create mood and give you the best shots for each moment this only takes a minute, telling me 30 seconds before it’s about to happen is not particularly useful. 

12. Remember, with photography, it’s easy to delete things later, but it’s impossible to turn back time and do it again.

13. Reception lighting – think romantic! Get creative.  Try lots of candles or little christmas lights placed on or under things.  Christmas lights, hanging bulbs, and rope lights all look good in the background especially if you hang them just above head high.

14. If you want to have an indoor shot, warn your photgrapher days in advance.  Keeping your wedding photographer well informed will ensure he/she brings the necessary extra lighting.

15. While you're thinking about groups and portrait sessions - make a list of who is in each shot. Tell all your relatives

Beautiful brooch bouquet

So I’m getting married next year some time (not sure about the date yet)  and I have been looking up vintage decor and ideas.

One thing i came across was a beautiful brooch and flower bouquet.  - See picture –

And i have decided that I’m going to make my ownJ  I already found a little stall in town that sells brooches for about R30- R40.  Which is awesome.  You could even get big ear rings and use them as well.  I’m not entirely sure about the flowers though, should I get fresh flowers or fake??