MARRIED…..Eugenie & Dave’s Beach Sunrise Wedding – South Africa

I am so excited to be sharing the absolutely stunning sunrise wedding of the super lovely Eugenie and Dave in South Africa.  I was actually a guest at the wedding but as we know, old habits die hard and I couldn’t resist snapping  a few photos for the lovely couple.  I really hope you enjoy looking through the photos and reading about their gorgeous wedding…

On the east coast of South Africa at Wavecrest Hotel, far off the beaten track, was where the lovely Eugenie and Dave  celebrated  their stunning sunrise wedding.  Wavecrest is situated on a pristine, mangrove-lined estuary, surrounded by magnificent dune forests and has the the mighty Indian Ocean relentlessly crashing down on the endless expanse of beach.  This stretch of the Wildcoast is so very much  loved  by the couple and it was  truly  wonderful that they could get married there.

It was a super-early start for one and all and a hive of activity commenced well before sunrise.  The Bride and her girls were busy preening whilst the barefoot Groom, family, guests and ribbon-clad puppy dogs, Millie and Taz, made their way to where the ceremony was taking place.  The beach path from the hotel was lined with tea lights and silver buckets of lavender and led to a little plateau of smooth rocks and grass over  which the guests clambered in the low dawn light.

A light ocean mist filled the air giving a perfect ethereal feeing while  the dawn light brightened.   As the sun edged  ever closer to rising there was such excitement by one and all.  Dave, who had been mingling with  the  guests,  took a bit of quiet time to chill on a rock with the puppy dogs and take in the beauty of the surroundings and the exciting enormity of what was about to happen.  The timing of the ceremony was done  with  military precision .  As the sun was coming over the horizon at 5.44 am  Eugenie was walked up the sandy aisle by her father, who was as proud as punch.  Eugenie looked stunning in her lacy white wedding dress and was beaming  radiantly as she navigated the rocks to join Dave.

The sun  rose slowly, burnt away the light ocean mist and casted gorgeous, orange light on the couple as they said their vows and exchanged rings in front of their adoring family and friends.  They were finally Mr and Mrs which was met with much applause and cheer.  Now it was time to congratulate and celebrate!

Chilled champagne flowed, people got comfy on the rocks, dipped their feet in the rock pools whilst the beach breakfast was being prepared.   Soon the eggs were sizzling away in the skillet and  the aroma of barbecued bacon and sausages filled the air – much to the delight of Millie and Taz!

It was such magical morning, so chilled out and so much fun.  Around 11am the heat of the day (and the champagne consumed) had set in so it was siesta time for everyone to return to their beach rondavel for a snooze and then reconvene for afternoon tea… OH SO CIVILIZED! !!

The homemade cakes were devoured with much gusto and washed down with tea whilst boules was played on the lawn.  This was then followed by gin and tonics as the wedding couple and their guests watched the sun setting  behind the hills casting beautiful light everywhere, especially on a grazing cow in the nearby field.

With everyone’s batteries fully charged from the siesta the evening got into full swing with a sumptuous dinner.  Superb speeches were followed by lots of drinking, dancing and fun until the very early hours!

Eugenie and Dave, it was such an honour being there to celebrate your magical wedding day and I wish you both all the love, happiness, laughter and lemon squeezes in the world xxx