Ross & Storme, Cafe Felix, Riebeeck Kasteel
ROSS & STORME CAFE FELIX, RIEBEECK KASTEEL I PROMISE A LIFE OF HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY, TRUST AND OPEN COMMUNICATION. I PROMISE YOU A LIFE OF LAUGHTER, FUN, ROMANCE, EXCITEMENT AND PLEASURE. I PROMISE TO GIFT YOU MY HEART, MY WHOLE HEART AND NOTHING LESS.I PROMISE...
Jacques and Bianca, Greystones, Langebaan
JACQUES & BIANCA GREYSTONES, LANGEBAAN GREYSTONES. IT'S PLACE OF GREAT MEMORIES FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. BRAAIS. FRIENDS. BOARD GAMES. BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS. IT HAD BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'D BEEN BACK TO THIS WONDERFUL HOUSE. THIS TIME, A NEW LAYER WAS ABOUT TO BE ADDED...
Dayne and Kristal, The Homestead, Constantia
DAYNE & KRISTAL THE HOMESTEAD, CONSTANTIA (AND HOW SOMETIMES, YOU JUST HAVE TO SUCK IT UP AND SHOOT 'YOUR BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER'S' WEDDING).AND THEN CAME AN EXTREMELY CRINGE-WORTHY MOMENT WHICH WENT LIKE THIS... EMILE THE GROOMSMAN: ER, I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO...
Nick and Vjorn, Stone’s Edge Farm, Gifberg
Nick and Vjorn, Stone's Edge Farm, Gifberg. Oh boy, I’ve seen some extraordinary places shooting weddings. But there’s a place that takes the cake. It’s called Gifberg. To get there, you first have to stop and be amazed at the Kokerboom Nursery in Vanrhynsdorp. Such...
Robin and Tanya, Private Residence, Constantia
Tanya and Robin, Private Residence, Constantia. How many wedding photographers can claim to having being spanked by their bride? Yup, you read correctly. Probably about zero. But this one has! I kid you not. Or having the brides mom, um, wipe their bum? This is not a...
Pieter and Cheri, Elim Farm, Prince Alfred Hamlet
One day, when I’m old, grey (wait, I already am grey) and losing my marbles completely, I’m going to wheel myself out onto my patio in my gown and slippers, sit my great-great grandchildren down, fart without a care in the world to their whoops of delight and disgust...
Chris and Vanessa, Webersburg
Chris and Vanessa, Webersburg. Funny thing life, you never quite know what's going to happen next. Then you're up, then you're down, then you're this way, then you're that way. I don't actually know what's going to happen in the next hour, let alone tomorrow or next...
Stuart and Jacqui, Boesmanland, Langebaan
Stuart and Jacqui, Boesmanland, Langebaan. Now let's see here. Stu and Jac can probably be described best as very, very, very much in love. 'Bokkie Boks' and 'Baby Seal' and other terms of endearment you know. Kissy-kissy, smoochy-smoochy and all that yucky stuff (and...
Karla and Julian, Guildford, Perth, Western Australia
Karla and Julian, Guildford, Perth, Western Australia. So there we were, flying high above the clouds and finally making our descent into Singapore’s Changi Airport. It had been a long, long trip.Helen had watched 7 movies in a row and I’d watched The Greatest Showman...
Ola and Jenny, Wildekrans Wine Estate, Bot River
Ola and Jenny, Wildekrans Wine Estate, Bot River. In my household, Saturday's from October to the end of April are generally a complete write-off as far as dad goes. In a nutshell it's get up, shower, breakfast, check camera gear and head off. The result is that I've...
Stephen and Sophia, Clouds Estate, Stellenbosch
Stephen and Sophia, Clouds Estate, Stellenbosch. So let's see now... What is it, for me, that makes a wedding challenging? Is it that so-called reputed Bridezilla? Nope. I've never had one - I think it's a myth. Is it battling the elements over long, long hours?...
Marc and Camilla, Wolfkloof Wine Farm, Robertson
Marc and Camilla, Wolfkloof Wine Farm, Robertson. It all started (as it so often does) at another wedding. I was at the Bluebird Garage in Muizenberg to shoot Kim and Greig's wedding. You can see it over here. It was there, that I bumped into Greig's delightful sister...
Josh and Mandy, Kronenburg Estate
Josh and Mandy, Kronenburg Estate. The risk when penning these write-ups on the weddings and the couples I photograph is that it can, at times, all sound a bit sugary-sweet. I mean, I have to kind of be complimentary don't I? I can't exactly say so-and-so were a real...
Robbie and Kate, Private Residence, Constantia
Robbie and Kate, Private Residence, Constantia. This wedding begins way, way, way back. It all started on 2nd May 1986 when a young lad by the name of Robert stepped onto the planet. Now Robert, together with his older sister Rachael and his younger brother Josh, kept...
Lisa and Miguel, Montpellier, Tulbagh
Lisa and Miguel, Montpellier, Tulbagh. So I've seen brides arrive to the delight of guests in a number of ways- on boats, a helicopter, horse-drawn carriages, vintage cars, mopeds, tractors, a bus, and on foot (even a bride who climbed over a wall to get to her...
Glen and Elisna, Harbour House
Glen and Elisna, Harbour House. Make no mistake my friends, weddings are exceptionally entertaining events. There may be no formal script, but the actors and actresses that take to the stage at any wedding are exceptionally talented individuals. Especially when...
Ryan and Juliette, Nooitgedacht
Ryan and Juliette, Nooitgedacht. I've often wondered about it you know. Life after wedding photography. I mean you can't go on forever now can you? There will indeed come that time to hang up the gloves, look back, smile broadly at it all and move on. Which is where a...
Adam and Aura, Bree Street Studios
Adam and Aura, Bree Street Studios. Shooting a wedding in a vineyard is one thing. Shooting a wedding in the middle of a city is something else altogether. Now I've always wanted to shoot a wedding in New York City. Imagine hustling and bustling through that. yellow...
Neil and Corinne, Old Mac Daddy
Neil and Corinne, Old Mac Daddy. Want to hear some really cool stories and catch a glimpse of some of the behind-the-scenes goings on at a wedding? Then read on, because here we go... So how's this as a start then... Once upon a time there was this 11 year old girl....
Wahl and Lezanne, 401 Rozendal
Wahl and Lezanne, 401 Rozendal. Introducing two of the kindest, most gentle, humble and appreciative people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. That falls a bit short of describing Wahl and Lezanne properly, but you get the idea. I’m very, very happy they...
Shaun and Megan, Weltevreden Estate, Stellenbosch
Shaun and Megan, Weltevreden Estate, Stellenbosch. The first time I meet my wedding couples, we generally sit and have a mighty fine chit-chat about how they envisage their day. Sometimes the bride has everything sorted in her minds-eye. Other times, bride and groom...
Tarryn and Willy, Winery Road Forest
Tarryn and Willy, Winery Road Forest. I first met Tarryn at Romy and Charlie’s wedding. I was busy shooting Romy’s make-up at Angala. It was an indecently hot day so I popped upstairs to try and find a glass of water. That’s when Tarryn walked past and flashed this...
SA Weddings, styled beach shoot
It’s always pretty awesome working with the folks at SA Weddings. I’ve come a long, long way with them and they have a business culture that I very happily relate to. Down-to-earth, unstressed, normal. No histrionics, no drama queens, no shouting and screaming and...
Gregg and Lauren, Millhouse Kitchen, Lourensford
Gregg (yes, two g's I know, I know) and Lauren, Millhouse Kitchen, Lourensford Wine Estate. Or should that be Simon and Tamara? Or is it Frans and Jenny? It’s all a bit confusing really. You see, Lauren and myself got into this habit of calling each other arb names....
Mari and Maciej, Haute Cabriere, Franschhoek
Mari and Maciej, Haute Cabriere, Franschhoek. The human race is fascinating really. We have different dress codes, different belief systems, different just about everything. Including different languages. Throw 50 people into a room who all speak a variety of...
Darryl and Joni, Cape Point Vineyards
Darryl and Joni, Cape Point Vineyards. I’m often taken aback by just how balanced and solid some of my brides and grooms are. I’m also sometimes a bit taken aback at how unbalanced some of them are – in a weird, freak head, but delightful sort of way. Some have this...
Beni and Linda, Suikerbossie
Beni and Linda, Suikerbossie. If you’ve been watching my weddings for some time now, you’ll know my feelings about shooting Jewish weddings. Basically, it’s like running the Comrades Marathon backwards twice and then being hit by a bus. In no particular order. They’re...
Alec and Nici, Blue Horizon Estate, Simonstown
Alec and Nici, Blue Horizon Estate, Simonstown. There’s a line that comes up with alarming regularity at weddings time and time again. It goes like this: ‘Hi everyone, for those who don’t know me I’m John, Tim’s bestman and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Tim for 15...
Bryn and Fionnuala, Perth, Western Australia
Bryn and Fionnuala, Perth, Western Australia. Talk about an epic adventure. At 35000-something foot above the sprawling Indian and Southern Oceans, pushing tin at 959k’s an hour while alongside me old ‘Farty Pants’ was living up to his nickname, Bryn and Fin’s wedding...
Taryn and Mike, Old Mac Daddy, Grabouw
Taryn and Mike, Old Mac Daddy, Grabouw. So there I am. Old Mac Daddy it is. I've only been at the venue for, I don't know, 15 minutes and already I've probably pushed through 100 flights of stairs. That's OMD for you. A lot of stairs and a lot of climbing. But it's...
Caitlin and Darren, Brenaissance, Stellenbosch
This wedding season has without any shadow of a doubt been the hottest in living memory. That’s a fact Jack. It’s been ludicrous out there in the trenches. Caity and Darren’s wedding at Brenaissance in Stellenbosch was no different with the sun being particularly...
Etienne and Taryn, Winery Road Forest
Tarryn and Etienne, Winery Road Forest. Now let’s see, what can I tell you about Tarryn and Etienne’s wedding. Well firstly, Tarryn gets this whole thing called commitment. Not because she loves Etienne madly. Not because her vows to him were so incredibly powerful....
Romy and Charlie, Vrede en Lust
Romy and Charlie, Vrede en Lust. So you see, Helen and myself were sitting and chatting last night about this whole wedding thing. It’s been quite a ride I tell you. We were having a heck of a good laugh at some of the things we’ve been through. Behind-the-scenes...
Adam and Maria, La Vierge, Hemel & Aarde Valley
Adam and Maria, La Vierge, Hemel & Aarde Valley. What happens when a Portuguese family and an Afrikaans family come together for a wedding? You get one heck of a party, that's what happens. You also get an MC called Bakkies thrown into the mix for free. And...
Wayne and Lauren, Boesmanland, Langebaan
Wayne and Lauren, Boesmanland, Langebaan. It all started probably about 4 years ago. I arrived to photograph the SA Weddings Bride of the Year event at Lagoon Beach Hotel when this delightful Event Coordinator (or whatever her title was) walked up and shook my hand....
Tiaan and Alexa, Leipzig Country House, Worcester
Tiaan and Alexa, Leipzig Country House, Worcester. Every year, there's at least one wedding where I turn around to myself and say: 'Why are you doing this to yourself? Have you lost the plot entirely? Go home. Lie at the pool. Be like normal people and read a book....
Aimee and Andrew, Suikerbossie
Aimee and Andrew, Suikerbossie. Let's go back in time shall we? I was in supreme pain at the first wedding I ever shot. In the week before the wedding I'd damaged my Coccyx quite badly and Helen injected me every few hours to get me through the day. All my planning...
Christian and Katya, Whale View Manor, Simonstown
Christian and Katya, Whale View Manor, Simonstown. So let's see now, the two questions I get asked most often at weddings are... Can you take out my wrinkles in Photoshop (thank you mom’s) and, Do you enjoy your job? So here are the answers: I cannot take out...
SA Weddings, Styled Shoot, Langkloof Roses
SA Weddings, Styled Shoot, Langkloof Roses. So this is kind of how the story goes. Leo from SA Weddings calls me and asks me if I’d like to photograph a styled photo-shoot for them. Now the thing is, I was a bit hesitant at first. The reason is simply that styled...
Ross and Illona, Knorhoek, Stellenbosch
Ross and Illona, Knorhoek, Stellenbosch. So it’s like this you see. I was never going to be a brain surgeon. Well, not in the conventional sense anyway. I wasn’t going to be an Accountant, or an Actuary or a Mechanical Engineer either. School was way too much fun to...
Jess and Nick, Emily Moon River Lodge
Jess and Nick, Emily Moon River Lodge. Whenever I get an out-of-town wedding I do a quiet double backflip, half-turn salto. Firstly, I get to escape from my family for a few days. It's really difficult living with them - they're cooked. Seriously cooked. At any given...
Roy and Janine, Cape Town Hotel School
Roy and Janine, Cape Town Hotel School. Okay, so I need to come clean, I’m a bit of an oddity. A bit of a freak of nature actually. You see, in social situations I’m really quite shy and introverted – I let Helen do the talking while I just stand around feeling...
Kim and Greig, Bluebird Garage
Kim and Greig, Bluebird Garage. I met Kim and Greig a year ago. We had a beer and chatted about their wedding day. Usually the conversation revolves around photographs in a vineyard, or on the beach, or alongside a river. But in this occasion, Kim had me listening...
Alister and Caryn, Monkey Valley
Alister and Caryn, Monkey Valley. So you see, it's like this. Being a wedding photographer has its moments. Sometimes you feel like a rockstar playing live in front of 75000 people. At other times it can feel as though you're about to pass out from sheer exhaustion...
Carly and Trevor, Suikerbossie
Carly and Trevor, Suikerbossie. You know how sometimes you'll have a day that whizzes by before it even started. This was one of those days. Carly and Trev booked me for 8 hours and by the time it was all over I didn't even feel as though I'd warmed up. I usually get...
Lisa and James, The Roundhouse
Lisa and James, The Roundhouse. Over the years I've come to realise that there are 6 kinds of dancing specialists at weddings. Firstly, there are those who get onto the dance floor and look thoroughly bored - no expression, no happiness, just a sort of slight shuffle...
Ben and Bianca, Hudson’s at Vredenheim
Ben and Bianca, Hudson's at Vredenheim. So let's see now. I've shot many, many weddings and one of the most often asked questions by brides and grooms who contact me is... 'have you shot at such and such a venue.' Often the answer is yes. Often the answer is no. There...
Oliver and Michelle, Granger Bay Hotel School
Oliver and Michelle, Granger Bay Hotel School. December 2014 was without a doubt the busiest month I have ever had. It was just crazy. A mad month of weddings is always manageable because you prepare carefully, make sure you get enough rest the night before, then take...
Kobus and Sian, Vrede & Lust
Kobus and Sian, Vrede & Lust. So you see, Kobus, Sian and myself hook up for a Skype chat. I ask them a few questions, blah, blah, blah, get a bit of a feel for their wedding and then it all starts to go a bit pear-shaped. Why? Because these two have a sense of...
Warren and Tamsin, Buitenverwachting
Warren and Tamsin, Buitenverwachting. Whenever I get home from a wedding Helen asks me how it went (good wife you know). Sometimes she's fast asleep when I get back, but she'll almost always drag herself out of bed to let me offload on the wedding. Sometimes when I...
Kelly and Guy, Suikerbossie
Kelly and Guy, Suikerbossie. Now let's see - we all know that brides are generally fairly calm and in control.Especially during the pre-match build up when their war paint is applied and they step into their armour. Kelly was no different as she started getting 'into...
Robbie and Caitlin, Kronenburg
Robbie and Caitlin, Kronenburg. I'm not sure if this was actually a wedding. Well maybe it was. In the beginning that is. The wonderful Alicia Buckle kicked off by doing Caitlin's hair and make-up with a calmness that has become her trademark. Hot looking guests all...
Christiaan and Chantel, Nooitgedacht
Christiaan and Chantel, Nooitgedacht. Whew. Where do I start? The Nooitgedacht website proudly proclaims that it's the Cape's most exquisite wedding venue. Hmmm, I think I could go with that. But then it also helps that your groom actually runs this family farm, so...
David and Elana, Kirstenbosch
David and Elana, Kirstenbosch. My, my, what a wedding. You see, when I first meet my wedding couples I always try to imagine what their wedding day will be like simply by judging their personalities. Now David and Elana, bless their cotton socks, seemed like a fairly...
Geoff and Vabakshnee, Webersburg
Geoff and Vabakshnee, Webersburg. Okay, so before we even begin here, try this little exercise. Try and say Vabakshnee. Go on, do it. Say it loudly. Tricky huh? Now try and say it fast during the heat of battle. You'll come up with various versions. Like Vabanuskee,...
Natasha and Jerome, The Strandloper
Natasha and Jerome, The Strandloper. The cutest kids you ever saw. A BIG Portuguese family. Fish on the braai. Crayfish for everyone. Sand between your toes. Sounds romantic I suppose. And it was. Except for the fact that at The Strandloper I don't wear any shoes when...
Riaan and Rozanne, The Lighthouse, Yzerfontein
Riaan and Rozanne, The Lighthouse, Yzerfontein. Not exactly what I'd call a pressure wedding. It was a small, intimate, very special 4-hour affair that had me feeling more like I was hanging out with some good friends for the afternoon. I also only met Rozanne and...
Jo and Albert, Sea Trader
Jo and Albert were married at the Sea Trader in St Helena Bay. The end. Nope, it didn't really happen like that. This was a 3-day, no holds barred, complete and utter bender. It all started on Friday afternoon at Jo's folks house (dodgy sea view and all) with a pretty...
Dirk and Magdel, Old Mac Daddy
I'm going to let you into a secret. Actually, it's more like a cold, hard fact. No wedding is easy to shoot. Not ever. Every wedding is its own Everest with its own ledges and peaks to navigate. And I never wake up on wedding day without thinking that it might be my...
Luxury boat wedding at sea
It's not often one gets to photograph a luxury boat wedding at sea. But then it's not often that the HMS Iron Duke sails into Table Bay either. Thankfully it did. And aboard was none other than our groom, Mikey. We'd exchanged a few emails while the frigate was making...
Mike and Louise, Steenberg Estate
Mike and Louise, Steenberg Estate. What a build up it had been. Torrential, driving, pouring rain in the few days before their wedding. And now, here I was, driving up to where Louise was getting ready at iKhaya Safari Lodge and Cape Town was blue, crisp and summery....
Matthew and Nicole, Silvermist Estate
There was a moment at Matthew and Nicole's wedding at Silvermist Estate in Hout Bay where I thought I'd wandered into the Springbok Pub. It was still early - probably 8.30-ish or so. I looked around me at the scene and suddenly felt a bit bewildered. Over at a table...
Marnus and Leandri, Kleinevalleij
Marnus and Leandri did a good thing. They flew down (along with just about all of their guests) from Pretoria to hold their wedding at Kleinevalleij in Wellington. Then they went a step further. They employed the outstanding services of Karla Oettler of Absolute...
David and Bianca, Landtscap
Rule #1. Never ever, ever turn your back on me when I’m shooting your wedding. Not ever. Especially if you drop your pants – intentionally, or unintentionally. It’s fatal. If you do, you will most definitely live to regret the moment. You see, at weddings, I hunt....
Lisa and Cole, Blydschap
Wedding Expos can be fairly long affairs – 3 days, 8 hours on your feet, smiling and trying to look extremely keen as people file past, eating sandwiches and drinking champagne. I try not to take Expos too seriously, so I generally entertain myself by firing elastic...
Gavin and Tanya, South Hill
So let's see, what do I tell you about Gav and Tanya's wedding at South Hill in Elgin? And believe me, there's a lot to tell. So do I tell you about the moment the MC had all 140 guests taking 'selfies' and hash tagging them #gavinandtanyawedding? Do I tell you about...
Judy and Jo, Hermanus
No wedding is ever average. But to coin a phrase, this home wedding in Hermanus was not your average wedding. Not on your Nelly. When Judy first contacted me about shooting her and Jo's wedding she told me they were getting married at home in Hermanus. She doesn't...
Carla and Ian, Solms Delta, Franschhoek
'Whoooops! Tricky. Uh-oh.' Call it what you will, but Carla and Ian's wedding at Solms Delta, Franschhoek rendered the singularly most show-stopping moment of any wedding I've ever shot. Picture the scenario. I arrive to shoot the girls getting ready. Bride has legs...
Jaco and Yvette, Old Mac Daddy, Elgin
Meet Jaco and Yvette at Old Mac Daddy. Although, hold on, since everyone else calls Yvette 'Blom,' we will too.Now I have two things to tell you about 'Blom.' The first, is that when I was shooting her hair and make-up I remarked on the beautiful brown spot on the...
Romy and Brendan, The Roundhouse
It speaks volumes that people fly in from all over the world to get married in Cape Town.Not a shabby place this. Turn in any direction and BAM, there's another view, another vineyard, another beach, another hidden gem. Add to that the fact that family, friends and...
Rob and Skye, Natte Valleij
'Cause we got the fire, fire, fire Yeah we got the fire, fire, fire, And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn...'I don't have the finest singing voice but hell, at least I know the lyrics to Ellie Goulding's 'Burn' right? I was driving along, getting into the zone...
Andrew and Calan, Groote Post
I always say to my couples: 'chaps, we can go for the bog standard stand and pose wedding photos or we can go for who YOU really are.'Then I add: 'now, if you want the stand and pose stuff, it's probably best that you go with another photographer.' Luckily, in most...
Jurie and Arlene, Langverwagt
Let's get stuck into some credit where credit is due stuff shall we? So firstly, I'm quite partial to a snack at a wedding, and usually these are to be found in the bride's bedroom as she's getting ready. I'm not big on mini-hamburgers - to much to pop into your mouth...
Lars and Tenneale, Blue Horizon
Admission of guilt time. I lie a lot at weddings, I really do. It sort of goes with the territory I'm afraid. So for example, my brides will often ask me how the venue is looking while they're having their hair and makeup done. My reply is always something along the...
Maris and Charmaine, Allee Bleue
'Bye honey, see you later, wish me luck. Cheers kids, enjoy your parties and ballet rehearsals and, and, and…' And off I went to Allee Bleue in Franschhoek. An hour later I was back on the phone to Helen. 'Um, I need gumboots and a change of clothes, and towels - I've...
Shirley and Juan, Hout Bay Manor
Perfection probably just about sums up Shirley and Juan's wedding at the Hout Bay Manor. Because if ever there was a wedding that went off like clockwork, then this was it. Everything just worked. And I mean everything. The food was perfect, the weather was ideal,...
Christian and Angela, Red Ivory Lodge, Magaliesberg
So I boarded the plane. Flew to Jo'burg. No bumps. Good flight. I'm calm. Get off at Joey's, into the car, GPS on, off to Magalies. I'm starving. Like properly starving. Not too many Farmstalls along the route to Magaliesberg. Lots of e-tolls though. Like lots. My...
Lotte and Marcelle, Grand Dédale, Wellington
Weddings are all about experiences. And don't for one minute believe that everything at a wedding is the stuff of fairytales. Oh boy, things can indeed go wrong. Ministers arriving late, brothers forgetting their suits at home, rings being left in the grooms room,...
Charl and Jo-Anne, La Vierge, Hemel & Aarde Valley
I often get really amazing comments and compliments as far as my wedding photography goes. The truth, however, is that most of the time it's not me, but rather my couples who deserve the praise. They're the one's who put in the hard yards. And sometimes (actually,...
Lisa and Shlomi, Suikerbossie
Let me tell you something about Lisa. She likes a photo. Actually, she likes a lot of photos. Now let me tell you something about Shlomi. He doesn't like a photo. Actually, he doesn't like to pose for photos. Problematic. Bride wants lots of photos, groom wants just a...
Francois and Tamrin, Boesmanland, Langebaan
I often say to people that probably about 90% or so of the photos I take have a story behind them. That's a lot of stories. And often, very funny one's at that. At Tam and Francois' wedding at Boesmanland the stories abounded. Take for instance the one photograph...
Howard and Daelle, Suikerbossie
Try sprinting the Comrades Marathon - backwards. That sort of gives you an idea of how Howard and Daelle's wedding at Suikerbossie went. It was 'on your marks, get set, marathon sprint from start to finish!' The guys had flown in from Australia a few days before...
Luka and Clayton, The Strandkombuis
I started shooting weddings a little while back. 1994 to be precise. Back then I was into video and a very dear friend of mine who has since left this world encouraged me to keep at it. About 4 or 5 years later I decided that stills photography was really what I...
Charles and Riana, Slipperfields, Port Elizabeth
Slipperfields is a long, long way from Cape Town, but the scenery en-route makes up for distance. When Hel and myself arrived, we booked into the lodge and then headed off to find Slipperfields and explore the area. It was amazing to say the least. Real farmlands...
Jody and Karl, Groenvlei
Hmmmm okay. I arrive to shoot Jody and Karl's wedding at Groenvlei and everything is hunky-dory. The bridesmaids are marvy, the bestmen are cool, Karl is relaxed and joking, Jody is calm and collected. Lovely stuff. I pop a meatball into my mouth and start shooting....
Kyle and Elani, Oubos, Eastern Cape
I've seen some pretty exceptional places in my time shooting weddings, but Oubos is just remarkable.Hollywood would battle to conjure up this sort of place. Before I left for Kyle and Elani's wedding I googled the spot. I found an article which wrote it up big time....
Niel and Cara, Heidelberg
Hands up if you like good, old-fashioned, traditional South African food. Bit of a no-brainer really. It's what makes us, us. Soetpatat, pampoenkoekies, braai, lots of geseligheid - you get my drift. That's exactly what Niel and Cara had in mind when they planned...
Bruce and Sarah, Buitenverwachting, Constantia
I met Bruce and Sarah for the very first time exactly two days before their wedding. They'd landed at CT International after a very delayed flight from London (Argus Cycle Tour bicycles being loaded and all) and driven straight through to Buitenverwachting for a quick...
Adam and Vania, Grotto Bay
I'm going to say two words here, and when I do, one of the groomsmen at Adam and Vania's wedding at Grotto Bay (Simon is his name), is going to turn cold with sweat. You see, the thing is, Simon is a big strong fellow. He rides motorbikes and stuff. And let's be...
Johan and Juanita, Leipzig Country House, Worcester
Relaxed, laid-back and informal. That probably best describes Johan and Juanita’s wedding at Leipzig Country House in Worcester. And why? Because that’s the way Johan and Juanita are. When I arrived in the car park at Leipzig Country House, I climbed out of the car,...
Albert and Natasha, Suikerbossie, Hout Bay
So today's million Dollar question is... hands up if you know what the Hora is? Okay, so before everyone rushes off to Google it, I'll tell you. At a Jewish wedding, when the bride and groom enter the reception, the Hora takes place. This is designed to do two things....
Michael and Leanne, La Vierge, Hermanus
I gulped down some water, looked over at Leanne and said: 'Now listen here, seriously girl, this barbed wire is vicious hey. Touch it and your Rosenwerth dress is going to tear like rice paper.' I wasn't joking either. We'd reversed the Land Rover up to the fence,...
Cobus & Lizette, The Strandloper, Langebaan
'CAN YOU HEAR ME?' I was about 3 metres away from Cobus and Lizette and their families. I was met by completely blank stares. 'MOVE CLOSER TOGETHER!' Still blank stares. In the distance I thought I saw a house fly across the horizon. MOVE! CLOSER! TOGETHER! Blank...
Stef and Faz, Babylonstoren, Franschhoek
We really do live in an amazing country you know. And we really do have it all. Mountains, koppies, rivers, two oceans, a fat amount of wildlife. We've got the cheese route, the wine route, the whale route. We've got Joey's, Durbs, PEEEE. And we invented the word:...
Lauren and Pablo, Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein
I continually say to my brides and grooms that I can only shoot what is in front of me. To a degree, I can manipulate things – and I do – when I get stuck into the bridal party and family photos after the service. But for the rest of it, what is in front of me is what...
Campbell and Ally, Catharina’s Restaurant, Steenberg Estate
After every wedding I get home and whoever in my family is within earshot gets the whole run-down from start to finish. This is not a short exercise, as I tend to get quite excited and animated about the whole thing. Helen ALWAYS listens intently. As for the kids,...
Remi and Emma, Allee Bleue
When I first started out photographing weddings I had one simple vision in mind – to shoot people as they are. I didn’t want to follow the pack. I didn’t want to copy what others were doing. I just wanted to do my own thing and shoot truthfully and honestly what was...
Danielle and Keenan, The White House, Yzerfontein
Morning weddings are rare, but boy are they awesome. Good speeches at weddings are not so rare. Most weddings deliver one or two absolute belters. At Keenan and Danielle’s wedding, we had the best of both worlds – an early morning wedding on a fantastiese dag, and...
Gerard and Jonelle, Old Mac Daddy
There are 3 essential actions in life that will make you happier and help you live longer. The first is simply to love everyone (and if you can’t love someone then just pretend you do). The second one is to drink an ice-cold beer because beer makes you and those...
Nigel and Carly, Val de Vie
Whenever I first meet my wedding couples they're often in two minds as to how to plan their weddings. So I tell them to do things according to one simple rule and that's simply, do it your way. Which is exactly what Nigel and Carly did. They broke with a lot of...
Johanette and Thabo, Jacobsbaai
Weddings, all weddings, carry a certain amount of associated stress for me. Will the weather play ball, will the plan inside my head play out as I would like. Will the guests be friendly, will they listen to me (because, in general, I'm going to ask them to do things...
Tristan and Kristin, Boesmanland Plaaskombuis
Let's try a little tongue-twister shall we? How about: 'She sells sea shells on the sea shore.' Or alternatively we could go with: 'How much wood would Woodstock stock if Woodstock could stock wood.' Right, now that we have you warmed up, try walking around for a few...
Pierre and Sharon, Shelley Point Hotel
Welcome to Sharon and Pierre's wedding. Now you see, as you're about to find out, this wedding was all about legs. Firstly, there was my right leg which was not in the best shape it's ever been in. You see, a week before Sharon and Pierre's wedding I ripped my darned...
JJ & Corrien, Nitida, Durbanville
Trust me, I don't get cold. I'm known to wear t-shirts and shorts in mid-winter without much fuss. But, wow, at Corrien and JJ's wedding the wind had a bit of a bite to it. Corrien and her bridesmaids had goose-bumps on their goose-bumps and were digging deep I can...
Hennie and Asanti, Beloftebos
On the morning of every wedding I quite like to leave early, take a long, slow drive and just take in the atmosphere. I usually stop off near the venue, have a beer and focus on the day ahead. At Hennie and Asanti's wedding Helen and I stopped in Stanford at a...
Christian and Kate, La Colombe, Constantia Uitsig
Let's see now, there are 5 600 wedding photos on my website. I've shot, hmmm, 500, maybe 600 weddings, maybe more. I can tell you the name of every bride and groom I've ever shot and where they got married, and pretty much everything about their day. And through all...
Garth & Lee, Val de Vie
Faith. Small word, big meaning. Let me explain. Helen and myself are driving out to Val de Vie for Garth and Lee's wedding. There are seriously unlucky looking clouds all around us. It looks a bit like Scotland on a bad day. We get to Val de Vie and I go and say hi to...
Mark and Roxanne, Le Bac
'Warren hello,' I said as I answered my cellphone.' It was a good friend of mine Matt on the other end. 'Listen mate, he said. One of the girls who works for me has unfortunately gone and lost her wedding photographer. Are you free on the 5th of April?' As it so...
Karl and Tamlyn, Donier
So let's see now, how will I remember Karl and Tamlyn's wedding? Well, I could tell you that Karl is quite a cute chap. I could also tell you that when it comes to pure, raw cutie-pie-ness, Tamlyn actually leaves Karl in the shade. I could tell you about Sophia the...
Celebrity Wedding: Kuba and Hildegardt, Shelley Point Hotel
Annie, my middle daughter always says: 'Dad, the Weskus is die Beskus.' I couldn't agree more. But when you add Hildegardt Whites and Kuba Silkiewicz to the picture, it just gets better. A bit of 7de Laan, a bit of really good singer, a bit of Huisgenoot & You...
Celebrity wedding: Francois and Lauren, Old Mac Daddy
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE. BROER. So how do rockstars get married? They way I understand it is they pick up some chicks, hook up a guitar or two, smash a few smokes and just like do it. Bro. But in real life it doesn't quite happen like that. Seriously, I thought I...
James and Caryn, The Vineyard Hotel
I'm going to break my silence using Caryn and James' wedding as an example. And it's actually quite serious stuff this. Every week during the wedding season I get to travel to one or more venues for 'da beeeg day.' On the way there, I 'get into the zone,' motivating...
Corrie and Danelo, Molenvliet
'Dr D' is in the house! So here's the thing. Sometimes I get a bit mixed up simply because I think very quickly when I shoot. This can lead to moments of complete chaos. So for example, at Candice and Adrian's wedding, I kept calling Adrian, um, Richard (and of course...
Christin and Wilter, Constantia Uitsig
There must be very few countries across the world that offer the variety of wedding settings that South Africa offers. There must be even fewer cities across the globe that offer what we do. Cape Town truly is a wedding venue heavyweight. By way of example, if we step...
Christiaan and Candice, Blydschap
Let me tell you something about Christiaan. He looks like a pretty decent guy. He even acts like a pretty decent guy. But I'm not so sure. You see, Christiaan was a lecturer at Stellenbosch. And uh-huh, Candice was a student at Stellenbosch. In Christiaan's class. And...
Ernst and Aleksa, Chamonix, Franschhoek
Whenever I drive out to shoot a wedding in Franschhoek it feels like I should include a pack horse and a few mules to help me get there. For some or other reason it just feels a long, long way away. In the case of Ernst and Aleksa's wedding, Chamonix is on the other...
Sarah and Paul, Mont Rochelle
How does one even begin to describe this wedding? 'Oh wow' would probably do the briefest trick. It's actually quite difficult to describe it in words – it's one of those 'you had to be there' weddings. It goes without saying of course that Sarah and Paul are...
Anel and Ryno, Paternoster
Now don't get me wrong - Ryno, Anel and their guests are really happy people. And everyone is really chuffed that they got married. But jeepers, at this wedding if you so much as looked at somebody they burst into tears! I was having a field day out there in the hot...
Izandi & Du Toit, Blydschap: Part 1
It's my website and it's my business, so for once I'm going to be unashamedly biased! But it's for good reason. You see, Izandi and Du toit's wedding holds a somewhat special place in my heart. Izandi and myself go back a bit. We first met at a wedding expo a few...
Izandi and Du Toit, Blydschap: Part 2
As most people who visit my website know, I'm not exactly the most prolific of photographers when it comes to showing you decor at weddings. Here and there I might throw in a consolation table setting if the mood takes me. So for a change let's depart with tradition...
Izandi and Du Toit, Blydschap Part 3
I think Izandi has been watching to much youtube to be quite honest. Because the next thing it's ceremony time and before we know it, the bestmen, followed by the bridesmaids come dancing down the aisle. Now normally this would have had me going: 'okaaaaaaay, this...
Herman and Jonel, L’ Ermitage, Franschhoek
Now here's something different! Welcome to Herman and Jonel's connoisseur wedding at the very swish L' Ermitage in Franschhoek. Different because Herman and Jonel decided to opt for 2 services and 2 receptions - the first for family, the second for friends. So...
Mario and Mellisa: Stellenrust
Welcome to Mario and Mellisa's wedding, alternatively known as the: Does anyone have a Portuguese language handbook handy?' wedding. Okay sure, a lot of people spoke English, but there were a few key players who um, didn't. So me saying something like: 'could I ask...
Kevin and Roxanne, The Farmhouse, Langebaan
When it came to Kev and Roxanne's wedding, I think good old James Brown said it best: 'Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now, I feel good, I knew that I would, now - so good, so good, I got you -bum-bum-bum-bum yeeeeeaaaah.' Because that's exactly what...
Anke and Vincent, Forrest 44
Every so often a bride and groom come along and ask me to shoot the two of them before the ceremony actually takes place. Now I know that a lot of people in the USA like doing it this way, but quite honestly, I don't. And the reason I don't is because I'm absolutely...
James and Liesl, Betty’s Bay
The last time I was in Betty's Bay was about 12 years ago. It's grown a lot since then. The last time I saw James and Liesl was when we got together for their engagement shoot. James seems to have grown a lot since then. The guy isn't exactly vertically challenged. So...
De Wet and Barbara-Lee, Kleine Zalze
In about 90 years from now, when I'm old and grey, sitting on my stoep and sticking chicken bones into my pockets off my plate , I'm going to look back at all the weddings I ever shot and fondly remember all the little stories that went into each one. So while I still...
Dawie and Wilhelmien, Neethlingshof, Stellenbosch
Take a look at these photos. Do you see any stress levels? I don't. But let me tell you, stress levels at Dawie and Mien's wedding were not just high, they were through the roof and into the stratosphere. Seriously so. Not because of wedding day nerves, but because...
Tanya and Tigue, Mofam River Lodge, Grabouw
I ALWAYS leave ludicrously early for weddings simply because hold-ups, hijackings, burst tyres, emergency toilet runs and (since we live in Africa), lions, leopards, rhinos and so forth crossing the road do cause a bit of congestion on occasion. Like the truck that...
DW and Shirley, Nitida
If you take the time to read some of the articles I've put onto my website I can absolutely guarantee you they'll help you to put together a wedding that will lend itself to some really nice photographs. Now I don't know if either Shirley or DW have ever read any of...
Jaco and Renata, The Sea Trader
I'm on a hiding second to none on this wedding. Horses, a quadbike, old barns, gravel roads, a bridesmaid called Mosquito (previously know as Muskiet) and an MC who was one of the first ever guests on Spies and Plessie. Add to that a group of family and friends who...
Dylan and Kristy, JC Le Roux
Let's kick this off like this shall we. Dylan went to a girls school down the road from SACS (which is a real boy's school). Dylan's mates also went to the same girls school as he did (the one in Rondebosch that can't play rugby). You'll find that if you look in the...
Adrian and Candice, Suikerbossie
Allow me to explain something to you about the way I shoot weddings that not even my wife can come to grips with. When I shoot, two things happen very, very, very quickly. Firstly, my fingers move flatout all the time as a I change my shutter speeds and my aperture...
Jono and Farrah, Picardi Wine Estate, Paarl
I met Farrah for the first time the day before her wedding. She walked straight up to me, gave me a big hug and a kiss and said: 'Howzit dude! Nice to finally meet you.' Uh, okay, if you say so. And that was that, we got on like a house on fire. We walked around the...
Tony and Wendy, Hidden Valley, Stellenbosch
A year ago, Wendy walked straight up to me at a wedding expo and said: 'Hi, are you Warren?' I took one look at her, crossed my fingers and said a silent prayer. Then I said: 'yes, I am' and she said, 'good, I want to book you for December.' I nearly did a double...
Gary and Fran, Morgenhof, Stellenbosch
Morgenhof Wine Estate in Stellenbosch is a lovely setting for a wedding. Vineyards, mountains, big pond, stunning architecture. You'd be forgiven for getting wrapped up in it all and forgetting yourself. Which is exactly what happened to me because when I arrived to...
David and Lindsay, The Strandloper, Langebaan
A wedding at The Strandloper in Langebaan is always just awesome for wedding photography. Everywhere you look there's another shot just begging to be taken. Now add David and Lindsay into the mix and what you have is trouble. These guys redefine the term 'chill'. They...
Stefan and Bernice
Aaaaah, another language-challenging wedding day. This time I had to haul out my very best Dutch to deal with the proceedings. Well, my best Afrikaans, and my best Dutch, because Stefan is from here and Bernice is from Holland. It all started with strawberries, and...
Tarryn and Rowan
The first time I saw Tarryn she was about 3 years old with snot running out of her nose and a very dirty face. I seem to remember she had a pink dress on and was playing with her cousins on the side of the road. The next time I saw Tarryn the snot was gone and had...
Philip and Nadine
It's not exactly a big secret that I'm an enormous fan of The Strandloper in Langebaan. Those who know me well will tell you that a braai, sand under my feet, fishing nets and a blue sea are what float my proverbial boat bigtime. Add to that the sound of a guitar...
Michan and Emile: Leipzig Country House
Ah, a bride and groom who did things a little differently! Welcome to Michan and Emile's wedding.So how did this wedding go off? Well, Michan and Emile decided to do the brave thing and have their photos taken before the actual service. It worked out brilliantly as...
JP and Kirsten
Bless JP and Kirsten's little hearts - they got married in Johannesburg which meant I had to climb onto a plane. I need you to know that I was exceptionally brave for the two hours it took to get there, not questioning whether or not the pilot knew what he was doing...
Paul and Victoria
I can speak English. I can speak Afrikaans. I can even speak a good dose of Xhosa. And I'm even starting to throw around a bit of French, Portuguese and Italian thanks to some of the couples I shoot and their diverse groups of families and friends. But here, for the...
Anne-Marie & Gys
Anne-Marie and Gys were married at the very beautiful Eben-Hauzer out in Paarl (they're pretty much neighbours with Nederburg). Forget anything you've ever heard about My Big Fat Greek Wedding, because this was without a doubt, My Very Big Humungus Dutch Wedding. Yup,...
Brett and Ali, Neethlingshof, Stellenbosch
Remember the guy who dropped his girlfriend into the water at their engagement shoot? Yes him - that guy. Well, he's Brett, and that girl he dropped into the drink is Ali - and she's now his wife. Well, it seems that Brett and Ali have a thing for water, because...
Charl and Mary
When it gets hot in Stellenbosch, it gets hot. Hot as in, stand under an oak tree and sweat a lot hot. This is the kind of hot that Charl and Mary ordered for their wedding day. Sweltering, blistering hot. But the staff at the beautiful Lanzerac Hotel were...
Bo and Craig
I'm not normally all that short on words when it comes to writing. But I have to tell you, Bo and Craig's wedding leaves me unsure of where to start, so let's start at the beginning shall we. Firstly there was Bo, gorgeous Bo. I don't think I've ever seen a bride...
Jo and Danny
So it's 30-something degrees outside, Jo is trying to get into her very beautiful wedding dress (with a lot of huffing, puffing and grunting going on as her bridesmaids assist with the tugging and pulling), when all of a sudden a wasp (and a relatively nasty looking...