Lerato & Anele | Wedding | Pont de Val, Freestate {Day1}

There is always a first in everything. I have been a photographer for more than 10 years, but I have never photographed a traditional African Wedding before…until now!

Lerato and Anele entrusted me to capture their love story over three days, and what I found out was that the wedding actually went on for another 2 days. Wow, their wedding was 5 days long.

The first day was their white dress wedding at Pont De Val, Freestate. South Africa had crazy rains this year, and during April it almost had a climax, with most rivers in Gauteng, Freestate and Limpopo flooding. Pont De Val is right next to Vaalriver and the river rose almost 2 meters, and the usual reception venue got completely flooded, with only the roof visible. The buidling where they set up the ceremony almost got flooded as well. Pont De Val made a plan by erecting a tent on higher grounds, and it turned out quite amazingly beautiful. It was not the usual Pont de Val splendour, but it was still beautiful and special.

The second day was their traditional wedding in Welkom, Freestate, at their family homes. What a celebration! It was my first time witnessing the traditional side of a wedding, and how much each respective families are involved in African Weddings. I definitely didn’t understand everything that happened in front of me. I have found out after the wedding that the MC even tolk jokes about me during the reception, and I was laughing with everyone not knowing the joke was about me.

The third day was with their respective families at their homes.

Thank you for allowing me to witness the union between you two, and also between the two families! Congrats again and may God grant you happiness and peace during your marriage!

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Suppliers who made the day possible:

Venue: @pontdeval | Jewellery - sterns (@sternssharejoy) | Stationery - @LN_Bespoke | Makeup - @moteesignatures (Motee) | Hair - @briblisshairandbeauty (Mapuleng) | Wedding Dress - @diamondlovebridal | Shoes - @Bequest_bridal_shoes | Flowers - @LN_Bespoke | Cake - @ChefZondi