BLOG

wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe

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

Wow, 3 days of wedding bliss! The rain couldn’t stop this amazing and special wedding!

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!


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

 
 



Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Dickson and Lydia | Wedding | UrbanTREE

Dickson booked me in 2019, and they finally had their wedding with family and friends! And wow, what is special and unique wedding! They were already married traditionally, and they did their religious ceremonial wedding at The Urban Tree in Sandton. They wanted to do their religious wedding sooner, but Covid interfered.

Lydia and the girls got ready at the gorgeous Masingita Towers, which was an Airbnb booking. Airbnb makes its very easy to arrange venues or locations for getting ready, because its very cost effective and you have access to the place for 24 hours….and its usually very pretty…so you can also use it for your first night after the wedding!

It’s amazing how much you learn at weddings. Dickson and Lydia had a Nigerian wedding, which means the groom’s family wore a specific colour and fabric, the bride’s family a different colour and fabric and then also the friends of the families another colour and fabric. This is called ASO-EBI or “family clothes”, and this made for a very colourful and beautiful wedding…which I LOVED! The girls also had a headpiece each, which is called a GELE. Ooooh, I loved this because I love colourful weddings, because I can be very creative!

Wow, again, what a special wedding…lets make the photos do the talking! Enjoy and please leave a comment at the end!

Suppliers who made the day possible: Hair: @leeannes_hair_beauty | Makeup: @refentse_munyai | Dress: @the.onebridal | Cake: @Aqd cakery | Flowers/ decor: The Wedding Warehouse

 
 
Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Bheki and Tendi | Wedding | Toadbury Hall Country Hotel

Bheki and Tendi’s wedding at Toadbury Hall was truly amazing and full of tears!

"The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10)

Bheki and Tendi tied the knot at the gorgeous Toadbury Hall Country Hotel and it was such a joyous occasion. They are such a sweet couple with a the joy of the Lord in their hearts…I mean they were literally dancing the whole day!

Wow, Cheri from 2IC Event Management, you guys did an amazing job with setting up their wedding. Bheki and Tendi initially planned to have their wedding in Mauritius but Covid made it impossible.

Wow, I don’t have many words but I think the photos will do the talking! Enjoy, and please share…we need more joy in the world!

 
 
Read More
wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe

Hennie en Behanke | Wedding | Red Ivory Lodge

Wow…what a wedding! Red Ivory Lodge was such beautiful backdrop for Hennie and Behanke’s wedding story!

When I asked the Holy Spirt: “Who is the Bride?” He answered and said:”They are the ones who allow me to veil them in my holiness!”

Wow, all weddings are special, but every now and then you get one that grips you by the heart. Hennie and Behanke’s love for each other are deeply grounded in thier love for God. Wow, I have rarely witnessed so much love in one place….and gorgeous people!

Here’s a list of the suppliers who made this wedding super special.

Venue and food: Red Ivory | Music: Deca | Makeup and Hair: Hair and Make up by Liesl | Shoes: Aldo & Thread and Miller | Suit: Tip Top Tailors | Earrings: Jeanne and Co | Flowers: The Flower Spot | Decor: All things wedding | Cake: Craft Cakes by Naomi

Enjoy the sneak peak!

Read More
wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Ludwe & Zizipho | Wedding | Le Chatelat

Ludwe and Zizipho had a small, intimate and beautiful wedding yesterday at Le Chatelat Residence.

I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life. Ian McEwan

Ludwe and Zizipho had a small, intimate and beautiful wedding yesterday at Le Chatelat Residence.

Enjoy the sneak peak.

Read More
wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Hennie en Behanke | Wedding | Red Ivory Lodge

Wow…what a wedding! Red Ivory Lodge was such beautiful backdrop for Hennie and Behanke’s wedding story!

When I asked the Holy Spirt: “Who is the Bride?” He answered and said:”They are the ones who allow me to veil them in my holiness!”

Wow, all weddings are special, but every now and then you get one that grips you by the heart. Hennie and Behanke’s love for each other are deeply grounded in thier love for God. Wow, I have rarely witnessed so much love in one place….and gorgeous people!

Here’s a list of the suppliers who made this wedding super special.

Venue and food: Red Ivory | Music: Deca | Makeup and Hair: Hair and Make up by Liesl | Shoes: Aldo & Thread and Miller | Suit: Tip Top Tailors | Earrings: Jeanne and Co | Flowers: The Flower Spot | Decor: All things wedding | Cake: Craft Cakes by Naomi

Enjoy the sneak peak!

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Paul and Annerine | Wedding | Kuthaba Bush Lodge

Oh wow, another gorgeous wedding at Kuthaba Bush Lodge! The perfect day for the perfect couple!

The perfect wedding for the perfect couple!

Paul and Annerine tied the knot at the gorgeous Kuthaba Bush Lodge and their wedding was out of this world! I actually dont have words to describe how I feel, so perhaps the photos will have to do!

Venue: Kuthaba Bush Lodge | Hair: Salon Amelia

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Marcel & Zandrie | Wedding | Inimitable Wedding Venue

Wow, Marcel & Zandrie’s wedding was super special and emotional at Inimitable Wedding Venue!

Marcel & Zandrie | Wedding | Inimitable Wedding Venue

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Cor 13:4-5

Wynandvandermerwe marcel zandrie wedding gorgeous inimitable wedding venue gauteng

There is a hype at the moment. Everybody I know doing weddings want to shoot at Zavion Kotze’s new wedding venue, Inimitable Wedding Venue, and I can definitely see why! It’s absolutely stunning! And the service is impeccable!

This wedding is also super special to Zavion, because this wedding was one of the first weddings booked at his wedding. Tina, Zandrie’s mom, said they booked the venue even before it was finished, and they just knew it’s going to be beautiful…and their calculated risk paid off! All I can say is wow. As a photographer having this gorgeous venue as a backdrop makes my life super simple…I can point the camera in any direction and you are almost guaranteed to have a gorgeous photo!

Wow, I dont have enough words to descibe how special and how beautiful this wedding was. Marcel and Zandrie are completely sold out to Jesus and His love was so evident at the wedding! I praise God for allowing me to meet these amazing people and for this amazing opportunity to capture their love story!

All the weddings I cover are emotional and special, but this one was so close to my heart! Marcel waited 7 years before he kissed his bride, and they knew from the beginning they were meant for each other. And WOW…..I absolutely LOVED how the parents prayed for them before the wedding…I mean Marcel and Zandrie stood back-to-back (without seeing each other), and held hands, and their parents formed a circle around them to pray for them! Teary stuff…

And walking down the aisle is quite a long walk. Normally brides sort off run down the aisle and I get zero chance to play around with creative shots, but this was different. I love my new mirror cellphone case, which allow me to create super cool reflection shots. It was also super emotional for Marcel, I mean he completely lost it for a second or two and luckily his dad managed to calm him. This was the most emotional groom I have seen this far, but it shows how much Zandrie but also the responsibility of having her as his bride means to him. Again…teary stuff!

Another highlight for me was they washed each others feet during the ceremony, just like Jesus did for his disciples. Wow, laying the foundation of serving each other no matter the cost! Its so hard doing exactly this in real life, and laying the first stone is so special…well done to the both of you!

I normally walk around during the couple shoot, and get many aspects of the wedding venue covered in the photos, because I think it’s important as part of the story telling, but I love it when venues use the photos afterwards to show off their venue. But during Marcel and Zandrie’s wedding I got caught up in taking the bulk of the photos in front of these 2 trees which was dressed in the most gorgeous orangey autumn colours!

Thank you Nina for second shooting on the day! I loved every minute of having you there!

A huge shout out to Pro Albums. They did their guest album at short notice and everybody at the wedding commented on the quality! Thank you Farhan!

Enough said for now…here’s the photos.

Please leave a comment at the end…a little love can go a long way!

Planning, Flowers and Decor: Zavion Kotze Events Company @zavionkotzeeventscompany

Venue: Inimitable Wedding Venue @inimitable_wv

Videographer: https://www.facebook.com/firstkissweddingfilms @firstkissfilm http://www.firstkiss.co.za

DJ: https://www.facebook.com/eventsengine @eventsengine, https://www.eventsengine.co.za

Wedding dress: @olivelliwedding, https://www.facebook.com/OlivelliBridal

Makeup: https://www.facebook.com/FaceBlushByClaudia @face_blush_by_claudia

Hair: https://www.facebook.com/Beautylish-Hair-Studio @beautylish_hairstudio

Minister: Kompas Gemeente, Marius Malan

Entertainment: www.akoestiek.co.za @akoestiek.musiek

Stationery: https://www.facebook.com/LuaNovaStudioSA @lua_nova_studio

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Marcel & Zandrie | Wedding | Inimitable Wedding Venue

Wow, what a special and emotional wedding at Inimitable Wedding Venue!

Teaser! Marcel & Zandrie | Wedding | Inimitable Wedding Venue

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Cor 13:4-5

Inimitable Wedding Venue Marcel Zandrie gorgeous wedding

I just had to share a few images…eeek…I think 48 might be more than a few…hehe…

Wow, I dont have enough words to descibe how special and how beautiful this wedding was. Marcel and Zandrie got married this past weekend at the gorgeous Inimitable Wedding Venue and what an experience this was. Praise God for amazing people and amazing opportunities! They are completely sold out to Jesus and his love was so evident at the wedding!

All the weddings I cover are emotional and special, but this one was so close to my heart! Marcel waited 7 years before he kissed his bride, and they knew from the beginning they were meant for each other. And WOW…..I absolutely LOVED how the parents prayed for them before the wedding…I mean Marcel and Zandrie stood back-to-back (without seeing each other), and held hands, and their parents formed a circle around them to pray for them! How special! And they also washed each others feet during the ceremony, just like Jesus did for his disciples…amazing!

Thank you Nina for second shooting on the day! I loved every minute of having you there!

Enough said for now…here’s the sneak peak!




Planning, Flowers and Decor: Zavion Kotze Events Company @zavionkotzeeventscompany

Venue: Inimitable Wedding Venue @inimitable_wv

Videographer: https://www.facebook.com/firstkissweddingfilms @firstkissfilm http://www.firstkiss.co.za

DJ: https://www.facebook.com/eventsengine @eventsengine, https://www.eventsengine.co.za

Wedding dress: @olivelliwedding, https://www.facebook.com/OlivelliBridal

Makeup: https://www.facebook.com/FaceBlushByClaudia @face_blush_by_claudia

Hair: https://www.facebook.com/Beautylish-Hair-Studio @beautylish_hairstudio

Minister: Kompas Gemeente, Marius Malan

Entertainment: www.akoestiek.co.za @akoestiek.musiek

Stationery: https://www.facebook.com/LuaNovaStudioSA @lua_nova_studio

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Nabeel & Jenalea | Wedding | Summerplace Hyde Park

This was my first Muslim wedding which I captured as the first shooter and I really had a blast! Thank you for the opportunity to create super cool memories for you, Nabeel and Jenalea! Many blessings.

Nabeel & Jenalea | Wedding | Summerplace Hyde Park

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit. Khalil Gibran

It’s amazing how things work out. You can plan, plan, and plan and then on the day things can go this way or that way…especially when it comes to the weather. Nabeel and Jenalea had their Muslim wedding at the amazing Summerplace, Hyde Park, and they really wanted to have the ceremony part of the wedding outside on the grass. So when the day started the forecast for rain was 60% with threatening thudershowers…I mean a little rain is not bad, but pouring rain is something else. Shame, the stress coupled to this one fact made the day a bit long for Nabeel’s mom, Rooksana. They were even at one point setting up the ceremony upstairs (inside the venue), but Rooksana really wanted to have the ceremony outside. I remember how she walked around asking everybody what they would have done…and I can’t take credit for her decision, but I remember I told her that “imagine if you had held the ceremony inside and it didn’t rain, would you have forgiven yourself? Take the risk and have it outside, if it rains, then we can move inside…” Risky stuff, but she eventually decided to have the ceremony outside, and it really paid off! The funny thing was, the Imam was sort-off rushing his message and he knew the clouds were getting heavy, and 5-10 minutes after the ceremony the rain literally poured down! Well done Rooksana on making a really tough decision…Nabeel & Jenalea will remember it forever!

What a day.

Nabeel and Jenalea, you both looked amazing, and I absolutely loved capturing your wedding. The colours, the people….And the food…oh my word…Unusual Functions, the food was out of the world!

I also loved the magic between them. This was their “Part 2” of their wedding celebrations (Part 1 was their white wedding, which happened a week before this wedding and I wasn’t the photographer), and the fact that they were super chilled was evident…even the rain didn’t deter their spirits! The ceremony started quite late, so they got ready and we did the couple shoot before the guests arrived. We it started raining after the ceremony, I begged them to do a shoot in the rain, so we did a short shoot upstairs in the venue, and on the stoep to get shots of them in the rain. I am soooo glad they trusted me to create really striking and creative portraits and I hope this will speak of the true emotions and happenings of the day!

The team who made this day possible.

Venue: Summerplace Hyde Park | Makeup: Clarissa Gess Makeup and Beauty (I really LOVED her makeup) | Hair: Monique Booysen | Food and decor: Unusual Functions | DJ: Muzicorp

Thank you for trusting me with your special memories! Enjoy the photos and show some love by leaving a comment at the end!

Read More
engagement photography Wynand van der Merwe engagement photography Wynand van der Merwe

George & Charlene | Engagement shoot | Toadbury Hall

Wow, I had a blast capturing George and Charlene’s engagement shoot at the beautiful Toadbury Hall.

George & Charlene | Engagement shoot | Toadbury Hall

Some people are worth melting for - Olaf

It was raining quite a bit the past few days and I mentioned to Charlene that we can continue with their engagement shoot if there is a little rain, but if it rains quite hard, then we might not do the shoot…but she said…” No I don’t mind a little rain!”. AWESOME.

We as photographers LOVE rain photos. I mean I know its not too much fun when you get soaked and you need to survive for a day being super wet, but getting wet for an hour is fun, right? Well, I think so, and I know the photos normally ROCK when it rains.

Funny enough…the rain kinda stopped when we did the shoot at Toadbury Hall, and I was a little disappointed because I prepped for some serious rain. I placed my off-camera flashes in plastic bags, I had an umbrella and I had a big plastic bag for my camera…and I wanted a shot with lots and lots of rain…and we got a few shots with little rain…but hey…we can’t complain for not getting soaked! We had blue skies and sun at some point…and air was so beautiful and clean….yup…a blessing in disguise!

George and Charlene are getting married at Galagos Wedding venue later this year, and they are the first two getting married in the Nel family. I recently posted an engagement shoot of Rohan and Neruschke…well Rohan and Charlene are siblings and they are both getting married this year, one month apart…and I am privileged to capture both their weddings. :)

Charlene, your make-up looked amazing and that dress from Cocoberry was absolutely divine!

Please show some love by leaving a comment at the end!









Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Ryan and Natalia | Wedding | Cradle Valley Guesthouse

Wow, Ryan and Natalia had a super blesses wedding with a double rainbow at the incredible Cradle Valley Guesthouse! #Gautengwedding

Ryan and Natalia | Wedding | Cradle Valley Guesthouse

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton

I have been wishing and wishing for rain at a wedding, and it finally happened! I know it’s a strange thing to wish and pray for rain at a wedding, because it complicates matters, but I know the photos are typically next level during and after rain. The air is cleaner, and the light is more dramatic, and it surely didn’t disappoint during Ryan and Natalia’s wedding at the impressive Cradle Valley Guesthouse.

The rain was quite a challenge at a point. We had umbrellas but Natalia wasn’t keen on doing photos in the rain, so we waited a bit and the wait was so worth it. That was when the rainbow made its appearance, in fact a double rainbow…how blessed can one get at a wedding!?

I love capturing real unscripted moments, and their wedding had loads going on…but there were a few times I created the scene and it paid off so nicely…like the champagne popping with the girls. I told them that they get extra points if they can get me wet…and Natalia surely tried getting me wet…which made such cool photos!

Wow, Natalia looked absolutely stunning! And the love evident at their wedding was so tangible, and everybody had such a great time! It was the longest I have been at a wedding and I enjoyed every second capturing their true love story!

I also want to give a shout out to Sam from the venue. If it was up to me, then I would have given him a raise. He was such a great host and he looked after us so well, and he was always one step ahead with photo locations, bringing umbrellas etc…especially when it started raining! Well done!

If you love the photos, please show some love and leave a comment at the end!

Makeup: Candi Makeup | Hair: Carlton Hair | Shoes: Steve Madden | Wedding dress: Bridal & Tuxedo | Ryan’s suit: Eurosuit | Food, Venue, Gin Bar and Flowers: Cradle Valley Guesthouse (Flowers was done by Suikerbekkie Floral Design which operates from the venue) | Garter: Bras n things | Flower girls’ dresses: JJ House | Photobooth: Photobooth Guys | Second Shooter: Keshia van der Merwe (you really impressed me, thank you for your help and effort!)

Read More
wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe

Wicus and Liesl | Wedding | Tutuwedzo Lodge

Wow, what a special and beautiful wedding. Wicus and Liesl had such an amazing day with family and friends, and the venue boasts an outdoor reception area under a massive tree! How magnificent!

Wicus and Liesl | Wedding | Tutuwedzo Lodge, Gauteng

“There is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child.”-Henry Ward Beecher

Wynandvandermerwe wicus liesl wedding tutuwedzo gauteng south africa

Wicus and Liesl’s amazing wedding was held at the Deck at Tutuwedzo Lodge. I have shot weddings at amazing places before but this might be up there as one of the most beautiful. The reception was held under the most beautiful lit tree, with a rustic bar area around the base of the tree. It was a huge risk having the wedding outside, but what a reward when the risk paid off!

I think I have mentioned a few times on my blogs and feeds that I really love kids at weddings. I have 2 kids and I can’t imagine my life without my kids. Kids at weddings is such a huge joy for me, and really love adding their unique perspective to a wedding. They bring such innocence, joy and laughter and they almost always don’t know what is going on around them…I mean they don’t even someone is getting married. It was a first for me to have the wedding couple’s son as part of the wedding.

My highlight for the day was when Liesl walked down the aisle towards her soon-to-be-husband Wicus, and he had his son in his arms…Wow…what powerful a moment! I even got teary as well!

And these people know how to party! I always say that your brain is programmed to remember emotions (how you felt). You rarely remember in detail things that you see, unless you have a photographic memory. Thats why you need photo prints, albums and videos to remind you of how you felt. So its important at weddings to have amazing catering, music and spontaneous moments during the photo sessions. So when you have a killer party, you are sure to remember you had a super wedding….and Wicus and Liesl surely had a crazy cool party! The food, which was outdoor carts and tables with almost street food was super tasty! I just loved the Mexican taco stand where you could build your own taco…yum yum!

One very tearful moment at the wedding was when they paid tribute to Wicus’ sister who had passed away a few years ago….she would have been very proud to have seen Wicus and Liesl tying the knot!

Enough said about this beautiful wedding.

Some of the suppliers who made the day possible.

Wedding gown: Chiqwawa | Liesl’s jewellery: Wicus’ mom’s jewellery | Makeup and hair: Unmissable | DJ: Jaycee | Venue and food: Tutuwedzo Lodge | Wicus’ suit: Eurosuit | Watch: Rolex (gift from Wicus’ parents) | Videography: Tintype Productions

Enjoy the sneak peak and please leave a comment at the end!

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Yannick & Crystal | Wedding | Memoire Wedding Venue

Yannick and Crystal’s wedding at Memoire Wedding Venue was super special and emotional. And BEAUTIFUL! I mean, just look at Crystal in her Vonve Bridal dress…exquisite! and the decor…just stunning!

Yannick & Crystal | Wedding | Memoire Wedding Venue

“The most irresistible beauty is the radiant glow from a kind and gentle heart.” Richelle E. Goodrich

Wow, what a way to start 2019. The bar has been set quite high from early on. Yannick and Crystal’s wedding at Memoire Wedding Venue was super special and emotional. And BEAUTIFUL! I mean, just look at Crystal in her Vonve Bridal dress…exquisite! and the decor…just stunning!

Yannick is from the Congo and Crystal from SA, and they said their traditional “I-do’s” in the Congo last year. But like Yannick would say:” The God-part of the wedding is the most important” so they said “I-do’s” in SA late last year.

Memoire Wedding Venue recently did some upgrades to their main reception hall and it looks absolutely STUNNING! the back of the venue got the addition of glass doors which gives the venue incredible natural light and an open-airy-feel! And when you pair this with beautiful flowers from the Wedding Specialist, the place just exploded with beauty!

Ntombi from Extravaganza Weddings and Events planned their wedding so perfectly and wow…she is an absolute machine!

I enjoyed every second of their wedding, and Yannick and Crystal are so blessed to have so many special people close to them! My highlight of the day was the look on Yannick’s face when he saw his bride for the first time…he was completely flabbergasted!

Other suppliers who made the day possible:

Video: White Motion Films | Makeup: BK Makeup Artist | Hair: Bellmore Hairsalon | Crystal’s shoes: Juliette | Yannick’s suit and shoes: Frank Bespoke | Cake: Sugar ‘n Ice | Live Band: Gabrielle Sax Player

Enjoy and please leave a comment at the end.

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Chris & Marike | Wedding | Moon & Sixpense

Chris and Marike celebrated their most precious day at the beautiful Moon & Sixpense Wedding Venue, and what a day it was!

Chris & Marike | Wedding | Moon & Sixpense

People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I am sure Chris gets this a lot. He is someone you don’t mess with…I mean he drives a seriously fast Suzuki Hyabusa, he is a policeman and he is 6 foot tall! But when you get to know him, and especially when he said the most amazing words about his bride Marike during the reception, then you get to see he has such a soft heart. Marike is also a force to be reckoned with, I mean she is a prosecutor by day…but once again…when you spend time with her you will be see that she is such a beautiful and sweet person with a soft heart. Wow, it’s amazing how love can bring two people together, and they surely looked so much in love during their special day.

They chose the Moon & Sixpense Wedding Venue as the backdrop for their wedding and what a great choice. The flowers and decor by Exquisite Flowers and Decor was simple yet very beautiful!

I just love it when there is so many personal elements at the wedding was done by themselves, such as the cake which was done by Marike’s mom, and the gifts which Marike made herself. Some of the jewellery Marike inherited from her mom, and the groomsmen’s bow-ties and suspenders they got from China Mall.

Marike’s makeup and hair looked amazing, well done Melinda De Wet from Frissk Beauty!

We all had fright when the weather forecast was hail for the day. but only had scattered showers during the day. I get excited when it rains because you can create super cool photos, but it rained during odd moments at the wedding: a little in the morning and then again during the ceremony, and especially when they were eating (like many would say…don’t interrupt a good meal). So for me to create a rain photo for the night-shot I asked two of the groomsmen to create rain for the photo…which was great fun and the photos looks surreal!

Other suppliers who made the day super special.

Vintage Typewriter rental: Hand Creations | Bridesmaids dresses: The Maiden | Chris’ suit : Zecca | Groomsmen’s shirts: Polo | Their rings: Piccolo Jewellery

Enough said. Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Ryan and Natalia | Wedding | Cradle Valley Guesthouse

Wow, Ryan and Natalia had a super blesses wedding with a double rainbow at the incredible Cradle Valley Guesthouse! #Gautengwedding

Teaser! Ryan and Natalia | Wedding | Cradle Valley Guesthouse

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. 

Dolly Parton


I have been wishing and wishing for rain at a wedding, and it finally happened! I know it’s a strange thing to wish and pray for rain at a wedding, because it complicates matters, but the photos are next level during and after rain. The air is cleaner, and the light is more dramatic, and it surely didn’t disappoint during Ryan and Natalia’s wedding at the impressive Cradle Valley Guesthouse. Not many people can say they had a double rainbow at their wedding!

I also want to give a shout out to Sam from the venue. He should get a raise. He was such a great host and he looked after us so well, and he was always one step ahead, especially when it started raining! Well done!

Wow, Natalia looked absolutely stunning! And the love evident at the wedding was tangible, and everybody had such a great time! It was the longest I have been at a wedding and I enjoyed every second capturing their true love story!

Enjoy the sneak peak and please leave a comment at the end!

Makeup: Candi Makeup | Hair: Carlton Hair | Shoes:Steve Madden | Wedding dress: Bridal & Tuxedo | Ryan’s suit: Eurosuit | Food, Venue, Gin Bar and Flowers: Cradle Valley Guesthouse (Flowers was done by Suikerbekkie Floral Design which operates from the venue) | Garter: Bras n things | Flower girls’ dresses: JJ House | Photobooth: Photobooth Guys | Second Shooter: Keshia van der Merwe (you really impressed me, thank you for your help and effort!)

Read More
wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe wedding photography, wedding photographers Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Wicus and Liesl | Wedding | Tutuwedzo Lodge

Wow, what a special and beautiful wedding. Wicus and Liesl had such an amazing day with family and friends, and the venue boasts an outdoor reception area under a massive tree! How magnificent!

Teaser! Wicus and Liesl | Wedding | Tutuwedzo Lodge, Gauteng

“There is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child.”-Henry Ward Beecher

Here’s a sneak peak from Wicus and Liesl’s amazing wedding this weekend at the amazing The Deck at Tutuwedzo Lodge. What a beautiful location for a wedding…wow…I mean the reception was held under the most beautiful lit up tree, with a rustic bar area around the base of the tree.

It was a first for me to have the wedding couple’s son as part of the wedding, but as many (and having 2 kids myself) would testify…kids make everything in life so colourful! The highlight for Wicus was when his 2 year-old son and soon-to-be wife walked down the isle…wow…what a powerful moment and I got teary as well during that moment!

Some of the suppliers who made the day possible.

Wedding gown: Chiqwawa | Liesl’s jewellery: Wicus’ mom’s jewellery | Makeup and hair: Unmissable | DJ: Jaycee | Venue and food: Tutuwedzo Lodge | Wicus’ suit: Eurosuit | Watch: Rolex (gift from Wicus’ parents) | Videography: Tintype Productions

Enjoy the sneak peak and please leave a comment at the end!

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Chris & Marike | Wedding | Moon & Sixpense

Here’s a little sneak peak from Chris and Marike’s beautiful wedding this past weekend at the Moon & Sixpense Wedding Venue.

Teaser! Chris & Marike | Wedding | Moon & Sixpense

People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Here’s a little sneak peak from Chris and Marike’s beautiful wedding this past weekend at the Moon & Sixpense Wedding Venue. We all had fright when the weather forecast was hail for the day, but they had only scattered showers during the day. I get excited when it rains because you can create super cool photos, but it rained during odd moments at the wedding: a little in the morning and then again during the ceremony, but when they were eating (like many would say…don’t interrupt a good meal). So for me to create a rain photo for the night-shot I asked two of the groomsmen to create rain for the photo…which was great fun and the photos looks surreal!

Enjoy the photos and please leave a comment at the end!

Read More
wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe wedding photographers, wedding photography Wynand van der Merwe

Teaser! Yannick & Crystal | Wedding | Memoire Wedding Venue

Here’s a little sneak peak from Yannick and Crystal’s wedding this past Friday at the beautiful Memoire Wedding Venue. Yannick is from the Congo and Crystal from SA, and they said their traditional “I-do’s” in the Congo recently. But like Yannick would say:” The God-part of the wedding is the most important” so they said “I-do’s” in SA this weekend, and what a special and emotional wedding it was!

Teaser! Yannick & Crystal | Wedding | Memoire Wedding Venue

“The most irresistible beauty is the radiant glow from a kind and gentle heart.” Richelle E. Goodrich

Here’s a little sneak peak from Yannick and Crystal’s wedding this past Friday at the beautiful Memoire Wedding Venue. Yannick is from the Congo and Crystal from SA, and they said their traditional “I-do’s” in the Congo recently. But like Yannick would say:” The God-part of the wedding is the most important” so they said “I-do’s” in SA this weekend, and what a special and emotional wedding it was!

Memoire Wedding Venue recently did some upgrades to their main reception hall and it looks absolutely STUNNING! and the beautiful flowers from the Wedding Specialist made this place explode with beauty!

Ntombi from Extravaganza Weddings and Events planned their wedding so perfectly…wow…she is a machine! I enjoyed every second of their wedding, and Yannick and Crystal are so blessed to have so many special people close to them!

My highlight of the day was the look on Yannick’s face when he saw his bride for the first time…he was completely flabbergasted! I mean Crystal looked absolutely beautiful and radiant in her Vonve Bridal wedding gown!

Other suppliers who made the day possible:

Video: White Motion Films | Makeup: BK Makeup Artist | Hair: Bellmore Hairsalon | Crystal’s shoes: Juliette | Yannick’s suit and shoes: Frank Bespoke | Cake: Sugar ‘n Ice | Live Band: Gabrielle Sax Player

Enjoy the sneak peak and please leave a comment at the end.




Read More