Southern Weddings

Wedding dress shopping is hard work.  Wedding dress shopping in Hong Kong is really hard work.  But that’s exactly what this South African bride had to do.  Seeing as how her Lusan Mandongus lace gown fits like a dream, though, it’s hard to believe Sofia had any trouble at all finding her dress.  (L.O.V.E. the feminine bow + button details in the back!)  Sofia + Graeme were married at the Rockhaven Farm in sunny South Africa and photographed by SW favorite Christine Meintijes.  The bride wore a sophisticated birdcage veil from The Wedding Box, and her attendants were summer-ready in violet frocks from the London-based Wallis and Truworth’s.  Check back soon for the couple’s reception pictures!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  Graeme and I met at university in the small, remote town of Grahamstown in South Africa. We both studied journalism, and I had a small crush on Graeme. He was definitely one of the cool kids, and I was a bit shy.Our encounters at university were brief, and somewhat awkward – like that time he walked me home, spent a few minutes talking to me on the porch (I was hoping he’d kiss me!), knocked on the front door, and kindly asked my flat mate to put me to bed.  (I was still discovering the strength of alcohol.)  After Graeme graduated we didn’t see each other again for years, when we randomly bumped into each other at a house party in London. Initially, I was very nervous to talk to him but managed to pluck up the courage. My first words were, “Do you remember me?” When he said he did, I was relieved.  We spent that evening catching up and laughing so much that we missed the last train. The next day, a friend of mine invited me to a picnic on Wimbledon Common. Out of courtesy, I thought I’d ask Graeme to join but never thought he’d say yes, since he was still wearing the same clothes from the night before, but he said yes… and the rest is history.
Describe the proposal. Graeme and I had planned a quick trip to Hong Kong to check it out before moving here. On one of our free days, we took a ferry to Lantau Island.  We had a lovely day exploring the island and by chance ended up at a lovely South African restaurant on the beach for lunch. I popped into the change room to put on my bathing suit, and when I got back to the table Graeme was acting a bit strange. He asked me to sit down and then said, “Do you love me?” to which I replied, “Duh, yes, of course!” He then put a box on the table. I remember my heart racing… and then I was crying… and then I was saying, “Graeme, you have to get on one knee, don’t you!?” And he did.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Relaxed, warm and fun.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: We created a photo-booth with a dress up box and a camera on a tripod. We both love dress up, and this gave the guests something fun and different to do throughout the night.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: Finding my wedding dress was a nightmare! I was new to Hong Kong and had no idea where to look. I was lucky to have two friends who were also engaged. The three of us hit one of Hong Kong’s Wedding Malls where we perused four floors of wedding dresses and shoes, but I couldn’t find anything I liked. I then found out about a local designer, Lusan Mandongus. I found my dress at the LM store, and knew it was the one instantly!

Though their wedding was a West Coast affair, Meg + Shawn (photographed by Britney Keene) made sure to weave in a few delightfully Southern details.  Up first: the Newland House and Barn, replete with a real-life white picket fence and romantic gazebo where the couple exchanged their vows.  The bride wore a princess ballgown from David’s Bridal and carried a vintage bouquet of roses and wildflowers designed by The Treasured Petal.  The couple treated their guests to a Southern beverage station – love the old-school lemonade tin and jug of sweet ice tea! – and traditional Dixie fare from Richard Jones Pitt BBQ before cutting into the three-tiered cake designed by French’s Bakery.  The California wedding was planning by the fab team at Joyful Weddings and Events.

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. Shawn’s sister, Katie, introduced us. Shawn and Katie were roommates at the time, and Katie and I had been friends for five years. Katie and I would hang out and sometimes Shawn would join.  One night, Shawn came to our work to go to dinner with Katie and another girlfriend of ours. Katie and Shawn asked if I wanted to join them. The four of us ending up going to a sushi place, and for some reason Shawn sat next to me instead of at the other side of the group. We talked all through dinner and were having a great time so we decided to go dancing at a local bar. While were dancing, he asked if I might want to go to dinner with him sometime.  I was so shocked, but told him I didn’t think it would be a good idea.  But he just kept asking!  Five requests later, I finally agreed.  And from that date on, we have been Shawn and Meg, together forever. 

Describe the proposal. It was October 31, 2008. Shawn flew me up to San Francisco for Halloween weekend. He took me to a beautiful restaurant on the 52^nd floor, which at the time I didn’t understand because we had plans later to dress up in costumes and go out with some friends in the area. When dinner was over, we were expecting a chocolate soufflé but the waiter brought a pumpink Shawn had carved at work and over-nighted to the restaurant. The pumpkin simply read, “Marry Me,” and when I looked over at him, he was on one knee. 

Three adjectives that describe the day are: Elegant, timeless and inviting.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: Dress shopping was so much easier than I thought. I went with my dad, Shawn’s mom, and his sister, Katie.  Since I really had no idea what I wanted, I tried on a dress that Shawn’s mom really liked. The whole group said it was perfect!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? The wedding was held in the backyard of the Newland House, a historical Victorian home in Huntington Beach, CA, complete with a barn, antique covered wagon and a water tower. We didn’t want to use too much artificial lighting, so instead opted for hundreds of mason jars with candles, some hanging from the fence with brown twine and some scattered on the tables.

What was Southern about your wedding? We served barbecue chicken, ribs, and brisket with warm cornbread, baked beans, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. We also served lemonade and sweet tea in vintage galvanized aluminum dispensers. I think the most “Southern” detail in our wedding was the involvement of our family and friends. The wedding felt like it was such a family affair.
Describe your wedding flowers: They were incredible. They were full bouquets, structured but kind of wild. I didn’t want perfect half circles of flowers. My bouquet was a mixture of creams with roses, gardenias, hydrangeas, calla lilies, dahlias and tulips. The bridesmaids’ bouquets and the centerpieces were a mixture of the same flowers in avocado, soft pink and yellow,
Describe your wedding cake: We had a three-tierws cake with three different flavors: chocolate raspberry, vanilla lemon and mocha. It was covered in ivory buttercream frosting, wrapped in green ribbon and covered with fresh flowers that matched the centerpieces.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? For me, it was two things: my dance with my Daddy when he asked me for an actual butterfly kiss at the end just like when I was little, and Shawn and my first kiss as man and wife, when Shawn turned and dipped me.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We didn’t write our own vows, but the Reverend gave us wording options for the vows. He also asked us to hold each other’s hands and look into each other’s eyes as he explained to us that these are the hands that will be taking care of each other forever, and that these are the hands that hold each other’s future.
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future? We cannot wait to buy a home together and would like to start adding to our family. We have such large and tight-knit families ourselves, and cannot wait to bring our own additions into the fold!

Congratulations, Meg + Shawn!  We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.