Southern Weddings

Okay, confession time: I raved about Fannie + Leonard’s wedding to Emily for a good half hour yesterday.  More specifically, I raved about Fannie’s incredible slim-fitting gown with that sophisticated plunging neckline and those airy layers.  I don’t know if it’s the bride, the dress or maybe the bride in the dress that makes this look so fantastic, but this dress is chic, glam and total wedding perfection.  Whew.  You want to know about something other than the custom-designed dress from the former Monaco Couture?  The bride wore grey Stuart Weitzman pumps that look like they were made especially for her sash and the bridesmaids’ Monaco Couture frocks.  Leonard + Fanny became Mr. + Mrs. in a water-front ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center in sunny LA.  The ceremony blooms – which are amazing! – were designed by BeBuds Florist.  The couple’s uber-talented photographer, Stephanie Williams, clearly rocked it out for this West Coast wedding, and I can’t wait to see the reception pictures!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  We met in 2005 on a typical night out in Hollywood through a mutual friend, but it wasn’t until a couple years later that we finally got to know each other. In 2007, we hit it off while we visiting Hawaii on separate trips and began dating soon after. It really was a matter of right timing for us, but it definitely was worth the wait!
Describe the proposal. Leonard surprised me with an unforgettable weekend getaway to San Francisco!  He planned all the details: left me letters and hints of our day, booked the flights, limo and hotel, made a lovely photo book and even excused me from work! He proposed to me at the scenic Legion of Honor overlooking the SF bridge.  It was such a thoughtful and romantic proposal!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Fun, memorable, special.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: Our handmade paper goods: sundae bar cups, table numbers, menus, etc.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I knew I wanted a dress that was a bit different and a reflection of my beautiful engagement ring. I wanted it to be vintage-looking, modern and comfortable. I visited a couple stores but came across my dress inspiration from a magazine, and decided it was the one for me! I had my dress custom-made, and, after a few alterations, it came together perfectly. I had so much fun wearing it!
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? Does a layer of decadent red velvet cake count?!

I love the clean white florals and fresh greenery from Elgin Weddings.  Love them!  My other favorite detail from their cozy reception?  The cake.  Correction: the cheese that resembles a wedding cake.  (Yes, that really is a four-tiered cheese platter.  Hey: some couples love cake, some love cheesecake, and others just really love cheese in the shape of a cake!  There are more gorgeous images from this South African wedding on Christine Meintijes’ blog… what are you waiting for?!

Describe your wedding cake: CHEESE! Neither one of us likes wedding cake, but we love cheese. We had rounds of cheese piled on top of one another and decorated with fruit and preserves. My friend had given me two little ducks for my hen party, and we decided to include them in the cake décor at the last minute, making the cake even quirkier
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I love making stuff. I really wanted to be involved in all the details and design most of the décor myself. Because we live in Hong Kong and got married in South Africa, this was logistically impossible. I made tons of inspiration boards that I share with the design team. They were incredibly detailed, so the team was able to capture the mood and details we wanted perfectly!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? So many! My dad crying when he came to get me for the ceremony, seeing everyone’s faces as I stood at the entrance of the boat house waiting to walk down the aisle, my mother’s sheer fabulousness when she made her speech, the bonding of both families, Graeme’s dad crying, the food – so mouth-watering and delicious – the vino, the plate smashing, Graeme’s look on his face when he saw me, our first kiss as a married couple, the reading, seeing all my bridesmaids on the dance floor and thinking, “Wow, this is amazing,” dancing my ass off and having so much fun, laughing with my brother for the first time in years…
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 minister read a passage from The Time Traveler’s Wife, which was really poignant. We also chose “The Owl and the Pussy Cat” for our reading, which was just so warm and lovely, especially the part that went, “And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand they danced by the light of the moon, the moon. They danced by the light of the moon.”
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future? We’re looking forward to celebrating life, to living each day like it’s our last, to enjoying each other’s company, and hopefully to having beautiful babies – inshallah!

Congratulations, Sofia + Graeme!  Thank you for sharing some South African inspiration with us!

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!