gthorne's biography
Me & Melinyaniso (aka Spencer) met in 2000 at university. We both were B.com atudents and shared a few
classes together. His weird dreadlock, initially drawed me to him. We started chatting as friends and later started dating. In 2003 he got offered a job out of town. I soon followed suit and in a new town with now friends or family we started our life.
We had to build everything from scratch and has been through difficult times, but in the end our ordeals just made us stronger as a couple. On new years eve 2006 we talked about the future and then he proposed, asking if i would like to spend the
rest of my life with him. It was the happiest night in my life.
Because we come from 2 different cultures, we decided to hold to ceremonies. So now not only do I have to arrange the western wedding I also have to plan a traditional Xhosa
ceremony. Its not as intricate as the western, but i'm someone "who wants things her way" or the high way. Its double the stress but I'm, so looking forward to it.
I saw the design and loved it... but it was abit out of my price range. So a friend referred me to a ring designer and she did it exactly like what i saw for less. I absolutely love my ring. The picture actually dont do it justice.
Pre wedding pics
At the ceremony:
Taking Family portraits:
Taking pics at the beach:
& on the green of our venues golf course:
The First Dance:
After such a long wait our Pro Pics are finally in. yay!!!
Getting ready
Some detail
Ceremony
The photoshoot
The Traditional Ceremony
A preview of how the ceremony site looked
& Hubby fetching me half way down the isle....
The Photobox where guests could leave monetary gifts
The bridal party entering the hall to the song of Mafikizolo " Ndihamba nawe"
The Hall
The first dance
Getting ready at home. I asked My sister's daughters nanny to help in the preparations.. coz we dont know how to properly do the attire and also she brought an elder who knows more about the Xhosa culture that could represent us at hubby's family's house.
Over at hubby's home i got undressed and dressed in to Makoti (new brides) clothes. i couldnt look anyone in the eyes, i had to look down the whole time. I dont even know who came to the ceremony. They gave me a traditional Xhosa name, Abongile,
which means, to be greatful or thankful.
A week after my ceremony the blanket was removed and replaced with a cardigan... It took alot of getting use to... to dress in this manner. coz there were times i felt my identity is being stripped away. but just the look in hubby's eyes in admiration gave me the strength to go through with it. (Hubby didn't expect me to do this but i wanted to.)
We decided to do a mini honeymoon roadtrip to Cape Town after the wedding to get away from all the family who is stil hanging around after the wedding.
Our first stop was in Oudtshoorn at De oudeMeul. It was a stunning lodge nestled between high rising mountains, with a stream running next to our room. the sound of running water was so tranquil... would love to go there again.
Then off to Cape Town
On the way back to Port Elizabeth we stopped off at monkeyland:
Note: All the pics of us together was taken with a tripod. Dh Thought i was nuts when i told him why i bought it.... but now he sees why!!! Men sometimes they cant think further than their noses...
The complete dress is 2 different dresses but i like the combination of the 2.
Instead of having individual name cards, i will have each table number with all the guests names at each table on them, hanging from similar strings.
I will have a couple of garden umbrellas to shade the guests and Me and my FI will stand under a gazebo.
The puzzle invitation will be packaged in a little box, with a directional map. Organza ribbon will be tied around the box, with a guest name tag. Me and FI names will be printed on the box
Its a 3 Tier death by chocolate cake with white chocolate sheet.
i was looking for a way to ask my bridesmaids to be a part of my wedding & i came across a DIY site that had this little idea. i thought it was a very cute card and this is my end result. At the back of the card I'll be writing: " Would you do me the honor of being my bridesmaid.
This is the end result of my favour. Each guest will get a glass to toast out of and at the same time take home. Around the stem i'll make little thank you tags.
I only had a simple ribbon with a couple of beads strung through it in mind. My sister got a bit creative and came up with this design. At first i was a bit skeptical coz i hadn't seen it but i absolutely loved it now. It looks like an engagement ring
My bouquette will be all roses so i decided to incorporate roses into my centerpieces. but what i like about this one is that you can use different types of flowers within the same colour shades and it still looks fantastic. and by using flowers that is in season u can cut down on the cost.
- ring pillow
- Gift card box
- Ceremony Programs
- Seating plan
- RSVP cards
- Invitation boxes
- Table numbers
- Ceremony reservation cards
- Seat Reservation tags
- Bridesmaids cards
- Garter
- Decor of the knife
- Toilet basket note
- Cork table stands
- Napkin Rings
- Seating plan tree
- Seating plan cards
- Seating plan alphabet cards
- Cootie Catcher menus
- Directional cards
- Photobox
- Dance Lessons
- Antenuptual contract
- Photobox
- DJ
- Seating list tree
- Garter
- menu (cootie catcher)
- Receive RSVPs
- Seating plan
- Alcohol
- Cocktail snacks
- Dress
- Food
- Alcohol
- Booked dress designer & got my Design & material
- Booked Photographer
- Booked Videographer
- Booked Venue
- Bought & Sandblasted Champagne Flute favours
- Completed invitations
- Booked Baker and finalised cake design
- Booked Traditional attire dressmaker
- Finalised Menu
- Booked decorater
- Booked Make-up artists
- Napkin Rings
- Dress hanger
- Stationary items
- Distribute invitations
- Find a decorater
- Set up registries in my home town
- Select tux for groom and groomsmen
- Book officiant
- Booked florist
- Bridal T-shirts
- Guest book (frame)
- Found Gazebo
- DIY Pomander balls
- Bridal party gifts
- Ring pillow
On my last visit to my home town i took some pics of the venue just so i had a point of reference to where i will put what.
This area is where we will have the ceremony. The gazebo where we will stand under will be between the trees. This area will also double as the cocktail area after the ceremony. when the chairs are taken away
The tables for the cocktail hour will be be placed on this stoep area.
This is the reception area when its not decorated. would of loved to incorporate the fireplace into the decor but as things stands now... it will be hidden by the draping.
The lady that does my draping sent me this sample of her work.
Then I saw this shoe it was love at first sight... Not to high and in the perfect colour. I love my Kenneth Cole....
Each weekend i try to do an item and this past weekend i did my Stationary items so this is how they turned out... the pattern on the card has silver glitter.. but u cant really see it in the pics i took...
I had my Hen party this past Saturday... Though i was not expecting much and even though a couple of girls cancelled coz i guess of the weather. I got lots of sexy lingerie. (had to fight fi tooth and nail not to peep at in my pressie bags). They made me do alot of silly stuff when i guess wrong what it is and what colour. Had to go kiss the bar tender... on the cheek of course. had to stand up and dance in a place when absolutely no-one was dancing. they of course tried to get me drunk.. and we partied up a storm.
On the wedding day i want each of my bridal party to wear a customised bridal top. I ordered mine and recieved them on 11 Nov 08. I'm so excited and i just cant hide it!!!!
The boxes for the seating plan tree. The trees still need to be varnished.
The ladies & mens toilet baskets. Now i need to buy the things to fill it up. :
The ring pillow: My mom made it for me.
The Seating plan tree name cards:I started with it 10 down 30 to go. all that still needs to be done is printing of the guest names and paste it on top of the silver part. will show the completed one when the guest seating plan is completed.
My future surname initial:
I had some left over tissue paper and tissue paper flowers that was to small to be put on the pomander balls. so i bought a styrofoam sheet. choose a letter M on my PC. made it big enough to fill the whole sheet, printed it and traced it on to the styrofoam sheet. made some smaller flowers out of the tissue paper, i think i used 8 x12 cm and placed then strategically as i did with the pomander balls. and voila....
We finally got our wedding bands back from the designer and this is what it looks like:
I asked the make-up artists to give me a natural sun kissed look and that is exactly what she gave me. I'm so happy with the end result.
This was taken moments after she completed the session.
This is 10 hrs later... keep in mind i just woken up from a long nap.
This make up is good!!!!
My videog made a summary video of our wedding day. I'm still trying to get a better quality copy of it but here it is for now.
