Jenny & Peter tied the knot in a green and white bush wedding at the Zingela Safari’s and River Company, Kwa-Zulu Natal. Kate Martens Photography was there to capture each and every moment of this special day. I just loved the table décor with all the greenery! The wedding took around 10 months to plan with Jenny taking over the honeymoon planning as well! Smart girl, because “ye who plans the honeymoon chooses the destination” – Madagascar!
The couple met through mutual friends at a party on the last day of of Jenny’s matric year. Their friends had thought that they would get on well so decided to introduce them. They immediately hit it off, and have been together ever since. They had a six year long distance relationship when Jenny was at Onderstepoort and Peter was studying at UKZN. After all the studies they could finally be together when Jenny moved back to KZN after she qualified.
Tell us more about the proposal?
Peter and I both love to travel and South America was always at the top of my bucket list. We planned a trip to Brazil and Peru in 2013 and we had a fantastic time except for the few days I spent in a (Spanish) hospital in Cusco with salmonella. Not ideal or very romantic! Following that we went to a stunning lodge in the most incredible rainforest in Peru (Refugio Amazonas Lodge in Tambopata, Puerto Maldonado). Peter extended our stay there by an additional day so I could have one more day in Eden. He took me up to the canopy tower just before sunset on that day, and I remember looking out onto the forest canopy with macaws flying above us towards the setting sun. When he asked me to marry him I was quite astonished but it was a yes; it would be no-one but him!
How did decide on the theme and the colour palette?
The theme was semi-inspired by the rainforest where we got engaged; but actually we just love nature so I wanted it to have a very organic, rustic feel that would also suit the venue. The colour palette was green and white; with loads of delicious monster leaves, ferns, and a splash of white with the orchids. The textures were important to me; hence the use of wooden tables, tree roots, bark chips, river rocks, moss and then glass to create a magical forest atmosphere. Sandy from Sweet P did a fabulous job! I must also mention that we had the most fantastic “Colonial Africa” themed photo booth which was done by my new brother and sister!
Were there any DIY details on the wedding? Please elaborate on the how-to’s?
Loads of DIY! Peter’s dad, Mark Calverley, prepared a natural auditorium on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Tugela River. It was a fantastic site with a breathtaking view. The tables at the reception were old cable reels that were sanded and treated; we used these to give a rustic feel to the décor. That was quite a large project so I would recommend starting early. I did the stationary myself which was fun; just make sure it is not too complicated or fiddly as you do not want to spend all your time doing this at the expense of other more important arrangements.
Do you have any advice for other couples planning their wedding?
Start early and plan ahead as much as you possibly can; starting with the major things: venue, photographer, caterer, dress, etc. The more you do early on, the less you have to stress about later. I tried to finish everything by a week before the wedding so that I could spend that week with my beloved bridesmaids who had taken time off for me. Also, it doesn’t matter if your bridesmaids live far away; you can do almost anything via email.
Make sure that the things that are important to you are done properly; know what you want and be confident and firm in these decisions. For the other things; allow your service providers/friends/family to be creative and assist you knowing that they will get it right 9/10 times. And don’t worry about minor things that go wrong…have some Rescue on hand for those things!
Try not to obsess about your wedding (girls!); life goes on after the wedding. Ask for support and advice from your loved ones if you need it; help will be there: even Peter’s groomsman, Garth, was a rock for me during the wedding planning. Do not talk about the wedding to your fiancé every single day, he will get over it! But most importantly, remember it is a celebration of your love for one another, so cherish the special time!
Other lovilees that made the day possible included:
Venue: Zingela Safari’s and River Company
Dress: Musgrave Bridal World and Fabric Centre
Seamstress: Togs Dressmaking
Hair & Make Up: Kym & me
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Gelique
Groom’s Suit: Ghela Outfitters
Groomsmen outfits: Woolworths
Décor: Sweet P
Table décor, flowers and Bouquets: Sweet P
Chair & equipment hire: Exclusive Hire, Durban
Catering & wedding cake: Margaret Clark
DJ: Derek from Sound Barrier
Photo Booth: Trevor Calverley & Justine Peren-Calverley
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