Wedding of the Month March 2024:
Nicola and Derek

Garden wedding venues around Cape Town in the summer can be hard to book. Summer is our peak wedding season in South Africa, making this type of venue the most sought after for brides wanting that romantic atmosphere.

On 22 December 2023, 34 years later after our very first wedding ever hosted at Rhebokskloof, couple Nicola and Derek exchanged vows on a beautiful summer’s day ceremony by the lake. Their love story was one born in the beauty and celebration of summer.

Exchanging their vows before 180 guests, Nicola and Derek’s elegant summer wedding took place in outdoors after a year’s worth of careful planning between the couple. Read more on the wedding journey of this stunning couple who celebrated their union in the beauty of the Wineland’s most vibrant season. 

“I think the biggest attraction to Rhebokskloof (aside from the stunning estate itself), was the way we were treated. We felt SO special and valued throughout the whole journey.”

Tell us a bit about you and Derek’s love story and proposal.

Derek and I actually met on Christmas Day in 2019! We were at a Christmas lunch with my sister’s in-laws, who also happen to be Derek’s Godparents. I remember him walking in and thinking he was cute, but that there was no way he’d be interested in me … I was obviously quite wrong about that (laughs).

He asked me out 2 months later on Valentine’s Day in 2020. On the 15th of December 2022, he dropped the knee! I found out later that this proposal took almost 6 months of planning! Going into all the details would take up this whole page if not more.

In a nutshell, he proposed on top of Suikerbossie Mountain in Cape Town around sunset. Our favourite song playing on a loudspeaker with a massive bottle of champagne waiting to be popped once I had said yes. It was like something out of a dream.

What made you decide to choose Rhebokskloof as your wedding venue?

We actually looked at Rhebokskloof for the first time 6 days after the proposal (21st December 2022)! We had viewed a couple of other venues but they didn’t feel like they were the right fit for us. When we drove into Rhebokskloof, I remember saying to Derek “I just have a feeling that this is where we’re going to get married.” This was finalised by the super friendly staff upon arrival and then, obviously, the stunning grounds!

 I had also always wanted to get married by the lake, surrounded by willow trees – this matched that vision almost perfectly. I think the biggest pull to Rhebokskloof (aside from the stunning estate itself), was the way we were treated. We felt SO special and valued throughout the whole journey.

I truly felt our wedding wasn’t just another one to tick off on the event list nor were we just another number. Everything felt so personalised and special, and this really stood out for me.

What did you like most about the ceremony and reception venues? Why did you choose our estate out of all the garden wedding venues around Cape Town?

As mentioned above, this estate is an absolute dream! The rolling green lawns, willow trees and the vineyards are all a stone’s throw away from one another. This wedding venue gave me everything I wanted rolled into one – an elegant summer garden wedding on a wine estate and with a lake!
I grew up in a small farm town in KZN and Derek grew up in Cape Town, so we really wanted something that felt right to both of us. Honestly, Rhebokskloof was perfect.

Moreover, I had always envisioned my wedding reception happening outside under a stretch tent but knew that that was a super risky call. The Cape is known for having all 4 seasons in one day. That’s why The Rhebok Function Venue was just what we needed! Even though we were ‘inside’ it felt like we were under an outdoor stretch tent in our own secret garden.

Once again, it perfectly matched my original vision.

Your big day can be described as a fresh, bright and elegant summer’s wedding. Was a there a reason for choosing this season?

My sister’s wedding 5 years ago was the first wedding I ever attended. Since that day, I had my mind set on a December wedding, because that’s what she had! There honestly wasn’t too much thought about choosing December, it was kind of instinctual. I suppose if I think about it now, there were lots of deeper reasons as to why Derek and I chose that month:

• It’s usually sunny and beautiful with longer days and warmer nights.
•  December is the month when we first met and when he proposed, so it felt right that we also got married in this special month.
• The biggest reason was convenience for friends and family (especially those flying in!) … December is typically holiday and family time. Most people are on leave and at home for the holidays, so throwing a wedding in the mix makes the festive season that much happier. It also allowed those who flew in to spend more time with family over this period.

“The Rhebok Function Venue was just what we needed! Although we were technically inside, it felt as if we were under a stretch tent in a big garden.”

Let’s talk about your décor and flowers. What was the inspiration for it?

I wanted the beauty of this venue to speak for itself. After all, it is one of the most beautiful garden wedding venues around Cape Town and already has its own natural beauty and colour. This is why I went for super simple and classic – green and white! I also didn’t want to go for anything too on-trend, as I want to look back at our pictures 50 years from now and not feel like what we had is now outdated. I really wanted to go for something classic, timeless and chic.

Let’s talk about your stunning dress choices for you and bridal party. Plus, those bubbly moments looked like a true celebration!

My wedding dress story

I chose to get my dress made in Johannesburg, even though I live in Cape Town, by the same designer who made my sisters dress! For that reason, it was super sentimental…but risky! I only flew to Johannesburg once for the fitting and then the dress got sent to me. It worked out well (after a few adjustments here and there). Overall, I was so happy and comfortable in my dress on the day. Derek also loves lace in a wedding dress. Therefore, I did my best to design a dress that I knew he’d love, because at the end of the day, I was wearing that dress for him, my husband! :)

The pre-wedding attire

The PJ’s! I was initially going to get robes, but my sister and Maid of Honour, suggested getting something that could be worn a lot after the wedding. I then opted for comfy PJ’s that matched the colour of the bridesmaid dresses. They were made by a friend of my mums in Gordon’s Bay. Each pair of PJ’s also had the bridesmaids’ initials hand embroidered on them for that extra personal touch.

The Bridesmaids Dresses

Lastly the dresses – I wanted all my girls to wear the same style and colour because I wanted everyone to know that they were the bridesmaids throughout the course of the whole day. I just wanted them to stand out and feel special and beautiful! The dresses were made in Cape Town by an incredible formal wear dress maker. We came to a conclusion of cut and style based on everyone’s approval and what they all would feel comfortable in. I decided on the colour beige because, once again, I wanted something simple and classic that matched the feel and theme of the day.

Your platters looked so good. Discuss your menus and wine choices for an elegant summer wedding.

Haha! The platters and canapes actually surprised us too! Our initial tasting was a bit different from what was served at the wedding, but overall were still happy and we know the guests loved it too.

We did the menu tasting at Rhebokskloof earlier on in the year. we got to sample the amazing dishes served from their kitchens that day. We opted for one red meat option, one white meat option and one vegetarian option so that our guests could choose accordingly. For the wines we chose both red and white so guess could choose according to their preference. We also served gin and champagne and a variety of other drinks.

Your reception looked like the most fun! Could you share with us some tips for planning a fun wedding party?

The DJ is actually so important!!  At the end of the day, that’s all you really need for a good party! The music, lighting and good vibes are the most important factors when it comes to that time of the evening. Of course, a never-ending flow of wine and champagne also helps!

Kindly share with us your top three favourite or most special moments from your wedding.

1. Seeing my husband at the end of the aisle is for sure my top moment!
2. Sitting together in the signing room along with a glass of champagne in our hands, soaking in the first few minutes of being married. As well as all the excitement and happiness that comes with that.
3. Our sunset photoshoot. It gave us a chance to get away from all the excitement and allowed us to just to slow down. Those moments allowed us to take in everything about this special day in a more peaceful environment. We took full advantage and our time capturing our love in one of the most stunning garden wedding venues in Paarl. We treasured every moment before heading back to the fun!

Any tips or advice for future brides out there?

Everyone is so different! I’m quite a high-strung person and so my main priority on the build-up and on the day was to remain calm, present and enjoy the journey.

I think that actually is my biggest piece of advice – enjoy the journey! Celebrate every small and big moment in the preparations from booking your venue, sending out invites and counting down the days! We popped so many bottles of champagne to celebrate each moment!

It’s true when they say that your wedding day goes by in a flash. Yet, for Derek and me our wedding was more than just the day we exchanged our vows, it was the whole year of planning and preparing this special occasion together.

Nicola and Derek’s Wedding Vendors:

• Planner: Trunk Events
• Photographer: Thunder & Love
• Videographer: Sage Media
• Florist: Emily Bloom
• Dress: Nupt Bridal
• Hair & Makeup: Corle Barnard
• DJ & Musician: The Jim Harrison Project

Thank you to our lovely bride Nicola for sharing her special day with us and for cementing 34 years of Rhebokskloof Estate as a wedding venue! They now share a wedding anniversary with our very first wedding couple from 1989, The Oppermans!

Are you still looking for wedding garden venues around Cape Town in the summer on a wine farm? Please take a look at our current wedding packages or enquire with us directly via the form below or to banqueting@rhebokskloof.co.za and we will respond to you soonest. Please note that our package prices can be negotiated upon request.

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