Jacqueline & Jean-Pierre's wedding

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Warning: Graphic content. Pregnant, alone and sentenced to death.

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We met at university. I was a first year student, and he was an Honours student doing the same degree. Once or twice a week, the first years had tutorial sessions with the Honours students where we were given the opportunity to ask questions, work on problems, etc.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
I noticed him immediately, tall and strapping that he was. During one of the tutorials in September of my first year, I raised my hand for help with a problem. As destiny would have it and out of the 7 or 8 Honours students that were there, he was the one who came over to help me,.

After he was done helping me, he kind of stood around with his hands in his pockets. I could see he wanted to say something to me. Eventually he managed to stammer: “You have really pretty handwriting"
And the rest, as they say, is history. We started dating soon after that, were together for 5 years, and got engaged then. The engagement was really special. I knew it was coming. Being the open book that he is – he couldn’t keep it a secret if he tried.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
We were at a family function for my dad’s 50th birthday, and he mentioned to me that he had had his tux dry-cleaned that day. I thought it was a bit strange and asked why he did that as we had no upcoming weddings or fancy parties. He brushed it off and said he’d need it sooner or later.

The next day, he told me that he was taking me out for dinner, because his friend at work had recommended a restaurant that was one of the best in Joburg, and he wanted to try it.
He took me to the Westcliff Hotel, where we were met at the gate by a limo that drove us up to the very top of the hill, to a restaurant called “La Belle Terrasse.” We were escorted to a table at the window, from where I could see the whole of Joburg, lit up at night. It was beautiful.

We had starters and mains, and for the whole of dinner, he was distracted. I would speak to him, and he would be looking out the window, seemingly practising something in his head.
We started the wedding planning immediately. We set the date for 24 September 2011 as I've always wanted a spring wedding.

Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of getting married in a field of sunflowers. We viewed about 7 or 8 wedding venues, and he was very much involved. He tagged along everywhere I wanted to go, and helped me make every decision.

Funnily enough, the first venue we saw was the one we went with. There was nothing to compare to it.
The St George Hotel & Convention Centre was a Mediterranean oasis in the heart of Joburg. Being Portuguese myself, I immediately fell in love with the architecture, statues, and gardens. It was a dream-come-true for me.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
We naturally settled on a yellow theme – and I was finally going to get my sunflower dream wedding. We chose silver and crystals for the accessories. I had the most terrific wedding providers. For starters, Czar from CS Events made sure my chapel and venue were spectacularly decorated in yellow and silver.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
Many of my guests said that walking into my venue for the reception felt like they were walking into heaven. It was truly a sunflower field, and everything I had hoped it would be. My stationery (from invitations to menu’s and programs) were all exquisitely made to match my theme.

For this I give thanks to Eloise from Trendy Settings. I also had the most exquisite bomboniers, which were made to match the crystal theme, made by Antonella from La Bomboniera.
My cake suited the theme perfectly as I’m sure most would agree. The sunflower cascade flowing down my cake was a big hit. It was made by a family friend, though I have told her many a time to go into baking professionally! The whole evening was perfect.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
The food (catered by St George Hotel) was amazing, and the music gave the evening the perfect ambiance (DJ Marco from Sounds Gr8). I couldn’t have asked for a more spectacular wedding day.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
The compliments we received about the evening were touching. Everyone said they had never been to a more beautiful wedding.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
Everything was well-planned, and the day went off perfectly. Even the weather played its part. I’ll never forget driving to St George at about 10am on the morning of the wedding.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
The sky was black with storm clouds. I was a wreck. It started pouring down just as we arrived there. I started crying at that exact moment.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
As we were getting ready in the bridal suite, I was getting dolled up with the most exquisite make-up by Brenda from Make-up by Brenda B.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
Suddenly at around 1:30pm, the clouds broke and the sun came out with a force.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
I was so over the moon, I started jumping on the bed, and my bridal party joined me.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
The weather held for the rest of the day, and the day was just gorgeous.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
My biggest thanks of all goes to my photographer and videographer, Andrew and Lauri, from Andywayne Photography.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne
They ensured that I have breath-taking wedding photos, and a superb wedding video to always remember my day by.

Image credit: Andrew and Lauri from Andywayne

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