Summer in the Garden of Love ♥

Today it's my pleasure and honour to share the delicately intimate and sincerely sentimental wedding celebration of the beautiful (and extremely gifted) South African bridal designer, Janita Toerien, to husband, Philippe Fowler. When looking at the heart-felt images of their special day, it's easy to sense the deep bond of love and commitment between the two. They knew from the start that they wanted a small, relaxed wedding that would be casual but beautiful, and decided to exchange vows in a serene, summers-day garden ceremony surrounded by only their closest friends and loved ones.

Their picnic-style wedding was held in the flower-filled garden of a charming Riebeek West guest-house where the couple pledged their lives together under the shelter of maginficent trees, embraced by the natural beauty of the outdoors. Emotional guests bearing witness to their special moment soaked up the warmth of the glowing summer sun and were treated to a laid-back garden picnic celebration afterwards. Philippe and Janita set the tone for the afternoon's festivities by delighting their guests with gourmet hotdogs served from a bright yellow caravan, beer on tap and cocktail slushies - just perfect for a midday wedding in the middle of summer!

Of course it goes without saying that the wedding dress of one of Cape Town's most sought after bridal designers was nothing short of perfection - a custom created tea-length gown with lace sleeves and a delicately detailed bodice. But you don't have to take my word for it, as there is more than enough visual-candy for you to enjoy with your own eyes, lovingly captured by The Picturess.

• Thank goodness I opted for a wedding planner! She came up with so many ideas, saved us money from the start and was just all around incredible!
• Quality, not quantity. We didn't have guest favours, menu cards, additional bouquets or anything that would simply be thrown away afterwards.
• We focused on good quality suppliers to create the right atmosphere for our guests in stead of "things" creating a look.
• We decided to have delicious dessert brownies instead of a wedding cake which really suited the relaxed nature of our celebration.

What a gorgeous way to spend a lazy summer afternoon, celebrating the first day of the rest of their lives amongst an intimate circle of close friends and loved-ones. I hope that Janita and Philippe decide to make a tradition of it and enjoy a follow-up celebration with their nearest and dearest every summer, in honour of their never-ending love story. ♥

Photographer: The Picturess | Venue: De Langenhof Guesthouse | Shoes: Anella Wedding Shoes | Wedding Planning, Decor, Stationery & Flowers: Pretty in Stains | Music: Dirkie & Talisa | Brownies: The Perfect Bite | Brides Hair & Make-up: Marnél Toerien | Dress: Stephen van Eeden (+27 79 893 8652) | Bar: Alternative Wines | Catering: Die Worsrol | Suits: Country Road

Founding Editor: Storm Buckingham