South African & English Fusion Wedding at Clevedon Hall

Oh, what a delight it is to be sharing Giles and Tuli’s wedding story. Their wedding was a beautiful fusion of South African culture set in an English garden and the resulting day was incredible.

They held their celebrations at Clevedon Hall in Somerset on a gorgeous Spring day. Firstly they held their ceremony outdoors in the gardens, before celebrating in the orangery. They then had an outfit change in the evening into stunning Zulu outfits.

I love so much about their day; the elegant attire, the pastel tones, the pretty blooms and the floral painted cake to name just a few. Capturing all the lovely joy-filled moments were James & Kerrie Photography, who I can’t thank enough for sharing these sensational images.

South African & English Fusion Wedding

The Proposal

We had just bought our first house as a couple in May 2021. On the day of completion, we made our way to the house to celebrate, he said he needed to go to the car to get a tape measure. I was perplexed as we had already measured everything up. Whilst I locked the patio doors, I turned to find him on his knee ring in one hand, flowers in the other.

It was a beautiful gold ring encrusted with rubies, the ring belonged to his grandmother. Both sides of the family knew, he’d asked for permission a few months prior. It was such a joyous celebration, I was truly surprised as we had never spoken about marriage. As they say, the rest is history.

The Vision

A delightful and unique celebration that combined the beauty of nature with the vibrant and diverse elements of South African culture. Picture a stunning outdoor venue, adorned with pastel colour flowers in full bloom, creating a picturesque backdrop for the special occasion.

The Venue

Clevedon Hall, Clevedon.

Your Outfits

The groom, father of the groom and groomsmen all wore beautiful light blue tweed suits. Bridesmaids wore a light pink halter neck Grecian style maxi dress. In terms of colour, the theme was pastel with blue and pink complementing each other well.

The bride’s dress was a striking strapless fishtail gown courtesy of So Gorgeous 😍.

In the evening the wedding party changed into stunning Zulu attire, full of vibrant colours. Both English and Zulu cultures were represented so beautifully.

The Ceremony & Music

Bridesmaids walked down the aisle with a dance and a skip to South African pop music. As the bride, both my mother and aunt have been extremely instrumental in raising and guiding me to being the woman that I am today. Thus it only made sense that both of them walked me down the aisle.

We walked down the aisle to classical music On The Nature Of Daylight composed by Max Richter. The composition is breathtakingly beautiful and moving, we had a few tears from our guests.

Your Photographer & Filmmaker

James and Kerrie, we couldn’t have chosen any other photographer. J&K captured such splendid moments.

The Styling & Decor

Flowers were arranged by my wonderful mother-in-law Elizabeth.

Cake was by my amazing sister Rebi.

The Honeymoon

Firstly a huge thank you to our wonderful family and friends for contributing towards our honeymoon.

We’ll be taking a trip to St Lucia or the Mauritius.

Memorable Moments

Walking down the aisle and seeing each other and then walking down the stairs hand in hand as husband and wife entering the hall in our Zulu outfits.

Advice For Other Couples

Embrace the magic; allow yourselves to fully embrace the magic of the day. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of planning and logistics, but remember the true purpose of this day: to celebrate your love and commitment to each other.

Cherish the small moments; of course, the significant events like the ceremony and reception are crucial, but don’t forget to cherish the smaller, more intimate moments. Whether it’s a stolen glance, a tender touch or a shared laugh, these are the moments that truly make your wedding day special.

Lastly, be grateful; take a moment throughout the day to express gratitude for everyone who has contributed to your wedding and for the love and support you’ve received from family and friends. Gratitude will infuse your day with positivity and make it even more meaningful.