Genevieve + Mitchell by Fable of Hearts

There wasn’t really an exact moment, it was more of a gradual build-up to us knowing we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Although one month in when Mitch officially asked me to be his girlfriend I definitely knew and felt this was something very special and to be treasured.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Genevieve — I am an interior designer and Mitchell is an architect, so the joke is that together we can do everything. We live along the Atlantic Seaboard in Cape Town so we have the ocean and mountain right on our doorstep. We have an adorable little cat together, that is definitely our little fur baby!

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
Genevieve — Mitchell had just moved to Cape Town from Durban, and I was his first class in software for designers & architects. It was electric when we first met, paying attention to his class was definitely hard for the first few days, but he was very professional and when the course ended a week later, he asked me out to dinner.

Was there a proposal? Tell us a little about it…

Genevieve — Our 5-year anniversary was earlier in the week and we had both planned a weekend of activities to celebrate (so I was not suspicious it would be happening at all as we had both planned the weekend!) We started off with an immersive high tea at the Twelve Apostles and were having a cocktail at the Vineyard Hotel, and while walking down to the river at the bottom of the hotel property he asked me to marry him! Mitchell had organized my family to be ready back at the top of the hotel with champagne and Mitch’s parents flew in surprising him!

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood or style of your wedding…

Genevieve — Our vision was to create a laidback, intimate (we had 43 guests!) elevated garden party. Our venue was so naturally beautiful with its white rose bushes and bright green orchard of pecan nut trees, that our vision came to life so beautifully and easily. We wanted everything to feel soft, romantic, laid back, and simple, and used all-white florals, open-air Italian-style dining, and a sea of twinkly lights above us to achieve this.

What was one element you were happy to splurge on?

Genevieve — Our lighting and our venue. We had vintage bistro bulbs with white lanterns strung over our tables between the pecan nut trees and a sea of twinkly lights over our dance floor. It really made the wedding feel like we had stepped into a wonderland. Our second non-negotiable was the venue, we wanted all our guests to stay at the venue and be able to walk back to their rooms after each night as our wedding stretched from Friday to Sunday.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, is there a story?

Genevieve — I knew who wanted to make my dress and what I wanted it to look like before we had even set our wedding date and found our venue!

Sadie made my dress over 9 months and beautifully translated my ideas into the most perfect dress for me. For Mitch, it was much more spur of the moment with his best man getting all their bowties the Thursday before the wedding!

VENUE: Jan Harmsgat Country House, @jhgcountryhouse / PHOTOGRAPHER: Fable of Hearts, @fableofhearts; Michaela van Zyl, @michaelazzzzzz; Josia Conradie, @chef_josia / CELEBRANT: Laurie Gaum / ENTERTAINMENT: Just for You / STYLING & PLANNER: Bride and her Mom / HIRE: Hire Haus, @thehirehaus / FLORA: Engelke Flowers, @engelke_flowers / CATERING & BEVERAGES: Josia Conradie, @chef_josia; Jan Harmsgat Country House, @jhgcountryhouse / CAKE: Jan Harmsgat Country House, @jhgcountryhouse / STATIONERY: Bride / LIGHTING: The Tent Men, @thetentmen / CUSTOM DRESS: Sadie Bosworth Atelier, @sadiebosworthatelier / GROOM’S JACKET: Zara, @zara / SUIT & SHOES: Woolworths, @woolworths_sa / BRIDE’S RING: Lorean Jewellery, @loreanjewellery / GROOM’S RING: Wolf Bros, @wolfbros.sa / BRIDE’S SHOES: Forever New, @forevernew_sa / EARRINGS: Purely Porcelain, @purelyporcelain / HAIR: Scissors and Styles, @scissorsandstylesswellendam / BRIDESMAIDS’ ATTIRE: Forever New, @forevernew_sa; H&M, @hm / GROOMSMENS’ ATTIRE: Zara, @zara; Woolworths, @woolworths_sa