It doesn’t matter if you get married at The Michelangelo Hotel in the heart of Sandton (which is very well designed architecturally) or if you get married at a small country venue called Sha-Mani country lodge and wedding venue close to Alberton, or even if you get married at a peaceful venue 20 mins drive from Glenvista called Thornebirds wedding venue and conference venue.  The thing which makes a wedding special is the bride and groom, two people who have found love and who is going to make a promise to each other in front of their friends and families, and in front of God to spend the rest of their lives together looking after each other.On your wedding day you become accountable for your actions to someone else.  Weddings takes months to organise and prepare for (not to mention a lot of money) it is therefor crucial that you take the time and look for a wedding photographer wtih whom you feel comfortable with and will be able to capture your precious memories in a way that is appealing to you.Make sure that your wedding photographer is credible, with a proper portfolio and website.  Ensure that the wedding photography contract and terms and conditions protect you as the couple as well as the photographer.  Also take the time to discuss everything with your prospective photographer and ensure that the person you are meeting with is the person who will actually be taking your photos.So all in all a wedding is about much more than the flowers, the venue and the dress.  I always say to my clients remember:” The only thing that really matters on your wedding day is that you get married” And if it rains on your wedding day, you will have a long and prosperous wedding… (and if you don’t want it to rain I’ve heard a myth that you should put a broom in the tree and a fork in the ground) 

Riani

You want your wedding day to be perfect. One of the things that is going to help you remember how perfect it was are the wedding photos. For this reason, it’s worth it to invest your time in choosing the best Wedding Photographer you can find for your wedding. It is important to take the time and trouble to discover the best fit for both of you .
There are several different things that you will want to take into account when you are looking at hiring a photographer for your big day.

Make sure the photographer you hire is a professional. It is a big day and you do not want to trust your memories in the hands of an amateur. You want to be sure that whoever you trust to document the special day is equipped with the skills to be able to do it adequately.

Secondly, you will want to take some time to determine what type of Wedding Photography style you like, and what type the specific photographer specializes in. If you are thinking about a regular wedding album then you should not look at photographers who mostly do photojournalistic images. That will only lead you to disappointing photos. Before choosing the right photographer for taking wedding images it is important to find the right fit for the photographic style.
If you examine a photographer’s portfolio, you will have a good idea of their art. All photographers should have samples of their previous work available for clients to see. When choosing a photographer it is important to see their portfolio. It will give you not only an idea of how they work and their style of photography, but more importantly you will know if you do or do not like the photos they take.

Perhaps the most important thing to take into account is whether you like the photographer. A great deal of your wedding day will be spent in the company of your photographer. It is important that you feel at ease in their company, since they will be sharing some of your most special moments and memories. Can you be yourself around the photographer and be comfortable? When making your final choice of photographer you should go with your gut feeling .

Deciding who will shoot your wedding photos is very important. It is possible to find the perfect match for your exceptional day, by being careful and making sure that you are acting according to your instincts and conducting your part of research. After doing this you will looks at the photos for years to come with enjoyment.

As planned the 3rd woman at work ladies networking event was held at Thaba Ya Batswana Eco Lodge & Spa.  What a fun event this was…  The power and word of mouth of this ladies networking event really amazes me…. At every function there just seems to be more and more ladies! It started off with 60 ladies atttending the first ever woman at work get-together at the Rietvlei Zoo Farm in December. Then it doubled at the second event held at Adega in Glenvista and at this third event a staggering 160 women attended this great initiative.  Thaba Ya Batswana’s marketing department assured us that this was their biggest ladies only event that they have ever hosted.  They also kindly invited anyone who might be interested in having a conference, function or team building event there to set up an appointment and come through to have a tour of this lovely wedding venue based in the South of Johannesburg.

At the function last night the co-owner of Sinzinani Day Spa, Tanya Dimas, also announced that their Spa will be moving to the beautiful and serene environment of Thaba Ya Batswana. What a great opportunity for both of these companies and I can assure you that their combined Spa experience will leave your body rejuvenated and your soul re-awakened.

The theme for the evening was: “Your health is your wealth!” and so fittingly Beverley Joshua from Herbalife was the speaker.  She spoke about how important it is for you to eat healthily.  Let’s take a small example like what you have for breakfast every morning.  This will be the deciding factor on how the rest of your day will go.  For instance if you have toast for breakfast (carbohydrates) they will make your blood sugar spike (so you feel ok) your body then has to produce insulin to balance your sugar levels, which makes you feel like you’re on a low and you start craving more of what you had just to feel better.  This rollercoaster could be avoided just by eating healthily every morning.  Herbalife also has a range of products to supplement your diet and help you to be a better you.

The ladies from the Breast Cancer Awareness program also made for great entertainment.  They have been invited by the Guinness book of world records to try and beat Cypress’s record of collecting more than 14 900   bra’s which will then be given to less privileged women who’ll also attend a brief lecture about breast cancer.  Their slogan is: “TAKE-IT-OFF” and one of their representatives (who is absolutely brilliant at marketing their cause) actually sang for 20 seconds and then she said take it off, and removed her bra and threw it into the collection box.  All of a sudden Toni had to run around with this big pink box and collect bra’s being thrown into the box like basketballs.  It’s great to know there are so many women out there who really support worthy causes like this Breast Cancer Awareness program.

As usual there were loads of prizes to be won, like a Family Photoshoot Gift voucher from us at Louise Diesel Photography, a Jewellery hamper from the ladies at Gllitzeratti (there were so many ladies who offered to sing for this prize that we had to hold our own little mini idols), two office stationery hampers from The Stationery People and much more.

The chosen charity at this event was Hope Ministries in Jesus Christ.  It’s made up of a few great individuals who realised that crime is escalating because these homeless men and their families had no food.  They work on the principle  ‘don’t give a man a fish, but teach him to fish’.  This initiative takes the homeless people and beggars from the street and feed them and their families but they’re also creating jobs for these unskilled people.  Like cleaning up the area, reporting crime, potholes and broken traffic lights. 

All in all this evening was a teriffic success and I can’t wait for the next woman at work event which will be taking place on the 1st of April at the Boma Barnyard in Alberton.  See you there!!

Riani

Belamie & Alain are getting married in Mozambique  (how romantic?!) and unfortunately their mozambiquan wedding venue can only accomodate a select few wedding guests like moms, dads and other close family. 

They decided on having a spiritual ceremony for extended family and friends and their chosen wedding venue was St Andrew’s school for girls situated in Edenvale Johannesburg.  The school is built in a traditional Victorian style and features older buildings (very well maintained) and well established gardens with rolling lawns and  enormous oak trees.

On arrival I was told that the start of the ceremony included each and every guest choosing a hat from a table covered in a array of  hats including a circus hat, pirate hat, cowboy hat and too many others to remember.

Belamie is a free-spirited woman, not necessarily like a hippie but just very spiritual and in tune with the earth and other people.  They really make a great pair, Alain is so in love and it’s always great being able to capture this kind of connection between a couple.

The ceremony consisted of dancing, not like race but just basically moving your body gently on the rythm of the music with a spiritual leader telling everyone how they should be moving….

like everybody slowly lift your arms up into the air, keep it there for a few seconds and then slowly bring them back down and this symbolises utilising the power of the earth to strengthen the bond between the couple and guide them in their upcoming marriage.

The ‘bridal couple’ stood in the middle of this big circle of friends in order to receive all these blessings.  In the middle of this ceremony Belamie and Alain had the chance to make a small speech to one another, about how much the other person means to them, how they met, what they’re expecting from the marriage and how much they cherish each other… you know the rest

After the ceremony they had a lovely picnic lunch and everyone enjoyed just socialising in paradise under umbrellas on soft picnic blankets.

It’s a real pleasure to photograph such a laid back bride and groom, it makes my job as a professional wedding photographer in Johannesburg so much easier and fun.  Having a relaxed couple really helps inspire me to create more beautiful and creative wedding imagery.

This unconventional wedding ceremony ended up giving me Goosebumps,  it was such a spiritual experience and will remain with me forever…

Riani

Since I have been to quite a few weddings I thought it was high time I started telling you a bit more about these great Gauteng wedding venues.

Let’s start with Thaba Ya Batswana.  Thaba Ya Batswana is situated in the South of Johannesburg and is great if your looking for an African/Bush feel for your wedding. Theyre
on top of a brilliant koppie which makes for the most beautiful view.  Their Chapel has big windows running along either side so there is more than enough natural for great
wedding photos of the bridal couple at the altar.  The scenery is brilliant right through the year as there is lots of veld with long grass which always work well in wedding
photos.  Thaba Ya Batswana has 2 function halls, so it doesn’t matter if your wedding is small and intimate or if you have the whole Greek family at your wedding they have the
ideal space.  PS- Their food is also never a disappointment

The moon and sixpence:
I can still remember with the first wedding I photographed here at the Moon and Sixpence I was so awe inspired by the layout and beauty of this perfect wedding venue that I felt
like skipping and jumping for joy.  They’re situated in the North of Johannesburg in Muldersdrift and let me tell you it’s well worth the drive.  This unique wedding venue
offers two totally different chapels and reception halls. They have a great garden with a variety of flowers ranging from agapanthus’s right through to fuschias.  This venue
has been specifically designed with great architectural features like stairs, square tiles with flowers in between, fountains and loads more. Their food is well presented and
really appetising!I can’t even describe to you how good their food was   This venue is any photographer’s dream! I’d love to have my wedding there!

For beautiful wedding photographs, contact us and we will design a package to suit your requirements.

When a bride begins to coordinate her wedding preparations, that is one of the most exciting times of her life – in anticipation of the coming marriage. From hunting down a reliable professional wedding photographer to the music and more, organizing all the particulars that help to make the day so memorable are huge.

The wedding venue itself is certainly among them, and the city of Philadelphia serves as an excellent choice.

If you’re in the midst of some serious Philadelphia wedding planning, keep reading for five great tips that are full of local resources sure to make your wedding planning experience simple and enjoyable.

Tour a Wedding Show or Bride Expo

Bride expos or wedding shows are a great way to evaluate multiple wedding suppliers and vendors in one spot and in one day. So, instead of calling around to different vendors or hitting the Philadelphia streets, you can simply spend a day at the bridal fair.

Bridal Event (bridalevent.com) seems to have the monopoly on bridal shows in the Philadelphia area and hosts a number of seasonal bridal expos and wedding shows across Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Check their website for upcoming dates, times and locations.

Get Your Photography Permits

Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love, and wedding photo opportunities are everywhere. Whether you want to take your shots at the infamous LOVE statue or beautiful city hall, Philadelphia is a city that’s brimming with history, tradition and romantic settings. However, remember to arrange your photo permits before you start shooting.

For example, to take pictures at the Longwood Gardens you need to fill out a permission slip, pay admission for each member of your wedding party and adhere to a strict no tripods and no lights rule. Other areas in the city, like Fairmount Park, also require permits, so plan ahead.

Get In Touch Online

If you’re in the midst of Philadelphia wedding planning, you need to get online to make your life easier. Try a national wedding website like TheKnot (theknot.com) or a local site like PA Brides (pabrides.com) to connect with vendors, other brides in your area or research wedding ideas.

Try logging on to local forums to connect with other brides in your area. They can offer advice or recommendations for service providers as well as provide an understanding ear.

Invest in a Philadelphia Wedding Planner

Of course the “city of brotherly love” is home to piles of well-qualified wedding planners. So, if you need someone to take over the whole process or just a one-hour consultation to help with budgeting or other plans, check the yellow pages or the websites listed above for a recommended, local planner. Popular companies include The Wedding Factor, Megan Kennedy Events and I Do Wedding Consulting.

Check Out Philadelphia Wedding Magazine

Philadelphia Wedding magazine only comes out four times a year, but its pages are full of local ideas, creative resources and helpful suppliers.

So, rather than waste your time on national publications that don’t offer the local information you need, use this local publication as your Philadelphia wedding planning guidebook.

I often get asked the question by young couples looking to get married, whether or not the wedding venue makes a difference to the wedding photographs. There is no simple answer to this question – it is actually yes and no.

I say ‘yes’ because obviously a beautiful wedding venue such as the many in Muldersdrift, have both beautiful landcsapes and gardens in which to take unique wedding photos. I got married at a wedding venue called Glenburn lodge which I absolutely loved (and still do – I am such a sentimental fool…) but the gardens and the chapel and the whole setting is just so intimate and romantic….. I just love it!! One of my favourite wedding photographs is one where ryan and I are standing on the bridge over the river looking into each others eyes and the lighting is beautiful.

Having said that, I think any photo where ryan & I are looking into each other’s eyes would be special to me, regardless of the background or the lighting or the setting. It is precisely for that reason, that I also say ‘no’ to the question about wedding venues making a difference to the photographs. Well that and also because a good photographer can usually work around most settings and find ways to make the photographs beautiful and unique.

All in all, I always recommend that you choose a venue that you feel comfortable with, that you resonate with and that you really love, for no rational or logical reason – but simply because it feels good to you. Trust me, when you feel good, the photographs will show it and you will be the most beautiful bride and groom in your own unique way.

I wish you the wedding of your dreams and photos that you will cherish forever!!