ADRIAN AND LILLIE'S LOVE STORY
In 2015, as an undergraduate at Penn State, Lillie was studying abroad at the University of Cape Town. Adrian was also there, completing his degree in Engineering. They met at the restaurant Adrian worked part-time at, the Wild Fig, only two weeks before Lillie had to return to the United States. But for those two weeks, they spoke every day and went on several dates - including climbing Lion's Head (the first of many hikes together), a night at the Planetarium, and exploring the abandoned Zoo near UCT's campus. By November of that year, Adrian had bought a plane ticket to New York to spend the holidays with Lillie's family. Adrian and Lillie traveled back and forth between Cape Town and the U.S. during their studies, and in 2018, after his graduation, Adrian made the decision to move to the U.S. while Lillie finished her master's degree! Adrian proposed in January of 2020, on a trip to Hermanus, during a picnic on the Walker Bay Nature Reserve beach at sunset.
GETTING MARRIED AT ZORGVLIET WINES
When we were deciding where to have our wedding, we had our hearts set on a winery. One of the things that drew us to our chosen venue was the charming little chapel that was part of the estate. We knew we wanted to exchange our vows in a small chapel, and having it on-site was a huge plus because we had many guests coming from out of town. Zorgvliet was the perfect choice as it was not too far from Cape Town and Adrian's friends and family, and it was also convenient for our out of town guests.
Another factor that made us choose Zorgvliet was the fact that they had a full hotel. This meant that our guests could easily find accommodation right on the premises. It was a relief to know that everyone would be taken care of in terms of their stay. Even though we didn't get the chance to try the wine and food ourselves, as we were living abroad at the time, we trusted the recommendations and can safely say that it is absolutely delicious. We still reminisce about how amazing our wedding dinner was!
Now, let's talk about the photography aspect of our wedding. We wanted our photographs to capture the true essence of our special day. We were looking for something heartfelt and sincere, something that would reflect the love and joy we felt. That's why we chose a photographer who specializes in documenting weddings for modern romantics with an adventurous edge.
Our photographer's style is inspired by love, and they have a talent for capturing beautiful light and the magnificent landscapes of South Africa. We wanted our wedding album to be filled with imagery that would transport us back to that day, evoking the same emotions we felt in the moment. And our photographer delivered exactly that.
From the first moments of getting ready to the emotional exchange of vows, our photographer was there to capture it all. They had an eye for detail, capturing the small, intimate moments as well as the grandeur of the surroundings. Looking through our wedding album, we can relive our wedding day over and over again.
If you're planning a wedding and want photography that will truly capture the essence of your special day, we highly recommend finding a photographer who understands your vision and can bring it to life. Heartfelt, sincere wedding photography can create lasting memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. When you combine that with South Africa's breathtaking landscapes, you're in for something truly magical.
LOCATION DETAILS
Chapel Wedding Ceremony and Indoor Reception Dinner and Dancing at Zorgvliet Wines Country Estate, Stellenbosch
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Coordinator: Strawberry Weddings and Events
Videographer: Orpen Films
Decor & Lighting: Authentic Planning
MUAH: Skoonlief Beauty
Wedding Gown: Essense of Australia
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie
Flowers: Bouwer Flowers
Wedding Stationary: Fleur Design Co
Wedding Cake: Penny Walker - Groom's Mom
DJ: Cape DJ's - Andy Hawes
Canapé Hour Entertainment: Harp Noted
Second Shooter: YeahYeah Photos
Did you book any pre-wedding activities for yourself / your guests that you can recommend for future couples planning a wedding in this area? YES! Because we were bringing together two worlds (our friends and family from Cape Town and those from the U.S.) we really worked hard to plan a week of activities so everyone could get to know each other and be comfortable for the wedding. It also gave our out of town guests a chance to see our favorite sites in Cape Town. Some of the many activities included hiking Lion's Head, a trip to Boulders Beach and Cape Point, a day-trip safari at Aquila, and a day on the Franschhoek Wine Train.
Lillie also did a spa day with her Mom and friend to calm pre-wedding jitters which she would HIGHLY recommend to brides to be. The day before the wedding Lillie and Adrian also hosted a braai at Zorgvliet.
Where did you go for your honeymoon? Why did you choose it? We went to Mauritius! We had heard wonderful things and it worked well with our schedule of being in Cape Town for a month (we arrived a week before the wedding, stayed a week after, left for Mauritius for a week, then returned to Cape Town to see family again for the last week before returning to the States). We had a blast, we stayed in a resort but rented a car so that we could explore more of the island! We went wind-surfing, water-skiing, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and spent some time relaxing by the beach. We also ate a lot of delicious seafood!
What advice would you give future couples planning on getting married? Lillie - You will spend an entire year preparing, but ultimately something (hopefully very minute somethings!) will go wrong. Just be prepared to go with the flow and be ready to be adaptable. But at the same time, make sure that you advocate for yourself, what you want, and your vision for the day! I tend towards people-pleasing, and I learned that it's important to outline what you want and what you think your guests will want and enjoy. That goes for music, food, drinks, venue, etc!. It's your wedding, celebrate it your way! Ultimately, don't lose sight of what the day is about, and prioritize whatever time you can have to make good memories with your friends, family, and your partner :)
Adrian - bring a hanky.
Any other feedback or ideas you'd like to share / think should be shared regarding your celebration? We couldn't have asked for a better photographer than Marli! She was so supportive, friendly, and made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera (and we are both sometimes (read: always) very awkward people!). We appreciated having the pre-wedding shoot so much too - those are some of my favorite photos to look back on, just because they're so natural and feel like us! I would definitely encourage everyone to do that, to get to know your photographer better and to have even more beautiful memories to look back on.
What memory from your wedding do you remember the most vividly? Lillie - I was so surprised by how moving the ceremony was to me. Standing in front of our friends and family and affirming our vows and envisioning our future together was so meaningful, and I think we both shed tears. We did a first look before the ceremony, so I thought that a lot of the jitters would be out of our system. But standing together during that moment just really resonated with me on the purpose of the day. I also remember vividly our first look of the venue - it was so beautiful that it took my breath away, and it made me so confident in all the wedding planning decisions that we made. Quick plug here for our INCREDIBLE florist Crisna at Bouwer Flowers - she literally created magic, which Marli promptly captured! We have not stopped getting compliments on the floral arrangements.
Adrian - Similarly to Lillie, the ceremony is probably my favourite memory from our wedding day. Standing in the afternoon sunlight shinning through the stained glass, our closest friends and family supporting us, my cousin officiating and going through the ceremony Lillie and I had written two nights before, the beautiful flowers filling the empty canvas of the chapel, I can't help but smile while writing this. Another strong memory for me was our first look: waiting on a dirt road on a quiet spot on the farm and turning to see Lillie for the first time that day - looking absolutely breathtaking.
Did something unexpected / funny / stressful happen on your day? Were you prepared for this? Lillie - For some reason, Adrian and his groomsmen could not get a ride to the first look location. The tractors kept going by full of guests, and they kept not having room to pick up the wedding party. I had no idea, since the bridal party was on the estate's bus waiting at the location. But there's a hilarious photo Marli captured of Adrian giving the thumbs up and trying to hitch a ride. I think eventually some of the younger guys gave up their seats and the groomsmen and Adrian made it to the first look! It ended up being fine - but I'm sure it was stressful for him! (Adrian here: I was dressed and ready, waiting where I was told to catch a ride, 5 minutes early for once in my life) Especially because he has a tendency to run late in everyday life - and this was out of his control :)
Which element of your wedding do you wish you could have / afterwards think you could have left out? Lillie - I was expecting to be ready to party into the early hours of the morning - but we were so exhausted and ended up calling the party at midnight! I was so worried about finding a venue that would accommodate a late night party - but after a full day of wedding I can say that we partied out by 12am! I have no regrets about doing late night snacks - we did toasties and boerewors rolls close to midnight and they were amazing.
Adrian - I only wish more of our friends and family from the US were able to make it.
Marli is such a great person to work with. The booking and planning process were all a breeze. My now wife and I both feel awkward in front of the camera and Marli made us feel so comfortable and relaxed. Her suggestions of poses, angles, expressions and locations were all amazing. The photos of our wedding and engagement shoot are incredible and definitely will be cherished for the rest of our lives - thank you, Marli.