Real Weddings - Eileen & Neil

August 4, 2008 | Posted by Real Wedding

Wedding Date: 28 June 2008
Venue: Protea Hotel Umfolozi
Theme: “Roses and Love”- Maroon, Silver and White

Name of bride: Eileen
Name of groom: Neil

Flowers by: Elize at Petal’s & Pots (035) 753-1550
Cake by: Temptations (035) 753-5642
Decor by: “My mom and I made everything ourselves, the runners, overlays, gifts, cones, table seating etc. The groom made the arches and cake stand.”
Bride dress by: Bride’s & Cassanova’s (035) 789-1441
Groom dressed by: Edgars
Matron of honour and flowergirl dressed by: Amanda (0823231379)
Hair by: Vicky at 0825590160

The engagement
We planned a trip on the Melody in February this year. Although we both thought it to be a perfect setting for an engagement, we never really discussed it, and I did not suspect anything. On the last night of our cruise, I though by myself “Ok, so it’s not going to happen on the cruise…”. We planned to go see the comedy show and got all dressed up. We went on the cruise with Neil’s cousins.

At the start of the show the MC starting blabbing about the Melody being called the “Love boat” and it inspired people to do romantic thing etc, etc. Me not really paying attention to him, next moment, he says something about a gentleman approaching him about doing something special, and he’d like to call Neil to the stage. That’s when it hit me….Neil…my Neil???? O oh! Neil started singing ‘Everything I do’ (he’s got the most beautiful voice) to me and came to fetch me to the stage, where he went on one knee and asked me to be his wife.

Needless to say, everyone was in tears. I was staring at my beautiful new ring the remainder of the show. Afterwards, all of us went for dinner and had champagne. Because it was the last night of the cruise, we had a deck party after dinner. Everyone joined in with lots of music and laughter. The perfect to a perfect evening! It felt like it was our party cause everyone came up to us and congratulated us. Even the following morning at breakfast people still stopped us and talked to us. The perfect engagement was the appetiser for the perfect wedding that followed.

The wedding
I found the key to a perfect wedding…PLANNING!!!!!!!!!!! Soon after the engagement we started planning our dream wedding. Though it wasn’t without some hiccups, the planning and finalising went rather smooth.

The day before the wedding my matron of honour arrived from JHB and we had a nice family braai at Neil’s uncle. Everyone was looking forward to the next day. Especially because my fiance insisted on keeping everything about the wedding a secret, we did everything ourselves, and did not want anyone to help us or know anything about the wedding.

We wanted our guests to be spoilt and surprised. My matron of honour pampered me after the braai and we only got to bed at 2am! I know, I know everyone says you must go to bed early, and I agree, but we only see each other once a year, we had some catching up to do!

The next morning we got up and packed everything we needed for the venue. Everyone got dressed in the T’s (I had t-shirts printed for everyone, bride, matron of honour, mother of the bride and flowergirls). We arrived about 08:30 at the hotel.

They had the golf cart ready and waiting for us. We really were treated like royalty. I organised breakfast for all the girls in our dressing room, and breakfast for the boys in theirs. Us girls spent the morning laughing and chatting. The hairdresser arrived and we started with the hair. We quickly went to have a peek at the reception setup, and the ceremony setup.

They say time flies when your having fun. Before we knew, it was time to get dressed and 3 o’clock was around the corner. The girls looked stunning, and everyone was calm and relaxed. Everything was as planned, the venue decorated exactly as we specified, and all our hard work on the ceremony décor and reception décor looked like it was paying off.

You raised me up started playing downstairs in the garden, and my heart went out to my fiancé, he sang that song not even a year ago on his mom’s funeral. As the song played, he walked down the isle with 2 roses, 1 for his mom and 1 for his brother who is no longer with us. He placed their roses on their chairs, symbolising them sharing the day with us. Everyone was in tears, even the hotel personnel.

Now it was time for my new life to begin, and the wedding march by Jonathan Cain could be heard for meters. In front of me played the most beautiful moment of my life. After a short ceremony I was Mrs Belcher! And as they say, the rest is history. Photo’s, family, friends, eating, dancing, laughter and love followed…..all part of my perfect wedding day. If anyone asks me how the wedding went, I can sum it up in one word….perfect….it was all I planned for and dreamed about.

The honeymoon
After our perfect wedding, we had a perfect week in Cape Town, with perfect Honeymoon weather…..cold…..very cold!

Image Gallery

The girls relaxing by the pool

The ceremony

The bridal party at the ceremony

Table numbers

The cake

The main table and reception hall

Petal cones

The happy couple on honeymoon

Comments

1 Comment so far

Derek & Tammy on August 5, 2008 9:43 am
The most beautiful wedding we have ever attended and we were very proud of Neil, Eileen Abby & Grace. Eileen you are truly gifted! We know that God’s blessing is upon you. We love you

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