love shoot #6: an african adventure {robyn & rich}

It’s no secret I’m in love with Africa. So, needless to say, I’m hopelessly head over heels for Robyn & Rich’s wonderfully relaxed and intimate bush wedding in at Tintswalo Safari Lodge, in South Africa.

In the native Shangaan language, Tintswalo means ‘the intangible feeling of love, gratitude and peace bestowed upon someone offering you a meaningful and worthy gift’. Such a meaningful name for a wedding venue.

Thank you to the wonderful Shanna Jones for sharing her beautiful images of the day.

Richard proposed after a romantic day playing cards, swimming and chatting at the edge of Lake Garda, in Italy. As the sun set, he dropped to one knee and asked Robyn to marry him. She said yes, as a naked German couple they’d been giggling at all day, started clapping at them madly!

Robyn admits she was a pretty chilled bride, and their wedding is a real reflection of the couples personalities. They exchanged vows under the shade of an old fig tree, to the sounds of the wild.

I’m a bush girl through and through, being raised by a bush-whacking father identifying snakes and elephant poo at an early age. I couldn’t have imagined getting married anywhere else. Tintswalo is owned by a good friend of my sisters and they were incredibly accommodating and allowed us to get married at their boutique lodge. It was quite surreal.

It was important to us to have a ceremony that was tranquil, spiritual and beautiful to be in, for each and every person. We had two young girls singing acapella under the fig tree in the river bed, in between young boys beating away on African drums. The contrast between peaceful and gentle singing with the rhythmic beats added so much excitement to the guests all settling into their chairs before the ceremony.

The inspiration for the day was in keeping with the surroundings, natural and organic. Robyn settled on warm tones and colours to give a sophisticated feel, and echo the colours of the landscape. The bride chose a stunning cascading orchid bouquet by couture floral designer Franz Grabe as the only flowers. Instead, crystal candle balls and strung lights created an intimate atmosphere at the reception.

Each guest received a posh zebra or giraffe print blanket over their chairs at the reception, with a gift box which we wrote each guest a personalised message. The box was filled with a variety of beads which they strung onto a ‘love chain’ during the course of the night.