I am nearing the end of my visit to Europe and now it is time to catch up with blog posts. Plenty to follow over the next 2 weeks.  (see list at bottom of post)

A good number of ZaraZoo clients live in the UK full time.  Most of these expats however return home to South Africa to tie the knot.

Sue and Rowland, originally from SA, now lives in London.  We will cover their wedding in October at Vrede en Lust near Stellenbosch – it will be an all out lavish affair coordinated by The Aleit Group!

We met up at the South Bank of the Thames for a walk-around and got some awesome shots with icons like Big Ben and the London Eye in the background.

Photography by Stefan Steenkamp

Posts to follow in the next 2 weeks:

1. Paris E-session with Nic & Derryn.
2. Arvinder & Raj’s Hindu wedding in Blackpool.
3. Arvinder & Raj’s Civil wedding at Knowsley Hall near Liverpool.
4. Dominic & Karen’s E-session at Hampton Court Palace.
5. Gillian & Chris’s E-session at Borough Market.

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The photographer is one of the first wedding suppliers booked when it comes to planning your wedding.  Here are a few tips and advice you should follow when choosing your wedding photographer:

Before rushing out to buy 20 wedding magazines, do the following:

1. Update your Facebook & Twitter status and ask your friends for referrals to photographers that covered their weddings.
2. Visit the blogs of these photographers and short list them if their recent work looks good – beware of recommendations from people that got married more than 3 years ago – this is a fast changing industry with new talent emerging regularly.

Then:

1. Do a Google search for “Wedding Photography [Your Venue] – This will churn out the blogs of most of the top photographers in your area.
2. Skip the results that take you to online wedding directories
3. Look at the photography blog results for at least 3 pages of the results produced by the search.
4. A photography blog is used by the photographer to showcase his latest work, and it is on that form that you want to book a photographer.  Most websites will have dated photos, because it is more difficult to update than in the case of blogs.
5. Look for the style you like.  (This will be discussed in more detail later)
6. Make a short list of photographers you like and send an enquiry for their packages.

Once you have received their package details:

• Keep your budget in mind, but be open to increase or lower it.
• Do not discard the highest quotes because they are out of your price range.  A mistake that might cost you dearly!
• Look at the length of  the service.  The photographer needs to cover at least 8 hours.  This will ensure him being there from the preparations though to the dancing.
• Do they include an album?  – This might bump up the price.  If the price is above your budget, ask whether you could take the cost of the album out.
• Most people nowadays receive cash gifts for their wedding.  You can use this to buy the same album after the wedding.
• Make sure a disk with high resolution images is included.  This is standard nowadays and can save you a lot of money in the long run if you want to print some of your wedding photos.  Some photographers charge exorbitant rates to do reprints.

After careful consideration, choose your top 5 photographers and give them a ring for a chat.  After the chat, choose 3 and book a face to face meeting with them.  Meet them at their workplace / studio as you will be able to see the most examples of their work there:

At the face to face meeting:

• Make sure you will get along with him / her.  You will be spending about 2 hours before the ceremony and an hour after the ceremony with this person.  An irritating personality or too intrusive style can make you stressed in a time that you want to relax and enjoy.  An easy going person without too many rules and regulations is a good bet.
• Make sure he / she is assertive, but not bossy.  The photographer must have a clear modus operandi, but must still be able to accommodate your unique requirements.
• Most photographers will give you their “best of” album to look through.  Make sure you also look through an album of a full wedding.  By looking through a full wedding, you will easily be able to judge whether their skills are shaped all round and not just fin certain areas.  You want the whole wedding covered, don’t you??
• By this time you will have a good idea whether you want to book this photographer or not.  If you got a bad impression, politely end the meeting and move on.
• If you really think of booking the photographer, then discuss their rates, deposit needed and future payments
• Make sure the product they offer is clear and that you are aware of the delivery time after the wedding.
• Make sure you discuss overtime charges and hidden extras like travel and accommodation fees (if applicable)

Contracts:

• Make sure you sign a contract with the photographer – it will bind him to that date.
• The contract should list the package and details of the product he will deliver and stipulate a time frame for delivery

If you follow this procedure, you can be guaranteed that you will choose a good photographer that will deliver the product you’re after.

Good luck with the planning!

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These tips were compiled by Stefan Steenkamp (International & Award Winning Wedding Photographer)

I love E-sessions because:

1. It’s a challenge for me to get on with the couple from the word go – Different personalities call for different approaches.
2. Amazing satisfaction of getting a couple from being stiff and awkward in front of the lens, to bubbly and totally relaxed – in just 20 minutes!
3. I love the fact that we have the time and opportunity to make mistakes and push boundaries – so we know what to do and not to do on the wedding day.
4. I get to see places I would not normally go to – and a lot of sunsets at the beach off course!

E-session photos should be fun, sensual and sexy.  Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when you decide on what to wear:

1. Uniform and plain colour setting -  A beach setting has 3 main background colours:  White sand, bluegreen water and blue sky.  The less busy the background, the more extreme you can go with the colours and complexity of design.  The wind always blows on the beach.  A summery colourful dress or skirt that can flow in the wind is perfect.  For the guy – if she goes colourful, wear something simple – comfy jeans and white t-shirt or collored shirt.
2. Busy background setting:  City centre or gardens with lots of flowers – This calls for one-color-clothing.  If you wear a dress – don’t do patterns or complicated designs – keep it plain.  For the guy the same rule applies – One color shirt with comfy jeans or shorts – the lighter the colour, the more summery it will look.
3. Wear comfortable shoes – If you want to show off your favourite stilettos, bring them along, but also bring something comfortable, because we might do a bit of walking to get to different photo spots.
4. Make-up – Keep it natural
5. Hair – Keep it natural – the photo should look like it was taken in normal life – not on the set of Marie Antoinette!

The day before the shoot:  Google E-sessions and check out a few looks and poses you like – It is great mental preparation and you will be amazed at how this helps with feeling relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera.

Looking forward to our E-session with you!

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E-session is short for Engagement Photo session or Engagement shoot.  It is a general term, used to describe a couple photo session before the wedding and does not necesarily mean it is done to compliment your engagement.

In Part 1 of this series, we started the countdown with:

10.  Lanzerac Manor – Stellenbosch

9.  Vrede en Lust – Simmondium

8.  Haute Cabriere – Franschhoek

This week we will feature Strandkombuis, La Petite Dauphine and Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa.

7.  Strandkombuis

For a beach wedding, there is arguably no better venue than Strandkombuis.  The ceremony is done on the beach and the reception in the Strandkombuis restaurant.  The restaurant, overlooks the crashing waves and can seat 150 guests.  It has an uncomplicated and rustic feel, with wooden benches and tables.  The menu is packed with traditional west coast dishes,  fish, crayfish, mussels and pot bread.

This venue is ideal for those couples that like an informal beach wedding at a very rustic and natural location.  Conveniently, the B&B is just next door to the restaurant.   It has a capacity of up to 90 guests.

Strandkombuis contact details:     +27 82 575 9683     |  strandkombuis@mweb.co.za  |  Website

Photographer:  Stefan Steenkamp

6.  La Petit Dauphine

La Petite Dauphine is located amongst grand old oak trees on a wine farm in Franschhoek.  The buildings have a very rustic french feel and the interior is superbly decorated.  The wedding ceremony can be held indoors or on the lawn.  Apart from the restaurant that can seat 120 guests, there are an array of other smaller buildings and lounges to use.  The daytime coffee shop converts into a evening wedding bar / pub with great ambiance and the stylish self-catering cottages on the farm can accommodate 15 guests which makes it ideal for the main wedding party to stay over.

From a photographers point of view, La Petite Dauphine is one of the most versatile venues to work with.  The architecture, natural setting with mountains, orchards, ponds and vineyards is a playground with countless possibilities.

Le Petite Dauphine contact details:     +27 21 879 3936     |  lpd@icon.co.za  |  www.lapetite.co.za

Photographers:  Andre van Niekerk & Stefan Steenkamp

5.  Le Franschhoek

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa is another breathtaking all in one venue.  It is located only a few kilometers further up the hill from La Petite Dauphine.  This 5 star Hotel and cottages can easily accommodate over 200 guests.  There are 5 different function rooms to choose from and can seat from 20 to 150 guests.   Apart from these, there are also a few perfectly manicured lawns, shaded by lovely old oak trees, for outdoor ceremonies or the erecting of bedouin tents.

This venue is everything you would expect from a 5 star Hotel in the Cape Winelands.  The spectacular thatch roof of the main building lends a European feel and the architecture and decor of the stylish main lounge is the ideal setting for bridal portraits.

Le Franschhoek contact details:  banqueting@lefranschhoek.co.za  |     +27 21 876 8900     |  Website

Next week we will conclude this series and reveal the top 4 ZaraZoo Wedding Venues in the Western Cape.  Be notified by RSS when Part 3 of this series is posted.

Read Part 1.

10.  Lanzerac Manor – Stellenbosch

Lanzerac Manor must surely be one of the most picturesque vineyard settings in the Western Cape.  It has an array of different settings, ranging from the Cellar with a maximum capacity of 150 guests to a Bedouin tent setup in the back gardens gardens with endless possibilities.  Some of the great photo features is the tree covered lane at the entrance and the majestic Cape Dutch gables and terrace of the Manor House.

9.  Vrede en Lust – Simmondium

If you are looking for a mix between old cape splendor and modern simplicity, this is the perfect venue for you.  Vrede en Lust further offers the great packages for up to 4 days stay for for 22 people.  The newly built Vinyard terrace , sports a view over the beautiful vinyard landscape and mountains.  It can seat up to 140 guests – it is a total blank canvas that can be transformed into the look and feel you envision.  We recent did an engagement session and a wedding here for a UK based couple.

8.  Haute Cabriere – Franschhoek

This award winning restaurant on the Franschhoek pass is somewhat unusual.  The restaurant is underground, complete with grass growing on the roof!  It reminds of the hobbit houses of Lord of the Rings, complete with grass growing on the roof!  It can seat a maximum of 80 guests.  Furthermore, you can have your ceremony in the cellar (another level down).  The Franschhoek mountains up close and the vineyards across the road make great photos.  The Cabriere estate produces the famous Pierre Jourdan “Champagne”.

In a Couple of days we will reveal numbers 7, 6, 5 and 4 in the countdown of Top 10 Wedding Venues in the Western Cape.

Let us notify of Part 2