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)

The fairytale wedding is every bride’s dream!   If there is one thing you should not cut on, it’s the photos!  Hire the best photographer you can afford – You will look your best, so make sure it’s captured the same way!

Here are a few tips that will ensure you looking your best in the photos.

Before the wedding:

1. Do not have a facial 3 days before the wedding – facials help with opening the pores, and can cause your skin to break out.
2. Don’t overuse the sunbed!  Sunbed tans tend to be yellow and over doing it will ruin your photos!
3. Drink lots of water in the week running up to the wedding – this will purify the skin and avoid breakouts when the stress levels rise before and on the wedding day.
4. Book an E-session – This is paramount!  It gives you the opportunity to see how the photographer works and get comfortable in front of the camera.
5. Do not amputate your small toe to fit into your wedding shoes – it’s a joke, but it has been done!  Bottom line, do not go to extremes – It should be the real you in the photos and not some pumped up Barbie doll!

Preparations

1. Make sure your preparations venue is air conditioned, light and airy.  Getting ready in a luxury environment does something for the soul, so spend the extra few dollars and book yourself into a 5-star room for the preps – It’s your wedding day for goodness sake.   Preparation photos taken in a posh room will make you look like royalty!
2. Champagne makes you sweat – drink some while your hair is being done, but keep the consumption down while the make-up is done.  You’ll have plenty of opportunity later  to sip some bubbly.
3. Do not take calming medication that you have not taken before.  The last thing you want to happen is to break out in a rash or to react in a strange way.
4. Make sure the photographer starts 2 hours before the ceremony.  This will give him enough time to take snaps of all the bits, your dress, jewelry and shoes.
5. Mock the Make-up shots – you will never use the shots of a half made-up face – you need to look your best!
6. Be ready 1 hour before the ceremony (without traveling time).  Do some shots indoors, unless it is cool enough to go out.  The last thing you want is make-up running off your face before you walk down the isle.

Family shots

1. Do a list of 10 family groups max before the wedding and give it to your photographer.  More than that is a waste – you will never put them all in your album.  Aunt Betty will only be mad for a day or two if she’s left out  – Rather have more time for your couple shoot and to mingle with guests at the pre-drinks.
2. Do something different – standing in a line is so 70’s!  Get a couch out on the lawn or set people up around a prop to get a creative feel to it.

Posing in General

1. Stand flat – look fat!  Never stand square to the camera.  Put one shoulder a bit forward and turn the hips when posing.  The slight angle will accentuate the hips and make your body look like that of Kate Moss.
2. A sexy look out of the corner of the eye does much more for me that a flat face, square to the lens.  So point your nose away from the camera and then look in the direction of the photographer.

Couple shots

1. Take an extra pair of comfortable shoes with.  Us crazy photographers will make you trek through vineyards and fields – rather do it in something comfy than high heels and blame us for the blisters and dirt afterward!
2. Do not bother about the dress too much – Yes, I know it cost a fortune, but you will probably wear it only once, so wear it well!  Chances are that it will get dirty before the night is out, so you will have to get it dry cleaned in any case.  By the time the couple shots are taken, the formal ceremony and family shots are over and only the reception lies ahead.  Guess what… In most cases the reception is dark, so even if you do pick up a dirty spot or smudge, you will be the only one to know it!
3. Go wild and listen to the photographer – the better he feels, the better shots you will get.  If you moan and groan about things he suggests it will upset his rhythm and tap his creative juices – big no no.
4. Unless told otherwise, always shift more weight to one leg – this will help with relaxing and create better posture and curves.
5. A hand in the hip will make the waist look thinner, but beware – put your hand too high and it will look uncomfortable and awkward.

I can still add a lot more, but these are the basics every bride should tend to to ensure good photos.

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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