I’ll never forget this beautiful wedding day, the celebration of Olive (Zandile) and Kennedy’s unity and the coming together of two unique families. Their wedding took place in Upper Tabase, a village near Mthatha in the Transkei. Kennedy is from Zimbabwe and his family made the journey to share in this special event. I felt blessed that they asked me to capture the joy, laughter, emotions, excitement and everything in between on their wedding day. The day was perfect, plenty of song, dance and praise as the local villagers and children joined in the festivities. On the way there, I did a bit of quick scouting, while navigating my car over some challenging backroads into the countryside.  I spotted a beautiful rustic, vacant rondavel where locals had etched messages and the word LOVE into the walls. The landscape was beautiful, with earthy hues, contrasted by colorful blue, pink and orange thatched rondavels in the background. I’ve always wanted to photograph a bridal couple in a ravine and I found the most amazing location. Who would have thought that years of erosion would create such a stunning backdrop. Today, western blended with tradition. Later at the reception, the bridal couple and their bridal party left and reappeared in their exquisite Traditional wedding attire, adorned with exquisite beaded detail and faces painted. Their bridesmaids’ looked just as stunning. Hundred’s of people gathered outside the tent and cheered as Kenny and Olive made their way into the marquee. I absolutely loved both their cakes, and the traditional one was a work of art. Every wedding is an adventure, and its important to have some fun too, so I’ve included some candid moments of Leigh and I during a break.

Thank you to my friend Leigh Tebbutt, who assisted in capturing the candid moments and the groomsmen so beautifully, and for your valuable contribution in portraying Kenny & Olive’s wedding story. For me, capturing a wedding is documenting the day as it unfolds.

This is their love story in Olive’s words: “Kennedy and I met in 2001 in the UK, at a New Year’s party in a province called Herfordshire, in a city called Stevenage. I was sitting quietly in a corner, paying no attention to anyone. The only person I knew was my friend who invited me to the party. Kenny noticed me, we chatted and exchanged numbers and the rest is history…. 13 years later, we are now married and have been blessed with two handsome boys. Every day we thank God for our lives and we look forward to expanding our family…God willing, and enjoying each other’s company day by day.

“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8