I don’t think so… Seems to me beauty is very much in the eye of the photographer, brilliant editing, and a little gift called Photoshop…
So I’m super excited, have all my bridal magazines with post-it’s sticking out at every venue with a view, and I am ready to start clicking my way to my perfect venue… Or so I thought.
The first page opens with scenes of dewdrops, glistening on a leaf, the sun behind it, getting ready to burst from its cocoon of night… And I’m thinking, yes but where would we have the reception? Surely they don’t expect me to fly all the way to Cape Town, for a more serious look, based on a beautifully decorated biscuit, sitting snuggly next to its teacup? I get it, you serve tea in pretty nice cups, but what does the room look like where we will spend our first night as Mr. & Mrs. together?
Sometimes I think they like getting us all excited, making us believe that there really are wild horses roaming the rugged mountainside, and when you ask about them, the owner says: “Oh that? No that was just the photo we thought captured the essence of our magical venue. Now, if you won’t mind turning left at the chicken coop, I’ll take you out back, show you where we normally set up the shade netting for the reception, oh, and the chicken on the menu is all organic!”
It’s just so disappointing, getting your hopes up, and then being met by gothic looking rooms that have not seen a ray of light since it’s been built, and having to walk over children’s toys, as they show you the honeymoon suite, because they forgot you were coming… Well at least we could enjoy the experience. I’m telling you, my 4-year drama degree came in handy when I had to, in all earnestness ask about the menu options and accommodation, over a stuffed Kudu head that apparently brought luck…
So next time you see photo’s on websites, where dolphins squirt you with water, while you lounge away in the eternity pool, make sure you ask them if these dolphins are included with the price, or merely there to symbolize your union…
But amidst all the mud squishing, as my fiancée had to help me across the “mystical forest floor” aka their backyard, and my heels test was being failed miserably*, we also found some gems! Three to be exact, and of course the crowning glory, my venue!
*The heels test is simple, and I’m sure a lot of you out there do exactly the same thing – you have to wear heels, of exactly the same height and heel dimension when venue hunting, to see if walking down a cobblestone aisle is an option or not…
And the second runner up was this – Beautiful, Plettenberg Park (http://www.plettenbergpark.co.za/) What we loved about it, was the view, and my word, what a view. There, you can literally get married on a mountain, or on your own private beach. They have their very own spa, and an awesome library, that would definitely see me curling up with a good book, on their comfy couches, if it wasn’t my wedding of course… So, what we liked about it: Views, library, spa, feeling of being on holiday the moment you step in there and, well, look at it! What we didn’t like about it: If the wind is too strong, and from the wrong direction, no amount of sea view can keep the cold away. Also, I’m not too keen on all the extra-added costs; they could sneak up on you and give you a nasty little surprise. But driving away, we knew we had a strong contender!
Our first runner up is pretty much every girl’s dream – The Pezula Private Castle! Sigh… (http://www.pezulaprivatecastle.com/) Seriously, which girl does not dream of being a true princess on the most beautiful day of her life, and to get married at a castle?! I promise you, as we were being shown around, I kind of expected my fiancée, to come galloping up to us, across the beach, swooping me up in one swift move, as we gallop off into the sunset…
What we liked about it: Well, it’s a castle!!! Feeling like royalty the moment you step in there, walking into the honeymoon castle, and yes, there is a honeymoon castle for only the two of you, and imagining, for one night, this could be yours! Another huge plus is the fact that it is Pezula owned, which means pretty much the best service and food in the world! What we didn’t like about it, except the steep price, which is definitely to be expected, is the fact that the beaches in front of the castles are public property, which means that while you walk around naked, wearing heels, eating your wedding cake, someone else might be having their cake and eating it too! But I promise you; it is definitely worth the drive out!
And then, the place that puts a smile on my face every time it crosses my mind, and gets opened on my screen, which is pretty often I admit… I don’t even think I have the words that could do this place justice… So I can simply leave you with this, and let the beauty and magic speak for itself…
http://www.tintswalo.com/Atlantic/about_hotel.html
No comments:
Post a Comment