Family Wedding in South Africa

I'm going to have to do two posts for Our World Tuesday today! First is our niece's wedding which was held in a forest on  the bridegroom's parents sugar cane farm on the East Coast of South Africa.  Although it was a morning wedding, and the dress was smart casual, I never pass up the opportunity dress up! I love to wear heels but as I couldn't this time, due to the uneven ground we'd be on at the wedding, I opted for my silver and black Aerosoft slip-ons with a slight wedge.  

 Grant and I on our way to our niece's forest wedding

The wedding venue was very quaint and quite unique. While waiting for the bride to arrive at the "church",  the guests sat on white deck chairs or logs in a clearing between the trees.

 The open-air "church" into which Grant's brother piped the bride 

 The tables were set for the reception under large white marquees

 Wandering around before the wedding ceremony, I managed to get several photos

When the time came, father of the bride, Chilly (Grant's brother) piped the bride and her entourage in down the grassy aisle. My sister-in-law, Shelley (who always helps me with bird identification) walked in with her younger daughter, Kerry, the bride on her arm. Behind them was their older daughter, Louise who had her year-old son, Jamie by the hand. Three more bridesmaids, friends of the bride,  followed. Padding in between the wedding procession was Kerry's borzoi as well as Louise little dog, Holly who is of mixed breed.

The young couple, Kerry and Jem saying their vows

Grant's brother, Chilly piping the wedding procession up the aisle

My sister-in-law, Shelley, with daughter, Louise and little Jamie in the background 

The newly- weds were showered with fragrant white rose petals as they walked up the aisle

Kerry greets the guests with her Boizoi by her side

Shelley baked the three-tier cake and Kerry decorated it. The cane - cutting knife which the couple is using here, was used by Jem's parents on their wedding many years ago. More recently Jem's two sisters used the same knife to cut their cakes on their respective weddings

Kerry has her own business catering for functions and parties with bespoke baking. She baked all the cakes on this table with the help of her assistant, Princess (pictured above) 

 There was a delicious selection of cheeses, pates, pickles, breads and biscuits

Lunch, which was served at 2.30, was buffet style and as a vegetarian I found plenty to satisfy me. Grant opted for the herb-crusted roast pork and apple sauce with vegetables

At one stage Kerry couldn't get up as her Boizoi was lying on her train

As always happens at weddings, everyone tries to catch up with friends and relatives. Shelley was very busy chatting to friends from New Zealand but Grant and I managed a few minutes to talk to Chilly. The official wedding photographer asked us to pose for  her after which I handed her my camera for the photo below.

Moi with the Hedges men

Although the wedding party went on until late that night, Grant and I wanted to get back to Rina, whom we'd left at our friends' guest house. We caught Shelley's attention, and with Chilly and the beautiful bride, this time the wedding photographer snapped the Senior Hedges family. 

Chilly, Shelley, Kerry, Jo and Grant 

May the young couple, Kerry and Jem, live happily ever after! 

I'm linking my post to Our World Tuesday which you can access by clicking here