“It’s always been you, it’s always been yes.”
Were the words Chelsea said to Louw when he got down on one knee and asked her to be his forever.
Gosh! Stick a fork in us ‘cuz we done!
We are thrilled to bring you this beautiful day, filled with neutral tones and special moments.
Dance floor ice-creams and “Braai Broodtjies” and a klein “sokkie” brought such a South African flavour to this incredibly special day and we are so excited to share it with you.
Read on below to see more from this lovely couple and the most wonderful photographs by our friend Skillie from Kikitography.
Hi guys, please introduce yourselves to the Hooray readers…
C + L: My name is Chelsea, and my husband’s name is Louw. We have been dating for 10 years this year. It was my Plett rage, end of Matric party in Plettenberg bay. Louw and his friends had been 3 years in a row, and we met in VIP (one of the clubs). It took a while for me to say yes to a date, and from then onwards we were inseparable. He was in his honours year of accounting at Stellies and I was about to start studying. We starting dating when I was 18 and he was 21 and have been together ever since. We have travelled the world and been on many adventures in life together. With life’s ups and downs, we have stuck together. He is my everything.
Hooray: Tell us about your proposal
C + L: Louw took me to a wine farm in Stellenbosch called Jordan. An organic wine boutique farm were we drank, ate, laughed and had the best day, followed with a sunset picnic. He got down on one knee, I didn’t know what he was doing, so I got down with him. I said, “it’s always been you, it’s always been yes”.
We stayed over the wine farm in their very stunning luxury accommodation suites.
**HSN: The words you told him gave us absolute shivers!
Hooray: What was the one non-negotiable at your wedding?
C + L: An intimate celebration of our love with the village of people we have come to love and made us who we are. Friends and family near and far came together. Truly, a magical dream come true.
Hooray: Pampas grass and natural tones. Tell us more about the inspo behind your decor.
C + L: The inspiration behind our wedding decor and design was Summer European chic, as well as a warm summer night in Tuscany. Summery, warm natural tones yet elegant and classic. I wanted a fairytale and we certainly got the dream!
Hooray: How did you choose your photographer
C + L: I have followed Kikitography on Instagram already for many years and loved every photo he ever posted. He has this flawless ability to capture moments at the right time.
Hooray: Are those braai broodjies we see? Tell us more!
C + L: We are both South African, very laid back people who love spending time with our friends and family. We have travelled all around the world and have made so many friends globally, we wanted to show them a few good South African treats like the braai broodjies!
Hooray: Be honest, how many hours did you spend on Pinterest?
Chelsea: Many many many hours I have so many different boards. I have boards for everything wedding related!
Hooray: Your wedding dress design was uncomplicated, yet still makes such a statement! Was it designed or off the rail?
Chelsea: I wanted something elegant and classic from the beginning. I tried on so many, and then I found this one and it fit perfectly like it was meant to be. My jewellery and veil were where I added the statement – boom. I had pearly and satin heels, my 4m long veil was covered in pearls (DREAMY), and my earrings were gold and pearl hoops.
Hooray: Tell us about your bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Chelsea: Bridesmaids were made up of my sister, and 4 very close friends who I consider sisters as well. Louw’s groomsmen have been his friends for so many years now, they are closer than any group of guys I know.
Hooray: What was the biggest hurdle you faced planning your wedding?
C + L: The seating plan, making sure everyone was happy where they were sitting.
Hooray: Three-tiered wedding cake – what flavours did you have?
Chelsea: This was a 3-tired naked cake which my Husband’s sister made for us. She is a baker, The Girl Who Bakes. It was carrot cake at the bottom, the middle was moist chocolate and the top was a lemon poppy seed. Absolutely amazing!
Hooray: Your first dance looks magical! Was it choreographed or did you two just wing it?
Chelsea: We choreographed it; we had 4 professional lessons to learn it and then practiced and practiced. It was so much fun doing it with your partner, something maybe we can carry on doing together. We had such fun. We actually incorporated an Afrikaans song in the middle and surprised everyone with a little sokkie dance for 10 seconds. It was such fun!
Hooray: ICE CREAM CONES! Was this dessert?
C + L: Our caterers were the best of the best! One of the big things at weddings is the food, and boy did our caterers deliver above and beyond anything anyone could’ve imagined.
There was 3 dessert tables, the wedding cake, brownies, milk tart, pasta de natas, and many more mixed South African desserts. The Ice Cream cones came later in the evening at about 10:30 whilst people were dancing inside and outside, they were such a huge hit! Some people were eating 2 ice creams whilst dancing. It was just a non-stop day and night of the biggest smiles and an overwhelming feeling of love all around.
Hooray: Finally, the best moment of your wedding day?
C + L: There were a thousand different parts that made it the most magical day we have ever experienced. Saying our vows, holding Louw’s hand while we stood up there before God, our friends and families. Walking into the reception as a married couple, seeing all of our favourite humans in one room, it was an overwhelming feeling of love. The speeches, dancing non stop all night long with our loved ones. Every second was unbelievable. 
Our wedding day was not simply a day, but a weekend away from everyday life, with no cellphone signal at all. We were on a beautiful farm together, surrounded by farm animals, stunning landscapes and views and dams and rivers, the sounds of nature and happy chatter from all the cottages filling the air. We marvelled at the night sky and stars above with no other lights dimming the stars. A truly magical and completely love-filled venue.
Our highlights have to be the venue itself, Elandskloof – a secluded, untouched beautiful farm that became an island of fun, laughter and dancing at 9 pm. Surrounded by farm animals, mountains, dams, lakes, waterfalls and crops; boasting the most spectacular starlit night sky. Our afternoon ceremony, which was held in the forest, looking out over the weir and canapés area in the background, enclosed with hanging willow trees, and all the little soft bird noises. Canapés and confetti throwing were over the weir and into the forest area over the weir bridge; scattered day beds and linen couches along with a huge warm welcoming of staff and cocktails. There was a stunning harvest table feast with the most delicious food from our amazing caterers. We then headed up to the stone barn (Reception) after mingling and loving our guests with photos and champagne toasts. We were welcomed into our reception with the warmest heartfelt welcome, it took my breath away to see all our family and friends faces smiling and cheering us on. It was the sum collective of people in our lives that we treasure and make our village in this life. Then the speeches, which were just so beautiful, honest and funny and then all of the dancing under the fairy-lit tent of a stone barn which was covered in the most stunning fairy lights streams. My shoes were off immediately and we danced the night away until the early hours. literally the best day and night of our lives.
What started as the best and most exciting idea, to gather all of our family and friends from around the world to travel to a farm in the middle of nowhere just outside of Greyton, South Africa. It soon became real, our wedding weekend became a dream and a very beautiful reality. All of our friends and family from near and far were together on one farm with us. It was very overwhelming. The love we felt this weekend was something I have never experienced in my life.
Chelsea and Louw, thank you so much for sharing your magical day with our readers today.
We wish you many happy years ahead filled with braai broodjies, sokkie’ing and midnight ice cream cones!
Magic Makers
Photographer: Kikitography
Venue: Elandskloof Farm Cottages
Decor: Baie Goeters
Caterers: 254 Catering
Coordination: Tiger-Lily Events
Bride’s dress: Rebecca Ingram
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Little Mistress UK
Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Hawes & Curtis London
Shoes: Glamourous
Hair and Makeup: Prentjie Mooi Grimmering
Cake: The Girl Who Bakes
DJ: Justin Sletcher
Singer: Kai Liam Connor
Videographer: Kikitography Motion
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