BESPOKE WEDDING ENCAPSULATES THE BEAUTY OF KNYSNA

We’re heading to the exquisite Garden Route as we celebrate a union that truly represents the magnificence of Knysna and its surroundings.

With a variety of things to do and see, Knysna has become one of the prime holiday destinations in the country. From its picturesque beaches, to the breathtaking nature, Knysna is truly a place to make long lasting memories.

That is why it is the ideal location for Gavin Parsons and Margot Johnson’s wedding. Although the couple is based in Johannesburg, Knysna was a significant part of their love story, so they chose to get married there.

“We have both been in love with Knysna individually and we both had families who were in Knysna and that’s how we met,” explains Margot Johnson, the bride. The couple decided to have their wedding at Simola Hotel, Country Club and Spa.

At the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route, lies the Simola Hotel Country Club and Spa, a luxury five-star accommodation that is the ultimate leisure, golfing and residential destination.

Encompassed by the beauty of the natural environment, with its sophisticated accommodation, exclusive golf course and highly rated restaurant, Simola offers nothing but the best for its guests.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Margot and Gavin a few months ago when they contacted us to have their wedding here at Simola,” explains Roxanne Marais, Operations Manager at Simola Hotel.

“The first thing that they said was ‘we want to show everyone who comes to our wedding how incredible Knysna is,’ and that’s what we’ve done for this wedding.”

Ensuring that the wedding pays tribute to the town of Knysna, all the food and wines were done locally by local suppliers. The couple wanted every aspect of their wedding to represent the natural beauty of the area, including the decor and flowers.

“Margot and Gavin’s brief was that they wanted a beautiful elegant wedding using white and green, which is Margot’s favourite colours, and then with touches of gold,” says Daniel Ferreira, Creative Director at Ecozest.

“We decided to go for these elevated designs on the tables to create a visual impact when you walk into the venue,” he explains. The flowers were arranged in a very natural style using local greenery, locally sourced flowers from different flower farms in the country.

The main attraction of the wedding was by far the bride’s bespoke dress. Unsure of what she wanted, Margot approached Angelo Lambrou, Designer at Angelo Lambrou Atelier, who created her wedding dress. For the dress, Angelo and Margot knew that they wanted to go for something sexy but classy.

The body of the dress consisted of a beautiful lace that Angelo brought back from New York which he spiced up with some Swarovski crystals. For the ceremony, they opted for a tulle skirt that was easily removable for the dance floor. In addition to the wedding dress, Angelo also designed and created the bridesmaid dresses.

“My favourite part about the dress aside from the flexibility of all the different styles that you can wear is the fabric that he’s chosen,” explains Lauren Daws, Gavin’s sister, “it feels like you’re almost not wearing anything, it’s one of the most comfortable dresses I’ve ever worn.”