The Western Cape’s wine estates in Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Wellington are all favoured wedding destinations, well-known for their exquisite vineyard settings, set against a backdrop of mountains.
In the past, a typical South African wedding hosted at a wine estate would include about 120 guests, but current socially-distanced celebrations (known as micro weddings) have skinnied the number down to 50 or less.
During the strictest lockdown, aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, wedding and other plans were disrupted and events came to a sharp halt. However, a number of wine farms and event spaces have reopened and couples are once again celebrating their weddings in the Winelands, on a smaller scale.
![Kim Alex Wedding 2 Kim Alex Wedding 2](https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=2000&s=4e58b1428a073a63ac6f62f7aea5de45 2000w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1800&s=5e0c8f66aaf60082f5627f04c64b1c75 1800w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1600&s=03b6b464dd69187e21f531c87706cd1a 1600w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1400&s=4ecedc2c3130673e02d9e2cd13e31241 1400w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1200&s=e3110509a003390a0520ac0a9b42a98b 1200w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1000&s=1c6b7cd6ee52939d1d7c0465e416856c 1000w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=800&s=cb03692230b85f28b9da1f9e48759b50 800w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=600&s=2808c4773b50ce6952b8034eb215d45e 600w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=400&s=487702842335f39727ddee6ffd9072b1 400w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=300&s=89b55100369111186ab80dc4bd975e0f 300w)
📍: Cavalli Estate, Stellenbosch
📸: Andre & Kat Willemse, Vizion Films
‘Let’s get married, people!’ is a call posted to social media by Trunk Events – a wedding and event planning company owned and run by Tracy Bradford – to encourage couples who are eager to tie the knot to make hay while the sun shines (i.e. get married while lockdown restrictions have been eased).
Passionate about wedding celebrations, Tracy shares the reasons that she feels that it’s safe and appropriate to get married in the Winelands and mark the momentous occasion with a small circle of friends and family.
"Farms like Belair Pavillion in Paarl offer outdoor, open-air facilities and the inside venue has a regular capacity of 220, which means that there is more than enough space for socially distanced wedding receptions for 50 people," says Bradford.
![Kim Alex Wedding 4 Kim Alex Wedding 4](https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=2000&s=eecd12c36042182410468a56e5c220b5 2000w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1800&s=3034edfafcf7dcdd177098e8dd2a6b21 1800w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1600&s=2f428f81937207d5bf87d1ac31faeaba 1600w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1400&s=bcbe6906f355c7b5c03787d9ed2e4f9f 1400w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1200&s=63da052ebbbbad858c796fc1ed881462 1200w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1000&s=f743bde25206ede8ee60674bb82bc733 1000w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=800&s=da59b99f3dc6e285e6296345fdab0860 800w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=600&s=4c6b74cdf7d331594eb012f1593a3205 600w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=400&s=ad396a15642145279eb7c6ec9251a2a5 400w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Kim-Alex-Wedding-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=300&s=82a2aef644300139435b3e93297028e1 300w)
📍: Cavalli Estate, Stellenbosch
📸: Andre & Kat Willemse, Vizion Films
To ensure compliance and peace of mind, safety protocols include: capturing the guest's contact-tracing details on confirmation of attendance, masks are worn, temperatures taken on arrival and alternate parking bays are used to make room around each vehicle. A single chef caters for the guests and there are plated menus so that there is no touching of food.
"Guests are seated at tables in family bubbles which are well-spaced and each table has its own dedicated waiter," says Tracy. Any glasses or utensils which need replacing are swapped out for new ones. There are also no food trucks or deliveries on-site, as one would have at a restaurant.
One of the advantages of having a smaller wedding is that the bridal couple can save on the cost of catering and decor and yet still enjoy a magnificent and memorable day in the Winelands while supporting those who earn their income as florists, wedding photographers, caterers, event planners and the venues themselves.
Some of Tracy’s recommended wedding venues include Zorgvliet Wine Estate, Landtskap and Nooitgedacht Wine Estate (with its beautiful gardens and the manor house) in Stellenbosch, Ashanti in Paarl, Domaine Des Anges in Franschhoek and Bakenhof Wedding Venue in Wellington.
![Monique Nick Wedding 1 Monique Nick Wedding 1](https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=2000&s=fea0d68ff372f0939b889b77a9c55e1f 2000w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1800&s=f6fb9217176462cc8efe9fee636658dc 1800w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1600&s=38d84ee7f2dc15bcf9299bcb03be2cc6 1600w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1400&s=b3517f60adf3ad5d782cde6a5a2e0110 1400w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1200&s=0c49719308201edb7a66f1f31db2f0fd 1200w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=1000&s=d6ab1ac7a1f3426e42b52db52bdbfedf 1000w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=800&s=9a22f116f286587fabd350e5b1e260ec 800w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=600&s=799011ededbd9fef36dbaddcbf534f87 600w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=400&s=77c67464f7515c99df6701ac5f56df72 400w, https://wesgro.imgix.net/uploads/files/Monique-Nick-Wedding-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=clip&q=90&ratio=&w=300&s=8008b8c22573f9c996059b9de013fef8 300w)
📍: Nooitgedacht
📸: Lilac Photography