Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible1/38Having a best friend who also happens to be a hair artist is always fun. She was my rock throughout the day, making me laugh and cry, keep a schedule, and drink champagne.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible2/38Luke wearing his impossible object socks, lacing up his all-white Stacy Adams boots inspired by Clive Owen in The Knick.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible3/38Khandiz went for a twisted style, a little different from the conventional braid, which is my everyday go-to.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible4/38Luke’s suit jacket hangs handsomely on his Mr. hanger.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible5/38I was lucky enough to marry into a family with identical twin nephews—the cutest ring bearers ever. Here I am approving their look. My sister-in-law, Olivia, styled them perfectly in Ralph Lauren seersucker shorts with suspenders and linen shirts.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible6/38I always knew I wanted a midsummer wedding in South Africa, where I grew up. Hawksmoor House ended up being the perfect venue choice.
Here, a view from the manor house toward the ceremony setup. Local eucalyptus garland framed the stoop.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible7/38A quiet, contemplative moment before my dad fetched me to walk down the aisle.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible8/38A green ceremony arch made predominantly of our favorite plants, monstera deliciosa and protea banksias. We repurposed the arch to be our photo booth backdrop.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible9/38Luke approaches the ceremony through the ribbon curtain made by me.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible10/38My bestie, Kari, wrangles my veil in a gust of wind.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible11/38The evening before the wedding, my niece Stani met my dear friend’s daughter, Stella, and they became fast friends. Stani insisted Stella also be a flower girl. It all came together perfectly.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible12/38My dapper dad giving me away.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible13/38All the love as we exchange our own vows.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible14/38Listening to our officiant and friend Trevor giving guidance, blessings, and inspiration for our life together.
Photo: Clair Popkin15/38The kiss.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible16/38Introducing Mr. and Mrs.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible17/38My talented friend Ariel, of Ariel Dearie Flowers, created my gestural and dreamy bouquet. I have the best friends.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible18/38Garden kiss.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible19/38I loved wearing my Rue de Seine dress.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible20/38The view of the Franschhoek mountains in the distance.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible21/38Feeling happily married.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible22/38Ode to American Gothic.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible23/38A tent for our little friends.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible24/38Magic hour magic.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible25/38The statement floral centerpiece, which we enjoyed all weekend—dahlias, pomegranates, and berries. Marissa of Opus, our florist, nailed the concept “Cape Dutch meets Dutch Masters.”
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible26/38Kudu skull, fern wreaths with floral and brass accents. Propeller Period Props generously loaned me all of the brass details, Moroccan rugs, and other styling items to personalize the wedding.
Photo: Jianca Lazarus27/38The afternoon before the big day, all my lady friends and family helped make Erica flower crowns for the guests. I wanted simple lasting flower crowns for everyone, so we made them ourselves from a local lasting fynbos.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible28/38Wherever possible, we wanted to keep things natural and elegant, opting for raw oak tables over tablecloths; paper place mats; table landscapes of local fruits, flora, and foliage—using only that which was in season.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible29/38We wanted a simple garden reception under the old oak trees.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible30/38Pomegranates, lemon, aubergine, grapes, and a flame lily amid the foliage. We wanted saturated colors of the natural world to complement all of the wood, greens, and neutral tones.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible31/38The resident farm hound.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible32/38Our multilayered naked sponge cake filled with lemon curd and crème patisserie. More than half was devoured on the night, and we polished off the rest on the honeymoon.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible33/38Toasts and speeches bringing the tribe together with special stories that made us all laugh and cry.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible34/38The first dance of many . . .
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible35/38Cheers! And the vino did flow . . .
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible36/38We didn’t keep to all the wedding traditions, but on account of my crazy sweet tooth, cutting the cake was a must.
Photo: Bruce & Rebecca Meissner / Love Made Visible37/38Listening to our friends Lauren and Gene sing an acoustic version of “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. A special song from our long-distant-relationship days.
Photo: Richard Pengelly38/38It was a perfect wedding day. We wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
