Jeffreys Bay Beach Wedding on Paradise Beach
Quick answer
Can you plan a Jeffreys Bay beach wedding from overseas?
Yes. Fred and Charmaine planned their beach wedding in the Eastern Cape from Holland, almost a year in advance, so that Charmaine's family in South Africa could celebrate with them. Living abroad and planning a wedding is never easy, and a beach wedding adds the weather to think about. Their forecast looked doubtful, and Charmaine stayed calm about it. Local suppliers carried a lot of the load: Tarika Events did the décor and flowers, Synergy Audio the music, Janelle's Cakes the cake, and the reception was at Happy Hippo. When they found out Charmaine was expecting, they went ahead with the wedding anyway, so their wedding photos double as maternity photos.
It’s your classic girl meets boy adventure. Charmaine moved from South Africa to Holland in 2011 where she learn’t the language, achieved a degree in International Communications met Fred and the two have been living together for the past 7 years. Their wedding was planned as a celebration of their relationship and a perfect opportunity for their families to all spend time together. With Charmaine’s family still in South Africa, it made perfect sense to celebrate their relationship with a destination wedding in J Bay. Living abroad and planning a wedding is never easy, especially if you’re planning a beach wedding in the Eastern Cape almost a year in advance, but that’s exactly what Charmaine and Fred wanted for their wedding. With the wedding plans in full swing across an entire continent, what could possibly be put into motion to make an already unpredictable event more unpredictable?
“With regards to our personal situation… we have recently had a very unexpected but welcome addition to our future family. We found out that I am pregnant and have decided to go through with the wedding anyway. So unintentionally our wedding shoot will now become a wedding/maternity shoot :)”
Fred and Charmaine decided to continue with the wedding in South Africa and they flew out with Charmaine 32 weeks in. She looked absolutely radiant and it must be said, that with the weather forecast looking sceptical for a beach wedding, she was as calm as they come. The poster child for “Que Sera Sera”. What will be will be, and what was was absolutely perfect.
Bride’s Dress: Jaap Rijnbende
Groom’s Suit: Koedijk Rijssen
Reception: Happy Hippo, Seekoeirivier
Decor and Flowers: Tarika Events
Music: Synergy Audio
Cake: Janelle’s Cakes
Wedding Stationary: Cotton Bird Wedding Stationary
Frequently asked questions
Where is Paradise Beach in Jeffreys Bay?
Paradise Beach is a beachside area of Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape, close to the Seekoei River, where Happy Hippo hosted this couple's reception.
Can you have wedding photos taken while you're pregnant?
Of course. Charmaine was 32 weeks pregnant on her wedding day, and as she put it, the wedding shoot became 'a wedding/maternity shoot'. Craig also photographs maternity shoots.
How far ahead should we plan a destination wedding in Jeffreys Bay?
There's no fixed rule. Fred and Charmaine started almost a year ahead, which gave them time to organise local suppliers from another continent.
