Mari-Lize and Dino Giovannoni

Venue: Moyo, uShaka Pier, Durban

My highlight was walking down the pier to the reception, with bright pink feather dusters on either side of me… Having a wedding overlooking the sea made the day very special, and unique.

HOW TO ORGANISE THE PERFECT BEACH WEDDING

• If you want a relaxed wedding, then a beach wedding is ideal, especially if it’s a novelty, like it was for us, as we don’t live by the sea.
• We chose Moyo at uShaka Pier because they have an events team that arranges everything for you, from the menu to the décor.. This took a lot of pressure off us, which was important, as we live far away in Johannesburg.
• I wanted everybody to enjoy the wedding and have fun – after the reception, I literally kicked off my shoes and spent time with my guests on the beach
• Relax on your wedding day – and if something goes wrong, go with the flow, don’t panic
• This special day goes by so fast that it’s important take time to enjoy every moment
• If you’re having a relaxed beach wedding, pick your dress accordingly. I made sure that my dress was comfortable, and that I would be able to walk on the sand without spoiling it too much
• When things go wrong – for instance, my wedding cupcakes had to be replaced because the icing had smudged – don’t despair. You’ll find a back-up plan. We managed to get a cake made literally overnight. And none of the guests had any idea that the fabulous chocolate ganache wasn’t what we’d ordered in the first place.
• One fantastic advantage to my simple beach wedding is that it was relatively inexpensive, because I kept everything so simple.
• Adding extra touches can make things look special without breaking the bank. I bought the bridesmaids’ dresses at a boutique, and then had a dressmaker alter them slightly to make them fit into the wedding theme. This cost a lot less than having them made from scratch.
• My sister-in-law, Gina, bought silver M&M’s from the States with her to use as decorations. They were so beautiful and different… they looked like little pebbles
• Another money-saving tip is to use people’s talents instead of spending money. I’m artistic, so I designed the invitations myself. And my mom in law, Sue Giovannoni, is very good with flowers. She bought all the flowers and arranged them herself.
• Think out of the box. The restaurant events team placed pink feather dusters along the pier, where I walked to the reception. This was not only very clever, it was spectacular and eye-catching. And such a novel, inexpensive way to make a statement!

 LITTLE BLACK BOOK:

Dress: “I saw it at a shop in in Brooklyn, New York called Butter by Nadia. My sister-in-law Gina Boustead who lives in New York, is the same size as I am, so she had the dress fitted and brought it with her when she came out to South Africa for the wedding. It was a perfect fit!”

Jewellery: Accessorize

Hair: Gary Rom www.garyromhairdressing.co.za

Coordination, music and décor: Moyo uShaka Pier 031 332 0606

Flowers: My mother-in-law, Sue Giovannoni did all the arrangements herself.

Cake: Mugg & Bean in Gateway Centre, Umhlanga