A picture postcard story of the wedding preparations.
The wedding venue, Acacia, in the Tala Private Game Reserve.
A beautiful thatched, wooden barn with a large decking area overlooking a waterhole, 150m away. The sun was bright and strong.
The grassed reception area. Wine and beer was kept cool in wheelbarrows click to enlarge
Welcome to the wedding venue click to enlarge
The ‘bridal aisle’ entrance to Acacia click to enlarge
The ceremony was held on the decking click to enlarge
Chairs were facing the waterhole and rhinos click to enlarge
The minister’s view click to enlarge
Nadine and Colleen prepare the tables click to enlarge
The staff helped as well click to enlarge
Amy’s sister, Dayna placed decorations in glass vases click to enlarge
The Manager in charge of the event checked everything so carefully click to enlarge
Rosie, Amy’s Godmother, with Amy click to enlarge
Nadine, Amy’s cousin, adding touches to decorations click to enlarge
Top table flowers and decorations click to enlarge
Orange was the theme click to enlarge
Brigitte, Amy’s aunt click to enlarge
Linda, Amy’s step-grandmother click to enlarge
The flowers were so gorgeous click to enlarge
Irene, Mark’s partner click to enlarge
Colleen, Amy’s aunt click to enlarge
Shelly, bridesmaid click to enlarge
Chairs were decorated with bows click to enlarge
Mr and Mrs Hippo click to enlarge
Toby, Brigitte’s partner click to enlarge
Rhinos were mud bathing click to enlarge
The Bridal Lodge… click to enlarge
…with a Vervet monkey scampering across the top click to enlarge
The evening sunset click to enlarge
The barman who looked after us all so well click to enlarge
The next day Mr and Mrs Tobias du Pré leave for their honeymoon click to enlarge
We took no photographs during the wedding, leaving that task to Simon Jones, the professional photographer and video team from Heartistic productions. When we receive our copies we’ll post some more.
Piers and Lin
Tala Private Game Reserve
…on temporary leave of absence from Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Toby and Amy exchange their vows click to enlargeThe day had arrived. The day Toby and Amy were to wed.
The Venue
The Tala Private Game Reserve was the chosen venue with its 3,000 hectares in KwaZulu-Natal, between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Its various single story accommodation lodges are scattered around the reserve with a central main reception and restaurant complex. There’s no tarmac here, just rough dirt tracks.
Animals include rhino, hippo, kudu, zebra, giraffe, impala, eland, monkeys and ostrich. Bird life is everywhere, some singing beautiful love songs whilst others make ghastly sounds that put crows to shame.
Preparations
The previous afternoon saw many of Amy’s extended family and Tala staff descend on Acacia, a large thatched timber barn standing on the side of a slight incline in front of a waterhole.Mr and Mrs du Pré with Mr and Mrs Tobias du Pré click to enlargeWhilst tables, chairs, linen, cutlery, flowers, sashes and labels were being lovingly placed inside the barn, seven rhinos were mud bathing (outside) in the waterhole 150m away whilst zebras strutted their stripes, impala jumped, and bored wildebeest just grunted.
Rather than tables being numbered, Amy had created cards with specific dates or comments, such as ’35 Flights’ – ‘the number of individual flights taken to see each other’.
Wedding Day
Right on cue, the sun rose just after 6am into yet another clear blue sky.
As we opened the veranda doors of our lodge, monkeys scampered across the lawns, jumped into trees and peeped from behind the trunks to see what we might be doing.
After a lazy breakfast, Piers took more photographs whilst Lin relaxed on the veranda.
By 3pm, Piers had donned his locally hired tails whilst Lin wore a beautiful special dress for the day. She looked so gorgeous.
We assembled on the decking in front of the barn and Ron the minister told us what was to happen. The rhino and other animals were still in attendance. It was almost surreal.
The Marriage
The stage was set click to enlargeToby was standing at the front when the bridal party appeared. Maid of Honour, bridesmaids, best man and groomsmen.
And then Amy, veiled and on her father’s arm, walked around the corner. So elegant, so poised.
Amy looked utterly beautiful in the most lovely white dress and long embroidered train. There were gasps followed by tears and hushed snuffles.
In front of guests, Ron and the rhinos, Toby and Amy said their vows looking intently into each others’ eyes. Ron’s address was a delight and thoroughly scriptural.
Mr and Mrs Tobias du Pré looked radiant and so, so happy. After years of long distance waiting, their dream had come true.
The Reception
Rose petals showered the couple as they made their way onto a grassed area to cut the cake and be toasted.Tables were identified by dates and explanations click to enlargeSitting at our tables, dinner was served. Mark, Amy’s father, spoke. His speech was the finest and most heartfelt we’d ever heard, a comment which was to be made to him many times that evening.
Justin, the best man, was hilarious.
We danced late into the evening. Eventually, at 11pm, Toby and Amy left, and the party slowly dispersed.
A truly stunning event, and one which the animals will describe for generations to come.
It had been a long wait for the couple. It had been worth it. Their prayers had been answered.
Piers and Lin
Tala Private Game Reserve
…on temporary leave of absence from Play d’eau
Fleming 55
These were the voyages of Piers and Lin du Pré aboard their Fleming 55
