HUDSON BRIDE // NICOLE & RYAN

With a vision of an outside wedding under fairy lights and stars, Nicole and Ryan were married on their family farm along the crocodile river in Nelspruit, South Africa. The couple knew one another in high school and got closer after their university days, and after a special romance, Ryan took Nicole nearby where they live, to the Kruger National Park and got down on one knee at sunset along the banks of the Olifants River.

Their beautiful ceremony was planned to be on the 10th of September, in alignment with the full moon so that the lights in the trees and the bonfire would light up even more exquisitely. Their guests were free to move around their outdoor venue and the entire celebration was truly one of love and light.

COUPLE’S NAMES

Ryan Tate & Nicole Pereira

GUEST TOTAL

MARRIAGE TO US MEANS

A commitment to lifelong friendship, growth and hopefully some adventure.

PHOTOGRAPHY

The awesome Kim Tracy

FINDING YOUR DREAM WEDDING GOWN

The bride wore our HUDSON wedding gown, styled with our latest LENA earrings which paired perfectly with this piece, “I’ve always loved the ethereal flow and simplicity of the Bo and Luca gowns.”

With her beautiful baby bump scheduled to be at 27 weeks on her special day, Nicole said she was a little stressed about finding the right bridal look. She found out that she was pregnant the day she flew to Cape Town to find a gown and was able to visit our boutique for an appointment.

“I think the Hudson dress was perfect pregnant or not – It just felt right, so comfortable, so light and so elegant. The ladies at the boutique were extremely helpful when it came to choosing a size so far ahead of time that would fit me on the wedding… and when I came back to try it on months later having expanded significantly around the waist, the dress fit like a glove! I was so happy!”

Nicole had previously seen the Hudson dress on our website and had known all along that it was the one for her.

WEDDING RINGS

My husband designed my ring and then had it made by jewellers Violet & Rose – it is 18ct yellow gold with small diamonds and rubies. It’s really sentimental and has stones taken from rings from almost all of the ladies in his family, his great grandmother, grandmother, aunt and mom. He is also wearing a family ring.

HAIR & MAKEUP

HAIR – Alida Ferreira; MAKE UP – Cindy Brookes, Beauty Box

WEDDING DAY SCENT

Chanel – Chance

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES

I only had a flower girl and paige boy – “Little Flower Girl Dresses” I found on instagram.

ADVICE FOR BRIDES-TO-BE

Don’t try and control everything; trust that the people helping you plan your wedding will get it right and just let them do their thing. Also… less formal equals more fun.

FLOWERS & BOUQUETS

Lush Florals and Nova Event Planners orchestrated the most insanely beautiful set up with décor and flowers that complimented the open space and natural beauty of the venue.

WEDDING CAKE

We had no official cake; just donuts and chocolate for dessert.

FOOD & DRINKS

We had an open bar managed by The Thirsty Bartender and an awesome harvest table and canapes by chef GT from Zest.

SPECIAL WEDDING SONGS

Love song #1 – The White Buffalo

HONEYMOON

Did a short “babymoon” back to Kruger National Park to recover after the wedding shenanigans.

MOST TREASURED MOMENT OF MY WEDDING DAY

I have two. First obviously would be to be pregnant at my wedding; and to have our baby with us on our special day. And second a really treasured moment for me was actually before the wedding day – my father and husband conjured up a plan to surprise me by building our wedding dance floor/deck over the water, which was not at all what I was expecting when I told my husband he needs to build a dance floor. But he braved the hippos and my pregnancy hormones which were not happy about being surprised the day before my wedding to reveal the most incredible deck that extends out over the water… it was an amazing and really memorable moment and massive accomplishment in 4 or 5 days… Was not an undertaking I think anyone will forget