Real Bride Monique’s Rustic Wedding in South Africa

Monique is the perfect Maggie Bride to feature for our beauty theme this month; her big blue eyes and dazzling smile are a makeup artist’s dream! Monique married her groom Zander in Almudena, a sweet-yet-glamorous A-line featuring cap sleeves that glide into an illusion back accented in lace appliqués. Monique’s bridesmaids wore dreamy mint dresses, while the groomsmen wore charming bowties and suspenders. And Zander wore a dusty blue suit! Keep scrolling for more rustic details from the day, and check out our bridal beauty timeline for inspiration on how to look and feel your best on your big day.

*Almudena has since been discontinued. Please see Rosamund, Jovi, and Collins for similar styles.

Which Maggie Sottero gown did you wear?
I wore Almudena.

How did you know when you found “the dress”?
I was in love with it from the moment I put it on; I didn’t want to take it off and couldn’t stop smiling. I still smile if I think about it!

What was your favorite part of the dress?
The back; it is stunning. I loved the low back and the detail on it.

How did you and your partner meet?
We met in 2007 at a friend’s 16th birthday party. I fell in love with him right away, and two years later we started dating. We had been together for seven years when we got married.

How did he propose?
He completely surprised me! He arranged that we fly with a helicopter to the top of the Magaliesberg Mountains in South Africa. This was an amazing experience. We hiked down a water stream to a waterfall overlooking the beautiful mountains. He stood at the edge of the cliff, went down on one knee, and asked if I would become his lifelong partner. I said yes! From there we flew to our friend’s farm, where our family and friends were waiting to celebrate with us. He planned everything to perfection. Everything I dreamed of and more.

Where did you get married?
We got married at Cussonia Crest which is situated at the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountains. It was the perfect venue for our wedding as we both love the outdoors and wanted a romantic feel and nice surroundings for our wedding photos. The venue creates a fairy-like atmosphere, which we fell in love with from the first moment we went there. Since we got engaged on the Magaliesberg Mountains, we felt like it was the perfect place to say our “I do’s.”

Did your wedding have a theme?
We wanted to create a timeless elegant and romantic style for our wedding, with hints of a rustic feel. We made wooden table names like “Love”, “Hope”, “Faith”, “Family” and so on.

How did you decide what you wanted your wedding to look like?
We mostly looked at ideas on Pinterest and bridal magazines. We fell in love with our pastel colors mint and peach, and used this in our table decorations.

What was your favorite wedding day moment?
It is very difficult to point out my favorite wedding day moment, since everything was perfect and so precious. I must say I loved the short time my husband and I spent together after all the guests left the chapel and waited outside for us. Just to soak in what just happened and share our excitement. It was quite fun to walk through the confetti. We loved our photo session with Mighty Fine, and the sunset was spectacular.

Describe your wedding in one word.
Perfect.

What advice do you have for future brides?
I would give them the same advice that was given to me a few days before my wedding. On your wedding day take a moment and just soak up everything… what is happening, what it looks like, and how you feel. It really does go by so quickly and I am very glad I did that. Also not everything is going to go perfectly, but just remember you are there to marry your best friend and partner for life. At the end of the day that is the most important thing. Enjoy each moment building up to the big day. Finally, involve your fiancé, family, and friends; they have great ideas and love to help.

📷: Mighty Fine Productions