A wedding is undoubtedly one of the biggest commitments a couple will make, as they vow to be a part of each other’s lives through good and bad and through sickness and through health.
This is a day of ultimate celebration for the couple, as well as for family and friends who are beside you, in cheering you on with unforgettable memories. It is partly for this reason, that one would choose a venue of absolute splendour that will always be forged in ones soul.
As a professional photographer and one that appreciates the countryside, I recently moved to a small town called Riebeek Kasteel, located in the Swartland, and about a 45 minute drive from Cape Town.
As the season changes, so does the landscape and the natural lighting. As most photographers are aware, the best and most complimentary lighting is the golden hour, especially complimented by rich and textured scenic vistas.
Now with the approaching winter, the air grows ever so crisp in both the mornings and evenings, and the light is perfectly soft and diffused. This makes the ideal time for a wedding celebration… no sweat from the side of the wedding party and equally no fuss from the photographer… nothing better than the perfect temperature in the perfect environment.
Riebeek Kasteel is a quirky and very creative town, very eclectic in culture and history. It is a place where everyone seems to greet and get on with a form of unsaid respect. I am only starting to unwind to the genuine friendliness and innocence of country living. Then, add to this is the freshness of organic and free-range farm style industry cooking, and the smell that permeates from the small bakeries and eateries as one walks by, all with their own signature and precious personality and proud style and heritage.
Being only a short drive from Cape Town and an even shorter drive from Wellington, or Malmesbury, supplies are at hand and the short journey will encourage you to pull over to the side of the road and snap a photo or two of the surrounds.
The array of mountain ranges in the distance, create a textured spectrum of gradated greys and purples, layered behind each other into the distance. The foreground pastures offer abundant vegetation, livestock and colour. Finally let me not fail to mention those mountains, which surround the beautiful town. These are populated with world class vineyards and olive trees.
Now that I have started to share just a taste of my surrounds, I suggest to all those local and abroad, to Google my new home of Riebeek Kasteel. This is a gem of a town that I intend to provide many happy couples with fond memories, shared in this amazing place.
I am making suggestion and recommendation to visit the following link to understand what I, as a wedding photographer, am experiencing.
