Wedding at Emily Moon River Lodge
Manu and Ash’s wedding at Emily Moon River Lodge was an authentic and wildly captivating expression of who they are heart and soul. This gorgeous and passionate couple were perfectly at home in Emily’s eclectic and bohemian space. Perched on the banks of the Bitou River in Plettenberg Bay, Emily Moon has a history steeped in romance and discovery, just like they do…
Ash shares about their wedding at Emily Moon
Emmanuel and I met in Tuscany. We were both working in the super yacht industry and a mutual friend played cupid. He was convinced we were going to fall in love. What he didn’t know is that he was introducing soul mates. One day during work, our friend Johnny called Emmanuel and told him to pop over to the yacht I was working on, unbeknown to me. Johnny radioed me to come out to the dock. I was met by the most honest and beautiful smile, curls for days and a heart that glowed straight through his chest, Emmanuel.
After a short encounter and a few messages, Emmanuel and I went out for aperitivos, which became a ritual for us. (Also one of the reasons our hearts belong in Italy!) After about a week of seeing each other, we returned to his apartment one night. As he unlocked the front door he looked at me and said ‘welcome home’. The rest was truly written in the stars!
Boho Wedding Inspiration
The inspiration behind our theme was completely organic. Our wedding at Emily Moon was a reflection of the things, places, colours and elements that we hold close to our hearts. We are inspired by nature everyday and more so, idolise the sunset. So, using the tones and hues from the setting sun was our main inspiration.
I have been drying flowers for some years now and wanted to incorporate that into our day. Emmanuel has always helped, researched and been inspired himself by the process. I have always struggled with disposing of flowers once they have lived out their days in vases. I was motivated to give them an ever-after. We knew after our wedding the arrangements would live long with the people who were a part of our day.
Emmanuel and I also collect feathers. This is how they became so relevant in our aesthetic. We love to see the different colours and characteristics of each one. Furthermore, we acknowledge the life that they have lived based on the various marks or imperfections in each. Manu and I believe that is what makes them beautiful and a reflection of what we all go through.
We were very inspired by Emily Moon. The love story behind finding paradise and the various finishings and furnishings that come from all over the world. We live our lives in a very neutral colour pallet filled with earthy tones and nature’s influence. Naturally, our wedding day became an exaggeration of the everyday world that we treasure. The colours we chose spoke to both of us and set free our creativity.
Favourite Wedding Moments
Walking into the reception is a feeling that will live with us forever. Writing this, I still get goosebumps. The energy that our guests brought and shared with us in that short minute was incomparable. They ignited our souls and showered us in love. It was very intimate and the space we walked through allowed us to look in everyone’s eyes. We could hear their cheers and feel their blessings. It was like riding a magic carpet from the entrance to our table. The most beautiful moment at the end of that walk was seeing our parents, their eyes flooding with joy.
“You be the bird, I’ll be the feather.” – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Too Late, M83
Plett Adventure Photo Shoot
The day before Manu and Ash’s wedding at Emily Moon River Lodge, we ventured with Manu and Ash to the Robberg Nature Reserve. This World Heritage Site showcases the breathtaking natural beauty of the Garden Route. They did the first look on the side of a cliff overlooking the turquoise ocean. Their love and connection was tangible! We love hiking into wild places to photograph these day-before, or day-after wedding shoots. Our hearts were exploding with every click of the shutter!
Dive Deep, Hushed
Wedding Suppliers:
Venue: Emily Moon River Lodge
Videographer: Orpen Film Co.
Floral designer and stylist: Kelly Davids (Milq & Honey)
Cake: Laura Derhy (Groom’s mum)
Dress: Ashleigh Dugdale (Bride)
DJ: Sean Butterworth
Live Music: Dumama & Kechou
Groom’s apparel: Zara
Makeup Artist: Debbie Jean
Hair Stylist: Phumelele Mdlalose
> View Lloyd and Kelly’s wedding at Emily Moon
WINNER OF JUNEBUG WEDDING’S CHOICE AWARDS FOR BEST WEDDING FASHION 2019
Vancouver Wedding Photographers, Page and Holmes, are a married photo-taking team who travel back to Cape Town and the Garden Route each summer to capture wedding stories and soak up some sunshine!