Anna & David

Anna Kokosinska was swept off her feet by David Bird. They wed in true romantic style with a three-day affair in Franschhoek.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE…

Our versions of how we met differ dramatically, but it all started in a bar in Perth. Two days later, I was on my way to Texas with him, where a two-week visit soon turned into a whirlwind romance.

Our engagement was spectacular. We were staying at a spa hotel – Les Sources De Caudalie – just outside Bordeaux. He proposed in the cellars of Château Lafite Rothschild. To top it off, we had dinner at a two Michelin starred restaurant that night.

Having lived all over the world, David said South Africa was where he wanted to get married. After seeing photos of Franschhoek, I didn’t need much convincing!

A close friend in South Africa recommended Wedding Concepts and we met Kate, our wedding planner, over Skype. We spent a year chatting and creating Pinterest boards. She made the planning process a breeze and I will be forever thankful for her.

THE BIG DAY

Having never set foot in South Africa, it just blew me away. The venue and the decor were so much more than I could have ever imagined.

We had a great party with flowers and candles everywhere. We wanted a big celebration that was romantic and fun, as a well as being memorable for all our guests who had travelled so far for us.

It was raining on the day, just as I was heading to the altar. We delayed the start by 20 minutes – making David a little nervous! – which let me get some extra-special photos with my dad. So the rain turned out to be good luck for us!

David’s uncle handmade a beautiful box holding a bottle of Vrede en Lust wine and two love letters. During the ceremony it was explained that if there were ever a time in our relationship when we felt disheartened, we should open the bottle of wine and read the love letters – of course, the hope is that such a time will never come. It was very emotional and many guests said they would start this same tradition in their own relationships.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

One of the greatest ideas we had was to focus on each other on the day. We were not traditional and didn’t spend the night before apart. It was very special to be able to have so much time together and not get caught up in the chaos.

THE FINER DETAILS

I envisioned myself in a sleek, lacy vintage dress. After many bridal boutiques and describing what I wanted, one lady said ‘you are a Monique Lhuillier bride’, and how right she was! I settled on a ballgown style – completely different from what I wanted at first!

For the decor, we had lots of candles, flowers, crystal and mirrors everywhere, with romantic lighting. There were white couches around the dance floor so people could still be part of the atmosphere while taking a breather.

Our first dance was to ‘We Are Young’ by Fun.. We love the Jewish tradition of dancing straight after the ceremony and wanted an upbeat song to get everyone dancing.