Blog and Media

We're thrilled to see that Top Billing recently visited the beautiful home of Marlene, a special lady who we had the pleasure to work with. Private Room coordinated a dazzling 30th birthday celebration for Marlene in her lovely home. The house is truly an entertainer's dream, making it the ultimate venue for the celebration.

Get into a whimsical mood with bursts of pretty pink, colourful cocktails, super colourful bouques and plenty of bright balloons. Put on a fabulous frock and you're ready to feel the fun!

By Elsjé Oosthuizen, Project Coordinator & Business Strategist

Val de Vie hosted a beautiful wedding in December that had a soft, romantic decor scheme featuring accents of pink, cream and white. Kim du Toit's lovely photos capture the gorgeous ambience.

Little Pink Book will be hosting interactive Wedding Workshops on the main stage at The South African Wedding Show from 7 – 9 June 2013 at the CTICC. This is an amazing opportunity for brides to be part of a real, live coordinated session with the leading wedding coordination company, The Aleit Group and fantastic wedding suppliers! Watch as they create a mock up setting of a wedding, designed to the themes below. Get involved, join the team on the stage as they work and stand a chance to win fantastic prizes!

Val de Vie will also be involved in this exciting event, so be sure to watch out for our talented team.

Click here to view the various themes that they will be showcasing in the workshops.

We can always rely on Secret Diary Designs to be on top of the hottest stationery trends. This Winter they are celebrating colour with bold, exciting shades and eye-catching patterns.

Let cool aqua colours and crisp whites set the tone for a chic Winter wedding. We love using old glass bottles in the table decor and adding some warmth with hundreds of burning candles. Give guests pashminas or cosy blankets if the temperature drops, it's a thoughtful touch that they'll be sure to appreciate.

By Varety Da Silva, Venue Coordinator & Operations Manager

Feel the warm glow of gold by adding dazzling touches to your wedding decor. Gold is often perceived as being bold and showy, but it can also be beautifully soft, elegant and romantic. Take inspiration from these beautiful images, which celebrate this classic colour.

By Iza Slabbert, Event Coordinator & Marketing Manager

Feast your eyes on these luscious dessert ideas... a biscuit bar, featuring a mix of different cookies, mini lemon meringue shakes, bowls of macaroons, plates of petit fours and stacks of crepes and meringues. Any of these would make the perfect sweet treat at wedding or party, much to the delight of your guests!

By Varety Da Silva, Venue Coordinator & Operations Manager

We love the idea of a relaxed, country-inspired wedding with a relaxed, rustic ambiance. Picture an old barn or a beautiful field as the venue - what could be more romantic? Decor draws on all the elements of the countryside: natural fabrics and twines, informal arrangements of wild flowers, hay bales for seating and lanterns for lighting. This is the perfect look for the down-to-earth brides who has a sense of fun.

By Varety Da Silva, Venue Coordinator & Operations Manager

Soft shades of lavender, mauve and dusty pink are gorgeous colours for a dreamy decor scheme. Beautifully soft and delicate, these hues have a sense of sophistication and create a romantic look without seeming too girly or twee.

By Elsje Human, Events Assistant

Vintage styling might draw inspiration from past times, but that doesn't mean that is has to look old-fashioned! Add some sparkle to a vintage look with a bold touch of gold. It adds instant, eye-catching style, reminiscent of the glamour of old Hollywood.

By Elsje Human, Events Assistant

The streets of Paris are always alive with colour, from delectable macarons in a bakery window to the brightness of flowers in window boxes, or perhaps the dazzle of a chic pair of heels. Perk up your week with some pretty colours... très belle!

By Simone de Wet, Managing Director Events

We're smitten with Elie Saab's latest collection, in which the sleek, flattering lines of the corporate outfits are elegantly blended  into evening wear. The look is classy and professional yet undeniably sexy too.

The use of soft, sheer “evening” fabrics such as chiffon and lace add a touch of elegance to your normal day-to-day corporate work wear, making it so easy to  attend a networking Cocktail function straight after work without having to rush home to change.

All you'll  need to do is swop your iPad bag for a clutch, add a bit of shimmer to your lipgloss and put on some gorgeous heels.

To view more images, visit Glamour's website.

By Nadia Valentyn, Venue Manager & Wedding Planner

As a busy week comes to a close, we're still daydreaming about the romance of Paris. It's the idea of a beautiful view of a cityscape, a romantic ride into the country or the thought of a glamorous night out. Even though we're many miles from the streets of Paris, add some French-inspired romance to your weekend, whether it's enjoying a picnic with a loved one, taking a romantic stroll or putting on a beautiful dress.

By Simone de Wet, Managing Director Events

It's the last month of Autumn, which means that the cold Winter months are just around the corner. Warm things up by baking some tasty treats, we can't get enough of these Chai cupcakes with marshmallow frosting by The Kate Tin. Yum!

Cream the margarine, sugar and vanilla together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Sift over the flour and spices and beat again. Spoon into a muffin tin lined with cupcake wrappers and bake at 180C for 12-15 minutes or until golden and a skewer comes out clean.

Make the frosting by whisking the egg whites in a heatproof bowl until soft peak stage. Add castor sugar and whisk over simmering water until the meringue is hot to the touch. Remove from the heat and beat on high with a hand mixer until cool. Whip in the vanilla. Place in a piping bag and pipe onto cupcakes immediately.

This Sunday is Mother's Day, a special time to honour and pamper your mom. We think that the perfect Mother's Day should start with breakfast in bed, which is why we adore this beautiful breakfast idea by The Kate Tin blog.

Ingredients:
¼ cup raspberries pomegranate rubies 1 tsp rose water (optional)
¼ cup toasted muesli
1 small pot fat-free plain yoghurt
1 tbsp light brown sugar

Place the raspberries and a few pomegranate rubies in a small bowl and sprinkle with rose water. Spoon some of the muesli into the bottom of a pretty teacup then top with a layer of yoghurt.

Next, sprinkle the marinated fruit over the yoghurt and repeat until the cup is full, ending with a layer of yoghurt.

Just before serving, sprinkle the brown sugar on top and caramelize with a blowtorch or under a preheated hot grill until golden, melted and crisp. Garnish with extra berries and serve.

Recipe and image courtesy of The Kate Tin

By Nadia Valentyn, Venue Manager & Wedding Planner

Are you planning a Winter wedding? Then it's time to embrace the unique beauty of the coldest season. Draw on the cool colours of Winter as your inspiration, such as crisp white and delicate grey. Then add some shine with vintage gold and silver, pearls and elegant lace.

By Elsje Human, Events Assistant

France is so often associated with all things romantic, and it's no wonder why: picture the allure of Paris, the city of Lights, the lingering scent of classic Chanel perfume, the taste of real Champagne and the sheer decadence of macarons and petit fours. Add some romance to your week with some French inspired romance. What's not to love?

By Simone de Wet, Managing Director Events

Lizanne and Renier celebrated their stunning wedding at Val de Vie Estate and we were so delighted to have been part of the day. Apart from the beautiful ceremony and the fun-filled festivities, the decor scheme was a real highlight, featuring pops of vibrant colours such as violet, pink and cerise.

Photography by Inecke.

If you thought romance was passé in Paris, all you have to do is look at Paris bridges to see it is being displayed in full force. The Paris “love locks” are back.

The love padlocks have been a phenomenon in cities as varied as Belgium to Japan.

For those of you who haven’t heard of them, here's the story. A couple writes their names on a padlock and locks it onto one of the bridges. They then throw the key into the Seine River as a symbol of their undying love.

As BonjourParis reported last year, the locks on the Pont des Arts near the Louvre were cut off, reportedly by the government. But romance beats politics in Paris and the locks can now be seen on two Paris bridges: Pont des Arts and Pont de l'Archevêché.

Happy Love Locking!

By Simone de Wet, Managing Director Events

Inecke Photography has beautifully captured Duonay and Liana's Wedding Day that took place at Val de Vie Estate. The skies may have been grey, but that did nothing to dampen the spirits of this gorgeous occasion. Elegant floral decor by Fresh Collection included a symphony of cream and white blooms, such as tulips, roses and lilies. Tables were tastefully adorned in shades of white and accents of deep blue.

We're delighted to be featured on African Wedding Style, a design & inspiration resource to brides planning their weddings in Africa. The site features the most exclusive venues and vendors available as well as the most fresh and inspiring designs.

We love what they had to say about out Events Coorindation service and venue:

"The Val de Vie Coordination Team ensures that every celebration is a unique occasion, with every small detail attended to by industry experts. Expect nothing less than the exceptional."

Winter can be a wonderfully atmospheric time to hold a wedding: cosy venues, hearty food and the warm glow of candle light immediately spring to ming. But even if it's cold outside, there's no reason that you can't have a wedding dress and decor that still has a sense of lightness and delicate romance. Add lace sleeves to your dress for extra warmth, serve guests frothy cups of hot chocolate, create dreamy cream-coloured bouquets from seasonal flowers and add some sparkle with diamante. Winter will never have felt so fresh!

By Elsje Human, Events Assistant

Winter is just around the corner and we're smitten with this classic look. Opt for tailored coats, smart leather bags and classic black boots in a palette of black and khaki or camel.

By Elsje Human, Events Assistant

I'm loving the simplicity of minimalist homeware. Instead of ornate patterns or intricate designs, these pieces are clean and beautifully simple.

By Elsjé Oosthuizen, Project Coordinator & Business Strategist

FJS Productions have created an absolutely stunning video of Carla and Craig's Val de Vie Full Coordination wedding. Carla is the owner of Secret Diary, which produces some of the finest wedding stationery in South Africa. The special day was a celebration of love, happiness and all things beautiful.

Val de Vie Estate hosted the Infiniti 4 Nations Polo Invitational Polo Tournament on the 20^thApril 2013 and the event has been described as a great success. With Infiniti as the head sponsor, the invitational teams included Nigeria, Pakistan, Holland and South Africa.

The event ended the polo season on a high note and highlighted how the sport has enjoyed phenomenal growth and recognition in the past year. Alec Combrink, Infiniti Cape Town’s Dealer Principle, observed that "Infiniti Cape Town is proud to be part of the Infiniti 4 Nations Polo event at Val de Vie and feels that the event is a wonderful opportunity to expose potential customers to our luxurious brand."

Mr Combrink opened the Plate Final, which saw Nigeria taking on Holland in a fast paced match and Nigeria winning 6-4.  Several of the competing ponies were supplied by Val De Vie Polo Club and were in top sporting condition.

South Africa played against Pakistan in an exhilarating Final Match in which Pakistan won 5-2. The winning team was awarded the glittering trophy by Michele Stuurman from Carrol Boyes along with generous prizes from Rudy Project, Polo SA, Val de Vie Wines, Polo World and asparkly Cap Classique from GM & Ahrens.

The tournament was commentated byMr.Gavin Kanigowski from Cape Town Polo Club and kept guests on the edge of their seats and up to speed with the rules of the sport. Olympic medallist and Val de Vie Estate Marketing Director, Ryk Neethling was MC of the event, while Val de Vie Events coordinated all the elements of the day. Chic, corporate-inspired decor with shades of black and white set the scene for guests to enjoy the polo, relax and network. Gentleman guests, not to mention some curious ladies, were treated to get a feel of driving some of the elegant Infiniti cars on display.

Charl du Plessis was named as the Most Valued Polo Player, while the Best Playing Polo Pony prize went to Bubbles, who is owned by Mr. Martin Venter and ridden by Mr. Lance Anderson. The day ended with three cheers saluting the polo ponies' valorous play and guests enjoyed the rest of the evening celebrating in the Polo Club Restaurant and Pavilion.

Gold and silver are associated with glamour and a sense of opulence, but they needn't be over the top or too showy. Rose gold, soft shades of silver and subtle touches of metallic detailing look so pretty and feminine - the perfect way to add some sparkle without the bling.

By Elsjé Oosthuizen, Project Coordinator & Business Strategist

We would like to wish Ammie and Appel a very happy anniversary. We were so delighted to have coordinated their beautiful West Coast wedding last year on 21 April and we wish them all the happiness in the future ahead.