Melissa & Craig Aziz | De Ouwe Klok wedding

“You are every reason, every hope and every dream I’ve ever had.”

There are some weddings where the couple make your job easy and Melissa and Craig were definitely one of those couples. They were such a lovely pair to photograph and from the beginning there was a relaxed feeling about them that made the whole day enjoyable. Their De Ouwe Klok wedding was filled with personality, beautiful DIY details and a colour scheme that carried through almost every part of their day.

The first thing that stood out to me was the beautiful combination of blue and silver. It wasn’t just something they used for the reception. The colours appeared in their invitations, their rings, their clothing, their flowers and all the little details they had put together themselves.

There was something really special about seeing how much thought they had put into their De Ouwe Klok wedding. It didn’t feel like they were trying to copy somebody else’s wedding. It felt like they had taken things they liked and turned them into something that belonged to them.

Blue and Silver From the Very Beginning

Their wedding stationery already gave guests a little preview of what was coming. The invitation had a blue backing with silver paper layered over the front. The silver section had been cut out with the words “Wedding Day” showing through.

I loved that detail because it immediately established the theme without being complicated. Their De Ouwe Klok wedding had this beautiful mixture of blue, silver and natural elements which continued throughout the day.

Even their wedding rings fitted into the colour scheme. The silver bands were finished with blue stones which made them such a pretty detail to photograph. I always enjoy photographing rings when there is something distinctive about them and these were definitely different from the usual plain bands.

It was clear that Melissa and Craig had thought about the little things.

Melissa’s Beautiful Bridal Look

Melissa looked absolutely beautiful in her white silky wedding dress. The dress had blue detailing across the top and another beautiful blue detail at the back. The fabric that flowed behind her onto the ground was also blue which created a gorgeous contrast against the white of the dress.

She finished her bridal look with blue shoes which I thought was perfect. They were another little touch of colour that made her outfit feel connected to the rest of the wedding.

Her bouquet was equally beautiful. A white protea formed the main feature with green and blue leaves and other delicate details surrounding it. The natural shape of the flowers worked so well with the relaxed setting of the De Ouwe Klok wedding.

Craig and his groomsmen also embraced the blue theme with blue suits. Craig wore brown shoes which added a warm natural touch to his outfit while the bridesmaids wore blue dresses to complete the bridal party.

When everyone was together the colours looked fantastic.

A Couple Who Were So Easy to Photograph

One of my favourite things about Melissa and Craig was simply how easy they were to work with.

They were such a nice couple and there was a natural comfort between them. I never felt like I had to force anything when photographing them. They were comfortable together and that always makes such a difference when creating photographs.

As a De Ouwe Klok wedding photographer, I want my couples to actually enjoy their wedding day rather than spend the whole day worrying about photographs. I will guide couples when they need direction but I also love stepping back and letting things happen naturally.

With Melissa and Craig there was a lovely balance.

They were happy to be photographed but they were also simply enjoying being together. That gave me the opportunity to capture photographs that felt like them rather than photographs that looked overly staged.

Horses, Wedding Photos and a Little Adventure at De Ouwe Klok

One of the unexpected highlights of their De Ouwe Klok wedding was getting a chance to photograph them with the horses.

Of course I was going to take that opportunity!

Whenever there is something interesting around a wedding venue I love incorporating it into the gallery. It gives the photographs another layer and makes the gallery feel connected to the actual day rather than looking like it could have happened anywhere.

The horses at De Ouwe Klok wedding venue added a beautiful natural element to their photographs and they fitted the atmosphere of the venue so well.

I think those are the photographs that often become favourites later because they aren’t necessarily something you planned months in advance. They are simply something that happened because the opportunity was there.

The DIY Decor at De Ouwe Klok wedding venue

The reception decor at De Ouwe Klok was one of my favourite parts of this De Ouwe Klok wedding.

Melissa and Craig had clearly put a lot of effort into creating their own details and I loved the result. There was blue, silver, grey and brown throughout the styling with natural greenery bringing everything together.

One of the details that really caught my eye was a glass container filled with layers of blue, grey and brown sand. Inside was an infinity symbol along with their wedding date.

It was such a simple idea but it was incredibly personal.

I love when couples include something like this because it isn’t just decoration. It tells a little piece of their story and gives the wedding something that guests wouldn’t see at every other wedding.

The tables had centrepieces featuring vetplant and blue leaves along with flowers. The natural greenery softened the stronger blue elements and gave the tables at De Ouwe Klok a relaxed look.

The flowers were allowed to be the focus rather than covering every part of the table with decoration.

The Harvest Table

And then there was the harvest table.

This was one of those things that immediately makes me hungry when I think back to a wedding. It was filled with small savoury pastries, fruit and other treats and looked absolutely delicious.

There was also a sweet table for guests which added another fun element to the reception.

I really liked how the food formed part of the atmosphere rather than simply being something that happened in the background. Guests could move around, enjoy the food and spend time together.

That relaxed feeling suited the De Ouwe Klok wedding perfectly.

The couple had also thought about their guests during the ceremony. Umbrellas and parasols were available to help keep everyone cool which was such a thoughtful practical detail.

The Cake

The wedding cake was another beautiful part of the styling.

It was white with a rustic finish where you could still see some of the cake underneath the white frosting. Green vetplant was used as decoration which brought the cake into the same natural style as the reception tables.

It was simple but beautiful and suited the overall look of the De Ouwe Klok wedding.

I especially liked that the cake didn’t try to compete with everything else. The flowers, greenery and blue details already gave the reception plenty of character so the more natural cake fitted in perfectly.

When Everyone Got Their Dancing Faces On

Once the formalities were over it was time for everyone to celebrate properly.

The dance floor photographs are always some of my favourites at weddings because this is where people stop worrying about how they look.

Let’s just say the guests at this De Ouwe Klok wedding definitely got their dancing faces on!

There are always a few photographs where somebody is pulling a wonderfully questionable dance-floor expression and I love keeping those photographs in the gallery. They may not be the photographs you frame for the wall but they are the ones that can make you laugh years later.

A wedding gallery should have those photographs.

It shouldn’t only be perfect poses and carefully composed portraits. It should show the people who were there and how they actually celebrated.

The Little Thank-You

Melissa and Craig also gave their guests wooden coasters as thank-you gifts.

I loved this because it fitted so naturally with the more rustic and personal feeling of their wedding. It was something practical that guests could take home with them as a little reminder of the day.

When I photograph weddings I always try to capture these small details because they become part of the complete story. Years later you might not remember exactly what was on every table but seeing a photograph of it can bring those memories straight back.

That is what I want a wedding gallery to do.

A Sparkling Ending

The send-off was the perfect way to finish their De Ouwe Klok wedding.

Everyone gathered together with sparklers and created a glowing tunnel for Melissa and Craig to walk through. There is something so magical about a sparkler send-off because the whole atmosphere changes. Suddenly everyone is involved and the couple have this incredible tunnel of light waiting for them.

It made for such a beautiful ending to the day.

After all the carefully planned details and the hours of photographs it was lovely to finish with something energetic and spontaneous. Everyone was together and celebrating and Melissa and Craig got their final photographs surrounded by the people who had come to share their day with them.

A Wedding That Was Completely Theirs

Looking back at the De Ouwe Klok wedding now, it is all those little details that I remember.

The blue and silver invitations. The rings with blue stones. Melissa’s silky white dress with its blue details. Her blue shoes. Craig’s blue suit and brown shoes. The matching blue bridesmaid dresses. The white protea bouquet. The horses. The layered sand display. The blue leaves and greenery. The harvest table. The sweet table. The wooden coasters.

And then there were the dancing faces and the sparklers.

It was a wedding that had plenty of beautiful details but never lost its personality.

For me that is what makes a wedding memorable. It doesn’t have to be the biggest wedding or have the most elaborate decor. It just needs to feel like the couple.

And Melissa and Craig’s wedding definitely did.

Experience Their Wedding Through the Gallery

I invite you to browse through Melissa and Craig’s photographs and experience their day through the gallery.

You’ll see all the details that made their De Ouwe Klok wedding unique but you’ll also see the moments between the details. The laughs, the connection between Melissa and Craig, the bridal party, the horses and all those little candid moments that happen throughout a wedding day.

If you’re looking for a De Ouwe Klok wedding photographer, I hope this gallery gives you a good idea of how I approach weddings. I want the photographs to feel natural and personal while still giving you those beautiful portraits and carefully captured details that you’ll want to look back on.

Most importantly I want you to enjoy your day.

Melissa and Craig made that easy for me because they were such a lovely couple to photograph and their wedding was full of personality from beginning to end.

Their De Ouwe Klok wedding is definitely one that will stay in my Poplap archives for a long time.

Wedding Suppliers

Venue: De Ouwe Klok
Hair & Makeup: Carlynn Andrews
Catering: Karoo Spit Braai
DJ: DJ Randall
Cake: Kidola Trading
Minister: Pastor Leon and Garth Aziz
Photographer: Poplap Photography

Evelene | Poplap Photography & Design
Celebrating Love in Every Click