Kay and Monty Weddings: Raine & Cameron

From the simple table settings and unstructured flower arrangements to the groomsmen arriving at the ceremony on their mountain bikes, it was a celebration of laid-back elegance at Kay and Monty. We chatted to Raine and Cameron about their wedding day and how they kept it light, fun and down-to-earth.

How did you meet? And the proposal?

My husband and I met while we were studying at UCT. For the proposal, he booked the Fountain Shack in Robberg Nature Reserve. We love nature and it is one of the most beautiful, unspoilt spots we have discovered. He proposed at sunset and we celebrated with some bubbly and a braai. The best part was that we had no cell signal at the cottage, so we just enjoyed the moment. The next day we got to share the exciting news with family and friends.

What made you choose Kay and Monty as your venue?

The location and style of the venue blew us away, and the food is always delicious and beautifully presented. We loved that we would have exclusive use of the farm for the wedding weekend. We loved the Country House, where the bride’s family and bridesmaids got to stay and get ready.

What was your wedding style?

I think it was rustic but elegant. The glass reception venue makes the most of the beautiful views so you don’t need to go overboard on décor. We used soft blue and grey linen table runners and napkins; indigo wine glasses and ‘unstructured’ fynbos bunches to add some colour and compliment the natural fynbos in the Crags. We also wanted the wedding to be relaxed and festive, so we screened the South Africa rugby during canapés and organised some wine tastings for guests from the local wine farms. The groomsmen arrived on their mountain bikes and the bridesmaids were driven to the ceremony on the back of my husband’s Ford Ranger – they achieved that beautiful wind-swept look for free!

Tell us about the big day?

We loved every aspect of this day. I’d have to say my favourite moment was when I first saw Cameron as my dad walked me down the aisle. We had our ceremony on the top polo field, which is the most beautiful setting, and I was so happy to see Cam and realise that the time had come. Other highlights included the fact that his cousin officiated our ceremony and one of our closest friends was our photographer. These personal touches made it even more special.

Your top three wedding planning tips?

Don’t lose sight of what the day is really about. It’s fun to think about the details but two minutes into the wedding, you won’t care how the napkins are arranged!
Enjoy every minute of the day and even the months of planning beforehand. It goes by so fast.
Appreciate every person that makes the effort to be at your wedding – these are the most special people in your life. We recently lost a close friend and will always hold onto the memory of her sharing this day with us.

Any local service providers that you would especially like to recommend?

We asked Plett Wine Tours to run a shuttle service for our guests. Even though we had only arranged shuttles until 2am, they kept going until 4am to make sure every guest got home. Big thanks to Dorothy for being so professional and kind throughout.
Elzaan from Events and Tents was brilliant.
Sean Butterworth, otherwise known as DJ Butters, did a fantastic job and kept everyone on the dance floor until 3.30am (even then some could have kept going).
Heidi from The Greenhouse Salon is a great hair stylist and lovely to be around.
Of course, a big thank you to Nadeane, Lauren and the whole team at Kay and Monty for making it such a memorable day for us. We look forward to many more great lunches and glasses of Champu at Kay and Monty.