🍇 Grapes, Glamour & Golden Hour – A Winelands Wedding to Swoon Over

Grapes, Glamour & Golden Hour – A Winelands Wedding to Swoon Over

Imagine this: soft jazz playing as guests sip bubbly beneath towering oaks, golden light spilling over the vines, and a couple utterly in love exchanging vows at the exact moment the sun dips behind the Stellenbosch mountains.

Welcome to Sophie and James’ magical vineyard wedding.

They’re both based in Oxford, but their hearts were set on a South African wedding from the moment James proposed with a vintage-style ring while wine tasting in Franschhoek. Their dream? A destination celebration that felt both elegant and earthy—something classic, yet totally relaxed.

They found it all (and more) at La Bella Vigna, a boutique wine estate just outside Paarl.

✨ The Ceremony: Vows Among the Vines

The couple opted for a late-afternoon ceremony in the vineyard garden, where wooden benches lined the aisle and bunches of baby’s breath and white roses swayed in the breeze. Sophie wore an off-the-shoulder silk gown with a cathedral-length veil that caught the golden light just right.

James kept it classic with a stone-grey linen suit and a white rose boutonnière clipped to his grandfather’s pocket watch chain—an heirloom moment that had everyone teary-eyed.

“We wanted the setting to speak for itself,” said Sophie. “It didn’t need much—just that golden hour magic.”

🍷 The Reception: Elegant Simplicity, South African Charm

Tables were set in the courtyard beneath festoon lights. Long wooden harvest tables were adorned with greenery runners, floating candles, and delicate white blooms in vintage glass bottles. Each place setting included a handwritten name tag, a personalised wine stopper, and a menu with paired local wines.

They served grilled Karoo lamb, wild mushroom risotto, and Cape Malay spiced root veg—all locally sourced. Wine flowed freely from the estate’s own cellar, and instead of a cake, they opted for a “cheese wheel tower” served with fresh figs and biltong crisps.

🎶 The Golden Hour Moment

Right after the ceremony, their photographer stole them away for a private moment in the vineyards. The result? Glowing, cinematic shots of Sophie and James barefoot in the soil, dancing to a live acoustic rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love played by a local musician. Pure magic.

💡 Destination Tips from the Couple:

Planning from abroad? Here’s what Sophie and James recommend:

Hire a local planner who knows the venues, weather, and vendors.

Schedule everything for golden hour—it’s the winelands’ best-kept secret.

Trust your venue’s wine list—they know their grapes.

Use our free Plan My Wedding App to manage RSVPs, seating charts, and to collaborate with local suppliers even if you’re 10,000km away.

Final Thought

Sophie and James’ day was more than just a wedding—it was a winelands love story written in light, laughter, and locally made Pinotage. If you’re dreaming of a destination wedding where elegance meets the earth, the South African vineyards are calling.

Planning your own vineyard wedding?
👉 Download the Plan My Wedding Africa app and get started with venues, planners, decor inspo and timelines tailored for couples planning from abroad