Kimya and Greg were introduced about two and a half years ago through a mutual friend. They’d hit it off almost instantly, finding a mutual love for traveling. “In our 2+ years of dating, we have been blessed to travel the world together, from Morocco to Paris, Brazil, Barcelona to London and Amsterdam and Brussels, and it has become one of our favorite pastimes and produced some of our most magical memories,” Kimya shares. But the memory that would hold the most magic for the couple would be the moment that Greg proposed. Kimya was hosting a birthday dinner for her future groom when he presented her with a ring that he had designed himself. At the ring’s center was the diamond that Greg’s grandmother passed down to him before she died; the symbolism was paramount. It was then that Kimya made a proposal of her own, that they turn their planned South African vacation into a destination wedding, and so they did.
The couple headed to the Motherland for their elegant white wedding in Cape Town, South Africa. The intimate ceremony hosted a little over 30 guests and was decorated to suit their impeccable taste. Glass candelabras held long white candles atop the long dinner table that sat comfortably in front of the 12 Apostles Hotel’s ocean view. Pure white linens was the simplicity that gave the silver chargers their spotlight. Blush, white, and soft green flowers nestled in the round glass vases was the perfect floral incorporation for the elegant affair. Take a look at Kimya and Greg’s dreamy South African destination wedding below. Photography by Greg Lumley.
Bride – Kimya Singleton
Groom – Greg Singleton
Wedding date – October 23, 2015
Wedding location – 12 Apostles Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
Describe your wedding dress. What was wedding shopping like for you?My wedding dress was a mix of old-world glamour, classic style, and dramatic flair with a heavy, textured bottom. I visited several well-known wedding boutiques in the Atlanta area, but was blown away by the personal attention and service I received at Winnie Couture. Sometimes it’s the small things like offering champagne to my guests that accompanied me on the dress shopping, and listening intently as I described my vision and the feeling I wanted to evoke on my wedding day. They were superb to work with, and provided an elevated and upscale experience, making me feel special and valued.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
Neither myself or my husband are from Africa, so we wanted to make sure that our guests were able to experience the culture during our wedding and afterwards on our tours and events. Not only did we have a group of underprivileged children from the townships play along with the violin quartet at our ceremony, we also hosted a traditional South African braai (similar to the American BBQ), at our villa the night after the wedding, with local dishes from a renowned chef, directly from his farm including elant, kudu, warthog, ostrich and alligator.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
My favorite memory was going down to the beach with our photographers after the ceremony to take photos on Camps Bay beach, where the sunset and magical backdrop felt like a dream. It was perfectly windy and cool, and my husband and I were able to steal several special moments while away from the crowd.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
I would say don’t be afraid to do something different. The sheer distance of South Africa from the States made it a big task to bring everyone together, but in the end, we had both become so much closer and gained even more trust from one another as we coordinated our respective parts of the trip.
Vendors
Photographer: Greg Lumley
Wedding Ceremony: Fynbos Gardens, 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa, Camps Bay, Cape Town, SA
Wedding Reception: Atlantic Terrace Marquee, 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa, Camps Bay, Cape Town, SA
Wedding planner: Stephanie Hall-Tarling, Red Carnation South Africa, 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa
Videographer: FJS Productions
Decor/Floral: Gerrit van Niekerk, Duke & Duchess South Africa
Makeup Artist: Qaanita Abrams, OnQ Makeup South Africa
Hairstylist: Danielle Jacobs, South Africa
Cake: Wade van der Merwe, Cakes by Wade
Nice love story. A nice close – up of the couple would have been good. These shots are dark and distant.
Absolutely stunning!!!!! Gorgeous couple and beautiful destination. Cheers to a lifetime of love! – M