We are so excited to share our very first vow renewal with you. Botlhale and Baikagile celebrated 10 years of marriage in September this year. The guest of honour look absolutely radiant in her asymmetrical, beaded dress. It is hard to believe she has been married for 10 years!

Botlhale is the owner of Cake Couture, so it’s no surprise that she made a deliciously moist “naked” cake for the big celebration. For the decor, they kept it classic and simple opting for natural colours.  Monaghen Farm in Johannesburg made the perfect setting for Botlhale and Baikagile’s outdoor renewal ceremony. Wesley Vorster was there to capture the joyous occasion.

Tell us your love story.

We met at High School in 1987 but only started dating after we saw each other at the school reunion in 2000. I was studying at the University of the Free State and he was working in Johannesburg. After a year of dating he took me to the roof of a building he’d been working on for a great view of Johannesburg. Then he got on his knee and proposed….

What were the highlights of your wedding day?

Being with family and friends that have been great support throughout our 10 years of marriage

Any advice for brides-to-be?

The day goes by so quickly you have to enjoy it for what it is.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

I tried to do everything by myself which got overwhelming towards the end. I would have gotten help earlier.

Did anything unexpected happen?

It started raining so everything had to be moved inside because it was all (ceremony and reception) meant to be outside

Where did you get most of your ideas and inspiration from?

I got all my ideas from blogs

Any hints for other brides on how to keep your wedding budget friendly?

Keep it simple

What song did you choose for your opening dance and why?

When we were dating my husband bought me a Sade lover’s rock CD. Our song was ‘by your side’

Did your wedding preparations include any DIY projects?

We wanted it to be an easy laid back affair and wanted the decor to reflect it. We only used baby’s breath for table decor, and I baked the cake. To show our 10 years in marriage, we had 10 framed pictures of us hanging from a tree.

How does your wedding reflect your personalities?

Having been married for 10 years we wanted our anniversary celebration to be simple and easy, which is how our relationship is like.