This blog post is a bit longer than my normal ones as this was a 3 day celebration!
Day 1: The Sangeet
With 172 guests, the energy was always going to be big, but what stood out most was how warm and connected everything felt. It wasn’t overdone or forced, just a really beautiful coming together of people, culture, and celebration.
The entire evening took place outdoors, and the setting couldn’t have worked better. Boschendal in the late afternoon light is always special, and this day delivered, clear skies and a warm evening (although it did turn cold as we were checking all the apps the week before because it kept saying rain!) If there is anything that gives me grey hairs, it’s the weather!
Colour was a huge part of the look and feel. Bright, layered, and full of personality, from what guests were wearing to the styling throughout the space. It felt joyful and expressive, without losing that sense of tradition that’s so important in a sangeet.
Food was flowing all evening, generous, full of flavour, and designed for sharing. Guests moved around, catching up and trying different dishes.
The henna station added such a lovely touch. It gave guests a chance to slow down for a moment, sit together, and be part of something a little more detailed and personal.
As the evening went on, the dancing naturally took over. There were planned performances, which was so fun to watch, and the dance floor stayed full, and the energy just kept building as the night went on.
A proper celebration in every sense, and the perfect way to lead into the wedding itself.
Day 2: The Bharat and Indian Ceremony
Day two moved into something much more layered, a full wedding day built entirely from the ground up on the Retreat Lawns at Boschendal.
This wasn’t a space you simply walk into and style. Everything was brought in. From the structure of the layout to the full kitchen setup behind the scenes. It allowed us to create something completely tailored, but it also meant every detail had to be thought through from scratch. My brain was on overload (as we were also setting up day 3 behind the scenes to make sure that was ready)
The day began with the Bharat, and you could feel the shift immediately. Niral arrived in the car with lots of loud music, dhol players and it was energetic, emotional, and deeply rooted in tradition.
There’s a rhythm to an Indian wedding ceremony that naturally draws people in, moments of stillness, meaning, and symbolism layered with celebration.
From there, the evening opened up into a more relaxed flow.
Food was a big part of the experience. With a full kitchen built on-site, everything was prepared fresh. Traditional Indian dishes, rich in flavour and variety, were served in a way that encouraged sharing and trying a bit of everything.
Building a wedding like this from the ground up can easily feel overwhelming, but seeing it all come together is hugely rewarding.
A day full of tradition, celebration, and thoughtful detail, and a beautiful continuation of everything that had already begun the night before.
Day 3: The Western Wedding
The final day brought a completely different look, a wedding layered into an already full weekend, with its own personality.
We started with a midday ceremony on the lawns. Soft, simple, and beautiful. After two days of celebration, there was something really grounding about this part of the weekend.
Now… the reality behind that grounding moment?
The morning setup was stressful. There’s no other way to put it. We had a very tight window to turn the space around, and everything had to come together quickly and precisely. It was one of those setups where every minute counts, and there isn’t much room for error.
But, we made it happen.
By the time guests arrived, you would never have known. Thanks to my fabulous team.
After the ceremony, lunch was served in a canapé style format on the lawn by Table Seven. It kept things relaxed and social, guests moving around, chatting, enjoying the food without being tied to a table. It was a nice shift in pace before the evening ahead.
Then everyone headed off to change and relax for a bit of time.
The evening was more formal, a full sit down dinner with plated meals for all 172 guests. The look was so soft and romantic.
Speeches carried through into dinner, the bride sang a beautiful song for the groom and we watched a lovely video of the passed days.
Naturally, it all moved into the dance floor once dinner was complete.
And that’s where things really took off.
After three days together, everyone was comfortable, fully present, and ready to celebrate properly. The dance floor filled quickly and stayed that way, no holding back, just a proper end-of-weekend party. The shots and cocktails flowed!
From a high-pressure morning behind the scenes, to a calm ceremony, to a relaxed afternoon, and then into a polished, high-energy evening.
A full arc to close out the weekend, and the best kind of ending.
Anamika and Niral, thank you for allowing me to plan such a special 3 days for you. I wish you all the love in the world!
Thanks to the amazing suppliers below:
| SANGEET NIGHT AT RHONE HOMESTEAD | |
| Venue | Rhone Homestead Boschendal |
| Sound | Shout Music |
| Videography | White Lines |
| Hiring items | The Hire Haus |
| DJ | DJ Shraii |
| WeddIng Planner | Mosaic Weddings for all 3 days |
| Staff | Pepa Staff |
| Décor and flowers | Botanica Flowers |
| Chairs | Wilgenhof |
| Dance floor, lighting, DJ booth | Authentic Planning |
| Caterer | Table 7 |
| Furniture with bars and 3 food stations for Katie | Palm Events |
| Hair and make up | Yolande du Toit |
| Photography | Catherine Mac |
| All braai items | In and Out |
| Drone shots & content for 3 days | Hype Content |
| Henna artist | Henna by Amani |
| PICNIC | |
| Music | Shout Music |
| Catering | Boschendal |
| Videography | White Lines |
| INDIAN WEDDING | |
| Venue | The Retreat at Boschendal |
| Caterer | Taste of Kashmir |
| Décor and flowers | Botanica Flowers |
| Barista Cart | Magnificent Barista Boys |
| Ceremony chairs | Wilgenhof |
| Mandhap Structure | In and Out |
| Car | Classic Rides |
| Hiring | The Hire Haus |
| Staff | Pepa Staff |
| Furniture, bars and umbrellas | Palm Events |
| Tent | Stretch Inc |
| Hair and make up | Yolande du Toit |
| DJ | DJ Shraii |
| Photography | Catherine Mac |
| Videography | White Lines |
| Music | Shout Music |
| Generator | AV Direct |
| Chairs, lighting, tables, dance floor and bar | Authentic Planning |
| WEDDING DAY AT OLIVE PRESS | |
| Venue | Olive Press at Boschendal |
| Reception & Ceremony Chairs | Wilgenhof |
| Food stations | In and Out |
| Hiring | The Hire Haus |
| Décor and Flowers | Botanica Flowers |
| Drummer with DJ | Shout Music |
| Furniture with bars and umbrellas | Palm Events |
| Projector | Trilogy |
| Content Creation | Hype Content Creation |
| Wedding cake | Crumbs |
| Make up & hair | Yolande du Toit |
| String quartet | Shout Music |
| DJ | DJ Shraii |
| Photography | Catherine Mac |
| Videography | White Lines |
| Staff | Pepa Staff |
| Catering | Table 7 |
| Barista Cart | Magnificent Barista Boys |
| Dance floor, DJ Booth, lighting, draping | Authentic Planning |
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