Summer is calling!!

Hi Everyone,


With less than 3 months to go, I thought I’d just touch base again. We’ve sent out invites and we can now happily expect to see about 80 people at the wedding which is what we had hoped for.

The count down has begun and Derek and I are busy sorting out the ceremony, bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen suits etc.

As Autumn is well and truly on it’s way (in the North East, that is!!) - Summer is very much on its way in the Mother City with temperatures of around 30 degree’s Celsius so I hope you are all as excited as me to leave the jacket’s behind, get some sunshine and be able to kick off my shoes and get my feet in the sand!!

If any of you haven’t booked accommodation yet, I can only strongly suggest you do as things fill up extremely quickly.

If there’s anything else you need to know etc just let us know….

We can’t wait to see you all very soon.
xx

Check out this website http://www.southafrica.net/

Here are some interesting facts about Cape Town:

Cape Town has a population of 3,497,097

We have 11 official languages with English and Afrikaans being the most widely spoken

Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years as a political prisoner, just off the coast of Cape Town at Robben Island. His release later led to end of the apartheid era in South Africa when he became president in 1994. Daily tours to the island are available and are well worth it!

You must know about South Africa’s Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard). Did you know we also have a little 5 too? They are the Lion ant, Elephant Shrew, Rhino Beetle, Buffalo Weaver and the Leopard Tortoise – I wonder if you could spot any of them!!!

South Africa is called the ‘rainbow nation’ because of its cultural diversity. It signifies the coming-together of people of many different nations, in a country once identified with a strict division of black and white. This name was given to us at the end of the Apartheid era.

Cape Point is the most ‘Southwestern’ tip of Africa and it’s where two of the world’s largest oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian meet. A beautiful and dramatic place to visit but the currents are too strong for swimming. Watch out for the baboons!!

A lesser-known fact on South Africa is that it has achieved steady economic growth in gross domestic product (GDP) since the late 90s. The country, regarded as an emerging market, has a well developed financial sector and active stock exchange.

Situated at the southern tip of Africa, South Africa has a landmass of 1 233 404 km² edged on 3 sides by a nearly 3000km of coastline washed by the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. It is bordered in the north by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and also wraps itself around two independent countries, Lesotho and Swaziland.

The South African flag is a much-loved symbol of patriotism and other significant national emblems include: National bird: blue crane; National animal: the springbok; National fish: galjoen; National flower: protea and National tree: the yellowwood.

6 months to go....

Hi Everyone


It’s been a while since we updated you on what’s happening!! It’s almost six months to the day and we can’t believe how quickly time goes. We’ve had some good feedback from some of you and are so pleased that we’ve got quite a few family and friends making their way over from the UK and Ireland. For those who are still thinking of coming, you still have time but flights and accommodation are filling up fast and getting pricey.

Derek and I were back in Cape Town for a week in May to organise ‘all things wedding’. Plans are coming along nicely, with the help of my folks and we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the planning.

I’ve added a new page of exciting things to do while you’re in CT, check it out – Our top 11 things to do  – click on the link on the right hand side of the page. If there is anything that you need help with booking or if you want advice on what to do and where to go etc, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll also be putting an information pack together for when you arrive which will give you some local information etc.

Invitations will also be on the way soon which will give you some more info too. Let me know if there is any other info you need.

Bye for now,
Tam and Derek xx

Save the date!!!!

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to our wedding blog. Here, you can find everything you need or want to know about our wedding. It's a work in progress so please keep checking back every now and then for new info.

For the out-of-towners, we hope that you are looking forward to a once in a lifetime holiday in Cape Town with our wedding being the 'cherry on top'. It will be wonderful to see as many of you there as possible and we can both say that without doubt, you will have an un-forgettable experience.

Its all a little bit more real now that it's just a year down the line. We've decided on a date and booked the venue...... Our big day will be Tuesday 3rd January 2012 at a wine estate called Vrede en Lust. The estate is nestled in the beautiful Paarl-Franschhoek valley approximately 45 minutes drive from Cape Town. Check it out http://www.vnl.co.za/

Ok. Now its time to get you into the S.A. mood!!! Here are some useful websites for you to have a look at, which should give you some ideas of where to stay and generally what Cape Town has to offer;

http://www.tourismcapetown.co.za/

http://www.aboutcapetown.com/

http://www.capestay.co.za/

http://www.cape-venues.co.za/

http://www.discoverthecape.com/

http://www.capevillas.com/

There is an abundance of accomodation in Cape Town but with January being our high season, your first choice will soon be taken. We do suggest that you look at booking your accomodation fairly soon (even before your flight) to get the best possible price as the later it's left the pricier it will become.

Here's a list of some of the nicer areas we think you should have a look at staying.

Atlantic Seaboard - Camps Bay, Clifton, Bakoven, Bantry Bay, Three Anchor Bay, Moulli Point

City Centre - Green Point, Waterfront, Tamboerskloof

Hout Bay

False Bay - St James and Simons Town

Southern Suburbs - these include Constantia, Bergvliet, Meadowridge, Rondebosch, Newlands

We're in the process of selecting some ideas for accommodation for you to choose from so we'll get back to on that soon. However, if in the meantime you're keen to do your own research and find somewhere to stay, let us know before you book and we'll advise you on your choice.

Its also a good time to start thinking about flights. Flight bookings open a year in advance. The main carriers we recommend are; BA, SAA, KLM and Emirates. It's sometimes a good idea to avoid the main airports like Heathrow as taxes to go through them are the highest. Try and have a look at flying through Schipol or one of the smaller airports.

That should be enough to get you all started. For now though, we kindly ask you to reply to our 'Save the date' email, just so we have an idea of who will be able to make it.

Bye for now, Lot's of love, xxx