Pink Flamingo - Bespoke Weddings

16/04/2022

Blissful Flamingo Sunset

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28/11/2021

Found this selection of flamingos yesterday. Seemed like a sign

30/08/2021

12/07/2021

Wedding Soundtracks

Every couple has a song. It may be a song that you were slow dancing too when you first kissed, or it could be a song that you both just loved when you heard it and it became “our song”.
Our song often becomes the first dance number at your wedding, and it should embrace all your dreams, wishes and commitment to your joint future. But sometimes “our song” just doesn’t fit the bill, or the emotion behind the number needs to remain yours and not be shared with everyone and their cell phone at your wedding.

The hunt for THE SONG begins in earnest. It is not an easy search. There are so many songs out there that sing of love, and forever, and happiness, and Mr/Mrs Right. Pretty soon the search of the right song can lead to more pre wedding arguments than where to seat great aunt Mildred.

This being said, we at PINK FLAMINGO came up with a list of options that you may want to consider.

Number 1: Bread, 1971 If
The ALL-TIME-MOST-PLAYED-AT-A-WEDDING-EVER song. You might say ‘Do we really want the most played song ever at our wedding?’ But before you discard the though, have a listen to the lyrics. It is an incredibly intimate song and you always feel that, somehow you have been invited to witness a very special moment when you hear it. For your guests, there is the realisation of the depth of your feelings for each other. Quite Simply put, it’s top of the list for a reason.

Number 2: Etta James 1960, At Last! T
his song captures the emotion of finding your forever love in song. This number has stood the test of time, and it embodies the emotion of finally finding home in another person.

Number 3: Ed Sheeran 2015 Thinking out Loud.
It’s hard to believe that such a young man could pen these words. The depth of emotion in committing to and staying with someone for decades creates the perfect love story in music. This number will feature at wedding for many years to come.

Number 4 John Legend 2013, All of me.
One of the greatest R&B artists of his time, “All of Me” highlights John Legends talent with words. Love isn’t about perfection; it’s about the acceptance for one another, including their faults.

Number 5: Elvis Presley 1961 Can’t help falling in love
Elvis, the king of Rock and Roll, slowed the tempo way down for this sensual love ballad.

Number 6: Aerosmith 1998, I don’t want to miss a thing.
This enduring ballad promises a love that will last forever, this rock ballad allows the wonderful lyrics to lead the song, with the appropriate rock style instrumentation and the strains of classical strings woven into the orchestration.
Number 7: Louis Armstrong 1967, What a wonderful World.
This is without doubt the best ever first dance song for a second wedding mature couple. Because nothing is more wonderful than finding love again.

Number 8: Christina Perri 2011, A thousand years
A very popular song for your first dance, who doesn’t want to believe that love is eternal.

Quite a few of these numbers can also be a part of the ceremony, the walking down the aisle, or the married couple leaving the chapel together as they start their life journey together.

For the more traditional couples, here is a list of beautiful classical music that is often used for weddings:
Pachelbel – Canon in D
Jeremiah Clarke – Trumpet Voluntary
Mendelssohn – Wedding March from a Midsummer Night’s Dream
Wagner – Wedding March from Tannhauser
Bach – Air on a G string

Image by Artistic Films from Pixabay

01/07/2021

Love in the time of COVID

A NO GUESTS WEDDING

This pandemic has forced us to think differently about love, and life, and the time we have together. We are now more than ever, living in the now, and realising that there are no guarantees of tomorrow, so if you want to get married, do it now, get married along and shed the guilt.

Its called an Elopement and it is the best gift you can give you and your loved one right now. It is the most intimate of weddings and it can be done without compromising the wonder of a wedding day.
Just because you are eloping, don’t lose focus on why you are getting married. Just because there will be no guests does not make the day any less important. If anything the focus is more on the happy couple and why you are doing what you are doing. You can keep the wedding experience, you are just doing it alone.

Without a doubt, the hardest thing to do will be to tell your family and friends. Chances are if they know you and love you, they will hide their disappointment and be happy for you. They will respect your choice.

How to tell you friends, perhaps a wedding non-invitation. Or a ‘Don’t save the date!’ announcement. A quirky message “ Good News. We’re getting Married. Better News. You do not need to be there. Best News. We do not expect a gift.”

A good idea is to have a pre wedding party for you closest family and friends. And we mean closest. Great Aunt Matilda twice removed from your 2nd cousins wife’s side does not need to be on the guest list.

It’s your wedding and you will need memories, so a videographer and photographer are a must. Do not make the mistake of thinking “if we have a photographer we may as well invite close family. The photographer is there to capture your special day so you can create a beautiful wedding album and share the experience with family later. The photographer is not a guest.

Unlike a traditional wedding, an elopement wedding with no guests allows you to get married where and how you want! Discuss what you like and find an environment that reflects that. The beautiful Drakensburg mountains, a wood, a garden. There are endless options and in this time, outdoor options are a better bet.

A wedding without guests is a wedding without rules!
And since there are no guests to take care of, you can have a wedding without having a wedding! You can easily do whatever you want. Paragliding in the Mountains, there are no limits.
Choose your date and place, and go get married with no guests.

Image by adamkontor from Pixabay

24/02/2021

Weddings and Masks

There is something to be said about marriage & COVID-19. And a million questions.

How many guests? Do we have to wear masks? All the time? Size of the venue and social distancing? Does the 2m distance have to be adhered too? And may you kiss the Bride?

The previously gazetted legislation on weddings in South Africa stipulated the following:
1. 50 people only can attend a wedding event
2. All attendees must always wear a mask unless they are eating or drinking
3. You may not kiss the bride. Well, you can with masks in place, but masks cannot be removed for the kiss.
4. The function organiser and venue owner are responsible for ensuring a physical distancing of a least 1.5 metres between guests
5. Sanitising stations need to be placed at all entrances, guests are screened and those who are not masked may not enter.
6. Microphones and podiums must be sanitised after use by every person.

How do you plan your wedding around COVID? How do you find fun and creative ways to incorporate these rules and regulations into your wedding day? At Pink Flamingo, we have come up with a few suggestions:

Shorten your guest list.
This is a must, with only 50 guests allowed. As a company that specialises in boutique weddings, Pink Flamingo love this, legislation or not. We plan intimate bespoke weddings, with the focus placed on the act of getting married and not the huge spectacle surrounding that. Sit down and create your guest list carefully. Make sure that those who make the cut are wholly invested in you as a couple. If this restriction of 50 people proves to hard, you have the option of live streaming the event to party pods or waiting until legislation allows you to have your large-scale wedding.
Bear in mind that a smaller guest list affords you the opportunity to upgrade your wedding treats and create a more spectacular experience for you. And what’s more, you will find quality time to spend with each and every guest throughout the day.

Provide your Guests with Wedding Masks
Providing Masks for your guests will help put them all at ease. It's also a great memento for your guests to take home with them.
The masks for the wedding party can be custom made, in the colour and fabric of your choice. They can be embroidered with your names and wedding date, or simply Mr & Mrs.
Special groomsmen and bridesmaid masks can be made in colours to match their outfits. And of course, something special for the wedding couples’ parents.

COVID safe gift bags
Give your bridal party the gift of health with a gift bag they can use before, during and after the wedding. Include face masks for before and for the reception. Include some hand sanitiser, some antibacterial wipes, breath mints and a few day after the wedding headache tablets.

The reception
There may just be 50 of you but ensure that your reception area is large enough to ensure social distancing. This applies to the dance floor as well. Make sure everyone can have fun without bumping into each other. Another option is to have dance floor pods just large enough for one couple spaced around the reception venue.
And finally, have multiple hand sanitiser stations.

We may be prevented from doing several things that we love to do, but weddings are not one of them. If you have your heart set on a wedding, go for it.

At Pink Flamingo we can ensure that all precautions are in place and your wedding falls within the government regulations, but still be the amazing celebration you always dreamed it would be.

23/02/2021

https://www.facebook.com/102070728326195/posts/102269694972965/

22/01/2021

Your Pet at Your Wedding

When planning your wedding, if you are a family with fur babies, you may find yourself considering how to involve your babies in your wedding.

I have four (yes four) fur babies, Toby, Dingbat, Chicken and Nugget, and if I were to consider this, I would need Cesar Millan there to be in charge of the circus. And believe me, with Dingbat in the mix, a circus is an understatement. I would probably include them in a wedding for the photo opportunities. Muddy paws on white dress, Dog that is always starving eating the cake, knocking over children and grannies. Fun, fun, fun!

I am certain there are many of you with delightfully well-behaved animals, be it a cat, dog, horse, rabbit, bearded dragon or even a pig that would make the most delightful addition to your special day. Here are some thoughts on how to include them on your special day.

Before the day you would need to make sure that the venue allows pets on the premises. And if there are specification as to what size pet. Perhaps a Chihuahua is okay but a Great Dane not. Or dogs and Cats, but no Pigs and Horses. If the venue is not pet friendly and you want your babies there, then look for a venue that is. Remember, its your day.

You also need to decide on which capacity your pets are involved. Are they simply guests, there to witness your day and eat your cake? Or are they going to be ring bearers, bridesmaids, or groomsmen? And if so, who holds the leash.

We thought about this and came up with a few ideas as to how your babies could be involved.

1. Walk down the aisle with you.
There is always some risk involved in this moment, so do consider it carefully and know that your baby could (happily) p*e on a pew.
2. Pose in the post wedding ceremony pictures with the newly wedded couple.
This is a really cool idea, it’s a great start to the new family unit.
3. The ring bearers.
There are lovely pet friendly ring cushions available for your special day. It is always a good idea to entrust the real rings to the Best Man, but your baby can carry some fake rings sewn onto the cushion.
4. Your Girl Babies can have gorgeous bridal harnesses and leashes to match your dress. Your Boy babies in a bowtie.

Once you have decided to include your babies, you can then tie them into the theme of your wedding. Their images can grace the invitations, with a image that is there on all the wedding stationary from seating plans to menus.

Once you are at the reception, your babies need a place to be. You can consider making dog or cat beds in the theme of the wedding to be placed behind the main table so your babies can remain at the wedding. These pet beds can then be taken home and used after the wedding.

Alternatively, after the excitement perhaps sending them home (with Cesar) would be best. I think you will find that the horse will need to be trucked back to his stable.

One last thought, if you are a serious animal lover, may be to ask you guests to donate to an animal shelter in lieu of a wedding gift.

Image by Natasha Barbieri from Pixabay

19/01/2021

Regret no cell phones

The Unplugged Wedding

On a hike last weekend, I took out my cell phone to take a picture of the gorgeous scenery, and I realised that this is now the new normal. We no longer describe an event or an outing to our friends, we also have accompanying photos to show them. We are robbing ourselves of the joy of descriptive sp*ech, of creating a pictures with words, learnng how to convey to them just how amazing – or not – an experience was.

What then is the etiquette at a weddings? One only has to google cell phones at weddings to see images of guests taking their own pictures of the event, with no consideration for either the Bride and Groom or the other guests.

If you are invited to a wedding, which is a hugely important occasion for at least two of the people there, you owe it to them to be present. You owe it to them to be cognisant of the fact that they will have hired a professional to do the photographs, and that this professional it more than capable of capturing photographic memories of the day. Almost certainly the happily married couple will share these beautiful images with you post their honeymoon.

Your job on the day of a wedding is to show up and bear witness to the most important day of the bride and grooms’ life. They invited you because they wanted you to be there, with them, in the moment. By taking out your cell phone you are essentially saying that this object, and what it can do, is more important than the couple getting married. To get images posted on social media in real time is more important. That YOU are more important.

More and more couples are taking the step towards calling it an “Unplugged Wedding” and guests are requested to leave their cell phones in their bags or pockets, with the phones set to silent. If they feel that there needs to be a compromise, then a “selfie booth” can be set up at the reception, and cell phone photos can be limited to that area.

More and more, invitation should simply say REGRET, NO CELLPHONES. As an invited guest, if you cannot spend an evening without your phone in your hand, taking pictures and posting to social media, having whatsapp conversations with absent friends instead of the real live people you are sharing a table with, then perhaps you should decline wedding invitations.

Like the lady in the photograph below, live in the moment, rely on the moment to provide you with memories. It is amazing how much more you will enjoy an event if you leave the technology behind.

19/01/2021

‘The Wedding Wardrobe’ : Declutter and Donate
Exciting things are on the horizon. A subsidiary company of the dynamic Pink Flamingo Weddings, ‘The Wedding Wardrobe’ will be a collection of hand-picked, pre-loved bridal wear, hanging in our wardrobe, waiting to be showcased at your very special day.
'The Wedding Wardrobe' Collection will stock vintage and current gowns for purchase, at affordable prices. Specialist services of a designer and seamstress is available to alter, fit and modify any dress in our collection at an additional cost.
'The Wedding Wardrobe' provides the perfect combination of making a dream dress affordable and providing an opportunity to declutter your own wardrobe.
Decluttering is usually a theme that is top of mind for most of us. Current trends encourage us to be minimalist, keep clutter at bay and free our spaces of excess. Recently a great decluttering tip was featured in a Facebook article, claiming to be the ‘Best Decluttering Tip Ever’, well worth sharing.
“My husband and I play a game. Whenever we go over to someone’s house, we bring something we have decluttered and secretly hide it in their house in plain sight. Somewhere that makes sense for it to be: Books on bookshelves, mugs in a cupboard, etc. We have gotten rid of so much stuff and only one person ever noticed. Our families are nowhere near minimalist. We are easily entertained.” – Anonymous.
As amusing as this is, leaving your wedding dress in your sisters’ wardrobe – as part of the great “declutter” is not likely to go unnoticed.
Decluttering your wedding dress is also a highly emotive decision. What better way to declutter your wedding dress, than to donate it to ‘The Wedding Wardrobe’, creating new and special memories for others.
We look forward to hanging your memory in our wardrobe and passing this memory on to other special brides.

Contact us for more information.

11/01/2021

How to plan and live stream your virtual wedding

Some things we have learned during this pandemic: wear masks, wash hands religiously, use sanitiser, and technology is your new best friend.
We are fortunate indeed to live in this digital age, where we have access to information, we can video chat with our friends and we can plan a wedding from our armchairs.
Why let something outrageous like a global pandemic, and social distancing, get in the way of a fun and fabulous wedding. But love always wins, and we, at Pink Flamingo, are finding creative ways to make your wedding happen. Where there is technology, there is a way.

This is how you virtually plan your wedding, and live stream it on the big day.
1. Contact Pink Flaming😊
2. The first, and potentially most important armchair decision, is who will be live at your wedding and who will be attending virtually. Must Haves in the venue are the Happy Couple, and the Minister. Witnesses, normally 2, and then there are your immediate family. The number at the live event pretty much depends on what is being allowed by the government, but our advice is less rather than more. Parents yes, siblings up for debate!
3. Create a list of live versus virtual guests. Be prepared to enter into some pretty serious armchair debates over these lists.
4. Decide on your venue. The options here depend on what your dream wedding requirements are. A church? A Garden? A wedding venue? Many venues are offering virtual tours, so again from your armchair, you can look for a venue to suit your wedding. If a venue does not offer a virtual tour, they will certainly entertain a FaceTime of Skype site tour so you can walk through the proposed space.
5. If you are live streaming, you need to know what the WiFi capabilities at the venue are, ask for a sp*ed test, so your technicians are aware of the upload parameters. Remember that as well as your guests, in your limited numbers, you will need a couple of technicians to manage the lie stream and filming.
6. Set a date and start the journey.

The Technical Aspect of your Wedding
1. The best advice we can give you is to find a technical team that can manage this for you. On your special day, you really do not want to be worried about the stream, this needs to happen as seamlessly as possible, and if there is a technical hitch, it really needs to not be your problem. Your team should have tested and checked the set-up hours before the event, and you should be comfortable knowing that your wedding will go out live.
2. There are a lot of live streaming options out there, chat to your wedding planners, and chose a platform that works best for you and your virtual guests. The best part about your live stream is that you create a wedding video at the same time.
3. Keep it digital. If you are live streaming your wedding, you might as well make your invitations digital. There are some wonderful companies that can emulate the experience of opening a ‘traditional’ printed invitation.
4. It's important to have a virtual rehearsal. Set up the day before and have the rehearsal dinner. Ask the family that will be attending live the following day to be at home and watch the rehearsal virtually so that you know it works. You need to wear your wedding clothes to this rehearsal, to ensure that the lighting and cameras work and send out the best visual to your guests.

The After Party
1. The small bridal party should still have the party afterward the ceremony. With minimal numbers, this can be managed safely adhering to Covid protocols.
2. The Sp*eches and toasts can be live streamed to your virtual guests as can the first dance.
3. A nice touch is to prepare hampers for your virtual guests that are delivered on the day, complete with champagne and wedding cake.
4. Depending on the platform used to stream, you can make time for your virtual guests to propose toasts to the happy couple. This will be the most epic virtual bash ever!

A virtual wedding may not be your dream wedding, and of course, your options are always to wait until you can have the wedding of your dreams. However, this is an exciting option, an unusual option. Certainly, a wedding that will be talked about in the years to come.

10/01/2021

LOVE – AND WEDDINGS – IN THE TIME OF CORONA

At this stage of our lives, it is safe to say that anyone who was planning a wedding, has had to rethink and plan differently. It seems the options are to reschedule and wait until ‘herd immunity’ is achieved or rethink the scale of your wedding. Either way, this is an incredibly stressful time for brides.

At Pink Flamingo, we had a think about how Covid -19 is affecting weddings right now, and how to prepare for a wedding in the coming months.

The most important piece of advice at this time is to keep your eye on the end goal. Ultimately you and your partner want to be married, and this may require some alterations to your plans or a change in date. Honest discussion between the two of you means you can unpack the day and see what the most important factors of your wedding are, for both of you.

If your decision is to wait until you can have the wedding of your dreams, then make that choice and stick with it. And remember, it is okay to cry, it is okay to be angry and feel this huge range of emotions but try to keep in mind that your wedding is not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. If bringing people together to celebrate your commitment is what you want, then you will need to wait until it is safe to have your big, beautiful wedding.

If your choice is to downscale and keep the date, then there are a few things to keep in mind:
Play it safe, keep your guest list to the numbers specified by the government, and make sure that the venue has sufficient space for your guests to keep a good distance between themselves. It may be your wedding, it must not become a spreader event. Decide to not have a DJ and dancing, limit the alcohol, do whatever you need to do to keep yourselves and your guests safe.

The reality, worldwide, is that events are likely only to reopen in the middle of 2021. And event then there will potentially still be some restrictions in place. If you chose to postpone your wedding, perhaps wait until there is a significant improvement on the pandemic situation, and as soon as you can, thereafter, book your date. Remember, that there are several people in the same boat, so be ready to move quickly to reserve your venue.

Pink Flamingo are here to help negotiate the tricky waters around weddings and the virus. Everything you want can be achieved, it's just a question of now or later.

08/01/2021

10 things we love about small weddings at PINK FLAMINGO


You only get to wed the love of your life once, so it stands to reason that your ceremony should be perfect for you.
7. Small weddings mean fewer bridesmaids, so no trauma to find the one shape/colour fits/suits all bridesmaid dress.
1. Small weddings are cost-efficient.
Less guests = less spend. And let us be honest, the savings can be used for something the married couple wants or needs. An exotic honeymoon, or a payment on the house of your dreams. Is it worth spending all that money on a single event?
2. Small weddings are eco-friendly.
The truth is: weddings are beautiful, but they also cause waste and trash. So, if you are all for keeping it green, then a small wedding is the best way to go. Leave as small a carbon footprint as you can. Mother Earth will love you😊
3. Small weddings are easier to plan and arrange.
You have a far greater choice in venues if you have a small wedding, from a small intimate venue to your own back garden. Décor is also easier to plan for and arrange in a smaller venue.
4. Small weddings allow you the freedom to be creative with the location.
Since you have a small guest list, the possibilities for wedding locations are endless. You can book beach houses (Airbnb), galleries, museums, boats, and more for your wedding location! You can also consider a destination wedding.

5. Small weddings allow you to indulge and splurge on things that matter to you.
With less being spent on the event, perhaps you can have the band of your dreams playing at your wedding, and not just a DJ. Or fantastic exotic flowers, or a designer wedding gown.
6. Small weddings give you the opportunity to enjoy other's company.
You and your partner can spend the day together, chatting to your nearest and dearest during the reception. You get to spend time together and focus on one another and not your guests.
7. Small weddings mean less bridesmaids, so no trauma to find the one shape/colour fits/suits all bridesmaid dress.
8. Small weddings give you an excuse to invite only the most important people in your life.
Your guest list is comprised of immediate family members and close friends only. These are the people who will share their lives with you. Are they not the only ones you need there on that day?
9. Small weddings give you the chance to take care of all your guests.
Since your small guest list is mostly composed of close relatives and friends, you get to take care of all of them and make them feel welcome. You do not need to play host and hostess. In fact, they have known you for so long, they should be taking care of you.
10. Small weddings mean less stress.
This is a no brainer. A small wedding is sure to be a memorable affair not just for you but the people who matter most in your life.

27/10/2020

23/09/2020

23/09/2020

WE DO: The full range of wedding services...

23/09/2020

WE DO - Family, Drama, Classic, Fun, Happy, Love...

23/09/2020

PINK FLAMINGO WEDDINGS ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!

SAM: 083 384 3157/[email protected]
JO: 083 604 0956/[email protected]

Call us now to discuss your special day!

22/09/2020

We are fully equipped to deal with all aspects of destination weddings including:
Travel, flights, accommodation, ground logistics and transport for guests and bridal party, venue preparations, decor and styling, arrival drinks and favours, daily excursions, rehearsal and group dinners, bridal party requirements, entertainment.

22/09/2020

We provide a full service offering, working with you from day 1, encapsulating your style, hobbies, interests, tastes and personality. Our team of trusted suppliers have a wide range of ideas and options to suit your requirements.

22/09/2020

We can provide a wide range of wedding music. We work with musicians, bands and DJs of all genres, to suit your special day.

21/09/2020

SAM & JO: PINK FLAMINGO Head Birds
THABO: Tech guy 1
MARK: Tech guy 2/Videographer/Onsite medic
ANDI: Assistant Bird - Bridal and guests
LYNN: Stylist
CHARMAINE: Cakes, delectables, snacks
CIARA: Photographer/Videographer
THULA: Choreographer