Stunning Winter Wedding at Emily Moon
I feel like a broken record when I say this, but it remains completely true: I am THE LUCKIEST photographer in the world.
Week after week, I get invited into people’s lives to photograph, celebrate and share some absolutely banging love stories.
And Debbie and Chris’s beautiful winter wedding at Emily Moon River Lodge in Plettenberg Bay was one of those days that reminded me exactly why I love what I do.
The Invisible Red String
You’ve probably heard me talk about the “invisible red string” before — the idea that two people who are destined to meet are connected by an invisible thread, regardless of time, place or circumstance.
And sometimes, you meet a couple whose story makes you believe in it just a little bit more.
Debbie and Chris found a love that feels gentle.
Patient.
Easy.
The kind of love that happens when two people have hearts open enough to let someone else in.
I’ve been incredibly lucky to witness all kinds of love over the years, and theirs is the kind that makes you smile quietly from behind the camera.
And Then There Was THAT DRESS
Debbie.
We need to talk.
Firstly, I have MASSIVE hair envy.
Secondly…
THAT. DRESS.
I was talking about it on the wedding day. I was talking about it afterwards. And I’m fairly certain everyone who attended their Emily Moon wedding is STILL talking about that dress.
She looked absolutely banging.
But beyond the incredible dress, the beautiful details and everything that makes a wedding visually spectacular, there was this warmth surrounding the entire day.
And then there was Chris.
An absolute gentleman with the best sense of humour, who somehow managed an entire couple shoot without a single complaint. He constantly checked in on everyone around him and carried this wonderfully calm presence throughout the day.
These two just make sense together.
A Winter Wedding in Plettenberg Bay
There is something incredibly beautiful about a winter wedding on the Garden Route.
The light becomes softer, the landscapes change and everything feels a little quieter. Emily Moon was the perfect setting for Debbie and Chris to celebrate surrounded by the people they love.
There were laughs, beautiful quiet moments, champagne and, obviously, tequila.
Exactly how a wedding should be.
D & C, it genuinely was an honour to be part of this day.
I wish you all the tequila shots.
All the quiet moments.
The heart-racing ones, just to make sure you’re still alive.
I hope there are at least a few more dates wearing THAT DRESS, champagne celebrations for every win regardless of how big or small, ridiculously long hugs, plenty of slow dancing and many years of adventures together with all your kids.
Until we meet again,
xXx
S
These days are not possible without extremely talented humans that have chosen to be in the wedding industry:
Wedding Planner & Decor – Ecozest
Venue & Food – Emily Moon
Flowers & Co-ordination – Ecozest
Videographer – Garden Router Creative
Makeup & Hair – Donnal Taylor
Officiant – Sandy Coffey
Cake – Clare Roode
Set along the banks of the Bitou River just outside Plettenberg Bay, Emily Moon River Lodge is one of the Garden Route’s most unique and beautiful wedding and photography locations. Surrounded by indigenous landscapes, wetlands and incredible mountain views, the venue has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere with its distinctive African inspired architecture and eclectic interiors. It’s the perfect setting for couples wanting a wedding that feels intimate, warm and completely connected to the surrounding landscape.
One of the things I love most about photographing weddings at Emily Moon is the incredible variety it offers. From the character-filled interiors and beautiful ceremony spaces to the river, mountains and surrounding natural landscapes, there is always something different to work with. And when that famous Plettenberg Bay golden light arrives, the entire landscape seems to glow. Whether you’re planning an intimate celebration or a bigger destination wedding on the Garden Route, Emily Moon River Lodge offers a relaxed and unforgettable setting that captures so much of what makes Plettenberg Bay such a special place to get married.
