Kate and Rudy share their story on love and marriage in The Constantia Valley.
Some fifteen years ago we wrote the first chapter in what has now become our love story. Rudy, the dashing star of a not-quite-Broadway-worthy school production, and I, the stand-in prompter, thanks to a friend’s fortuitous bout of asthma. After some significant eye contact and lengthy awkward silences, Rudy asked me to ‘go steady’ thanks to prodding and poking from friends who could feel the chemistry early on. We’d like to say ‘the rest is history’, and that this was followed by endless years of glorious togetherness, but there’s a little more to this story than that.
Our story is my favourite as I’m sure yours is to you. Even though we’ve been through break ups, make ups, intercontinental separations and everything in between. Yes, there’s been plenty of dramas, but what would you expect from a couple who met on the stage? The bottom line is that we’re better people when we’re together, and we think the universe knows that, flinging us back towards each other forcefully every time we try to change the script.
After dating for 12 years – oh yeah, that’s right, 12 years… Rudy popped ‘the question’ in a cinema on the big screen, not only that, he had arranged a surprise party for us afterwards with 90 of our closest friends and family.
Then came the time for us to decide where we should host our special day, and only one area stood out for us. The Constantia Valley. Yes, you have Franschhoek, Stellies and many surrounding destination wedding choices, and they are all great, but we wanted somewhere where we had spent time together, a place that was close to our home and our hearts. I know what you are thinking, it sounds a little sappy, I know and I’m not generally the sappiest of people but weddings tend to bring that out in a person.
When we started planning our wedding and having agreed that the most beautiful spot for us to tie-the-knot would be in our ‘backyard’, it became a case of where? For years, The Constantia Valley has played a massive role in the development of our relationship. Whether it was working at Greens or having drinks at The Rose Bar, a lekker brekkie at Jonkershuis, a yummy bite at Peddlars, wine tasting at Steenberg or watching the rugga at False Bay, there was never a dull moment.
Groot Constantia Wine Estate is where it all took place; we had both our ceremony and reception there. The day was a gloriously sunny one and therefore it was fitting we had our ceremony on the lawns of the sundial garden, right in front of the wine cellar. With the trees providing shade for our friends and family and the bus load of Asian tourists snapping away, it definitely made for an entertaining and memorable day. Our mate Scott married us, and after there were games, cocktails, movie inspired treats and 1950’s style canapé’s.
With enough character to match our personalities and movie inspired day, we moved into The Courtyard at Jonkershuis Eatery, which played host to our reception. There were fun props, incredible food and drink, on-the-ball service, great company, memorable speeches, a little-personalised song and loads of dancing. The whole caboodle made for the best day of our lives so far.
On that magical day when we walked down the grassy aisle, among the vineyards, we knew that choosing this area was the best choice we could have made. Now, when driving or walking through the leafy suburbs, we are constantly reminded just how much this area has played a crucial role in our relationship.
And so begins the ‘Happily Ever After’ chapter of our story. But don’t expect us to retreat to our rocking chairs just yet… we’re just getting to the best part!
Article & Images Courtesy of Kate May Norris-Jones
