They worked hard on the relationship, and equally hard on the wedding, creating something breathtaking...

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They say some love stories are written in the stars, and well they might be, but behind every "it was meant to be" and "epic" love story is a lot of commitment, flexibility and effort - all the things that make a real relationship work. Today's couple Caroline and Louis certainly had an epic wedding, following an epic relationship, criss-crossing two continents over 7 years. These two are meant to be alright - they've put in the work, committing air-miles, lonely nights and long distance phone calls to their relationship, so we send them every love and congratulations. Their love story was meant to be, they made it happen, they are love heroes, and their wedding was be-aut-i-ful and captured perfectly by DNA Photographers.

Caroline and Louis wedding The Observatory Franschhoek South Africa shot by dna photographers

The story of Caroline and Louis started as they often do, fairly simply with a gathering of friends, but it was to prove far from simple as they travelled all over the world, as Caroline explained "We met at a party in Cape Town just over 7 years ago, three weeks later Louis took me sailing and then for dinner for our first date. My 3 months stay in SA (I’m Swedish) was extended from 3 to 6 months pretty quickly as the vacation fling turned into a relationship. Both of us had plans to go to Europe after the Cape Town summer and instead of leaving it as a sad goodbye at the airport, we decided to try and make it work...

...Over the next year we made a crazy amount of trips between Milan where I was staying and South of France, where Louis was. Spending only weekends together, I eventually moved down to France, where we lived in Cannes for a few months before we started a whole lot of traveling. More in around France, some time in Holland and across the Atlantic to Miami, a big backpacking trip around South America and some holiday visits to South Africa. After partly doing lots of travelling apart and some together for at least couple of years, I eventually decided to settle in Cape Town for a while, because a) I had had enough of living out of a suitcase, b) I missed Cape Town and c) I knew it would be one of the few places in the world we would be able to be together...

...A year and a half later, Louis was living and working in Europe and was coming back to Cape Town on holiday only two days later, we had the strangest conversation on the phone. I knew something was up. After a lot of questioning and convincing he finally told me – he wasn’t coming back on holiday, he was coming to stay. I think it was one of the most exciting news I ever got!" After putting that much work into the relationship, it was clear these two were really meant to be and pretty quickly after settling in Cape Town, seven months later, at the Garona Safari Camp, just on the border of the Kruger Park, Louis put a ring on it. So the final step of planning a wedding was put in motion.

The couple were determined to have a really amazing celebration, embracing nature, in fact they initally planned on getting married in a forest, but then realised the logistics and costs would be off the charts, so they found a place that gave them that indoor-outdoor feel, bringing nature inside as much as they could, creating what can only be described as a "laid-back boho-chic meets fairytale" wedding.

Their ceremony was outside, in the balmy South African afternoon, friends and family gathered to see this couple finally seal the deal.

Caroline was especially grateful to a certain person for helping them along - the marriage officer Maritjie Venter, who was so good to them both and made the occasion so special. In fact that was the stand-out part of the day for the couple

Often I hear couples complaining about the amount of time they're going to have to spend with the photographer after the ceremony taking portraits - it's always seen as a waste of time, not to be spending time with the guests, and Irish couples especially try and minimize it. However Caroline reminded me of something that struck me on my own wedding day, for her that time was really special "Our little moments for ourselves after the ceremony – it was just so good get a moment to get a perspective and really appreciate that amazing day."

And it's a double win when you get to spend time enjoying each other and the portraits are as beautiful as these!

Caroline and Louis shot by dna photographers

But ultimately it was a party, and the couple headed back to their guests, who were enjoying drinks on the lawn in exactly the atmosphere Caroline and Louis had planned "The vibe was intimate, laidback and comfortable. We didn’t want any stiffness, so we asked people to dress stylish but add their own personal quirky touch. The ceremony and pre-drinks had a more of a bohemian feel, with lots of natural colours, summer flowers, cushions & blankets and lawn games...

...The reception was I guess also kind of bohemian, but moving a lot more towards the fairyland vibe with the foresty table décor, lots of fairy lights, candles, pink washed lighted walls, lowered ceiling and vintage cutlery & glasses."

Ultimately their venue location was key in creating what they imagined "It was lush and green, almost a kind of a Alice in Wonderland feel. The incredible villa next door made it ideal for a weekend thing, we had an amazing day by the pool and braai (South African bbq don't ya know) the night before the wedding. We also loved that there were no rules when it came to suppliers and etc – was literally our white canvas to play around with." And what a look they did create.

To create this look, the couple did a lot of DIY but we're really grateful to have lots of help from their fabulous friends to get everything ready in time.

I'm in awe - after 4 years of blogging about weddings, it's hard to bowl me over, but these two really put a huge amount of effort into their wedding, and it paid off beautifully. But most importantly, more than the decor, Caroline and Louis created a super celebration, one their family and friends clearly really really enjoyed and was a real reflection of them, their tastes and personalities...

This couple brought everyone into the fold, they even had their favorite local DJ friends to each play a set with tunes "that set the dancefloor on fire". I'm sure they did!

So even though they created an amazing celebration, Caroline and Louis' advice is very simple "It’s your wedding day. Whatever you plan and whatever you do on the day should be entirely about you and what makes you the happiest. AND take some time alone just the two of you, so you have some time to reflect on, really experience and take in all of the amazingness of the day." They're dead right, it's about the two of you, enjoy it!

Huge Congratulations Caroline & Louis - thank you so much for sharing your amazing and inspiring wedding with us, it's one in a million.

And of course to DNA Photographers - a huge pleasure to show such beautiful pictures. If you're planning a wedding in South Africa, or just want epic pictures you know who to call www.dnaphotographers.com

The Wedding Details