Annual White Celebration

We wait in anticipation the whole year for this event, The Annual White Celebration held on Molenvliet Wine and Guest Estate along side Karla Oetlers Absolute Collection Events and Staffing to see what new ideas and concepts will follow through into the following year as far as events and Weddings go. All dressed in white 350 guests, suppliers and friends gathered for this year end event 2013.

I have been to a few of Karla's parties now and she pulls out all the stops, from being at the most beautiful wine farm I have ever seen to the endless props, tents, statues all in white, even a white popcorn stand, white writing in the fields and dancers. 

On arrival you walk down a long table with crisp vegetable chips, olives and nuts to eat with the sparkling wine under a drape tent in the middle of the vineyards, we all got to hang out a bit and have some fun during the busy season for the hospitality and event industry.

Keeping us constantly entertained we moved down to the venue where we received our branded wine glasses and three tokens to try a white, red and rose' wine while DJ Chopper started to play the music to get us started with a party vibe.

In the courtyard was something I have never seen before, beautiful chandeliers surrounded by a construction scaffolding dotted with antipasti, cheese boards, breads, dips, charcuterie of cold meats laid out on platters and all the accompaniments that go along with it.

As if this was not enough inside we were offered endless assorted canapes like mozzarella rolled with pesto, smoked salmon on macaroon, chilli tempura prawns and duck pancakes with hoisin sauce. I found myself stationed at the oyster tower for a while enjoying them traditional style with my sparkling wine, professional photographers were capturing every moment and you could even get a Caricature drawn of yourself to take home.

After my oyster frenzy I visited the burger bar which was filled with different toppings like, caramelised onions, home made mustard, tomatoes, relishes and mayonnaise. They also had the flat pizza guy from the Old Biscuit Mill topping mini pizzas with his usual Parma Ham, Parmesan, rocket and balsamic reduction.

We ended the night dancing our feet off to DJ Rene, The Frenchman with his can't stand still music and drums, he gets even me onto the dancefloor. The sweets for the evening were cakes and petit fours from Cakes by Wade which came out on silver platters with big glowing sparklers attracting everybody's attention. All the guests were enjoying themselves so much that for a thursday night I only left after 1pm, luckily off the following day. Well done to Ockie and Karla for an amazing evening, can't wait for the next one.

Pictures and Article Copyright by Tamsyn Wells

Diamant Estate Launch Party

I was so pleased to be invited to the launch of this newly developed Wedding and function venue found in the Paarl Winelands. In Collaboration with Absolute Collection a Wedding and Corporate event planning company, the launch took place this past Thursday at Diamant Estate.

By the name you would think this venue is glitz, glam and diamonds where it actually feels very relaxed and homely, like you are away from the city and automatically kick into holiday mode.
The dress was smart casual but with a colour scheme of Royal blue, beige, white and cream which followed through in the decor and branding of the event.

We gathered at a welcome area for home- made lemonade in mini jam jars where the canapes and bites started flowing, root vegetable chips, springrolls filled with cheese and parma ham and mini rolls topped with beef.

We then made our way to an open field decked out in white furniture, hay bales, ottomans and food bars consisting of a BBQ station for kebabs, cocktail bar, cheese and preserve bar, antipasti, sweets and popcorn station, flowing sparkling wine produced by the Diamant estate, Bos ice tea and branded water. Bottomless Coffee a two man band were playing a mix of folk jazz and blues.

Next we moved into the venue where an amazing blue, white and cream candy bar draws all the ladies attention made by Wade and Arda from Cakes by Wade  and more hot snacks are passed around made by the catering company called Two Chefs. 

Big bonfires warm the area, a photobooth, piano player, coffee bar as well as acrobatic dancers and fire dancers entertain us late into the night when the dancefloor opened and still more bright blue ice cream cones were served as well as water to cure our hangovers.

We all had an amazing time and I really recommend this venue along with all the sponsors who helped to make our evening so special.

Abri Kruger was the photographer for the evening, I have seen some of his pictures, he really captured the evening showing just what an amazing event this was. He is Currently running a special on a Glamour make over shoot where he will transform you into a glamour model for a day.

Diamant Estate 0761116905
Absolute Collection 0834401583
Cakes by Wade 0829324522
Bottomless Coffee 0845175783
Abri Kruger Photography 0718736611
Two Chefs 0828333697

Pictures and article copyright by Tamsyn Wells