It has been a pretty exciting start to 2010 at Tramonto - hence our brand new monthly newsletter! The newsletter focuses mainly on the wedding scene, but is filled with top tips and ideas that can be applied to zhoosch up any function. With the wedding Season still at a peak, we hope to excite and inspire you with some easy and relaxed reading to help get the creative juices flowing! This month we also bring you some Grammy Inspiration and some advice on keeping your budget on track with tips on saving. The message of the wedding guru, Colin Cowie is "love is in the detail"- and that is exactly what we hope to convey with every month’s issue.
Contents:
Pinotage on Tap – December 2009
The annual celebration of the original coffee/chocolate Pinotage was held at Tramonto Venue on 16 December 2010. It was one of the most talked about events on the George calendar in December and more than 1000 people streamed through Tramonto gates. The day was filled with top class South African entertainment, mouth watering sushi, “roosterkoeke”, oysters, cheese platters, strawberries and ice cream and of course one of the finest wines that Diemersfontein has to offer – on tap!
Like minded Pinotage lovers jumped up and down to the sounds of local Afrikaans band dDisselblom followed by the outstanding musical antics of Prime Circle whom really got the crowd going! Fun was had by all! To view the full range of photo’s from the festival go to www.tramonto-venue.co.za/past_events
Elizabeth Arden – February 2010
Elizabeth Arden is a global beauty products company with an impressive portfolio of prestige beauty brands – we are proud to be associated with them. Elizabeth Arden – originally named Florence Nightingale Graham – was the first beauty professional in the industry to send out “Beauty Ambassador-esses”, the original beauty advisors found today in salons and retail stores, and we are privalledged to have hosted our George ambassadors in February 2010 for their latest product training conference.
Our Beauty advisors embarked on a 4day training conference where they were familiarized with new products and beauty therapy methods under the capable hands of Rhone Marais, Elizabeth Arden Representative and Coastal Trainer.
The Conference was a great success, so don’t hesitate and head off to your nearest Elizabeth Arden counter for your beauty advice and top of the range products!
[To Top]
Price on Love? Getting the most for your Moola…
Weddings are magnificent, they are elegant and fun, they are a celebration of love and commitment, they are stylish and stunning…they are also very expensive! So here are some top tips on minimizing the cost of your big day without compromising your style!
Décor:
Flowers are one of the most expensive aspects of your wedding, you can easily save on flowers by:
- Using flowers that are in season: You will find them in abundance and they will be at their lowest yearly price.
- Using flowers that are indigenous to the area: A good example of this is Fynbos if getting married in the cape, they come in various colours, shapes and sizes and also offer volume, so a little goes a long way!
- Use the minimum flowers and maximise on vases, candles and crystals: You will still have the same stylish feel by only having 3 to 5 small vases or arrangements. Focus on using light and candle holders, only bringing in the flowers to add the softer touch.
Cake:
The wedding cake is one of the most exciting aspects of your wedding, but also the one thing that everyone forgets about at the end of the evening, make sure you can have your cake and eat it by:
- Serving the cake right after your church ceremony, traditionally canapé’s and champagne will be served during the time where the bride &groom disappear for their photos. But by serving the cake during this time instead, you will get a wonderful “High Tea” feel while at the same time cutting the cost on your welcome snacks. This will also prevent the wastage of serving wedding cake right at the end of the evening to guest that by that time have had a three course dinner.
- Combining the cake with your favours. You can have your glorious cake and cut out favour costs by giving guests cake takeaways in elegant or personalized boxes. Cupcakes/Petit Fours and Sweetie Pies are also make for great favours and can double as a funky or quirky wedding cake, perfect for guests to take home.
Stationary:
Why not take the DIY approach? This is the perfect opportunity to set your bridesmaids to work and get some serious girl time in. Make sure you have snacks and sparkling wine and you’ll have your invites out in no time and at the same time saving you on stationers’ costs.
Menu:
In South Africa we are all about quantity. We end up spending exuberant amounts on food and having tons of wedding buffet left, opt for a plated menu instead. Plated menus are tasteful and can be stylishly presented according to your exact specifications.
Venue:
Save costs on your Venue by looking for special packages, most venue prices are almost cut in half during off peak seasons (May to August). Winter weddings add some uniqueness to your day, find a venue with cosy corners and snug fire places, welcome your guests with steaming hot chocolate and gluhwein! Cosy, comfortable and cost effective! View more here...
And last but not least: SHOP AROUND! You will be amazed at how all the small hidden cost adds up on a wedding day, by shopping around you will not only get the best deals but get your creative juices flowing by all the exciting things around you! Ideas are hiding behind every corner, you just need to be open to spot them!
[To Top]
Vera Wang “Love Knot” Champagne Flutes
Vera Wang founded her design company in 1990. The Vera Wang Brand reflects her life long love of fashion, but also celebrates the romance, sensuality and spirit of the modern young woman – and the blushing spirit of brides for that matter! These stunning flutes are perfect for the bridal couple to “clink” on their union!
[To Top]
Jazz up your champagne with wild Hibiscus Flowers.
 |
The wild hibiscus product was discovered by a happy accident in 1998 by Lee Ethrington. At a rather “tipsy” dinner party. The friends playfully dunked the hibiscus flower in some champagne and watched in amazement as the flower started to open as the bubbles trickled through - it truly was a Eureka moment! Lee has since been developing the product and today it is often seen in cocktails at up market events and weddings! It is not only visually stunning, it’s also bound to bring the somewhat exotic aspect to your big day! Available at www.bushtuckershop.com for around £9.90 per 500ml jar. |
[To Top]
Grammy Inspired!
This years’ Grammy awards held on 31 January 2010 in California, delivered some pretty inspiring and somewhat daring dresses! Why not get Grammy inspired with your Dream wedding gown? You’re thinking: Hollywood = Expensive? That does not have to be the case! At Tramonto we have your alternative designer wedding gown, so you don’t have to turn into Cinderella after the wedding day!
Rihanna’s white crepe Elie Saab gown makes quite a statement. Why not swap her feathery Haute Couture gown for a more fitted creation from the Demetrios Collection (Dress code 3146) available at Tramonto in Ivory/White or Light Gold Taffeta.
Carrie Underwood opted for a fresh & flowy look in a white asymmetrical George Chakra gown. Alternatively get the Demetrios 7405 Tulle dress in Ivory or White at the Tramonto Bridal Studio.
For Mya, old Hollywood glamour was the way to go! This liquid metal gown was truly a showstopper. For your wedding get the sophisticated, daring and sexy Demetrios GR171 available in Ivory/White/Pink/Grey blue/Gold and Platinum Taffeta.
Keri Hilson chose this Figure hugging Dolce & Gabbana mermaid creation with Crystal waistband. It’s stylish and incredibly elegant. The Demetrios Collection 989 will certainly do the same for you on your big day. Available in Silk Taffeta in White/Diamond white.
Lady Marmalaide
[To Top]
The Cape Gate Shopping Centre Wedding Expo 2010.
Thursday 04 March 2010 to Sunday, 07 March 2010 in Bracken fell.
There will be no better time than this to plan your Wedding. Get ready to be lavished with Extravagant Eye Candy ranging from elegant Bridal gowns to exquisite jewellery and bursts of floral displays, make-up artists, hairstylists, photographers, videographers and much more. How about being serenaded with harmonious sounds all to create the Fairytale Wedding of your Dreams? There will also be a Bridal Show on the 7th of March where you can view the most amazing Bridal garments.
Three lucky engaged couples stand a chance to win prizes up to R50 000. Competition Forms will be made available in February 2010 at the Cape Gate Shopping Centre with all details.
Venue: Cape Gate Shopping Centre, Brackenfell.
Contact: Natasha on +27 (0)78 700-6815
The Cape Winelands Film Festival in Stellenbosch
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 to Saturday, 27 March 2010
It’s a Festival-within-a-Festival, for 10 days we offer a program of timely and fascinating films. A host of special events, tributes and symposia are in the works. While its perspective is clearly global, the Festival is also a showcase and forum for the South African film industry. Celestial Film Nights - Get ready for an unbelievable experience. Typically festival goers arrive around 6pm to catch a movie in the Oude Libertas winery's indoor theatre or to participate in a food sampling following a cooking demonstration. There might even be a special barrel tasting! Most nights there is live entertainment before the feature film begins. Some nights you might glimpse a celebrity guest mingling informally with festival goers.
The Oude Libertas Restaurant and Wine Bar is open nightly from 18h00 to 23h00 during each celestial film night.
Contact: +27(0)83 792-4320
Western Cape Events
The Feast of the Grape
Sunday, 21 March 2010 in Durbanville
The Durbanville Wine Valley will host the Feast of the Grape on the 21st March 2010. This harvest festival is a complete package of wine, great food & fine music – from picking a bunch, making your own wine, to wine tasting's and cellar tours. Participating Wine Farms include Participating Farms Altydgedacht, Bloemendal, D’Aria, De Grendel, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Hillcrest, Meerendal and Nitída.
Tickets & Bookings:
Please make all your bookings for any of the activities directly with the host farms. Don’t delays as places are limited.
Contact: Michelle van Staden on telephone: +27 (0)83 310-1228
Wellington Harvest Festival – Wellington
Saturday, 20 March 2010 to Monday, 22 March 2010
During this weekend the people of Wellington invite guests from all the country to come and experience Wellington. Food, wine, sporting activities and loads of entertainment. Come and join in the fun and experience Wellington.
Visitors are required to purchase an access pass at their first port of call or Wellington Tourism Office, serving as registration to the weekend. This includes a wine tasting glass together with your programme. The pass will allow you free wine tasting at participating cellars through out the week-end. Thereafter it works on a pay-as-you-go system with many of the activities for free.
Cost Tickets are R60 per person.
Venues: Wellington's surrounding wine farms
Dates: 20-22 March 2010
Contact: +27 (0)21 873-4604
Taste of Cape Town Festival
Wednesday, 24 March 2010 to Sunday, 28 March 2010 - Granger Bay
Having tantalized taste buds in Cape Town for the past three years, the Taste of Cape Town is once again upon us.
16 of the city’s most acclaimed and awarded restaurants will again join together to serve their fabulous, trend-setting signature dishes to an audience of foodies, connoisseurs, critics and anyone else with a taste for unbelievable food.
Celebrated chefs from Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek will be participating, promising an extraordinary gastronomic experience for everyone. The Chef’s Theatre, Wine Route and Beer Academy will add to a delicious day - or night – out, sampling exquisite food and drink, beholding stunning food preparation, sensational stimulation and offering an escape in the luxury surrounds of champagne and cocktail bars.
With many new restaurants, top chefs, exciting features, the reputation of Taste of Cape Town has grown to into the most celebrated food festival the Mother City has ever seen.
Make a date with Taste of Cape Town – a world-class event where visitors who are passionate about their food and drink can indulge in their passion in the company of like-minded individuals.
Tickets go on sale from 11 January 2010 and are available through Computicket on 083 915 8000.
Standard tickets cost R80 and premium tickets cost R170 (which includes R100 worth of Taste of Cape Town CROWNS).
Festival Times:
Wed 24th March 2010: 18h30 – 22h00
Thurs 25th March 2010: 18h30 – 22h00
Fri 26th March 2010: 18h30 – 22h00
Sat 27th March 2010: 13h00 – 17h00; 18h30 – 22h00
Sun 28th March 2010: 12h00 – 17h00
Venue: To be advised.
[To Top]
Anneke and Riaan Terblanche
Anneke and Riaan met at a ‘sokkie’ in February 2006 in Stellenbosch. “He asked me for a dance and I agreed.” “It was love at first sight!” They danced the whole night and from that moment on everything changed. “We went on a coffee date where we talked throughout the whole evening and two weeks later we were a couple.” They got engaged in June 2008 and celebrated their union on the 19th of December 2009 at Tramonto.
The Chapel was breathtaking! Golden tiffany chairs, the red carpet and glorious sunlight shining through the Chapel windows created a romantic, ambient atmosphere. The Venue @ Tramonto was adorned with soft cream draping and fairy lights hanging from the ceiling.
For the Reception we chose soft, beautiful and understated cream roses. The five star meal, romantic lighting, great service, together with family and friends enjoying every moment ensured a truly fairy tail wedding day!
“Thank you to Maryke and her team for all their hard work in organizing a wedding that everyone talked about for a long time!” “Tramonto really made our dreams come true!” “This was the beginning of our journey that will end up in the sunset of our lives!!” View more of their photo's on our website.
Service Providers:
Planner: Maryke Groenewald @ Tramonto
Photographer: Willie Lategan Photographer
Cake: Cacy’s Cakes – Carrol Ann
Flowers: Rita Flowers
Dj & Entertainment: Garden Route Trio & Charles du Preez
Make-up: Marelize Steyn- Earle @ Tramonto
“Marriage is not a ritual or an end.
It is a long, intricate,
intimate dance together
and nothing matters more
than your own sense of balance
and your choice of partner.”
- Amy Bloom
[To Top]
You can view this newsletter online if you have any problems viewing it here
If you do not wish to receive any further newsletters email us
Copyright © Tramonto 2010
