Those searching for non-traditional wedding dresses are going to love this bride’s unique gown! Katy opted to forgo wearing a classic white ballgown for her wedding and instead donned an effortlessly elegant silk emerald green dress. Her inspiration for this one-of-a-kind look? She says she fell in love with Kira Knightley’s dress in the 2007 film, Atonement. For those who haven’t seen this romance-war movie, it stars Knightley, James McAvoy, and an oh-so gorgeous green gown.
Along with Katy’s stunning dress, her wedding also stood out because of where it took place. She married her love, Justin, in the Southern West Coast of South Africa at Emily Moon River Lodge. The couple actually own the venue, and after hosting a few weddings, they, too decided to marry there. Hugo Coelho captured the event saying, “the goal was to have fun with a very laidback mood. All the guests wore white and the ceremony took place right by the river.” Katy, also says she wanted to create a causal setting for her wedding and was inspired by elements she had seen while visiting India. Both Katy and Justin share a love for India and country’s beautiful traditions. “We got married on a riverbed in front of an Indian arch with lots of stone Buddhas surrounding us,” says Katy. Adding, “during the ceremony, everyone casually sat on the grass bank under beautiful block-printed umbrellas. The day was very casual and all about fun with friends and family, which is what we love most.” See more of their boho-inspired South African wedding below!
We were extremely lucky to have the support of our families throughout the whole wedding. Everyone, including our friends, speakers, and all the amazing service providers, found a way to help make it special for us. Our photographer, Hugo, is incredibly gifted in capturing beautiful moments and put our guests at ease, while the staff at Emily Moon made life fun and easy for everyone in attendance. We are so grateful…
It’s hard to pick a specific moment on my wedding day as the whole day was filled with lots of incredible moments but the moment that stood out for us was the moment I walked down the aisle and saw the love of my life waiting for me at the end.
The Dress: As we mentioned before, Katy says what inspired her non-traditional gown was the movie Atonement. Knightley donned an iconic emerald silk green dress in the heart-breaking movie and Katy knew she had to wear something simliar on her wedding day. “I fell in love with it immediately and knew that my passion for vibrant colors would show in that type of dress,” explains Katy. Adding, “I went to India for work before the wedding and found a similar green silk fabric at the Home of Silk. I brought it back to an amazing local designer in Johannesburg, South Africa, who did a perfect job of creating my dream dress.”
Don’t Miss: Our Favorite Wedding Dresses with a Pop of Color!
And can we talk about Katy’s bridal crown for a minute? We are OBSESSED!! Katy is a jewelry designer and wore her own earrings and necklace too! LOVE.
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The couple played an acoustic version of Take on Me by Ah Ha for their First Dance!
Congrats Katy and Justin! For those looking for more boho-inspired weddings, we’ve got you covered #onGWS!
photography: Hugo Coelho // venue name: Emily Moon River, Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa // event design: Emily Moon River // planning: Emily Moon River // florals: Pippa's Flowers & Co // wedding dress: Vesselina Pentcheva Bunce // hairpiece: Mignonne Handmade // bride's ring: Katy Valentine // catering: Emily Moon River
