When a Bridal Designer Becomes the Bride: Catherine Deane’s Elegant Cape Town Wedding

When a bridal designer gets married, you know the celebration will be effortlessly chic, impeccably designed, and very, very stylish. That was definitely the case for Catherine Deane, who stitched luxurious details from her namesake bridal brand into every aspect of her wedding day.

But for Catherine, this wasn’t just a design opportunity. As a fellow designer from her brand, Joné Geldenhuys, told us, “It was a lived expression of her life’s philosophy: that beauty unfolds in its own time, and that the most meaningful moments are the ones you can’t quite plan.”

From a jaw-dropping mountain ceremony to an outdoor reception dripping in twinkle lights, Catherine Deane and Manfred Adrio’s Cape Town wedding was a stylish celebration down to the smallest detail. Scroll on for all the editorial-worthy photos captured by Ty and Eri Photography!

Designed to Perfection

“The story of the main gown was nothing short of a fairytale moment,” says Geldenhuys. While Catherine had her heart set on a design from one of her upcoming bridal collections, a couple of serendiptious discoveries in her studio inspired the designer to create her dream wedding dress from scratch.

“With a twinkle in her eye and a deadline that would make even the most seasoned dressmakers reel, Catherine Deane and her team set about making her wedding dress dreams come true” Geldenhuys shares. “The gown arrived 48 hours before the big day, fit her like a glove, and the rest was history!”

The final result? An ethereal fairytale gown, dazzling with hundreds of intricate beads, a built-in corset bodice, and romantic beaded sleeves.

To complete her look, Catherine rocked accessories from her bridal collection (love that whimsical hair vine!), a monochrome bouquet by Anli Wahl, and a signature bridal perfume.

“Her scent? Sakura by Christian Dior, gifted by her best friend, who cheekily dubbed it her ‘wife era’ perfume,” says Geldenhuys.

Stitched With Romance

Catherine and Manfred’s outdoor ceremony was one for the books, thanks in part to their loyal ring bearer. A very, very good boy!

Have a fur baby who wants in on the action? Don’t miss our list of unique ways to include your dog in your celebration!

“Held in the serene wine valleys of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Catherine’s wedding was as much a reflection of her love for nature as it was of her love story,” says Geldenhuys. Both the designer and her now-husband, an outdoor enthusiast and avid surfer, wanted the scenery to take the spotlight.

After visiting a few other venues with no luck, they stumbled upon Johannesdal 1207 — and it was love at first sight.

How could you not fall for that majestic mountain view?!

“As we stepped onto the grounds, we were immediately struck by a sense of sacred stillness. Manicured gardens unfolded before us, framed by pink and buttercup-yellow moonflowers, with a backdrop of awe-inspiring mountains. It was more than beautiful, it spoke to our vision. In that moment, we both sensed the intimacy and majesty of God. We knew, this was the place,” says Catherine.

POV: you’re running down the aisle with the love of your life while being showered with flower petals and serenaded by your favorite musician. This is what we call ceremony goals!

Catherine and Manfred skipped the traditional DJ and asked their friend, South African singer-songwriter Majozi, to perform at their wedding. At the ceremony, he set the mood with a live rendition of “Way Maker.” Such a romantic pick for your ceremony soundtrack!

Crafted With Love

“The notion of experiencing love in its most beautiful form was an important theme for the couple on their big day,” Geldenhuys shares. They crafted that theme into every element of their celebration, including this stunning reception design!

A canopy of twinkle lights. A glowing mountain backdrop. A cozy seat for all your loved ones. Yep, this is what magic looks like.

Get more inspiration for your reception design with our list of unique table layout ideas!

To complete the dreamy atmosphere, Catherine and Manfred opted for lush + bright wedding centerpiece ideas. They filled the crisp mountain air with the scent of Catherine’s favorite blooms (daffodils, lisianthus, hydrangeas, and cosmos) combined with zesty lemons — a nod to an inside joke about the Coldplay song, “Yellow.”

PSA: yellow is one of our top wedding color trends for 2025. Check out more unique ways to incorporate it into your celebration here!

A moment of appreciation for Catherine’s natural-glam look, courtesy of Leandré van Rooyen. Loving the romantic tousled waves of her wedding hairstyle!

The romantic celebration ended with a candlelit dinner under the stars, followed by dancing, live music, and memorable entertainment (hint: a live caricaturist was involved!).

And, of course, an outfit change! For the after-party, Catherine slipped into this elegant Dora Gown from her soon-to-launch Garden of Eden bridal collection. Check out more of our favorite after-party dresses here!

And that’s a wrap! Congratulations Catherine and Manfred on your stunning Cape Town wedding — it was a romantic and stylish celebration straight out of our wedding dreams. Best wishes from all of us here at GWS! ✨