Marriage vows in the Valley of a Thousand Hills
Dating trip precedes his proposal
A TREASURE hunt through Durban led singer and songwriter Natalie Rungan to a five-star hotel where her boyfriend, Bruce Baker, waited impatiently to propose to her.
Natalie and Bruce met 12 years ago when he started playing for the band Tonk.
“Two members of the band were good friends of mine,” said Natalie. “I started booking Bruce for a few gigs and then, about five years ago, I took him on as my full-time drummer.”
Bruce pursued Natalie for some time before she finally gave in, and the two started dating three years ago.
“The proposal was epic for me,” said Natalie. “I knew he was going to propose, but I didn’t know where or how. He had me go on a treasure hunt, driving around Durban to places that we had been to during the time we dated.
“At each place were little gifts and a card he made that had details of the next place and . . . what he loved about me. The final destination was dinner at a five-star hotel, where he proposed to me before dinner because he could not wait any longer.”
The couple set the wedding date for March 29.
They chose to have an intimate wedding in the presence of 92 close family and friends.
Natalie said the best part of planning their wedding was finding the venue.
“When we visited Intaba View in the tranquil and majestic Valley of a Thousand Hills, west of Durban, we had such an amazing feeling and instantly knew we had found the one.
“We just wanted to have a classy, beautiful but simple ceremony witnessed by people who loved and cared for both Bruce and me— people who have been instrumental in our lives over the past three years.”
With the help of Natalie’s brother, Sebastian, the couple designed and printed their fun, unconventional invitation, which illustrated the pair’s journey to the alter with Zoo-Zoo characters — white, cartoon-like figures created for a cellphone company’s advertising campaign.
Intaba View’s beautiful chapel was decorated with two large bouquets on plinths and a white carpet down the centre.
The couple exchanged vows in a traditional Christian ceremony.
“The memory that stands out for me was looking into Natalie’s eyes as we said our vows,” said Bruce.
For Natalie, saying their vows “was definitely the best part of the wedding, while a sense of emotion was felt when we sang the worship songs”.
“We each felt inner peace and a comfort knowing that we were exactly where we should be.”
At the reception, 10 tables bearing fuchsia-pink runners over white table cloths or orange-and-fuchsia organza overlays were set out for the guests. Black boxes filled with sweets had been put at each place setting.
Natalie’s cousin, stand-up comedian Krijay Govender, was master of ceremonies.
The guests had several starters, main courses and desserts to choose from — an avocado ritz, beef carpaccio, stuffed chicken breasts, a rack of lamb in red wine sauce, crème brûlée, tiramisu and meringue shells filled with strawberries and cream.
After cutting the threetier cake, which was decorated with fuchsia-coloured orchids made by hand from icing and a picture of the Zoo-Zoos, the couple danced to a song Natalie had written for Bruce about two years ago, called Some Smiles.
The musicians honeymooned in Cape Town before returning to their Glenwood home.
How she describes him: Bruce is kind, gentle, smart, talented and loving.
How he describes her: Natalie is passionate, intelligent, caring, beautiful and creative.
What she thought when she saw him on their wedding day: I just thought that Bruce looked so handsome, very English and elegant in his suit.
What he thought when he saw her on their wedding day: Natalie looked incredibly radiant and beautiful in the purest way.