Weddings at Natte Valleij
A showcase of elegant and emotive photos from weddings at Natte Valleij, Stellenbosch.
Wedding photography
at Natte Valleij Estate in Stellenbosch
Weddings at Natte Valleij always produce magical imagery. Nestled in the heart of the Cape Winelands, this wedding venue remains one of South Africa’s hidden gems and is constantly surpizing me with it’s photographic potential. This enchanting estate is part secret garden and part historical manor. From a photography perspective, wedding images here benefit from soft sunlight filtering through ancient oak trees and the dramatic contrasts of the colonial house. It’s the perfect venue if you want magical and intimate wedding photos.
Outdoor ceremonies, long tables lit up by a canopy of fairy lights, indoor space during winter and even accomodation. Natte Valleij feels like a Pinterest board come to life. But somehow, not many wedding couples know about it. It’s nestled in between Stellenbosch and Paarl, next door to Lievland Wine Estate.
I’ve had the opportunity to shoot more than one wedding here and the images are effortlessly beautiful each time. I honestly feel like I’m cheating. The trees act as a natural diffuser, so there is never any harsh direct light. Plus the private and open space allows for negative space in the images, making it so much easier to create intersting compositions.
Of all the weddings I’ve captured here, Kate and Chris’ stand out. The backlit couple session on the private road produced images that will forever remain in my portfolio. The portraits of Kate in particular. There’s also an image of the couple together, backlit and surrounded by tall flowers that I love. It reminds me of a classical portrait from the 1400s.
