WITH six months to go before Shana Kramer's big day, designer Gerhard Meiring has whisked the bride-to-be and winner of The Herald's Win a Dream Wedding competition off to Mums Fabrics to discuss dress preparations.
Shana and fiancé Lyle Wolfaardt won an all-expenses paid wedding for 200 guests at Slipperfields – and the fabulous R225000 prize includes a handmade wedding dress made for her by Gerhard Meiring Couture.
The prize was announced at The Herald Boardwalk Bridal Fair in May.
The Bluewater Bay designer will create a dress to the value of R10000, with Mums Fabrics sponsoring the material. Meiring will also make bridesmaid and flower girl dresses to hire, to the value of R2000.
Although Gerhard and Shana have already been planning the design, they visited Mums to see what fabrics were available. "I'm going all out for this dahling!" declared Meiring, who said he was looking forward to working "with the finest quality lace, duchesse satins and chiffons".
He is not letting any secrets out about what Shana will wear but did say it will transform into more than one dress: "She will have three different looks."
Meiring also shed some light on the importance of brides ordering or hiring their wedding dress in good time. "You don't want to settle for the last option when it comes to hiring," or face a limited amount of fabrics and lace, he argued.
Shana and Lyle are set to marry on January 10 next year and this is more than enough time for Gerhard to work his magic as he advises brides to give him a minimum of three months to eight weeks depending on the amount of work involved with the dress.
"This is enough time to make alterations to the dress according to the bride's weight loss or gain," he said. "Professional designers put a lot of pride into their work and appreciate time to practice their craft to the best of their capabilities, ensuring the client can have her dream wedding dress made to perfection."
The beautiful bride-to-be Shana was all smiles as measurements were taken.
"The planning so far has been a ball of fun," she said, with most things in order "like my dress and my girls' dresses, the cake and the invites...we have appointments to sort out the others".
When asked again about the designs and the budget Gerhard maintained "my ideas are going to stay a secret until the wedding. Is the budget ever enough? But we are making it work!" - Sinesipho Mbandazayo