A Playful Circus Engagement – Lauren & Vernon

Hello Lovelies! Here is a little something to make your Monday morning a little brighter. With all the engagements that occured over the festive period, it is no surprise that we have had a huge influx of engagement shoots sent to us these past few weeks. As you know we usually try to focus more on real weddings however, we just haven’t been to able to resist sharing such exciting shoots like this with you! The photographer responsible for this playful shoot was the always fabulous Erna Loock and the couple are just so much fun! So here to tell you all about their day is Lauren the gorgeous bride to be…

When my sister, Natalie, got married in 2004, my question to her was: “How do you know if you have met your soul mate?” Her response to my question was “You just know.”

I was working one Saturday morning at the Aldo Scribante Race Track and had invited a few of my clients to attend a VIP Day at National Racing. One of my clients invited his good friend and when his friend (Vernon) arrived, I think I literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor as I was blown away by those amazing eyes and gorgeous smile (even though he was hopelessly shy and did not speak two words to me), I knew that I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by and found a way of getting into contact with him. After a month of chatting, we decided to have coffee. That same night we shared our first kiss and that was when “I just knew” that I was standing in front of my future husband. A few days after our first kiss, we decided to make it official.

We needed a weekend away and booked a gorgeous place called Thunzi Bush Lodge. Little did I know that Vernon had arranged for this to be our engagement weekend. A few of my friends had put the idea in my head that this could possibly be the weekend that he proposed, although I very much doubted it and brushed it off. When we arrived at our cabin I offered to unpack his bag and due to the fact that there was absolutely no ring packed in… I knew that it was not going to be on this getaway trip. That Friday evening we lit a fire in our private little boma and the atmosphere and scenery was the “perfect moment”, however, knowing that there was no ring, I got the idea out of my head very quickly.

On the Saturday morning we woke to the most breath taking view of the mountains which not even a photo can capture. I decided to try out the very large bath tub and ended up using all of our hot water as I literally lay in the bath for 2 hours. I came out of the bath with a towel wrapped around my head as I had washed my hair and was planning on rinsing it in the kitchen sink having used all the hot water, I certainly had no intention on jumping into the ice cold shower. Upon coming out of the bathroom Vernon insisted I please stand on the deck so that he could take a photo of us with the gorgeous view. I must admit I got somewhat irritated as I still had the towel on my head and I really wanted to dry my hair and put on some make up in order to make the photo something worthwhile. The more I said “no”, the more he insisted. He then asked me to show him how the timer worked on the camera as he wanted a full length photo. Everything happened so quickly between setting the 10 second timer and posing for a photo that the moment I looked at Vernon he was down on one knee asking me to be his wife. The photo was amazing because as he asked me to marry him, the camera went off which captured our perfect special moment. I couldn’t have expected anything better. Of course I said YES!!!!!!!

When I had calmed down a few hours later, I asked him where he had hidden the ring and he had put it inside his car’s back light (definitely not a place that I would have looked in he he).

We wanted something unique for our photo shoot and between Erna and I, we changed our theme possibly 3 times. Vernon and I were at Jolly Dolphin in Jeffreys Bay and decided that we would do our shoot two months before the wedding so we had enough time to plan props and outfits etc for the idea that we had in mind of doing our engagement shoot at Scribante Race Track (due to that being the place we met). About an hour later I received a phone call from Erna asking if we could please do our shoot the next day as she had a slot with the circus and she thought it would be perfect. We didn’t hesitate at this fun idea (bearing in mind this is 3pm on Thursday and our shoot is at 10h30am the following day) Next point to bear in mind is the date is 26 December and it is a public holiday so all shops are closed to find any possible outfit. That evening I was on my phone arranging my make up and hair and inbetween all of that poor Vernon had to take about 6 different outfit photos for me to send through to Erna so that she could decide what we needed to bring.

The following morning I was up early on my way for make up and hair. Poor Vernon was sent off to the shops as he needed to buy a light blue checked shirt (Erna’s instruction). Literally 5 minutes before our shoot I was standing in Cardies having bright colour balloons blown up with helium – mad rush but all so well worth it.

Upon arriving at the circus, I was blown away at Erna’s professionalism yet ability to make us feel so comfortable. Despite me standing in mud and having to change in one of the circus worker’s trailer I have to admit it all added to this amazing fun experience.

We laughed more than anything and truly just enjoyed being ourselves as Erna is so natural at what she does, there wasn’t a single moment I can say we were uncomfortable. My highlights of the day would definitely have to be my fiance roaring like a lion and us ending of rolling around in the sawdust. For those soon to be brides planning their wedding who are unsure of a photographer – I can recommend Erna without a single doubt in my mind – she is AMAZING!!!

We would like to say a huge congratulations on your engagement and best of luck with all your wedding plans in the future. If their engagement shoot is this entertaining then can you imagine what the wedding is going to be like?

Enjoy the rest of your day lovelies!

Much Bespoke Love

Emily x