Pizza + Pimms Pre-Wedding Event at the Roundhouse

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Café Caprice

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Wedding Day

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Thanks for stopping by! If you having your wedding at Babylonstoren or any other unique farm wedding venue in Franschhoek or Stellenbosch and still need a wedding photographer I’d love to hear from you! Please use the contact form at the top of the page or email directly me at mf@mathiasfastphotography.com. I am currently booking Cape Town and South Africa weddings for this year and next.

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Cape Town and Stellenbosch wedding vendors who helped make this Babylonstoren wedding happen:

Planner // Jadee x Watermelon Events

Entertainment // Deb – XDC

Videographer // Vision on Fire

Venue + Caterer + Bouquet // Babylonstoren

Florals  // Blomstories

Decor // Something Different

Furniture // Okasie

Makeup + Hair // Kirsty De Costa – Langaro

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Babylonstoren is one of the most unique wedding venues in the Cape winelands and based on my experience photographing there in 2018 I thought I’d write a review of sorts. As soon as you drive into Babylonstoren you get a feel for the historic nature of this Cape Dutch farm. It truly is a majestic place unlike any other and the perfect spot to have your south african wedding. The Simonsberg and Franschhoek mountains back the expansive property giving you an incredible view regardless of where you are on the grounds. What helps makes Babylonstoren the best wedding venue in South Africa is the incredible hotel is has for a bride and groom and their guests to stay in. Recently named one the top hotels in Africa by Condé Nast Traveler, Babylonstoren has a range of accomodations options for you but my favorite is easily the Farmhouse. The attention to detail is immaculate and the entire Farmhouse makes for great moody wedding photos. Their website claims that the loft above the farmhouse is the most beautiful honeymoon suite in Africa and I can see why. Not only does it make a great location to get ready for your wedding but a stunning spot to spend your first night as husband and wife. Other hotel accomodation options on the property include the Garden cottages and Fynbos cottages. All seem newly renovated and are a great match for a luxury wedding in the cape winelands. While it isn’t often made available for wedding guests, the Manor House is able to accomodate 10 people and is a beautiful piece of Cape Dutch architecture. My second favorite spot after the Farmhouse for wedding prep photos at Babylonstoren is the Koornhuis cottage which is adjacent to the wedding reception space. There a glass enclosed space out back where Tanya and her bridemaids got ready. The natural light made for great candid wedding photos. All the walls throughout Babylonstoren are in the classic whitewashed finish which does make wedding photography a dream. When it comes to the actual wedding, Babylonstoren has three versatile spaces for up to 100 guests which makes it perfectly suited for a more intimate wedding. The classic location for your wedding ceremony is under the massive oak trees next to the creek but my suggestion is to splurge on having your wedding ceremony in the House of Shadows. Its an incredibly mysterious and jaw-dropping venue to say I do. Your options for reception venue at Babylonstoren all somehow have a rustic, chic and stylish feel to them. The primary reception venue at Babylonstoren is definitely the Old Cellar and I recommend dining family style at one long table. The thatched roof above is perfect for hanging florals from and makes for a natural and unique setting. The wheat barn across the field from the Old Cellar can seat up to 50 people for dinner which again is perfect for a more intimate wedding reception. The space has a darker and moodier feel and is often used for dancing rather than dinner. Tanya and Alex chose to do so and had a live band playing at one end with plenty of space still available for dancing. Lastly, the white studio is a completely unique and stunning space that is most often used as surprise dessert station. The White Studio’s location directly adjacent to the wheat barn means your guests don’t have to go far to fuel up to keep dancing all night long! The oak trees that line the walls of this farm wedding venue make a very romantic setting and I suggest hanging lights from them. When it comes to food, Babylonstoren has an incredible catering department that sources all the food directly from the organic farm. This winery wedding venue also offers a full service bar which is usually located outside the wheat barn. When most people think of Babylonstoren wedding photography the first thing that comes to mind is portraits of the bride and groom in the cactus garden. While it is definitely the most popular spot to take wedding photos at Babylonstoren, it is hardly the only location. You are spoiled for choice, whether it be expertly manicured gardens, a creek winding through a wild forest or the aforementioned cactus field. As a Babylonstoren wedding photographer I have to say it might be my favorite place any where in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek to to take wedding photos. While the price for having your wedding at Babylonstoren is quite expensive, it is worth every penny. The standard of luxury, service, and setting simply can’t be beat and I highly recommend considering Babylonstoren for your Cape town destination wedding.