An extract from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran

You were born together and together you shall be for evermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness.

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread, but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone

Even as the strings of a lute are alone

Though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping

For only the hand of Life can contain your heart

The Church of St. Francis’ of Assisi, Val

The sandstone, thatched church with its beautiful stained glass windows was consecrated in January 1965.  Sadly the church was struck by lightning in 1970 and burnt down, leaving only the walls standing.  Only one pew was saved, and the family Bible.  It was rebuilt in 1971, and a vestry added.  Mrs Lawrence, who designed and initiated the building of the church, had a stone built into the floor of the church in front of the altar, which she brought all the way from an excavation site at the Temple of Jerusalem.

Please remind your Pastor or Priest to sign the register in the vestry in order to allow the church to have a record of weddings at Val.

Confetti should be of any natural, biodegradable substance, such as bubbles, petals, wheat, (as symbol of fertility) rice, etc.

PLEASE LOCK THE CHURCH AFTER THE SERVICE AND RETURN THE KEYS TO THE HOTEL.

The church is used for Sunday services; therefore it is imperative that it should be left in an acceptable condition.  Please do not open the windows with stained glass panes, as they are rather fragile.

Contact person: Helen Lawrence: 017 778 9050, or 0825505061, also for

Limited edition water colour prints of the church at R150

Important telephone numbers

Interdenominational, bilingual marriage officer: Louw Jacobs 082 3366027

Photography: Michelle van Aswegen: 0833047618, Ilse Cronjè: 0824965696, Jakes O’ Neill: 082 457 3940,

Music:

Andrè 082 4613119, Guitarist and organist: Rian: 0795064173,

Make-up & Hair stylist, for top-to-toe treatment on location:

Suzanne: 072 4678194, or 017 701 3159

Handcrafted Jewellery: (Custom designed tiaras, engagement and wedding rings, earrings, pendants, etc) Goldsmith: Lorean: 0741630045

Table linen, overlays, etc. Elizabeth’s Hire:  017 631 5824, 072 3190214

Draping and candles: Andre Steenkamp 082 8526734

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Val:

Helen Lawrence. 017 778 9050 or 0825505061

Our banking details:

MMM Britz ABSA Savings account nr 9066597563 Hatfield branch

General information

We specialize in smaller, more intimate weddings, ideally between 80-100 guests.

The duration of a wedding reception is approximately 5 hours.  If you wish to use our facilities for a period longer than this, a fee of R100 per hour will be payable to the hotel.

A fee of R15 per room is payable to guests who wish to use the rooms prior to the wedding service.

In order to assure that your wedding date has been booked, it is important to take note that the deposit is paid as soon as you have decided to make use of our facilities. In case of a cancellation, the deposit will not be refunded.

Our hotel has a fully licensed bar and guests will not be allowed to bring their own alcoholic beverages.  Please ensure that your guests respect this rule. The bar will also supply champagne and welcoming drinks.

Please inform the hotel of the number of guests expected a week prior to the wedding date.  At this stage, the full outstanding amount payable will be due.

We have coordinated more than 130 weddings since 1995 and offer a professional service as we realise that this is your special day. We ensure you that we will go the extra mile in order to let all run smoothly.  It is our aim to take the stress out of your day and make your day a memorable one.

We offer advice on choice of menus, colour schemes, flowers, etiquette, décor, and apparel, even the groom’s speech! In short, we are at your service!  Please feel free to contact us at any time for advice, or queries.

The master of ceremonies

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Prior to the service, the master of ceremonies will act as host to welcome guests at the church door.  Ask him to ensure that the front pews are reserved for the close family of the bridal couple.  He will make sure that the bridal party and parents have received their buttonholes and corsages, that the order of service has been handed out, and that the confetti and the ring are at hand.  He will give the sign to the organist that the bride has arrived.
2. After the service, he will advise guests as to where the welcoming drink will be served at the hotel while the couple is occupied at the photo session.
3. At the venue, he will indicate to guests where the gifts can be placed, (on the server next to the main table, envelopes in the box provided on the server in front of the main table) He will show guests the location of the toilets, vacant rooms are available to mothers with babies.
4. The wedding coordinator will lease with the MC to ensure that all guests are comfortable.  Please remember to ask the guests to sign the hotel guest book during the reception.
5. As soon as the couple is ready to enter the reception area, guests are invited to take their places.  On arrival, their special song will be played and guests applaud them.
6. The MC appoints a person to say grace and guests are invited to enjoy their starters.  Waiters remove dishes as soon as guests have finished the first course whilst the wine stewards serve champagne. The MC commences with the programme of toasts and speeches.
7. The main course is served.
8. The cutting of the cake
9. The garter and bouquet ceremonies are dealt with

10.   Dessert is served!!

11.   General feasting and jovial mingling of guests

The budget

Church of St Francis   R500

Watercolour print (limited edition: one of only 150) R150 (optional)

Welcoming drink @ R10, 00 per person

Champagne @ R75 per bottle

Grape juice @ R25 per bottle

Juice @ R150 for 15 litres

Menus from R150 per person for a three-course meal

White chair covers: R7 each

Linen, overlays and napkins R100.00 per table

Fully licensed bar with bartenders, R400

Waiters:  one per 20 guests, R200 per waiter

Floral decorations: according to your budget

Wedding cake of your choice, according to your budget

The first consultation is free of charge, any successive consultations by prior arrangement only, and at R200 per hour.

Accommodation: The hotel has 14 double rooms.  R400 per en-suite room, R450 per self catering unit. Backpacker’s accommodation: 17 singles @ R70 per person.

Other accommodation within a 10km radius of the venue: from R200per person

Up to 100 guests can be accommodated within a 15km radius of the hotel

Venue R7 500 non-refundable deposit on confirmation of booking

Here are a few suggestions when planning the menu

Welcoming drink

Non-alcoholic fruit punch

Fruit juice & champagne

Sangria

Gluhwein

Sherry

Savannah light served with a small green apple in a flute glass

Champagne and Parfait Amour

Champagne with fresh cherries (when in season)

Starters

Biltong salad

Stuffed pears, served with a red wine sauce

Figs and nuts served with blue cheese sauce

Carpaccio, capers, blue cheese, served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Mango and prawn cocktail (when in season)

Avocado Ritz

Litchis in mint sauce (when in season)

Snoek pâté with Melba toast

Fresh asparagus served with olive oil and lemon juice (when in season)

Meat dishes

Filet

Leg of Lamb

Gammon

Chicken Portions

Venison Pie (in season)

Chicken Pie

Spit braai with side dishes

Starches

Potato with garlic butter and parsley

“Sunday”-potato

Potato casserole

Savoury rice

Brown rice

Couscous

Basmati rice

Polenta

Vegetables

Green bean bundles with pancetta

Marinated, roasted vegetables

Roasted butternut

Pumpkin roll

Spinach with feta, mushroom and baby tomato

Carrots with garlic, black pepper and olive oil

Old fashioned green beans

Vegetable casserole

Salads

Strawberry and cucumber, served with white wine vinaigrette

Chick pea and rocket

Cherry tomato with capers

French or Italian salad

Spinach with garlic, mushroom and feta

Desserts

Individual pavlovas with fresh fruit and cream

Chocolate Nemesis

Carrot cake

Cheese cake

Malva pudding with ice cream or custard

Mini ice cream cakes

Picasso fudge cake