Bride of the Year
“My favourite part of any wedding is when the bride walks down the aisle with her father. This is the part that brings me to tears – a father’s pride and a husbands’ first look at his new wife. There is just something so sacred about those first few moments.”
This is according to the owner of Oh Happy Day, Joelene Botha, who charmed her way into being selected as one of the top 12 finalists for the Bride of the Year pageant hosted by SA Weddings, last month. Making the top 12 out of over 3000 entries is something to be proud of, especially as Joelene was the only finalist selected from Kwazulu Natal.
About the SA Weddings Bride of the Year experience, Joelene says
“The entire 2 day whirlwind weekend was an incredible experience. We were flown to Cape Town for the final and from the minute we stepped off the plane, we were treated like kings and queens. A limosune collected us from the airport, complete with Champagne and snacks before whisking us to our hotel for the weekend: the Bay Hotel on Camps Bay. Here we met the rest of the brides and grooms and were spoilt rotten by all the amazing prizes. It felt like we had won already! The weekend went by so fast, I still can’t believe how incredible it was. From 5 star dinners, to spa treatments at the Cullinan, to brandy tastings at Van Rijns and the amazing gala dinner on the Saturday night; every second was a ‘pinch-me’ moment.
To be placed 3rd out of 3000 brides also still feels so unreal. In my mind, every single bride was beautiful in her own way, they were such incredible women, and I am so glad I got to share this experience with them.” As 2nd runner up, Joelene won a R10 000 cash prize, as well as a host of Phillips appliances, hair and beauty products and clothing.
About Oh Happy Day, Joelene says
“After planning my own wedding in 2014, I realised that there was a gap in the industry. This was most prevalent in wedding planning / coordination and bringing it together with the creative side of styling a wedding. 'Oh Happy Day' bridges that gap as our offering is two-fold, but not limited creatively. My background and experience in events paired with my enthusiasm for creating bliss-filled celebrations has guided me into offering something truly unique. The name of the business is incredibly sentimental, because Oh Happy Day was named after the theme of my very own wedding. It was the core sentiment that we wanted our wedding day to echo, and it was borne out of the joy of our loved ones. This name was chosen because I want all our clients to feel as happy and as joyful on their special day, as I did on mine.”
About being in the Wedding industry, Joelene says
“I think the best part of being in this industry is the pivotal role we play in making unforgettable moments for others! Personally, I believe that Kzn is on the brink of a wedding revolution – there is such a dynamic team of talented, creative wedding vendors in our province, that Kzn is stepping up to first place as a wedding destination for brides across the country, as well as those living abroad.”
Oh Happy Day will be at the National Bride wedding fair this month, offering planning advice to future brides at Collisheen Estate and will also be giving away a sponsored prize for the lucky draw. Don’t miss out!