Hayat and Stuart met in 2004 when Hayat attended a training session with insurance brokers in her company's conference room. Says Hayat, “it was my birthday and my first day in the office! I opened the door to see a huge crowd of brokers sitting and listening attentively, and there he was... the love of my life.” It was love at first sight from both sides, but Hayat was sure to leave a strong impression by giving Stuart a hard time with various questions and objecting to many aspects of the insurance plan that he discussed!

In 2005 the couple went on their first holiday together to the Rocky Mountains in Canada. It was then and there that Stuart decided to pop the question. “He couldn't have chosen a better place to propose: the famous Lake Louis. It was the happiest moment.” They later threw a big engagement party, and according to Hayat it was “similar to the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, considering the big number of my family members! It was fun, different and Stuart’s family enjoyed the new experience in the Lebanese way.”

South Africa was the first choice for their wedding location. “Leading busy lives at work and wanting an exquisite yet intimate wedding, we decided to get married in Cape Town.” The wedding, hosted on 12 December 2007, was a very personal celebration, held at Lion’s View in Camps Bay. Guests arrived at the boutique hotel to enjoy pre-reception drinks on the lawns, where crisp white ottomans created a stylish garden lounge. An outdoor ceremony took place on a specially constructed Perspex deck over a crystal clear pool, with dazzling views of the Atlantic seaboard making the special moment all the more spectacular. The day was filled with magical moments, from dancing on the funky striped dance floor to watching the cutting of the cake, which was a three tier creation with a white chocolate outside and chocolate fudge cake on the inside, decorated with fresh fruits of the season and pink lilies. The food was exceptional too – Dish Food and Social cooked up mouth-watering dishes such as saffron butter grilled lobster tail, drizzled with a lemony hollandaise, as well as aubergine and thyme rolled lamb loin with fine beans, potato galette and a rich red wine and cocoa bean jus. To top off a perfect evening of celebrations, guests were treated to gifts of tasteful African wooden frames and pretty boxes filled with chocolates.

Today the couple look back on their big day with only the fondest of memories. “It wasn't hard to find Aleit, being the leading professional wedding coordinators in South Africa. We were fortunate to have known Aleit and counted on him and his expert team to make our day so special and unique.”

Minister – Mark Wiemers
Honeymoon - Dream Destinations
Chef - Dish Food and Social
Wedding Cake- Wade's Cakes
Bar - Urban Tonic
Musicians - Aleit Music and Entertainment
Stationery - Elsje Designs
Florist - Paradiso
Lighting - Something Different Concepts and Shows
Dance floor - Event Flooring
Photographer - Jean-Pierre Uys
Waitrons - Urban Tonic
Hair and Make-up - Candice-Leigh Arnott
Hiring - Hireworx