At The Aleit Group, we love pushing the boundaries, however the key to good taste is to know when and where to stop. There are so many no-no’s this season, we’ve had to do two sections!

1. Props for the couple shoot – We do enjoy a bit of cheesiness every now and then, but using props like suitcases, bicycles and umbrellas during the couple photography is pushing it too far. Keep your photographs classic – you don’t want to cringe when you look at them ten years down the line.
   
   
2. Videographer interviews – Everybody hates it when the videographer comes around to each guest and asks them to leave a personal message for couple, especially after a few glasses of wine! Rather leave personalised message cards on each table for guests to fill in.
   
   
3. Bridal attire and colour scheme – Match the bridal attire to your chosen colour scheme. It’s a wedding, not the military! You do not want to be camouflaged – stand out on your special day.

1. Singing – Whether you are Celine Dion or if you are as vocally talented as she is, we promise you, you are going to regret this forever. Also, the people that love you the most are your worst critics.
   
   
2. White suits – Grooms, please do not wear a white suit to your wedding! Maybe, maybe, if it is a beach wedding, but then linen and leather sandals are the most appropriate.
   
   
3. Chewing gum – The Bride and Groom should never, ever, let anyone chewing gum get close to them on their wedding day. Mints are definitely the way to go.

Born and bred in the Eastern Cape, Jenny Coetzee came to the city with dreams of studying and establishing a career. Obtaining a diploma in public relations at Stellenbosch College, she moved on to work at a prominent attorney’s firm in the winelands. She was introduced to The Aleit Group, and it was here that she traded conformity for excitement, challenges and fast-paced business.

Describing herself as a romantic, dynamic and glamorous person, Jenny says that working at The Aleit Group brings her nearer to the things she loves - people, planning and organizing. As Personal Assistant to Aleit Swanepoel, she now lives her dream of a city life: “Seeing clients leave our office satisfied is every small town girl’s dream come true. Not only am I a part of the most wonderful Team around, I get to meet new couples every day which makes me realise how lucky in love one can be!”

From stunning Stellenbosch, Fran has a natural flair for beauty, colour and arrangement. Graduating in 2009 with a BA Humanities degree from the University of Stellenbosch, she majored in English and Psychology, and was drawn to The Aleit Group by their fantastic reputation. She brings with her incredible attention to detail, fabulous style, imagination and an immense passion for people.

Fran is particularly interested in listening perceptively to others and coming up with ideas and solutions to any problems or questions they may have - and she does so creatively and articulately.

Joining The Aleit Group as their very responsible and diligent office manager, has afforded Fran the delightful opportunity to employ her many talents, and to do so in a successful, supportive environment where attention to detail at all levels is of primary importance. Of Aleit and his team, Fran speaks very highly, "I love working with Aleit and his team, and like theirs, my top priority is unremitting client satisfaction. Every morning I come to work with a spring in my step, looking forward to another day of working alongside the fabulous Aleit Team.”

Passion, pizzazz and elegance are but a few words used to describe Christine Le Roux. As a qualified Interior Designer, Christine started her career working for a design house specializing in luxury hotels and villas. She has an eye for style and the ability to adapt to the ever evolving trends that the design sector faces. Christine excelled in the industry by identifying her clients’ needs and she has brought this ability to her role at The Aleit Group, where she is a vessel through which the clients’ thoughts and ideas become a reality.

Interior design is a high pressure industry where Christine thrived to attain the clients’ ultimate satisfaction. This experience, along with the support of the staff and resources of The Aleit Group can be seen as a match made in design heaven.

Christine grew up in the heart of the Klein Karoo and has since made Cape Town her home. She values her grass root beginnings and encompasses the in vogue styles from the international market to create events that embody style in its purest, most unadulterated form.
“My first few months at the company have been so inspiring! It’s been hard work, but I love every second of it. The whole Team is friends and we really support and motivate each other.”

Finally! The best company of its kind in the industry – Aleit Travel, in association with Giltedge Travel, is at the forefront of the market for exclusive, incomparable honeymoons, travel arrangements and accommodation for both our bridal couples as well as their guests. We firmly believe that each couple’s individual personalities should be implemented not only in all aspects of their wedding celebrations – but in the details of their honeymoon as well. A honeymoon should be more than just a romantic retreat, rather a multi-sensory, unforgettable experience for both Bride and Groom.

We, at Aleit Travel, pride ourselves in creating an ideal honeymoon experience for every Bride and Groom. Be it a glamorous yet discreet hideaway you seek, or a rare opportunity to interact with African wildlife in their natural habitat – Aleit Travel, powered by Giltedge Travel, will arrange your dream getaway.

Aleit Travel services are available to all couples wishing to celebrate their newly declared nuptials with a perfectly coordinated and planned honeymoon experience – not only those whose weddings are coordinated by the trend-setting, world renowned Aleit Group. Our services extend not only to honeymoon arrangements but guest accommodation and the coordination of intimate weddings as well. 

Africa is without a doubt one of the most sought after wedding and honeymoon destinations in the world.  From enticing African safaris to ocean-side getaways, to relaxing escapes in the pristine Cape Winelands – Aleit Travel has it covered.

Vissit Aleit Exclusive Travel

Our studio becomes more and more fabulous by the day! We have entirely revamped our office space, and it’s looking more stunning than ever! Silver-topped desks and designer chairs for the coordinators. A brand-new kitchen – red-topped counter and all! A new funky lounge area in between our work space gives the office that relaxed yet sophisticated vibe.

Our consultation area has moved to a separate room and is an absolute feast for the eyes. With an enormous flat screen TV for slideshows, and a huge Mac on which to show off photos of our show-stopping weddings, our clients feel enveloped by luxury. Our logo, an impressive mirror-cut “A” adorns the wall and the gorgeous new couch, stylish chairs, chandeliers and mirror-topped table, all help to create a classy and luxurious ambiance. For all the staff, being at work is indeed a beautiful and inspiring experience, every day. With regards to clients, first impressions really do matter, and as they walk in, clients feel at ease in our professional yet comfortable environment.

Please note – After this huge revamp, donations are very welcome!

On 24 February 2010, Aleit was invited by The Culinary Academy to give an inspirational talk to the students. Chanel and Jenny accompanied him and they all arrived early to set up. The guys were given a bottle of bubbly, and all the girls received a beautiful white rose and an Aleit card.

Aleit and Team took along some magazines that The Aleit Group was recently published in, for the students to pass around and have a look at. Aleit shared with them his history; how he started out in the industry and how hard he had to work to be where he is today. Being in the hospitality industry themselves (which is so closely related to the wedding industry), the students could really relate to his story.

He showed them pictures of weddings we have coordinated and also shared with them how our process works – from initial enquiry right through to execution on the wedding day. The students loved it, and him! And they laughed at everything he had to say, with lines delivered in only the way that Aleit himself can!

Requests for Aleit to be guest speaker have been flooding in. Everyone seems to want to pick his brain in an attempt to discover the secret to his success!

On 5 May 2010, he was invited to be guest speaker at the Bloemfontein CUT Hotel School. Every year, the Hotel School hosts their Prestige Hospitality Day at which they award their top achievers and invite guest speakers to further inspire their pupils.

This year the theme was “Going Green”. Aleit was asked to talk about “Going Green” wedding trends and to pinpoint where South Africa is at the moment with regards to Green trends in the events and wedding industries. He sure had his research cut out for him, as we have not specifically done green weddings before – it hasn’t been high on our Brides’ lists of priorities as yet! So, Aleit decided to tell them just that, and to speak about the implications this has on the environment. He also set up a “Going Green” table mock and offered tips on how to create spectacular decor with a low carbon footprint.

The students were most certainly inspired, but so was he – by their excellent standards and motivated minds. He could not believe how well presented, professional and skilled the students were. He will return at the drop of a hat, and he says it was only a pleasure to have attended this prestigious event.

Still up and coming is a trip to Namibia. We are extremely excited about the Events and Wedding Exhibition in February next year. Once again, we have been invited to be guest speakers and Aleit and Johnny will be flying up to Namibia to educate the Namibia industry about trends in the events and wedding industry.