Beeld Bride of the Year Third place – Lizelle Barnard
Celebrating the Beeld Bride of the Year 2021
Third place – Lizelle Barnard
The Beeld Bride of the Year 2021 competition winners were announced, and we wanted to get to know the top three brides a bit better, as well as draw some inspiration from their weddings. Lizelle Barnard, who was awarded third place, is a medical doctor from Pretoria. Read more about her journey here.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF?
“I am a triathlete, currently busy training for Ironman 70.3 in Durban later this year. I love the outdoors and being active. My two Border Collies, Benji and Bailey, make me a proud fur baby mommy.”
WHY DID YOU ENTER THE BEELD BRUID VAN DIE JAAR COMPETITION?
“My husband was the one who entered me into the competition. He believed that I was his Bride of the Year! We also recently bought our first home together, so we really wanted to win a bed. Not only did we win our dream bed – but the whole experience was so amazing. The gala evening was a night to remember and all the prizes we won were incredible! Also, the people I met on this journey have now become lifelong friends.”
HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR HUSBAND?
“J.P. and I met in hospital. He is also a doctor and at that time, he was my senior doctor. It was a real-life Grey’s Anatomy scene: I worked the night shift, so I did not look my best, sporting a messy bun on my head, no make-up and theatre scrubs. (I always told my mom that I wanted to meet my future husband when I looked my worst, because then it could only go better from there!) So, in that early morning meeting, in the orthopaedic department, looking at my absolute worst (ever), I met the man of my dreams.”
HOW DID HE PROPOSE?
“Being a military doctor, he was deployed to the Eastern Cape to assist with the treatment of Covid patients. After being away for almost three months, he said that he wanted to take me away for a weekend. I didn’t know that would be the weekend he would propose, as he had been away for so long. And where would he have gotten the time to find a ring and ask my parents anyway?
We went to the Drakensberg, and he proposed at sunrise on a hot air balloon. It was incredible!”
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF YOUR WEDDING PLANNING?
“The best part was being spoilt by my amazing bridesmaids. I also enjoyed my kitchen tea and loved spending time with the family members I don’t get to see often.”
AND THE WORST?
“Our wedding was during Covid and the uncertainty of what would happen was excruciating. We were still so blessed that our wedding was never postponed, and that we could invite all our friends and family.”
WHO HELPED YOU PLAN YOUR WEDDING?
“I planned just about everything myself. I didn’t want my wedding to become a stressor. I assigned certain tasks to my mother and mother-in-law but did all the planning by myself.”
WHO WAS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THEM?
“Megan and I was our videographer and photographer. I loved all their photos and once we met them in person, we loved them too! They are just the best!”
TELL US ABOUT YOUR WEDDING DRESS?
“I wanted a comfortable wedding dress – plain, classy, and unlike something I’ve seen before. I found my dream dress at Vonvé with my mother and sister-in-law. The moment I tried it on, all three of us knew instantly that it was my dress. The best part of the dress was that I could dance comfortably and still feel like myself in it.”
WHAT WAS YOUR THEME AND COLOUR SCHEME AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?
“I love the King Protea and that’s why I chose it as the theme of my wedding. The colour scheme was based on all the wonderful colours found in this magnificent flower. We got married on a farm, so the protea and its colours fit in beautifully with the scene.”
DID ANYTHING FUNNY HAPPEN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?
“Benji, our Border Collie, was our ring bearer. He was so happy to be on a farm that he ran around from morning until night for two days straight before the wedding. He even swam in the dams and the morning of our wedding he went for a long run with one of our friends. The moment he had to walk into the church, he was so tired of playing around on the farm, that he could barely walk. After handing over the rings, he just sat in the front and did not want to move. Everyone had a good laugh!”
DID YOUR DAY GO ACCORDING TO PLAN?
“Absolutely! Everything was smooth sailing. I can honestly look back and say that nothing went wrong, and I was extremely happy with every aspect of our wedding.”
WHERE WAS YOUR VENUE AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?
“Our wedding was at Florence Guest Farm in Chrissiesmeer. My husband did not have many requests, but he just wanted to get married on a farm, with enough accommodation on the venue for most of our friends and family. Florence ticked every box.”
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BRIDES PLANNING THEIR WEDDINGS?
“Don’t stress about the little things. In the end, guests only remember the food and the party! It is also the little things that push you over your budget.”
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BRIDES ON THEIR WEDDING DAY?
“Get a good night’s rest before the big day. If you know that you are going to be nervous, rather drink something to help you sleep.
The best advice I have for couples on their wedding day is to take time before the wedding and spend a moment together. We washed each other’s feet and said our vows blindfolded before the ceremony. It was the most special moment of my life. This also helped get all the tears out of the way and calmed some of the wedding jitters!”
If you recently got married, or are still planning to get married this year, do not miss out on the opportunity to enter the Beeld Bride of the Year competition. Who knows, you may just be the next winner!
Written by Gina Vorster
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