I am Maileene Venter, most likely the happiest and luckiest bride alive to have married my prince charming husband!

How we came to enter competition, was through hours of searching and trying to figure out how to plan a wedding, only to realize we do not know the first thing about starting to plan a wedding! We continued our search and by a chance of luck and love found the Wedding & Lifestyle Hub. It just popped onto our computer screen like a knight in shining armour. With less than 5 weeks to the competition’s start date, we felt like a little fun and adventure was what we needed.  While reading that it came with tips and tricks to plan a wedding and to win one, was exiting! We immediately entered the competition because a treasure hunt sounded like great fun!

During the treasure hunt, we both were very surprised at how it was set out and how things were tasked. The hunt itself was difficult at times. The riddles and tasks were made for a team, and it allowed myself and my husband to bond and work together to find what needed to be found.  It created a stronger sense of partnership, ambition, and dedication in us. If we did it together, we would overcome each obstacle, understand each riddle, and complete each task.

On the night of the Gala Event, all the other couples were standing lovingly next to each other. All the activities and tasks we performed came streaming through my mind. Within 3 weeks we did so much together, from silly dares, intimate dancing, and bonding over who we really have become, flashed through my mind. The second we saw we were the winners of a wedding, my heart sunk straight down and rocket launched over the moon! A whole year and a magical wedding day later, I still cannot believe we won this amazing blessing. It is forever a treasured memory – the lights, the smiles, the cries, the laughter. That night changed our lives in ways we cannot explain!

The most memorable part of what has been the happiest day of my life was the moment the minister said: I now pronounce you husband and wife. I looked at my husband, who has been my anchor and my rock for years, and came to the realization that God made us one. My dream came true, and this was my new reality. The entire day was magical – the fairy lights, music, decor, venue, and the people. The most memorable part of my wedding day was starting the day as two people in a relationship and ending it as one.

What would I have done differently? This is the blessing of the Wedding & Lifestyle Hub. Everything was perfect! And I mean everything; there was no drama, no stress, no fighting, nothing—absolutely nothing went wrong. It was picture perfect, a real-life Disney movie wedding. I would not change a single thing about that perfect day but would relive it every chance I get. 

Our honeymoon was at this beautiful cottage deep in the Knysna forest, one of the many wonderful sponsors of our wedding called the Lazy Leopard Forest Retreat. It was beautiful, and I could not fault a single thing. The stars, the forest, the magical feeling of being free and blissful cannot be described. A honeymoon with your husband or wife is the most amazing thing. Everything you do feels magical; everything is special, and everything is unique in its own way! 

The most important thing we learned with the treasure hunt is that no matter how intimately you think you know one another, there is always more to learn. We dove deeper into ourselves and each other and learned so much more. We now appreciate the smaller and finer details of each other even more and have connected on a whole new level. That is something that can only be achieved when you are both being challenged, when you work together towards the same goal with the same ambition, mindset, and beliefs. We learned who we are alone and who we are together, and together we are amazingly strong. 

A message to the vendors: You all have done so much, given so much, and allowed us the blessing of a dream that only a few can ever truly experience! My heart was touched by each one of you. Everyone was so friendly, kind, caring, and each one of the amazing vendors had a great deal to do with our beautiful wedding day! 

Why should other couples enter? To chase their dream wedding! If you ever have a chance at love, a chance at hope – chase it, feel it, appreciate it. Just do it! You will grow with each other, learn with each other, laugh, play, and love each other more during and after this competition! There is always space for love and adventure! Engage in this adventure together in the name of love and for the chance of winning your dream! Do it, love it, dream it, believe it!