This month, we are raising a glass to our #BONAWeddings winners Siyabonga (33) and Jade (34) Nkalane and their love story.
Jade tells us: “We met through a mutual friend in 2009. I was good friends with his best friend. One afternoon the friend asked me to accompany him to see Siyabonga, and that is how met.” The couple hit it off and were soon dating. They got engaged in 2016 after 7 years together. Jade says “We got engaged after we both decided that we were ready to take the next step. We love each other dearly, and we knew that this is what we wanted.”
SEE ALSO: #BONAWeddings winners: The Skosanas
Siyabonga popped the question in a simple and honest way. “We were sitting, and he told me that we should get engaged – nothing fancy really. He then went to speak to my parents to ask for permission. On a Sunday afternoon we went out for lunch, and he asked me with a ring” Jade reminisces.
The couple tied the knot on 29 July 2017 at Thistlewoods wedding venue in Gonubie, East London. “We chose this date because it was suitable for our families to attend, as most of his family members don’t live near us. We chose the venue because their wedding packages included EVERYTHING- flowers, decor, food and even the DJ! They made our planning much easier for us. Everything about our wedding was just beautiful! We had a white wedding on Saturday and a traditional one on Sunday. Bonga is Xhosa, and we wanted to embrace both cultures. It was BEAUTIFUL! We had no mishaps; our mothers handled the planning with ease. It was amazing how everything just fell into place.”
The highlight of the wedding was when Siyabonga started singing to Jade during their first dance. “It was completely unplanned and unexpected! We were dancing then he asked the DJ for the mic, and he started singing along to the song that was playing.”
SEE ALSO: #BONAWeddings: A love that conquered all
The love story of Siya and Jade has not been without its challenges. “The transition to live together and learn each other’s ways was extremely difficult. We are both very hard headed, strong willed, and quite set in our ways. We still have moments when we learn new things about one another, but we have managed to compromise and accommodate each other.”
The couple recently celebrated their one year wedding anniversary, and next year will be a decade of their love story. They have simple, but important ways of keeping their love strong. “We try to have a date night at least once a month, spend alone time together, and surprise each other every once in a while. “
The Nkalanes’ secrets to a strong relationship:
Love each other unconditionally!
Listen to each other, don’t listen to respond, and listen to understand.
Learn how to compromise!
Get to know each other’s interests.
Spend quality time together. It doesn’t matter how and where, just make sure that you spend time enjoying each other’s company.
The Nkalanes win a hamper courtesy of Drostdy Hof and enter the draw for the grand prize, and a chance to be in our Celebrating Love issue of February 2019.
Drostdy Hof is an approachable, accessible, unintimidating and sociable South African brand that has long been trusted for its consistent, great flavour, taste and quality. It offers a wide choice of quality blends and pack sizes with the added convenience for everyday moments, from discovering new experiences and socialising with friends, to “me time”.
List of suppliers:
Thistlewoods wedding venue and conference centre in Gonubie supplied all food, flowers, decor and the DJ.
Wedding cakes for both the white wedding and the traditional wedding were made by my mother, Belinda Harry.
Wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses – Wendy H Bridalboutique
Groom and groomsmen’s suits – Best Man Suit Hire
Ceremony – Rev G Jones Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Flowers at the church – Mrs. Belinda Nelson
Invitations – Uncle Paul’s and Erika Oira
Flower girls – Ackermans
Make up – Simone Kippen
Photographer at white wedding – Ryan Jason Rose
Photographer at traditional wedding – Anele Valela
Photos included: photographers Ryan Jason Rose and Anele Valela
