We all have these photos … throwback photos!
It’s described as ‘nostalgia-inducing pictures … from a different era of your life”.
Every Thursday we will throw a photo of ‘way back when’ on our blog. Why on a Thursday? Because it’s just a day away from the weekend … and we love weekends!
You are welcome to join in or just enjoy the photos (#TB Thursday).
1996
We have planned a different photo for today’s #TB Thursday, but …
Today’s throwback photo is of our wedding on 4 May 1996. I can honestly say that it was the happiest day in my life. But today, this is a bittersweet memory.
The photo shown here is also not the best quality picture of that happy day, but as our lives are currently stretched between two provinces (and our wedding album is more than a 1000km away from us), it is the only photo available.
Our wedding day
On our wedding day, our friends played a huge role in helping create wonderful memories. To name a few:
- Help decorating the church and reception venue
- There were last minute alterations to my wedding dress
- A couple were hosts who received our guests
- A very talented lady sang a beautiful song in church
- The tables were loaded with delicious food
- There was an amazing band playing all our favourite songs
- … and then there were a good friend who drove me to church
And that is where the bittersweet memory lies today. Our wedding car driver, Dawie, died unexpectedly earlier this week. He was not a man of many words, but I remember that afternoon on our wedding day, when he opened the car door for me, he smiled slightly and said: “You look beautiful, but come on, we have to go. We can’t make Berto wait for you any longer”.
I wish we had a photo of Dawie on our wedding in today’s #TB Thursday – I know there is one of him in our wedding album (but he didn’t like the camera very much, so that one probably isn’t that great either).
This post is dedicated to a good friend of ours with whom we had really fun and memorable times – Dawie, may you rest in peace.
The above photo was scanned
Wet and Dusty Roads 
Bittersweet, indeed – but a lovely tribute to your good friend. And may I say he was right – you did indeed look beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thank you guys 🙂. Because we got married in a very small town, our friends contributed to almost every aspect of our wedding day. It’s wonderful to have these memories … even if it’s bittersweet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hugs. Sorry for your loss. 💝🌻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 💌. Although it’s such a sad time right now, we remember him with a smile and fondness.
LikeLike
Ai Corna, dis hartseer. Soos jy sê, “may he rest in peace.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dankie Una 💌. Ek het altyd gewonder oor die woorde “bittersweet” … maar vandag verstaan ek dit mooi.
LikeLike
Ek hoor jou, Corna.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💌
LikeLike
You made a handsome and happy couple. Surely you are mistaken on the date by about 20 years.😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw John, that’s such a sweet thing to say! Thank you 😀. We were in our middle 20’s back then and ready for a lifetime of adventures! We may be not that young anymore, but we are still ready for new adventures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Outstanding!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that picture is precious. But I am sorry for the loss of your friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Precious is such a great word – thanks Carl 🙂.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jy het voorwaar pragtig gelyk Corna! So jammer om van julle verlies te hoor. Dis beslis “bittersweet”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baie dankie Aletta 💌. Ja, ons weet mos die pad le vir ons almal voor … maar dit maak nie minder seer nie. Soos ek vir Una gese het, ek verstaan nou die woorde “bittersweet”/bittersoet baie beter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sterkte! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that’s a beautiful photo – you look amazing and I love your wedding dress. I am sorry to hear that the wedding car driver, Dawie, died, my sincere condolences Aiva 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Aiva – that is such a lovely thing to say 🌸. After 27 years, I still love my wedding dress (it was the first dress I tried on and I immediately fell in love with it)! Dear Dawie was a kind-hearted person and will surely be missed … thank you for your message.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, sweetheart, how sad! I was just going to say how gorgeous you look, and it sounds like a wonderful day. R.I.P Dawie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jo 💌 … he was a true friend and I’m happy we can look back at the wonderful times we spent together (having wonderful braai’s around the fire). And thanks for the compliment (I’m still looking for a bride that doesn’t look gorgeous on her wedding day 😉). It was indeed a wonderful day – surrounded by our family and many friends!
LikeLike
🤗🥂💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bittersweet indeed, so sad when someone we hold dear passes away. You both look lovely in the wedding photo and I liked it that your friends got together to help make the day extra special. So much nicer than a ‘wedding planner event of today’!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true Marion – we know it’s inevitable, but it’s still very sad. Thank you for your lovely compliment … yes, we had about 50 ‘wedding planners’ and they made sure it was a day never to be forgotten 😁.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. But I have to say he was right, you were a beautiful bride ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that’s so nice of you to say that Sarah 💌. I really appreciated those words from Dawie (he has always been more of a listener than a talker).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Corna, the photo of your wedding just wonderful! Young and happy! I hope that the sparkle in your eyes never fades.
Sorry for your loss.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much Angela 🌸. Oh yes, we were in our mid-twenties and so much in love (I can promise you, the sparkle is still in my eyes when I’m looking at my husband 😉). Thank you for your kind words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉🙂🙋♀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sorry about your friend. He would be touched I am sure by your words. I must say that you made a very beautiful couple. You look radiant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thank you for your kind words Carolyn 🌸. Dawie was not a person who liked it when you made a fuss about him, but he was dearly loved by all of his friends. You know what … on our wedding day I thought I have never seen a more handsome man than Berto … and I still think so today 😀.
LikeLike
Oh Corna, I’m so sorry to hear about Dawie. I often find that those of few words are some of the best people. He was right, you did look beautiful that day, and Berto is as dashing as other throwback photos I’ve seen. Wonderful memories I’m sure, hoping to see a few more one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Leighton – your kind words are much appreciated. Yes, I have to agree with you about those of few words … some of them made a deep impact in my own life. And thank you for your kind compliment – it was such an amazing day (which sometimes feels like just the other day)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, it’s much appreciated 🌸.
LikeLike
I’m so sorry for your loss Corna, a sad news for you, but he will live forever in your hearts. A nice tribute to Dawie!
You look amazingly beautiful and happy!! xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw Christie, thank you so much for your kind words (and compliment). You’re right, our dear friends are in our hearts forever. Our wedding day was such a fun and happy day … it’s amazing how we still remember all the detail after 27 years 🙂.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baie jammer om van jul verlies te hoor, Corna. Sterkte aan al Dawie se vriende en familie. Mens is dankbaar vir daardie handjievol fotos uit die dae voor digitale kameras wat soveel gelukkige herinneringe kan oproep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baie dankie Dries. Ja, dis waar … ek het die afgelope vakansie weer heerlik deur ons ou albums geblaai en daar’s soveel mooi herinneringe. Ons is nou weer terug in die Oos-Kaap (na ons heerlik gekamp het en nogmaals gekamp het 😉), so, noudat alles weer terug na normaal is, hoop ek om bietjie op te vang met julle blog. Voorspoed vir 2023 – mag dit ‘n avontuurlike jaar vir julle wees (met hope pragtige foto’s)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, how sad. I’m sorry to hear about this sad loss. But what a beautiful couple you are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words Giacomo – it’s much appreciated 🙂.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You look absolutely stunning Corna, and Berto scrubs up well too 🙂 I’m so sorry for your loss of your friend, my thoughts are with you and I’m sending a hug x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Hannah, thank you so much for your kind comments (Berto was a real looker on our wedding day 😉). Looking back on our wedding day, it is filled with so many happy moments … and our friends were a big part of it. That is why it is so sad to lose some of them over the years 😔.
LikeLike
You look super happy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you think so … because I was probably the happiest bride ever 😀. I was so looking forward to our wedding day and looking through our wedding album now, I feel that excitement all over again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Corna, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope the happy memories of him will comfort you during this difficult time of grief.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind words Tricia 🌻, it really means a lot to us. The memories we have of Dawie, is filled with so much fun … we will keep it (and him) close to our hearts for ever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There for safe keeping.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful photo, conjuring up such good memories, and no doubt good memories of your friend Dawie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so lovely of you to say that … thank you so much 🌸. That’s why we love looking back at our photos … although some of them may bring sad memories, we’re so happy we have these to remind us of really wonderful moments/family/friends.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re were a beautiful bride and of course Berto your charming prince looked handsome too. It will be 27 years of marriage for us too, this year. I’m so sorry for your loss, condolences to you and Berto , sending you a big comforting hug Corna<3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Henrietta for your kind and lovely comments 🌸. I just realised, we are both the same age and got married in 1996 … what a coincidence!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a very similar wedding photo/pose and I’m sure if I could see the rest of your photos, we’ll find more similarities because of then (too young to say back in the days) 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, in the 90’s there were a certain ‘range’ of photos that were standard practice at weddings. If I get my hands on our wedding album sometime, I might just post a few … which you will probably recognise in your own wedding 😉.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dis net die mooiste foto!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dankie Tannie Frannie 🌸. Dit was sekerlik ook my mooiste dag met die mees spesiaalste herinneringe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely picture from your wedding day. You look so beautiful, Corna. And Berto looks so handsome. I’m so sorry to hear that Dawie passed away recently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, thank you so much Linda for your kind words! It was such a special day with so many beautiful memories. And it’s great to look back on these photos (even now that it’s also a bittersweet memory).
LikeLiked by 1 person