Twenty-third Edition // June 2013
Featuring Aleit Wedding Coordination Aleit Events Aleit Academy
44 1
THE OPENING
TWENTY-THIRD EDITION – JUNE 2013
3 WEDDINGS LAURIAN & STEVEN
2
ANDÉLE BURGER INTERVIEW WITH PROJECT MANAGER OF THE ALEIT GROUP
ZABA & LUZUKO
22
34 34 4
EVENTS CLARE WIESE’S 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
5
FEATURES
BEYOND BORDERS LANDTSCAP CONFERENCE
THE ALEIT ACADEMY FOOD & WINE WORKSHOP
BEYOND BORDERS BRENAISSANCE COCKTAIL PARTY
ALEIT & HANS’ BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
LE GRAND CASINO
6
IN CLOSING
TO END IT OFF INDEX // 3
OPENING //
Photographer : Johan Wilke
THE OPENING Twenty-third Edition – June 2013
Having just returned from abroad in Europe - Barcelona, Spain to be precise, after hosting the always successful annually held Africa Energy Forum dinner, I am hyped up in jotting down the opening for yet another exciting magazine! The instant chill effect that hit us as we touched down in Johannesburg was a massive change from the warm, humid and buzzing city weather of Barcelona!! What a reality check after experiencing a South African winter season that was definitely in full swing... I loved Barcelona – we were welcomed by a traditional tomato spread bread lunch in a true Catalan style on arrival. And more was in store for me to be wowed by during the trip - the culture, medieval architectural buildings and of course the night life of Barcelona city... Can we go back again?! Reflecting back on the events calendar for past few weeks, one can only be grateful for the blessings in abundance of an events calendar that is packed, which was initially envisaged to be a rather quite one... An 80th Indian themed private birthday party immediately streams to mind, as it marked the inception of synergy with A-Place – very exciting times ahead here. The Grand Casino event, which was flawlessly executed, will be touched on in detail later in this edition, is also one notable event ticked off the list. Looking ahead, we are excited that for the first time Aleit Event Projects is getting properly involved in the Vodacom Durban July! We will be hosting a marquee tent for a corporate client at this year’s July and the theme this year is “Posh? Oh my Gosh” so watch this space for our interpretation! A sneak peek into the look and feel of the marquee?? Not a chance! You will have to follow up closely on social media for a tidbit! This is going to be yet another spectacular event to be part of. Enjoy and happy reading of yet another edition depicting what The Aleit Group is all about.
Warm Winter Regards Thabo Matlhako Director - Aleit Event Projects
THE OPENING // 5
FEATURING Andéle Burger FROM THE ALEIT GROUP
We had the great privilege of chatting to the ever bubbly Andéle Burger, one of our valued project managers in the Aleit Events team. We were lucky to pull her from her very busy schedule to find out more about this dynamic coordinator. You have filled numerous posts within The Aleit Group. Tell us more about your journey so far.
How does the process work of planning an event?
I started off as an office manager in the company which allowed me a lot of room for growth. I started with the group fresh out of varsity and quickly learned what the building blocks of the company were. This was great as it enabled me to understand where each element comes from and exactly how they all fit together. I definitely enjoy events though, and it was inevitable that I would move to the events department. It’s far less emotional and with me being quite an emotional person by nature that’s probably a very good thing! I also feel that events allow for much more of your own personal creativity, because it’s not a bride’s vision that you’re trying to recreate, but your own.
We are lucky to have a lot of regular clients, so this eliminates the initial process of introducing yourself and your service. They send you a brief of what they want to achieve and you then create a concept proposal – an idea and vision of what you see for the event. You then pitch it to the client which is the most fun! Once the event is confirmed and signed off it’s up to you to create something spectacular putting action behind the words of your proposal.
You’ve been with events for more than 2 years now. What stood out for you in that time? Wow – there are so many different aspects of different events to choose from...! One of the most memorable events of my career was definitely the 40th birthday weekend that we hosted for a private client. This was mainly due to the client being amazing, having incredible food and an astounding entertainment line-up. It was one of those events where the client was open to all of your suggestions. We really had no restrictions and no boundaries. That’s the lovely thing about birthday events – the client is much more invested in the event, where a corporate event is much more formal. What does a typical day entail at the office? Admin! Events are a lot more straight forward to plan than weddings however still contain most of the same planning elements. The job is much more admin orientated than most people think! I usually allow for one day before the event to sort out all the last minute details, just in case!!
What is it that makes Aleit Event Projects so special? What makes corporate eventing as a whole more successful than other events and weddings is that it is a necessity to a business, as where a wedding is seen as a luxury product. When money is scarce, private functions will be compromised, where with corporate events the business has a marketing budget every year which will still be spent. The budgets may be smaller, but the events still take place. What makes Aleit Event Projects unique is that we stem from a weddings project. An intense eye for detail and creative brain is the heart of what we do - that’s what we feed off. Aleit Event Projects is a one of a kind eventing company and we really put forth the most incredible work – so proud! What is the most important tool for you when coordinating an event? My colleagues – being able to brainstorm and soundboard ideas off of them is vital to the success of any event. You get so involved with your project that you lose perspective. It’s comforting to know that you have some of the masterminds of the industry sitting at the desk right next to you.
His ability to adapt - not only from a creative and a co-ordination side, but also on the day of an event. On an evening that something must go perfectly, Aleit has an instinctive ability to take a situation in hand and solve it effortlessly. In an instant, he can be the boss that delegates instructions, and moments later he will be the friend, enjoying a glass of wine with you and chatting about the excitement of the day. Aleit’s most valuable asset though, is the ability to see when something can be; seeing things that no one else can see.
Photographer : Johan Wilke
You’ve worked with Aleit for a very long time. What stands out about the Man?
EVENTS |CLARE WIESE 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION //
Clare Wiese 30th Birthday Celebration The Aleit Group has a reputation for hosting the most elaborate, memorable and incredible birthday celebrations in the country, and probably the most notable of all was that of Clare Wiese’s 30th birthday celebration hosted at Lourensford Wine Estate. Guests arrived via golf cart to the steps leading up to the venue, opulently adorned with light installations on both sides. They were immediately greeted by a spectacular 20 meter bar structure finished with a copper mirrored vinyl top. Delicious live food stations served as interactive culinary wonders and these ranged from a Willoughby’s sushi station, a thin crust pizza station, a salad bar through to an Espetada station and a live Charcuterie. Striking flowers and two bold candelabras complemented the look and feel, while chandelier and candle arrangements on high black metal plinths became bold features. Velvet furniture and throw pillows in jewel colours mixed with dramatic black and silver tables completed the look and feel for pre-dinner drinks. Once drinks were completed, guests were ushered inside to an awe inspiring setting, carrying a royal rock theme. A massive stage and dance floor formed the centre piece of the venue, while oak tables wrapped in tulle created a magical ambience. Framed by gold Cheltenham chairs with fabric overlays on the back rests and floral works in royal colours, the place settings created an elegant fun atmosphere. Opulent coloured flowers in crystal and oversized clear glass received guests into an unforgettable night. Large mirror installations added to the opulence of the room immeasurably... Guests were treated to a royal feast comprising of West coast rock lobster finished on the “braai” with lemon, garlic & herb butter, olive oil, fresh lemon & Malden salts; Rosemary & garlic marinated Karoo lamb loin chops; Truffle shoestring fries and individual Caesar salads served in dainty bowls. Dessert stations opened shortly after serving the famed Ice Cream Ninjas’ decadent ice creams, cocktail slushes, rocky road and a live créperie.
The entertainment line-up for the evening was equally impressive. Manouche Gypsy Jazz Band entertained guests during predinner, while the dinner party was filled with the sounds of The Parlotones and Toy Soldiers. All of this came to a fantastic end with a magnificent fire work display over the evergreen polo fields of Lourensford. Guests partied into the early hours of the morning soaking up the success of the evening to the max...
EVENTS // 15
EVENTS |BEYOND BORDERS LANDTSCAP CONFERENCE //
BEYOND BORDERS LANDTSCAP CONFERENCE The recent Beyond Borders Conference was certainly no ordinary event... The conference was hosted at the picturesque Landtscap event venue in the Devon Valley. This forward-thinking and environmentally conscious venue was the perfect setting for this challenging international conference. Warm hues of red and bright yellow inspired the floral dĂŠcor with the use of flourishing calla lilies, roses and other classical style flowers stylistically placed along the center of the single long table and grounded by the modern white containers. Sparkling clear Perspex tiffany chairs framed the raw wood table tops while white crockery and crisp white napkins created a fresh clean touch. Each guest received a custom designed gift box adorned with a laser cut out image of Africa on top, a keepsake to remember this unforgettable event! A day spent in the tranquil setting of Landtscap with the panoramic views of the Stellenbosch winelands proved for a productive and truly unique conference experience.
EVENTS // 21
EVENTS |BEYOND BORDERS BRENAISSANCE COCKTAIL PARTY //
BEYOND BORDERS BRENAISSANCE COCKTAIL PARTY Following a very successful conference day at Landtscap, delegates moved to the neighboring wine and stud estate, Brennaisance, where they were treated to an incredible cocktail event with a view over the vineyards. The setting was timeless - a classic black and white checked flooring, 15 crystal chandeliers, an opulent antique lounge area and a mirrored bar area created a versatile space to play with. Oak furniture adorned with both modern and classical elements throughout the lounge areas with the color palette was inspired by a gentlemen’s club type theme. Floral dÊcor was masculine yet refined with hues of cream, blue and green coming together in gorgeous mass arrangements, while single stem arrangements were used amongst these to create splashes of modern elements. The spectacular menu finished it all off and guests left feeling content after a very productive, beautiful and captivating event.
EVENTS // 27
EVENTS // 29
EVENTS |LE GRAND CASINO //
LE GRAND CASINO Shimmering skyscrapers gaze upon the sprawling upmarket metropolis of Sandton, Johannesburg. The Maximillien Restaurant was the perfect setting for the Grand Casino event in the heart of this bustling center of commerce and luxury where classic European dining and chic South African flair converge to revolutionise the art of dining. Rich tapestries, leather couches, opulent flowers, a grand piano and dark wood finishes culminated in a perfect ambience for our casino themed event. Stations hosting poker, blackjack and roulette were spread throughout the lounge area – one could think we were in Vegas! Guests were welcomed on a rich, deep red carpet and enjoyed a glass of perfectly chilled bubbly upon arrival. The first sets of canapés were served followed by a couple of short speeches. After this, the fun began and guests were invited to place their bets! With exciting prizes such as iPad’s, noise cancelation headphones and much more up for grabs, guests were desperate to collect every chip on offer! Of course the excitement of the evening did not stop here... The entertainment line-up was astounding and guests enjoyed the beautiful sounds of Silver Morgan during canapés, followed by DJ Kevin creating an intoxicating party atmosphere during the beginning stages of the gambling. It did not stop at this of course – DJ Fresh soon arrived and guests partied into the night to the sounds of his talented mixing. Guests left in the wee hours of the morning having enjoyed an unforgettable evening of chance and excitement in their very own “mini Vegas”…
EVENTS // 33
WEDDINGS |LAURIAN & STEVEN //
LAURIAN & STEVEN MolenVliet Wine & Guest Estate Our gorgeous couple, Laurian and Steven, hosted their wedding day in the warm autumn glow of the Stellenbosch winelands. The décor at the ceremony spoke of intense romance and love. Large sleek bamboo poles with white ribbon and Phalaenopsis orchids adorned the aisle, framed by an array of ornate, oak finished and wonky furniture. The Chuppa was constructed out of wooden slats covered in white fabric and Dendrobium orchids. The gentlemen’s boutonnieres were a definite feature – origami paper hearts folded out of soft pink paper. After the ceremony guests were led down to the predinner area amongst the vines by a violinist. The predinner was a truly spectacular sight, with an array of crisp white furniture, billowing cabana’s and draping structures covered in beautiful shades of lilac and blue Hydrangeas. The menu was equally marvellous with oversized table platters of sushi and yummy canapés stood amongst the furniture for guests to indulge. Guests could hardly believe their eyes when once again their expectations were exceeded. Upon arrival at the reception area, guests were overwhelmed by a truly whimsical affair. A latticed wood screen framed the end of the room, while a mixture of raw oak and white plinth tables filled the floor. Vinyl pattern prints on selected tables formed a table runner, while the floral detail was quaint and quirky. Tepee tent folded napkins, mirrored vinyl menus, hanging lamps, bunny moulded candles and a fairy light backdrop created an unforgettable memory... Even the cake was an imaginative masterpiece, with playful lettering and silhouettes adorning the cream base. Guests partied deep into the night, savouring the wonderful experience all the way.
WEDDINGS |ZABA & LUZUKO //
ZABA & LUZUKO ORDER OF ST. JOHNS Our team had an absolute blast putting together the wedding day of one of our favourite couple’s, Zaba and Luzuko. Their gorgeous tented wedding became an iconic memory to which we still often refer back to very lovingly. The ceremony was timeless, with many very heartfelt tears. Guests were ushered to the pre-dinner venue, which was hosted at the beautiful Order of St. Johns in Johannesburg. With unmatched panoramic views over the city bowl, guests enjoyed delicious canapés while being spoiled with the gentle sounds of Silver Morgan crooning away in the background. The dazzling garden décor was inspired by a modern, white palate which contrasted beautifully to the emerald green grass. The Reception followed in the lush gardens of the estate where a large clear span marquee tent formed the centre of the lawns with fairy lights draped onto the roof of the tent creating a “starry ceiling” to the evening’s celebrations. A dusty blue screen at the back of the tent framed the room, while the opulent floral detail created a graceful, royal setting. The menu was equally astounding - the starter course was composed of a spiced tempura prawn served with mango salsa and a choux pastry ladder. This was followed by a smoking strawberry and black pepper palate cleanser. The alternating main course was a delicious seared and baked Norwegian Salmon for the ladies and a scrumptious rolled fillet of beef wrapped in Parma ham for the gentlemen. The entertainment line-up for the evening included cover songs performed by the talented Silver Morgan and the fantastic DJ Szwartz. Guests partied late into the night under their very own custom made constellation of stars for this perfect evening…
FEATURES | ACADEMY //
the aleit academdy Food & wine WORKSHOP The month of June saw The Aleit Academy, in association with Stir Food, successfully execute their very first workshop! And was it a success or what?! On Wednesday the 12th June 2013, Chef Gustaaf Boshoff presented a Food and Wine Pairing Workshop in the very mod looking Stir Food Kitchen on the ever popular Lourensford Estate. A wonderful group of both ladies and gentlemen were lucky enough to fill these much-desired seats, as there were only 10 spaces available! Keeping it intimate and personal, this allowed the guests to interact closely with this creative and charismatic chef. The evening started off with guests arriving to a perfectly chilled glass of award winning Lourensford MCC, as they were ushered to the warm Stir Food Kitchen. After crisp Stir aprons were handed out, guests were delighted to receive a custom designed, wooden covered recipe book filled Stirs best kept secret recipes! The well-known and much anticipated Stir Food “gees” then hit them and the evening began! Chef Gustaaf was the life of the party, demonstrating his cooking skills and secrets in his usual energetic manner. His goal for the evening was to teach a new and innovative technique that usually seems daunting to even the best of cooks… Curing! He started off by demonstrating ‘Curing’, using cubed fresh Tuna. Fresh lime juice and zest, chillies, coriander and a few other secret ingredients were used; the finished product was then presented in mini tacos topped with brilliant green homemade guacamole. For starters, the guests were blown
away with Chef Gustaaf’s take on smoked duck breasts. Served thinly sliced on a bed of baby salad greens, cucumber, beetroot and oranges... Perfectly cooked fillet of beef paired with a creamy mushroom risotto then tantalised the guest’s taste buds for the main course. Rounding off with a sweet pastry Pumpkin Tart (a recipe that we had to BEG Chef Gustaaf to share with us…!) topped off with homemade ice cream for dessert. Aleit himself joined in on the fun by setting the most beautiful, quirky and inspiring dining table. By using a combination of small succulent pot plants and herbs, together with big wooden mugs and oversized white porcelain feet, Aleit created the perfect Chef’s Table. Here, guests were to enjoy the fruits of their labour and share their joined enthusiasm for cooking. Chef Gustaaf made sure that no one had an empty glass by perfectly pairing some of Lourensford’s best wines with his 4-course meal. Our now budding Chefs left not only with a better knowledge of food and wine, a full stomach and some new jokes to share, but also with some secrets of the trade and a hand-full of new friends. The Aleit Academy is in the process of finalizing the date for the next upcoming workshop - Floristry with Heike le Cordeur at A-Place. One full day will be set aside for this workshop and it will be filled with pure fun, custom gifts and above all, tricks of the trade and a new skill to brag about! So make sure to keep an eye out for the details on our Aleit website, Facebook, blog and Newsletter. You definitely do not want to miss out…!
Photographer : Leon Van Rooyen
FEATURES | BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS //
aleit & hans’ BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONs This month we celebrated the birthdays of both Hans Roosenschoon, Managing Director, and Aleit Swanepoel, CEO and Founder, of The Aleit Group. The 1st year Aleit Academy students are in charge of birthdays within The Aleit Group and the big bosses birthdays are always seen as a challenge! This year the two students up for this task were Juliet Godwin and Kariska Jacobs. With inside info from Bianca and Simone, we managed to surprise both Hans and Aleit with a mini surprise party at our offices. First up was Hans’ Birthday on the 8th of June. With events being stacked back to back and the usual errands and meetings in-between, it was difficult to get hold of him, so we had to settle for the 4th of June as the big surprise date. Juliet, assisted by fellow students Micaela and Beth, prepared a stunning breakfast (Hans’ favorite meal of the day) and welcomed us with champagne and orange juice. Hans, thinking he had a meeting with Cheri, arrived with massive surprise to a room full to the brim of staff members, balloons and a custom made movie based on the Star Wars theme just for him. What was his gift you ask?? Juliet arranged for a huge wooden pizza board and 4 side boards to be hand crafted and topped off with laser cutting “Han Solo” with Darth Vader’s profile – perfect for Hans’
new pizza oven at home. To round it all off, Juliet had a Star Wars pizza cutter flown in that speaks like R2D2 to match his new pizza board additions. Pizza is on Hans next time I guess!? Next was Aleit’s special day – with his schedule being as hectic as you can only imagine, we settled on the day before his actual birthday, which was on the 14th of June. Kariska went all out on this one as she arranged for Chef Gustaaf of Stir Food to prepare Aleit’s favorite meal - Langoustine Curry with all the extras, Durban style! With a beautifully set table and wine already chilled, a very un-expectant Aleit finally arrived to find that no work shall be done during this lunch break and celebrations were in order! Aleit’s special gifts? A custom made “Braai Recipe Book” consisting of all the Aleit Group employees and Academy students’ favorite Braai recipes and secrets bound in a wooden cover with Aleit’s very own crest laser cut into the front. The cherry on the cake though was the unbelievably artistic and beautiful pencil sketch of Aleit’s daughter Kateline done by Marisa Neimandt, an Aleit Academy 1st Year student. Such wonderful and personal gifts for such amazing people – we hope you have fantastic years ahead! Well done once again mini A-Team!
FEATURES // 59
IN CLOSING //
TO END IT OFF Oh dear winter... We do have a bit of a love hate relationship you and I! At the moment though I must say I do hate you quite a bit more than normal as it seems like you are out to get me this week. Delivering not only freezing cold but also a runny nose, heavy chest and rain with a side wind just to make sure my umbrella is no help. So to make me feel better, I had to make a list of things I love about winter and things I love to do around Cape Town in winter... 1. Pulling out my aged leather boots from the top of the cupboard for the first time this year 2. Preparing French style Oxtail for friends followed by copious amounts of red wine and board games 3. Wearing a new coat that takes up all the space in my cupboard 4. Pizza next to the massive fire place at Josephine’s Mill in Newlands 5. A flat white from Truth Coffee house never tasted better 6. Waterblommetjies for my table and for my hearty stews 7. Phoning my mom to tell her that I am sick and although I know exactly what to do I love listening to her recommendations and remedies 8. Telling my brother in Scotland that it is 20 degrees outside and then listen to him respond with “It is 15 degrees here and we are in high summer…” 9. To go for a very daring swim in the mini waterfall on Table Mountain (Deer Park) on the odd sunny days. Regrettably it only really flows in winter. 10. To wake up late on a Saturday morning realizing that you actually don’t have a wedding on today. 11. Walking on the promenade with a rain coat feeling very European. 12. Cauliflower Soup with Red Wine Poached Pear, Gorgonzola and a touch of Truffle Oil! 13. Two liter sherry bottles 14. Breakfast and a game of cards at Rhodes memorial during stormy weather I hope this helps to bring a bit of winter cheer into your lives this season!
Johnny Hamman Director - Aleit Wedding Coordination
THE CLOSING // 61
SERVICE PROFESSIONALS EVENTS CLARE WIESE 30TH AV & Sound Bar & Staffing Hiring Hair & Make Up Cake Furniture & Decorative Lighting Floral Décor Entertainment Entertainment Entertainment Venue Shuttle Videographers Photographer Decorative Lighting Bar Structures Food Ice Cream Station Hiring Coffee Station Hiring Hiring Hiring
Presentation Staging Shake and Serve Top Table Gorgeous 2 Go Charly’s Bakery In & Out Events OKASIE The Parlotones Toy Soldiers Manouche Lourensford Wine Estate MK Exotics FJS Productions Jean-Pierre Uys Photography Something Different Barcode Stir Food Ice Cream Ninjas Ten of Cups Coffee Right La Maison Classy Hire A Vintage Affair
BEYOND BORDERS AV & Sound Registration Stationery Catering Photographer Hiring Tablecloths Waiters Coffee Station Furniture Decor Flowers Digital Voting Systems Shuttles Conference Venue Cocktail Venue Bedouin Tent Aleit Music
Presentation Staging A-Tek A-Design Stir Food Inecke Photography Top Table Stir Food (JHB), Fedics (CT) Shake & Serve Coffee Right In & Out Re Hot Events Leipzig IML Digi Vote MK Exotics Landtscap Brenaissance Nomadik Play Jazz Trio
LE GRAND CASINO Venue & Catering Sound Flowers Photographer Entertainment Furniture
Maximilien Restaurant, Davinci Hotel & Suites DNGPS Okasie JHB Leon Van Rooyen Silver Morgan, DJ Fresh, DJ Kevin Butho Propstars
SERVICE PROFESSIONALS WEDDINGS LAURIAN & STEVEN Venue Floral Décor Photographer Videographer Food Hiring Decorative Lighting AV & Sound Cake Hair & Makeup Mediterranean Trio DJ
MolenVliet Wine & Guest Estate OKASIE Jean Pierre Uys Photography FJS Productions Merle Reuben Catering In and Out Events Something Different Presentation Staging Wade’s Cakes Alicia Buckle Angel Music DJ Rene
ZABA & LUZUKO Venue Food Photographer Videographer Hiring DJ Floral Décor Jazz Artist Staff Audio & Visual Cake Church Trailer
Order of St. Johns Jem Catering Christiaan David Photography Hauke Digital In & Out DeKok OKASIE Silver Morgan Black Jack Presentation Staging Exquizitly Yours Bryanston Methodist Chilling Affairs