According to Times Live

Mamodupi Mohlala snubbed a Vera Wang wedding gown – choosing instead to walk down the aisle in a dress she found in Rosebank.

While many women around the world can only dream of wearing a dress by the highly sought-after international designer on their big day, Mohlala said: “The dresses were too quiet … Vera Wang is definitely not for black girls. I wanted lots of bling-bling.”

The head of the National Consumer Commission tied the knot with businessman Lawrence Mulaudzi at Sun City’s Palace of the Lost City yesterday afternoon at an intimate ceremony with 200 guests, including businessman Sello Rasithaba and his wife, Ouma, who worked with Mohlala when she started out as a young attorney in Pretoria in 1998.

Other guests included defence secretary Dr Sam Gulube and his wife, Lillian More.

Earlier, Mohlala said she had initially wanted a Wang dress.

” I went to look at Vera Wang’s collection overseas, but I was not impressed.”

Instead, she said, she “fell in love” with a dress at a boutique in Rosebank, Johannesburg. “I am glad I supported a local, black, female entrepreneur. We must live what we preach.”

Mohlala’s traditional white dress was a chiffon-wrapped ballgown trimmed with lace at the bottom, with a sequined and crystal bodice. Her dress had a cathedral train, while her veil was trimmed with lace and Swarovski crystals.

The couple invited only their closest friends and family, with the wedding invite telling guests to bring a “sense of humour and dance shoes”.

Said Mohlala: “We wanted to be real … that’s why we only invited people we have known since primary school and varsity, and from our professions.”

She walked down the aisle with her mother, Nomaswazi Mohlala, while her 12-year-old niece, Thando Mohlala, served as her maid of honour. Two of her four bridesmaids were dressed in gold and two in blue.

A beaming Mulaudzi, who could not keep his eyes off his bride, was smart in a blue suit.

The bouquets featured the national flower, the protea, while a local violin band entertained guests .

The garden ceremony was conducted by Reverend Mandla Gamede.

Chairs were covered in white cloth and decorated in turquoise and gold.

A cream carpet scattered with red, orange and yellow rose petals lay in the aisle, with glass tube vases and cream flowers on either side.

The couple exchanged Cartier wedding bands. Mohlala’s 1.5-carat diamond and platinum engagement ring was also from the famous jeweller. Said Mohlala: “Lawrence’s ring was tailor-made. I wanted it to have a black diamond because he is a strong man.”

The bride was greeted withululations and, in her usual bubbly manner, she scanned the crowd for familiar faces, giggling.

The master of ceremonies was comedian Shonisani Muleya, better known as Ashifashabba from Capricorn FM and an old friend of Mulaudzi.

The menu comprised pap, rice, chicken, fish and beef, while the six-tiered gold cake comprised red velvet, fruit cake and chocolate flavours.

The newlyweds walked into their reception to Brenda Fassie’s It’s a Wedding Day, and their first dance as husband and wife was to John Legend’s I’ll Stay with You.

For the after-party, guests changed and headed to the Valley of the Waves for a Moroccan-themed affair and a braai.

The couple will honeymoon in Spain in May.

Originally published here.

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