Couple’s future is won

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The winning couple share a light-hearted moment in Botanic Gardens.

When Lauren Rose and Nolan Smuts breezed in to the Daily News for a finalist’s interview, the judges were bowled over with their enthusiasm for each other and sheer delight at the prospect of a future together.

The happy couple said that becoming Mr and Mrs Smuts seemed a distant dream, though. Lauren, 24 is in her third year of a Bachelor of Education degree at Embury College and Nolan, a graphic designer, artist and model, had been unemployed – until the day before we met him. So, they were resigned to the fact that the wedding would have to be put on ice for a few years.

Then the Daily News made their dream come true. Lauren and Nolan beat a field of 704 entries to win the Daily News Win a Wedding competition and now their big day will be in December.

“We are overjoyed and so excited,” they said, posing like professionals as our photographer clicked away at a winners’ photoshoot in Durban Botanic Gardens.

Even before hearing that they had scooped the dazzling prize, Lauren had been on the websites and into the stores of many of our sponsors, looking at dresses, cakes, colour schemes and more.

“For years I have wanted to go into a bridal shop and try on dresses but was always too shy as there was no wedding planned,” she laughed. “Now I am going to do it! I want a dress with a sweetheart neckline but not too elaborate as I am tiny.”

Lauren and Nolan celebrate with Laurens mother, Yolandi, left, and sister, Liesel.

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Tiny she is – she is just over five feet, wears a size 26 to 28 dress and takes a size one shoe.

The couple have known each other for six years. They first met in Lauren’s home suburb of Greenwood Park when she and her mother, Yolandi, offered Nolan a lift.

“I thought: ‘Woo-hoo, hello!’,” laughs Lauren.

Yolandi did too. The intuitive mom was determined to bring these two together and when Lauren was looking for materials for a college project, Yolandi cleverly guided her into a toy store in Gateway – where Nolan worked. He showed her some merchandise – including a tiara.

Regular meetings between the teenagers happened when their church youth groups got together and soon blossomed into romance when they returned from a church mission in Swaziland.

Well and truly smitten, and several years later, Nolan asked Lauren’s father, Neville, for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Both families could not be happier.

“It was meant to be,” says Nolan. “I showed her a tiara in the shop in Gateway – now she will be shopping for a tiara for our wedding. She is my princess and now I am able to give her a fairy tale wedding.”

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Wow! What a way to start your shared life

All five finalist couples in the Daily News Win a Wedding competition were a delight, telling their stories with humour and passion. But, in the end it was Lauren Rose and Nolan Smuts, who had the edge, winning a dream wedding, all because they bought the Daily News and entered our competition. This is what they won:

* Reception for 50 people at The Bend, Nottingham Road;

* Four-night stay at Umzolozolo Private Safari Lodge for two, in the presidential suite, including meals and game drives worth R50 000;

* Wedding dress from The Wedding Box worth R15 000;

* Wedding rings for the bride and groom from Damjee Jewellers Gateway worth R20 000;

* Flowers by Mokka Blooms;

* Bride’s hair and make-up by Robyn Bowles Make-up Artists and Hairstylists;

* Groom’s suit from Suit Yourself, worth R4 000, including suit hire for two groomsmen;

* Wedding planner ETC Events, worth R15 000;

* Wedding cake from Sugar Coated Cakes worth R4 000;

* Table wine for the reception from Solms-Delta, 24 bottles of red and 24 bottles of white;

* Photography and videography from Spotlight Media worth R20 000;

* Printing of invitations and 50 place settings by Very Inviting, worth R2 700;

* Final dinner for 10 at Nicolsons; and

* Wedding carriage from Crab Apple.