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WEDDINGS AT Horizons. Gourmet Picnics
We think Horizons with its beautiful outlook is an ideal spot for a wedding. Either for just the reception or as a really special place in which to hold your ceremony as well, utilizing the 'aisle' of tall trees which we could decorate as you so wish.
The reception could take place on our picnic blankets and cushions with low Japanese tables enabling your guests to relax and enjoy your special day with you. We also have the option of tables and chairs or a combination of both blankets and tables if you so wish. Our staff will bring all meals to you elegantly served on crockery, fine linen and cutlery in wicker baskets.
We are fully licensed and are able to order all your liquor requirement for you.
Call us to discuss a menu to suit you.
local photographers, marriage officers, florists, musicians.
 
Picnic Time
By Kathryn Fourie
I have been to two very cool weddings in my life. The first involved a family of mad Argentineans and a whole lot of sailing folk booking out an entire boutique hotel and going bananas. The second would have to be one I went to on the weekend, that of my lovely friend Julia. Smiling and divine, Julia is one of those people who despises anything ridiculously exorbitant (except cheese, then she loses clarity), has a knack for charming anyone and everyone around her, is super-smart…and loves picnics. So much so that when she planned her wedding, she decided on the ultimate mammoth feast upon the grass.
There is something contagious about the idea of a picnic, and my knees twitch in anticipation for the grass stains, the itchy skin, the sun burn (or drenched clothing), the ants and the happy feeling of snoozing under a tree with 6 types of biscuit and dips, chocolate, strawberries, Simba chips, fruit juice, marshmallows and other things I can’t remember eating all happily digesting in my stomach. So when Julia said we were having a picnic I was more than pleased! In my mind I assumed we would all be arriving with our own baskets filled with goodies to have a combined celebration, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Horizons Gourmet Picnics was Julia’s perfect find, a spot in the Midlands Meander, just before Rosetta, that specialises in decadent picnics. An avenue of pine trees, green lawns, indigenous plants, chameleons, a cute Jack Russell and about 50 blankets with piles of pillows set the scene for one of the loveliest weddings out. When the bride has a sunshine yellow dress, walks down the aisle to Bob Dylan’s ‘Shelter from the Storm’, ends the ceremony with ‘All I Want is You’ from the Juno soundtrack, and the groom says his speech barefoot…well you know you’re at a winner.
Obviously we had a set menu of treats in the basket, but they do have different options as well as kiddie’s baskets. In fact, I did try and help 5-year-old Jamie eat her Niknaks but the howl of dismay quickly sent me back to my nuts coated in honey, spices and crunchy brown sugar. Humpf! Jamie, next time I’ll wait ‘til you’re playing with your Dad’s camera before I pounce! I really enjoyed the salad with almonds and goats cheese, and the tuna mousse was deeelicious. Their menu changes seasonally, and you’ll find more hearty options in the winter months.
The people who actually run Horizons are Annie and Brendan Grealy, who were professional actors,directors and producers in their past lives. Post leaving the hectic pace of Johannesburg, they reinvented a more calm life out on the beautiful midlands and have been creating radical picnics for the last three years. Annie has experience in running hotels, so she is really ‘in charge’ so to speak. Julia told me that she was sold on the place when she asked Brendan a question about tents or something and he replied with ‘Well, to be honest I don’t have a clue, my wife does everything and I’m useless, and I’ve never done a wedding before! But I’m sure we can work anything out!’
Due to Annie and Brendan’s thespian background there are frequently shows, comedies, book clubs and other events that pop up, and you can check out what’s going down when on their website. They also have a proper Boules pitch (does one call it a Boules pitch?) to waste away the afternoon on, and it really is a kids delight with loads of space in which to burn MSG energy off.
The young crowd were eventually booted at about 6pm, which was highly necessary as we had piled all the blankets and pillows in the centre of the lawn and were proceeding to eat every last morsel of the beautiful cupcakes that were the ‘wedding cake’ after nicking all the half-drunk bottles of wine off the older folk’s tables. I think we would have slept the night if we’d half a chance!
To Julia and Timb, if your marriage is even an inth as fun as your wedding was, I reckon you’re sorted kids!
Tags: Boules, Chameleons, children, food, Juno, Midlands, picnic, Wedding, Wine
This entry was posted on Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 5:38 pm and is filed under Dining / Nightlife, Entertainment, Fine dining, For Kids, Music, Show/Theatres, Wine, culture, travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Response to “Picnic Time”
- Another great blog, Kath. Glad you had a cool time. We had such fun. Annie and Brendan were fantastic. They really made the day stress-free and magical
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