Ariel and Leonard’s intimate Simon’s Town wedding was the perfect example of why we love photographing smaller celebrations. Surrounded by their closest family, they exchanged vows at a beautiful Airbnb near the coast before celebrating with a relaxed family lunch and ending the afternoon with adventurous beach portraits.
An Intimate Wedding in Simon’s Town
Ariel and Leonard were married on 27 August 2025, with the beautiful Simon’s Town coastline as their backdrop.
A Personal Ceremony with Tying the Knot Bridal
Their ceremony was officiated by Symi from Tying the Knot Bridal, someone we absolutely love working with. Symi has such a genuine passion for getting to know the couples she marries, and she has a wonderful way of weaving their story, personalities and relationship into her ceremony.
Her wedding sermons are always personal, emotional and beautifully thoughtful — and Ariel and Leonard’s ceremony was no exception.
Celebrating with Their Closest Family
One of the things we loved most about Ariel and Leonard’s wedding was how much time we got to spend simply being part of the day.
With a small guest list, there was no rushing from one thing to the next. We had the opportunity to get to know their family a little better, capture the quiet moments between everyone and document the atmosphere of the day as it naturally unfolded.
After the ceremony, we stayed and enjoyed a family lunch with them.
It might sound like a small thing, but moments like these are exactly why we love intimate weddings. We aren’t simply arriving, taking photographs and leaving. We get to slow down, connect with our couples and experience a little piece of the celebration alongside the people who mean the most to them.
Golden Hour Beach Portraits in Simon’s Town
As the afternoon began to fade, the light softened into that beautiful warm glow that photographers are always hoping for.
We headed down to the beach with Ariel and Leonard to capture some portraits of the two of them.
And, as you might expect from an adventurous couple, their portraits didn’t stay safely on the sand.
Before long, they were in the waves.
There is something so wonderfully fitting about ending a wedding day this way — barefoot, laughing, surrounded by the ocean and completely caught up in the moment.
These are the photographs we love most: the ones where the couple forgets about the camera and simply enjoys being together.
Why We Love Small Weddings & Elopements
Small weddings and elopements hold a special place in our hearts.
With fewer guests and fewer formalities, there is often so much more room for the things that really matter — connection, emotion, adventure and time together.
For us as photographers, intimate weddings also give us the freedom to be creative. We get to spend more time with our couples, explore beautiful locations and create photographs that feel personal rather than simply working through a list of traditional wedding photographs.
Ariel and Leonard’s day had all of that.
A beautiful home filled with their closest family. A deeply personal ceremony. A relaxed family lunch. An afternoon by the sea. And, eventually, two newlyweds running into the waves.
It was intimate, adventurous and completely their own.
Planning an Intimate Wedding in Simon’s Town?
Planning an intimate wedding, elopement or destination wedding in Simon’s Town or the Cape Town area?
We’d love to tell your story in a way that feels authentic to you — whether that’s an intimate ceremony with your closest family, a beach elopement or a full wedding celebration.
Flying Swan Media is a wedding photography and videography team based in the Cape Winelands, photographing weddings throughout Simon’s Town, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and the Western Cape.
Your wedding doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful. Sometimes, the smallest celebrations leave the biggest memories.
Explore our wedding photography and videography collections >
Explore our Wedding Photography Gallery to see complete wedding stories from across Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Cape Town and the Western Cape.
Yes. We love photographing intimate weddings and elopements in Simon’s Town and throughout Cape Town and the Western Cape. Smaller celebrations allow us to slow down, spend more time with our couples and create a collection of photographs that feels personal to their story.
Simon’s Town is a beautiful option for couples wanting an intimate coastal celebration. The area offers ocean views, beaches, historic architecture and beautiful natural surroundings, giving couples plenty of opportunities for meaningful wedding portraits.
Yes. We photograph weddings and elopements throughout Cape Town and the Western Cape, including celebrations where couples incorporate the beach or coastline into their wedding day.
Absolutely. One of the benefits of intimate weddings is that the timeline can often be more relaxed. We can document the ceremony, family interactions, portraits, lunch and other meaningful moments throughout the day.
Yes. Flying Swan Media offers both wedding photography and wedding videography, allowing couples to have their wedding story documented through photographs as well as moving images.
We photograph weddings throughout Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and across the Western Cape. Travel arrangements are discussed when preparing your wedding photography or photography and videography quote.
See More Real Weddings
Every wedding has its own story, from intimate celebrations like Ariel and Leonard’s to full wedding weekends surrounded by family and friends.
Explore our wedding photography gallery to see more real weddings photographed by Flying Swan Media across Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Cape Town and the Western Cape.
