Fairy tale wedding: How small businesses made dreams come true for one couple
A group of Cape Town’s small business owners turned dreams into reality when they came together to give one lucky couple the wedding of a lifetime. For Chante and Tyron Hendricks, it was a fairy tale they never saw coming.
Their story began in 2018 when Chante moved from her small Eastern Cape town of Aberdeen to Bishop Lavis. There, she met Tyron, a friend of her cousin. Sparks flew, and they started dating on 9 June that year.
“It was so unexpected but felt so right,” the new Mrs. Hendricks recalled.
Fast forward to her 19th birthday in 2019, and Tyron was ready to take their relationship to the next level.
“At midnight, he had ‘19’ balloons, a peppermint tart, and asked me to marry him,” Chante said, laughing.
“It was such a Tyron thing – simple and heartfelt.”
Life kept moving, bringing both challenges and blessings. In 2020, they welcomed their baby, Starr. By 2021, they moved into their first flat together, though marriage was still on hold.
“I always wanted to get married, even at Home Affairs,” Chante shared.
“But Tyron was determined to wait until we were financially stable or had our own house.”
This year, a family gathering turned into the push they needed.
“We were sitting with his family when his sister Shantill joked, ‘You can’t keep this child in a lay-buy for years. Pick a date!’” Chante laughed.
By the end of the night, the couple had chosen 7 December, giving them just three months to plan their wedding. That’s when the universe stepped in.
In September, Shantill spotted the Trou Mense Nog competition hosted by Cape Flats Stories and urged them to enter.
“We both sent emails, but Tyron’s touched their hearts,” Chante said. The couple was overjoyed when they were announced as winners.
“When I saw my name, I couldn’t believe it. I called home, and Tyron and his family were already celebrating.”
The prize brought together generous small business owners who turned their wedding into a magical event.
“The sponsors were incredible,” Chante said. “They even arrived with six cars instead of two!”
And as if the blessings couldn’t get any better, the day before the wedding, Tyron received the keys to their new home.
Reflecting on their journey, Chante credited Tyron’s selfless spirit.
“Everything we’ve been blessed with is because of his heart. Even when we don’t have much, he finds ways to help others,” she said.
The brainchild behind the event, Stan Jacobs from the popular Cape Flats Stories social page, teamed up with his friend Faheema “Faye” Moala, a dedicated community advocate, to advertise the Trou Mense Nog initiative.
“Faye said to me, let’s do something good man… we put heads together, and decided she is going to make a dress and give it to someone for their matric ball or something.
“Then the owner of Simplified Management came on board, and the three of us started talking. We brainstormed and decided to give to someone who needs it and then in return small businesses can also get exposure through it.”
Moala said she immediately loved the idea.
“I love doing community work and always try to find ways to give back. I
usually make dresses with the intention of selling or renting them out, but in the end, I always just give them away.
“After the three of us met, we advertised on Facebook, and the other collaborators came on board.
“We unanimously chose Chante and Tyron, probably because the groom is a community worker and activist, and they’ve been struggling to plan their wedding.”
The M.A.D. Crew (Make A Difference) went above and beyond, surprising the couple with six VW GTIs to chauffeur the wedding party, adding a touch of luxury and excitement to their celebration.
Iehlaam van Rensburg from Zaynap Photography dedicated weeks to capturing every special moment, from the pre-wedding shoot to meticulously planning key moments, ensuring the day was documented perfectly.
A jeweler from 925 Jewellery also jumped on board and played a key role, handcrafting the couple’s wedding rings.
When the designer first saw the competition post, she felt inspired to contribute, reaching out to Jacobs to offer her services.
“It was an incredible experience to meet the couple, and their gratitude was overwhelming,” Yusra shared.
“Seeing their smiles and knowing I was part of their love story made it all the more special.”
Cecelia Greeff of Piped Petals also joined the cause after hearing about the initiative while getting her wedding dress fitted at La Fate Designs.
Knowing the financial strain weddings can put on couples, she offered her talent to ease the burden by creating a beautiful cake.
“The cake took two days to complete, but it was worth every moment. I wanted to do something special for the couple,” Cecelia said.
The couple was also serenaded by singer Jade Engelbrech.
Jacobs said they are planning a second round of the competition and envisions an annual thing.
“Look, people want to get married but we know the cost of living is high, so this is rewarding because what started off as a collaboration to promote small businesses ended up in a fairytale for a well deserving couple..”
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za