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I Dreamed of Africa

Shelby Janes & Rich Clark Rancho Santa Fe, California September 27, 2008

SHELBY JANES AND HER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE, affectionately known as “work crush Rich” by her circle of girlfriends, knew each other professionally for a year before the charming Mr. Clark asked her out. But once they had their first date…“That was it,” laughs Shelby. Six months later, they moved in together, a puggle puppy followed, and their lives fell into a comfortable rhythm.

In December 2007, the two traveled to Rich’s hometown of Durban, South Africa, to spend the holidays with family and friends. One afternoon, Rich took Shelby for a drive along the coast to Boulders Beach, famous for its frolicking African penguins. Both share a love for photography, and Shelby wanted to stop along the way to document the breathtaking journey. Rich, on the other hand, seemed eager to get to the beach. Once there, he set up a tripod for the perfect shot, and when the timer started to click, he dropped to his knees and proposed in the company of small, waddling, tuxedo-clad witnesses. Shelby happily accepted the vintage family diamond ring that had belonged to Rich’s great-great-uncle, and, upon returning to San Diego, the couple had it reset by a South African jeweler. Desiring a warm-weather wedding, Rich and Shelby opted for one in September, which meant only nine months to plan. The dress, of course, was a high priority.

With “frilly” being a foreign concept to her, Shelby’s sense of style warranted a simple yet chic wedding gown. But when she tried on an Ines Di Santo design at M Bride in La Jolla, “the closet girlie came out and I had to have a pouffy dress,” she says. “I figured it was the only time I’d ever wear something like that, so I took advantage of it.” Shelby’s non-traditional nature appeared when she espied a pair of flashy, wildly colorful Betsey Johnson shoes. “I loved the bling on the toes and the vivid colors matched my idea for the bridesmaid’s dresses and flowers,” she says. The five women in her bridal party wore lemon yellow dresses in individual styles from J. Crew and carried vibrant pink bouquets.

Next, the perfect location was in order. And, luckily, the bride and groom found one that fit them to a T. “The minute I stepped onto the grounds of Rancho Valencia, I was done looking,” says Shelby. The romantic setting, with its beautiful orange groves, inspired the couple’s citrus theme. Limes hung from trees and were spread on the welcome table, with guests’ seating assignments cleverly written on paper leaves. Striking centerpieces bloomed with yellow, white and pink flowers atop a cluster of lemons and limes. Each table was named after a South African city Rich and Shelby had visited in their travels.

“Since Rich grew up surfing with his dad, a family friend custom-designed a board and another created a logo with our names and wedding date on it.” she says. “All of our friends wrote us messages on the board.”

While the ceremony itself was short and sweet, it contained one of Rich’s favorite moments. “Henrik, the officiant and a close family friend, asked us to join hands, and I remember her squeezing me tightly,” he says. “She wouldn’t let go and when he told her to do so, she said, ‘I don’t want to.’ So we held hands through the whole ceremony.” The bride’s favorite part of all? “There were so many great moments, but the most memorable was when my mother-in-law gave me an original Makoti hat,” Shelby says. René, a tenth-generation South African, grew up on a farm with many Zulu tribal members, and in their tradition, the bride is given a special beaded hat to symbolize marriage. René recreated the ceremonial act for her daughter-in-law, making the speech in Zulu and then translating it. In another nod to Zulu tradition, Rich’s uncle presented Shelby with two cows—small beaded ones, that is—explaining that when a Zulu asks for a hand in marriage, the family gives cows as gifts to the bride and her family.

“Usually the bride and her family get nine or 10 real ones. I only got two,” Shelby laughs. But clearly she felt very rich in love on that memorable day.

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Photo caption: Ceremony, reception location and catering: Rancho Valencia. Flowers: Flowers Annette Gomez. Cake and groom’s cake: René Clark, groom’s mother. Gown: Ines Di Santo, M Bride. Shoes: Betsey Johnson. Hair: Brides by Blondie. Makeup: Melissa Rae. Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew. Groom’s attire: Calvin Klein at Men’s Warehouse. Groomsmen attire: Men’s Warehouse. Wedding bands: Charles Koll. Officiant: Henrik Nielsen. Photographer: Natalie Moser. Guitarist: Jimmy Patton. DJ: Gary Kelley, iDJ San Diego.

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