We Noticed Each Other

Location: Alpine Palace, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria; Event Planner: Grenzenlos Events & Lifestyle, Muehlbach, Austria; Stationery: Blueprint Design Studio, Constantia, South Africa; Shoes: Jimmy Choo; Wedding Gown: Blue by Enzoani at Benjamin Roberts Limited, Swansea, Wales; Videographer: Hochzeitsmovie, Buchkirchen, Austria; Photography: Claire Morgan Photography, Vienna, Austria

“We first laid eyes on each other at the launch of a new coffee shop in Cape Town,” recalls Vikki Daras of her chance meeting with rugby centre, Rudi Keil. “No words were exchanged, but we both noticed each other during the course of that evening.” A few nights later they we were introduced at a party and spent that night together, dancing and laughing until the early hours of the morning. They were “totally absorbed in each other,” says Vikki. “Being the gentleman that he is, Rudi then called to ask me out on a dinner date, where I received a long-stemmed rose with every cocktail.”

“Rudi was playing rugby in the United Kingdom for Gloucester at that stage, so he had to leave South Africa,” she says. “Within six months I left my job, sold my house and relocated to Manchester where Rudi started a new contract.” After two and a half years of spontaneous traveling, “he swept me off for a last-minute surprise holiday. He even packed my bags. Until we got to the airport I had no idea where we were going, then Rudi raised his champagne glass and told me we were off to Egypt.”

“He had arranged a surprise for me everyday for the entire two-week trip. On the third night he had bought me an outfit of Queen Nefertari—my favorite Egyptian queen,” Vikki explains. “He told me to put it on for photos on the deck. After dressing, he came to collect me in full Egyptian attire. He closed my eyes and led me into a private chamber. When I opened my eyes, the room was laden with rose petals, candles, champagne and traditional Egyptian music. The view will be imprinted into my memory forever: we were moored across from a temple that was lit up, while the moonlight danced on the Nile. Rudi knelt down to one knee, where he presented me with a papyrus scroll with words of promise and commitment, he then proposed. I wept.”

Their wedding day was planned for winter in Austria in honor of Rudi’s late father, as well as to bring their family and friends from all over the world to an unforgettable location. “The celebrations lasted an entire week, from tobogganing, snowboarding, après ski, hens’ and bachelors’ nights to relaxed evenings together beside the fireplace. Taking photos in the snow with our friends and family after the ceremony was very special, says Vikki revealing that they were all wearing snow boots under their dresses and laughing while snowflakes softly fell around them.

Location: Alpine Palace, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria; Event Planner: Grenzenlos Events & Lifestyle, Muehlbach, Austria; Stationery: Blueprint Design Studio, Constantia, South Africa; Shoes: Jimmy Choo; Wedding Gown: Blue by Enzoani at Benjamin Roberts Limited, Swansea, Wales; Videographer: Hochzeitsmovie, Buchkirchen, Austria; Photography: Claire Morgan Photography, Vienna, Austria