Since middle December 2021, OFM’s asked Central SA couples, who’ve not been able to tie the knot due to Covid-19 restrictions, or who’s not been able to have a wedding reception with more than a handful of guests, to enter for a chance to win a pre-planned wedding reception at the exquisite Riviera on Vaal in Vereeniging, just ahead of Valentine’s Day!

Up for grabs, an amazing grand prize, including a venue for 50 guests as well as décor, a three-course meal, accommodation for the bridal couple, a photographer, MC, DJ as well as a 'Honey Moon' prize in the fairest Cape that the winning couple could enjoy within the next six months.

To enter, couples had to submit a video of themselves, motivating why they need to be chosen. On Friday, 4 February 2022, four finalists were selected and placed on Facebook for a public vote. The votes closed on Tuesday, 8 February, and the lucky winners were announced live on OFM’s Good Morning Breakfast show on Wednesday, 9 February 2022.

The competition was quite tough with two couples neck and neck, and voting down to the wire until the last second. The lucky couple, who garnered the most votes, were Kevin Meiring and Hettie Venter, who hail from Vanderbijlpark.

The pair met when Hettie went for an eye test and literally ‘eyed’ Kevin. Was it love at first sight? Their journey has, however, not been an easy one.

The two explained that they’ve faced various trials and tribulations since deciding to spend their lives together. Together they opened an ophthalmic practice and have since spent most of their time, energy, and funds on their business with the various Covid-19 lockdown levels also leaving little space for planning a wedding.

In their motivation, the couple said: “We opened our ophthalmic practice in the midst of the pandemic. Teamwork divided our tasks and multiplied our success. We have had the privilege of working together, building together and growing together. We have laid a good foundation and want to reap the rewards together and enjoy life as husband and wife. Covid has postponed it long enough for us now, it's time for marriage. We would like to celebrate our love with a wedding (elope) and honeymoon before the predicted Fifth Wave in May.”

The lucky pair walked down the aisle at the beautiful Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club.

The resort, which is also celebrating its 100th birthday this year, is renowned for its enchanting backdrop and magnificent views of nature.

“We have a stunning venue, couples can basically tie the knot on the Vaal River. As big as the happy couple’s dreams are; we can match that at Riviera on Vaal. We’re coming out of a very difficult time and it’s nice to be able to give back. In terms of the centenary celebrations, watch this space. Go check out the calendar on our website, there are many things to look forward to,” Daniel Tharratt, General Manager of the hotel, told Gerben van Niekerk in a live interview at OFM’s outside broadcast ahead of the event.

OFM was honoured to being part of Kevin and Hettie’s special day with OFM’s Good Morning Breakfast host, Shandor Potgieter, MC’ing the event, as well as Margaret Whitfield, spinning the decks at the reception.

There was also a special surprise, singer Monique Steyn, who also performed at the resort over the weekend, serenaded the couple.

“The month of love is cluttered with activity related to Valentine’s Day and OFM wanted to do something that stood out for its audience. Trou Nou was exactly that. The entrants and contestants were all deserving, audience participation was exceptional and the Riviera on Vaal’s participation and involvement was exemplary with a massive prize that include a reception event, honeymoon, flights, and accommodation,” says Tim Thabethe, OFM Programme Manager.

Stay tuned and keep an eye on OFM’s social media for more competitions aimed at turning 2022 into #Twenty20You!

ENDS

For more information contact marketing@ofm.co.za.

“Liefde met die eerste oogopslag” vir #OFMTrouNou-wenners

OFM vra sedert middel Desember 2021 Sentraal-SA paartjies, wat weens Covid-19-beperkings nie die knoop kon deurhaak nie, of wat nie 'n huweliksonthaal met meer as 'n handjievol gaste kon hou nie, om in te skryf vir 'n kans om 'n voorafbeplande onthaal te wen by die pragtige Riviera on Vaal, op Saterdag 12 Februarie 2022, net voor Valentynsdag!

Op die spel - 'n ongelooflike prys, wat insluit die lokaal vir 50 gaste, asook dekor, 'n driegangmaaltyd, verblyf vir die bruidspaar, 'n fotograaf, seremoniemeester, musiek, asook 'n ‘wittebrood’-prys in die mooiste Kaap wat die wenpaar binne die volgende ses maande kan geniet.

Om in te skryf, moes paartjies 'n video van hulself indien, wat motiveer waarom hulle gekies moet word. Op Vrydag, 4 Februarie 2022, is vier finaliste gekies en op Facebook geplaas vir die publiek om te stem. Die stemmery het Dinsdag 8 Februarie gesluit, en die gelukkige wenners is op Woensdag 9 Februarie 2022 regstreeks op OFM se Good Morning Breakfast-program aangekondig.

Die kompetisie was taamlik taai met twee paartjies kop aan kop en tot op die laaste sekonde van die stemmery. Die gelukkige paartjie, wat die meeste stemme ontvang het, was Kevin Meiring en Hettie Venter, afkomstig van Vanderbijlpark.

Die paar het mekaar ontmoet toe Hettie vir 'n oogtoets gegaan het en Kevin letterlik 'ge-eye' het. Was dit wel liefde met die eerste oogopslag? Hulle reis was egter nie maklik nie.

Die twee het verduidelik dat hulle verskeie beproewings in die gesig gestaar het sedert hulle besluit het om hul lewens saam te bind. Saam het hulle 'n oogheelkundige praktyk geopen en het sedertdien die meeste van hul tyd, energie en fondse aan hul besigheid bestee, met die verskillende Covid-19-grendelvlakke wat ook min geleentheid gebied het om 'n troue te beplan.

In hul motivering het die egpaar gesê: “Ons het ons oogheelkundige praktyk te midde van die pandemie geopen. Spanwerk het ons take verdeel en ons sukses vermenigvuldig. Ons het die voorreg gehad om saam te werk, saam te bou en saam te groei. Ons het 'n goeie fondament gelê en wil saam die vrugte daarvan pluk en die lewe as man en vrou geniet. Covid het dit nou lank genoeg vir ons uitgestel, dit is tyd vir trou. Ons wil graag ons liefde vier met ’n troue (elope) en wittebrood voor die voorspelde vyfde golf in Mei.”

Die gelukkige paartjie het Saterdag, 12 Februarie 2022, net voor Valentynsdag, in die paadjie by die pragtige Riviera on Vaal Hotel en Buiteklub in Vereeniging afgestap.

Die oord, wat ook vanjaar sy 100ste verjaardag vier, is bekend vir sy betowerende agtergrond en manjifieke uitsigte oor die natuur.

“So groot soos wat hulle drome is, so groot kan ons vir hulle akkommodeer. Ons het fantastiese ‘do’s’, mens kan trou op die Vaalrivier, ons het elf verskillende venues waar hulle kan seremonies doen, ons het als inhuis om ‘n troue te reel. Ons kom uit 'n baie moeilike tyd en dit is lekker om te kan teruggee. In terme van die eeufeesvieringe, gaan kyk na die kalender op ons webwerf, daar is baie dinge om na uit te sien,” het Daniel Tharratt, hoofbestuurder van die hotel, voor die geleentheid in 'n regstreekse onderhoud by OFM se buite-uitsending aan Gerben van Niekerk gesê.

Dit was vir OFM 'n groot voorreg om deel te wees van Kevin en Hettie se spesiale dag met OFM se Good Morning Breakfast aanbieders, Shandor Potgieter as seremoniemeester, en Margaret Whitfield, wat musiek gemaak het by die onthaal.

Daar was ook 'n spesiale verrassing, sanger Monique Steyn, wat ok die naweek by die oord opgetree het, het vir die paartjie gesing.

“Die maand van liefde is oorvol met aktiwiteite wat met Valentynsdag verband hou en OFM wou iets doen wat uitstaan vir ons luisteraars. Trou Nou was presies dit. Die deelnemers was almal verdienstelik, deelname was uitsonderlik en die Riviera on Vaal se betrokkenheid was uitstaande met 'n massiewe prys wat 'n onthaal, wittebrood, vlugte en verblyf insluit,” sê Tim Thabethe, OFM-programbestuurder.

Bly ingeskakel en hou OFM se sosiale media dop vir nog kompetisies wat daarop gemik is om 2022 in # Twenty20You te omskep!

EINDIG

Vir meer inligting kontak marketing@ofm.co.za.