When planning our 2025 Get It Bridal Edition, we wanted a colour palette that was bold, timeless, and full of elegance. Enter the Colbys. Griffin and Taya-Joy’s wedding not only embraced our chosen black and white theme – it showed it off in such a beautiful way.
“One of our biggest goals was for the day to feel like us.”
For Bloemfontein locals Griffin and Taya-Joy Colby, who held their wedding in 2024, their love story has been nearly a decade in the making.
“I’m 28, born and bred in the City of Roses,” says Taya-Joy. “I work as an aftercare teacher. Griffin is 32, also from Bloem, and wears many hats – he’s a SA Rugby Elite Referee, works in Student Affairs and Residence Life at UFS, and is the Referee Manager at the Free State Rugby Union.”
Their paths first crossed when Taya-Joy was just 15. “We met on BBM,” she shares. “We chatted for a while before finally meeting up in person.”
Griffin and Taya-Joy spent over six wonderful years together before Griffin proposed in the most unexpected way.
“I actually helped him pack for a rugby trip to Cape Town,” says Taya-Joy. “But while I was at a workshop, he kept messaging me and suggesting what I should wear. I was a bit suspicious! My sister-in-law asked me to meet for coffee at the botanical gardens… and then left me at the entrance, telling me to walk a certain path. There was Griffin. He had planned a full setup, photographer and all. I was so shocked. Of course, I said yes!”
That moment confirmed what Taya-Joy had known all along. “I knew he was the one from the first time he came to our home. His calmness just soothed me, and I realised I really loved him. Griffin says he shares my sentiments,” she adds.
More than just a celebration, the Colbys wanted their wedding to be a true reflection of who they are as a couple.
“One of our biggest goals was for the day to feel like us,” explains Taya-Joy. “We wanted guests to walk in and think, ‘Wow, this is exactly what I’d picture these two doing’.”
Their chosen theme? A classic black and white palette – elegant, minimal, and impactful.
“I saw the idea of only the bride and groom wearing white on Pinterest and mentioned it to Griffin,” she says. “We didn’t want anything excessive, and black and white was just perfect for us. When our florist, Vanessa from Flourish, showed us a black and white flower that looked like my engagement ring – it all tied together beautifully.”
While asking guests to wear black came with some nerves, the couple says everyone pulled through.
Griffin and Taya-Joy knew from the start that they wanted to be hands-on. “We didn’t have a wedding planner. We wanted to be as involved as possible,” they say.
And though weddings are known to be stressful, this couple kept things cool.
“We’re pretty chilled people, and that helped,” Griffin shares. “We did have a budget, but quickly realised how expensive weddings can be. Even a simple wedding comes at a cost. We saved money by doing our menus, invites and table seating ourselves,” Taya-Joy adds.
The first thing they booked after getting engaged? The venue.
“My ‘something blue’ were blue buttons sewn onto my garter from my gran,” Taya-Joy says. And of course, rugby made an appearance – during cocktail hour, the Springbok vs All Blacks game played in the background. “We had a few fans and referees in the crowd, so it just felt right,” says Griffin.
As for their first dance? Well, it didn’t go exactly as planned.
“We had a song picked out, but the DJ accidentally played our grand entrance track instead,” Taya-Joy laughs. “The MC invited all our guests to join in, and that became our first dance.”
Now, eight months into their marriage, the Colbys reflect on the day with nothing but joy. “Even in 10 years, we think we’d still say we wouldn’t change a thing,” they say.
Their relationship has only deepened since saying ‘I do’. “Our wedding had a big sense of togetherness,” they share. “Togetherness is something we definitely strive for. When married people say you don’t know the feeling of love until you’re married, they know what they’re talking about. We’re as close as ever.”
When asked what advice they’d give future brides and grooms, the Colbys keep it real.
“Stick together,” they say. “At the end of the day, it’s your wedding. Weddings shouldn’t cause tension between you and your partner. Communicate – check in with each other often.”
Taya-Joy has a few words of wisdom for brides: “Don’t try to do everything. Ask for help. You can’t control it all, but you can enjoy what you can control.”
And from Griffin? “Grooms – HELP your fiancée. She’s not marrying herself!”
Text: JUSTINE FORTUIN / Photograph(s): RICO MYBURG PHOTOGRAPHY
