Wedding Bashers’ winning couple from the South

THIS must have been one of the best-kept secrets. Well, up to now that is. In 2017 we introduced you to three local couples featuring in M-Net’s The Wedding Bashers and now we bring you the winning couple: Taryn and Franco Habib.

Getting to know the couple

Taryn and Franco started their friendship in high school. He was the typical skater boy with baggy jeans and gross skate shoes, while she was a high school princess who focused on getting good marks to go to medical school.

Fast-forward a few years and Franco contacted Taryn. The friends had a mutual friend who was getting married in Knysna, and Franco decided to fly to Taryn in Cape Town and the two would road-trip together.

Read: Robertsham couple to feature on M-Net’s Wedding Bashers

“What started off as a friendly catch-up between friends almost instantly became a love affair between best friends. He knew me inside and out and hadn’t changed since the day I met him back in high school. He was still that quirky skater boy I knew, only this time my heart knew what was right for me. With nine months of back and forth flying between cities and with a little baby named Oliver, our love grew and I moved back to Joburg to start a life with the man of my dreams,” said Taryn.

Being from Durban, Taryn and her family travelled to Joburg a lot.

“My real dad died when I was young, and my mom remarried the most amazing man who I knew as my dad. He moved us up to Joburg in 1993, but the travelling didn’t end there. We camped and road-tripped a lot. My dad and his friends owned a Putco bus painted in Smarties colours and that was our home away from home. I have many memories of family trips up to the Transkei, boating trips and bathing in buckets of cold water,” recalled Taryn.

The active mother also has many challenges in life. Recently she was diagnosed with epilepsy and now she practises yoga at her own studio in Brackenhurst.

“I adore my boys so much and even though they drive me crazy, my life would be a dull mess without them. My love for fashion also pushed me into a new career of kiddies’ clothing, and I recently started my own kids’ clothing label called Oliver and Bean (named after my little dudes),” said the mum of two.

Journey to marriage

“Our relationship has been a whirlwind of surprises (and flights). We fell pregnant pretty quickly – I think it was two weekends together – and the rest flowed pretty quickly after that. I stayed in Cape Town for the first seven and a half months of pregnancy and then decided it was time to move back to Joburg to be with Franco and raise our little family together.

“Oliver-Finn was born on December 26, 2014, and it was absolute love at first sight. Even though he was a huge shock at first, we both knew that this was the life we always wanted,” explained Taryn.

The couple then moved to Glenvista to start their family and welcomed their second baby. It was in September 2015 that the couple took a family vacation to visit family in New Zealand and Franco made it his moment to make Taryn his wife. He proposed on their second-last day in New Zealand and it was the “perfect proposal”.

After getting back home they started planning for their wedding, but it ended just as quickly when two weeks later Taryn found out they were already three months pregnant with their second baby.

Read: Watch Matthew, Gaylene tie the knot on M-Net

“So the wedding plans went on hold and the following year our second little miracle, Jack Jude, was born on May 19, 2016. That September we decided to start and finish our wedding plans. On March 4, 2017, we officially became Mr and Mrs Francisco Habib,” said the couple.

They are now enjoying married life and building their dream home at Eye of Africa.

From the first kiss to the proposal

“Our first date and kiss was the night Franco arrived in Cape Town. I fetched him from the airport and we went for dinner and a few drinks. From there we ventured off to the beach with a bottle of wine. It was a bit windy as is expected in Cape Town, so Franco pulled me into his jersey and the magic happened,” said Taryn.

Taryn gives us some juicy details about her fairy-tale proposal in New Zealand.

“We decided to take a break from Oliver and go on a date. Franco said he would make the arrangements and I agreed. My aunt drove us down to Auckland Harbour and we were off on our adventure-filled day. I was sitting on the water’s edge and the next minute I was blown away by the wind of a sea plane landing right in front of us. The pilot jumped out, gave us our earphones and we hopped in (I was shaking like a leaf). The plane took off and we went on a flip around the city and the neighbouring islands. Even then I didn’t expect he was going to propose. The plane landed and a car arrived for us. We climbed in and the driver said, ‘Okay, off to your next destination.’ What could possibly top a plane ride? We pulled up to Auckland Yacht Club and were escorted up to a private room overlooking the harbour. The nerves started and the air got thick with tension. Before I could blink Franco was down on one knee with the most beautiful ring I had ever seen and he popped the question. I was so happy I forgot to say yes!” she explained.

The couple already knew they wanted the wedding to be a city wedding, and Living Room in Maboneng was the ideal destination. The decor and set-up came easily with an already beautiful venue.

Getting onto The Wedding Bashers

The couple did not have DSTV, but their friends kept telling them about the Wedding Bashers show, so they ended up entering and were chosen.

“For us it didn’t really make a difference to have our wedding shown to South Africa. Franco comes from a huge Lebanese family, so we are used to being surrounded by a lot of friends and family. We are a very quirky couple, so we made the decision not to worry about what the judges or South Africa thought about our wedding as long as it was the best day ever for us and our friends and family,” said the bride.

The theme of the wedding was “urban paradise”. The venue already provided the urban aspect of the wedding, so the decor provided the tropical paradise side of the wedding. The planning went pretty quickly. Once the bride’s dress and venue were booked, the couple booked Our Lady of Lebanon Catholic Church in Mulbarton.

“From there the food, photographer and decor were sorted and the day grew nearer and nearer. My family from New Zealand arrived the week before and we had a huge bachelor and bachelorette celebration with lots of tequila, dancing and some river rafting and whisky for the boys. The week flew by and on the morning we each had breakfast with our bridal party and met to say ‘I do’ in front of God, all our friends, family and South Africa,” recalled Taryn.

The wedding went exactly as Franco and Taryn had planned and was nothing short of perfect. Their guests had a great time and the Habibs loved being showered with love by all the people who matter in their lives.

A bit about the show

The Wedding Bashers was filmed from March to August. The judges, Cindy Nell, Siba Mtongana, Denise Zimba and Zavion Kotze, attended each wedding and scored the couple on various aspects of the day. They then each gave an overall score which was announced on the winning night. After the season the judges’ votes were tallied and the top five were announced.

“We got a call shortly after the last wedding aired to tell us we had made the top five. Taryn swore a lot. She was pretty excited. We had no idea who the winner was until the live show was aired,” said Franco.

The couple watched the other weddings and knew theirs was one of the best. They spent the week with the other top couples, and each one had an amazing and unique wedding.

Amazing prizes

“When we were announced as the winners (on December 3, 2017) we were overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement. I think it took about two weeks or so to actually come to terms with the fact that we had won. The prizes are incredible and we are so grateful to all the sponsors and M-Net for making our year! We won a R100 000 gift voucher from Jack Friedman Jewellers, R200 000 kitchen appliances for our new kitchen from Groenje, R100 000 worth of cosmetics from Caribbean Tan, Essence, LOV and Catrice, a R250 000 cash prize from M-Net and a fully paid for all-inclusive private yacht trip in the Seychelles courtesy of The Moorings and business class flights with Air Seychelles,” said the couple.

Yoga

Taryn practises yoga at her own studio in Brackenhurst. For January, classes will only be held on Friday from 3.15pm to 4.15pm, 4.30pm to 5.30pm and 5.45pm to 6.45pm. From February, classes will be daily. Classes are held at the Elysium Centre at 78 Jackson Street, corner Hennie Alberts in Brackenhurst. For prices and booking contact Taryn on 072 340 8168.

About Taryn Habib:

• Born on May 27, 1986, in Westville Durban.

• Grew up in a close-knit family with lots of fun.

• Typical Alberton girl. She attended Alberview Primary and Alberton High.

• Completed a BA degree in fashion design and merchandising at Lisof in Rosebank.

• Was lucky to travel abroad and lived in London for a year. After studying she moved to Cape Town as a designer and trend forecaster for Puma.

• Passionate about her family and healthy living.

About Francisco (Franco) Mark Habib:

• Born on February 3, 1987, at Joburg Gen Hospital.

• Grew up in a competitive environment and played ice hockey for South Africa. Also had a loving and supportive household with a huge, crazy Lebanese family.

• Attended Bracken Primary and Alberton High.

• Went into the mechanical engineering industry specialising in thermodynamics for a family business in Alrode. He is also a qualified millwright and gas practitioner.

• Franco went from apprenticeship to apprenticeship before becoming a partner in a business. He still loves sports.

• Passionate about his family and healthy living.

• Said ‘I love you’ first.

Also Read: Oakdene couple to feature in M-Net’s ‘Wedding Bashers’

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za

Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.