The neo-Gothic style Dutch Reformed Church towers above the quaint town of Montagu — a monolithic structure set below a luminated night sky. In Cape Town it's near flooding, while amazingly here in Montagu the weather is pristine — especially for mid-May.

Our hosts Fida and Bernhard Hess welcome us at Mimosa Lodge in true small town style, inviting us for a drink in the bar — the fireplace warming the 150-year-old room.

As Fida explains, "we get 20 percent of the rain that Cape Town gets, so it's bound to be better weather out here".

Montagu, about two hours from Cape Town, is somewhat of an oasis of splendour along Route 62, and a rather idyllic place to have your wedding.

Ideal for an intimate wedding

Fida and Bernhard make quite a team — Frida brings a wealth of experience in hospitality to the party and Bernhard's culinary skills fire up this tasteful stopover.

Mimosa is a merge of old and new. The main building is a national monument which has been revamped to incorporate some modern luxuries — Fida keeping much of the old antique furniture in the place, just reupholstering it to exude a fresh feel.

There are nine classic rooms in the main building. The downstairs rooms open on to a rustic well-kept garden, while the first floor rooms have access to the Victorian veranda overlooking historic Church Street.

Seven ultra-mod garden suites complement the existing accommodation, making the facility ideal for an intimate wedding of about 40 or so guests.

Activities in Montagu

The area in which Mimosa is situated is a living memory of old. Walking the streets you'll see many buildings dating back to the 1800s, characterised by green and white gables and rambling roses… the place is painfully romantic.

Montagu itself is rather unique, the lush fynbos and Protea of the area in splendid contrast to the town's surrounding jagged mountains and rock formations.

Not far from Mimosa are the hot springs where one can revel in the warm spring water, or for the more active go mountain biking and hiking on one of the unspoilt trails, or perhaps try your hand at rock climbing.

Food and wine

What really separates Mimosa though is the outstanding cuisine — another reason to have your wedding here.

Each evening Bernhard produces a four-course menu paired with wine, which is based on fresh ingredients available at the time.

Fida has also capitalised on Bernhard's skills by running weekend specials where local wines are paired with the food and included in the price of your stay. There is even a culinary weekend where you learn to cook with Bernhard — shopping for ingredients yourself from the local market and then preparing the food yourself. It sounds like a very attractive option, especially in winter.

Menu one

On the first night we stayed at Mimosa, Bernhard had paired his menu with Viljoensdrift wines. Situated on the banks of the Breede River and just a stone's throw from Robertson, Viljoensdrift offers wine tasting river cruises and picnic lunches as well.

First on Friday night's menu was fresh green asparagus with a Polonaise sauce and bacon mushroom wonton. A rather creative alternative to the usual asparagus starter, Bernhard paired the dish with the crisp River Grandeur Chenin Blanc '08 — a perfect fit.

Next, a rather authentic Thai prawn soup had me thinking that Bernhard knows his Asian cuisine. Paired with the Chardonnay in the same range — a full almost sweet wine — which was heavenly with the mild bite from the curry.

Then mains — pan-fried Peking duck with Swiss chard and potato rosti drizzled with a green pepper sauce. I could have sworn that this wasn't duck as it was rich and tender, the fat left on the edges of the sliced meat giving it a rather indulgent flavour. A definite winner. The duck was paired with the Viljoensdrift Serenity 2004 — a blend which our own wine writer Michael Bampfield-Duggan highly recommends.

Full already I managed to find a pocket of space for the raspberry pancakes with caramel sauce, paired with Viljoensdrift Champagne. The space slowly turned into a gapping hole as I greedily guzzled the dessert.

Menu two

On the second evening we were once blown away by the food, a testament to the fact that the food at your Montagu wedding will be memorable.

Sushi with wasabi cream, followed by Kale soup with a phyllo Parma ham parcel, only to culminate in springbok medallions with a pomegranate Sherry cream which had me literally salivating, then ending with a heady lime brulee. Note to self: Next time leave more space for dessert.

Once again Bernhard selected wine to accompany each course, this time from their own Mimosa range which includes a lovely Sauvignon Blanc and outstanding Cab Sav.

Your special day

Being 'hands on', and understanding that, "brides are very specific in what they want", Fida will help you tailor-make your wedding to make it an unforgettable one. From helping you design the menu, to sourcing local help (from flowers to cakes) for the big day.

Mimosa is situated on Church Street in Montagu. For more information contact Fida on +27-23-614 2351 or email info@mimosa.co.za. You can also visit www.mimosa.co.za