Traditional Xhosa Wedding by Monica Dart {Tembakazi & Mateli}

Today is a VERY special day. That’s because today I finally get to share our first full traditional South African wedding (our first, but by no means our last – in fact, look out for a gorgeous traditional Zulu wedding next week!). Up until recently, not many brides and grooms invited a pro photographer along to the traditional part of their weddings (as South Africans will know, many choose to have a ‘Western’ wedding as well – and we’ll be showcasing Tembakazi and Mateli’s separately this afternoon – don’t miss) but I’m slowly seeing that start to change. And being the fan of beautiful photography that I am, as well as everything South African, I’m thrilled. Monica Dart was just the perfect choice for this Eastern Cape bride and groom – she thrives on colour and movement and capturing those little moments that make up your memory of a day, and I’m absolutely in love with these images. Pots full of delicious food bubbling away on the fire, children laughing and playing, families and communities coming together – and of course the unique joy that surrounds two people in love.Read More

Hen Party Theme: Glitter & Glam

Source: Paige Winn via Ultimate Bridesmaid

It’s been a sparkly week, you guys. From a glitzy gold wedding, to a glam rock shoot this morning, we’re on a sequin strewn roll. Yay. Who’s complaining, right? Anyway, I have been seeing quite a few lovely sparkly bridal showers recently, and what I love about it is that if this is something you like but don’t necessarily want to incorporate into your wedding, it gives you the chance to do that. Plus, it’s the kind of theme that your girls will be more than happy to dress up for, and it’s surprisingly easy (and can be inexpensive) to decorate. The key thing is to mix textures, so a little sparkle goes a long, long way. Here’s how I would go about pulling all the details together for the perfect glittery hen party.Read More

Unique Table Name Ideas

Source: Studio Castillero/Jesi Haack Design via Green Wedding Shoes

I’m not going to lie to you: seating arrangements? Not fun. SO not fun. In fact, they will almost certainly suck, and leave you and the man in a hot sweat of how-on-earth-will-we-get-this-done anxiety. (Don’t worry, you’ll make it work.) But if there’s one part of seating arrangements that is suckage free, it’s deciding on your table names. Now, I have nothing against numbers – they’re simple, there are a zillion ways to make them look fab, and they’re easy to follow. The only disadvantage is that sometimes it can feel like there’s a hierarchy (cool people at table 1!), but that’s not such an issue. The reason I do like table names as an alternative is that they’re another opportunity to personalise your wedding details and tell your story. And you know how much I love that by now! Of course, place names are always good, but they’re quite common these days, and you may want something a bit different. So today I have some fun, unique (and, more importantly, completely adaptable) ideas to share.Read More

Mismatched Neutral Bridesmaid Dresses

Source: via Belle the Magazine

Well, you guys, we’ve finally come to the end of our series on current bridesmaid dresses. Ten gorgeous looks, all very different, all completely contemporary. And about a zillion dresses I’ve had to stop myself from buying just because they’re purdy. Anyway, I left today’s trend until last, even though it’s possibly the most usable. That’s because in some ways, the mismatched neutral look kind of encapsulates many of the other trends. If you’re mismatching within the mushroom to nude pink neutrals range, you can actually incorporate some of those looks in your lineup without making it too statement. For example, one pattern in neutral colours, one lace overlay dress, and then a pop of glitter against a neutral skirt perhaps? Texture is a must – think ruffles, soft chiffon and contrasting fabrics. Model Molly Sims pretty much perfected this look for her wedding, which I have been kind of obsessing over for months, but I found lots of less famous brides who pulled it off beautifully too. And I had to include the image on the left below – I wonder if any has been pinned quite as much as this one? I always thought it was from a catalogue, but in fact it was an early adopter of the mismatched neutrals look, a bride who made it look easy breezy and drop dead gorgeous. Just one last note to mention here – most of the weddings below have used white or pale flowers and probably have an overall white or neutral colour scheme. Which is great. But don’t forget that this look works beautifully for bolder wedding colour choices too, and bright blooms really pop against a plain background, so don’t write it off as too vanilla if you’re a statement bride. For the most recent BM dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.

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Fresh Ideas for Travel Themed Weddings

Credit: Julian Beattie

So I’ve been doing this blog thing for over three years now, and although some posts and ideas disappear into the archives, some keep getting hits again and again. But lately, instead of just feeling pleased (thanks for the love!) I’ve been feeling a tiny bit embarrassed. I started wondering if the posts had got a little outdated. I’m happy to say that having read them again, I still think they’d be useful, but it also got me thinking about all the new ideas that have popped up in that time (and still do so). These trends would have died out by now if that hadn’t happened. And while I am the last person to tell you not to use something you love (if it resonates with you, I don’t care how many times you’ve seen it on Pinterest, do it), I thought it was about time I revisited the SBB archive and brought you some updated inspiration. So here I am! Wedding trends 2.0.

Today we’re looking at travel themed weddings – I find it quite funny that I called it a ‘mini-trend’ in my original post (still one of our Top 20 most read articles!) when clearly it’s a theme that has run and run – just recently a planner told me it’s by far her most requested theme. Some of that has to do with the vintage decor movement, but with so many couples either meeting abroad, coming from different places, or just enjoying travelling together, I can see why it’s so popular. And just like everyone’s journeys are personal experiences, you can make your travel themed wedding personal too. In the original post, I covered all the basic motifs: maps, luggage, airmail, postcards, etc. and there’s still lots there for you to start with, but here I’m going to be looking at recent ideas or looks or fresh twists that made me stop and take notice. Like those bridesmaids with vintage vanity cases above – love that! Although to be fair, they didn’t actually carry them down the aisle – maybe a bit much, I don’t know.Read More

Bridesmaids in Skirts

Images: Jessica Kettle Photography via Bridesmaid.com

Evening, lovelies! Time for some more bridesmaid inspiration, but today instead of looking at dresses, the trend we’re focusing on is bridesmaids in skirts. I think this started with LDS weddings in the US, but I absolutely love how stylish and sophisticated the look is, and it’s actually really budget friendly. As with all the trends I’ve highlighted so far, there are lots of ways of working this – identical skirts and tops, mismatched tops, mismatched skirts, casual tops, formal ones… you can pretty much customise it to whatever look you want. In fact, I think it’s a particularly good option if you’re struggling to find dresses that fit with the style you envision – definitely consider the skirt option, whether simple or textured, short or long. I’ve actually worn this as a bridesmaid before (my friend Abbie was so ahead of her time!) and I have to say that it was comfortable, flattering and really pretty. So here are my favourites from t’internets. For the most recent BM dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.

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Floral Print Bridesmaid Dresses

Image: One O.A.K Photography/Sohomode via One Stylish Bride

It’s bridesmaid dress time again! So far you all have been loving this series, where we’ve already covered some of the other 2013 bridesmaid trends: lace, stripes and ice cream pastels. Which has been your favourite? Today we’re looking at florals, one of the prettiest sides of 2013’s print trend, and with floral dresses being very much in fashion right now, there’s plenty to choose from! There are lots of way to do this – mismatch prints, put bridesmaids in the same dresses – but for me the one I like best (and that I think will date the least) is to mix prints with block colours as you’ll see some of the bridesmaids in this roundup do. It’s such a lovely look! Whatever you do, try to remember the shape of the dress as well as the print – even with a lot else going on, your girls want to look their very best. For the same reason, make sure you take their colouring into account, the way you would do with a solid colour. As with previous posts in the series, I’ve rounded up my favourite real bridesmaid looks, as well as some off-the-rack picks for your shopping pleasure!

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Ice Cream Pastel Bridesmaid Dresses

Image: Skyla Walton/ via Green Wedding Shoes

Hello lovelies, have you recovered from the gorgeousness that was this morning’s wedding? Good-o, because this afternoon we’re continuing our series on the key bridesmaid looks for 2013, with inspiration from real weddings as well as some off-the-rack finds. So far you all have been loving this particular set of posts, and we’ve already covered lace and stripes, with more to come. Today is all about pastels – or more specifically, mix ‘n match ice cream pastels. I absolutely LOVE this look, whether with matching dresses in different colours or a complete mixed vibe. If your girls have quite different looks, this is a fantastic option, and it also goes brilliantly with the Cape country vintage look, as shown off by our Real Life Bride, Cheryl, last year. It’s colourful without being too bold, and just because you go for a mixed bridesmaid palette doesn’t mean that the rest of the wedding needs to be in multiple shades. That makes it really useable while still being pretty and whimsical and fun, which is probably why it’s gained in popularity. So here we go, my favourite sorbet bridesmaids – and some pastel pretties from the high street as well.

Click on any of the dress images below to shop. And for the most recent BM dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.Read More

Lace Bridesmaid Dresses

Image: via Belle the Magazine

Anyone who knows me would never describe me as a fashionista (I’m more of a uniform dresser – find one thing that works and buy it in every colour), but I absolutely love doing wedding fashion posts, especially since bridesmaid dresses have started taking on trends from fashion in general and not being a sort of fashion of their own (shiny, strapless, blush and bashful). Brides nowadays make so much effort to pick something their girls will wear again (although I wonder how many do, however pretty the dress is) and with the mismatched look here to stay, bridesmaids can also choose something that really flatters them and reflects their personal style. For 2013 there are a few key looks emerging, so in the next few weeks I thought I would bring you some inspiration from real weddings, as well as some of my favourite off the rack options. Today we’ll start with probably the biggest trend in SA right now – lace dresses. I personally love this one – it’s pretty, it’s textured, it works with the vintage look so many brides are going for without looking fusty, and believe it or not a lace dress is incredibly flattering (the one I own always draws compliments). Neutral lace works beautifully, but so do colours or little black lace dresses, as you’ll see below. And who says portrait backs are just for the bride? I love the way this extra touch of prettiness works in photos and there’s no doubt your girl will feel like a million bucks. Which of the looks below is your favourite? For the most recent bridesmaid dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.Read More

Twinkle Twinkle

I hate Christmas lights. Said no one, ever. Because seriously, who doesn’t love a good string o’ lights? I know I do. In fact, the first time I saw the tree at Rockefeller Centre in New York, I almost passed out with delight. And the second, and the third. (I liked that tree a LOT.) Admittedly, actually getting them wound around a tree I am less a fan of (cue: annual family tree argument) but once they’re up, twinkling away, there’s nothing quite like it. Maybe that’s why fairy lights/ twinkle lights/potato/potahtoe are always such an exciting component of wedding decor – maybe they remind us of things magical and childlike. Or maybe we all just like shiny stuff. Whatever the cause, it’s coming on Christmas, and I feel like looking at some sparklies, so today’s post is sheer fairy light indulgence. Some of these babies go big on quantity, but they’re also big on impact and romance. Lights transform an outdoor area into an intimate evening space, or warm up a winter wedding, or create an illusion of height, or just add that extra bit of wow. Hang them in strings, wind them around trees, hang them vertically from the ceiling. Create a wall of light, or a curtain, or a path. But whatever you do, take a few moments to drink them in – the hundred tiny stars shining just for you.Read More