Inspiration Board: Song of the Sea

There’s just something about the sea that’s mesmerising, isn’t there? It’s good for the soul. So what better place to join two lives, than with the saltwater air swirling around you, and the sound of the tides at your back? Today’s board was inspired by the truly romantic side of beach weddings, by shipwrecks and mermaids and sirens, by tempests and treasure. And with silvery blues making waves in 2015 (pun intended), it’s also the perfect palette for a contemporary, memorable celebration.

Colours: Cerulean, seafoam, silver & grey

Top row (l-r): Seaglass escort cards {Keith Morrison}; vintage tray with calligraphy {Kyle John Photography/Linn P. Wheeler/Jenna Blazevich}; sparkly wedding dress
Row 2: Oyster ring box {Samantha Melanson Photography/BHLDN}; blue table decor {Melanie Gabrielle/Ever After Floral Design}; hydrangea shell bouquet {mdsfloraldesigns.com}
Row 3: Charlize Theron in mermaid dress {Annie Leibovitz}; watercolour invitation suite {Elisa Bricker/Mallory Joyce/Julie Song Ink}; silver wedding dress {Elie Saab}

 

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Wedding Trends for 2015

It’s that time of year again! I love these annual trend roundups, writing them always fills me with excitement for the year ahead. Of course, trends aren’t the most important thing in planning your wedding – they’re not even close to the most important thing – but as with fashion and interiors, it’s good to know the sort of looks that will be big (and more easily available!) in the year ahead. The other thing to bear in mind is that unlike fashion, wedding trends tend to have a little more longevity, so there’ll still be plenty of the trends I identified last year (and the year before) in 2015. Many of them have simply evolved. But for today, we’re focusing on the new and the beautiful. Here are my Top 10 predictions.

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Inspiration Board: Pansy & Pastel

Hello friends! We’re entering the final stretch of the year now, and I don’t know about you, but my head is all over Christmas and new year. Starting next week, we’ll be looking back at our favourite parts of the year here on SBB, but first, we still have some more fresh inspiration to send your way. And first up is this pretty inspiration board, which mixes a strong pansy purple with soft pastel greens and blues. I think it’s so pretty, don’t you? And absolutely lovely for a summer wedding, allowing you to bring in the bright berry shades that are so popular at the moment, balanced with the softer summer hues. Gorgeousness.

Colours: Purple, mint & pastel blue

Top row (l-r): Invitation {Wedding Paper Divas}; bridesmaid dresses {Jose Villa/Style Me Pretty Weddings}; boutonniere {Caro Hutchings Photography/Scarlet & Violet
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Row 2: Cake {SpectacularSpectacular/Ikonica/Bobbette & Belle}; blue and green glass containers with white flowers; lavender arch {SpectacularSpectacular/Ikonica/Todd Kjargaard}; pansy lollipops {SprinkleBakes}
Row 3: Table setting {Cassidy Carson/12th Table/Kelly Lenard}; table plan {The Wedding of My Dreams}; candles in teacups {Georgica Pond}; portrait back wedding dress {Pepper Nix Photography/Claire Pettibone}.

 

Trend Alert: Blue & Silver Wedding Dresses

South African brides may not be aware, but the international bridal and fashion worlds have been ablaze these last couple of weeks with news from New York’s annual Fall Bridal Market, which is where we get a first peek at the hot new looks designers will be including in their collections for the coming year. It’s a great place for spotting trends, and we’ll be telling you more about all of them soon, but today I wanted to focus on a trend that I particularly love and that really made an impact in this year’s shows: dresses in the colour range from blue to silver. Some are saying it’s inspired by the Disney movie Frozen, since one of the gowns that made its debut was part of Alfred Angelo’s Disney range, but for me it has more to do with a move from glorious gold to seductive silver, and everything cool and icy in the colour department in general. Blue has been gaining popularity as a wedding colour in general, and with colour wedding dresses no longer being ‘out there’, this is another gorgeous option for brides to be (and one that’s very flattering). Here are some of our favourites from the recent shows – look out too for silver detailing and ice and snow motifs on the rest of the collections!Read More

Inspiration Board: Chic Antique

Happy Monday lovelies! Before I dive into today’s board, I just wanted to wish the lovely Louise of b.loved a HUGE congrats on her new site and brand – be sure to head over and check it out!
You know, it’s not so long since the vintage trend swept wedding world, but since then things have come a long way as brides and grooms try to find new ways to introduce antique elements and still keep their decor personal and unique. One way to do this is through colour – the first wave of vintage often fell back on neutral palettes, but I think today’s pastel combo has a lovely Victorian feel. I also love how the navy blue sort of anchors the softer colours, and introduces a more grown up aspect. Add a completely swoony old world invitation suite and a chic, one-of-a-kind print wedding dress, and you have the perfect ingredients for a chic antique wedding day!

Colours: Navy, lavender, blush, lemon & baby blue

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Millie Holloman}; bridesmaids {Jose Villa Photography/MAP Events}; cake {Nikole Ramsay Photography/Victoria Keith Cakes}
Row 2: Place setting with lavender {Sugokuii Weddings Capri/Simply Bloom Photography}; boutonnieres {Erich McVey Photography/Kelly Kaufman}; groom
Row 3: Print wedding gown; invitation suite {Elisa Bricker/Mimi Nicole Events/Brown Linen}; ceremony area {Leo Patrone/Honey of a Thousand Flowers}; lavender champagne {Jen Fariello/Easton Events}

 

Inspiration Board: Summer Toile

Morning loves! It’s inspiration board Monday, and as promised, I have another board mixing and matching the colours from Pantone’s Spring 2015 palette. Recently I have been loving pinks and blues together, and this is such a fresh way of doing it – a bright blue a few shades up from navy, a sweet rosy pink and another, softer, blue (as well as a few softer shades of pink and lots of white). Pair with a touch of toile and some ripe blueberries, and you have the perfect summer wedding style.

Colours: Pantone Aquamarine, Classic Blue & Strawberry Ice and pastel pink

Top row (l-r): Place setting {Cheryl McEwan/SouthBound Bride}; bride with veil {Erich Mcvey}; bouquet {Jessica Burke Photography}
Row 2: Bridesmaid with bouquet {Luna Photo/Alchemy Fine Events/Krista Jon}; toile envelope liner {Katie Stoops/Pyramid Atlantic}; blueberry garland {Love Life Studios}
Row 3: Blueberry cocktail {Graze}; cake with blueberries {Karenanna Cakes/Anneli Marinovich/b.loved}; bride with flower {This Modern Romance/Gatherings by Stacie}; bridesmaids {Lane Dittoe Photographer}

 

Inspiration Board: Something Blue

Welcome back, lovelies! I hope you’re ready for a gorgeous new week. I’ll be spending the first few days of it away from my computer for once, enjoying some relaxing mom and daughter spa time in the Drakensberg. As I write this, I can’t wait – feel free to be made jealous by following me on Instagram. Anyway, in the meantime I’m turning back to the Pantone Spring 2015 colours I introduced last week, with the first of a few full inspiration boards that include these gorgeous shades. Today I’ve combined two of the spring blues – Classic Blue and Aquamarine – with the warm neutral, Toasted Almond. It’s a pretty, preppy mix, and absolutely perfect for a fresh, modern wedding.

Colours: Pantone Classic Blue, Aquamarine & Toasted Almond

Pantone Spring 2015 inspiration board

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom {Alea Lovely}; programme with blue ribbon {Laura Gordon Photography/Shine Wedding Invitations}; chair {Lane Dittoe, Fine Art Wedding Photography/Twine Events}; blue shoes {Kina Wicks Photography}
Row 2: Blue china {Taylor & Porter Photographs}; groom in tan suit {Lisa Berry Photography + Carla Ten Eyck/Jubilee Events}; cake with blue flower {Lane Dittoe, Fine Art Wedding Photography/Twine Events}
Row 3: Bouquet {Anastasiya Belik/PEONY Art Decoration Studio}; table numbers; blue ceremony chairs {Hazelnut Photography/Les Belles Affaires}; bridesmaid dress with bow {Blue Rose Photography/Simply by Tamara Nicole}

 

Something Blue Fairway Hotel Wedding by Jack and Jane Photography {Gugu & Bongani}

Happy heritage day, folks! You know, with some things in life, a little really does go a long way. Chanel No 5, kindness, chilli oil. And colour, especially when you’re dealing with the clean lines of a bright, modern wedding style like Gugu and Bongani decided to do. They chose blue as their accent colour and added just the perfect amount into their venue’s blank canvas of white and soft grey – adorable baby blue bridesmaid dresses, dusky blue tablecloths and then a pop of electric colour from sprays of dendrobium orchids and individual blooms placed at each setting. The couple themselves are the picture of city wedding chic – love the sparkled-up sweetheart neckline of the bride’s dress especially! Our lovely photographer friends Jack and Jane Photography (who you may remember as Laura Jane Photography until their fabulous recent rebrand) were there to capture these gorgeous images of the big day.Read More

Inspiration Board: Castaway

Monday Monday, can’t trust that day… But you can trust that on a Monday morning you’ll have some fresh SBB inspiration to kick off the week! I must say, I am more than a little in love with this one – a combination of rustic beach and watercolour wedding styles, in a gorgeous combination of dark and lighter indigos and soft neutrals. Just add the sea, and you’re good to go.

Colours: Indigo blue, white and beige

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom {Studio 1208/Amy Nichols Special Events}; watercolour invitation {Rad + In Love/Sitting in a Tree/Pitbulls & Posies}; driftwood table plan {Brooke Boling/Maureen Koo}; mussel wedding cake {Alexander James Photography/Pearl & Godiva}
Row 2: Bride {Theresa Furey Photography/Wedding Sparrow}; table setting {Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay}; starfish with rings {Corinna Raznikov}
Row 3: Bridesmaids in grey {Belathee Photography/Matthew Robbins Design}; coral centrepiece {jose villa/joy thigpen}; sand dollar invitations {Concertina Press}; beach tablescape {jose villa/joy thigpen}.

 

Darling Delft Babylonstoren Wedding by Moira West {Lindi & Morgan}

It’s not every day that I get to showcase not just one but TWO beautiful weddings, but then it’s not every couple brave enough to plan two separate celebrations! But for Lindi and Morgan, it was a way of experiencing both the intimacy of a small, private wedding with just their closest family and friends, as well as including their wider circle in a huge party. Both celebrations (held two days apart) are GORGEOUS, and we’re kicking things off with the first, a Delft-themed dinner at the beautiful Babylonstoren. Moira West captured it as gorgeously as only she knows how, and there are so many clever touches that make my detail-loving heart sing! And don’t forget to come back later, because there’s a Gatsby-esque cocktail hour on its way!Read More