The Phoenix

It’s Halloween folks! And we have some Boo!-tiful inspiration for you. Instead of focusing on all that is dark and spooky, this fab editorial from Stephanie Norman Photography and her team looks for bright in the darkness and delivers a pop of incredible colour against soot and shadow, which is not only inspiring but fits in perfectly with the colour obsessed month we’re having. From the black lace dress to the lush bouquet, this is definitely a look for a bold bride – but it’s utterly spooktacular! (Ok, I’ll stop now!)

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The Haunted Garden

Happy Halloween, folks! Every year round this time, I see a ton of Halloween inspiration, and it always makes me smile, because let’s be honest, the couples who are going to have a Halloween-themed wedding are few and far between (even if it would be fun, right?). But that doesn’t mean that you can’t create something elegantly eerie – something just a little bit creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky (just not altogether ookie, Addams family style!). And that’s what today’s shoot is – just a little bit dark, but super pretty as well. In fact, with soft blooms mixed with just the right amount of contrasting black, it’s the perfect inspiration – no matter what time of year you’re getting married. Carla of Mooi Photography and her team (including SBB florist faves Bright and Beautiful!) created this sweetly spooky shoot, and I’m super excited to share it with you this Hallow’s Eve!

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Darkness & Light by Tesoro Weddings

Boo! It’s Halloween tomorrow, so we’re dedicating our content today to everything creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky… and altogether ooky (as the Addams Family would say). Starting with this deliciously eerie editorial by SBB Directory members, Tesoro Weddings. Featuring gowns by local designers, Gelieft Couture, it explores both darkness and light with a black swan/white swan pairing of dresses. Not that it has to be Halloween to wear a black wedding dress, mind you, because we’ve seen many chic brides opting for the dark side in their bridalwear recently and looking utterly chic doing it. But for the record, if any of you are planning a Halloween wedding, I can’t think of anything more perfect for your bouquet than the mix of fynbos and fringed tulips in this shoot – the frayed look of the petals adds a gorgeously distressed texture to the flowers, especially with a circlet of feathers.Read More

A Haunted Affair Styled Shoot by Pickle Photography

And now, as the Monty Python boys would say, for something completely different. Halloween’s never been my favourite holiday (I am a WOES with scary movies, can’t cope at all), but when I saw today’s spooky, kooky, totally gorgeous styled shoot by the fab Pickle Photography and a brilliant team including Carolyn McNeil of Adore Weddings & Events and Sarah Reynolds of Urban Lace, I knew we’d be celebrating it in style on the blog today. It’s a tale of two little ghouls in love – complete with Day of the Dead-style makeup – along with a series of spine-chillingly lovely details. THAT CAKE. So okay, you’re probably not going to go ahead and have a wedding that looks like this one, but there are still some lovely antique woodland-style details to inspire. Happy Hallows, folks!Read More

Inspiration Board: Blood Orange

Good morning, lovely friends! I’m back in Durbs after a really lovely week away. After spending time with a few old friends (and new babies!) I headed to Kruger Park on Thursday with my mom, one of her best friends, and her daughter (who was my absolute bestie growing up). They used to live across the road from us in Johannesburg, so I have literally known them both my whole life. What an awesome girls’ weekend, enjoying the quiet and beauty of the African bushveld (in my element!), spotting game (no cats this time sadly, but I was so happy and relieved to spot some rhino), and generally chilling out catching up. Of course, there’s lots to catch up on now (when is there not?) but it’s always lovely to see more of our beautiful country. Even if you do land up driving home in thunder, lightning and in rain. Speaking of that particular witch’s brew, with Halloween happening this week, I thought it would be fun to create a bit of a spooky All Hallows inspiration board. Of course, this is a super elegant, totally non-cheesy version of a Halloween wedding, with the colour scheme of orange and black the only real nod to the holiday. For the rest, it’s black tie elegance with pops of bright citrus, and a bit of a formal vintagey feel. Don’t you love it? Of course, the black Vera Wang dresses just take the cake – so, so beautiful. Happy Halloween folks!

Colours: Orange, black and white

Top row (l-r): Black Vera Wang wedding dress {Jose Villa/Joy Thigpen}; citrus centrepiece {Belathée Photography/McKenzie Powell Designs}; groom {Magnolia Pair/Meade Wenzel}; outdoor wedding {Wedding Artists Collective/Gloria Wong Design}; blood orange cake
Row 2: Bridesmaids with black lace back dresses {Amber Glanville}; place setting {Krista Mason/Calligraphy Katrina}; citrus garland; black shoes with bow
Row 3: Blood orange cocktail; black calligraphy place names {Andrea Nay}; opera glasses {Brandon Kidd Photography/Amorology}; Vera Wang dress; centrepiece {Honey of a Thousand Flowers}.