Modern Monochrome Glamour Wedding Inspiration

Well, it’s been a week… I’ll bet I’m not the only one who wants to throw up my hands and cry “is Friday over yet?” Well, it isn’t, not quite, and just as well because we’re ending it off here on SBB with something sleek and glam and deliciously sophisticated. Think of it as the cocktail you deserve, but without the cost of an Uber home. To create this chic setting, the team at Bells & Whistles Event Styling were inspired by the incredible setting, the ballroom at Fine Living by David Muirhead. It has silver embossed pressed ceilings, decor in dramatic charcoal, grey and white tones, and I’m absolutely loving the bold botanical artwork which gives it a tropical, African touch. Add in a bride in gorgeous gowns (including separates – LOVE!), stunning orchids (which I should just declare our flower of the week!), candlelight, glitzy gold touches, and modern black ghost chairs (hello new chair crush!), and let us not forget, that cake! Because metallic and ruffles… well. This girl is in stylish wedding heaven. If anyone needs me, I’ll just be over here sipping my martini and poring over the pretty.

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Inspiration Board: Classic Monochrome

Happy Monday lovelies! When I think of a classic wedding palette, beyond white on white or soft blush, the one that immediately comes to mind for me is monochrome. Crisp and sophisticated, traditional but somehow also entirely modern, you can’t go wrong with this timeless combo that’s the essence of ‘black tie’. Just take a look at today’s inspiration board – it’s pure, timeless glamour, like a Sinatra number or a diamond ring. What more could a classic bride want?

Colours: Black, white & soft gold

Top row (l-r): Bouquet (KT Merry Photography/Urban Poppy) | Tablescape (Watson-Studios/Jennifer Laraia Designs) | Calligraphy menu (Daphne And Michelle/DM Events/Paperfinger)
Row 2: Champagne (Gabe Aceves Photography/Engaging Affairs) | Cake (Marsais/Buttercup Bakery) | Dog attendant (Mi Belle Photography/Bash Please) | Engagement ring (Sundari Gems)
Row 3: Classic car (Jose Villa Photography/Albemarle Limousine) | Bride (KT Merry Photography/Oscar De La Renta/Peter Langner) | Bridesmaids in black (Adrienne Gunde/The Overwhelmed Bride)

Shop the Look

We’re crazy in love with the engagement ring featured in this board – isn’t it just so PRETTY? It’s from Sundari Gems on Etsy.

Long black bridesmaid dresses are the perfect complement to this wedding style (and your girls will love you for dressing them in something they can wear again!). Here are some of our current faves:

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Industrial Vogue Wedding Inspiration

Happy Monday, brideys! We’re continuing on with our month of industrial inspiration with a gorgeous editorial that’s part fashion-inspired, part modern industrial, and all fabulous! Influenced by New York Fashion Week, it has a masculine-meets-feminine vibe that’s perfect for a city wedding, and a striking base palette of black, white, grey and gold with pops of amethyst, emerald and periwinkle. Alongside lush florals and crystal geode details, are industrial elements like custom dipped Edison  bulbs, concrete vases, and an urban chic setting. And don’t get me started on the stationery! Such gorgeous watercolour, fashion illustration style pieces, reflected beautifully in the statement cake, and of course the very stylish brides’ monochrome dress (that dress!) and suit (those shoes!). There’s even a cute little mini bar serving old fashioned Aviation cocktails! There’s loads to inspire, thanks to Jeff Brummett VisualsGrit + Gold and their very talented team.

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Opulent Monochrome Wedding Inspiration

When it comes to colour, you all know by now that I’m a little… fickle. I love bolds. I love pastels. I love pops. I love neutrals. And I love, love, love (with the part of my heart that is all Gucci and Chanel and gold jewellery and little black dresses) monochrome. As Coco herself said: “When I find a colour darker than black, I’ll wear it”! And when it comes to your wedding day, these days there’s no reason why you can’t rock a little black dress – or a lot of one. That’s what the model in today’s bold and beautiful styled shoot does, and what a dress! I absolutely adore this sexy, stylish gown from JVR Couture, and it’s the perfect centrepiece to a set-up that mixes opulence and simplicity. A strong, sophisticated palette of black, white and gold, with luxe touches like ruffles and chandeliers, and lush flowers, and gilded plates and pears. If you’re a glamorous bride, then this is very much going to be your vibe – what an awesome job by SBB Directory member Hello Love Photography!

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Black, White & Gold Wedding at Emily Moon by Ruan Redelinghuys

It’s Kate Spade-esque monochrome prints meets eclectic countryside chic in today’s wedding, which took place at the gorgeous Emily Moon in Plett, a venue I’ve been dying to feature for ages. I love the way that Stefan and Jemma, designers themselves, decided to work with the already-awesome venue aesthetic, but still managed to add their own stamp with their black, white and gold theme, which included whimsical ‘Woohoo’, ‘yay!’ and ‘yes’ banners (how could these fail to make you feel happy?), gold dipped vases, spray painted animals, stripes and spots, and flowers put together by a creative bunch of dear family and friends. And let’s not forget the sequin bridesmaid dresses, which Jemma ties in perfectly to her own romantic gown with a well-placed gold sash. It’s spots and stripes and lovely all over, and Ruan Redelinghuys was there to take these lovely images.

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Graphic Inner City Wedding at HQ Restaurant by Jules Morgan

Modern Black and White Wedding

It’s a happy day for me when I get the opportunity to share an city wedding for a change, although happily more brides and grooms these days are opting for a bit of urban chic. And why not – after all, if it’s reflective of your style, you can make it absolutely amazing, especially in a city as fabulous as Cape Town. With both of them being architects, perhaps it’s no wonder that Elbé and Ross decided to get married in amongst their favourite buildings and inner city vibe, and they chose a graphic, monochrome style with a touch of metallic and geometric detailing to make it really pop. I just love this look SO much – everything from the incorporation of textures like leather and cement to Elbé’s contemporary pared-down bridal style (complemented beautifully by jewellery from Kirsten Goss). From their church ceremony to their laid-back restaurant reception, all on Heritage Square, it was a collection of their favourite things shared with their favourite people. And speaking of favourites, one of our own, Jules Morgan, was on the scene to deliver these beautifully atmospheric images.

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Inspiration Board: Bahama Black Tie

Well guys, as you read this, I’ll be arriving in the Bahamas for a SUPER exciting press trip and corporate retreat hosted by Aisle Society and Sandals Royal Bahamian. I’ve always yearned to visit the Caribbean and I can’t quite believe I get to do it this week, and with some of my favourite bloggers and fellow girlbosses too. Dream. Come. True. Needless to say, you’ll be hearing all about it, but do follow along on Insta for some fun behind the scenes. The timing is also pretty perfect blogwise, because today we’re kicking off our latest month of themed content – SBB is going tropical! I have such lovely content lined up for you beach and tropical brides, but I had to start it all off with a beautiful inspiration board. I just love the look of tropical botanics, gold and Kate Spade-style dots and monochrome prints – a sophisticated twist on this fun theme. And of course, the cheeky pineapple is the perfect motif to complement that.

Colours: Green, gold, black and white

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom (Kellie Kano/Paulette Davis Of Amour Affairs) | gold pineapple | groom (Anna Delores Photography/Joelle Charming ) | swiss dot wedding dress (Justin Hankins Photography/Isha Foss Events)
Row 2: Pineapple invitation (Lolo Lincoln) | pineapple wax seal (KT Merry Photography) | chairs (Frame 36 Photography)
Row 3: Bridesmaids (Kellie Kano/Paulette Davis Of Amour Affairs) | table setting (Christina Brosnan/Pearl & Godiva) | Bahamas house with palms (Kellie Kano/Paulette Davis Of Amour Affairs)

 

Inspiration Board: Botanical Stripe

Hello lovelies – we’re entering the last week of our month of Greenhouse botanics, so there’s just enough time to squeeze in one last lovely inspiration board. This one takes a cue from Kate Spade by mixing bold monochrome stripes with feminine pinks and greens, but takes things an extra notch up the pretty scale by adding garden rose garlands, greenery swags, and floral prints. This is my perfect mix of masculine and feminine, modern and romantic.

Colours: Black, white, pink, lilac & green

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Belathee Photography/Bustle Events/Natalie Bowen}; floral table runner {Watson-Studios/Jennifer Laraia Designs/Whimsical Gatherings}; bride in floral crown {Jack and Jane Photography/Ribbon Creative Studio}
Row 2: Greenery crowns {Erich McVey/Lushka}; floral print bridesmaid dress {Chi Chi London}; chairs with striped ribbon {Aaron And Jillian Photography/A.Caldwell Events}
Row 3: Groom with pink & stripe boutonniere {Bwright Photography}; mini champagne {Scott Clark Photo/100 Layer Cake}; greenery swags reception decor {Kristen Weaver Photography/An Affair To Remember/Raining Roses}

 

Bold Monochrome Couture Wedding at Molenvliet by Vivid Blue {Natalie & Johan}

When I say I don’t know where to start with this wedding, it isn’t just an expression. Coming up with a title that adequately describes – or even hints – at the amazingness that is this wedding was impossible, but couture comes close, not just because one of the installations (that’s right, there’s more than one installation, and they are all BREATHTAKINGly cool) was inspired by Milan Fashion Week, but because everything, including the dress, is a true original – a work of love and a work of art. Be prepared to be wowed. The always-brilliant Vivid Blue took these gorgeous pictures to share with us today.Read More

Beach Monochrome Engagement Shoot by Dillon Kin

We started the morning thinking pink, but this afternoon we’re going monochrome with an absolutely beautiful beach engagement shoot from Dillon Kin, a featured member of our SBB directory. Tammy and JP are high school sweethearts and you can tell they already share many years of love and laughter from the easy intimacy that infuses these pics – alongside that gorgeous Cape light! I love the way that they chose to accentuate the scenery with pristine black and white contrast, along with cute accessories like balloons and an umbrella. Congratulations, lovebirds!Read More