Inspiration Board: Stylish Simplicity

I love fancy. After all, Baz Luhrmann is my favourite director and that guy does nothing understated. But there’s a special kind of pleasure in diving into a wedding style that’s pared back and elegant and minimalist, a style that lets nature speak for itself through natural textures like wood and foliage, enhancing them ever so slightly with a glimmer of gold here and a swish of tulle there. That’s what today’s inspiration is all about – and when it comes to rustic weddings, it just shows that simple can be the most beautiful of all. (Links in bold denote affiliate links – the cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission on any sales.)

Top row (l-r): Place setting (Steve Steinhardt/Modern Dame) | Painted Leaf Wedding Invitation (Minted) | Bridesmaids bouquet (Kate Preftakes Photography/Events by Sorrell/Apotheca Flowers)
Row 2: Ceremony setting (Virgil Bunao Photography/Easton Events) | Bride with simple floral crown (JoPhoto/MOD Events Charleston) | White tiered cake (Jemma Keech/The Cake & I)
Row 3: Bride on farm (Tom Ravenshear) | Greenery & foliage bouquet (Craig & Eva Sanders) | Chair decor with greenery (Taylor Lord/The Nouveau Romantics)

How fabulous is that watercolour foliage invitation from Minted? Plus it has rose gold foiling, which I adore and comes in two other colours. Perfect for an elegant organic bride!

 

Stylish Simplicity Wedding Inspiration Board | SouthBound Bride

French Country Naturals Wedding at Green Leaves by Louzelle van Dyk

Simple, natural weddings always have my heart. Take Kirsty & Kobus’ big day. An adorable couple in gorgeous surroundings, neutral French country decor, a beautiful dress handmade by the bride’s mother, organic floral runners, and friends and family all around. It’s understated and elegant, and oh-so-pretty. Then throw in fun touches like tekkie wedding shoes, groomsmen in shorts and leather bowties, and these lovely images by Louzelle van Dyk, and you have a celebration that’s personal and unique too – the perfect recipe!

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Organic Bushveld Wedding by Rianka’s Wedding Photography

I think we all know by now that the South African bushveld is my happy place – everything about it makes me calm and joyful, and grateful for this beautiful country I get to call home. So safari-style weddings are kind of my wedding happy place too, especially when they’re pulled together as beautifully as this one! Chris-Marie and Heinrich chose to marry on the family farm near Pretoria and literally built their venue in the middle of the bush from scratch – laying the floors, making the tables, digging up the aloes that they used as decorations. A little oasis of wedding elegance in the middle of nature – and that’s just what their wedding reflects: natural, earthy goodness. There are so many details here to love – the hanging wreaths of greenery, the little stations built to make guests more comfortable (or well-watered) along the way, right down the bridesmaids unique (and gorgeous) skirt and top combos. And as if I couldn’t love it all more already, there’s a dash of copper glam to complement all those beautiful neutrals in the palette. Rianka’s Wedding Photography took these gorgeous pics – and there’s a bumper lot of them today! Too many pretty details to narrow down – and why would I? Like I say. Happy place.

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Inspiration Board: Farm & Field

Before our month of farm-fresh inspiration ends, I just had to create one more moodboard. This is what I really think of when I imagine a farm-to-table wedding – something organic, and natural, and rustic but very romantic. With a bit of a botanical feel and a neutral palette, and including fresh produce and natural textures. It may not seem ‘wedding-ey’ as a concept, but when you put it all together, I think it’s so pretty! If you’re drawn to this look, be sure to balance the ‘rougher’ elements with more elegant, traditional ones – calligraphy, fine linen and china, or touches of metallics, for example. The best part? You can send your guests home to cook their centrepieces for Sunday lunch ;)

Colours: Sage, taupe & white

Top posts (l-r): Artichoke table number (Sylvie Gil Photography/Shannon Leahy/Natalie Bowen) | tablescape (Ace Photography/Cedarwood Weddings) | calligraphy eggs (Ali Harper)
Row 2: Bride & groom (welovepictures) | artichoke centrepiece (Moira West Photography/Dear Idea) | cutlery tied with twine (Illuminate Photography)
Row 3: Seed packets | bridesmaids (Brosnan Photographic/Elegant Events) | cheese cake (Michelle Joubert-Martin/Fairview) | vegetable escort cards (Jeremiah And Rachel Photography/Habitat Events/Habitat Floral Studio)

Inspiration Board: Traveller’s Journal

I have to say, I’m having fun with the inspiration boards this month, reinventing the travel theme for current trends and styles. Today’s is no exception. For this one, I was inspired by the idea of a watercolour travel journal, which immediately made me think of this amazing stationery suite, and that made me think of sunny days in the beautiful Italian countryside. I love the way that neutrals as a colour scheme can look so romantic – it’s all about textures. Soft tulle, honey brickwork, soft leather, ribbon, lace… This is one travel-styled wedding that will never date.

Colours: Shades of neutral & white

Top row (l-r): Travel journal invitation suite {Ceci New York}; stone building {Jose Villa Photography}; place setting {Jose Villa/Easton Events}
Row 2: Bride in veil {Jose Villa Photography}; getaway car {Jose Villa Photography}; leather luggage tags {HarLex}
Row 3: Cake {KT Merry/Moda e Arte Workshop/Joy Proctor Design/Hotel Caruso}; bride & groom {Jose Villa Photography/Joy de Vivre Design Boutique}; bridesmaids & bouquets {Kate Preftakes Photography/Events by Sorrell/Apotheca Flowers}

 

Inspiration Board: Champagne

Is it too early in the morning for champagne? Ha, don’t be silly. It’s NEVER too early for champagne. Of course, this is the kind of champagne that won’t get you into trouble with your boss, the latest in our inspiration boards designed for wine varieties (see Rosé & Merlot if you missed them) in honour of our vineyard wedding month. And I have to say, I love this sparkly neutral, which pairs beautifully with many other romantic shades – gold, blush, grey… But today we’re sticking to the single colour, and loving the delicate balance of sophistication and dreaminess. So what do you say – champers, darling?

Colours: Champagne & white

Top row (l-r): Bride in champagne wedding dress {Jennifer Ebert Photography/La Boheme Events/Lovely Bride}; candle tablescape {Wendell T. Webber}; champagne in bucket {Pasha Belman}
Row 2: Peony centrepiece {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management/Francesco Di Bianco}; love letter {Lavender Calligraphy}; bridesmaids {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management}
Row 3: Place setting {Sylvie Gil/Bliss Event Productions}; bridesmaid & invitation {Josh Gruetzmacher/Aerialist Press}; cake {Coco Tran/Lara Kreutner}; champagne coupés {Frank & Joy}

 

Desert Neutrals by Corette Faux

Time for something pretty! As you know, this month we’re focusing on natural beauty – getting back to basics, and taking joy in simplicity. Today’s bridal portrait shoot does just that, pairing a naturally neutral beauty spot with an uncomplicated white dress, elegantly simple flowers – and the cutest little donkey! Whoever said you shouldn’t work with children and animals clearly hadn’t seen this guy. Photographer Corette Faux and a small team of pros put this session together to inspire.Read More

Inspiration Board: Natural // Beauty

Hey lovelies – time for me to reveal our brand new monthly content ‘theme’. This month we’re doing something a teensy bit different, in that we’re focusing on a more loose idea – that of natural beauty. Or rather, as I’ve called this board, natural-slash-beauty. Expect beautiful (natural) neutrals, boudoir and bridal shoots, hair & makeup and beauty advice… you get the picture! The idea behind this board is a simple one: simplicity itself. Because for some brides, less fuss is definitely the way to go. Think calming neutral colours, elegantly basic details, natural textures, simple details like candlelight, blossoms and a whisper of lace. And, most importantly, allowing the beauty of the landscape and your surroundings to take centre stage. As the saying goes: simple may not always be best, but the best is always simple.

Colours: Layered beige neutrals

Top row (l-r): Bride {Lacie Hansen/Vera Wang}; bridesmaid dresses {Maggie Harkov Photography/Vera Wang}; centrepiece {Ashley Woodson Bailey/Ginny Branch/Haley Sheffield}
Row 2: Ring {Tec Petaja/Bash, Please}; invitation suite {firstmatephoto.com}; cake {Angelworx/Moda e Arte/Joy Proctor}
Row 3: Candlelight stairs {KT Merry Photography}; landscape {Nicole Rich}; bride {Elizabeth Messina}

 

Inspiration Board: The New Rustic

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend? I spent most of it cuddled up on the couch (who knew Durban got so chilly?) with a dog and a glass of wine, working on some behind the scenes technical stuff (aka the things that make my head hurt). So I loved getting to the creative work of putting together this week’s inspiration board. This time, I was inspired by a shift in rustic weddings over the last year, from a very vintage influence to a little bit more of a rustic, boho vibe. It’s not a dramatic shift, but it is a good way of keeping things fresh and pretty, while allowing vintage-loving brides to still incorporate a lot of the touches they love, like found objects and lace. So here it is – the new rustic!

Top row (l-r): Boho wedding dress {Poise by Nadia}; place setting; wreath invitation; door {Eric Kelley/Shindig Weddings and Events}
Row 2: Poppy pods; boho bridesmaids {Braedon Flynn}; craft beer; flowers in watering can {Yolande Marx}
Row 3: Lanterns {Caroline Tran Photographer/Kelly Oshiro Design}; boho bride {Danelle Bohane}; table decor

 

Inspiration Board: Neutrally Beautiful

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend? Just to let you know, this week I am off to Joburg and Kruger with reduced email and internet access, so while you’ll still be getting fresh inspiration every day, there will be a reduced number of posts compared to normal. We’ll be back to doubles next week! Of course, there’s still plenty to inspire you, starting off with this board which I am absolutely loving! Mixed neutrals are such a pretty look, especially when you add in the softest puce. A lot of brides would associate this palette with a vintage look, but I personally love the romantic elegance of this board, a sort of Elizabeth Messina softness. Which is your favourite detail?

Colours: Mixed neutrals, puce, black and white

Top row (l-r): Bride and groom {Chelsea Mitchell Photo/Oak and the Owl/Twine Events}; bridesmaids {Birds of a Feather/Amorology}; invitation {Steve Steinhardt Photography/Beth Helmstetter Events}; champagne with blackberries {Jennifer Lindberg}
Row 2: Bouquet; shoes; pashminas {Carrie Rodman Photography/Raina Dawn Events}; bridesmaid dresses; key escort cards on door {Zelo Photography/Couture Events}
Row 3: Statue {Elizabeth Messina}; printed ring pillow {Laura Murray Photography}; table setting {KT Merry/Aisle Candy}; cake.