Spring Blossom Bridal Shoot

Spring Blossom Floral Crown | Image: Sulet Fourie

Spring has sprung! Okay, not here technically, as we’re heading into autumn (although you’d never know from the pure sunshine outside my window in Durban today) but this time of year it’s always fun to see spring blossoms making their way onto the pages of my Northern Hemisphere blogger friends. So we’re taking a trip into the orchards full of blossoms here too, and filling our lungs with fresh spring air, as we enjoy this beautiful bridal shoot from Sulet Fourie and her team. One of the things I love about this editorial is the soft touches of purple – a great way to incorporate this year’s Colour of the Year, Ultraviolet, in a subtle and super pretty way! Stunning florals, a gorgeous dress, and happy smiles – it’s the perfect way to start the weekend off right.

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Spring Garden Engagement Shoot

From winter to spring, we’re changing seasons from this morning’s winter wedding to this sweet e-shoot that takes place in the gardens of Val de Vie. Candice and Greg chose this locale for a relaxed stroll together and brought along a rather fabulous bouquet. And while it’s all about the love first and foremost, you KNOW I am also going to mention the styling because I do love a great choice of e-sesh outfit for the bride-and-groom-to-be! This is spring perfection – Candice in a classic Little White Dress with sequin jacket, and Greg in pastel trousers. Classic and preppy, but with just the right amount of interest to look great on camera. And look great they do, in these truly lovely pics by Claire Thomson!

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Top Tips for Spring Engagement Shoots

It’s that time of year again, when summer brides and grooms book a bit of extra time with their photographers for that all-important engagement shoot (hands down the best way to get yourselves used to being in front of the camera before your Big Day). And let’s be honest, there’s no better time to plan a couple shoot than the spring – think blossoms, greenery, fresh colours, and dreamy light! There are a few things you should take into account, though, so we’ve asked a couple of our favourite local photographers to share their top 10 tips – as well as some of their favourite spring engagement pics. You can also find more e-shoot inspiration in our archives.

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20 Spring Pastel Wedding Details

Spring has officially sprung here on SBB this week, and we’ve been enjoying the first round of the pastel-fest that is our September. Fun! So this afternoon I just had to bring you some fun details and ideas to add that little something special to your pastel wedding, from some of our favourite makers and suppliers. Whether it’s something to wear, something to decorate with, or something to give your gorgeous bridesmaids, you’ll find it here :)Read More

Spring Printable by Mocholoco

Happy Friday, lovelies! With the equinox coming up, we have such a lovely little spring printable for you today from the talented Vicky at Mocholoco. As well as being an awesome stationer, Vicky is also one of our real SouthBound Brides (her gorgeous DIY beach wedding was one of my favourites of 2013), and is also about to relaunch her website, so to celebrate, she created this gorgeous watercolour-style poster –  the perfect addition to your desk (or desktop). I’m not sure if brides and grooms always realise the huge amount of thought and process and creativity and hard work  that goes into producing bespoke stationery pieces, and I’m personally pretty fascinated by how it’s done. So instead of just presenting the finished product, I asked Vicky to give you all a little glimpse behind the scenes into her process. Blood, sweat and glitter! Thank you SO much, Vicky – be sure to click through to her site to see more of her lovely work.Read More

The Joys of Spring

Hello lovelies! Time for some beautiful inspiration for this early summer afternoon (how is it DECEMBER already?). Today we’re showing off the talents of two friends of the blog (photographer Cheryl McEwan and co-ordinator Theresa of Creation Events), together with a team of talented people who put together this spring/summer inspiration for you. With bright florals, pretty boho bridal styling and the cutest retinue of little people, it feels like an Easter parade. So fun! Choose this palette and your guests won’t be able to hold back their sunny smiles!Read More

Spring Engagement Shoot

I can’t think of a more perfect shoot to share with you today, as we head into the Easter weekend. Easter has kind of sneaked up on me this year, but I’ve decided to take tomorrow off (for once) and try to switch off and relax a bit. Before I do, I’m so excited to share this spring styled engagement shoot from awesome photographer Louise Vorster with you. Best of all, the bride-to-be Nicole is a huge fan of SouthBound Bride – which obviously makes us a big fan of hers – especially since she pulled together such an adorable set-up to celebrate her upcoming marriage to fiance Andre. I am especially smitten by the little chicks – aren’t they the cutest? I know that Easter isn’t really spring in SA, but if it gives you an excuse to grab your loved one and set up a super sweet pastelly country style picnic, I say do it. And even better if you can get a photographer like Louise to capture it all perfectly.Read More

Inspiration Board: Spring Pastels

Good morning, friends! I hope you had a great weekend, and for those of you in SA, I know you will have been celebrating the official start of spring. I’ll try to ignore the fact that it means the end of summer for me here in the UK, and concentrate on a palette that is just perfect for a romantic spring wedding. It’s been a while since I played with lavender, and here I’ve paired it with one of last year’s hottest couples: aqua and rose. Don’t they make a lovely threesome? The purple really adds depth, and I love the little touch of vintage here as well. I’m imagining this in a garden, or at a beautiful farm, with clean white standing out against the soft colours. Dreamy.

Colours: Lavender, pink, aqua and white

Top row (l-r): Ian Stuart wedding dress; pink rose bouquet {F: Michele Tallent & Co.; P: Kate Connolly Photography}; aqua tie {F: Michele Tallent & Co.; P: Kate Connolly Photography}; lavender in vintage bottles {P: KT Merry; C: Sara Jean Events}; cake {P: Closer to Love Photography; C: Creamery}
Row 2: Mismatched bridesmaids {P: White Linen Photographers; F: Flowers by Antonella}; pink ribbon shoes {P: Elizabeth Messina; S: Catherine Sheppard of The Life Styled}; table in lavender field {P: KT Merry; C: Sara Jean Events}; necklace {Sora Designs on Etsy}
Row 3: ‘Love is a doing word’ {Karl Kwasny}; bride {P: Bumble & Bloom}; rose {P: Simply Bloom Photography, LLC; S: Simply Charming Socials}; pink tea glasses {P: Elisabeth Millay Photography}; lavender vintage bed.

 

Inspiration Board: Dandelion Days

Good morning friends! Hope you had a fab weekend! Mine was good – I had the privilege of spending yesterday with a group of fantastic wedding industry people assisting on a shoot for my friend Louise of (aka @bijouxbride). Lots of hard work, but it was so fun, and I can’t wait to see the pictures. I know there are a lot of people who don’t like inspiration shoots, but for me, they’re a great way to pull together an idea (like a mood board, but on a bigger scale) and I know they’re where I get a lot of the ideas I use in my boards. Plus, they’re great for table settings, which I know brides struggle with sometimes. What do you think? Love ’em or hate ’em?

Anyway, on to today’s board. While it’s gone very cold and grey in London town, I know everyone in South Africa is on the other side of the spring/autumn equation, so I thought I would bring you a lovely spring palette to enjoy. A lot of brides shy away from yellow because it’s such a strong colour, but if canary yellow is too bold and mustard is too yellow, consider a soft pastel lemon. Combined with pale green and grey, it’s fresh and flattering, and it brought to mind for me the pretty gardeny side of the Kate Moss nuptials – a traditional church, lots of little flowergirls in white, wildflowers. Add in yellow shoes and a polka dot dress, plus of course a little hair braid (because we do love braids, don’t we!). And if you like the lovely invitations pictured here by my clever friends at Brancoprata, you can download the template for free right here. Perfect, non?

Colours: Pale yellow, green and soft grey

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom (Jose Villa); yellow shoes (Christine Meintjes); polka dot dress; frosted lemons (A. Hana Design); lemonade
Row 2: Dessert table (Amy Atlas); invitation (Brancoprata); macaroon ring shot (Kim Mendoza Photography); vintage car (Photogen Inc.)
Row 3: Dandelion; bridesmaid (Katelyn James); braided updo; flower girls; pretty church from Kate Moss Wedding (Mario Testino/Vogue)

Inspiration Board: Spring Daffodils

When you think ‘Spring’, what do you think of? A host of golden daffodils? Too right, Will Wordsworth. Daffodils are just about the most Springey flower I know, with their fresh yellow colour and buttery soft petals. I heart them big time. And I know Easter’s over, but when I started putting this yellow and aqua inspiration board together this morning, those symbols of happiness and new life kept sneaking in there. I think this would make a gorgeous theme for a Spring wedding in South African September or an Easter wedding in April, with just the prettiest flowers on the block. Hope it gives you a smile this morning if you’re back at work (I’m not! Woo!) and that whatever you got up to this long weekend you had a lovely one! :)

Colours: Yellow, aqua and white

Top row (l-r): Daffodils in aqua glass; San Pellegrino Lemon drinks; egg basket; wedding dress (Jose Villa)
Row 2: Yellow shoes; lemon place setting (Hugh Forte); Easter chick (Abby Jiu); aqua bridesmaid’s dresses (Jenna Davis Photography)
Row 3: Couple with yellow baloons (Adam LeSage Photography); aqua Hunter wellies; daffodil bouquet; blue and yellow cake bunting; flower girl (Girl Friday Weddings)