Author: gaby

Inspiration Board: Something Blue

by gaby

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}

 

Portuguese Rustic Styled Shoot by Piteira Photography

by gaby

Happy Friday, lovelies! We’re escaping the city for beautiful Portugal today, with an absolutely gorgeous styled shoot from our dear friends at Piteira Photography. Luis and Kerry live in this sun-kissed country for most of the year (the rest spent in South Africa, when they grace us with their talented presence for the summer wedding season) and so together with some fantastic local suppliers, put together a dreamy alfresco-style shoot complete with the most gorgeous rustic details. Portugal is a wedding destination that’s largely untapped, and it’s also a source of style inspiration that’s still very fresh and unique among Mediterranean countries. For example, if you love French country or Italian style, but want something just a little bit different, then adding a little bit of Portugal-inspired detail to your big day is a great idea. This shoot, with its pretty mismatched crockery, flowers in glass bottles, café lights hanging over cobbled streets, and perfect rustic dessert table has me dreaming of a trip across the ocean and of outdoor weddings full of sunshine and smiles.Read More

Gold Leaf Wedding Ideas

by gaby

gold leaf wedding details

*UPDATED FOR 2021* As you know by now, I love nothing like I love a little sparkle, and recently I have been absolutely loving the little gold foil and gold leaf wedding details that I’ve seen popping up, especially those that have an imperfect textured look. So soft and pretty! Gold foil is, quite simply, a thin sheet of gold, while gold leaf is even thinner. They can be used in printing (see our roundup of gold foil invitations here) or applied to objects for a gilded, luxurious finish. This is also quite a versatile technique, and can be incorporated anywhere from gold foil cakes and table décor to a bold gold leaf bridal makeup look, or even a wedding dress of veil with handpainted gold leaf detailing. Swoonage! Here are some of my favourite gold leaf wedding details to inspire you.

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Pastel Blush Wedding at Lezar Opstal by Laura Jansen {Evette & Emile}

by gaby

The next time I come across a bride who’s wavering about a ‘first look’ photo session because she doesn’t want to spoil ‘that moment’ (you know, the one where you lock eyes from opposite ends of the aisle and even though you’re in a room full of your family and friends you can only see one another and your heart’s beating out of your chest and you’re gripping your dad’s arm but you’re looking at each other and it’s amazing) – well, next time I am just going to show her Evette and Emile’s wedding. Because they had a first look (the sweetest of first looks for this pair of childhood sweethearts) and some gorgeous portraits with their awesome photographer Laura Jansen before the ceremony. But when Evette’s walking down that aisle – wow. The emotion in these pictures is so real, it actually brings a tear to MY eye. I have a feeling these two are going to be looking at one another like that for a lifetime. For their big day, they picked a beautiful pastel palette (including a gorgeous blush dress for the bride), and like the ballerina she is, she danced through ceremony and reception, right through to a first dance with her handsome groom that looks like it came from a movie. Ah, love. It gets me every time.Read More

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

by gaby

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

SouthBound Guide: Rocking Your Hair & Makeup Trial

by gaby

For those of you planning a summer wedding, now is about the time when hair and makeup start moving up the priority list in terms of decisions to be made and bookings to be confirmed – after all, your look is something that relies heavily on the style of dress you’ve decided on, the jewellery or accessories you’ve picked, and the style or level of formality that you’ve chosen for the wedding as a whole. Now’s also a good time to start locking in that hair and makeup trials, and we’ve got you covered with our top tips for how to make the most of this important pre-wedding event.Read More

Ruffles & Romance Môreson Wedding by Lauren Kriedemann {Claire & James}

by gaby

There are a lot of reasons I love today’s wedding, but can we just start by talking about THAT DRESS? Holy moly, it’s a showstopper. I have no idea if bride, Claire, started with the gown or matched it into her vision, but for me, it’s the centrepiece of the whole understated, feminine but also very modern elegance of the whole day. Everything from lush white blooms in ornate vases on the tables to the whimsical floral chandelier, to the clean, calming neutral palette (with just a touch of lavender from the bridesmaids) complements Claire’s look (a gorgeous job by Just Jack, by the way). She dances through her big day like a ballerina, through the vows exchanged with her fabulous kilt-sporting Scottish groom, to the cocktail hour with tables piled high with cheese and antipasti and guests full of love and well-wishes, and right on to the cafe light-lit dancefloor. An all-lily bouquet is the perfect, structured accessory for the ruffled rosette skirt. If I ever saw a bride ‘wear’ her whole wedding, it’s this one. And if I ever knew a photographer who would do this lovely celebration justice, it’s Lauren Kriedemann. Enjoy every one of these lovely pics!Read More

Anna Campbell Forever Entwined Collection

by gaby

Like I said earlier today, I love this time of year – all the new collections make me swoony. Look out for some homegrown designers coming your way soon, but first, let’s take a peek at the brand new Anna Campbell collection, Forever Entwined. If you’ve not come across this Aussie designer’s work yet, you’re about to have a new dresh crush, thanks to the soft fabrice, intricate detailing and all-round gorgeousness that Anna produces. And when her team sent over this absolutely beautiful editorial shoot, I just knew I had to share it with you all. Look out for the trains especially – a classic wedding dress feature made light, modern and hassle free. Just stunning.Read More

Pantone Spring 2015

by gaby

One of my favourite times of year in the wedding industry is now, because after New York fashion week and ahead of the bridal shows, all the new collections start coming out (one day I WILL make it to New York to take up my invitations there!). And it’s also when Pantone announces their Spring palette for the following Spring – while the autumn colours are gorgeous, the Spring ones are always just a little bit more wedding-worthy, and it’s lovely to see and dream how things will be looking next year. So today I’m sharing the ten new shades, as well as mini-palettes to give you some ideas on how to combine them. In the coming weeks, I’ll be creating some brand new full inspiration boards in these colours – can’t wait to play and have some fun!Read More

Floral Ceremony Arches

by gaby

For this week’s roundup, we’re turning to what is positively one of the prettiest trends in weddings at the moment: floral arches. And with so many South African wedding ceremonies happening outdoors, this is a perfect way to make an impact right from the get go. I am kind of obsessed with flowers myself, and the idea of walking up an aisle towards such a lush, incredible centrepiece (imagine the gorgeous fragrance as you say your vows!) just blows me away. Amazing. And I have a feeling you all are going to feel the same way too. Oh, and PS – as much as I love the flower-only arches, I am also kinda dying over the ones with curtains (or even a door). I mean, seriously. So romantic.Read More