Well Groomed: The Pastel Wedding

So here on SBB, we are often all about the girls (well, it is SouthBound bride, after all). But we really do want to make sure that we’re offering inspiration for the boys as well. And the biggest question I get when it comes to the groom and his merry men is: “What colour should the groom wear if our colour scheme is x”. Ah for the days when this was an easy answer, and all you had to do was match your blush and bashful to his shiny cummerband, right? (I’m kidding, obvs. NObody misses the cummerband.) In fact, the first questions to ask when choosing your groomswear aren’t about the colour scheme at all, but rather about the formality of your wedding, the time of day it will be held, and what will make him (and his budget) comfortable. So taking thes factors into account, I’ve put some options together for ice-cream pastel weddings (one of the more challenging of the groomswear dilemmas). Simple answer? Don’t make him wear a pink suit.

Brunch & Daytime Weddings

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Bridal Boudoir FAQs

Happy Friday lovelies! We have a full day of inspiration here on SBB, starting with the most BEAUTIFUL boudoir imaginable from the talented Kate Pleasants. If you’ve been wondering if bridal boudoir is for you, and whether it’ll make you feel sexy or silly, then this is a great example of how subtle (and classy, and gorgeous) it can be when done right. It’s about what isn’t revealed, not what is, and photos like Kate’s are little works of art (a gift for your groom, but a gift for yourself too). As well as sharing them today and making the blog all pretty (yay!), Kate’s answered a few frequently asked questions to help introduce you to the boudoir photography concept.

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Pastel Rose Vrede en Lust Wedding by Vizion Photo {Rose & Darren}

Give me a wedding in ice cream pastels and you’ll have one happy blogger. There’s just something about the soft shades (especially when mixed together) that I absolutely love – it feels like spring and easter and an afternoon on the beachfront wearing a sundress and eating a 99, all in one. Today’s pastel fest has an extra special fun aspect – roses for Rose, the lovely bride who decided to play on both her first name and new surname to add a whimsical touch to the decor. With a crown of her namesake flowers, towers of macarons and cupcakes and (Shut the Front Door!) a custom pastel dance floor, it has everything a pastel-lover could dream of. Thanks to fab Vizion Photo for sharing this wedding with us today!Read More

Handmade Rustic Little Farm Wedding by Kristi Agier {Deidre & Leon}

I love bringing you fresh wedding venues here on SBB, and they don’t get fresher than this one (in fact, Deidre & Leon were the very first to get married at the lovely Little Farm on the Stream, a gorgeous olive farm in Wellington. They incorporated the intimate, rustic feel of the farmyard into their DIY-tastic celebration, which also has a lovely, earthy feel to it – the heart-stamp leaf confetti is my fave! I also love that this fun couple included a whimsical element, with both river stones (from their own trips) and toys in between the antique bottles filled with wildflowers on the tables. There are so many gorgeous personal touches, right down to a handmade dancefloor, which is where they closed out the night with one final, incredibly romantic, dance. Sigh! And speaking of fresh talent, I’m so happy to welcome photographer Kristi Agier to SBB for the first time too!Read More

After Dark Engagement Shoot by Riekert Cloete

I love engagement shoots with a little somethin’ somethin’ extra, especially when it results in sheer romance, as this unique night e-shoot from the fab Riekert Cloete does. With clever lighting, some fun after dark locations, and a loved-up bride and groom-to-be on board, it has that special magic that reminds me of a moonlit night or a sky full of stars.Read More

Perfectly Protea Vrede en Lust Wedding by Sybrand Cillié {Carlen & Lynton}

This is the kind of wedding I live for, the kind that makes me wonder why anyone would get married anywhere else but our beautiful country (take note, Clooney, although I’d rather you eloped with me). Being talented graphic designers, the bride and groom also have exquisite taste, turning a protea-themed, rustic slash boho style wedding into something more than I’ve ever seen before. For one thing, there’s the floral arch – serious wow factor, and it has me falling in love with our big, bold, beautiful national flower all over again. Then Carlen’s flower crown and soft curls, and graceful Elbeth Gillis dress (one of my personal favourites of Elspeth’s designs, in fact). Succulent favours in tin mugs branded with the awesome protea logo the couple created. Tables filled with burlap and wildflowers and glass clear as the summer sky. A trio of fashionable bridesmaids. And to top it all off, dreamy pictures by the incredible Sybrand Cillié. In fact, the service providers list reads like a who’s who of brilliant SA wedding suppliers (and I’m delighted that SBB was part of helping Carlen & Lynton put their team together and plan their big day from abroad!). I love every inch of this one, and I’m sure you will too – so enjoy!Read More

Inspiration Board: Radiant Winter

It’s been a little while since I did an inspiration board with this year’s Pantone Colour of the Year, Radiant Orchid – while this lovely bright lilac-ey purple immediately lends itself to a summer wedding, I wanted to show that it’s just as much at home in the wintery months. In fact, paired with a few other purple tones, grey, white and silver, it’s absolutely perfect for the bride and groom who want to create a winter wonderland with a trendy touch. Add a few pinecones and a smattering of snow (well, we can dream, can’t we?) and you have the makings of a beautiful wedding – a radiant one, in fact!

Colours: Radiant Orchid, plum, lavender, silver, white & grey

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom {Steve Gerrard Photography}; invitation suite {Aneta MAK}; place setting {Greta Kenyon/Leaf & Honey}
Row 2: Silver shoes; purple calligraphy escort cards; pinecone place holders
Row 3: Radiant orchid bouquet {Fleur le Cordeur/Catherine Mac}; purple dress & feather bolero; dried roses; winter landscape {Fiona Conrad}.

 

Pastel Boho Styled Shoot by Kaitlyn de Villiers Photography

Happy Friday, friends! What do you have planned for this weekend? I have one of my besties in town, and we have tip top seats for the rugby on Saturday, so I am amped for that. Love me my Sharks! Anyway, before that happens, we have a day full of pastelly goodness here on the blog, starting with this sweet as candy styled couple shoot from Kaitlyn de Villiers. From pastel cocktails to delicious desserts to the most gorgeous floral crown, it indulges all of my girliest blush and mint/aqua fantasies. Hooray!Read More

Mira Zwillinger 2014/2015 Collection

You know, there are some wedding dress designers that each year when they release a new collection, I think they’ve outdone themselves – surely reached the tippety top of as pretty as their dresses can be – but lo and behold, the next season I’m dying over their new collection all over again. Mira Zwillinger is one of those designers, and true to form, her 2014/2015 collection is my favourite yet. Holy embroidered and illusion lace amazingness. Combined, as Mira does, with super soft, billowy skirts that combine into the ultimate mix of drama and elegant femininity. Long story short, I’m a huge fan. So let’s schedule some sigh-time to have a look at this latest bevy of beauties from the Israeli designer (not available in SA as far as I know, but can be found at Browns in London).Read More

Bright Farm Festival Wedding by Casey Pratt Photography {Suzaan & Pieter}

Succulents, bright festival stripes and a dollop of glitter and gold – what’s not to love about this Winterton farm fête from the awesome Casey Pratt of Photo Case Photography? Suzaan and Pieter built their tented wedding reception from scratch, with a focus on their guests, a loose palette of mint, coral and gold, and buckets of personality. From the colourful bridal party (each with a little touch of sparkle) to the gold-dipped jars and bottles on the tables, to the striped runners, to the fox-topped, succulent-surrounded, gold meringue cake, it’s full of vibrancy and fun, and with a bride and groom who closed the dancefloor at 5am no less, it’s no surprise. I just love couples who have fun planning their Big Day, and who make it a reflection of their relationship – and these two even invited the prize Brahman cows in for a couple of pics. It’s farm wedding fabulousness all the way.Read More