Author: gaby

Supplier Spotlight: The Demetriou Girls Collection

by gaby

When I was a little girl (just a few years ago, haha) I DREAMED of being a flowergirl in somebody’s wedding. Sadly, I’m an only child and an only grandchild so it never happened, but I still have such a soft spot for dreamy little dresses for the mini members of a bridal party and I think they deserve to look every bit the princess that they feel being part of your day. So I couldn’t help but fall head over heels when I came across the Demetriou Collection on Etsy. Hand made in Cyprus and shipped worldwide, these luxurious little creations are frothy ballerina fantasies, walking that perfect line between innocent sweetness and elegant chic. The range includes accessories like shoes for babies (oh, the shoes!), head pieces and capes, as well as the dresses themselves. Let’s have a little look, shall we?Read More

Inspiration Board: Last of the Summer Wine

by gaby

I hate the end of summer. HATE. IT. Luckily in Durban I mostly get to kid myself that it hasn’t happened yet, but this weekend I’ll be in Joburg and that means finally conceding to the chillier weather and getting my jersey on. Which will be the first time in a year and I object :( ANYWAY, so maybe it’s my nostalgia for all things summer but today’s inspiration for me is somewhere in between the warm and cold weather seasons, a muted autumnal palette that’s perfect for a late summer bride. Dusky pink mixes seamlessly with soft minty green, with a touch of lavender to complete the happy trio. Almost worth giving into autumn for, isn’t it? Oh, and PS? Velvet is SO becoming my new favourite texture! Watch this space…

Colours: Rose, mint & lavender

Top row (l-r): Bride on velvet couch {onelove photography}; bouquet {Simply Bloom Photography}; door
Row 2: Bouquet {Eric Kelley/Easton Events}; champagne with lavender {Gayle Brooker Photography/Easton Events}; lavender macaroons; envelope
Row 3: Bride with bouquet {KT Merry/Dreamy Whites}; centrepiece {Brklyn View Photography/Michelle Edgemont}; cake table {Bryce Covey/Finch & Thistle}; velvet ribbon.

 

A SouthBound Guide to Bouquet Types

by gaby

Happy Friday, loves! What do you have planned for the weekend? Before we head off, I thought it was time for some education, SBB style. As much as I advocate hiring great wedding pros and then trusting them to do their job for you, you’ll want to give them an indication of the kind of styles and ideas you have in mind. Pics are great, but there’s some wedding-speak that will help communicate those ideas (so that you’re not like me at a hairdresser: “short, but not, like, short short”) and that’s what this glossary is all about. So today I’m breaking down the most common bouquet types, with lovely, pinnable examples of each!

Read More

Honeymoon Inspiration: 10 Bathtubs With a View

by gaby

Everyone has a different part of the luxury hotel experience that appeals to them – the restaurant, the thread count, the activities, the spa. For me? It’s the bath. Seriously, I have booked hotel rooms for love of a bath alone. Say the words “claw” and “foot” and you’ll send me into a bit of a luxe lust spiral. Maybe it was all those years of living in London with crappy showers, but soaking in a gorgeous tub filled with bubbles and the scent of exclusive products wafting in the steamy air (with a glass of wine and a good book, obvs) is a great pleasure for me, and a part of what I look forward to in a spoil-ey hotel. Luckily for me (or not, because I haven’t stayed at any of these places yet), the hotel world has cottoned on to the bathtub fetish, and now many honeymoon-worthy properties offer either sumptuous bathrooms or even better, tubs with a view. Here are ten of my worldwide FAVES.

Read More

Country Vintage Delsma Farm Wedding by Nicole Rich {Ilani & Albert}

by gaby

It’s been a while since I featured a ‘country vintage’ style wedding here on SBB, but this has become such a South African classic, that I can’t resist it once in a while! Pastels, lace, old books tied into little packages, succulents and beautiful roses – it’s the perfect fusion of ‘masculine’ rustic and pretty ‘feminine’ style. Which is more than just a style preference with today’s bride and groom (who met on the dance floor and have been dancing ever since!), a farmer and a designer whose combination of these elements also perfectly represented the beautiful balance of their relationship. There are some truly South African touches here – LOVE the groomsmen’s windmill bouts, reflected in the ribbon used to tie up the napkins, and of course in the gorgeous rural surroundings of Delsma Farm. SBB sponsor, the lovely Nicole Rich, was there to capture every glorious moment!Read More

25 Sparkly Wedding Dresses for the Bride Who Loves Glitter

by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2020* Sparkly wedding dresses? Now that’s a bridal fashion roundup I KNOW you all are going to LOVE. Because we’re all a little addicted to glitter, right? In fact, I’m pretty sure a meeting of brides and wedding pros could double as a glitter addiction support group, which should totally be a thing, because I for one would be a member. Then again, why resist when you can choose one of these sequin and sparkle gowns that will catch the light and make your guests (and groom) gasp. Here are 25 of the most gorgeous glittery, embellished and altogether sparkly wedding dresses to inspire. And PS, they make the perfect shimmery reception dresses too!

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

Read More

Fynbos Garlands Natte Valleij Wedding by Abigail K. {Gem & Ben}

by gaby

So there I was just a few weeks ago, declaring my love for garlands, and here’s a wedding that shows off everything I love about this gorgeous floral trend. They’re pretty, they’re whimsical, they’re rustic-pretty-perfection, and in the case of Gem & Ben’s gorgeous barn wedding, they’re fynbos, which makes the heart of this South African girl soar! But beyond the lovely greenery, there is so much more to love about this wedding from the fab Abigail K. – a palette of cool blues and greens with a touch of protea pink, the spectacular gardens of Natte Valleij bathed in ethereal light and OMG Gem’s amazing illusion back, frothy tulle skirt dress! This was a wedding where family was central, where love was tangible, and where lovers of rustic romantic style will find their home.Read More

Elegant Zorgvliet Wine Estate Wedding by Anneli Marinovich {Marike & Anthony}

by gaby

If there’s one thing we South Africans know how to do to perfection, it’s throwing an elegant vineyard wedding. As long as I’ve been featuring weddings of all different kinds on SBB, there’s still something about a summer wedding in the Cape winelands that tugs at my heartstrings – the beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, the breathtaking scenery (mountains so spectacular they look like they must have been painted, and I would know, since I spent four years at Stellenbosch looking at them in awe!), the light during golden hour that you just want to eat with a spoon. For all my love of motifs and patterns and colours, sometimes I just like it best when a bride and groom choose an elegant white on white palette and let their surroundings work their magic against the blank canvas. And when that canvas includes just a tiny touch of glitter, a murmur of lace and a puff of baby’s breath? Well, I’m SOLD. Today’s wedding is all of this and more, in that it was shot by one of our favourite photographers (and wedding people), Anneli Marinovich. There’s no dreamier way to end off your afternoon.Read More

Inspiration Board: Emerald & Blush

by gaby

Happy Monday, friends! Did you catch my little blogiversary post over the weekend? Well since our blog birthday got me thinking all things commemorative, I’ve decided to do a running series of inspiration boards inspired by birthstones, starting today. Although I almost canned that idea when I saw that the stone for May was emerald, since last year was ALL about this colour. But actually, it gave me a chance to revisit this gorgeous shade. That’s the thing about us bloggers – it’s not that once a colour has had its trend moment that we no longer like it, just that sometimes it’s a case of overkill. For us, because we see a hundred weddings a week, but not for you – and I personally still think emerald has a lot to offer a modern bride and groom, so it was a good time to look at it with fresh eyes. I started thinking about combinations, and I realised that somehow I’d not done emerald and blush before. Whaaaat? I couldn’t believe it, because the soft, romantic blush pink is PERFECT against the crisp, dark, emerald green. It’s the perfect alternative to blush and grey, or a more sophisticated version of blush and mint. What do you think?

Colours: Blush, emerald, white

Top row (l-r): Bride {Lizelle Lotter}; bouquet {Jemma Keech/Portobello Rose}; bridesmaids bouquets
Row 2: Staircase wreath {Jen Fariello Photography/Easton Events}; centrepiece {Leo Patrone}; bride with perfume {Ryan Ray/Stephanie Miles}; table setting with green glassware {Lauren Kriedeman/Green Goddess flower studio}
Row 3: Ceremony arch {Clary Pfeiffer Photography/Bride’s Vision}; ring {Erin Kate}; tables {Jose Villa}; bride with veil {Rachwal Photography}.

 

10 Things I’ve Learned as a Wedding Blogger

by gaby

Happy Sunday friends! I’m stopping in for a rare personal post today, because this week SBB celebrates our four year blogiversary (yay!). So I thought it was a good time to look back a bit, and also to give you all a little insight on some of the things I have learned in the last four years, about weddings, about business, and even about life.

I didn’t have a traditional path into the industry – most wedding bloggers are brides-to-be or newlyweds, but I started my wedding blogging career after a breakup. What? Weird, right? Well, not in a scary Miss Havisham kind of way, but a heartbreak – like a lot of life changes – is sometimes a catalyst that changes a lot more than you think it will. You start to question everything. You get shaken up like a snowglobe, and even when the pieces settle, they’re not in the same place they were. Or at least, that’s what happened to me. And you know what? That’s pretty awesome. Because five years ago, I would never have imagined that I’d be where I am now, doing what I do. And I LOVE what I do. Here are some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way.Read More