Author: gaby

Sweet Summer Pastel South Hill Wedding by Kathryn van Eck {Elena & John}

by gaby

You know what I’m loving right now? Pineapples. Seriously, it’s a thing. Which might have something to do with my coastal Caribbean-style decor obsession, but it turns out I’m not the only one, because these tropical treats have been turning up on some of the prettiest wedding tables this year. I wouldn’t call it a trend as such, but let’s just say in the world of fruit and veg wedding decor, this is the year of the pineapple. And if you have any doubts, I’m about to put them to rest with this GORGEOUS and totally charming wedding from the talented Kathryn van Eck. It has pastels. It has pretty. It has the perfect smattering of sparkle. It has a champagne tower (!). It has so much love. And yes, it has pineapples. And I officially ADORE it. Yay!Read More

Inspiration Board: Pretty Preppy

by gaby

And we’re back – I couldn’t let Monday go by without some inspiration board loveliness, could I? :) Today’s combo has been my new little colour crush for a few weeks now, because seriously, how amazing do grey and navy look together? It’s so chic. I especially love the mix of a dark slate grey with a softer, bluer grey, and then sophisticated navy (plus, of course, lots of crisp white). If you like a country club chic look, this is absolutely perfect, and of course you can also inject a few softer colours like peach or coral if you like. But I actually like it just like this – it’s like a sophisticated, on-trend take on the navy and white stripes that I have been loving over the last couple of years. What do you think?

Colours: Slate grey, dove grey, navy & white

Pretty Preppy

Top row (l-r): Invitation suite {Beaux Arts Photographie}; bride {Sonya Khegay}; bridesmaids {Brett Heidebrecht}
Row 2: Grey suit {Loren Routhier}; bridesmaids {Perez Photography/The French Connection}; place setting {Lizelle Lotter}; cake {Brooke Allison Photography}
Row 3: Bride & groom {The McCartneys Photography}; bouquet {Kali Leenstra/Katy Grifiths/Flora Nova Design}; cocktails {Lizelle Lotter}.

 

Handmade Backyard Zimbabwe Wedding by Nicole du Preez {Karleyne & HD}

by gaby

Morning brideys, how was your weekend? This morning we’re shaking things up a little – instead of starting off the week with an inspiration board (although I do have a lovely board for you this afternoon) we’re launching straight into our first real wedding of the week, and this one was hand made with so much love by SBB reader, Karleyne and her husband. Karley is a chef working in Zim, and married her partner in food and life, HD, on their very own tennis court! Now that’s a venue I haven’t come across before… The couple DIYed every single sweet detail, from hundreds and hundreds of paper cranes to centrepieces made of folded books, linen napkins, stationery, signage, etc etc etc. If the work ethic that they demonstrated in putting it all together in their limited spare time is anything to go by, they’ll have taken over the culinary world in no time. The menu was obviously a big part of the day, with a gourmet take on laid-back comfort food, but Karley’s look was 100% glam in her dress made by Sunday Times fashion editor in chief, Tiaan Nagel. From their vows beneath a mosquito net canopy to eating steak and chips under the African stars, this is one wedding that really reflects the personalities who dreamed it up and made every corner of it from scratch.Read More

Ten Tables: Travel Theme {Part 2}

by gaby

Pack your bags! It’s time for us to take another trip to the magical land of lovely wedding tables, with the second part of our Ten Tables special on travel-themed wedding tablescapes. Love it! As always, I’ve broken down some of my favourite tables from real weddings and styled shoots into their easy-to-make-your-own components. Along with DIYs and top tips. Because that’s just how we roll. If you’d like to see all the pretty tables from Part 1, you can find it right here.

Table #1: Gorgeous Globetrotter

SUGGESTED FLOWERS: Baby’s breath

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Supplier Spotlight: Blooming Wonderful

by gaby

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE getting packages in the mail. Best. Thing. Ever. So when a package turned up in my postbox recently with my name on it, instructing me to ‘open the box and shout hooray because this is your special day’, it put a huge smile on my face before I’d even opened it (if you follow SBB on Instagram, you will have seen all the adorable goodies that were inside). The box came from Blooming Wonderful, a creative husband and wife team based in Somerset West. Their business, which has stationery, a shop and a decor hire ‘wing’, is kind of a one-stop-shop of awesomeness, and full of the quirky little touches that I know brides and grooms are always looking for.Read More

Sizzling Sunset Engagement by Vizion Photo

by gaby

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE hearing the stories of how couples meet- they’re like snowflakes or fingerprints, no two exactly the same. Today’s love story is a modern one, a connection forged online and confirmed in person, leading to a happy ever after for Carina and Wayne. That connection sparked and sizzled on this glamorous beach engagement shoot with the Cape sunset as a backdrop from the fab Vizion Photo, with sunlight sparkling off the sea, and Table Mountain standing majestic on the horizon.Read More

Farm Fête Nutcracker Wedding by Anneli Marinovich {Anna & Piet}

by gaby

Oh happy day! I’m super excited to share this wedding with you, because not only is it full of shabby chic, farm wedding gorgeousness, it actually has a little SBB twist. Back when Anna and Piet first got engaged, the bride found her photographer Anneli Marinovich right here, and I was looking forward to hearing all about the (usually London-based) Anneli’s South African wedding. I’ve worked with Anneli loads myself and love her work, so I knew she would do an amazing job! It was such a pleasure not only to see her gorgeous pics, but to hear about how much fun she had with Anna and Piet and their exuberant families, and after a feature in Wedding Inspirations, it comes full circle with me sharing this farm fête here today. Just some of my favourite details: a custom aisle, a cluster of bridesmaids in pretty pastels, flowers in tins and the cheese cake!Read More

25 Unique Escort Card & Seating Plan Ideas

by gaby

I know it’s a cliche for a wedding blogger to say they’re obsessed with details, but it happens to be 100% true – the little touches and clever nuances are what really floats my boat when it comes to wedding design. And I think one of the best places to show your personality or complement your theme or motif is in the way you present your escort cards/table plan. Think about it – it’s practical and it’s something all your guests have to engage with in order to find their seats, so why not make it fun and a visual treat? Whether you decide to work with a seating/table plan or present guests with escort cards that have their name and table number on them, there are so many creative ideas out there, so I thought I would gather 25 of my favourites.Read More

Merry & Bright Garden Wedding by Michelle Photography {Britt & Andre}

by gaby

If you ask anyone who knows me, they would tell you I talk a lot. Like, a LOT. They’d also tell you that they’ve received multiple page emails and letters from me over the years, and listened to long and winding stories (the more wine, the more winding). What can I say, I like words. So would you believe me when I tell you that many’s the day that I struggle to find the right words to describe one of our gorgeous weddings here on SBB? Each of them is so uniquely beautiful that I feel like they deserve their very own praise poem, but I end up saying many of the same things: beautiful, gorgeous, lovely. And yet, those are the right words. They’re certainly the right words for today’s hearfelt garden wedding on the bride’s family farm. Beautiful – a ceremony in a rose garden that reflects the rich, vibrant palette chosen by the couple (and how I love that pop of golden mead against the greys and purples on their tables!) Gorgeous – a bride who looks like she stepped off a vintage film set, with a smile that just lights up Michelle van Staden of Michelle Photography‘s luscious photos. And lovely – what it is to have your wedding in such a personal, love and memory-filled place, honouring old traditions and starting new ones. Read More

A Floral Romance Abingdon Estate Wedding by Derryn Semple {Bridget & Matt}

by gaby

It’s always such a pleasure to feature weddings of people I know, and when KZN photographer Derryn Semple sent over this wedding I immediately recognised the lovely Bridget from our shared varsity years, looking even more gorgeous on her wedding day than she was then (which is saying something). Straight away I could see that the whole wedding reflected Bridge’s simple, pretty, easygoing style – and set against the elegant emerald backdrop of Abingdon wine estate in the Midlands, it was the perfect place for her to start married life with her handsome groom. From the bride’s stunning Lunar gown to the two-tone bridesmaid dresses, to Derryn’s breathtaking photos, there’s a lot to love about this one, but the detail I most adore is that the couple made use of the so-called Language of Flowers. All the blooms used, from bouquets to loose table arrangements to herbs tucked into the napkins, have a meaning that relates to Bridget and Matt, and to their relationship. Beautiful and meaningful. There’s nothing better.Read More