gaby | SouthBound Bride

Casey Jeanne

17 January, 2014 by gaby

It’s Friday Friday, and we’re kicking off the day with a world of loveliness from one of my personal favourite up-and-coming local designers. If you haven’t heard of Casey Jeanne yet, then I’m about to introduce you to your next fashion crush. That’s certainly what I had from the second I saw one of our own SouthBound brides in one of Casey’s creations last year. Today, the love affair continues, as I showcase more of her beautiful gowns, photographed by the awesome Alexis Diack. The attention to detail on every one of them is amazing, and I just love the combination of glamour, elegance and luxury that Casey’s work embodies.Read More

Bella Toscana Styled Shoot by TopVendor & Claire Harries

16 January, 2014 by gaby

Afternoon, brideys! I’m vastly excited to bring you this afternoon’s styled shoot, because it is all about Italy and if you don’t know this about me by now, I LOVE Italy. Partly because they gave me a passport (thanks, Italy!) and half of my family heritage, including a love of food, of company, of sunshine. I lived in Italy for a year when I was in my 20s, and for a month last year, and I’ve been dozens of times in between – I simply can’t get enough. So the TopVendor Wedding Awards team didn’t have much convincing to do when they sent over this gorgeous piece of inspiration, created with the rolling hills of Tuscany in mind that they put together recently with some of our favourite wedding suppliers, including the gorgeous floral stylings of Flowers in the Foyer. Come, enjoy it with me, and see how to bring a touch of la bella vita to your wedding day.Read More

Colourful In the Vine Wedding by Linda Fourie {Kerstin & Trevor}

16 January, 2014 by gaby

Some weddings have me at hello, some have me at a beautiful bouquet or an unusual theme, but this one had me at putt-putt. Ja, putt-putt (that’s mini golf to you, America, and crazy golf to you, Brits). Most awesome wedding lawn game ever, right? Of course, that was just one fun detail in what’s an incredibly fun wedding – a fun, fresh and colourful wedding at that. Instead of canapes, Trevor and Kerstin had carnival-style booths with eats and drinks (with a boere-orkes for entertainment). Their theme was ‘colourful’, their flowers and decor were mix and match brights, and the smiles… well, the smiles were huge and infectious. This wedding brings the love in buckets, and Linda Fourie‘s pictures capture it to perfection.Read More

Lace Wedding Table Linens

15 January, 2014 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2021* It’s funny with wedding trends – one minute they’re brand new, and the next it seems like they never went away. Maybe it’s because everything goes in cycles. But I remember how, just a few years ago, sitting in Hyde Park watching Kate Middleton emerge in her wedding dress, myself and fellow blogger Annie of Marry You Me looked at one another and said: “Lace. Lace is going to be huge again.” And so it has been. But while brides have been getting their lace on in every beautiful combination of portrait back and illusion neckline imaginable since, it’s time for tables to have their turn as well. Lace wedding tablecloths and lace runners are a beautiful look, whether you’re trying to add an air of old European romance or a touch of grandmillennial vintage chic. But be warned! This is an unforgiving look for functional tables. Make sure your venue has ones that look good without a tablecloth (or if you love the look, hire one for just the head table). Either that, or opt for lace overlays on solid tablecloths rather than a sheer lace look. Below I’ve gathered some lovely inspiration, as well as some options for purchasing lace wedding table linens on Etsy.

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

Organic Farm-Style Wedding at Babylonstoren by Monica Dart {Allie & Carl}

15 January, 2014 by gaby

When I was a kid, I was weird about vegetables. Not weird in that I didn’t like them, like most children, but weird in that I did. But only raw. My mom would have to leave whichever ones (short of potatoes and onions, obvs) she was serving uncooked for me. I just thought they were better that way. These days, I cook my veggies, but I think the same philosophy applies to a farmer’s market-style wedding, with veggies on the decor menu. They’re just so pretty in their natural state! The whole idea of organic or farm-to-table weddings has been a big thing in the last couple of years, and in South Africa we got especially lucky with the opening to weddings of Cape venue Babylonstoren, which has to be the ultimate for farm weddings with its eight acre fruit and vegetable garden. I know I have been dying to feature something like this here on SBB, so when Monica Dart sent over Allie and Carl’s wedding I was hooked! This wedding looks like it grew in the most perfect of wedding greenhouses (no wonder, since the bride has co-ordinated a number of weddings before) – I love that it’s completely unfussy, and just lets the natural beauty of the venue and the farm pickin’s shine through. Vegetables on the table, donkeys at the door, and Monica’s gorgeous fine art photography to capture it all. It’s the best possible start to a lovely Wednesday.Read More

Ten Tables: Beach {Part 1}

14 January, 2014 by gaby

Our Ten Tables series is back, hooray! For those of you who didn’t catch the rustic tables (Part 1 & Part 2) last year, the idea of the series is to break down different tables along a specific theme into their components so that you can see what EXACTLY goes into creating a look. You can pick your favourite and treat it as a shopping list, or mix and match elements you like and add your own touches. You’ll also be amazed at how many of the details can be DIYed or included on a budget, and I’ve detailed those as well wherever possible. This time, we’re all about beach weddings. Now, let me be clear – I don’t necessarily think that if you are having a beach wedding or a wedding at a beach venue, you need to have a beach themed table. You don’t need to have shells, or driftwood, or boats. You don’t even have to have a nautical colour scheme. So if you don’t like those things, you go ahead and create a table that would work at any venue. But if you want to add a song of the sea to your decor, each of these tables is a classy and pretty way to do it.

UPDATE: You can find Part 2 here.

Table #1: Beach Ombre

FLOWERS: Air plants, succulents, hyacinth, thistle, lisianthus, scabiosa pods, privet berries

Navy Glam Netherwood Wedding by Studio KOVO {Jacqui & Matthew}

14 January, 2014 by gaby

It always intrigues me to see weddings of people in the industry. Unlike most brides and grooms, weddings aren’t something they see once in a while from a guest perspective, but something they’re intimately involved in throughout their working life. Which details will they choose to highlight? Which traditions or ways of doing things can they do without, and which trends will they love as much as we all do? It’s a lot of pressure I suppose, but today’s bride, talented KZN-based makeup artist Jacqui of Accentuate Hair & Makeup knocked it out of the park. I absolutely ADORE her navy and mixed metallic colour palette, as well as the super personal detail of including owls in their decor (a tribute to her grandmother). Not to mention stylish topknot bridesmaids and a set of very dapper groom and groomsmen. And the bride? Well, Jacqui was the best advertisement for her own considerable skills (gained both in the UK and on the local MAC events team) – doesn’t she look spectacular? From the lush carnation composite bouquets to the stripey cake to the paper flower backdrop and sparkly copper Mr & Mrs sign, there’s a lot to love here, all captured by Kate van Onselen of Studio KOVO. Let’s begin!Read More

Ruby Bride #5: The Dress

13 January, 2014 by gaby

Picking out a wedding dress has made me learn the one lesson I’m sure most brides before me have learned: your mother is going to disagree with you. And she is going to make her opinion known.

Inspiration Board: Dove Grey & Rose Gold

13 January, 2014 by gaby

Some colour combinations I just fall completely in love with when I’m working with them, and I have to say, this is one of them! I mentioned rose gold as one of this year’s biggest trends, so I thought I would combine it with a soft bluey-grey, and wow. Don’t you just adore it? I can just imagine this romantic palette being used at a sophisticated wedding with delicate fabrics, elegant florals, and of course, rose gold jewellery. Copper (and of course, normal gold) would also work, but I think the rose gold is especially pretty, and it works beautifully with blousy blush florals and ruffly bridesmaid dresses. (PS We’re debuting a slightly different format for SBB inspiration boards today, one that’s Instagram-friendly. What do you think?)
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Colours: Rose gold, dove grey & white

Top row (l-r): Feather headpiece (Victoria Millésime); dress (Jessica Burke Photography/Amanda O’Shannessy Creative); individual bundt cakes; blush bouquet (Belathee Photography)
Row 2: Ruffle bridesmaids (Jessica Lorren); rose gold rings and invitation (Jennifer Blair Photography); dress (Jessica Burke Photography/Amanda O’Shannessy Creative)
Row 3: Rose gold boxes (Muhs Home); earrings (Crystal Avenues); ruffled chair backs (Phyllis Lane Photographer/Victoria Canada Weddings & Events)

Row 1: Jazz Age Sparkle & Feather Vintage Bridal Cap by Victoria Millesime (Image: Hannah Mia Photography) | Row 2: Kelsey Invitation Suite by lvandy27 (left); Rose Gold Wedding Stickers by The Foil Stationery Co. (right) | Row 3: Rose Gold Clutch by Davie and Chiyo (left); Lund London Luxe Sovereign Box (right) | Row 4: Rose Gold Gray Wedding Menu Template by Visualising Dreams (left); Lara Quin Rose Quartz & Jasmine Orchard Scented Candle (right) | Row 5: Oval Cut Moissanite Engagement Ring by Dori Ring | Row 6: Rose Gold Bridal Earrings by Crystal Avenues (left); Alexandra by Truvelle (right)

SouthBound Sundays {12 Jan 2014}

12 January, 2014 by gaby

Hello lovelies! Hope this Sunday finds you well. I am in bed, teetering on the brink of a cold, and trying to pull my exhausted self back – too many late nights working on the blog, I think! But our first week of 2014 has been awesome, and I am full of excitement about the rest of the year to come! For those of you who are new, SouthBound Sundays is our weekly roundup (although I won’t lie, it doesn’t happen EVERY week) when I recap our features on SBB, share any exciting news, give a shoutout to fab sponsors, and most importantly, bring you my favourites from around the web.

♥ #SOUTHBOUNDBRIDETOBE

But before I do all of that, this week I want to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to some of our newly-engaged readers who shared their proposal story on Twitter and Instagram using our brand new #southboundbridetobe hashtag. Clockwise from top left, please join me in sending big SouthBound hugs and yays to: Helé, Angelina, Lindsey, Amy, Maryna & Jaynie. Don’t forget to send us your pic too!