Love in the hay. That’s how today’s bride and groom nicknamed their wedding, and it’s such an appropriate description. Everything about this wedding is relaxed and joyful and farm-style gorgeous. From the location (the always-fabulous Cowshed in Mpumalanga) to the fearless couple portraits near some Nguni cattle to the rustic-South-African-with-a-touch-of-Brit decor. I also can’t think of a more perfect photography team to have captured this delightful big day than Dylan and Emma-Jane of Lad & Lass, who have such a lovely, unique way of framing their subjects. They even managed to get some exquisite shots of the night sky, as guests danced the night away and the stars came out over Africa. It’s pure wedding happiness – enjoy!Read More
Time for some proper gorgeousness my friends. Peach has been beautiful in many ways this year, but today it is especially beautiful in the company of a soft lemony pastel yellow. It’s sweet and delicious, like a cup of cool sorbet on a summer afternoon. How amazing are the rananculus bouquets? Not to mention a bit of portrait lace back perfection on the bride. When you choose a colour scheme like this one, you don’t need to go overboard – choose a light, bright, white venue and fill it with pastel and gently ombre details and a bit of milk glass (real or imitation), and then just let the colours and the season speak for themselves. Awesomesauce.
Hello darlings, how has your weekend been? Mine has ROCKED. I mentioned that one of my besties and her family were out from Australia (SO exciting, haven’t seen each other for five years!) so we went down the coast with her folks, her hubby and her three awesome sons, who all just happen to be my much beloved godsons. I am not much of a kid person, but these little guys are the BOMB. Two days filled with whale sightings, Monopoly games, domino games, fresh crayfish slash mussels slash crab slash oysters feasts, and just hanging out with some of my favourite people in the world. Awesome. I am a very happy lady today! Anyway, with the weather turning bad here in Durbs, we’re back a little early, which means there’s just enough time for me to bring you my fab finds from the week. It’s SouthBound Sunday!!!
As much as I love the more traditional wedding dress designers (oh, Vera!), I’m also a huge fan of the up-and-comers, and a great place to find them is on Etsy. Every now and then I indulge myself with a good long browse through all the beautiful (often more affordable yet completely handmade) options scouting out new names, and Grace Loves Lace is one I have been looking forward to sharing with you for a while. Not only are the dresses absolutely GORGEOUS (Grace Loves Lace could have written the book on boho-luxe) but they ship from Australia all over the world and yes, that totally includes South Africa. Local brides, rejoice! I know it can be nerve-wracking ordering a dress over the internet, but every one is made to order from their studios, and since they only sell online they have built their reputation on satisfied web customers. It’s definitely about time that you knew the name. So today I thought I would bring you some dress swoonage. You’re welcome ;)Read More
Afternoon, friends! I have such a fun e-shoot to share with you this afternoon, courtesy of Kate from The Girl in Gumboots Photography (how adorable is that name? you just know we’ll love her). It’s not every couple that goes for an adrenaline-filled location for their couple shoot, but I absolutely love how this gung-ho couple rocked (literally) their unusual setting.Read More
Zippididoodahzippidi-ay… You guys I am in such a good mood – the sun is out in Durbs and I am BEYOND excited for this weekend which I get to spend with some of my favourite people in the world. I am declaring Sunday my godsons’ un-birthday (which I do once a year or so, by the power invested in me as a fairy godmother, obvs) and I can’t wait to hang out with them on the beach and catch up with their parents. So that’s why I’m a bit hyper, but also because YAY PUNCH THE AIR I have another beautiful wedding to share with you this fine Thursday. Danie and Henda had their big day at Café Felix, an awesome Cape venue that never fails to impress, and they dressed it in the prettiest of pastel florals, soft white fabrics and bunting, wreaths and garlands and ribbons, oh my. It looks like some kind of fairytale garden, with just a touch of boho. The weather wasn’t perfect – in fact, these are some of the windiest photos – but oh my word, Anné Gray of Anné Photography used it to create the most stunning portraits, with Henda’s soft dress and veil floating and billowing out behind her. They look like Cathy and Heathcliffe. (But, you know, not annoying.) This one is pure romance.Read More
Get ready, paperlovers and stationistas, because we are about to have a gorgeous invitation FEST. We’ve spoken before about travel themed weddings, and how it’s one of the big themes that brides and grooms are loving (and personalising) at the moment. We’ve even had a few fun colour schemes for different travel wedding styles. While I was researching that post, I was struck by just how many gorgeous travel-style invitation suites there were out there, and I promised myself I would do a post on it to follow up. Now here’s what I especially love about this collection – each designer (amateur or professional) has combined a series of recognisable, stylish travel elements (mainly maps, postage stamps and cancellers, airmail stripes, postcards, luggage tags, and suitcase stickers) into a unique look with different invitation styles, colours, elements and textures. My favourites are the suites that use a few of these elements, and some unexpected ones too, so that all the different pieces come together in one gorgeous, jet set-style look. Whether you’re looking to DIY your invites or, better yet, working with a pro to come up with a suite that’s uniquely yours, you should find plenty of inspiration here. Even if you’re not having a travel theme as such, but planning a destination wedding or have a love for seeing the world together, you may like to include just one of these ideas in your stationery as a personal element.Read More
Evening, friends! You know, in the reader survey (which I’m still keeping open for a day or two – would LOVE it if you would fill it in!), one of the big things people said they’re like to see more of was DIY. So I’ll be making a plan on that front! But in the meantime, I have an awesome DIY roundup to share with you – and it’s all about the sparkle! Contrary to the saying that ‘all is not gold that glitters’, we’ve rounded up fifteen absolutely gorgeous tutorials for gold or glitter (or both) accents that will add that extra special something to your wedding style. Just, um, don’t use them all at once, obvs.
Happy days, friends! Ever since rainbow weddings became a thing, I’ve been patiently waiting for a brave South African bride to put her stamp on it, and today is the day. Yay. And seriously, if I had been giving someone advice for pulling off this colourful, bold look without making it tacky or like a children’s party, I couldn’t have explained it better than the way bride Grethe put her design together. There are lovely pops of colour everywhere – in the flowers, in the ribbon-backed chairs (a room full of them – I am in LOVE!), in the cocktails, even in the cake (so cool that it had a plain white outside and a surprise inside!). But it isn’t too much. In fact, the bridesmaids are in a sober navy (sober, but very, very pretty with their lace backs and gold belts) and with the bride’s beautiful, classic Elizabeth Stockenström dress and her handsome groom, the look says 100% wedding. Look out for tons of clever touches – the fun way the church flowers are displayed, the braai plank favours, the custom linen binding for the ceremony. And Bernard Bravenboer was there to capture it all to perfection!Read More
This morning, lovelies, we’re talking about one of my all-time favourite things. Jewellery! Oh yes indeed, because who doesn’t love looking at (and wearing) pretty jewels? I’m a huge fan of sticking to classic fashion and using interesting accessories to make it pop, so it’s no wonder really that I’m so in love with the current trend for wearing statement jewellery on your wedding day. After all, if it’s not your personal style in day-to-day life, why suddenly revert to a demure string of pearls on your wedding day? The big question for a number of brides I talk to, though, is how exactly to rock this look without going overboard – after all, nobody wants to look like a bride who (as someone once said about Joss Stone) was covered with glue and rolled through Claire’s Accessories. So today, courtesy of the good folks at Fragments Jewelry, we’re bringing you all the tips and inspiration from real brides that you need. And, just because I can’t resist it, I’m sharing some of my favourite pieces from the Fragments collection. If you’re not already familiar with the brand, then do head over to their online store – but you might want to get someone to hide your credit card first, because I warn you, what you’ll find there is seriously gorgeous!Read More
