gaby | SouthBound Bride

Romantic Floral Luxe Wedding at The Olive Press by Shanna Jones

5 February, 2018 by gaby

There are so many gorgeous details I could talk about when it comes to this floral-filled wedding by the fabulous Aleit Group at Boschendal, and let’s be honest, we could spend the whole day gawping over the beautiful images by Shanna Jones. But there’s one element that completely, utterly took my breath away: the bride’s bespoke Kobus Dippenaar gown. Holy hauteness. With hand-placed lace floral applique reflecting the floor to ceiling flowers at the reception, a froth of tulle at the bottom, and tiny pearls for good luck, it is everything. And as for the rest, from the coolest custom cocktails, to the decor, to a late night Mickey D’s surprise, I can’t do any better in describing Marilize & Helgard’s wedding than the bride herself, so be sure to read her words, below.

How to Write Your Wedding Guest List in 10 Simple Steps

29 January, 2018 by gaby

Image: Jules Morgan on SBB

The title of this article was originally ’10 Easy Steps’, but I decided that was way inaccurate. Let’s be honest, choosing who can and can’t attend your wedding is never easy, right? It’s possibly the task you’re dreading most. And it’s true, there are a million little bits of information and wedding guest list etiquette to consider, and feelings that might get hurt, and complications that could (and probably will) develop. Nobody likes to be left out of stuff. But the good news is that if you follow a logical process to making your wedding guest list, step by step, and the ‘rules’ (which you make yourselves) are clear to your family, etc. then you’re far less likely to offend. And then you can get on with the fun stuff. So here it is, my ten step method for how to make a wedding guest list. Let’s go!

Natural DIY Wedding at Olive Rock by Yeah Yeah Photography

24 January, 2018 by gaby

Sometimes the simplest things in life are the best. A breeze at the end of a hot day. A single flower. The smell of rain. Rob & Amy’s wedding reminds me of this principle – it’s simple and unfussy, but every detail is a delight, from tables decked in amber glassware and foliage to the stylishly minimalist stationery, to the silvery lace trailing over the bride’s shoulders and around her waistline. It’s warm, natural, inviting – delivering the quintessential Cape country wedding experience, but with added freshness and fun. Through a sweltering Tulbagh day, to sun setting behind the mountains (that Olive Rock view NEVER gets old!), to a long night spent feasting and celebrating, each special moment was captured by Yeah Yeah Photography and I’m super excited to share them with you now.

Beautiful Indoor Bridal Session with Four Knockout Gowns

23 January, 2018 by gaby

It’s not every bride who gets to rock four showstopping wedding gowns, but when you do, a bridal session to capture them in all their glory only seems appropriate! This bridal session by Peaches With Honey captures one very gorgeous bride – who is inspired by blank canvas and minimalism – in the gowns she chose for her cross-cultural Vietnamese and Western weddings, including a tea ceremony dress from Vietnam, a gold gown for her suite shots, a Western ceremony dress and a dreamy pink cocktail hour gown. Every one of them is incredible, and with romantic florals, perfect styling, beautiful light, and a special guest appearance from mom, the picture is complete!

Contemporary Casual Wedding at The Dairy Shed by Vivid Blue

23 January, 2018 by gaby

When the planning talents of Kraak are woven together with the irresistable gorgeousness of Vivid Blue’s photography, you can be sure that a stunner of a soiree is about to be served up to you on a platter! This chilled out gem of a wedding takes place at one of our all-time favourite venues, The Dairy Shed, and harnesses its rustic beauty for an al fresco celebration that showed the large contingent of overseas guests that we South Africans know how to throw a party. Think gourmet braai, gumboot dancers, and a jazzy African band to keep everyone on the dancefloor all night long. Zoe and Clinton are such a fun couple, and I love how this wedding combines all kinds of pretty (including a breathtaking Janita Toerien dress, sparkly pink bridesmaid gowns, and some showstopping florals) with their super fun, super laid-back vibe, to make a whole that it utterly, uniquely theirs.

20 Beautiful Bridal Separates

22 January, 2018 by gaby

Lace Top Wedding Dress by Tavifa Bridal

Why have one piece of bridal fashion gorgeousness, when you can have two? Bridal separates have been taking wedding world by storm, especially those brides leaning in the boho direction. And I have to say, two-piece gowns are a special kind of gorgeous. I think one of the things I like most about them is how you can mix and match to get the right style for you and your body, whether that’s a cheeky crop top, a luxe silk or sequin creation, or a super intricate embellished number on the top, and then a floofy tulle beauty or something more structured on the bottom. And of course, there are some seriously gorgeous options on my fave site, Etsy, so I just had to round up 20 of the best for you today!
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Moody Blues Winter Elopement Inspiration

22 January, 2018 by gaby

It may be summer outside, but this morning we’re turning to a more wintery palette for our inspiration with this styled shoot from Werner J Photography, Myrtle Floral Design, and their team of fellow creatives. Elopements and micro weddings are all the rage right now, and this gorgeous little wedding inspiration shows just why. A sweet couple with an edgy style, sharing a meal with their bestest people, and a table decked out in copper flatware and luxury linens like velvet (swoon!) and silk. And let’s not forget the stationery – I’ve never really associated watercolour with winter weddings, but I LOVE how it works here! A beautiful ethereal (but still season-appropriate) touch. And let’s not forget the florals – lush beyond!

Desert Boho Bridal Inspiration

19 January, 2018 by gaby

We’re sailing into the weekend with this absolutely gorgeous bridal inspiration from US photography Julia Stockton. Set on the fringes of the desert in Las Vegas at golden hour, with gorgeous sunset-hued florals and a beautiful boho bride, it’s picture perfection – I want to pin every image! What I loved most about this shoot, apart from the gorgeous imagery and delicious light, was that Julia pulled the bride’s look together on a budget, using high street brands. It just goes to show that budget definitely can also mean beautiful, with a little imagination and an impeccable sense of style!

Simply Sophisticated Wedding at Bordeaux Game Farm by Page & Holmes

19 January, 2018 by gaby

I love a wedding that speaks to a couple’s personalities, and Pieter and Nanette made sure to do just that when they planned their wedding. The duo, who the bride says “love an adventure” chose to have their big day at a destination that’s an adventure in itself, the incredible Bordeaux Game Farm in Limpopo. Due to the gorgeous bush setting they kept the details relatively simple and natural, like wreaths of greenery on the walls and beautiful foliage runners on the tables. But throughout, there was this touch of drama and sophistication (“to represent my personality a little,” says Nanette!), like bridesmaids in cheeky crop top and flare skirt ensembles, and pops of colour on the tables. But the most dramatic detail of them all was the scenery, like the huge tree under which the couple said their vows, or those vast African skies just before sunset, captured so beautifully by photographers Page & Holmes.

Waterfall Elopement Inspiration

18 January, 2018 by gaby

If you go down to the woods today… well, today you’ll find a couple, deeply in love, heading into nature for the most intimate of elopements – just the two of them sharing their vows beneath a waterfall, watching the sunset, and toasting their lives together at a table made for two. It’s such a sweet vision of a wedding day, and reminds me that all that really matters in a wedding is that the two of you are there, promising yourselves to one another. Whether you’re having a tiny wedding yourself, or just want to be inspired by the natural boho vibe of this gorgeous shoot, you’ll love these images by Megan Ann Photography!