Author: gaby

August on SBB…

by gaby

Well, lovelies, it’s almost time for me to say goodbye for a little while, kind of (because just LOOK at a sneak peek of what’s coming – you won’t even know I’m gone!). I know things have been quiet this week, as I have been packing up my house, but the ironic thing is that the reason I hadn’t got round to it before is that for the last six weeks I have been working non-stop on August’s content. A lot of late nights y’all. Because I’m a total sucker for punishment (and I love my readers), I didn’t just want to give you a month of archive and stand-in posts, but the best darn two-posts-a-day brand new awesome content I could find. I am pretty excited about it, actually. It’s all lined up and ready to go (assuming tech gremlins don’t take it out, but I have some help making sure that doesn’t happen – thanks Louise!). I hope you love it. I hope you have a WONDERFUL August. And I hope you don’t email me, because I am going to be 100% off the grid, and I won’t answer you. Sorry. Don’t take it personally. I’ll be somewhere on a vineyard in Tuscany, getting dirt under my fingernails and poetry back into my soul. I really, really need a break. And by the time I’m back I’ll be aching to bring you all kinds of new loveliness and get cracking on some projects I have in mind for when I am in South Africa. Can’t wait.

So! Wish me luck, and I’ll see you in a month. :)

xox

 

Inspiration Board: Puttin’ on the Ritz

by gaby

Crunch time you guys! It’s my last week as a Londoner (for a while anyway) and I have about a ZILLION things to do before I go. But we won’t think about that. What we will think about is a bit of a tribute in loveliness to the city. There are a lot of sides to London that could inspire a wedding and many that have inspired me in other ways, but the one I have chosen today is all about glitz and glamour, as symbolised by one of the grand old ladies of the London hotel scene. The Ritz, baby. The palette is mint, gold and classic black and white (with just a teeny tiny hint of blush), the look is chic and romantic and the waiters are definitely serving champagne. So put on your finest frocks and starched collars and come join me! Of course, you don’t have to be in London to make this look work for you – all it requires is a glamorous venue, a cocktail or champagne and canape reception, and a dash of sparkle. Dashing, dahling!

Colours: Mint, gold, black, white & blush

Top row (l-r): Place setting {Ed Osborn Photography/Mimi Nicole Events}; mint dress {Monique Lhuillier}; invitation {umama on Etsy}; gold shoes {Liesl Cheney Photography/b.loved}; fireworks
Row 2: Dessert table in mint and gold {Beau & Arrow Events/Katie Neal Photo}; bridesmaids in LBDs and gold heels {Your Event by Erin/Melissa McClure Photography}; gold cutlery {Ed Osborn Photography/Mimi Nicole Events}; champagne {Belathee Photography}
Row 3: Ritz London {Elly Mac Photos}; bridesmaid with menu {Izzy Hudgins Photography/Simply Savannah Weddings & Events}; table setting {Ed Osborn Photography/Mimi Nicole Events}; bride & groom in London {Steve Poole}.

 

Real Wedding at Cabrieres {Adrie & Abraham}

by gaby

This week, you guys, is the WORST. Well, okay, that might be an exaggeration, but here I am looking at my monster To Do list, not a box packed to move out of my house, not a suitcase packed for my trip to Italy, writing my little heart out to get everything done for my August writing schedule and it is way too hot to care about any of it. I’ve had to move downstairs, because my office is like the devil’s kitchen, and the cats keep coming in and throwing themselves down on the linoleum with cries of abject despair (their fault if they won’t get in the paddling pool, I say!). It is HOT. But hey ho, because I love the summer so I don’t want to complain, and I’m about to feel a lot better with a pretty wedding from our sponsors Real Simple Photography to share with you today. I don’t know about you, but I love bridesmaids in elegant little black dresses, which is how bride Adrie styled hers. Her taste is clearly very classic, and she chose white tulips for her bouquet (LOVE) and lush long tables topped with candelabras at the gorgeous French-style venue, Cabrieres. Very cool. And cool, as I can definitely tell you today, is good.Read More

Lasercut Wedding Invitations

by gaby

Source: Love Me Do Photography/Where Do You Go To Design Co. via 100 Layer Cake

There’s a lot of gorgeous happening in wedding paper design right now – with letterpress on one hand and foiling on the other, and watercolour and calligraphy and hand drawn beauties in the middle, I don’t know which to call my favourites. But if there’s one trend that South African brides and grooms have been embracing for a while now, it’s lasercuts, and stationery is no exception. Just like letterpress and foil embossing, lasercut adds a really special texture to any paper product and its fine detailing allows not only for intricate detail but the use of unusual materials like wood or perspex as well as paper. The possibilities are vast, and I think we’ve only just begun to see the creative juices start to flow with this design form. Even so, there’s a lot of very beautiful invitations going around at the moment – here are ten of my personal faves to inspire you!Read More

Real Wedding at The Cowshed {Chrisinda & Wouter}

by gaby

Holy moly me oh my. Get ready for a handmade farm wedding that is going to blow your socks off! I’m a big fan of Mpumalanga venue, The Cowshed, and have been looking forward to featuring a wedding there for ages, so when I saw Chrisinda and Wouter’s ice cream pastel paletted, bunting and origami bird festooned, colourful Consol jar decorated, protea filled Cowshed wedding, I thought all my rustic wedding Christmases had come at once. It’s just so gosh darn lovely, and even as I have been editing the photo selection, there have been tons of little details I didn’t see the first time round. A woman after my own heart, Chrisinda, clearly. (Although I shouldn’t be surprised, since she is the owner of Hello Dolly, an awesome invitation and design company.) This is classic South African styling, beautifully done, and the fab Yolande Marx has captured everything wonderfully. In fact, it was hard to narrow down the selection, so enjoy a bit of a photo bonanza!Read More

Inspiration Board: Grayed Jade, Lemon Zest & African Violet

by gaby

Hello lovelies! How has your weekend been? Mine was awesome, but stressful – only two weeks left to get everything done before I take my month off. The good news is that I have lined up a TON of gorgeousness for you on the blog while I’m gone – all fresh new posts, real weddings, trend roundups, inspiration boards etc. The bad news is that I feel like I haven’t slept since June. Ah, the things I do for my readers! ;) Anyway, it’s been hard to work with the sun out, and that same summery feeling is what I wanted to bring to today’s inspiration board. I’m still so in love with Pantone’s Spring 2013 colour palettes, and a combination I’ve been wanting to do since I first saw them is this one: grayed jade, lemon zest and African violet. I love how the three colours complement one another and are so fresh and pretty together. Greyed jade and soft purple together are so calming, but the pop of bright yellow really livens them up. Perfect for a summer wedding!

Colours: Pantone grayed jade, lemon zest & African violet

Top row (l-r): Dress {Elizabeth Messina}; cocktail {Best Photography/Jennifer Aquilia Events & Floral Design}; yellow macaroons; place setting {Elisa B Photography}
Row 2: Ring with button chocolates; grayed jade shoes; letterpress invitation; blue dress
Row 3: Hanging chandeliers {Elizabeth Messina}; lemon escort cards {Jose Villa}; mint suit; violet bouquet.

 

10 Winter Wedding Favour Ideas

by gaby

Winter Wedding Favour Ideas

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Sometimes I feel like I’m split between two halves, a foot on either shore. For example, this week has been boiling here in London (no complaints, summer is way overdue) and even as I write this I’m sweltering in front of a fan with a very restless cat stretched out on the cool floor at my feet. But I know that for my readers in South Africa, it’s the middle of winter and thoughts are of cosy nights under blankets, walks in wellies and frosty mornings, and this post is just for you. More brides are now looking towards winter weddings for the cost savings and increased availability that the off-season brings, and winter itself can be a sort of wedding theme or motif. In the northern hemisphere, winter is all very Christmassy,  but fortunately you don’t need to come over all Santa Claus just to harness the delights of the season. So I’ve put together ten gorgeous winter wedding favour ideas – with links to DIY tutorials and Etsy stores wherever possible!

*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

Pillow Fight Anniversary Shoot

by gaby

Afternoon, lovelies! I have SUCH a fab couple shoot to share with you this afternoon, I absolutely love it! Shireen Louw sent over this couple shoot for Charl and Charlotte who decided to have a shoot in their wedding attire on their one year anniversary. They took photos at the beach and in the hotel where they got married, but the fun really got started when a pillow fight broke out! I love how this shoot brings out the fun side of the couple, but the floating feathers also look completely romantic and beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing Shireen!Read More

Real Wedding at Nooitgedacht {Carol & Carl}

by gaby

Time to meet another SouthBound bride and groom, and today’s stroke of candy pink gorgeousness comes to you courtesy of Carol and Carl, two South Africans who currently live in Copenhagen, Denmark. They share a love of nature and animals, especially their miniature wire-hair Grayhund, Puppy Choo. Carol’s a former lingerie designer who loves being creative and has a passion for fashion, so when it came to planning the big day from abroad, she put it in the hands of the equally creative Megan Fleitmann of Mr & Mrs In Love. I’ve been a huge fan of Megan’s stationery for a while, so I wasn’t surprised to see that she has a fabulous flair for event design too, and she gathered a really brilliant team of suppliers to make Carol and Carl’s dreams a reality. From the striped linens and soft pink and white florals to the hanging bottles of blooms, right down to the sweetest cake topped with a miniature version of Carol, Carl and Puppy Choo, it’s everything you could want from a garden wedding. Oh, and how much do I love the bride and bridesmaids’ statement necklaces? The fantastic Lauren Kriedemann was there to make it look even more luscious and lovely with from behind the camera.Read More

Real Wedding at Kleinevalleij {Anlika & Philip}

by gaby

I have such a special wedding for you today – I am absolutely head over heels in love with it! I just adore when brides decide to flex their creative muscles and come up with details and ideas that are personal twists on things they might have seen at other weddings – it really adds that ‘ooh factor’. Well, today’s gorgeous bride outdid herself – there are so many clever ideas here. Lasercut proteas (LOVE!) in between real proteas and other florals (themselves a twist on the traditional, with fruit and veg included), writing in the signature palette of navy and olive green used as part of the clean, contemporary decor, a salt motif (SO original!), and more. Kleinevalleij is the perfect backdrop – a blank canvas where Philip and Anlika could paint their own picture, and paint it they did, with clean, sophisticated styling that still manages to be warm and welcoming. Lucky for us, Anlika’s sent on loads of advice, so be sure to read to the end of the post so you can learn from the pro! The beautiful pictures are by our friend and sponsor, Andre of Vivid Blue.Read More