Author: gaby

Veluz Reyes Ready to Wear

by gaby

Afternoon brideys, time for some awesome inspiration for you all! It’s been a while since I did a wedding dress collection post, and there are so many beautiful gowns floating around out there at the moment. But if there’s one look that has absolutely entranced wedding world and racked up Pinterest pins and clicks in their thousands, it’s portrait or lace back wedding dresses. We did a whole post about it a while back, and one of the designers who I mentioned then has continued to rock my world. This is one thing I adore about the internet, because in a different age, I may never have heard of Veluz Reyes, who along with Claire Pettibone is pretty much the master of this wedding dress style for me. Veluz is already famous in her home country, the Philippines, but now she’s inspiring brides and wedding bloggers internationally. Up until recently, all of her dresses were bespoke creations for her lucky, lucky Veluz brides, but this year she launched her own Ready to Wear collection, and I just had to share it with you today! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t more than a little obsessed with the combination of frothy skirts, elegant lines, illusion detailing and, for some of the collection, the loveliest hint of peach/blush. I have a feeling that Veluz Reyes is one name that is just going to get bigger and bigger.

Sophia:

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How to Create a Winning Submission for SouthBound Bride

by gaby

A smiley moment with my fab EdWed ladies, Anneli & Louise (pic: Maxeen Kim)

It’s FRIDAY! But before I bring you some bridey inspiration (and boy oh boy, will you love the inspiration I have today), I wanted to do a post for my fellow industry peeps, specifically photographers and co-ordinators, and even fellow bloggers. As you may remember, this week saw the first ever Editorial Wedding Workshop at the fab Cannizaro House, a new venture I put together with photographer Anneli Marinovich and stylist and blogger Louise of b.loved. It’s always a bit scary to do something new, and I must admit that since I was handling all the morning’s teaching, I was a little terrified I would just bore all the students to death. Fortunately, it seems we all pulled it off – one of our lovely students Charlie has already written a lovely post about her day, and feedback from the rest of the class was just as nice. *blushes* We have more workshops in the pipeline (and psst… not just in the UK) but in the meantime, I thought I would tell you a bit of what the day was all about. The Editorial Wedding is all about getting published (both in print and online), publishing and submitting effectively, building relationships and personal branding, and learning to shoot in an editorial way to give yourself the best chance of success. Every day (and I really do mean every day) I see photographers and other suppliers make basic mistakes that mean their work doesn’t get featured, or missed opportunities to promote their businesses effectively. I’m a huge believer in sharing the knowledge I have gained with others (each one teach one, as Miranda Bailey would say), so I thought it was about time I went into a bit more detail about what makes a winning blog submission, with particular reference to SBB. And shared some of the Instagram pics from the day with you as well!Read More

Real Wedding at Kelvin Grove {Deborah & Michael}

by gaby

Take one dietician plus one software developer, add equal portions of family and friends and place in a pretty church and then a reception venue filled with handmade, personal decor. What reaction, as my Science teacher might have said, will you get? Well, a sweet, pretty wedding day of course! As you all will know by now, my favourite themes are those that say something about the couple, so when bride Deborah wrote to tell me about the scientific touches she and husband Michael added to their big day to reflect their love of science, I was intrigued. I especially loved the way they collected beakers and test tubes and used them for flowers and favours (the best use, if you ask me, but that’s only because I totally failed chemistry) and the cute equations they concocted for table numbers (Cute equations? Now there’s a phrase I never thought I’d write). Add in some protea and a mint/blush combo, and some pretty pics from Illuminate Photography, and it adds up to loveliness, squared. ;)Read More

Floral Print Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

Image: One O.A.K Photography/Sohomode via One Stylish Bride

It’s bridesmaid dress time again! So far you all have been loving this series, where we’ve already covered some of the other 2013 bridesmaid trends: lace, stripes and ice cream pastels. Which has been your favourite? Today we’re looking at florals, one of the prettiest sides of 2013’s print trend, and with floral dresses being very much in fashion right now, there’s plenty to choose from! There are lots of way to do this – mismatch prints, put bridesmaids in the same dresses – but for me the one I like best (and that I think will date the least) is to mix prints with block colours as you’ll see some of the bridesmaids in this roundup do. It’s such a lovely look! Whatever you do, try to remember the shape of the dress as well as the print – even with a lot else going on, your girls want to look their very best. For the same reason, make sure you take their colouring into account, the way you would do with a solid colour. As with previous posts in the series, I’ve rounded up my favourite real bridesmaid looks, as well as some off-the-rack picks for your shopping pleasure!

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Real Wedding at Hawksmoor House {Alet & Jacques}

by gaby

Oh my word, you guys, I am knackered. I’m sitting here on my couch yawning away, even after a good night’s sleep after our Editorial Wedding workshop. That’s what you get for pulling together a workshop in a month, right? But it was so fantastic – such a pleasure to spend the day talking weddings and blogs and magazines with a group of lovely people and talented photographers, not to mention the most gaaawjus styled shoot set up by Louise of b.loved. It’s pretty terrifying to try something brand new, but it couldn’t have gone better. Anyway, so I am getting back into the swing of the blog schedule with the most beautiful wedding, captured to perfection by Vivid Blue Photography. Wow, this bride must be one of the most stunning I have ever featured, and Hawksmoor is such an amazingly striking venue – with her dashing groom and classy, colourful decor it all looks like something out of Vogue or Vanity Fair. Not to mention Alet’s protea bouquet, which I am totally dying over! I’m pretty sure my brain’s still not working well enough to give you a better description, so I’ll let the pictures speak louder than words!Read More

Inspiration Board: Urban Alice

by gaby

Hello lovelies! I am rushing around backstage, getting the last bits ready for our Editorial Wedding workshop… tomorrow! Eek! Anyway, I had just enough time to put together an inspiration board – and this was such a cool reader request! Kayla wrote to tell me about her summer wedding at The Cheney Place, which is an absolutely stunning venue with face brick walls and an elegantly urban loft sort of vibe. She and her fiance want candles and string lights everywhere, a wedding that is casual, romantic and fun. They also want a bit of an Alice in Wonderland theme going on. I have to say, I absolutely LOVED this whole idea (using a palette of navy, cerulean blue and white, although you could add in a rose or blush shade for extra colour). Candles and hanging lights (love the bulbs!) are so magical, and work beautifully against brick. Keep bridesmaids chic in navy and flowers soft, but with a bit of an unexpected edge like the spiky accents to the bouquet below. Alice is a great theme, but can be completely overdone – you can keep the motif fun and classy with stationery details (love these character card place settings with the original artwork so much!), a few clocks and keys and then some slightly mad touches, like the hanging teacup installation or the teacup glasses (how cute are these?). You just need enough mad hatter to give your guests the idea that this is a fun, slightly avant-garde celebration, and then let them take it from there! Have a great wedding Kayla – can’t wait to see it and hope you like your board!

Colours: Navy, cerulean, white

Top row (l-r): Urban candlelight setting; Alice in Wonderland place card {Carmen and Ingo}; navy bridesmaid dress {Kristin Vining/Weddings in the Bahamas}; blue ruffle cake {Adrienne Page/Tara Guérard Soirée/Val Cakes}
Row 2: Key escort cards; table setting {Carmen and Ingo}; drinks {Liga Photography}; clocks {Braedon Photography/Tricia Fountaine}
Row 3: Table with lights {Krista Mason/Chic Celebrations}; bride with clock {Alyssa Marie Photography}; bouquet {Krista Mason/Chic Celebrations}; Alice in Wonderland place card {Carmen and Ingo}; teacup glasses; hanging teacups.

 

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Urban Johannesburg Bridal Shoot

by gaby

Hello lovelies! Things are all a bit hectic behind the scenes here at SBB, as I put the finishing touches on my course material for The Editorial Wedding, which is happening next week. So excited to show you what we have been up to – and photographers, if you haven’t booked yet, tomorrow’s your last chance! It’s going to be an awesome day, and I’m particularly excited to be co-hosting it with a photographer who I admire not only for her beautiful, colourful, crisp photography and ability to capture the moment, but for her business savvy as well. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know Anneli Marinovich over the last year, and I’m so happy to have her as one of SBB’s sponsors – anyone still looking for a wedding photographer in SA for the end of this year should give her a shout. Anneli is so enthusiastic about her work and the industry, and she makes it very easy for her subjects to relax. She’s also a true creative, and loves taking on new projects and shooting different things. I always love sharing her work here on SBB, and today we have a gorgeous urban bridal shoot that she did in Newtown, Johannesburg. I love the mixture of soft, romantic bridalwear (not to mention gorgeous Jannie Baltzer headpieces) with the industrial urban backdrop, and the way Anneli has her model interacting with the Joburg architecture. It would make for an awesome rock the frock – just sayin’! Anyway, big welcome to Anneli as always, and enjoy!Read More

Ice Cream Pastel Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

Image: Skyla Walton/ via Green Wedding Shoes

Hello lovelies, have you recovered from the gorgeousness that was this morning’s wedding? Good-o, because this afternoon we’re continuing our series on the key bridesmaid looks for 2013, with inspiration from real weddings as well as some off-the-rack finds. So far you all have been loving this particular set of posts, and we’ve already covered lace and stripes, with more to come. Today is all about pastels – or more specifically, mix ‘n match ice cream pastels. I absolutely LOVE this look, whether with matching dresses in different colours or a complete mixed vibe. If your girls have quite different looks, this is a fantastic option, and it also goes brilliantly with the Cape country vintage look, as shown off by our Real Life Bride, Cheryl, last year. It’s colourful without being too bold, and just because you go for a mixed bridesmaid palette doesn’t mean that the rest of the wedding needs to be in multiple shades. That makes it really useable while still being pretty and whimsical and fun, which is probably why it’s gained in popularity. So here we go, my favourite sorbet bridesmaids – and some pastel pretties from the high street as well.

Click on any of the dress images below to shop. And for the most recent BM dress finds, check in with our Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest Board.Read More

Real Wedding at Lourensford {Hestelle & Niel}

by gaby

Oh my word, you guys. THIS WEDDING. I’m just going to do a Ted Mosby upfront here (for anyone who watches HIMYM) and say that I’m in love with it. Have been from minute one that I laid eyes on it, and once you click through to see the pictures (and you HAVE to see the pictures, by the dear Celesté Prince from Aglow Photography) you will be too. It is quite possibly one of the sweetest and most romantic (not to mention stand-out) wedding designs I have ever featured – full of blush paper peonies set against light-strewn branches (so magical), the most gorgeous wedding dress (and a very stylish bride and groom) and a fabric bouquet that will steal your heart. Niel and Hestelle wanted a soft and sophisticated look, with a fairytale touch, and that’s exactly what I think they achieved. It’s beautiful – so beautiful, in fact, that it’s not only being featured on SBB today, but on my lovely friend Louise of b.loved‘s blog as well (head over there to read Hestelle’s full story of her big day). So what are you waiting for? Dive in.Read More

Real Wedding at Die Opstal {Ilze & Louren}

by gaby

Good morning, SouthBound Brides, did you have a good long weekend? I took a couple of days off for the first time in AGES – although, by “took off” I just mean from the blog, not from work sadly. But sometimes it’s good to give yourself some time off, and I’m back refreshed and renewed for a week of sheer loveliness! Yay. Anyway, speaking of sheer loveliness, today’s wedding is just full of softness and sweetness and stealable details. For example, one of the first that caught my eye when photographer Nadine Aucamp sent over Ilze & Louren’s lovely wedding was the doilies placed delicately under every plate – such a simple way of bringing shabby chic styling to the table, but so effective! I also loved the collection of ceramic vases of all different shapes and sizes that Ilze put together – such a sweet twist on the milk glass and silverware collections we’ve seen a lot of recently. And I love the bird-on-a-wire table listings! As I said, sheer loveliness.Read More