It’s Friday, Friday, ge’in down on Friday… well, maybe not, but it is Friday. It’s been a bit week for me, and I can’t think of a better way to end it off than with this beautiful wedding from the Aleit Group. All you brides looking for something soft and slightly vintage? You are going to LOVE this! Clare and Andrew were married at one of my favourite venues (Vrede en Lust – check out our feature here), and complemented the sunny weather and spectacular views with quirky vintage touches that really made their guests feel at home. Everything about this wedding is so classic, and yet it has a really fun feeling to it – I have a feeling this is going to end up on lots of your bookmarks! Oh, and look out for a Grade A for Adorable escort card table using sweet postage detailing and old suitcases. Love it! Pictures are by the spectacular Sybrand Cillie – check out more on his blog here. Happy weekend everyone, and we have a jam packed week next week for you, so see you back here on Monday!
Author: gaby
Inspiration Board: Par Avion
Happy Monday, everyone! Wow, it has been an exhausting weekend for me – I finally did the big move, so it has been non-stop packing and unpacking, etc. What a schlep. But I’m so excited about my new place, and can’t wait to get decorating! One of the best parts is that I have an en suite bathroom again, so get to pull out of storage a fab little gadget I have – it’s a bath rack/caddy that stretches over the bath and instead of having place for soap, has a rack for a book, and a holder for a glass of wine. Actually, it also has place for a candle, but I figured paper… alcohol… flame… maybe not the best idea! Anyway, I can’t wait to make use of it again, and with all my sore muscles from carrying boxes and a day of cleaning today, I’m sure I will soon! ANYWAY, on to today’s board, which is inspired by a different kind of moving: travel! As you may have picked up, I adore air mail stripes, and I like the idea of combining them with a soft vintage palette and fun travel, aeroplane and postage-inspired details. It brings together the idea of love letters, and far flung places, and the old world romance of the aeroplane. This would be perfect for a couple who have done long distance, or just for one who love to (or long to!) see the world. Favourite real wedding detail? The ‘departure planes’, which were thrown at the bride and groom as they made their exit instead of confetti. Cute, huh?
Colours: Peach and soft neutrals
Top row (l-r): Bride with bouquet (Tying.the.Knot Wedding Coordination); bouquet (Ella Jae Weddings); dresses (Jose Villa); globe (Rock Paper Scissors Events/Ohana Photographers); vintage suitcases with framed escort card display (Kate Foley Designs/Catie Ronquillo Photography)
Row 2: Airmail invitation; aeroplane biscuits; air mail stamp; DIY toy glider save the dates
Row 3: Departure planes (Nine Photography); vintage plates; boutonniere (Josephine Sicad); airmail escort cards on map (Kate Foley Designs/Catie Ronquillo Photography); cake with stamp garland.
**Like this idea? Click here for more travel-inspired wedding details.**
Real Wedding at The Foodbarn {Amy & James}
One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve heard, and that I always pass on to couples in the early stages of wedding planning, is to pick three priorities together. Three things you want to make sure are exactly as you want them on your big day, no compromises, spare no expense. And then – this is the important part – let the other stuff go. If it’s not going 100% according to plan, let it go. If you can’t afford it, find a cheaper alternative. If you don’t have time to DIY it, let someone do it for you, or buy it, or do without. Prioritisation keeps you sane. I don’t know if anyone passed this little nugget on to today’s bride and groom, but they seemed to get it anyway. They’re foodies, so they chose a venue with incredible food (The Foodbarn in Noordhoek). They didn’t have time to go crazy with the decor, so they found a place that already had lots of unique and lovely design details and just added special, personal touches. They wanted to spend time with their guests, so they did a pre-ceremony shoot with photographer Nielen Bottomley. It all comes together into a beautiful, intimate wedding with a pretty pink and grey colour palette, that feels completely unforced and unhurried. I love it. And of course, I especially love that Amy used Cap Classique in her planning. We inspired her – and now she’s inspiring us!Read More
Pashmina Wedding Favors
Pashmina Shawls by Mia Krafts Shop/Justin De Mutiis
In the last couple of weeks we’ve looked at options for keeping your bridesmaids and the bride warm in chilly weather, and today we’re looking at one way of keeping your guests toasty and warm. Pashminas are a popular winter wedding favor, not just because they’re lovely gifts that your guests will use on the night and beyond, but also because they can be a great addition to your decor either in soft neutrals or bright pops of your theme colours. Here’s some ideas for presenting them in photo-friendly ways, and some options for pretty signage. Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
Real Wedding at La Petite Dauphine {Caro & Johan}
You know, normally when I introduce a wedding, I say a few words. I don’t know, maybe you all read them, maybe you don’t. And there’s a lot I could say about today’s pretty as a picture wedding. I could tell you about the pair of high school sweethearts glowing as they finally walked down the aisle. I could mention the gorgeous French-inspired venue (La Petite Dauphine, which I adore). I could say things like proteas and Parisian stripes and bunting and balloons, or go on about Judy Stofberg from Just Judy‘s awesome photos. But really, there are only two words I need to say to make you want to scroll on down immediately.
SUCCULENT BOUQUET
You’re WELCOME.Read More
Inspiration Board: Message in a Bottle
Happy Monday lovelies! I’ve been dreaming up this inspiration board for months, ever since I saw the line of dresses in the second row. I just love how the soft pinks and blues work with beach neutrals and a touch of dark grey, and it reminded me of a beautiful beach sunset. There’s a dreamy, castaway feeling to this palette, and it would make for the most romantic of seaside weddings! As always, the key is in the textures – a billowy bride’s dress, fabric floating in the breeze, and coloured glass, contrasted with rustic touches like raffia, coral and shells, and indigenous foliage like brunia. I’m obsessed with the astilbe bouquet, and I think it would be perfect to complete the look. Plus, don’t you love the sailor’s knot favours/escort cards? I pretty much just want to dive into this board and stay in it forever. If only… ;)
Colours: Pastel pink, blue, white and slate grey
Top row (l-r): Beach sunset with boat (Millie Holloman); sailor’s knot favours (Simply Bloom Photography); couple on beach (welovepictures); bottles (Millie Holloman)
Row 2: Dresses (Lane Dittoe); astilbe bouquet (Windy Dougall); urchin place setting (Elizabeth Messina); cake (Elizabeth Messina); torches (Elizabeth Messina)
Row 3: Couple with banners (Bella Sera Event Design/She Wanders); map (Bella Sera Event Design/She Wanders); flowers (Simply Bloom Photography); ceremony seating (Elizabeth Messina).
Real Wedding at Kleinevalleij {Mariette & Sarel}
Batten down the hatches, because there’s a whole storm of wedding awesomeness heading your way. First, let me just nail my colours to the mast – I have a total nautical style obsession at the moment. Something about the colour navy, boats, bunting and shiny ships’ bells gets my inner preppy all adither. So when I saw today’s wedding, with its nautical colour scheme and pretty navy, white and grey details and OMG a compass motif on the dancefloor, it’s fair to say I fell stern over bow. And you guys, it’s not just nautical. It’s also travel themed! Now don’t pretend you’re not all jumping up and down excited, because I see my webstats, and I know how many of you all are searching for travel-themed wedding details. So I know you are going to LOVE the cut of Mariette and Sarel’s jib (so to speak) as much as I do. Which is a LOT. Plus, they had it at one of my favourite venues, Kleinevalleij. PLUS, it was shot by a photographer I have been wanting to feature since I started Cap Classique, the very lovely Lizelle Lotter. I’ve been dying to share this one with you for ages, and the moment is here. Anchors away!Read More
Real Backyard Wedding {Alida & Etienne}
So the other day there I am watching Glee, and that Mercedes chick is singing – really singing, not just wailing at the end of the song – and it’s Aretha and she’s nailing it and I’m thinking what must that be like? You know, to just open your mouth and God comes out. Because when I open my mouth to sing, it’s more like dog comes out. But that’s what makes talents special. Not everyone has them. And watching someone do that one thing that only they can do, and love, is just magic. I’m getting to the point here. Today’s bride is one of those magic, talented people. I have no idea if she can sing, but what she can definitely do, is flowers. I’ve been dying over the weddings she’s worked on through her company, Flowers in the Foyer, for a long time now, so you can imagine how insanely excited I was when Mandie from Joe Photography told me about her wedding. And as soon as I saw Joe’s stunning photos, I was obsessed. Read More
Brides in Cardigans
I promised a follow up to my post on bridesmaids in cardigans, and here it is! And after all, why should your girls get to have all the pretty? There are so many reasons why this works for brides as well. First, if you’re having a religious ceremony and want to cover your shoulders, they’re a sweet and more laid back alternative to sleeves or a bolero. Or, if you’re getting married at a time of year where the weather isn’t going to be brilliant, wearing a cardie will be your saving grace through a long couple shoot (nothing worse than trying to look hot and relaxed when all you can think about his how chillsome you’re feeling!). Or your cardie could be a late night addition – perfect for wearing as your guests see you off into the cold evening air. Plus, cardigans are a great style choice for an autumn or winter wedding – they add a pop of colour to your white dress and work in anything from soft, neutral colours to statement brights. And who could forget the ultimate jersey girl, aka Princess Kate? (OK, not jersey, darling, but angora. Still, Kate knew how to work her evening cover up.) What about you? Would you wear a cardigan with your wedding dress? Have a look at these lovelies, worn by real brides around the web.
Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
Bridesmaids in Cardigans
It might be sunny in London at the moment (ha! worst summer in years, for the record) but I know my South African readers are feeling the chill. I know this because my mother, who lives in Durban, where it’s never anything less than about 30 degrees, keeps telling me how cold they are. Which probably only means it’s too cold to get in the pool, but not do anything drastic like wear long sleeves or anything. So my mom may not be getting any sympathy from me (sorry, ma!), but in Cape Town and much of the rest of the country, it gets a bit more nippy noodles. And if you’ve chosen to have a winter wedding (or hell, a spring or fall wedding, with the unpredictability of the weather these days), today’s roundup is just for you. In fact, the bridesmaid cardigan trend makes me feel so cosy that it’s almost worth having an out of season wedding for! One word: Cardies. Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.