Wedding cake alternatives

There was a time, not too long ago, when a wedding cake was a completely standard part of every wedding reception. And, in fact, when it would have been pretty much unheard of for that cake not to be a traditional fruit cake. (As a lifelong raisin hater, let me tell you, I was at the front of the queue cheering when that tradition gave way to all sorts of new and yummy cake options.) Then came the cupcake revolution, which felt very cutting edge at the time. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a cupcake? I still think they’re a great option. But recently, couples have been getting more and more creative and personalised in choosing their ‘cake’ (which usually doubles as their dessert). It’s just one more way to show your personality or extend your wedding theme, and can provide a charming talking point for your guests.

Probably my favourite cake alternative (for those without a sweet tooth) is the cheese cake – literally, rounds of cake stacked up to look like a cheese. We featured a fab one as part of Kira & Jason’s wedding, and here are some of my favourites (especially LOVE the goat’s cheese one!)

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Real Wedding at Cafe Felix {Monique & Danie}

Let’s be honest, organising a wedding is hard work. Even for those who give themselves a full year or more, it can be a little crazy trying to juggle all the different ideas and demands with the practicalities of booking a venue and service providers and staying within a budget, not to mention preparing yourself for married life. Which is why today’s couple just blows my mind. They organised their wedding – and a truly fabulous wedding it is too – in just three months. Yep, THREE months. Wow! Even with that timescale, the attention to detail is amazing. It just shows that you don’t need all the time in the world to come up with something spectacular. (And speaking of spectacular, I am loving the vibrant photos taken by Drikus le Roux – hopefully we’ll see lots more of his work here on Cap Classique in future!) But enough talking – time for the eye candy!

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Inspiration Board: Dreams and Love

This week’s board is inspired by the gorgeous Miss Dior Cherie advert (top left) – with its pretty pastels and Parisian backdrop it makes the perfect starting point for a chic and whimsical wedding. Balloons are also bang on trend, with many couples already inspired by the movie Up! Finish the look with dashes of cerise, pale pink and aqua – and don’t forget the macaroons!

Colours: Pastels plus aqua, pale pink and cerise

Top row (l-r): Miss Dior advert; cake; bridesmaid; macaroon placecard holders; bubbles
Row 2: ‘Nothing is real but dreams and love’; Parisian details; cupcakes with flags
Row 3: Flowers; groom details; bride and groom with balloons; bunting table assignments; interior decor

Real Farm Wedding {Dionne & Greg}

In the course of running this blog, I get to see a lot of weddings. Some of them make me ooh and aah, some of them make me want to clap my hands and jump up and down a bit, some leave me a little bit speechless. Today’s wedding makes me want to sigh happily. It’s like a breath of fresh country air – so unfussy, and yet the details… I mean, fresh daisies peeping out of wellies? Hay bales and hundreds of fairy lights? A pot bellied pig as a casual witness? *sigh* It’s all just so goshdarn romantic…
The lovely pics are from Cap Classique’s own regular guest poster Roberta Crumplin from Big Day Big Picture (head over and check out her snazzy new website!).

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DIY: Easy Paper Bunting

Hooray! Abbie’s back with another DIY project today and this one’s very close to my own heart… BUNTING! I just can’t get enough of this stuff. And if you caught today’s bunting roundup, you’ll have lots of inspiration for how to use this for your own wedding or party (or, you know, just because). Enjoy! Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Vibrant Garden Wedding at Diemersfontein by Riekert Cloete

I’m loving how yellow is starting to pop up more regularly in weddings these days – it’s a colour that always make me feel so happy! It’s not always easy to get right, but today’s couple really show how it’s done, with little bursts of citrus yellow and orange colour against a neutral background. And somehow, with their sunny personalities, I can’t imagine them having chosen anything else. Can I also just say, how insanely gorgeous is the veil Tafadzwa’s rocking? And how happy do their friends and family look for them? Riekert Cloete is the man who’s managed to capture the spirit of this very gorgeous couple’s big day. Congrats, Ticha and Taffy – wishing you a bright and sunny life together!

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Inspiration Board: Toile & Rose

I’m feeling a bit of love for French wedding style at the moment so I put together this little inspiration board using one of my favourite patterns, toile, combined with touches of dusky rose and a hint of grey (which just goes with everything, doesn’t it?). I’m imagining a gorgeous French chateau, chandeliers hanging from the trees, wonderful food, fine wine… Sigh. Vive la France.

Colours: Navy, powder blue, rose and grey.

Top row (l-r): Blueberries; statue; book detail; rose button favours; toile fans
Row 2: Chateau; bridesmaid’s dress; gift bags; tablescape
Row 3: Croquembouche; gift tags; table with chandelier; DIY linen satchels.

Mexican Themed Wedding at The Old Biscuit Mill by Hearts in a Shutter

I seriously don’t know where to start with this wedding – I’m in love with the whole thing. It just looks like so much FUN! And I kind of have a big crush on Mexico in general, even though I’ve not been there yet, so the Mexican theme really tickles my toes. Not to mention Philippa’s beyond beautiful dress. And her shoes. Oh the shoes! Even the boys have cool shoes in this wedding! And also, the poppies. And the lottery tickets. And the flags. And the kiddies’ rides. And… you know what, I’m just going to shut up and let you look at it yourself, and then you can love it as much as I do. Which you will, because it is awesome. Muchos. (Oh, and PS, in case you’re wondering who took these incredibly vibrant and lovely photographs, it was Brenda Wardall from Hearts in a Shutter. Thanks Brenda! Check out more of her work here.)

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Glam Vintage Beach Wedding at Geelbek by Christine Meintjes

I have such a gorgeous wedding for you today! Three words: it has Louboutins. Deliciously perfect, deliciously blue, Louboutins. I’m completely in love with these shoes, and I’m completely in love with the rest of Tamryn and Jeandre’s rustic West Coast setting, not to mention the gorgeous decor, much of which the bride DIYed herself (the seating chart treasure chest is my personal favourite, although the tea cup planters are a close second!) – particularly impressive since the couple planned their wedding from the UK. This is clearly a gal with an eye for detail, so you won’t be surprised that she also picked a fabulous photographer. I’ve been a fan of Christine Meintjes‘ work for so long, that featuring her pictures here makes this kind of a big day for me. Yay!

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Bridesmaid Survival Kit

Image: Vanilla Photography on SouthBound Bride

One of the best pieces of advice I picked up ahead of my first stint as a bridesmaid was to make sure I had an emergency kit with me to sort out any little problems that cropped up on the day. For the bride especially, of course, but often I’ve found that guests need to delve into the kit as much as anyone else! On a stressful day, it makes such a difference to have one person who is cool, calm and collected, and comes prepared to nip any minimergencies in the bud. Here’s what I’ll be carrying when one of my best friends ties the knot in December – put them together in a little case and you have your very own DIY bridesmaid survival kit! *Links in bold denote affiliate links – SBB may receive a commission on any sales made.

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