gaby | SouthBound Bride

The 2019 Wedding Dress Trends Brides Need to Know

24 August, 2018 by gaby

So you’re shopping for your wedding dress! Exciting! And while you want something classic and beautiful, you also want to make sure you’re not wearing the same dress as every bride at every wedding you went to last year, but rather something fresh and fashionable. Lucky for you, the bridal runways are teeming with brilliant ideas at the moment – new takes on old silhouettes, exciting embellishments, and dreamy fabrics. We’ve looked into our crystal ball to predict the ten wedding dress trends that will be making a splash with brides in 2019. You will have already seen some of these gracing celeb weddings, and others on the bridal catwalks – we can’t wait to see them in our real weddings inbox! Which of these 2019 bridal trends speaks to you the most?
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Understated Elegance Garden Wedding at Embassy Hill by Nikki van Diermen

24 August, 2018 by gaby

A few drops of rain at the wedding ceremony certainly couldn’t dampen this lovely wedding, set amongst the beautifully manicured gardens of The Forum Embassy Hill. In contrast to Carin and Jamie’s life of hustle and bustle in LA, the details of their intimate wedding were simple, classic, and beautiful: candles, soft white roses, chandeliers (with the playful addition of some silver painted animal place card holders – love this idea!). The colour palette was understated too, but there was nothing muted about the spirit in which the day unfolded, as seen here through the lens of Nikki van Diermen. From the many happy tears as the bride and her parents walked down the aisle, to the unbridled joy on the dancefloor, it was a celebration to remember! As Nikki put it: “No fuss, no frill, just love.”

Opulent Orchid Wedding Inspiration

23 August, 2018 by gaby

We’re going glam this afternoon! This opulent styled shoot from a team including photographer Jeanne Taylor, and stylist and designer Ronelda Rhode, is all about showcasing some stunning, modern gowns, set against tumbling orchids, a geometric ceremony backdrop, and gorgeously shiny golden foliage by the talented Nico from N Concepts and Design. It’s autumn wedding style, but with extra extra-ness. Think: orchid boa level extra. And as well as being lovely to look at and perfect for all you dark and moody tone brides, it’s also a great example of how with a bit of creativity, you can combine natural textures and modern elements for a fusion that’s surprising and visually delightful. And let’s be honest: FIERCE. Enjoy!

Romantic Modern Wedding at Lourensford by The Mosaic Wedding Company and Lad & Lass

22 August, 2018 by gaby

When some of our favourite wedding talents join forces (in this case the fabulous Cara of Mosaic Wedding Company, along with Botanica Flowers and photographers Lad & Lass), there’s just no telling how gorgeous a wedding will be. And in the case of Shanta and Gareth, VERY. When I saw this adorable couple’s modern, romantic, heartfelt, and (quite obviously from the pictures) super fun day, there were all the oohs and aahs. The bouquet, the tables, Shanta’s gorgeous dress, the blushing bridesmaids, the floral arch, the portraits, the semi-naked cake… it’s pretty at every turn! And as I mentioned, it looks like a blast. Having read the dynamic couple’s story, another thing I absolutely loved is the way they brought their families and traditions together throughout the day, and really made it all their own. Let’s take a peek!

Industrial Rustic Black Tie Wedding at Lace on Timber by Page & Holmes

21 August, 2018 by gaby

I think by now you know that any wedding that goes its own sweet way is one we’re going to love, and Kelsey and Brett’s is a unique expression of the couple it celebrates. Actually, truth be told, this wedding is way cooler than I am. Ceremony in a majestic outdoor chapel, a fully stocked gin bar, the bride’s SPECTACULAR lace wedding dress from the awesome Calegra Bridal, a mix of industrial and elegantly rustic details at the reception, a popcorn and drizzle naked cake, gorgeously moody images by Page & Holmes… the list goes on. Take a minute to click through and see every lovely part of it for yourself!

Brooklyn Bohemian Wedding Inspiration

20 August, 2018 by gaby

We’re kicking off our week with some serious urban bohemian fabulousness! This gorgeously indie styled shoot comes all the way from Brooklyn, via a team of talented US pros, including photographer, Kaleigh Rae Photography, and stylist, Enchanted Allure Events. And this isn’t just any styled shoot. It follows a couple from getting ready all through their ceremony to the reception decor, which I love, because it shows how all the ideas could really be used in a real wedding, and not just set up for the cameras. For example, the team incorporated floral hoops throughout – as bridesmaid bouquets, as ceremony decor, and hung on chairs and from the ceiling in the reception space – which shows how decor can be repurposed throughout the day to create consistency in design as well as serve your budget well. Another thing I love is how authentic this shoot is – seriously, it is just a bundle of fun, with genuine laughter all day long, just like a wedding day should be. And let’s take a moment to talk about the colour scheme, which is next level pastel pink and blue – right down to the bride’s hair! Yes, your hair can match your wedding! I’m super excited to share this with you all today :)

Rustic Copper & Greenery Wedding at Makojalo by Werner J Photography

17 August, 2018 by gaby

The combination of copper and greenery makes for SUCH a gorgeous wedding palette – Elsje and Pieter’s wedding, captured by Werner J Photography, adds little pops of pink and blue and ties it all together perfectly! From the romantic botanical invitations and other stationery elements to the macaron and copper drip detail cake (what a cake!), from the lace and floral bridesmaid dresses to the abundant florals, and from Elsje’s stunning gown to her showstopping bouquet, you’ll want to pin every dazzling detail!

Edgy Fairytale Forest Wedding at Die Woud by Nikki van Diermen

16 August, 2018 by gaby

When it comes to describing this gorgeous forest wedding at the stunning Die Woud, overflowing with flowers and greenery, I can’t do better than photographer Nikki van Diermen, who told us: “Tom and Kelly got married in the beautiful hidden woodlands in the sleepy town of Elgin in the Westen Cape, South Africa. They wed amongst bare trees, and celebrated in a house of glass. Like a modern fairytale, with edge. Kelly, dressed by the talented Janita Toerien, was the epitome of a rebel princess – all perfectly placed lace, dramatic tulle, tattoos and a little bit of skin. They partied to hip hop late into the night, under the chandeliers and stars, and it all just worked together perfectly!” SIGH.

Romantic Rustic Wedding at Roodezand by blfStudios

15 August, 2018 by gaby

Today’s wedding is beautiful in so many ways, but my favourite is the way that Claudia and Quinton are one of those couples who were truly focused on what mattered: marrying one another. It’s something that carried them through a relatively short engagement with a minimum of drama, that meant they were never as focused on the details as they were on the people, and that even made rain on the morning of their wedding a non-event. Instead of feeling upset about it, they loved it for the drought-time blessing that it was, moved their ceremony indoors and (thanks to the quick work of loving family and friends) ended up with a romantic, intimate candlelit chapel filled with greenery and paper cranes, which was basically perfect. Talk about #engagedcouplegoals! The funny thing is, that they still ended up with a celebration that’s as picturesque as it is romantic, with hanging foliage and Edison bulbs above tables draped in greenery, touches of wood and candlelight, a macaron cake. And they won the jackpot with their wedding pictures too – these images by blfStudios are absolutely gorgeous!

Bright & Colourful Handmade Farm Wedding by Tasha Seccombe

14 August, 2018 by gaby

One of the things I’ve most come to love about South African weddings is that so often those weddings that really stand out, that are beautiful and unique and filled with gorgeous ideas and unique details are weddings that are created from the ground up by the couple, their family and friends. What can I say, my countrymen and women are a talented bunch! Marli & Alexandru’s wedding is just such a special day – a handmade labour of love that belongs on the pages of any glossy wedding mag but is put together in a completely organic, non-matchy way. The flowers – many picked from the family garden that morning – are a riot of colour. The bride looks stunning in her bow-backed gown. The bridesmaids… SERIOUSLY love the bridesmaids’ off shoulder tops and mismatched skirts (channeling a bit of a Cuban vibe that I adore). Even the food is colourful and pretty. But what makes it even more amazing is that each of those details has a story that links it with the couple, or with the people that they love. Perfect, right? The wonderful Tasha Seccombe captured these spectacularly lovely images of the day.