gaby | SouthBound Bride

Organic Bushveld Wedding by Rianka’s Wedding Photography

5 April, 2016 by gaby

I think we all know by now that the South African bushveld is my happy place – everything about it makes me calm and joyful, and grateful for this beautiful country I get to call home. So safari-style weddings are kind of my wedding happy place too, especially when they’re pulled together as beautifully as this one! Chris-Marie and Heinrich chose to marry on the family farm near Pretoria and literally built their venue in the middle of the bush from scratch – laying the floors, making the tables, digging up the aloes that they used as decorations. A little oasis of wedding elegance in the middle of nature – and that’s just what their wedding reflects: natural, earthy goodness. There are so many details here to love – the hanging wreaths of greenery, the little stations built to make guests more comfortable (or well-watered) along the way, right down the bridesmaids unique (and gorgeous) skirt and top combos. And as if I couldn’t love it all more already, there’s a dash of copper glam to complement all those beautiful neutrals in the palette. Rianka’s Wedding Photography took these gorgeous pics – and there’s a bumper lot of them today! Too many pretty details to narrow down – and why would I? Like I say. Happy place.

Raw Elegance Styled Shoot

4 April, 2016 by gaby

So, as I mentioned this morning, this month we’re all about industrial wedding inspiration, which for me means mixing soft and romantic with utilitarian, traditionally unromantic textures and objects. Which somehow manages to look whimsical and wonderful instead of just plain wrong – in the same way that chandeliers in a barn are awesome, or black tie weddings in the bushveld. It’s all about the contrast. And that’s what today’s styled shoot is all about too – it’s called ‘Rustic Elegance’ and mixes an offbeat vibe with softer elements like beautiful florals and a frothy gown. The venue is Gauteng’s own Katy’s Palace, which has eclectic vintage industrial decor, and is just the perfect setting for this bridal editorial by Ribbon Creative Studio and Maiden Moose Photography. Enjoy!

Inspiration Board: Rose Quartz & Concrete

4 April, 2016 by gaby

You guys. HOW is it April already? Seriously, it kills me how fast this year is going (again), but at least with a new month comes a new ‘theme’ and this time we’re turning sharply from country to city weddings, and rustic to glam. Well, maybe not glam, since April is all about industrial wedding themes, and it’s the use of utilitarian industrial elements combined with romantic and glam elements that makes this look so awesome (and such a huge trend for 2016). And actually, you don’t have to be having a city wedding to pull it off (for example, you’ll find industrial chic details at The Venue Fontana, which works beautifully in a converted barn setting too). To demonstrate that contrast, I’ve picked a big one for today’s inspiration board, by combining one of the least romantic textures (concrete) with the soft rose quartz, one of Pantone’s colours of the year. It’s a distinctly modern twist on the blush and grey wedding trend, which also happens to go spectacularly with mixed metallics, and I have to tell you, I’m in love. What do you think?

Colours: Pantone Rose Quartz, concrete grey, white & mixed metallics

Top row (l-r): Blush wedding dress (Carousel Fashion) | DIY concrete candle holders | shoes (Kerry Bartlett/Harriet Wilde)
Row 2: Silver stripe invitations (Minted) | bride with ring box (Kristin Partin Photography/Caryn’s Bridals/Kays/The Mrs. Box) | pink martini
Row 3: Concrete & gold effect cake (Sweet Bakes) | concrete geometric votive holders | mismatched bridesmaid dresses (Michael and Carina Photography) | peony bouquet (Joy Proctor/Melanie Duerkopp Photography )

Fruit & Vegetable Place Settings

1 April, 2016 by gaby

Before we all head off for the weekend, I have one last little post on our farmer’s market theme to share. I absolutely love place settings that include produce – whether fruit or vegetable – as a sweet little touch. In fact, I’ve used fruit in two of the editorials I’ve styled myself over the years. And I can’t think of a better way of getting across the feeling of farm-to-table than this. The great thing is that you can use pretty much any fruit and vegetable – we’ve seen absolutely beautiful designs using everything from pumpkins to pomegranates, from apples to artichokes, and everything in between. For extra green points, choose something local and seasonal, and place one at each setting. We’ve rounded up 20 of our favourite examples to inspire.

Inspiration Board: Farm & Field

31 March, 2016 by gaby

Before our month of farm-fresh inspiration ends, I just had to create one more moodboard. This is what I really think of when I imagine a farm-to-table wedding – something organic, and natural, and rustic but very romantic. With a bit of a botanical feel and a neutral palette, and including fresh produce and natural textures. It may not seem ‘wedding-ey’ as a concept, but when you put it all together, I think it’s so pretty! If you’re drawn to this look, be sure to balance the ‘rougher’ elements with more elegant, traditional ones – calligraphy, fine linen and china, or touches of metallics, for example. The best part? You can send your guests home to cook their centrepieces for Sunday lunch ;)

Colours: Sage, taupe & white

Top posts (l-r): Artichoke table number (Sylvie Gil Photography/Shannon Leahy/Natalie Bowen) | tablescape (Ace Photography/Cedarwood Weddings) | calligraphy eggs (Ali Harper)
Row 2: Bride & groom (welovepictures) | artichoke centrepiece (Moira West Photography/Dear Idea) | cutlery tied with twine (Illuminate Photography)
Row 3: Seed packets | bridesmaids (Brosnan Photographic/Elegant Events) | cheese cake (Michelle Joubert-Martin/Fairview) | vegetable escort cards (Jeremiah And Rachel Photography/Habitat Events/Habitat Floral Studio)

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Farmers Market Sign by The Green Elephant Shop
Farm to Table Letterpress Wedding Invitation by Moon Tree Press
Veggie Tote Bag Favor by PCB Home
Wood Berry Baskets by Bottle Cap Co.
Mini Chalkboard Signs by Party Spin
Vintage Unused Postage Stamps by AxmxZ
Baker’s Twine Cording
Baking Rubber Stamp by Substation Paperie
Farmer’s Market Chalkboard Sign by Lily and Val
Handmade Wicker Basket by Definitely Green
Double-Sided Wedding Sign by Damrell Designs LLC
Burlap Table Number by Rustic House Of Glitter
Printable SUNFLOWER Seed Packet Favor by Sunnyside Print Party
Rustic Wedding Menu Template by Minty Paperie Shop

Intimate Country Garden Wedding in the Natal Midlands by Long Exposure

31 March, 2016 by gaby

When I was in high school I remember working on some anthology in English Lit that was all about the ‘Spirit of Place’. That’s a phrase that’s stuck with me ever since – in the literary sense, but it’s also often something I think of when it comes to weddings. Because there are some celebrations that really are infused with the spirit of a place – usually the one in which they take place – and I absolutely love that. It makes the wedding a full-on sensory experience, because guests aren’t just attending a wedding in a particular venue or region, but they’re experiencing the atmosphere of that place, and often getting a piece of the couple’s heart as they do. Heidi & Shaun’s wedding is one of those – the couple share a deep love for the Natal Midlands, spending time in its English countryside-style beauty as often as they can, and wanted to share that with an intimate group of their near and dear on their big day. Hosting the wedding at a friends’ homestead with a beautiful garden, and filling the ceremony and rustic reception with blousy garden-style flowers, they did just that. I ADORE the bouquet especially, from The Flower Shed, and how well it pairs with Heidi’s pretty-as-a-picture gown. And the final lovely touch? A reedbuck motif, dreamed up by the graphic designer bride, to reference the ‘deer’ moments (sorry, I couldn’t help myself) spent in that same countryside. Christy Long captured these super romantic pics.

Harvest Abundance Wedding at Anura Vineyards by Lilys and Horns

30 March, 2016 by gaby

We’re coming to the end of our month of organic, farmer’s market, farm-to-table, generally rustic content, but before we do, we have a special wedding to share with you that has a completely unique take on farm weddings in general. When asked to describe the feeling she wanted to create for her wedding to Jake, Khanya came up with the word ‘abundance’. Abundance in food and drink, abundance in joy, and to reflect that, a feeling of plenty in the decor and design. Together with her interior designer mom, she interpreted that as a sort of farmer’s feast, decking the tables in vegetables instead of flowers, carrying a stunning bouquet that referenced the bird motif that was included throughout, and even having a few feathered friends peeking through the greenery or perched on urns and vases. It sort of reminds me of a harvest festival from a few centuries ago, but with a modern refinement, of course, and it’s safe to say we’ve never seen anything quite like it! (Plus, we’re in LOVE with Khanya’s gorgeous dress!) To make it even more special, the venue was the groom’s family wine farm and an event space that was created just in time for the wedding, and the images below are all from Lilys and Horns Photography, who also happens to be one of the bride’s BFFs.

Light & Bright Botanical Wedding at Olive Rock by Adene Photography

29 March, 2016 by gaby

Some weddings are like a carnival, parading across my screen with colour and noise and celebration. Others, like today’s beautiful celebration from the fab Adene Photography, are more like a summer breeze, full of gentle details and whispers of lace, and sheer wedding day romance, and you just want to bask in their radiant glow. That’s Joandi and Jurgens’ big day to me – it’s light and bright and airy, and equal measures organic and contemporary, which is the perfect complement to the gorgeous space at Olive Rock (one of our fave SBB Collection venues). With delicate watercolour details in the stationery, fantastic white florals, and some of the sweetest bridesmaid dresses I’ve seen in a while (as well as Joandi’s incredible illusion neckline gown), it’s the prettiest way to kick off our week of weddings. The final cherry on top? Stacks of chocolate brownies for the guests to take home. Now that’s a sweet farewell.

Julie Vino Santorini Collection

25 March, 2016 by gaby

Holiday! Celebrate! (You’ll be singing that all day now, sorrynotsorry.) Since today actually is a holiday, I thought it would be fun if you and I went on a holiday together – albeit a virtual one. I’ve picked one of my favourite destinations too, the glorious isle of Santorini in Greece, which is the inspiration and setting for Julie Vino‘s current collection. Sugarcube houses and sapphire seas, plus beautiful gowns, is a winning combination. It’s been a couple of years since we discovered Israeli designer Julie Vino, and her collections never fail to impress with their combination of sensual and feminine. This one is fit for a Grecian goddess – or just the luckiest of brides.

Opulent Monochrome Wedding Inspiration

24 March, 2016 by gaby

When it comes to colour, you all know by now that I’m a little… fickle. I love bolds. I love pastels. I love pops. I love neutrals. And I love, love, love (with the part of my heart that is all Gucci and Chanel and gold jewellery and little black dresses) monochrome. As Coco herself said: “When I find a colour darker than black, I’ll wear it”! And when it comes to your wedding day, these days there’s no reason why you can’t rock a little black dress – or a lot of one. That’s what the model in today’s bold and beautiful styled shoot does, and what a dress! I absolutely adore this sexy, stylish gown from JVR Couture, and it’s the perfect centrepiece to a set-up that mixes opulence and simplicity. A strong, sophisticated palette of black, white and gold, with luxe touches like ruffles and chandeliers, and lush flowers, and gilded plates and pears. If you’re a glamorous bride, then this is very much going to be your vibe – what an awesome job by SBB Directory member Hello Love Photography!