gaby | SouthBound Bride

10 Ways to Style Sequin Bridesmaid Dresses

28 August, 2015 by gaby

You’ve probably figured out by now that sequin bridesmaid dresses are kind of a favourite here on SBB – let’s be honest, they look completely gorgeous and glamorous and they always make our pretty-loving hearts lift a mile. But by now you also know there are a ton of options for how to actually put that sparkly ensemble together. Long or short? Solids or skirts? Same dresses or mismatched? Well, we can’t make the decision for you, but we can do what we do, and bring you some delicious, glittering inspiration!Read More

Glamorous Olive Grove Engagement by Louise Vorster

28 August, 2015 by gaby

It’s been our month of glamour on SBB, but one of my favourite things is finding a way to inject a bit of glamour into an unexpected place: chandeliers hanging from a tree, ballroom style in an urban loft space… or a shimmering full length gold dress in an olive grove. That’s why I immediately fell in love with this beautiful shoot by Louise Vorster – the contrast between bride-to-be Adél’s glam gown and the rustic setting for her engagement shoot with her love, Jan, is so eye catching and gorgeous. And there’s something very intimate about it too – like the two lovebirds have sneaked off to have a fancy date in an secret location, and are having the time of their lives doing just that. It’s moments like this that give us a glimpse of the fun of being engaged, a welcome break in a sea of wedding planning, and a special memory captured forever.Read More

Proteas & Succulents Wedding at In the Vine by Cheryl McEwan {Jenna & Alan}

27 August, 2015 by gaby

I’m a true blue South African girl (or should that be true green and gold?) so the thought of a wedding full of indigenous flowers is my idea of paradise. That’s exactly what inspired today’s bride and groom, who filled their reception with a whimsical mix of succulents & proteas, with little touches of lace including Jenna’s seriously gorgeous Maggie Sottero portrait lace-back gown. It’s the perfect mix for a laid-back country celebration with a big heart, that includes a doggy attendant and a sweet mint and white colour scheme. SBB favourite Cheryl McEwan shot these gorgeous, light-filled images of the couple’s big day.Read More

Handmade Hydrangea Wedding at 401 Rozendal by Daniela Zondagh {Ronnilie & Niel}

26 August, 2015 by gaby

Once upon a time… I feel like today’s intro needs to start like a fairytale, since really, that’s how Ronnilie and Niel’s love story began – a moment straight out of a modern Sleeping Beauty! That fairytale beginning found its way to a magical wedding in the Cape Winelands (where the prince and princess met), handmade with love by family and friends, and carpeted in lush green hydrangeas. I’ve mentioned before how a single feature or installation can go a long way when it comes to decor, and that’s exactly what we have here – a hydrangea table runner making a stunning statement as a centrepiece of the reception. We also love the rustic wooden boxes, the mismatched neutral bridesmaids, the groomsmen’s paper boutonnieres! And all of it beautifully captured by photographer Daniela Zondagh. And so, as the story goes, they lived happily ever after…Read More

Rosa Clara 2016

25 August, 2015 by gaby

It’s always such a pleasure to scroll through the latest designs from Spanish label Rosa Clara. Not only do we already know the gorgeousness that is Spanish wedding couture, but Rosa Clara’s line always has such wonderful details and textures, and each time I scroll through I notice a new embellishment, a sleek silhouette, or an unusual neckline. The 2016 collection was inspired by divas of the 1930s and 1940s, and manages to mix classic elegance with pretty much every fashion forward bridal trend we’re loving at the moment – two-pieces, off-the-shoulder gowns, portrait backs. Plus, even though this collection is straight from Barcelona with love, I adore knowing that local brides can find Rosa Clara at Olivelli, which makes the line that much more special for South African readers. So let’s take a moment to immerse ourselves in these calming, elegant lookbook images, and dream of each of these lovelies sashaying down the aisle next season.Read More

Chic Vineyard Wedding at Molenvliet by DNA Photographers {Ana & Dylan}

25 August, 2015 by gaby

I took one look at today’s wedding and thought: crazy beautiful. And sure, that could sum up the bride, the groom – and all of their glamorous guests. It could refer to Ana’s insanely gorgeous Galia Lahav gown (that back!), the elegant pastel decor by Evention, or the genteel vineyard setting of Molenvliet. It could definitely describe the pics by DNA Photographers. But as it always does with me, it’s the joy and the love that really surpass everything else – the love at first sight meeting, the smiles of the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the guests dancing their hearts out against a backdrop of twinkly lights. Beautiful indeed.Read More

15 Glam Gold Foiled Wedding Invitations

24 August, 2015 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2021* I swear, I have as many stationery crushes as I do rugby players. The stationery is a little less PG rated, obvs. The point is, one of my absolute biggest stationery crushes is foiling, which every time I see in a wedding invitation suite just makes me want to run my hands over it and say “ooh, shiny shiny!” Gold foil wedding invitations are a really beautiful way of bringing a bit of glamour to your invitations, and making metallics set the tone for the elegant soiree to follow. As always, there are some seriously talented designers in the Etsy community who have created some gorgeous gold foil wedding invitations, and I’ve picked out fifteen of my favourites.

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

Inspiration Board: Navy & Rose Gold

24 August, 2015 by gaby

Hello friends – how was your weekend? Hope it was full of fun and glamour and champagne – after all, that’s the vibe we’re going for in today’s little inspiration board! We’re taking a mix of grown-up navy, romantic blush, and glamorous rose gold – there really is no end to the fun you can have playing with metallics in your palette, and this is the perfect twist on blush and navy, which has been getting more popular in the last few years. Just add a vintage getaway car, a sophisticated dress, and some sparkly bridesmaids, and you have a fresh, glam look. Another option would be to add in a bit of dove grey, which goes great with all of these shades.
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Colours: Navy, blush, rose gold, white

Top row (l-r): Bouquet (Rustic White Photography/Mandy of Waiting on Martha, Inc./Lindsay Coletta); table setting (Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography/The Southern Table); cake (McCune Photography/Grand Engagements/Sweet and Saucy Shop); gold dress (Emilia Jane)
Row 2: Place cards; gold bridesmaid dresses (Amanda Crean Photographers/Lauren Kelleher); rose gold votives; champagne coupes
Row 3: Bride & groom (Trent Bailey Photography); vintage car (Mademoiselle Fiona); invitation suite (Jupiter and Juno)

Row 1: Navy Tuxedo from ASOS (left); Theia Azelea Gown (right) | Row 2: Wedding Vow Books by Seniman Calligraphy | Row 3: Navy Rose Gold Wedding Invitation by VERDILIAN (left); Navy Bridal Earrings by Saint Valentine Bridal (right) | Row 4: Richland Rose Gold Mercury Votive Candle Holders (left); Sethi Couture Wide Pavé Pink Diamond Ring (right) | Row 5: Sophia Webster – Madame Chiara Metallic Leather Sandals (left); Rose Gold Navy Wedding Table Numbers by PrintCess Design Store (right) | Row 6: Brianna Wedding Dress by Truvelle

Handmade Recyclable Wedding at Rockhaven by Nicole Rich {Melissa & Jürgen}

21 August, 2015 by gaby

And I’m back! Not quite at a hundred percent, but so much better. As much as I missed sharing pretty weddings with you this week, it was good to have a few days to recover – as a small business owner, it’s easy to lose sight of giving yourself some time off (hello, weekends, what are those?). But I couldn’t let the whole week go without a wedding, because at the end of the day, sharing these beauties – and more importantly, sharing in the excitement that comes from each bride and groom we feature! – is what makes my job awesome and totally worthwhile. Today’s couple are the lovely Melissa & Jürgen, who pulled off a beautiful country wedding brimming over with proteas and pops of colour against the rustic surroundings, all with an eye on keeping things eco friendly, locally sourced, and easy to recycle. It was definitely a case of waste not, want not, since despite the green focus, nothing was wanting in prettiness and atmosphere! Nicole Rich was on the scene, taking these lovely pics.Read More

Gatsby Glam Wedding Dresses

14 August, 2015 by gaby

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

The truth is, there’s a big part of me that still wants to be Daisy Buchanan (even though she was a bit of a cow) – flitting about in her beautiful dresses with her voice full of money, breaking hearts all over West Egg. Maybe that’s why every time I see a wedding gown sporting art deco embellishment and a slinky, satiny silhouette, I have a full-on, hold-on-to-your-chaise dress swoon. Or why designers like Johanna Johnson and Jenny Packham always have me dying over their latest collections of Gatsby wedding dresses. Forget princess dresses – for a glamorous bride, there’s no better way to go than with a touch of 1920s vintage. Especially when its complemented with gorgeous retro hair, a red lip, or a spectacular hairpiece. I went on the hunt for some of the most breathtaking glam wedding dresses for the Gatsby bride, each of them worthy of Daisy herself.