gaby | SouthBound Bride

Inspiration Board: Golden Lace

3 August, 2015 by gaby

Hello lovelies – I’m back from my reunion weekend away (which was fab) and holed up in bed with a cold (not so fab), so bear with me as I share today’s board a little later than usual. August is going to be our month of bling – or at least, our theme is ‘Glamour’, so after some weeks of organic, we get to look at the glitzier side of wedding design. And you know my magpie heart loves me some gold, so we had to start with a golden inspiration board! For this one, I’ve combined this glam metallic with the classic vintage element of lace, resulting in something I think is really very pretty. I also love how gold stands out against a palette of white, grey and pewter – mixed metallics really are a fave of mine. But most of all, I’m in LOVE with that amazing gold lace dress – isn’t it amazing? Now that’s a showstopper.

Colours: Gold, greys & white

Top row (l-r): Gold lace gown {Krikor Jabotian}; Luscious Lacing wedding invitation suite {Wedding Paper Divas}; table setting {JoPhoto}
Row 2: Gold lace cake {City Sweets & Confections/Anna Williams}; flower girl {Dolce & Gabbana Junior}; Menbur ‘Strass’ pump
Row 3: Gold filigree cuff; gold lace chair cover {Tonya Peterson Photography/Utah Events by Design}; lace cuffs

Get the Look: Floral Print Bridesmaid Dresses

30 July, 2015 by gaby

Floral print bridesmaid dresses are taking over the world, you guys. Or at least, the catwalks, as well as our pretty little wedding corner of the world (which basically means you’re spoilt for choice if this is the look you choose this season). I probably don’t need to wax lyrical about how pretty and versatile floral patterns are, but just in case you’re not yet convinced (see our previous roundup here), I’ve rounded up some fresh inspiration from around the web. And just to make it extra sweet, you’ll find some gorgeous shopping suggestions for flower print bridesmaid dresses below too, so you can get the look for your own grown-up flower girls.
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Dreamy Botanical Wedding Inspiration by Nicola Bester

30 July, 2015 by gaby

I’m starting my weekend early by rushing off to PE for my high school reunion, where I will play Romy (and Michelle), and tell everyone I invented Post-its. But I can’t think of a better way to end off our month of Greenhouse gorgeousness than with this shoot, which just embodies the romantic garden feel that everything floral and botanical and beautiful means to me. There’s such an ethereal look to this shoot, thanks in part to the frothy fantasy gowns created by SBB fave Janita Toerien, as well as Nicola Bester Photography‘s lovely pics, and I’m also loving the whimsical watercolour stationery and pretty table design with just a touch of gold, not to mention Minke du Plessis‘ immaculate hair & makeup! To be honest, put these elements together into a wedding, and I’m pretty much in heaven. So enjoy, and pop back later this afternoon for a final dose of floral print to finish off July’s theme.Read More

Abigail Betz Bridal Couture 2015 Collection

28 July, 2015 by gaby

As you all know, we love sharing local design talent here on SBB, so I’m delighted to be debuting the latest collection from Abigail Betz, which celebrates the ‘brave, free-spirited new bride’. Abigail’s haute couture dresses are always so unique and so beautifully crafted, with tailored accessories that really make her brides’ big day looks one-of-a-kind. With this new collection, she has retained her label’s signature sense of romance, but introduced colour, texture and a hint of sexiness that accentuates the female form. Abigail says: “In a bridal market with so much over embellishment and lack of variety, I wanted to set the modern bride free to look as enchanting and have as much fun as possible on her special day without being weighed down by excessive, restrictive petticoats and overstated trimmings. It is her unique spirit that should be on display in the most magnificent way. That is what we strive to achieve with our pieces.” These Rossetti-esque lookbook images give a peek into the collection’s four themes, with refinement as a common thread across them all.Read More

Fruitful Farm Wedding at Babylonstoren by Claire Thomson {Simona & Emile}

28 July, 2015 by gaby

When you’re picking a wedding design, we’d always advise that you take your venue into consideration – after all, as much as I love contrasts, there are some venues that just will never suit some themes, and you don’t want to spend a year of engagement trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. But for some couples, the venue goes so much further, completely inspiring the look and feel of the wedding, especially when they’re as crazy about the place as Simona and Emile are about Babylonstoren. Fair dues, it is a pretty amazing place, and I especially loved that this sweet couple wanted to share this place that is so special to them with their favourite people. They completely embraced the Babylonstoren aesthetic, the vast, edible gardens and greenhouses, the elegant but simple menu. And, thanks to Simona’s trust in her suppliers, their flowers had a special fruity element to them which I especially love! It’s just the perfect embodiment of farmhouse botanical style, beautifully captured by Claire Thomson.Read More

20 Botanical & Floral Bridal Hair Accessories

27 July, 2015 by gaby

Edwardian Leaf Circlet by Anna Marguerite (photography by Hamish Melville and Shannon Moffit)

**Updated for 2020** Time for some gorgeous adornment, brideys! I’m forever getting stopped in my tracks while browsing Etsy by some of the absolutely spectacularly gorgeous bridal hair accessories – and I’m especially partial to those with a bit of a botanical bent. Cleverly crafted gold and silver leaves in goddess-like crowns, pearls and crystals fashioned to look like flowers and berries… I just wish I had an excuse to wear one of them, but they might be a bit faaancy for the supermarket, no? Anyway, if you’re planning your big day accessories, I really don’t think you’ll get much prettier than these 20 nature-inspired hair accessories, from some of my favourite Etsy makers.

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Inspiration Board: Botanical Stripe

27 July, 2015 by gaby

Hello lovelies – we’re entering the last week of our month of Greenhouse botanics, so there’s just enough time to squeeze in one last lovely inspiration board. This one takes a cue from Kate Spade by mixing bold monochrome stripes with feminine pinks and greens, but takes things an extra notch up the pretty scale by adding garden rose garlands, greenery swags, and floral prints. This is my perfect mix of masculine and feminine, modern and romantic.

Colours: Black, white, pink, lilac & green

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Belathee Photography/Bustle Events/Natalie Bowen}; floral table runner {Watson-Studios/Jennifer Laraia Designs/Whimsical Gatherings}; bride in floral crown {Jack and Jane Photography/Ribbon Creative Studio}
Row 2: Greenery crowns {Erich McVey/Lushka}; floral print bridesmaid dress {Chi Chi London}; chairs with striped ribbon {Aaron And Jillian Photography/A.Caldwell Events}
Row 3: Groom with pink & stripe boutonniere {Bwright Photography}; mini champagne {Scott Clark Photo/100 Layer Cake}; greenery swags reception decor {Kristen Weaver Photography/An Affair To Remember/Raining Roses}

Black Magic Styled Shoot from the NEW Wedding Inspirations Magazine

24 July, 2015 by gaby

When it comes to wedding design, one of my favourite looks is layering of a single colour, with texture adding the visual interest that a mix of colours often brings. And okay, that colour is usually white, but in creating today’s styled shoot, the talented team at TGC Photography & Sålt+Støne decided to layer black on black instead. The effect is chic, daring and very glamorous, and is definitely a fresh twist that will get your guests talking! From the black painted proteas to dark plums and shiny Coke bottles, there are many clever textural touches used throughout, and sparkling jewels and Venetian masks for that extra bit of mystery and glam. This is the kind of cutting edge inspiration you can expect to find in every issue of Wedding Inspirations, who were kind enough to share this lovely shoot from their brand new issue with us today. Be sure to pick up a copy to find out how to recreate the look, and take a peek at their other gorgeous weddings and styled shoots of the moment. Until then, as Amy Winehouse would say, let’s go back to black…Read More

Pastels & Lace Jewish Wedding at Lourensford by Moira West {Shana & Kevin}

23 July, 2015 by gaby

I honestly think I must have the best job in the world, and it’s not because I sit around all day reading Martha Stewart Weddings, eating macarons and sniffing at peonies. Although I totally do, obvs. But seriously, what makes me so lucky I think is that I have the privilege to be given a peek into some of the most special and wonderful moments in a couple’s lives, to sort through photographs as full of joy and laughter and lifelong memory as they are of prettiness. Some weddings really remind me of this, and Shana and Kevin’s is one of them – not only do the vintagey lace and watercolour-like pastels paint a picture, but the energy the couple radiates is also a portrait of the love they share. And, as she does so well, Moira West was on the scene to capture these beautiful images of all of it.Read More

Flower Dresses for Flowergirls

20 July, 2015 by gaby

Since we’re already head over heels for everything floral print this month, from cakes to wedding dresses to bridesmaid dresses, we certainly couldn’t leave out the little ladies that make up the short end of your bridal party – after all, they’re called flower girls! As it happens, there are so many gorgeous floral mini-bridesmaid dresses, many so gorgeous that I wish they made them in big-people sizes too. Even if you don’t incorporate any other floral or botanical elements in your wedding, I can’t think of a prettier way to dress the little ones for a spring or summer celebration. So let’s get inspired! As always, you can click on any of the product images to shop, and visit our brand new Flower Girl Boutique board on Pinterest for regular finds.