A little while ago I wrote a post on styling your engagement session, but after seeing today’s shoot, I reckon all I needed to say was: fill your house with balloons, and bring a puppy. Because OMG this is the cutest e-sesh I have ever seen, and I won’t lie, it’s partly down to the extreme adorableness that is Rouxnette and Johan’s bulldog. Just look at THAT FACE. No seriously, look at that it. I want to kiss that face off. But apart from the sweetest pup, what I really love about this engagement shoot is the way that the couple decided to make it as relaxed as possible, inviting photographer Stefan Louw into their home and their everyday lives, and just adding that touch of gorgeous whimsy with the balloons. It’s perfect. (PS And if you’re loving Rouxnette’s style as much as I am, be sure to check out her Gauteng wedding co-ordination business, Bona-Fide Events.)Read More
With greenery and foliage weddings being such a huge trend at the moment, sometimes I forget how much I adore weddings that are awash with blooms. And then something special crosses my desk, like today’s gorgeous wedding from photographer Justin Davis. I swear, it took me all of five seconds to fall in love – the bright colours, the hydrangea-filled bouquets, the garden feeling of the wooden planters, the hanging roses, and can we just talk about how much I adore the ‘Come Away with Me’ box hanging above the main table? It’s all just SO romantic. And I’m also crazy for the way that this sense of (slightly vintage) romance translates to the bride’s beautiful lace gown, and the gorgeous getaway car. But I think my favourite of all is the couple’s how-we-met and proposal stories… I dare you to read them without a huge smile on your face! :)Read More
Ever since I left London to come hang out in South Africa, there are a few things that I miss a lot. Sunny days in the park. Public transport. Yorkshire puddings. Not having to wait in endless bank queues (that’s a side-eye for you, Eugene). But one of the things that always makes me want to teleport (seriously, would someone just invent this already?) is when I get invited to awesome London wedding events, and this year’s Etsy Wedding Fair (which takes place from 16-17 May at Oui 2 Rooms, 89 Tichfield St., London) is definitely one of them. I mean, I LOVE Etsy, so what could be better than being able to browse wedding goods from some of their most talented makers and chat to them in person? Etsy have just announced the list of exhibitors, and oh my word, there are some seriously AMAZING sellers on the list! But good news for you readers living in or near London, because even if I don’t get to be there, you do. On me! Well, on Etsy actually, since they have been lovely enough to give me one pair of tickets to give away. Just leave a comment at the end of this post telling me which of the awesome sellers/exhibitors below you’re most looking forward to meeting, and I’ll announce the winner at the end of April. SO! Let’s get to it – here are some of the gorgeous labels you’ll be able to see up close and personal! (And for those of you shopping at home like me, just click on any image to head over to the Etsy store).Read More
If you’d asked me a couple of years ago, I would have told you probably that the watercolour trend that had just started then would be so over by now, but as I’m learning, trends in wedding world have a longer life and more staying power than I used to give them credit for. Especially since everything watercolour has gone from strength to strength – so much so that it has me wishing I could paint, and that’s saying something, since I have the artistic ability of a flea. Fortunately, I can satisfy myself with beautiful painterly palettes like this one, and gently washed out and handpainted details, from stationery to fabric to flowers. Best of all, if you like colour, you can really enjoy a multicoloured scheme, but with a very soft, romantic feel to it, which is basically perfect for a wedding. So ja. I’m #teamwatercolour all the way.
Colours: Fuschia, mauve, blush, purple, medium blue, navy & coral
So… the venue’s booked, the Save the Dates have been sent out, and you’ve narrowed down hundreds of Pinterest finds to a general idea of colour and theme for your dream wedding. But here’s another question: where are you going on honeymoon? For many of us, a honeymoon is more than just a relaxing little break to get over all the stress of wedding planning, but something to look forward to in itself – your first trip as a married couple, and a once-in-a-lifetime reason to push out the boat and book that bucket list destination. And just like your wedding day, you want it to reflect who you are as a couple – to pick a place that both of you feel just as excited about. Whether you’re keeping it closer to home, or heading for foreign shores, the first step is finding your honeymoon ‘personality’ – and we’re helping you do just that with a fun quiz for you to take together and get the conversation started. Pencils at the ready!Read More
Hooray, lovelies! It’s that time again, when you can grab a brand new copy of Wedding Inspirations magazine from the local newsagent, pour a large cup of coffee (or glass of wine – it’s five o’ clock somewhere) and thumb through its pretty pages to your heart’s content. As always, there’s a ton of inspiration in store for you in the new issue, and we’re delighted to be sharing just a little slice of it here. This particular little editorial focuses on foliage, which as you’ll have gathered by now, is one of 2015’s loveliest trends. Don’t get me wrong, flowers are forever, but as Carol-Anne Frey & Andre Sonnekus, the team behind the shoot, say: “Foliage is finally enjoying its day in the sun. It’s nature’s answer to organic, budget-friendly decor that lends itself to just about any theme or venue.” So let’s get to enjoying a bit of this gorgeous greenery, shall we?Read More
*Updated for 2020 + Coronavirus Elopements* A few years ago, when my friend Sarah and her lovely fiancee stopped in London after a round-the-world trip, a group of us girls threw her a fairly impromptu hen night. All night, we drank trays of flavoured vodka and toasted their lives together, and sent them off back to Joburg expecting them to set a wedding date. Instead, as soon as they’d had a chance to tell their parents in person, we got an announcement – the sneaky minxes had in fact eloped while on their trip. And you know what, we loved it! There were all these gorgeous pics of the two of them, so in love and sharing this special secret moment on the other side of the world. I still think they looked like one of the most relaxed couples I’ve ever seen on their wedding day. So ever since then, I think elopements are pretty awesome. Sure, they’re not for everyone (and there can be hurt feelings from family members and friends who want to be included), but there really is something special about a wedding with a guest list of ‘just us two’. And in the era of COVID-19 wedding options, an elopement may be your best option for getting wed in 2020. BUT here’s the thing – if you’re going this route, you’ll want a classier way to let your nearest and dearest know than just changing your status on Facebook. Something to let them in on the excitement, to let them know they were in your heart if not at the ceremony. Maybe even something to invite them to a party that you throw back at home or when social distancing restrictions relax. And that’s where the elopement wedding announcement comes in. The good news? There are tons of sweet, fun and pretty elopement announcements for you to say ‘we did’. Here are some of my favourites from the makers at Etsy, including 12 designed specifically for a Coronavirus elopement.
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
I know photographers are going to hate me for saying this (because to be fair, they are a nightmare to photograph), but candlelight ceremonies like the one in today’s sweet DIY farm-style wedding are just dreamy! And even more so in a wine cellar (after all, what good thing does NOT come out of a wine cellar?). Just imagine it – exposed wooden beams, wrought iron chandeliers, stray leaves crunching underfoot and a cool Cape summer breeze just peeking under the door. It’s rustic romance at its finest. Of course, you don’t actually have to imagine it, because Riekert Cloete (one of our very own SBB Directory members) has captured Karli and Divan’s wedding for you in all its lace and burlap finery, including the most adorable little windmill motif that’s perfectly (and subtly) woven throughout.Read More
Something about me: I LOVE things in miniature. Dolls houses, tiny envelopes and parcels, miniature food as canapes… you name it. So it’s not really a surprise that little mini wedding cakes get an excited ‘eeee!’ out of me every time I spot them on Pinterest. Because come on, they’re just SO. DARN. CUTE. And they’re very much a growing trend for 2015, for all kinds of weddings – just imagine the kick your guests will get out of them! But of course, the extra detail and work that goes into these beauties does often mean a hike in cost, and for big weddings it may not be a practical choice. So this is one of those occasions where having a small wedding allows you to really focus on the special little details – and even better, it means you won’t have a whole mess of leftover cake when you’re only feeding a handful of people. One cake per guest, served as dessert or – for slightly larger weddings – a small scale cake per table. Practical and lovely. Now that’s what we like. Here are 20 of my faves – I dare you not to ‘ooh’ at least once!Read More
Living in Durbs as I have been for the last while, I definitely have my favourite places and The Oyster Box in Umhlanga is right on that list. I think it’s the colonial-style decor (which I am total sucker for) or maybe the nostalgia I have for the area since my grandparents used to live there, but I’m never happier than when I’m sipping a cocktail at one of their elegant bars looking over the beach and the bright red striped lighthouse. So it’s always a pleasure to feature an Oyster Box wedding, and what I love most about Claire and David’s is that they totally embraced the venue’s design aesthetic and built on it, to create the most cohesive and elegant tropical classic. From the lush tropical flower arrangements to preppy touches like grey striped linens and Kelly-green bows, it’s chic and clean, and pairs beautifully with Claire’s super romantic bridal style. I mean, this dress. Be still my Vera Wang-obsessed little heart. One of SBB’s favourite photographers, the ever-lovely Just Judy, was there to capture all of this extreme pretty, and boy has she done herself proud. So get your Pinning fingers at the ready, and take it all in.Read More
