Floral Fairytale Styled Engagement

OMG this engagement shoot though! Literally, when I first came across Amber and Morne’s Cinderella-inspired couple session at Memoire on Instagram, I was totally convinced it was an editorial shoot with models instead of a real engagement, but that’s just because it’s so thoroughly romantic and beautiful (and the couple are so gorgeous!). A breezy spring vibe, a spectacular Elli-Nicole gown embellished with flowers that play perfectly against the blossoms and blooms that surround the couple throughout, a gorgeous vintage car… and of course the most breathtaking images from In Abundance Photography. It really is pure romance, so just take a deep breath and dive on in!

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Spring Garden Engagement Shoot

From winter to spring, we’re changing seasons from this morning’s winter wedding to this sweet e-shoot that takes place in the gardens of Val de Vie. Candice and Greg chose this locale for a relaxed stroll together and brought along a rather fabulous bouquet. And while it’s all about the love first and foremost, you KNOW I am also going to mention the styling because I do love a great choice of e-sesh outfit for the bride-and-groom-to-be! This is spring perfection – Candice in a classic Little White Dress with sequin jacket, and Greg in pastel trousers. Classic and preppy, but with just the right amount of interest to look great on camera. And look great they do, in these truly lovely pics by Claire Thomson!

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Dreamy Spring Film Engagement

One of the things  haven’t spoken about so much this month of Fine Art Weddings is photography, and TBH that’s a bit of an oversight, because so much of this style comes from the whole movement of fine art wedding photography, and the stylists who regularly work with the pioneers of that style and have together created this new trend in wedding design. And after all, there’s no point in putting all that effort into styling your big day if you’re not going to get it photographed by someone who ‘gets it’. Think Jose Villa, Elizabeth Messina, Jen Huang. That dreamy, ethereal look they are known for has a lot to do with the fact that they shoot on film, and while this is nothing new, it’s taken a while for film to make its way to SA weddings for various reasons. But over the last year or two, I’ve seen it offered more and more, and it makes my little heart so happy. Of course, film is more expensive, and digital work can be just as lovely, but I’m so glad that couples who love this look now have more options in terms of being able to choose it (most photographers who offer this as part of their wedding package shoot a combo of film and digital). One of my favourite local photographers in general, and on film in particular, is Rensche Mari. A few weeks back we featured Luan & Marné’s wedding, which she captured beautifully, and today we get to share their engagement shoot, which also happens to be all film! So you’ll get to see a perfect example of what I’m talking about. The idea is simple – an outdoor picnic, a walk among the willows. But through Rensche’s lens, it takes on a truly magical quality. Sigh!

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Cotton Fields Engagement Shoot

We don’t feature a lot of engagements here on SBB, but when we do, they always include a unique theme, gorgeous styling or a super cool location. Today’s e-shoot has two out of three, because Elzaan and Rikus not only picked a fabulous locale (cotton fields for days! And a citrus orchard!) but made it totally pop with their own fashion styling. We’re loving Elzaan’s embroidered floral Burberry dress (a bold choice, which totally works!) just as much as we adore Rikus’ tweed blazer and bowtie combo. Of course, what brings it all together is these wonderfully romantic pics by JCclick. I met this super nice pair of photographers recently at the TopVendor awards, and can’t wait to feature more of their work on SBB!

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Adorable Couple’s Boudoir

I have to admit you guys, when I heard that ‘couple’s boudoir’ was a thing, my first thought was: ick. I mean, some things should be private, right? But since then, I have to admit my mind has been changed by the classy way that photographers have captured fun, playful, intimate moments between couples. As today’s photographer, Samantha Jackson, says: “There are rules – we don’t want to get too out of hand! But overall the sessions are sexy and fun, and a reminder to couples of the steamy connection that they share.” That’s why I love this Mr and Mrs session – it’s super sweet (and beautifully captured) and, like the best kind of boudoir, is like a peek behind the scenes rather than a dodgy provocative lad’s mag shoot. It’s full of laughter and fun, and of course – love! And just wait until you read the adorable couple’s love story and how they pulled off the perfect, relaxed elopement!

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Love & Flowers Newlywed Shoot

I have such a pretty couple sesh to share with you all this afternoon, chock-full of colourful flowers and summery love! (And yes, I appreciate the irony as I write this with rain lashing at my windows, sigh.) Elreza and Chris, a pair of newlyweds, decided to have a little styled session a few weeks after their big day. Still sporting that just-married glow, they roped in photographer Velani Venter and a team of creatings, then styled up a storm, embellishing a swing with blooms and basking in the golden glow of light filtering through the trees for the most romantic e-session you can imagine!

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Rustic Forest Elegance Styled Engagement

No rest for the wicked, right? Well, that’s me apparently, because while it’s supposed to be a public holiday, I just couldn’t wait one more moment to get started on this month’s editorial theme, Rustic Elegance, or on the treasure trove of inspiration I have waiting for you all! This couple shoot comes courtesy of Charl van der Merwe and Evoque Events, and although it’s technically an engagement shoot, it is actually so. much. more. A gorgeous palette of dusty blue, white and gold, a spectacular bouquet (and lush table runner to match), so many pretty little table details to inspire your own elegant rustic wedding style – and all this before you even count in sweet-as-can-be lovebirds Mareli and Christo! It’s the contrast between rough and smooth, forest and fancy, that makes this style so compelling visually, but the love between the couple that really makes it so very special.

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Beach Romance Engagement

We’re heading back to the beach today (if only that were true, but it’s rainy and mis in Durbs) with a sweet little engagement shoot from SBB fave Nadine Aucamp, featuring a gorgeous gown by Silver Swallow. We don’t feature a lot of engagement shoots on SBB, but this one is so perfectly styled and photographed (and pups!), and Andrea and Christopher have such a unique love story (spoiler: they met on Instagram!) that I couldn’t resist! Enjoy…

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Safari Valentine

Happy Valentine’s Day, lovelies! Totally one of my favourite days of the year. And to celebrate, I have a dreamy styled engagement shoot to share with you today that is truly South African! Kyle and Lindsay love the bushveld, so for their couple sesh, they settled on a glamorous safari shoot. They chose Glen Afric as their location – a wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation centre with an outstanding reputation for animal care, which was also the filming location for the BBC series Wild at Heart. They took a walk in the bush in their finery (including that iconic Silver Swallow gown!) and came across the facility’s elephant family, who let’s be honest, totally steal the show! Marissa of Studio40Six was on scene to capture the magic.

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Romantic South African Protea Wedding Inspiration

Romantic South African Protea Wedding Inspiration | Image: Corette Faux

Get EXCITED, people, because I’m about to share some homegrown wedding inspiration that will knock your flip flops right off. I’ve been following the gorgeous work of photographer Corette Faux for a while now, so when an email from her popped up in my inbox, I couldn’t wait to open it and see what pretties were within. Well, wow. Let’s just say that, for a girl who loves proteas, I was in heaven. On a recent trip to SA, Corette joined up with a few local pros to create a mini shoot that is super pretty and inspirational. A bushveld-style setting, a Silver Swallow gown billowing in the breeze, a real couple in love, hand lettered stationery, a pretty table, and OMG that bouquet! I just love the way that this shoot combines the elements of soft and strong – indigenous flora mixed with the dreamiest of fabrics, a rugged landscape contrasting with elegant formal wear. For me, it’s the perfect representation of South African style, and I for one can’t wait to get pinning!

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