Category: Hen Parties & Showers

Hen Party Theme: Circus

by gaby

Image via Pinterest

Time for the weekend, lovelies! Hope you have a good one planned. Before I get on to today’s feature, I wanted to apologise for things being a little slower than usual here on the blog (and on my email, sorry anyone who’s been in touch!) – if you follow on Facebook you’ll know I managed to sprain a finger (nothing serious, but having your right index finger strapped to your middle one kind of gets in the way of typing very quickly!). Things will be 100% back to normal next week. Hey, these things happen, right? ANYWAY, so it’s been a while since I did a hen party theme roundup, and I’m very excited about this one! Circus weddings have been a big trend in the last couple of years, and I adore them, but not everyone wants to go so ‘themey’ for their actual wedding. The perfect solution? A Big Top Bridal Shower! SUCH a fun theme, and you can really make it classy (and shape it around whatever level of activity you’re planning).Read More

William Clarke Flowers Workshop

by gaby

Sometimes I get to do the coolest stuff. Like a couple of weeks ago, when I got a certain invitation in my inbox. Did I, it asked, want to go and hang with William Clarke Flowers and a bunch of fabulous wedding bloggers, learning to make a hand-tied bouquet while sipping champagne? Did I? Pff. Stupid question. So the following Saturday, off I went to the William Clarke studio in London. My dear friends Louise of b.loved and Amma of Beyond Beyond were there too, and I also got to meet the lovely Meryl of Homegrown Bride, Michele the Bridal Coach and of course Nicola of Propose PR, not to mention William Clarke himself, the delightful Brian, and associate Deborah Zwetsloot of Wedding Day Hire. (And you know that thing I said yesterday about South Africans secretly taking over the world? Well, William’s in on it. He’s a born and bred Saffa, who started out in hotels and moved into flowers, and now posh people pay him to make their dining room tables always look like they’ve been styled by Homes and Gardens.) So there we were, drinking Pimms and champagne before noon (well, it was five o’clock somewhere) and snacking on breakfasty canapes and generally just feeling impossibly glamorous. Brian and Deborah took us to see their secret stash of awesome in the showroom next door, where brides and grooms can have a full consultation to weigh up their decor options.Read More

Supplier Spotlight: Bella Chiara Kitchen Teas

by gaby

 

The first time I went to a kitchen tea I was about three, dragged along with my mom. The ladies played games and put the bride-to-be in a funny hat, and she got presents like fish platters shaped like fish, and mielie holders shaped like corn, and tomato sauce bottles shaped like tomatoes (what was WITH that in the ’80s?). I thought they were all mad. Fortunately, kitchen teas (bridal showers, whatever you want to call them!) have come a long way since then, but they’re still an opportunity for a bride-to-be to spend some quality time with the women in her life ahead of her big day, and I know you ladies are always looking for great ideas. So I knew I had to share it with you when I stumbled across Bella Chiara, a Cape Town-based accessories label who also host creative kitchen teas where a bride and her entourage can make lovely clay decorative items together. It’s a perfect hen activity as you get to know one another in a chilled out situation, and take something pretty home with you at the end of the day. Here’s a bit more from Claire of Bella Chiara…Read More

Alice in Wonderland Bridal Shower + Free Printables!

by gaby

Alice in Wonderland Bridal Shower

Image credit: Jaqui Franco Photography on SouthBound Bride

Lovelies, I am VERY excited about today’s post. It all started when a lovely reader and bride-to-be, Tanya, mailed me the invitation to her Alice in Wonderland bridal shower. It had Mad Hatter tea party theme (or ‘Alles in Wonderland’ in Afrikaans!) I asked to see some pics, and she sent over loads of them – these girls looked like they were having a wonderful time! I couldn’t believe how much effort her friends had gone to in creating the Alice in Wonderland-themed decor, but the best was yet to come. Tanya’s friend Andrea Kuhn mailed me offering to send me her files as free downloads for the blog, so she could share them with all of you. How sweet is that? We love Andrea. What I love about these printables is that they’re really whimsical – a perfect nod to the novel, but so usable for a fun bridal shower. Cupcake flags, tags, cards for the table, photo props – they’re all there for you to download and print yourself or via your favourite printing service. And to get you started with the rest of the planning, we’ve also put together a bridal shower essentials buying guide! Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Read More

How to Throw a Chanel Themed Bridal Shower

by gaby

How to Throw a Chanel Themed Bridal Shower | SouthBound Bride

I have been super excited to share a Parisian Chanel themed bridal shower with my readers! I think this makes an absolutely gorgeous, glamorous (and totally do-able), classy hen party theme, especially if your bride-to-be is a sparkly Sex and the City type, or if you’re looking for a really grown up party. In fact, it works just as well as a birthday party theme, or even just a girly night out (who needs a reason, right?). We’ve pulled together some fab ideas and finds for French themed party decor and invitations – just say oui! Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Read More

Hen Party Theme: Twilight

by gaby

You didn’t think I’d let this week go by without something Twilight-related, did you? I have to admit, although a few years ago I never would have thought I’d be a fan, I can’t WAIT to go and see the latest film. A wedding! In a forest! Jacob with his shirt off! All my favourite things. I’m guessing lots of you will be feeling the same way, and although it may sound a bit cheesy, Twilight actually makes a great little theme for a bachelorette or hen party (assuming the bride is a fan, of course!). Here’s everything you need to know to make it Twi-umphant rather than Twi-hard, and turn your bestie into a bitten smitten kitten.

Read More

How to Throw a Great Gatsby Themed Bridal Shower

by gaby

Great Gatsby 1920s Themed Bridal Shower

Looking for a hen party/bachelorette theme that’s glamorous and fun? Well, look no further! Great Gatsby bridal showers are all the rage! After all, a little party never killed nobody :) 1920s themed parties are always super fun – let’s be honest, haven’t we all secretly wanted to dress up as a flapper and Charleston the night away? It can’t just be me. It’s perfect for a bridal shower as well, because you can start off with a sedate 1920s-style tea party, and then dig into the bootleg gin once moms and grans have left for the evening for a roaring ’20s-style bachelorette (the end of prohibition LOL!) It’s also relatively easy to dress up for, and not something your girls will feel too embarrassed to wear either. Plus, the ’20s are all about glamour and wild abandon, which is exactly what a hen night should be, imo. SO… How to do it? Here’s a quick guide to getting started with decor, food, invitations, activities, etc. And along the way we’re sharing images from a real Gatsby bridal shower from photographer Suzanne Swart!
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Read More

Sew in Love Bridal Shower by Luna and Chloe Weddings

by gaby

Sew in Love Sewing Themed Bridal Shower

You know how with some blogs you stop in and immediately know you’ve found a second home? Well, Luna and Chloe Weddings was one of those for me – I loved it from the first time I visited. Kristi has an amazing eye for detail, and a talent for seeing the potential for beauty in everyday objects. So I can’t even tell you how excited I am that not only did Kristi agree to do a guest blog for me while I’m away, but she was kind enough to create this incredible bridal shower inspiration shoot, which I am absolutely dying over! I can’t think of a better way to kick off my series of guest blogs – thank you so much, Kristi! Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Read More

London Hen Night

by gaby

Happy Tuesday, folks! Instead of a wedding, today we have a real hen party, organised by yours truly for my lovely friend Heidi. It’s actually kind of nervewracking showing off something I’ve designed myself, especially since the printer and I had a little last minute disagreement (machines! pff!) and the fonts are a little, shall we say, pedestrian as a result. Fortunately, I’m pretty sure that Cheryl McEwan could make anything look good with her beautiful photographs. She seriously went above and beyond for us, and I cannot sing her praises loudly enough. (I’m only sorry she’s leaving London, but our loss is Cape Town’s gain!)

Read More