Neutrals - SouthBound Bride

Inspiration Board: Stylish Simplicity

22 May, 2017 by gaby

I love fancy. After all, Baz Luhrmann is my favourite director and that guy does nothing understated. But there’s a special kind of pleasure in diving into a wedding style that’s pared back and elegant and minimalist, a style that lets nature speak for itself through natural textures like wood and foliage, enhancing them ever so slightly with a glimmer of gold here and a swish of tulle there. That’s what today’s inspiration is all about – and when it comes to rustic weddings, it just shows that simple can be the most beautiful of all. (Links in bold denote affiliate links – the cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission on any sales.)

Top row (l-r): Place setting (Steve Steinhardt/Modern Dame) | Painted Leaf Wedding Invitation (Minted) | Bridesmaids bouquet (Kate Preftakes Photography/Events by Sorrell/Apotheca Flowers)
Row 2: Ceremony setting (Virgil Bunao Photography/Easton Events) | Bride with simple floral crown (JoPhoto/MOD Events Charleston) | White tiered cake (Jemma Keech/The Cake & I)
Row 3: Bride on farm (Tom Ravenshear) | Greenery & foliage bouquet (Craig & Eva Sanders) | Chair decor with greenery (Taylor Lord/The Nouveau Romantics)

How fabulous is that watercolour foliage invitation from Minted? Plus it has rose gold foiling, which I adore and comes in two other colours. Perfect for an elegant organic bride!

Inspiration Board: Rise & Fall

10 October, 2016 by gaby

It may be spring here in South Africa, but it’s been autumn all over the blogs of my fellow wedding bloggers in the US and it weirdly has me almost longing for the chillier season again (don’t worry, I’ll get over it). So in honour of that, I’ve put together this ‘fall’-themed board, a seasonal take on this month’s boho/wild beauty theme. Using traditional copper and red earth tones and adding in soft mocha and ivory, it still looks like a classic autumn palette, but the details enjoy that natural, organic, unbound look that we’re loving so much at the moment. I’m especially loving the ceremony area, including a glorious branch ‘tipi’, as well as the shiny pops of copper against the florals.

Top row (l-r): Bride with curls (Michael Radford Photography/Jen Plus Colour) | Copper table number frame (Dawn Charles/Seven Stems Design and Events/Mary Me Bridal) | Copper bottle candle holders (OctaviaplusKlaus/factsandfeelings/Goldregen florales Design)
Row 2: Autumn bouquet (Archetype/Rebecca Rose Events) | Plum & thyme prosecco smash cocktail (My Diary of Us) | Semi-naked cake (Petra Veikkola Photography)
Row 3: Place setting (With Lov3- Emme Wynn Photography) | Boho ceremony area (Lauren Fair Photography/Oleander) | Invitation (Christine Gosch/Camel & Birdie)

Inspiration Board: Marble & Blush

26 July, 2016 by gaby

Recently marble has been making a bit of a design splash in wedding world. I couldn’t think of a better way to put a twist on classic monochrome, and when you add in a hint of the softest blush, you have a new twist on the classic but a bit been-there-done-that blush and grey palette too. I especially love the idea of having all the big colour blocks – linens, bridesmaid dresses, flowers, etc. stick with the white and pale grey look, and then having the bride wear an ethereal blush gown. The trick in general is to keep things white and bright, letting marble’s cold palette work for you and its pretty texture keep things interesting, and then warm things up with the lightest touch of metallics and pink. The result is trendy but timeless – the perfect combo!

Colours: Pewter, dove grey, white & blush

Top row (l-r): Marble wedding invitation (Upon A Time Paperie) | Marble escort cards (Blush Wedding Photography/Alicia Keats/Lele Chan Designs) | Marble wedding cake (Sweet Bakes)
Row 2: Engagement ring (Amber Hatley Photography/Stephanie Scholl Events/Trumpet and Horn/The Mrs. Box) | Place setting (Brushfire Photography/Lesley Lau) | Dove grey bridesmaid dress (Maids to Measure) | Pink champagne (White Loft Studio)
Row 3: Blush wedding dress (Carousel Fashion) | Marbled ribbon (Mike Krautter/Silk and Willow) | Shoes (Mint Photography/Event Solutions/Enzo Angiolini)

Top left: In Stone Wedding Invitation by Upon A Time Paperie | Top right: Regent Dress in Dove Grey by Maids to Measure | Bottom: Orchidee Wedding Gown by Carousel Fashion

Links in bold denote affiliate links. SouthBound Bride may make a commission if a sale is made.

Inspiration Board: Classic Monochrome

11 July, 2016 by gaby

Happy Monday lovelies! When I think of a classic wedding palette, beyond white on white or soft blush, the one that immediately comes to mind for me is monochrome. Crisp and sophisticated, traditional but somehow also entirely modern, you can’t go wrong with this timeless combo that’s the essence of ‘black tie’. Just take a look at today’s inspiration board – it’s pure, timeless glamour, like a Sinatra number or a diamond ring. What more could a classic bride want?

Colours: Black, white & soft gold

Top row (l-r): Bouquet (KT Merry Photography/Urban Poppy) | Tablescape (Watson-Studios/Jennifer Laraia Designs) | Calligraphy menu (Daphne And Michelle/DM Events/Paperfinger)
Row 2: Champagne (Gabe Aceves Photography/Engaging Affairs) | Cake (Marsais/Buttercup Bakery) | Dog attendant (Mi Belle Photography/Bash Please) | Engagement ring (Sundari Gems)
Row 3: Classic car (Jose Villa Photography/Albemarle Limousine) | Bride (KT Merry Photography/Oscar De La Renta/Peter Langner) | Bridesmaids in black (Adrienne Gunde/The Overwhelmed Bride)

We’re crazy in love with the engagement ring featured in this board – isn’t it just so PRETTY? It’s from Sundari Gems on Etsy.

Long black bridesmaid dresses are the perfect complement to this wedding style (and your girls will love you for dressing them in something they can wear again!). Here are some of our current faves:

**This post contains affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission if a sale is made.

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Inspiration Board: Winter White

6 June, 2016 by gaby

Hello lovelies! After a few days off being under the weather last week, I’m back in action and ready to share some gorgeous winter inspiration with you today! We’re kicking things off with an inspiration board, and what could be better or more classic than a white on white colour scheme? It’s perfect for a wintery wedding (whether or not you have snow to make the look complete) – just add a few gentle neutrals and metallics and otherwise keep things clean and crisp and… well, even. (Aaaaand now I’ll be humming Good King Wenceslas all day, thanks brain.) Paired with a beautiful lace sleeve wedding dress, it’s winter wedding perfection! (This post contains affiliate links)

Colours: White, ivory, sage, gold

Top row (l-r): Candles | Invitation suite (Jon Cu/Yvonne Xue/Paper Birch) | Wedding dress with lace sleeves (A Creative Atelier)
Row 2: Baby’s breath ceremony arch (Anastasia Belik/PEONY studio/Мarina Shentyapina) | Snow ring shot (Janelle Rodriguez Photography) | boutonnieres (Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography/Just A Little Ditty/Floral Images Design Studio)
Row 3: Iced biscuits (Michelle Photography/Weddings by Marius/Plum Tree Cakes) | Couple in snow (Rebecca Hollis Photography/Beargrass Gardens Floral & Events) | White place setting (Joy Michelle Photography/Hailey Grace Events/Anchor Point Paper Co.) | Cake with gold glitter (Cavin Elizabeth Photography/Luxe Events/Sweet Cheeks Baking Company)

Aren’t we just loving the lace sleeve wedding dress featured on this board? It’s available on Etsy from A Creative Atelier.

We’ve rounded up more long sleeve wedding dress inspiration HERE, or have a peek at our current high street lace sleeve bridal finds:

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Inspiration Board: Farm & Field

31 March, 2016 by gaby

Before our month of farm-fresh inspiration ends, I just had to create one more moodboard. This is what I really think of when I imagine a farm-to-table wedding – something organic, and natural, and rustic but very romantic. With a bit of a botanical feel and a neutral palette, and including fresh produce and natural textures. It may not seem ‘wedding-ey’ as a concept, but when you put it all together, I think it’s so pretty! If you’re drawn to this look, be sure to balance the ‘rougher’ elements with more elegant, traditional ones – calligraphy, fine linen and china, or touches of metallics, for example. The best part? You can send your guests home to cook their centrepieces for Sunday lunch ;)

Colours: Sage, taupe & white

Top posts (l-r): Artichoke table number (Sylvie Gil Photography/Shannon Leahy/Natalie Bowen) | tablescape (Ace Photography/Cedarwood Weddings) | calligraphy eggs (Ali Harper)
Row 2: Bride & groom (welovepictures) | artichoke centrepiece (Moira West Photography/Dear Idea) | cutlery tied with twine (Illuminate Photography)
Row 3: Seed packets | bridesmaids (Brosnan Photographic/Elegant Events) | cheese cake (Michelle Joubert-Martin/Fairview) | vegetable escort cards (Jeremiah And Rachel Photography/Habitat Events/Habitat Floral Studio)

Inspiration Board: Traveller’s Journal

16 November, 2015 by gaby

I have to say, I’m having fun with the inspiration boards this month, reinventing the travel theme for current trends and styles. Today’s is no exception. For this one, I was inspired by the idea of a watercolour travel journal, which immediately made me think of this amazing stationery suite, and that made me think of sunny days in the beautiful Italian countryside. I love the way that neutrals as a colour scheme can look so romantic – it’s all about textures. Soft tulle, honey brickwork, soft leather, ribbon, lace… This is one travel-styled wedding that will never date.

Colours: Shades of neutral & white

Top row (l-r): Travel journal invitation suite {Ceci New York}; stone building {Jose Villa Photography}; place setting {Jose Villa/Easton Events}
Row 2: Bride in veil {Jose Villa Photography}; getaway car {Jose Villa Photography}; leather luggage tags {HarLex}
Row 3: Cake {KT Merry/Moda e Arte Workshop/Joy Proctor Design/Hotel Caruso}; bride & groom {Jose Villa Photography/Joy de Vivre Design Boutique}; bridesmaids & bouquets {Kate Preftakes Photography/Events by Sorrell/Apotheca Flowers}

Inspiration Board: Champagne

19 October, 2015 by gaby

Is it too early in the morning for champagne? Ha, don’t be silly. It’s NEVER too early for champagne. Of course, this is the kind of champagne that won’t get you into trouble with your boss, the latest in our inspiration boards designed for wine varieties (see Rosé & Merlot if you missed them) in honour of our vineyard wedding month. And I have to say, I love this sparkly neutral, which pairs beautifully with many other romantic shades – gold, blush, grey… But today we’re sticking to the single colour, and loving the delicate balance of sophistication and dreaminess. So what do you say – champers, darling?

Colours: Champagne & white

Top row (l-r): Bride in champagne wedding dress {Jennifer Ebert Photography/La Boheme Events/Lovely Bride}; candle tablescape {Wendell T. Webber}; champagne in bucket {Pasha Belman}
Row 2: Peony centrepiece {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management/Francesco Di Bianco}; love letter {Lavender Calligraphy}; bridesmaids {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management}
Row 3: Place setting {Sylvie Gil/Bliss Event Productions}; bridesmaid & invitation {Josh Gruetzmacher/Aerialist Press}; cake {Coco Tran/Lara Kreutner}; champagne coupés {Frank & Joy}

Inspiration Board: Natural // Beauty

1 June, 2015 by gaby

Hey lovelies – time for me to reveal our brand new monthly content ‘theme’. This month we’re doing something a teensy bit different, in that we’re focusing on a more loose idea – that of natural beauty. Or rather, as I’ve called this board, natural-slash-beauty. Expect beautiful (natural) neutrals, boudoir and bridal shoots, hair & makeup and beauty advice… you get the picture! The idea behind this board is a simple one: simplicity itself. Because for some brides, less fuss is definitely the way to go. Think calming neutral colours, elegantly basic details, natural textures, simple details like candlelight, blossoms and a whisper of lace. And, most importantly, allowing the beauty of the landscape and your surroundings to take centre stage. As the saying goes: simple may not always be best, but the best is always simple.

Colours: Layered beige neutrals

Top row (l-r): Bride {Lacie Hansen/Vera Wang}; bridesmaid dresses {Maggie Harkov Photography/Vera Wang}; centrepiece {Ashley Woodson Bailey/Ginny Branch/Haley Sheffield}
Row 2: Ring {Tec Petaja/Bash, Please}; invitation suite {firstmatephoto.com}; cake {Angelworx/Moda e Arte/Joy Proctor}
Row 3: Candlelight stairs {KT Merry Photography}; landscape {Nicole Rich}; bride {Elizabeth Messina}

Inspiration Board: Stormy Weather

18 May, 2015 by gaby

All of this month we’re bringing you boards inspired by the colours in Pantone’s Fall 2015 palette, but today, instead of combining two or more, we’re focusing on just the one. When I was looking up images for our Pantone bridesmaid inspiration post last week, I just fell in love with Stormy Weather, a beautiful shade of dark grey that I think is amazing for a winter or autumn wedding. I actually think it works well on its own, with some lighter shades of grey and cold weather natural textures, but I couldn’t resist warming it up just a little with a touch of copper, and oh my gosh, I love it! Cool, sophisticated and cosy, all at the same time. And with a bit of a romantic, Wuthering Heights feel too. So here you go. Stormy weather isn’t always a bad thing on your wedding day ;)

Colours: Pantone Stormy Weather, dove grey, copper & white

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Adam Barnes/Amanda Gray of Ashley Baber Weddings/The Arrangement Company}; place setting {Cassidy Carson/12th Table/Kelly Lenard}; bride {Sibo Designs}
Row 2: Grey dress & ring {Brosnan Photographic/Pearl and Godiva/Claire Pettibone}; copper foiled invitations {Cocorinna}; copper ring
Row 3: Grey candles {Cox & Cox}; copper cake; bride & groom {Braedon Photography}