Category: Green

Inspiration Board {1 Theme 3 Ways}: Chic Safari

by gaby

Happy Monday folks! We have one of my favourite features on Cap Classique this week – 1 Theme 3 Ways, where I bring you three inspiration boards around a particular theme or motif, all with very different looks. Safari style isn’t something we always associate with the Cape, since there are such spectacular bush venues around the rest of the country, but I’ve had many requests recently for safari style (more about venues later this week). In fact, one of this week’s boards was designed specifically for a reader who is considering vintage safari as her theme. But today I thought I would start with a more modern palette – one that is bang on trend in fact: green, grey, black and white. I know lots of you want to avoid the very obvious animal motifs, but I think a touch of zebra works perfectly here – just be sparing and use it wisely. I love the combination of pale green and grey bridesmaid dresses and a delicate white and green bouquet with a touch of brunia, and then bolder graphic touches like the zebra stationery and the black and white striped rosette. And this being 2011, we can’t not have a bit of sparkle – how gorgeous is this bride’s bolero? This look is ideal for a couple who want an elegant modern wedding that still has a touch of the bushveld about it, or who want to reflect elements of a game lodge setting without going overboard, and it’s very easy to achieve. I love it – what do you think?

Colours: Green, grey, black and white

Top row (l-r): Bride with sparkly bolero (onelove photography); green and grey bridesmaids’ dresses (13:13 Photography); hanging lanterns (Cari Photography); lamp with rosette (Cari Photography)
Row 2: Zebras; bouquet with roses and brunia; I Married Adventure (onelove photography); rings with stamp (Laura Ashbrook Photography)
Row 3: Bride & groom (Zara Zoo); zebra stationery suite (Paper Moss/Laura Ashbrook Photography); outdoor reception (Shanna Jones).

Inspiration Board: Green & Gold

by gaby

Good morning everyone! My apologies that last week I didn’t get to post everything I had planned – bear with me, as there’s an awful lot going on behind the scenes. For now, here’s this week’s inspiration board and it’s one of my personal favourites! Green and gold are very special colours to South Africans, as they’re our national sporting colours and also represent our beautiful land and its natural resources. So I can’t think of a more appropriate palette for a South African wedding, and don’t they just look beautiful together?! By adjusting the details slightly you could make this work for just about any season, and add more rustic or more sophisticated touches depending on your venue and taste. One of the details I love is the elegant use of green glasses and gold utensils to get the colour scheme across on the table without going overboard. In terms of flowers, you could really go with any white flowers but I ADORE the combination of ranunculus and baby’s breath in this bouquet, and baby’s breath makes a great filler for elsewhere around the church or venue, which can allow you to have a bigger floral presence than you may otherwise be able to afford. Green shoes are a must for the bride, and this is a perfect opportunity to dress your girls in trendy white bridesmaids’ dresses. In terms of DIY, moss monograms are simple and incredibly lovely, and I also love the gold spraypainted wishing tree for your guests to leave messages on. And you guys, how gorgeous is this cake? All in all, I think it makes for a beautiful wedding. Who knew you could be patriotic so prettily?

Colours: White, green and gold

Top row (l-r): Place setting (Rebecca Hansen Weddings); ranunculus bouquet; white bridesmaids’ dresses (Atlas and Campbell); wedding cake with gilt and lace details (Sweet and Saucy Shop)
Row 2: Wishing tree; moss monogram letters; green shoes (Leo Patrone); general decor with hanging mason jars (Jamie Grenough)
Row 3: Bride & groom (Tec Petaja); invitation suite (EvaPaul Design/Rebecca Hansen Weddings); mini toffee apples; baby’s breath with gold monogram letters (Hailey Erickson)

Inspiration Board: Sparkle & Blush

by gaby

Happy Monday folks! Hope you had a great weekend. I had a great one catching up with friends, although I wish the fabulous spring weather we saw last month would come back! I could do with some more sunshine. Anyway, on with today’s inspiration board, which I have to say, has me feeling all girly and giddy. A bit of glitter will do that for you. As you already know, metallics are big this year and they’re often paired with a gorgeous soft pink. I’ve added just a touch of pistachio to the mix, and I think it looks delicious – an updated version of the sharper candy pink and bright green that was popular a couple of years back. This would work beautifully in just about any venue, and you could adapt it depending on the season. Just perfect!

Colours: Pastel pink and green, gold

Top row (l-r): Bride and groom (Jose Villa); teacups (AveryHouse); glittery dresses (Edyta Szyszlo); cake with crown topper
Row 2: Bride with gold bracelet (Our Labor of Love); glitzy table setting; escort cards (AveryHouse); bride with sparkly shoes (Kellie Kano); pink lemonade (Alice Hu Photography)
Row 3: Cherry blossoms; macaroons; glitter; hearts (Joielala Photographie)

Inspiration Board: Modern Moroccan

by gaby

Morning folks! First of all, I want to say a big thank you to all of you for your patience with me while I try to juggle everything this month – it’s been tough keeping up with the blog, Twitter and email when I don’t have much time to myself. I can’t promise we’ll resume normal service 100% this week, but I do have some seriously cool stuff coming your way. First of all, three weddings instead of two. Yayness! Secondly, we’re starting the official countdown to the Royal Wedding (which I will totally be checking out as your London ambassador, so follow me on Twitter if you want all the updates!). And finally, this inspiration board, which I am kind of in love with. What makes it extra special is that it’s a reader request, and I had soooo much fun doing it! (Seriously, send me more!) Gina wrote to me looking for some ideas for her Cape wedding – she wanted to bring in Moroccan details without it looking like a costume party. She also had some great ideas for colour schemes, but my favourite was white, green, grey and silver with just a touch of deep purple.

This would be SUCH a gorgeous look for a summer wedding. Think lots of crisp whites – lovely linens, soft curtains billowing in the breeze… With grey/silver and green, the overall look is light and bright and classic, and definitely steers away from the Arabian Nights party look. Being selective about colour and decor against a background of white means you get all the exotic flavour without going overboard. And I love the idea of a few select purple touches – bridesmaid dresses in a rich plum, a plate of figs on each table perhaps, maybe a few cushions. Guests would sit at long, low tables – either use Moroccan inspired fabrics like the one shown below, or choose white tablecloths with decorative tiles forming a runner. Succulents make a surprising and modern accent – I especially love the one used in the place setting here. Also include pretty tea glasses – fill them with flowers or use as a votive candle holder. And lanterns are a must – as many as possible! How incredible does the ceremony area look below with all of those lanterns hanging at different heights? Bedoin-style breakout areas (and of course a Moroccan menu!) complete the desert chic details. Hope you like this look Gina, and can’t wait to see your wedding!

Colours: White, green, grey/silver and purple

Top row (l-r): Place setting (Jodi Miller Photography); tiles; plum bridesmaid dress; lanterns
Row 2: Figs; bride & groom; cushion; flip flops; ceremony
Row 3: Table setting (Beth Helmstetter & Steve Steinhardt); Moroccan tea glasses; breakout area by Wedding Concepts.

Inspiration Board: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

by gaby

Herbs make such a lovely wedding accent. Just the thought of all those wonderful garden scents puts me in a good mood, and I love the idea of including them in your bouquet or table arrangements. Plus, herbs have the best meanings; sage, for example, is associated with respect and fidelity, and rosemary with loyalty and rememberance. I love the idea of wrapping them up with napkins or having potted herbs as favours, but I also just adore this couple’s idea of having various herbslaid out for guests to use as confetti (with linen bags this would also make a great favour). I think a key motif works beautifully with herbs, because of the secret garden associations, as do greenhouse-style windows for seating plans or whatever else you choose to write on them. I also love the hammered vintage spoons, which you could use as pretty table name markers instead of numbers.

Colours: A range of greens, browns and white

Top row (l-r): Bride (Jose Villa); dried sage (MaryJane Photography); stationery (Elisabeth Millay); windows (Public Image Photography)
Row 2: Dried rosemary (MaryJane Photography); flower girls (Elisabeth Millay/Jonathan Young); herbs in wooden box (Public Image Photography); green shoes (K. Holly Photography); keys (39 East Photography)
Row 3: Couple (Andrea K Photo); spoons (Hammermann); pie (Michèle M. Waite); table setting (Shoot Lifestyle); bride and groom (Lauren Ross Photography).

Inspiration Board: Artichoke & Aubergine

by gaby

We’re going a bit organic for today’s board, with inspiration from the fresh produce at a farmer’s market translated into a slightly rustic wine farm wedding. I’m crazy about this one! Jewel colours are huge news at the moment, but for me, when taking on big colours like purples and reds, the best way to avoid overload is to use natural materials and colours as much as possible. I love the idea of using vegetables in decor and even bouquets and eggplant and artichoke are two of my favourites (you can of course use the purple artichoke here too – and how gorgeous is that artichoke bouquet?). Just the purple and green would have been lovely, but I think the radishey red takes it up just a few pretty notches. Combine with oak barrels and lovely organic florals for the freshest of late summer or autumn looks. And if you’re after more of a farm look, replace the barrels with plenty of burlap and it’ll work equally well.

Colours: Aubergine purple, radish red and artichoke green

Top row (l-r): Aubergines; bridesmaid dress; pashminas; oak barrel
Row 2: Radishes; calligraphy; produce; centrepiece
Row 3: Artichoke candle; shutters escort cards; calligraphy name tag; long table in cellar

Inspiration Board: Artichoke & Aubergine | SouthBound Bride

Inspiration Board: Pine & Cider

by gaby

Brrr! For all of you South Africans waking up to a chilly winter morning, here’s a little bit of inspiration to warm you up. Summer weddings are glorious, but I adore winter ones too – what an opportunity to make the most of all those lovely cold comforts: open fires, hot cider, butternut soup… I just love this woodsy combination of forest green and brown, and pinecones make a lovely motif for stationery, etc. And isn’t the pinecone bouquet is just gorgeous? I love the garland as well.

Colours: Forest green and chocolate brown, with touches of mocha and yellow

Top row (l-r): Cider; bridesmaid dress; pinecone bouquet; Uggs bride
Row 2: Lemon cookies; pinecone garland; caramel apples; programmes; butternut soup
Row 3: Wood invitations; cheese cake; mason jar candles; sapling favours.

Inspiration Board: Vintage birds

by gaby

I’ve been wanting to do a green board for a little while, as I think it makes such an elegant wedding colour. I combined it with the vintage and bird trends that are so popular at the moment and I think it works beautifully – just the right mix of classic and rustic. There are little touches of grey and powder blue here, which you could play up, or you could combine the green with woody brown for a slightly more rustic effect.

Colours: green and white, with touches of grey, blue and gold

Top row (l-r): Birdcage with favours by Merci New York via Green Wedding Shoes; photo of shoes by Lynne Brubaker Photography; photo of nest by  Kristi Wright Photography via Style Me Pretty; photo of dress by Heidi Ryder via Love & Lavender
Row 2: Bridesmaid dresses from Martha Stewart Weddings; chocolate favours by Merci New York via Green Wedding Shoes; photo of typewriter guestbook by  Dana Grant via Green Wedding Shoes
Row 3: Photo of boutonniere by Simple Photo in Ontario via Style Me Pretty; wine lables via The Bride’s Guide; photo of bird escort cards by Henry Shoots via Style Me Pretty; photo of blankets by MIND|Castle Studios via Style Me Pretty; photo of cake by Amy & Stuart via Snippet & Ink.