Category: Inspiration Boards

Inspiration Board: Cornflower & Orange Grove

by gaby

Morning, friends – time for our Monday morning inspiration! Today I’ve put together a board that mixes some of my favourite things – a dash of duck egg blue, a spritz of citrus, and a soupçon of French countryside styling. I absolutely love the way that these colours work together, and it gives me such a feeling of summer and sunshine, but with an elegant edge. Although it’s a look that would happily translate to a number of venues, it has me dreaming of a blue-shuttered chateau in France, with orange garlands and little kumquat decorations on the cake and table, and a gorgeous pale blue wedding dress. Isn’t it pretty?

Colours: Duck egg blue & orange

Top row (l-r): Table setting {Stephanie Williams}; blue wedding dress; cake with kumquat decorations {Lisa Vorce/Mindy Rice}; vintage truck {Joy de Vivre/Michael & Anna Costa}
Row 2: Orange crate with soaps {Hand in Hand}; invitations {Raymond Hom}; blue wedding shoes {Jeremy and Alicia Brown/Vintage Whites Weddings}
Row 3: Orange chandelier wreath {Ryan Ray Photo/Events of Love and Splendor}; chateau wedding.

 

Inspiration Board: Copper & Shweshwe

by gaby

I’m so excited to bring you today’s inspiration board, because it’s a preview of a mini-shoot I’ll be sharing with you tomorrow, a collaboration between myself and Piteira Photography (yay, can’t wait!). It features one of my absolute FAVOURITE prints, a truly South African design element (and one which is going to be really hitting its stride in 2014): shweshwe. For me, using this iconic South African fabric is the most gorgeous way to bring a homegrown twist to your wedding design, and still be right up to date with wedding trends internationally (prints, after all, are having their day in the sun). You can get shweshwe in quite a range of colours now, but the original indigo is the one I love most, and it’s a stylish and contemporary shade that combines beautifully with many other colours. I wanted to show how the pattern can be used in a really elegant way – for example, at a classic winelands venue – so I combined it with cool wedding white and a contemporary metallic, copper, for a bit of warmth. The colours look really graceful together, especially with the addition of white candles as a third key design element. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see where we ended up, but for today, I hope you love our inspiration!

Colours: Indigo, copper & white

Top row (l-r): Sash with shweshwe rosette {Julie Wilhite}; cake with high taper candles {White Loft Studio/Mayflour Cake + Confection}; table setting {}; long tables {Jose Villa}
Row 2: Shweshwe bowl; invitation suite; shweshwe fabric
Row 3: Blue bridesmaids {Caroline Tran/Kelly Oshiro}; copper tag escort cards {Mark Brooke Photography/JL Designs}; brass candlesticks; copper vase {Docuvitae/Kourtney James Perry}.

 

Inspiration Board: Cupid’s Arrow

by gaby

It’s Valentine’s week, lovelies!!! And in honour of the annual festival of Lurve, we have a week packed full of lovey dovey goodness for you (more than usual for a wedding blog, even). You’ll be ah-ing over love stories and proposals, falling in love with some very pretty weddings and of course getting some V-Day style inspiration. Starting with our inspiration board today. Instead of going for the ‘typical’ reds of a Valentine palette, I decided to opt for the softest, sweetest blush and combine it with clean white and a touch of gold and grey. To play on the Cupid theme, I’ve included some cheruby details, as well as an arrow motif (this is actually very trendy in fashion and design, so if you have a Valentine connection in your love story, it’s a great way to bring it in subtly). I must say, I am rather smitten. How about you?

Colours: Blush, rose, white, gold & grey

Top row (l-r): Bride with bridesmaids {Brumley & Wells/A Vintage Affair Events + Rentals}; angel wings {Anita Spero Design}; portrait back dress {Elizabeth Messina/Claire Pettibone}
Row 2: Arrow wedding invitation {Minted}; bouquet {Logan Cole Photography/Beau & Arrow Events}; flower crown {Natalie Spencer Photography/Darling & Daisy};gold feather boutonniere {Michele Ng}
Row 3: Arrow bracelet {Our Labor of Love}; Cupid dessert display {Natalie Spencer Photography/Darling & Daisy}; arrow place setting {MCR PROJECTS}.

 

Inspiration Board: Coral, Teal & Gold Leaf

by gaby

Hello lovelies! Today’s inspiration board is a little reader request via Instagram for bride Angelina, who asked for a board in teal, coral and gold. I haven’t done reader requests in a while, but I was happy to oblige, especially with this gorgeous palette. I should say that a lot of brides who lean towards this sort of palette are thinking of a colour slightly lighter than teal – a turquoise or an aqua, or even a mint – as they go absolutely perfectly with coral (if you love this, check out Tropical Coral & Mint, this coral & aqua inspiration shoot, or our Hawaiian Honeysuckle colour story). But I loved the idea of teal, a slightly deeper shade that adds an extra note of sophistication. And of course, gold is the perfect accent colour. I love me a bit of a motif, and recently I have been noticing with pleasure the textured gilt finish of a gold leaf effect (think we’ll be seeing more of this in weddings this year). It makes an awesome touch here – just the perfect amount of distressed glitter. Oh, and how AMAZING are coral peonies? Sigh. Angelina – hope you like your board!

Colour: Teal, coral, gold

Top row (l-r): Bride with coral peony bouquet {Elizabeth Messina/katflower }; gold leaf ring bowl; coral peony wedding cake {Annabella Charles Photography}
Row 2: Teal and gold leaf macarons {Fiona Kelly Photography/Linen and Silk Weddings}; peony centrepiece; teal invitation suite {Marta Harding}
Row 3: Peach wedding dress {Brklyn View Photography}; boutonniere {José Villa}; coral peony arrangement {Zofia & Co. Photography/Soiree Floral }; teal and gold shoes {Apryl Ann Photography/After Yes Weddings}.

 

Inspiration Board: Moroccan Boho

by gaby

Good grief, how is it Monday again? Today we’re bringing some boho sunshine to the blog, courtesy of this pretty inspiration board, which was inspired by a Hideous Kinky Morroccan bohemian-style vibe. Soft peachy orange combines perfectly with 2014’s colour of the year, Radiant Orchid, especially with intricate bronze detailing and our fave flower, the protea. If you love this look, then check out our suggestions for Morroccan wedding decor as well :)

Colours: Radiant orchid, orange, pink & white

Top row (l-r): Boho bride {Ciara Richardson}; bridesmaid with protea bouquet {Sarah Joelle Photography}; boho tent {Jenny Kim Photo/Drew Bennett + Sitting In A Tree}
Row 2: Moroccan lanterns {Sweet Emilia Jane & Sitting in a Tree}; boho dress with lace back detail {Poise by Nadia}; rose wine on brass tray {Mint Photography/Pink Parasol Designs and Coordinating}
Row 3: Bride {Grace Loves Lace}; purple VW camper {Danielle Capito Photography/Taylor Made Events and Design}; protea bouquet {Adam Barnes/Petal}.

 

Inspiration Board: Forest Fantasy

by gaby

Happy Monday lovelies! It’s another week of inspiration on SouthBound Bride, and wedding planning for you all – how is it going? Are you finding everything you need here? Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or requests for features or ideas. We’re starting the week off, as we always do, with an inspiration board and this one comes straight from the enchanted forest – a theme that is very of-the-moment. We’re lucky in South Africa that we have lots of gorgeous foresty venues, and in today’s board I’ve taken a pretty straightforward (emphasis on the pretty) to the theme, with a palette of emerald and just a hint of soft blush and gold. I love the idea of woodland animals being part of the look, especially spraypainted gold (such a nifty little DIY), and handpainted in the invitation (handpainted designs being another big trend for 2014). It’s very rustic and romantic, but it also somehow has an air of formality and ‘specialness’, doesn’t it? Just perfect for a couple who loves nature.

Colours: Emerald, blush, gold

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom {Rebecca Hansen}; invitation {Lori Wemple}; table decor {Meg Van Kampen Studios/White Dress Events}
Row 2: Bouquet {Joe+Kathrina}; bride with floral garland {Brittany Mahood/Lace and Lavender}; forest table {Meghan Kay Sadler/Carly Rae Weddings}; dress in forest {Ampersand Photography}
Row 3: Bridesmaids {Alfred Lor}; cake with deer cake toppers {Mi Amore Foto}; ring in glass box {W & E Photographie/Kelly Dellinger Events}.

 

Inspiration Board: Dove Grey & Rose Gold

by gaby

Some colour combinations I just fall completely in love with when I’m working with them, and I have to say, this is one of them! I mentioned rose gold as one of 2013’s biggest trends, so I thought I would combine it with a soft bluey-grey, and wow. Don’t you just adore it? I can just imagine this romantic palette being used at a sophisticated wedding with delicate fabrics, elegant florals, and of course, rose gold jewellery. Copper (and of course, normal gold) would also work, but I think the rose gold is especially pretty, and it works beautifully with blousy blush florals and ruffly bridesmaid dresses. (PS We’re debuting a slightly different format for SBB inspiration boards today, one that’s Instagram-friendly. What do you think?)

Colours: Rose gold, dove grey & white

Top row (l-r): Feather headpiece {Victoria Millésime}; dress {Jessica Burke Photography/Amanda O’Shannessy Creative}; individual bundt cakes; blush bouquet {Belathee Photography}
Row 2: Ruffle bridesmaids {Jessica Lorren,}; rose gold rings and invitation {Jennifer Blair Photography}; dress {Jessica Burke Photography/Amanda O’Shannessy Creative}
Row 3: Rose gold boxes {Muhs Home}; earrings {Crystal Avenues}; ruffled chair backs {Phyllis Lane Photographer/Victoria Canada Weddings & Events}

 

Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchid

by gaby

Image source: Kate Triano Photography via Capitol Romance

Hello lovelies (and especially hello new SouthBound brides!). Mondays are when we typically debut a brand new inspiration board, but with this being a new year, we have a bit of a bonus. Every year, we celebrate the newest Pantone colour of the year around this time, and this year it’s the gorgeously named “Radiant Orchid”. At first I was a little surprised that this one cracked the nod, being that I think blue is going to be huge in 2014, but once I started working with it, I totally understood. The thing about radiant orchid is that it has all the brightening qualities of a fuschia, the deepening qualities of purple or indigo, and the calm romance of lilac. To me, the Business Mirror described it best: “More lush than lilac, more sophisticated than pink and more rapturous than purple… more sedate than mauve and softer than plum”. Basically, if pink or purple have featured in your colour scheme dreams, then radiant orchid is the perfect, modern alternative.Read More

Inspiration Board: Plumfetti

by gaby

Happy Monday my lovely friends! Is everyone ready to be inspired? Today I thought we would play with one of my favourite things at the moment (glitter, you know it). Usually we see it combined with bright and soft pinks, but I got to thinking how lovely it would be with a range of purples. Plums, soft violets, lavender and lilac. Paired with glamorous gold, crisp whites and dreamy tulles. What’s not to love?

Colours: Lavender, plum & gold

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Shari + Mike Photographers/Everything Beautiful Events}; dress with gold detail {Kim Maguire Photography}; bride & bridesmaids {Mint Photography}; ring box {Sarah Gawler}; place setting {Paige and Blake Photography}
Row 2: Gold paper straws; desserts on frames {Be Inspired PR/Be Inspired PR}; dress detailing {Kim Maguire Photography}; cork monogram {Stacy Able Photography}
Row 3: Bride & groom {Troy Grover Photographers}; flower girl; glitter {Robyn Kessler/Rebecca Wright}; gold shoes; champagne bottle.

 

Colour Story: Peach Blossom

by gaby

Afternoon, SouthBound brideys – oh, and by the way, a very happy Thanksgiving to our American readers! This afternoon we’re continuing with our day of everything peachy, following the Peach Watercolour shoot I featured this morning. It’s time to take a second look at the gorgeous Peach Blossom Bride stationery suite created for the SBB Collection by Magpie Collections. The shoot itself wasn’t based on one inspiration board, but we’ve featured loads of peach ones here on the blog – here are just a few…Read More