Inspiration Boards - SouthBound Bride

Inspiration Board: Barnyard Blush

1 May, 2017 by gaby

I’ve actually been amping to get started on the inspiration boards for this month’s editorial theme because rustic + elegant/glam is one of my faaaaavourite looks you guys. It’s that juxtaposition between indoor and outdoor and the mixture of soft, romantic style with more rustic, woodsy elements. And while burlap might be a little bit tired as far as rustic weddings go, there are plenty of other textures that you can incorporate. Wood is the most obvious, and my favourite, because it’s so versatile. Just look at the examples here: wood crates to house soft blush blooms, long wooden tables, wine barrels and wood blocks painted and calligraphed as table numbers. Oh so pretty. Blush is just the most classic of all colours, so it mixes perfectly here, and then a touch of shiny gold adds the final element. This is pretty much the signature look for this style, and you really can’t go wrong with it! (Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.)

Top (l-r): Blush bridesmaids (Elizabeth Fogarty/Jenny Yoo/My Flower Box Events) | Wooden signage (Brian Hatton Photography/Rock Paper Scissors Events) | Blush centrepiece (Michele Beckwith/Bustle Events/Mandolin Flowers)
Row 2: Bride & groom (Elizabeth Messina/Mindy Weiss) | Table numbers (Freestyle Mom) | Wooden crate decor
Row 3: Wine barrels | Blush & gold cake | Tablescape (Michael + Anna Costa Photo/Cameilla Floral Design/Joy De Vivre Event Design Boutique) | Blush & gold invitation (Megan Clouse Photography/Minted)

10 Beach Wedding Colour Palettes

24 April, 2017 by gaby

It’s been such fun highlighting beach weddings these last weeks, and looking back through the archives, I was reminded how many fun beach inspiration boards I’ve created over the years. And while, yes, many are a play on various shades of blue (because come on, SO lovely!), there are also less traditional combinations, with brights and neutrals and sparkle and texture all playing their part. So I’ve rounded up (and in some cases, spruced up!) ten of my all-time faves. Click on to discover your new favourite! Links in bold denote affiliate links. SouthBound Bride may make a commission if a sale is made.

Inspiration Board: Seaglass & Foam

10 April, 2017 by gaby

When it comes to beach weddings, some colour schemes pop up over and over again – usually variations on the ocean colours of blue and green. Nothing wrong with that – I’m always a big fan of everything in the blue-grey spectrum! But you don’t need to limit yourself if you’re yearning for a coastal celebration but attracted to some of the other colours of the rainbow. Today I thought I would bring together a soft seaglass green with pale lavender and a touch of peachy blush, and I have to tell you, I love it! What do you think? This post includes affiliate links (in bold); SBB may receive a commission on any sales but the cost to you remains the same.

Top row (l-r): Jellyfish invitation (Love Me Do Design) | Seaglass escorts (Keith Morrison) | Cake (Brett Heidebrecht/kneadtomake)
Row 2: Place setting (Erich McVey/Ginny Au) | Bridesmaids in purple (Kelly Kollar Photography) | Popsicles (Eric Kelley Photography)
Row 3: Ceremony (Anastasiya Belik) | Bride on beach (Hairpiece: Romantic Art Life/Dress: Jillian Fellers) | Glass float ‘bouquet’ (Maria Lamb Photography/Emily Riggs Bridal)

Save

Inspiration Board: Beach House

6 March, 2017 by gaby

Happy Monday lovelies! And it’s a blue Monday – but in a good way, as we’re kicking off this month’s beachy editorial theme with a whitewashed, sundrenched inspiration board inspired by the dream house by the sea in a range of ocean blues. I love the mix of preppy nautical and laid back in this board – as much for a stylish waterside wedding as I do for a holiday home, and I love the idea of recreating the vibe of December chill with family and friends at your wedding reception. Oh and PS, the soft serve style cupcakes in this board? How. Cute. Is. That? (Links in bold denote affiliate links – SBB may receive a commission on any sales made)

Top row (l-r): Watercolor Stripe Wedding Invitation (Minted) | Bride & groom on beach (Alfred Lor) | Nautical stripe bunting (David Long Photography)
Row 2: Choc 99 Cupcakes (Jason Mark Harris) | Beachy table decor (Renee Nicole Photography) | Groomsmen’s shoes (brilliant studios)
Row 3: Ombre dipped wedding dress (Meredith Lord Photography/Phoebe Blockley Bridal) | Starfish decorations (Kimberly Frost Photography) | Beach house decor (A Beach Cottage) | Ring (Jenny Ostenson Photography/BC Calligraphy)

I’m loving this washed out watercolour stripe invitation from Minted – either in blue or grey for beach wedding perfection or in a brighter shade for the perfect summer stationery vibe!

Save

Inspiration Board: Secret Garden

6 February, 2017 by gaby

Our theme this month, Secret Garden, is one really close to my heart because The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of my favourite books (and one of the few I read in school that didn’t suck). I’ll never forget reading it for the first time and just feeling wrapped up in it, and that feeling has never really gone away, although I’m no kind of gardener as an adult. I still adore the idea of a walled garden (not to self for when have mansion), and I really can’t think of a prettier theme for a wedding. I’ve tried to recreate that for today’s inspiration board – whimsical, organic, lush, but actually quite simple and natural. I’m a little in love with it. What do you think? (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): Bride at gate (Elizabeth Messina/Ginny Branch/Claire Pettibone) | Centrepiece (Jose Villa Photography/Flowerwild/Coastside Couture) | Swing with flowers (Xavier Navarro)
Row 2: Invitation suite (Oak and Orchid) | Key necklace (Mony Art) | Cake with flower topper (Corbin Gurkin/WED: Wedding Event Design/Kathy Allen Fine Cakes) | Claire Pettibone dress (Lucy Munoz)
Row 3: Bouquet (Rory Wylie) | Floral juliet cap veil (Marisol Aparicio/Lara Lam Photography) | Table in garden (Caroline Lima Photography)

Top left: Juliet Cap Veil by Marisol Aparicio | Top right: Silver Key Necklace by Mony Art | Bottom: Real Wood Wedding Invitations by Oak and Orchid

Save

How to Create a Wedding Inspiration Board

27 January, 2017 by gaby

Credit: Deborah-Ann Photography/Wildeflower on SouthBound Bride

So I’m guessing that for those of you who just got engaged, unless you’re in a design or creative field, you may never have heard the term ‘inspiration board’ or even ‘mood board’ before. And suddenly, you’re a bride, and it’s everywhere, right? To be fair, inspiration boards are a little less all over the wedding blog landscape than they were a couple of years ago, but they’re still very much part of the planning experience. Here on SBB, I’ve been creating inspiration boards for many years now (and several for styled shoots that put those ideas into practice as well) and I love doing them, but if you’re a newly minted bride-to-be, it can seem a little intimidating. Well, worry not. Today we’ll cover everything you need to know, step by step. And I’m sharing some of our prettiest boards from the archive. Read on!

Pantone Colour of the Year 2017: Greenery

4 January, 2017 by gaby

With a new year comes a fresh colour of the year to play with from the folks over at Pantone and while some years I’m not completely on board with their choice (cough cough Marsala), I am ALL about Greenery, the 2017 COY. It’s fresh, it’s bright, it’s organic, and it feels absolutely right for this brand new year. I can’t WAIT to see what all my favourite wedding pros come up with in styling this shade over the next few months, but in the meantime, I had a play around and came up with five palettes incorporating Greenery, as well as several of Pantone’s other Spring 2017 shades. The great thing about Greenery is that it combines into classic choices, but can also substitute for the greens in less obvious palettes with a really fresh effect. For example, we normally see blues combining with soft sage, but use Greenery and you have something pretty and new. The key thing is to use Greenery as an accent colour – a whole wedding in it might be overwhelming, but in clever touches (especially those using actual greenery), you’re winning. Which is your fave? Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may make a commission on any sales made.

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: Sea & Sky

3 October, 2016 by gaby

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend? I had such a lovely one, taking some time to celebrate a landmark birthday for my dad, Italian-style, with a table groaning with gorgeous food and my first (successful, yay!) attempt at tiramisu. This month, we’ll be continuing on with our ‘wild beauty’ theme, as there’s lots more boho and naturally-textured inspiration I have to share with you all and I didn’t manage to get to most of it in a busy September. So I thought I would start this week off with a natural, boho take on beach weddings, in shades all the way from deep indigo to the palest of greys, and some absolutely adorable ideas (that arch!). I love it! *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Top row (l-r): Beach bride & groom | Starfish on vintage tray (JoPhoto/Honeybee Events) | Beach ceremony arch (Lace and Likes/Swoon by Katie) | Mussel escorts (Greyberry Design)
Row 2: Invitation suite (NotablePaperCo) | Boho beach sandals
Row 3: Beach table decor (Shefter Polina/Studio Victorias) | Beach bride earrings (Marolsha) | Bouquet (Tamara Gruner Photography/Life In Bloom/Veronica Sheaffer)

Row 1: Laurel Wreath Earrings by Marolsha (left); Shell Beach Destination Wedding Escort Place Cards by Greyberry Design (right) | Row 2: Hawthorn suite by NotablePaperCo | Row 3: Blue Grey Boho Wedding Dress by Cathy Telle (top left); Bridal Sea Urchin Ring by Star of the East (bottom left); Natural Starfish from Seashell Collection (top right); Beach Pebbles from My Family’s Nutz (centre right); Bridal Barefoot Sandals by Barmine (bottom right) | Row 4: Silk Runner by Lino and Co.

Inspiration Board: Desert Serenity

5 September, 2016 by gaby

It’s been a while since we did an inspiration board, and I have to say, I am loving this one! Desert wedding chic is definitely a growing trend at the moment (look out for more about this on SBB this month) and I love the mix of soft neutral colours, air plants and succulents, and dreamy wild florals that this style evokes. Add in pops of blue in this year’s Pantone colour of the year, Serenity (not ready to let go of this one at all yet!) and a few spots of true blue, and you have a gorgeous combination that works whether you’re getting married on shifting sands or in a more traditional, but rustic, venue.

Colours: Taupe, Pantone Serenity, sage green

Top row (l-r): Bride in desert (Connie Whitlock Photography/Katie Grant Photography/Houghton NYC) | Serenity blue dress (Sarah Ingram) | Aloe ring shot (Pinkerton Photography)
Row 2: Calligraphy invitation (JOSHUA AULL PHOTOGRAPHY/THE LEFT HANDED CALLIGRAPHER) | Tablescape with succulents and cacti (Gaby J Photography/Amanda O Creative/Flower Story) | Succulent cupcakes (Sugar and Charm)
Row 3: Blue place setting (Connie Whitlock Photography/Katie Grant Photography) | Blue crystals | Protea bouquet (Tyler Rye Photography/Forever More Events/Bloomers Flowers and Decor/Chantel Lauren Designs)

Shop the Look