Mira Zwillinger Reflections Collection

To celebrate the publication of our Sparkle & Blush images in My Wedding Day, I thought it was high time I shared with you the jaw-dropping dresses we were lucky enough to include in this shoot. I am seriously so in love with them, possibly even more so now than when I first saw them. They’re the kind of dresses that will have your guests gasping as the church doors open, that will bring a tear to your husband’s (father’s, mother’s, bridesmaid’s) eye, that you’ll still be sneaking into the spare bedroom cupboard years after the wedding just to steal another look at. They’re works of fashion art, simple as that. The designer behind all this gorgeousness is Mira Zwillinger, who established her studio in Israel in 1991. Her couture designs are now available in New York and London (where Browns Bride were kind enough to lend them to us), and will soon be in Australia too. Her 2012 collection, Reflections, is a collaboration with her daughter Lihi (after whom one of my favourite dresses is named) and is inspired by glass sculpture – designs which appear to share the light, reflective qualities, but are made from the softest fabrics, sourced from Paris and Milan. Get ready to do some actual swooning.

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Inspiration Board: Rustic Tangerine

Hello lovelies – did you enjoy our DIY post today? (Don’t worry though, I’m not leaving you short on weddings this week – I have a stunner for you tomorrow!) Today there’s just enough time for one last little bit of inspiration. This one’s a reader request from the lovely Dee, who is getting married in summer in Zimbabwe. She’s planning the most gorgeous rustic combo of orange and burlap and was looking for suggestions for simple but elegant table decor. I think Dee’s made a lovely choice of colour, and just because orange makes a statement doesn’t mean she needs to sacrifice on elegance – if anything, tangerine is this year’s hottest shade, and one that instantly creates warmth. I’d suggest that Dee focus on just using orange in her florals, so that it pops against the burlap and other decorations, and beautiful flowers always keep things classy. Start with lush bouquets for bride and bridesmaids, and on the tables make use of Consol mason jars – simple, easy, effective. Dee could also add in some found vintage objects, and other rustic textures like chicken wire or wood to add interest. A great place to add detail here is in the place settings – I love the menu printed on to a napkin and the silverware tied with twine, and basic kraft paper luggage tags make a very effective name tag and escort card. Or Dee could make these cute little hearts from hessian and add one to each place setting. A ‘naked’ cake, interesting (church) seating at an outdoor ceremony and a curtain of fairy lights round out the decor. For bridesmaids, I’d stick to neutrals, and consider long grey dresses which not only will make the orange bouquets pop, but will also add to the general air of rustic elegance. Hope you like your board, Dee!

Colours: Tangerine, green and neutrals

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {F: Blossom Sweet; S: Forevermore Events; P: Gideon Phototography}; table flowers in mason jars with burlap runner {F: A Modern Touch; P: The Studio Nouveau}; escort card luggage tags {S: Hey Gorgeous Events; P: Tonya Peterson Photography}; scale {S: The Stylish Soiree; P: Meg Perotti}; bride and groom {P: Half Orange Photography}
Row 2: Un-iced cake {C: Sedona Cake Couture; P: Sedona Bride}; tangerine boutonnieres {F: Kate Foley Designs; P: EE Photography}; invitation with burlap tie {Invitations by Alecia}; church seating {P: Jose Villa}; place setting {P: J. Cogliandro Photography; D: Atheneum Creative}
Row 3: Table decor {F: Roost Flowers; P: Andi Grant Photography}; fairy lights {Mastin Studio via Apple Brides}; burlap heart {P: Tanja Lippert Photography}; wire bell jars {P: McGowan Images}; bridesmaid {F: The Bride’s Cafe; P: Amelia Johnson Photography}.

 

Confessions of a DIY Bride #2: The Invitations

The invitations….that first tentative step into the deep-end of wedding planning, often happens before you know exactly what your (fully fabulous) Big Day vision looks like. Which, of course, makes picking the ‘right’ invitation even trickier!

SAVE THE DATES SAVED THE DAY!
We had the added stress of getting our invites out ASAP, as many of our guests needed to book flights, and organise annual leave. This is where the American tradition of a ‘Save the Date’ came in handy. With our date and venue set, and and inspired by the fact that most of our guests would be travelling from London to SA, we decided to base our Save the Dates on that London Underground staple – the Oyster card.

We tweaked the design (with apologies to TFL) and printed them straight onto magnetic paper (no really, it is a real thing – look here) at home on our shke-donky old inkjet printer, and mailed them out with the Christmas cards. This not only gave our cross-continental guests no excuse not to come, but also gave us breathing space to send out the invites closer to the day, once we had some idea of styles and themes.Read More

Motor Museum Engagement Shoot

After a super chic wedding this morning, I have a lovely engagement shoot for you this afternoon! I’ve only ever driven past the Wijnland Motor Museum in Paarl, but what a photographer’s paradise it is! I love the background that the old cars create for these gorgeous pictures by Chrstine Watters, and the couple, Glenn and Viv, make amazing models – isn’t it the best when you can see how comfortable two people are together, and how they make each other smile? So darn cute. Thanks for sharing this, Christine!Read More

Inspiration Board: Spring Pastels

Good morning, friends! I hope you had a great weekend, and for those of you in SA, I know you will have been celebrating the official start of spring. I’ll try to ignore the fact that it means the end of summer for me here in the UK, and concentrate on a palette that is just perfect for a romantic spring wedding. It’s been a while since I played with lavender, and here I’ve paired it with one of last year’s hottest couples: aqua and rose. Don’t they make a lovely threesome? The purple really adds depth, and I love the little touch of vintage here as well. I’m imagining this in a garden, or at a beautiful farm, with clean white standing out against the soft colours. Dreamy.

Colours: Lavender, pink, aqua and white

Top row (l-r): Ian Stuart wedding dress; pink rose bouquet {F: Michele Tallent & Co.; P: Kate Connolly Photography}; aqua tie {F: Michele Tallent & Co.; P: Kate Connolly Photography}; lavender in vintage bottles {P: KT Merry; C: Sara Jean Events}; cake {P: Closer to Love Photography; C: Creamery}
Row 2: Mismatched bridesmaids {P: White Linen Photographers; F: Flowers by Antonella}; pink ribbon shoes {P: Elizabeth Messina; S: Catherine Sheppard of The Life Styled}; table in lavender field {P: KT Merry; C: Sara Jean Events}; necklace {Sora Designs on Etsy}
Row 3: ‘Love is a doing word’ {Karl Kwasny}; bride {P: Bumble & Bloom}; rose {P: Simply Bloom Photography, LLC; S: Simply Charming Socials}; pink tea glasses {P: Elisabeth Millay Photography}; lavender vintage bed.

 

Wedding Wreaths

Sources: Meg Perotti /The Stylish Soiree via Style Me Pretty (left); Paula O’Hara Photography/Laurens Norton via Southern Weddings (right) 

It’s the ciiiiiiircle of liiiiife…. Okay okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic (and also? the last time you’ll hear me singing a song a) by Elton John and b) from a musical), but there’s no denying that a circle is an appropriate symbol at a wedding. It represents connectedness, eternity, the wedding rings. And when it’s made out of flowers – well, it’s just so gosh darn purdy. I’ve been noticing wreaths all over weddings for a while now, and every time I do they catch my attention, so today I thought we’d just bask a little in the eye candy.Read More

Inspiration Board: La Boheme

Good morning, wedding belles! Sorry for the late start this Monday, but I’m sure you’ll grant me a bank holiday lie-in. Anyway, I’m super excited about today’s board, which was a request from lovely reader Cara. It just makes my day when I get unusual themes and ideas for inspiration board requests, and ever since I read Cara’s email I’ve been dying to put this one together. Cara and her fiancé are planning a French bohemian style for their Johannesburg wedding. They hadn’t chosen colours yet, but were looking for something rustic, hippy and down to earth, but classy. I also didn’t start out with a colour scheme, but this evolved into a palette of rust, copper and green, and I think it has just the right amount of French country boho charm (although, as an alternative to neutrals, I’d recommend purple, including lots of lovely lavender). A headband (or a crown of flowers) for the bride is a must, and bridesmaids should be put in a range of lacey dresses with mismatched accessories (matching bridesmaids is a definite no here). Flowers are rustic and slightly wild, and I’d probably incorporate fruits as well, like figs and grapes, into the mix. Heavy urns with overflowing greenery, whimsical adornments like feathers (love how these just sit in the groom’s pocket instead of a boutonniere), long tables, rugs and scatter cushions. To some degree, anything goes. Hope you like this Cara – I am sure it’ll be absolutely beautiful!

Colours: Copper, rust and green

Top row (l-r): Boho bride {Johanna Johnson}; glasses {S: Jessica Sloane of lovebird style; P: Brooke Boling Photography}; door handle {P: Tamiz Photography}; centrepiece {P: Scott Clark Photo}; feathers in place of boutonniere {P: Nancy Neil}
Row 2: Decor {P: Tamiz Photography}; bouquet {F: Panacea Event Floral Design; P: Chloe of Mike Larson Inc}; champagne on tray {S: Davia Lee Events; P: Danielle Capito Photography }; bridesmaids’ dresses {P: Josh Goleman}
Row 3: Tables {Scott Clark Photo}; cherub with crown {P: Braedon Photography}; rustic door {via trekearth.com)}; table decor {D: Lace and Likes; P: Swoon by Katie}; wedding reception {P: Tamiz Photography}

 

Inspiration Board: Love Comes Softly

I’m sneaking in a last bit of inspiration before the weekend! This super soft and romantic board is another reader request, this time for Yvonne, who is getting married at Zorgvliet wine farm in summer. She loves whites, creams and soft colours, as well as classic elements like lace and pearls. And I have to say, I think the results are just beautiful! I’ve taken my inspiration from the palette of the invitation I chose (bottom left), and used a majority of whites and creams with just a little hint of the palest blush creeping in. This would be a great wedding to wear a blush dress, in fact, as it would stand out just that little bit against the white on white. I’ve included lots of lovely lace – in the cake detailing, the bride’s accessories, the place setting (just can’t get tired of this glass plate and doily combo – it’s so simple and affordable, but definitely has the wow factor), even that stunning lace-wrapped branch (which was used as a ceremony arch – amazing, no?). Other elements are classic – chandeliers, candelabras, peonies, tall white table arrangements, a chic updo. And then there’s that sweet little touch with the vintage key escort cards. All in all, it wraps up very, very pretty. Hope you like it, Yvonne!

Colours: White, cream & blush

Top row (l-r): Pavillion with chandeliers {Turtle Pond Photography}; bride with bridesmaids and lace branch detail {C: Joy Thigpen; P: Jose Villa}; place setting with doily; bouquet {F: Studio Blush; P: Katie Slater Photography}
Row 2: Wooden sign {Sweet Rose Studio}; blush Claire Pettibone dress {S: Be Inspired PR; P: This Modern Romance}; lace shoes; classic twist updo {}; lace garter
Row 3: Invitation {I: Momental Designs; P: Amelia Johnson Photography; S: Dana FitzGerald}; table decor {F: Karen Tran; P: Pam Scott}; lace detail cake {Call Me Cupcake}; vintage key escort cards {Kate Headley}.

 

How to Choose a Venue

Source: Mehtap & Paul’s Tintswalo Atlantic Wedding (Photography: Zarazoo)

Hey hey, it’s Friday! And it’s the best kind of day for me, as I’ll be heading over to Cambridge as you read this so I can attend my lovely friends Kerenza & Matt’s wedding. Yay! Not only do I love weddings, but Kez and Matt are the loveliest. Anyway, never fear, because not only do I have a lovely bonus inspiration board for you this afternoon, but this morning I’ll be leaving you in the very capable hands of my friend Theresa of Creation Events. Theresa is a full service wedding c0-ordinator based in Cape Town, and as one of our treasured SBB sponsors, I’ve been keeping a close eye on what she’s been doing this season. Recently, Theresa has been sharing her extensive expertise in planning on her own blog in a series of ‘how  to’ posts, and I’ve convinced her to share one of them exclusively with you here today. And it couldn’t be a more important one, since the venue is the cornerstone for any design you are going to put together, and probably the first thing you’ll book after saying ‘yes’. Over to you, Theresa!

PS You can download a free worksheet to help you follow Theresa’s advice in this post HERERead More