Bold Boudoir from Monica Dart

Woo, it’s Friday! What will you all be doing this weekend? Before that gets started, here’s a little something special for you. You may already know how much Cap Classique luurves Monica Dart, not only because she shoots beautiful weddings, but because she managed to make me look half decent in our photoshoot a couple of months ago. What you may not know about Moni is that she also shoots shut-the-front-door-beautiful boudoir pictures. Now I know what you’re thinking: ugh, boudoir. Rudey dudey pictures of you in your nuddies trying to look like a model from your husband’s FHM collection. Or maybe you’re thinking: “maybe, if I were thinner”. Because when you’re going to be wearing undies in front of a camera, you can never be skinny enough, right girls? Wrong. See, here’s what I have discovered about boudoir in the last couple of years, since it’s become a bit of a trend here in wedding world. One, you may give it as a gift to your husband-to-be, but really, it’s something you need to do for YOU. It’s not only a lovely experience to be dolled up and pampered, and a liberating one to be part-clothed in front of a photographer, but what it really is is an acknowledgment to yourself that even with your lumps and bumps, you deserve to be turned into a piece of art. And art is exactly what a photographer like Monica produces – yes, you’ll be frozen in time looking hawt, but this kind of shoot is as much about what you don’t see as what you do, and it’s class all the way. As with an engagement shoot, you’ll want to think about styling and making it a reflection of who you are, and then just having fun with it. The ladies I know who have been there have all said that it made them feel incredible, and really accept themselves and their bodies in a way they hadn’t before. Sounds bloody fantastic, I’d say. Sign me up, Moni!
PS And yes, your eyes do not deceive you. Below you’ll find boudoir shot on an empty South African Airways aeroplane. How. Awesome. Is. That?!?

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Hen Party Theme: Twilight

You didn’t think I’d let this week go by without something Twilight-related, did you? I have to admit, although a few years ago I never would have thought I’d be a fan, I can’t WAIT to go and see the latest film. A wedding! In a forest! Jacob with his shirt off! All my favourite things. I’m guessing lots of you will be feeling the same way, and although it may sound a bit cheesy, Twilight actually makes a great little theme for a bachelorette or hen party (assuming the bride is a fan, of course!). Here’s everything you need to know to make it Twi-umphant rather than Twi-hard, and turn your bestie into a bitten smitten kitten.

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5 Easy DIY Origami Wedding Ideas

5 Easy DIY Origami Wedding Ideas | SouthBound Bride

Hello, lovelies! It’s time for another roundup, and today I’m not only bringing you some detail candy, but also some fab DIYs to help you incorporate the origami trend into your wedding. I’m personally a big fan of wedding origami, and as both an easy DIY and one that’s flexible enough to look great in a number of different styles of weddings, I can see why it’s become more popular recently. Origami cranes are, of course, the big one when it comes to weddings (and they have special meaning – brides and grooms are supposed to fold 1,000 cranes for luck, since the patience and perseverance in folding all that paper is supposed to be a small taste of the qualities needed for a happy marriage). But recently I’ve seen some other lovely (and basic) origami details emerging as well, and I’ve rounded them up here. If you’d like to add a handmade touch to your day without going to DIY hell, if you feel like your tables need that little extra something, or you’re looking for cute escort cards or origami invitations, or or or… this may just be the post for you! Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Inspiration Board: Dandelion Days

Good morning friends! Hope you had a fab weekend! Mine was good – I had the privilege of spending yesterday with a group of fantastic wedding industry people assisting on a shoot for my friend Louise of (aka @bijouxbride). Lots of hard work, but it was so fun, and I can’t wait to see the pictures. I know there are a lot of people who don’t like inspiration shoots, but for me, they’re a great way to pull together an idea (like a mood board, but on a bigger scale) and I know they’re where I get a lot of the ideas I use in my boards. Plus, they’re great for table settings, which I know brides struggle with sometimes. What do you think? Love ’em or hate ’em?

Anyway, on to today’s board. While it’s gone very cold and grey in London town, I know everyone in South Africa is on the other side of the spring/autumn equation, so I thought I would bring you a lovely spring palette to enjoy. A lot of brides shy away from yellow because it’s such a strong colour, but if canary yellow is too bold and mustard is too yellow, consider a soft pastel lemon. Combined with pale green and grey, it’s fresh and flattering, and it brought to mind for me the pretty gardeny side of the Kate Moss nuptials – a traditional church, lots of little flowergirls in white, wildflowers. Add in yellow shoes and a polka dot dress, plus of course a little hair braid (because we do love braids, don’t we!). And if you like the lovely invitations pictured here by my clever friends at Brancoprata, you can download the template for free right here. Perfect, non?

Colours: Pale yellow, green and soft grey

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom (Jose Villa); yellow shoes (Christine Meintjes); polka dot dress; frosted lemons (A. Hana Design); lemonade
Row 2: Dessert table (Amy Atlas); invitation (Brancoprata); macaroon ring shot (Kim Mendoza Photography); vintage car (Photogen Inc.)
Row 3: Dandelion; bridesmaid (Katelyn James); braided updo; flower girls; pretty church from Kate Moss Wedding (Mario Testino/Vogue)

Book Themed Wedding Ideas

Literary Wedding Ideas Penguin Books Poster Wedding Gift

Vintage Penguin Book Style Personalised Wedding Poster Print by WizBitArt on Etsy

Today’s post is inspired by my dear friend Shannon, who just so happens to work at Penguin, and just so happens to be getting married next year. I don’t think she’s using Penguin books as part of her decor, but probably because of her I’ve been more aware of a few instances of them coming up in weddings recently. I have to say though, that I wouldn’t call this a trend – it’s certainly not for everyone. But for a certain type of bride and groom (library wedding, love of books, English Lit graduates, writers or editors, etc.) it makes a lovely and personal motif. All books would, of course, but Penguin books marry literature so successfully with iconic design. There are, of course, the original Penguins – those single colour covers that we all instantly recognise. But more recently, there’s been the work of Coralie Bickford-Smith, a senior designer at Penguin who has won awards and acclaim for her beautiful, covetable covers (I own a complete set of the Fitzgerald ones and I’M COMPLETELY IN LOVE with them). Including these in your decor immediately adds an element of great design, and I think that’s why some couples have been using them so successfully. Let’s have a look.
Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Inspiration Board: Ascot Opening Day

I’M BACK!! Hello lovely friends, I’m delighted to return to you this fine morning. This last morning of my old life, where I’ll make my last journey to Oxford on the train. (Boy, can I ever not wait to see the back of that train.) From tomorrow, I’ll be starting a new chapter, and Paddington will be just a bear and not the station I spend half my life waiting in. I’m terrified, I’m excited, I’m nervous, I’m relieved. But most of all, I’m ready. And I can’t WAIT for the next part of the journey. In the next few weeks I’ll be starting to introduce some new features to you, I’ll be making some big announcements, and ultimately, I’ll be introducing you to the new website. This morning, as I look back on a great five years of my career, I honestly feel that the best is yet to come.

For today, we have some fabulous inspiration, in the form of a board inspired by one of my FAVOURITE movie scenes. (Well, sort of.) I mean, the black and white Ascot Gavotte scene in My Fair Lady is beautiful, not just because it has Audrey Hepburn being Audrey Hepburn in it, but because all the dresses and set were designed by the incredible Cecil Beaton. (Unfortunately, I hate musicals, so as long as it’s on mute, we’re all okay.) Add the lightest pearly pink, and you have a design that is thoroughly modern and absolutely perfect for an elegant (possibly vineyard) wedding. Don’t you just love it? Smashing. Positively dashing.

Don’t forget to come back later to see more yummy inspiration from our real life bride, Cheryl.

Colours: Black & white, blush pink

Top row (l-r): Parisian stripes ceremony arch (Simple Splendor Photography); blush pink bridesmaids’ dresses (Anastasia Photography); oysters (Flory Photo); ceremony chairs (Adam Barnes Photo)
Row 2: Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady; blush pink, black and white invitation suite (sugar paper); crowd from Ascot scene in My Fair Lady
Row 3: Black & white macaroon tower; shoes (Studio Impressions); wedding dress with stripe sash

Bold Wedding Nails

So, nailpolish. Do you love it? I love it. And I don’t know if it’s a fashion thing or a me thing, but I’ve become way more experimental as I’ve got older (totally rocked ombre nails at a wedding this summer, which was fun). Thing is,  I always thought weddings were a strictly French manicured zone. Lately though, little pops of colour and funkiness are turning up across the wedding blogisphere, and it’s starting to become clear that brides are getting bolder with their digits. Read More

Wedding Flowers: Tulips

Tulip Flower Crown

Credit: Lisa Dolan Photography via Style Me Pretty

Ah, tulips for weddings. Hearty heart heart heart them. I mean, what’s not to love? They’re beautiful and elegant, they come in every colour imaginable, most are unscented, and they’re affordable. And for me, they really mark the start to spring, when I see them appearing on flower shop pavement displays all over London. Unlucky for me, those days are gone here on Mud Island, but with spring very definitely in the air in South Africa, I thought it was a good time to cheer myself up with a focus on one of my all-time favourite flowers. Here are some of my favourite recent wedding flower inspirations, from tulip bouquets to tulip centerpieces. *This post contains affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Owning Your Brand

Hello, blog friends! Ok, cards on the table, I am a little nervous about this post. Not just because I am veering away from the pretty to share something more personal, and to discuss social media (don’t worry, I actually get back to weddings by the end of it!) but because I’m also posting images from my recent shoot with the fantastic Monica Dart. Monica was in London this summer, and Louise from Bijoux Bride and I asked her to let us play model. (You can see some of Louise’s shoot here.)Read More