Inspiration - SouthBound Bride

The Whole World Is A Garden

6 February, 2017 by gaby

It’s a brand new week, full of possibility, and the first good thing to happen on my Monday is definitely this gorgeous styled shoot by Roxanne Davison and our friends at Oh Happy Day. I have been dying to share it with you for months, and now that February has rolled round with our ‘Secret Garden’ theme, it’s finally time to share this Secret Garden-themed shoot! Inspired by a quote from the novel which I love – “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden” – these talented ladies and their team created a little garden hideaway punctuated by beautiful florals and fine vintage china, the dreamiest of dresses and the most delicate of jewels, gorgeous brides and beautiful calligraphy. It. Is. Swoony. So grab a cuppa and get settled in for some very Pin-worthy inspiration!

20 Blooming Gorgeous Floral Wedding Dresses

3 February, 2017 by gaby

Hand Embroidered Wedding Dress by Sumarokova Atelier

How about one last dose of wedding loveliness before we call time on this week? This month we’re crushing on everything floral and garden wedding, and that includes floral wedding dresses – in fact, they’re at the top of our list! From floral printed fabric to whimsical 3D flower applique and lace to gorgeous embroidery, a floral gown is like a little garden all on its own – can you honestly think of a prettier way to walk down the aisle? And as always, when I’m looking for cutting edge, accessible bridal fashion, I’ve turned to the talented makers at Etsy to find twenty floral gowns that will honestly make you swoon. *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

20 Fancy Floral Wedding Cakes

2 February, 2017 by gaby

Oh flowers! I’m so excited that this month is about everything floral and green and garden wedding related, because it really gives me a chance to indulge my love of extravagant florals and do I ever have some pretty stuff coming your way. But to kick it off, I just had to round up one of my favourite places to find florals (apart from bouquets and tables) – on wedding cakes. I’ve rounded up floral print cakes in the past (swoon!) but today we’re going 3D. Some of these floral toppers are real, some are sugar, some you can barely tell. But what they all are is stunning. Whether you go for something statement and extravagant like this or something more subtle, even the most plain and classic cake can be completely transformed with a floral makeover.

How to Plan an Engagement Party

31 January, 2017 by gaby

Image: Katie Parra Photography/Clutch Events on SouthBound Bride

As we come to the end of our month of engagement-themed posts, there’s no better way to finish off than with a party! In this case, an engagement party, because if you’re just engaged, this is the first celebration that might be on your mind. Engagement parties are such a lovely tradition (although certainly not something you should feel you HAVE to have, time and budget being major considerations for many) as they give you a chance to celebrate a very exciting moment in any couple’s lives with their nearest and dearest. Here are some guidelines and ideas to get you started.

Summer Brights Wedding Inspiration

30 January, 2017 by gaby

Happy Monday, friends! I know the start of a new week is supposed to be dull and depressing and blah, but today we’re turning Monday on its head with an inspiration shoot full of vibrant acid brights and rich copper – a palette that perfectly shows off the look of the season! For this cutting edge design we turned, as we always do, to Wedding Concepts, whose trendsetting vision always ensures they’re a step ahead. I love how unexpected this palette is, how elegant, and yet how gorgeously African (flash of Skinny laMinx, love!), and the use of shiny acrylics, lasercut, hanging florals, luxe copper touches and the most incredible cakes and desserts. Planning a summer wedding? Take a second look at your colour palette and see if you can infuse it with an unexpected bright or a luxe metallic for extra gorgeousness. Tyme Photography took these lovely pics.

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!

Trend Alert: Bridesmaid Separates!

25 January, 2017 by gaby

Time for some fashion, lovelies! One of the trends that I am LOVING at the moment for bridesmaids is separates – everything from crop tops to more demure shirts and skirts, flirty tea length tulle, and maxi beauties. This was originally going to be a general bridesmaid separates inspiration post, but when I started researching it, I found that there was one label that was popping up again and again for the coming season – I always love Coast‘s bridesmaid offerings, but they’re knocking it out of the park at the moment with this look. Exhibit A: their first separates style a couple of years back, which I pinned and which has been repinned a gazillion times, but if anything, the new styles are even more fabulous. So I just had to show them off! (This post includes affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission on any sales.)

Romantic South African Protea Wedding Inspiration

23 January, 2017 by gaby

Get EXCITED, people, because I’m about to share some homegrown wedding inspiration that will knock your flip flops right off. I’ve been following the gorgeous work of photographer Corette Faux for a while now, so when an email from her popped up in my inbox, I couldn’t wait to open it and see what pretties were within. Well, wow. Let’s just say that, for a girl who loves proteas, I was in heaven. On a recent trip to SA, Corette joined up with a few local pros to create a mini shoot that is super pretty and inspirational. A bushveld-style setting, a Silver Swallow gown billowing in the breeze, a real couple in love, hand lettered stationery, a pretty table, and OMG that bouquet! I just love the way that this shoot combines the elements of soft and strong – indigenous flora mixed with the dreamiest of fabrics, a rugged landscape contrasting with elegant formal wear. For me, it’s the perfect representation of South African style, and I for one can’t wait to get pinning!

20 Bridesmaid Proposal Ideas

20 January, 2017 by gaby

Bridesmaid Gift Set by Fox Blossom Co

So earlier today, we looked at how to choose your bridal party and as a bonus, I thought we’d look at how to ask them! Bridesmaid proposals have become a THING, and while I don’t think anyone should feel obliged to do any more than sit down with your favourite friend and say, “how about it?”, at the same time it’s such a special moment and doing something special to mark it and make your friends feel loved and appreciated can never be a bad thing! There are some great DIY ideas for bridesmaid proposals out there, but for the time-strapped bride, the makers at Etsy have created a range of super cute gifts that will make saying ‘be my bridesmaid’ a pleasure – everything from wine labels to jewellery to mini unicorn pinatas (!). Here are 20 of our faves! (Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.)