Inspiration - SouthBound Bride

Inspiration Board: Winter White

6 June, 2016 by gaby

Hello lovelies! After a few days off being under the weather last week, I’m back in action and ready to share some gorgeous winter inspiration with you today! We’re kicking things off with an inspiration board, and what could be better or more classic than a white on white colour scheme? It’s perfect for a wintery wedding (whether or not you have snow to make the look complete) – just add a few gentle neutrals and metallics and otherwise keep things clean and crisp and… well, even. (Aaaaand now I’ll be humming Good King Wenceslas all day, thanks brain.) Paired with a beautiful lace sleeve wedding dress, it’s winter wedding perfection! (This post contains affiliate links)

Colours: White, ivory, sage, gold

Top row (l-r): Candles | Invitation suite (Jon Cu/Yvonne Xue/Paper Birch) | Wedding dress with lace sleeves (A Creative Atelier)
Row 2: Baby’s breath ceremony arch (Anastasia Belik/PEONY studio/Мarina Shentyapina) | Snow ring shot (Janelle Rodriguez Photography) | boutonnieres (Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography/Just A Little Ditty/Floral Images Design Studio)
Row 3: Iced biscuits (Michelle Photography/Weddings by Marius/Plum Tree Cakes) | Couple in snow (Rebecca Hollis Photography/Beargrass Gardens Floral & Events) | White place setting (Joy Michelle Photography/Hailey Grace Events/Anchor Point Paper Co.) | Cake with gold glitter (Cavin Elizabeth Photography/Luxe Events/Sweet Cheeks Baking Company)

Aren’t we just loving the lace sleeve wedding dress featured on this board? It’s available on Etsy from A Creative Atelier.

We’ve rounded up more long sleeve wedding dress inspiration HERE, or have a peek at our current high street lace sleeve bridal finds:

Save

Enchanted Frost Winter Wedding Inspiration

31 May, 2016 by gaby

We’ve been loving everything blue on SBB throughout May, but I’ve been holding on to this little blue beauty right until the end and I’m so thrilled to share it with you all! And it’s actually the most perfect way to transition to next month’s theme – winter – because this shoot was inspired by snow and frost and blizzard, by ice queens and snow princesses, to create an enchanting wintery world that Elsa herself would be at home in. A super talented local team, headed by photographer Debbie Lourens, stylist Blank Canvas, and Leipzig Floral Design, created something really special here, with the details that range from practical to whimsical, and from pretty to fantastic. The gowns are incredible, the setup divine, and hello, headpieces!

Inspiration Board: Blue Agate

30 May, 2016 by gaby

I’ve had so much fun creating blue inspiration boards this month – it really has been one of my favourite themes, and it’s reminded me how much potential there is when using blue as one of your colours. Or rather, blues, because there are so many shades and each one has something special about it. So I definitely had to do a board using blue ombre, and when I connected that with blue agate and its degrees of blue, I knew it was the perfect basis for a beautiful wedding design! Pretty, modern and elegant. (Note: This is not a sponsored post but contains affiliate links)

Colours: Navy, cobalt, powder blue, sand

Top row (l-r): Gilt agate wedding invitation (Minted) | Agate calligraphy escorts (Fox and Sparrow Design) | Anemone bouquet with blue ribbons (Vivian Chen Photography/Southern Social Events Experiences/Bella Vita Event Productions)
Row 2: Couple with agate name markers (Kristen Joy Photography/Weddings & Events by Emily) | Blue ombre bridesmaids (Virgil Bunao)
Row 3: Bride with veil (Kristen Kilpatrick/Monique Lhuillier) | Tablescape with hanging greenery (Jessica Lorren Organic Photography/Jessica Sloane) | Blue ombre icing wedding cake (Esther Sun/Sarah Park Events/M Cake Sweets)

Gilt Agate wedding invitation by Minted

Brazilian agate wedding place cards by Fox & Sparrow Design on Etsy

10 Blue Wedding Colour Palettes

30 May, 2016 by gaby

Happy new week, brideys! We’re almost at the end of our ‘something blue’ journey, and I actually have a brand new blue inspiration board to share with you later today, but first I thought I would round up 10 of my favourites from the archives. There’s a whole range of styles and combinations from elegant to beachy here, but what they share is an anchor shade from the cool blue range. Whether you decide to mix your blue with similar shades and keep things cool and beautiful, or pair them with a hot bright shade so that the colour really pops, you pretty much can’t go wrong! Which is your favourite?

Amalfi Blues Wedding Inspiration

27 May, 2016 by gaby

Italy’s Amalfi Coast is one of my all-time favourite places on earth. Back in my mid-twenties I went there on what we dubbed the ‘blonde roadtrip’ – three blondes in a convertible, ten days, just driving the coast and stopping over where we liked. It was awesome (except, maybe, for the actual driving part). Because fun! But also because it’s seriously one of the most beautiful places you will ever get to visit, with amazing food, and lovely people, and and and. Heaven, basically. So when my friend, Anneli Marinovich, attended a photography workshop (Moda e Arte) there a while back, I was super envious! And now I’m missing Amalfi all over again, as I get to share these beautiful images that Anneli took at the workshop, which was styled by the insanely talented Joy Proctor. We see our couple through their wedding to their clifftop reception, and on to their stylish honeymoon – in a convertible of course! It’s the perfect ‘something blue’ to finish off the week, and fit into our theme this month! Thanks for sharing, Anneli!

A Swartland Sonnet

23 May, 2016 by gaby

Maree Louw of Natural Light Photography has a way with the camera that just makes me melt – since the beginning of SBB, I’ve had the pleasure of sharing her work and marveling at her magic touch, and just how romantic every image is. Today we’re sharing one of Maree’s styled shoots, and this one’s extra special, because it marks a new chapter for her, that of film photography. For years, I’ve been enviously watching all of those incredible overseas photographers who work only or mostly in film, while in South Africa we’ve only had one or two (very talented) folks with this offering. To see another of my favourite snappers make this step makes me so happy, and I hope that in the next few years more photographers (and crucially, more brides and grooms) will opt for fine art film weddings, or a combination of film and digital, so that this aspect of local photography can flourish. But back to this shoot, because it is absolutely dreamy – the kind of pretty that makes me want to get pinning straight away. Lush florals, calligraphy, vintage elements, a touch of gold – and an adorable mint ruffled cake. To bring her vision to life, Maree worked with a brilliant team, including Anli Wahl, My Green Love Affair, Nikki Albertyn and Vicky of Mocholoco (herself a real SouthBound bride!), who also acted as the model. Let’s get inspired!

20 Something Blue Engagement Rings

20 May, 2016 by gaby

2016 has most definitely been the year that gemstone engagement rings have come into their own. And as much as I do love a diamond, I’m also loving seeing this trend evolve, because why shouldn’t there be as much choice in rings as there is taste in jewellery? A couple of months ago, I rounded up some gorgeous morganite sparklers, and it was such a popular post that I thought I would give a little love to the blue stones of the gem world: the sapphires, the aquamarines, the blue topazes, the blue diamonds, and of course, tanzanite. It’s amazing how many beautiful options there are with these gems, and best of all, they’re at a huge variety of price points to suit any budget. So if blue is your colour and you want lots of bling for your buck, consider this statement alternative. After all, if a sapphire was good enough for Princess Kate…
This is not a sponsored post but includes some affiliate links.

Golden Gate Romance with a Rose Quartz Dress

20 May, 2016 by gaby

We don’t feature a lot of e-sessions on SBB anymore, but there are engagement shoots… and then there are engagement shoots. Today’s is definitely one of the latter – when it crossed my desk it took my breath away! With a smitten couple in love, in one of South Africa’s most majestic locations up among the mountains of Golden Gate National Park, featuring a crazy gorgeous Rose Quartz dress by Silver Swallow and with the most beautiful images by photographer Ian Odendaal, it’s sheer romance. Like that opening scene of The Sound of Music where she’s twirling around because the hills are alive, but better, because there’s no Nazis, and nobody’s wearing an ugly pinafore or singing about goatherds (or singing at all, actually). So just the twirling, and the big big sky, and the sense of pure, unadulterated joy. Ah, love.

15 Breathtaking Blue Wedding Dresses

18 May, 2016 by gaby

Gentle Grey Wedding Dress with Floral Decoration by Cathy Telle

Get ready for some serious dress love, my darlings! A while back, I rounded up some of the absolute DREAMIEST pastel gowns on SBB, and I haven’t stopped dreaming about them since. So when the theme for May was settled on as ‘Something Blue’, I couldn’t wait to go out and source some spectacular blue (and blue-grey) wedding gowns from our favourite online inspirational marketplace, Etsy. And my word, but did I ever find some beauties. Every single one of these blue wedding dresses has something that makes it extra special beyond just the colour (which let’s be honest, is pretty awesome on its own, from baby blue to ice blue to dusty blue!) – a lace detail here, a sparkle there, and a whole lot of cloud-soft tulle. If you weren’t thinking of a ‘something blue’ wedding gown before? Well, you will be now! *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Inspiration Board: Berries & Blues

16 May, 2016 by gaby

Something pretty for your Monday, lovelies? Don’t mind if we do. I’ve always loved the combination of navy blue with rich reds and berry tones (navy & Marsala was one of my favourite board combos last year), but when I saw an image of a bridesmaid in a slightly lighter French blue holding a bouquet in the same shades, I knew I’d found my new colour crush. I just love how these colours work together, and while it’s a natural autumn palette, I’d love it just as much at any other time of year. What do you think?

Colours: French blue, indigo, burgundy, red, pink & white

Top row (l-r): Bridesmaid (Olivia Leigh Photographie/Fleur) | Blue menu (Minted) | Blue door villa (Charla Storey Photography/Grit + Gold)
Row 2: Groom in blue suit (Natalie Schutt/Krista Jon/Banana Republic) | Bouquet (Jose Villa/Stacy Mccain Event Planning/Flowerwild) | Napkin with blue ribbon (The Lauren & Delwyn Project/Southern Belle Styling & Events)
Row 3: Tablescape (Rach Loves Troy Photo + Cinema/Posh Petals & Pearls/August Event Design) | Cake (Samantha Broderick Photography/Allison Baddley/Annie Bee Cakery) | Bride & groom (Le Sueur Photography)