Inspiration - SouthBound Bride

Dreamy Beach Wedding Dresses

25 February, 2016 by gaby

All of this month we’ve been talking tropical weddings, and a tropical (or any beachy) wedding deserves a beautiful gown that’s perfect for sand and sunshine. And, while a girl can pretty much rock whatever she wants as far as I’m concerned, the practical aspects of a beach wedding (sand, heat, humidity) definitely lend themselves to a gown that’s lighter as well as less formal. I love the way that soft textures (which happen to be light and perfect to wear) look in photographs, especially in beautiful beach portraits with the setting sun or the wind ruffling out layers of sheer fabric, so that’s what I’d personally opt for, and while simple shapes work well, there’s no lack of creativity you can apply when adding touches like portrait backs or lace or beading. I’ve rounded up 20 shut-the-front-door-that’s-amazing wedding gowns from beach editorials and real weddings, each dreamier than the last, to inspire.

Gauguin Inspired Tropical Wedding Inspiration

22 February, 2016 by gaby

I’m doing a little happy dance right now, which is actually making it difficult to type, but I can’t help it because oh my WORD but this shoot is AMAZING. I’m so jazzed I get to share it with you guys, because I have been in proper love with it, ever since I spotted it in the December issue of our fave SA wedding magazine, Wedding Inspirations. So when we picked February as Tropical Month, I just had to ask if they’d mind us sharing it here as well. Inspired by Paul Gauguin’s Tahiti paintings, it’s more than just a tropical wedding inspired shoot (although it’s all of that, with a gorgeous tropical table, two insanely lovely tropical cakes, hanging florals, amazing hair and makeup and some oh-so-gorgeous stationery). It’s an editorial in the true sense of the word, like stepping into another world – you can almost imagine Gauguin will emerge grumpily from his cabin and get painting. So you’ll forgive me if I went a bit nuts on the pics, but I seriously couldn’t narrow this down any further. The amazing colours, the attention to detail, and the incredible photography – that’s what wedding bloggers’ dreams are made of. Huge congrats to a brilliant team for pulling this off, led by Ninirichi Style Studio, Tickled Pink Weddings and Events & Gingerale Photography, with some of the gorgeous dresses from our friends at Gelique.

Bridesmaids in Jumpsuits

19 February, 2016 by gaby

Well, here’s a trend I never thought I would be covering, let alone coveting: bridesmaid jumpsuits! You may have noticed that jumpsuits, pantsuits and rompers are all over the catwalks, to the extent that brides in jumpsuits are a thing now and looking absolutely gorgeous doing it. And where brides lead, bridesmaids will follow, or vice versa. Bridesmaids in pants and jumpsuits, while not super common, have been popping up as a very chic (and comfy) alternative to the traditional dress or even skirt and top. And I have to say, I actually love the look. I think it’s the mix of sexy but not revealing, and formal but not too formal, that makes jumpsuits such a great occasionwear fit to a wedding. Of course, this isn’t everyone’s thing – I could definitely see it more at a sophisticated city soiree than a romantic countryside affair, but if it appeals, go for it. And even if not for your girls, all the jumpsuits in the ‘shop the look’ section below would make fab rehearsal dinner/going away outfits for a bride-to-be! *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Martina Liana Separates Collection (Together.Forever)

17 February, 2016 by gaby

I mentioned in my trend roundup for 2016 that for me, this is the year of bridal separates, i.e. two-piece wedding gowns. I think this is such a lovely trend, and I’ve been stoked to see bridal designers make it happen, and create so much more flexibility for brides who aren’t ordering custom gowns. After all, most brides know the feeling of “I love this, but not the skirt” or “I love this skirt, but I wish it was with a different neckline”. Plus, two piece gowns sit differently, which can really suit certain body shapes. So when I saw that Martina Liana (sister brand of the popular Essence of Australia line) had created a dedicated line for bridal separates, I was super excited. I’m not sure if this collection will be available in SA as the rest of the Essence gowns are, but here’s hoping, because this collection of 18 pieces, is absolutely gorgeous. Whether you’re a short dress girl opting for the swishy Sachi skirt or a true romantic opting for the layered blush Stevie skirt, a glamazon who falls in love with the moonstone beaded Ciara corset, or a boho bride who loves the soft crop draping of Tyler, there’s a perfect combination both for you and for your wedding style/location. Let’s take a peek, shall we?

Oceanside Bohemian Wedding Inspiration

16 February, 2016 by gaby

The romantic gorgeousness continues today with a breathtaking beach boho styled shoot by the talented Michelle Du Toit and her fabulous team of wedding pros. I love the way that geometrics have been incorporated here alongside bohemian elements, and the dreamy ocean colour scheme of blues and teals and greys with a touch of gold. Not to mention an amazing sheer bodice dress by Elaine Blom – wow! And how cool is this – the stunning model, Rouxmia, also happens to have been the jewellery designer for the shoot. So inspiring, whether your wedding is a tropical boho fantasy, or if you just want to steal some of these pretty details for a landlocked celebration.

10 Questions to Ask BEFORE A Venue Visit

15 February, 2016 by gaby

Hello lovely ones! I’m super SUPER excited today, because I finally get to start rolling out the brand new, all-singing, all dancing (okay, it doesn’t sing and dance, but it’s still pretty awesome) SBB Collection, our new directory specifically for venues. We’ve been working with the best of SA’s places and spaces over the last few months, and we’ll be adding them in small groups over the next couple of weeks so that you get a chance to ‘meet’ them all properly, before the full directory is in place. At which point you’ll also be able to download it as a pretty (and handy) magazine! Yay! (Be sure to check it out HERE.) And here’s one of the reasons I love our new directory so much – we’ve tried to make sure that the listings are not only pretty but extremely functional – we’ve included all the info you need to know before making an enquiry or heading out for a site visit. After all, we know what it’s like – you get engaged, you see some gorgeous places online, friends are throwing recommendations at you every day… ack! It’s overwhelming! And while there’s the exciting stuff (the style! the features! that adorable place for photos!), it’s the practical aspects you need to keep an eye on because the last thing you want to do is fall in love with a venue that’s too small for your guest list, for example, or isn’t available on that date you’ve already carved out as yours. Because let’s be honest, some things are just going to be a non-negotiable, but those things vary from couple to couple. So, to help you out, we’ve compiled the essential list of questions to ask when researching venues (take a peek at the bottom at how our new listings answer them!).

Well Groomed: The Beach Wedding

13 February, 2016 by gaby

Happy Saturday y’all! It’s been a week of hectic jetlag and post-travel lurgy for me, but before I move on to next week’s loveliness (and some exciting reveals!) I wanted to share a bit of beachy inspiration with you all- and this one’s for the boys. The fact is, beach weddings can be a difficult dress code to crack, both for grooms and their parties (and even for male guests). A suit too smart for sand? Shorts too casual for an important occasion? It’s hard to find the right balance, but fortunately there are lots of stylish grooms both in our own archives and across the web to give the lads some inspiration. I’ve noticed that it really comes down to personal taste – for example, some grooms go all out and take their black tie to the beach, while others jump at the opportunity to wear shorts and sandals. As with all the best groomswear, I think it comes down to personal taste – a little tweak on a favourite summer look – but with a bowtie here and a well-cut open shirt there, just about any combination can be made to work handsomely. And when in doubt, a light linen trouser and white shirt will never serve you wrong. Here are 20 groom’s parties who rocked their tropical look.

Tropical Brights Wedding Inspiration

11 February, 2016 by gaby

Afternoon, lovelies! We’re continuing our month of tropical inspiration today with a gorgeous shoot by US-based team (led by photographer Krista A. Jones and stylist Bustle Events), incorporating bright colours and cool cocktails – basically everything a tropical celebration should be. I just loved the incorporation of bougainvillea (as you might have noticed, it’s a favourite of mine!), the sunny popsicles, and the neon colours contrasting with black and white graphic stationery. A breakout area strewn with pretty pillows is the perfect place for guests to chill, and let’s not forget the gorgeous bride with her natural hair and wild sprays of tropical blooms. Whether you’re getting married on Hawaiian shores or planning something local, there’s plenty here to inspire the modern bride.

Inspiration Board: Tropical Bougainvillea

8 February, 2016 by gaby

We have some more tropical prettiness coming your way this afternoon in the form of today’s inspiration board, highlighting one of my favourite tropical flowers, the bougainvillea. Although it’s not a traditional wedding bloom, I’ve been seeing it pop up more and more in weddings over the years, maybe wrapped around a ceremony arch or tucked into a bouquet, pink tendrils hanging down smelling of summer. For today’s board, bougainvillea is the central focus, its bright pink complemented by a serene shade of grey-blue. And doesn’t it look pretty?

Colours: Fuschia, pink, blue-grey

Top row (l-r): Bougainvillea bouquet (Jeremy Chou/Yellow Bird Events/Peony & Plum) | tropical ceremony area (Jana Morgan) | beaded wedding gown (Anna Campbell/35mm Wedding Photography)
Row 2: Hanging bougainvillea (Merari & Ena/Julia Rohde Designs) | wooden sign board (Brandon Kidd Photography/Heather Hoesch With LVL Weddings And Events/KAKalligraphy) | bougainvillea cake (Anna Delores Photography/Love, Inc. Weddings/MJB Cakes)
Row 3: Bougainvillea wedding invitation (Paper & Type) | ice lollies | ankle posey (Hazel Buckley Photography/Pop of Color Events/Flower Talk)

Long White Bridesmaid Dresses

5 February, 2016 by gaby

Long bridesmaid dresses are so en vogue right now, and with good reason – they’re elegant and oh so flattering. Add a long twist on the little white bridesmaid dress trend and you have a look that’s supremely lovely – sweet, summery and a little angelic! Whether you pair the long white gowns with glamorous updos or boho crowns, it’s a beautiful way to dress your girls for the big day – and don’t worry, the bride is never upstaged! This is one of the top looks for the season (as seen most recently on SBB in Pedro & Chelsea’s wedding a couple of weeks ago), so I thought it was high time I gathered some inspiration and ideas to get the look.