Pantone Colour of the Year 2018: Ultra Violet

So this month, our editorial theme is ‘Cosmic Love’, and we’ll be using it to explore all things celestial wedding, but linking it at the same time to the latest development in the Pantone Color of the Year universe: Ultra Violet? Why, well, as Pantone themselves say: “Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now… the vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own”. I also love how Ultra Violet links to some otherworldly design elements, most notably iridescence, set to be a huge trend for 2018 (so expect to see some of that this month too, yay!). I think one of the key things about Ultra Violet is that it’s one of those colours that on its own can be… well, a little too much. It’s a great purple, but it’s still a bold colour and you don’t want to let it take over your wedding. But it combines beautifully with so many other shades: blues and greens, pinks, softer purples (maybe one of my favourite ways to use it), neutrals, pastels and berry shades alike. It lends itself to the current trend of having several colours (or tones) in your wedding palette, instead of playing mix and match. Plus, since you’ll find this shade in many flowers, I’m hoping that we’ll be seeing it in abundant florals the way Greenery did. Today we’re breaking down just a few of the options: a unicorn iridescent board suitable that is bang on trend, a softer country boho palette, a moody purple and grey number which I am loving, and a juxtaposition of purple versus bright red that really pops! Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may make a commission on any sales made.

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How to Write Your Wedding Guest List in 10 Simple Steps

How to Write Your Wedding Guest List

Image: Jules Morgan on SBB

The title of this article was originally ’10 Easy Steps’, but I decided that was way inaccurate. Let’s be honest, choosing who can and can’t attend your wedding is never easy, right? It’s possibly the task you’re dreading most. And it’s true, there are a million little bits of information and wedding guest list etiquette to consider, and feelings that might get hurt, and complications that could (and probably will) develop. Nobody likes to be left out of stuff. But the good news is that if you follow a logical process to making your wedding guest list, step by step, and the ‘rules’ (which you make yourselves) are clear to your family, etc. then you’re far less likely to offend. And then you can get on with the fun stuff. So here it is, my ten step method for how to make a wedding guest list. Let’s go!

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Beautiful Indoor Bridal Session with Four Knockout Gowns

It’s not every bride who gets to rock four showstopping wedding gowns, but when you do, a bridal session to capture them in all their glory only seems appropriate! This bridal session by Peaches With Honey captures one very gorgeous bride – who is inspired by blank canvas and minimalism – in the gowns she chose for her cross-cultural Vietnamese and Western weddings, including a tea ceremony dress from Vietnam, a gold gown for her suite shots, a Western ceremony dress and a dreamy pink cocktail hour gown. Every one of them is incredible, and with romantic florals, perfect styling, beautiful light, and a special guest appearance from mom, the picture is complete!

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20 Beautiful Bridal Separates

Lace Top Wedding Dress by Tavifa Bridal

Why have one piece of bridal fashion gorgeousness, when you can have two? Bridal separates have been taking wedding world by storm, especially those brides leaning in the boho direction. And I have to say, two-piece gowns are a special kind of gorgeous. I think one of the things I like most about them is how you can mix and match to get the right style for you and your body, whether that’s a cheeky crop top, a luxe silk or sequin creation, or a super intricate embellished number on the top, and then a floofy tulle beauty or something more structured on the bottom. And of course, there are some seriously gorgeous options on my fave site, Etsy, so I just had to round up 20 of the best for you today!
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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Moody Blues Winter Elopement Inspiration

It may be summer outside, but this morning we’re turning to a more wintery palette for our inspiration with this styled shoot from Werner J PhotographyMyrtle Floral Design, and their team of fellow creatives. Elopements and micro weddings are all the rage right now, and this gorgeous little wedding inspiration shows just why. A sweet couple with an edgy style, sharing a meal with their bestest people, and a table decked out in copper flatware and luxury linens like velvet (swoon!) and silk. And let’s not forget the stationery – I’ve never really associated watercolour with winter weddings, but I LOVE how it works here! A beautiful ethereal (but still season-appropriate) touch. And let’s not forget the florals – lush beyond!

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Desert Boho Bridal Inspiration

We’re sailing into the weekend with this absolutely gorgeous bridal inspiration from US photography Julia Stockton. Set on the fringes of the desert in Las Vegas at golden hour, with gorgeous sunset-hued florals and a beautiful boho bride, it’s picture perfection – I want to pin every image! What I loved most about this shoot, apart from the gorgeous imagery and delicious light, was that Julia pulled the bride’s look together on a budget, using high street brands. It just goes to show that budget definitely can also mean beautiful, with a little imagination and an impeccable sense of style!

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Waterfall Elopement Inspiration

If you go down to the woods today… well, today  you’ll find a couple, deeply in love, heading into nature for the most intimate of elopements – just the two of them sharing their vows beneath a waterfall, watching the sunset, and toasting their lives together at a table made for two. It’s such a sweet vision of a wedding day, and reminds me that all that really matters in a wedding is that the two of you are there, promising yourselves to one another. Whether you’re having a tiny wedding yourself, or just want to be inspired by the natural boho vibe of this gorgeous shoot, you’ll love these images by Megan Ann Photography!

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Luxury Safari Wedding Inspiration by Oh Happy Day & Bright Girl

Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m obsessed with bushveld weddings, and nothing has made my heart happier over the last couple of years is to see a new, luxury, fine art approach to safari weddings starting to emerge and become part of the portfolio of gorgeous South African wedding experiences. I mean, when you have a background like our wild landscape, the last thing you want to do is compete with it, but you do want to provide an experience for your guests that’s almost sensual, in that it’s about engaging every single sense. Rich, warm textures like leather and wood mixed with soft ones like silk, tulle and lace – a feast for sight and touch. Delicious cuisine served on and in five star linens, crockery and crystal. Palettes of muted pastels and soft neutrals that let those textures and natural beauty shine through. And when it comes to pulling off this look, I can’t think of a better team in KZN than the one I’m showcasing here today. These folks are some of my fave wedding pros of all time, including Joe of Oh Happy Day and Eileen of Bright Girl – they’re consistently creating some of the most beautiful wedding inspiration around and also happen to be the loveliest people to hang with on your big day. You can see why, when I knew this shoot was going down at Cheetah Ridge, I was glued to Instagram for updates, and when I saw the images they were even better than I imagined. So naturally, I picked a zillion of them to share with you. You’re welcome.

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How to Rock a Long Haul Destination Wedding or Honeymoon (And Why Sandals Jamaica is Totally Worth It)

LONG HAUL. What a terrible term – it immediately sounds like a schlep: waiting around in airports for connecting flights, jetlag, airplane food… ugh. But when I think of long flights, I get excited, because at the other end of that journey? It’s destination: awesome. Think about it – no matter where in the world you live, if it takes you a while to get somewhere, it’s going to be amazing. And that’s why, when I had the chance to head to the Caribbean to spend some time with my Aisle Society sisters at Sandals South Coast last year, I jumped at the opportunity. Thanks to SAA, the flight was a breeze (more on that later), and I arrived in Jamaica full of energy and excitement. And what I found was that a few extra hours of travel were 1000% worth it. When you see not only the gorgeousness that is Jamaica (a place so lovely that everyone welcomes you home from the minute you step off the plane, even if it’s your first time there) but the incredible destination weddings that Sandals has created as part of their new Aisle to Isle experience, you’ll understand exactly what I mean! Whether you’re gathering a crew of family and friends, eloping just the two of you, or making it your dream honeymoon locale, you won’t be disappointed. Let’s check out the highlights of my trip, and keep scrolling for my top tips and necessities for long-haul flights!

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2018 Wedding Trends

Welcome, friends! It’s back to work for me today, and I’m kicking off our 2018 editorial programme with our traditional post rounding up the Top 10 trends of 2018. In years past, we’ve nailed many of the trends that are now so very familiar, and it’s always fun to look back and see a progression. This year is no exception! There are some really lovely trends coming through from the worlds of fashion, design, and interiors that we’ll be seeing all over the place in weddings. So let’s get started – and let’s get excited! Here are my predictions – find one or two that resonate with you, and then add your own twist to make them all yours. (This post contains some affiliate links, marked in bold. SBB may receive a commission on any sales.)



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