Category: Inspiration

Modern Snow White Wedding Inspiration by Carolien and Ben & Bona-Fide Events

by gaby

Some days, I’ll be honest with you, blogging life can be… hard. Other days? Well, other days I get a shoot like this one in my inbox, or I get to share it with you all and I’m brought back to why I love this job. A collaboration between talented suppliers at one of my favourite venues, incorporating a breathtaking gown, a gorgeous modern table, pops of bright red mixed in with muted pastels and a crisp white backdrop? Heaven. Not to mention a contemporary white dessert display (white macaron tower, love!), soft candlelight, and a bride rocking a red lip to perfection. The cherry on the cake, of course, is that the shoot was put together by some of our favourite people, including SBB Directory members Bona-Fide Events, and photographers Carolien and Ben. All together, it makes my day (pretty) – so let’s go ahead and make yours!Read More

20 Printable Travel Theme Wedding Invitations

by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2020* One of the benefits of choosing a theme for your wedding like travel is that it can really help out the budget because you don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to things like stationery. And as much as I always love the idea of custom stationery, I know that’s not in the budget for many couples, which is where printable invites can be a great saver. You buy the design and have it customised with your names and details, and then have it printed either through an online print on demand service like PSPrint, or at your local printshop. The best part is that you don’t have to compromise on the design itself, because there are so many great options in places like Etsy. Today I’ve rounded up 20 fab travel and destination invitations, save the dates, and stationery suites with a travel theme – some absolute gems here for wanderlust-worthy weddings!

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: Stars to Guide Us Home

by gaby

Morning lovely ones – as I mentioned last week, for our travel-themed wedding month, I wanted to create a few boards that had fresh twists on the idea of travel and journeys. Last week, we got all tropical, and today I wanted to get a bit nautical (but nice, haha). I’ve always found the idea of sailors being guided home by the stars to be super romantic, so I’ve combined a vintage nautical and celestial motifs, and I have to tell you, I LOVE it. Not only are these themes compatible from a concept perspective – they’re a perfect fit from a design angle too, especially if you love navy as much as I do!
* Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Colours: Navy, gold & white

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom on sailboat (Hamilton Photography); celestial wedding invitation (Minted); compass escort cards
Row 2: Contellation table runner (Miniature Rhino); navy candles (Odalys Mendez/Simply Charming Socials); navy macarons (The French Confection Co./Minted & Vintage/Silence of the Lens)
Row 3: Cake with constellations (Meg Ruth Photo/Peridot Sweets); groom in navy suit (Amy & Jordan Photography); constellation map centrepiece (Arielle Doneson Photography/Kirkbrides/Bouquet Studio); navy sparkle shoes (BHLDN)

Row 1: Celestial Wedding Invitation from Minted | Row 2: Jimmy Choo Romy 40 Pumps (left); Anchor & Sail Nautical Signs by Z Create Design (right) | Row 3: Compass Cufflinks by Vintage Stamp Jewels (left); Anthropologie Swivel Globe (right) | Row 4: Constellation Star Table Numbers by soumyasdesigns(left); Sequin Fishtail Maxi Dress by Club L (right) | Row 5: Navy Sequin Tablecloth by Lino and Co. | Row 6: Star Hair Pins by Blair Nadeau Bridal (left); Personalized Compass Wooden Wedding Place Cards by Sooooound(right)

 

James Bond Spectre Wedding Inspiration (Video) by Vizion Photo

by gaby

It’s been so much fun sharing this James Bond styled shoot, just in time for the release of Spectre (which I am amping to see, aren’t you?) Part I with its colourful Day of the Dead inspiration, sleek and sophisticated Part II. There’s one last little installment to share with you this afternoon, courtesy of Vizion Photo. We’ve generally featured their photographic work before, but today we get to share a video they put together to go along with Debbie Lourens‘ images from this shoot, and it is so worth a watch! Then finally, because we love you, we’re also including one last ‘scene’ from the editorial story put together by the styled shoot team, where James and his Bond girl go shopping for jewels at Uwe Koetter. And why not? After all, diamonds are forever ;)

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James Bond Spectre Wedding Inspiration (Part II) by Debbie Lourens & Green Goddess

by gaby

James Bond is back in action! Everything he touches turns to excitement! (Or maybe it’s just that I finally got to quote the Goldfinger poster on my wedding blog, woo!) As you can gather, I’m a huge Bond fan (including having rocked a Bond theme for my 21st birthday party), so a new film is always cause for excitement, and even more so when it comes along with some dangerously beautiful, thrillingly gorgeous wedding inspiration. Tomorrow sees the worldwide release of Spectre, and to celebrate, we finally get to share Part II of this 007 editorial from Debbie Lourens and Green Goddess flower studio. These ladies and their talented team have pulled off not just one but three drop dead amazing looks – and you don’t get much more Bond girl than a helicopter flight in a couture dress decked with flowers. Eat your heart out, Ursula Andress. (In fact, all of the Gavin Rajah creations in this shoot are breathtaking!) And while it’s unlikely the real Bond would ever marry again (first wife? shot on wedding day), there’s no harm in dreaming about what it might look like. Glitzy, elegant, and of course a bit cheeky. SO – scroll away… AND there’s more, because we’ll be sharing a seriously cool video this afternoon, along with a bonus ‘scene’ we’re calling Diamonds Are Forever. Yup, you know you want to see it. In the meantime, let’s get shaken and stirred (and don’t forget to check out the Day of the Dead-style Part I).Read More

Maggie Sottero Fall 2015 Collection

by gaby

Bridal fashion time again! I realised recently that we’d never actually featured one of Maggie Sottero‘s collections, which is a bit mad, because not only do we love Maggie’s gowns, but it’s one of the collections available in South Africa. Turns out there’s never been a more perfect time to start though, since the Fall 2015 lineup is just ridiculously pretty. Seriously, there are so many showstoppers here – and so many that I think will really suit SA brides’ style. It’s all about detailing and femininity – the decoration on these dresses is just gorgeous. I think my favourite thing is the move towards gilded lace style embellishment using crystals and beads – it reminds me of wrought ironwork on the balconies of Paris, or the leaded glass of Notre Dame Cathedral. Combined with dreamy tulle? Heaven.Read More

Inspiration Board: Tropical Elegance

by gaby

Happy Monday, lovelies! When I was thinking about inspiration boards for travel month, I went through a bunch of different ideas (I have some destination-tastic boards that I’m dying to put together!) But in the end, I decided it was a great opportunity to showcase a few general travel-related themes that were very fresh and beautiful. I’m starting off with this one, because I LOVE everything tropical (seriously, if this board were a house, I’d move right in) and as it happens, tropical style is very trendworthy at the moment both in weddings and in interiors, fashion, etc. And not just because we love pineapples (although we do love pineapples). There are lots of great ways to do tropical, but my favourite is to go for simple luxe, and a palette of lush green, natural browns, white and gold. Details like mini pineapples, calligraphed leaves, and coconut cocktails sit perfectly alongside the classics – fine linen, crystal and crockery – a look that’s much more governer’s mansion than tiki lounge. *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Colours: Emerald green, white, gold & wood

Top row (l-r): Table setting (Krista Mason Photography/Lauryl Lane Botanical Stylist/Chic Celebrations); orchid bouquet (Jen Lynne Photography); leaf with calligraphy (Brandon Kidd Photography); pineapple (Justin Marantz Photography)
Row 2: Place setting (Jonathan Conolly Photography/Sugar(ed) Event Design and Planning/Makewells); tropical wedding invitation suite (Oak & Orchid); coconut cocktails (Jonas Peterson/Yifat Oren & Associates)
Row 3: Tropical drinks table (Manyara Home); ceremony seating with palm fronds (Corbin Gurkin Photography/Catherine Doctor/Edgar Chay); mini pineapple boutonniere (Ali Mae Photo/Kaleb Norman James Design)

I especially love the pineapple invitation suite by my Etsy faves Oak & Orchid – see more of their work in our roundup.

Row 1: Pineapple Wedding Invitation by Oak and Orchid | Row 2: Pineapple Personalized Wedding Napkins by Pink Poppy Weddings (left); Metallic Rayon Pineapple Robes by Diamond Stiletto (top right); Diamond Pineapple Ring by Nerd Town USA (bottom right) | Row 3: Solid Brass Pineapples by Judy’s Junktion | Row 4: Gold Pineapple Necklace by The Bonny Boutique (left); PARTYMASTER Natural Coconut Shell Cups (right) | Row 5: Gold Pineapple Stick Pins by Cuchifritina (left); Wax Seal Stamp Tropical Fruit by Mister Robinson (right) | Row 6: Gold Metal Mesh Pineapple LED Lantern String Lights (left); Gold Pineapple Card Holder (right)

Travel Themed Wedding Trends Reloaded

by gaby

I’ve heard planners calling it the wedding trend that just won’t die – and it’s true, in that I’ve been writing about travel-themed weddings for about as long as I’ve been blogging. But there’s a reason why this motif isn’t going away, and that’s because it’s meaningful. You guys – i.e. the only people who really matter when it comes to planning your big day – love travelling or you’ve travelled together, or you come from different places, or you’ve done long distance. Travel is part of your story, and it’s the story you want to share with your guests. We get that, and that’s why November is dedicated to travel themed weddings. BUT. SBB is in the business not only of helping you tell your story, but doing it with style. And sure, we could just reshare all the same ideas (the ones that have made this roundup, and this follow-up two of our most popular posts), but you only have to search Pinterest to find any of those. We’re all about fresh takes and new angles, and that’s what I hope to bring you through November. So there’s no better way to kick things off than with a reload of the travel-themed wedding ideas that have been around the longest and are a little… done. Of course, if you love them, that won’t matter – but here’s some food for thought in creating the same effect in an updated way.Read More

Black Wedding Cakes

by gaby

We don’t usually post on a Saturday, but since it’s Halloween I just couldn’t resist doing a roundup of black cakes because oh my gosh they are so surprisingly pretty! As it happens, black (and navy) cakes are actually a big trend at the moment and are more elegant than eerie, more gorgeous than Goth. And why not? Black bridesmaid dresses have already proved what an air of sophistication and style they can add, and black wedding dresses have conquered the runway (and the aisle). Now it’s time for darker cakes to have their moment, and once you’ve seen this lot, you’ll understand why! Oh, and ps – happy all hallows, lovelies! Hope your weekend is more treat than trick ;)Read More

Darkness & Light by Tesoro Weddings

by gaby

Boo! It’s Halloween tomorrow, so we’re dedicating our content today to everything creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky… and altogether ooky (as the Addams Family would say). Starting with this deliciously eerie editorial by SBB Directory members, Tesoro Weddings. Featuring gowns by local designers, Gelieft Couture, it explores both darkness and light with a black swan/white swan pairing of dresses. Not that it has to be Halloween to wear a black wedding dress, mind you, because we’ve seen many chic brides opting for the dark side in their bridalwear recently and looking utterly chic doing it. But for the record, if any of you are planning a Halloween wedding, I can’t think of anything more perfect for your bouquet than the mix of fynbos and fringed tulips in this shoot – the frayed look of the petals adds a gorgeously distressed texture to the flowers, especially with a circlet of feathers.Read More