Category: Inspiration

Inspiration Board: Enchanted Blue

by gaby

It’s funny with inspiration boards – sometimes I feel like I’ve done loads of a particular colour or combination recently, and then I look back at my archive and realise I actually haven’t. So maybe it’s just all those colour combinations floating around in my head. That’s what happened with today’s board, because it turns out I haven’t done anything with pale blue for ages. That made me really happy, because it gave me an excuse to play with powder blue and gold, which I’m sorry, is just completely dreamy! I adore this romantic but not to feminine combo for a wedding, especially the way that the cool of the blue and the warmth of the gold complement each other perfectly. What more do I need to say?

Colours: Powder blue, sand & gold

Top row (l-r): Ballerina bride {Archetype}; blue & gold table decor {KT Merry/Joy Proctor}; individual cakes {Alicia Pyne Photography/Sugary And Chic Cake Boutique}
Row 2: Cake with coloured candles {Warm Photo/Special Day}; flower girl in lace crown {Whitney Neal Photography}; gold candyflossRow 3: Tent breakout area {Jemma Keech/Cathrin D’Entremont Weddings}; gold shoes {Marissa Lambert Photography/Jimmy Choo}; foiled pear placecard {Weddings By Sasha}; blue bridesmaid dresses {Elizabeth Henson Photos}

 

10 Ways to Style Sequin Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

You’ve probably figured out by now that sequin bridesmaid dresses are kind of a favourite here on SBB – let’s be honest, they look completely gorgeous and glamorous and they always make our pretty-loving hearts lift a mile. But by now you also know there are a ton of options for how to actually put that sparkly ensemble together. Long or short? Solids or skirts? Same dresses or mismatched? Well, we can’t make the decision for you, but we can do what we do, and bring you some delicious, glittering inspiration!Read More

Glamorous Olive Grove Engagement by Louise Vorster

by gaby

It’s been our month of glamour on SBB, but one of my favourite things is finding a way to inject a bit of glamour into an unexpected place: chandeliers hanging from a tree, ballroom style in an urban loft space… or a shimmering full length gold dress in an olive grove. That’s why I immediately fell in love with this beautiful shoot by Louise Vorster – the contrast between bride-to-be Adél’s glam gown and the rustic setting for her engagement shoot with her love, Jan, is so eye catching and gorgeous. And there’s something very intimate about it too – like the two lovebirds have sneaked off to have a fancy date in an secret location, and are having the time of their lives doing just that. It’s moments like this that give us a glimpse of the fun of being engaged, a welcome break in a sea of wedding planning, and a special memory captured forever.Read More

Rosa Clara 2016

by gaby

It’s always such a pleasure to scroll through the latest designs from Spanish label Rosa Clara. Not only do we already know the gorgeousness that is Spanish wedding couture, but Rosa Clara’s line always has such wonderful details and textures, and each time I scroll through I notice a new embellishment, a sleek silhouette, or an unusual neckline. The 2016 collection was inspired by divas of the 1930s and 1940s, and manages to mix classic elegance with pretty much every fashion forward bridal trend we’re loving at the moment – two-pieces, off-the-shoulder gowns, portrait backs. Plus, even though this collection is straight from Barcelona with love, I adore knowing that local brides can find Rosa Clara at Olivelli, which makes the line that much more special for South African readers. So let’s take a moment to immerse ourselves in these calming, elegant lookbook images, and dream of each of these lovelies sashaying down the aisle next season.Read More

15 Glam Foiled Wedding Invitation Suites

by gaby

I swear, I have as many stationery crushes as I do rugby players. The stationery is a little less PG rated, obvs. The point is, one of my absolute biggest stationery crushes over the last couple of years has been foiling, which everytime I see in a wedding invitation suite just makes me want to run my hands over it and say “ooh, shiny shiny!” Gold, silver, copper, rose gold… doesn’t matter. It’s a really beautiful way of bringing a bit of glamour to your invitations, and making metallics set the tone for the elegant soiree to follow. As always, there are some seriously talented designers in the Etsy community who have created some gorgeous foiled invites, and I’ve picked out fifteen of my favourites. I love my job.Read More

Inspiration Board: Navy & Rose Gold

by gaby

Hello friends – how was your weekend? Hope it was full of fun and glamour and champagne – after all, that’s the vibe we’re going for in today’s little inspiration board! We’re taking a mix of grown-up navy, romantic blush, and glamorous rose gold – there really is no end to the fun you can have playing with metallics in your palette, and this is the perfect twist on blush and navy, which has been getting more popular in the last few years. Just add a vintage getaway car, a sophisticated dress, and some sparkly bridesmaids, and you have a fresh, glam look. Another option would be to add in a bit of dove grey, which goes great with all of these shades.
*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, blush, rose gold, white

Top row (l-r): Bouquet (Rustic White Photography/Mandy of Waiting on Martha, Inc./Lindsay Coletta); table setting (Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography/The Southern Table); cake (McCune Photography/Grand Engagements/Sweet and Saucy Shop); gold dress (Emilia Jane)
Row 2: Place cards; gold bridesmaid dresses (Amanda Crean Photographers/Lauren Kelleher); rose gold votives; champagne coupes
Row 3: Bride & groom (Trent Bailey Photography); vintage car (Mademoiselle Fiona); invitation suite (Jupiter and Juno)

Row 1: Navy Tuxedo from ASOS (left); Theia Azelea Gown (right) | Row 2: Wedding Vow Books by Seniman Calligraphy | Row 3: Navy Rose Gold Wedding Invitation by VERDILIAN (left); Navy Bridal Earrings by Saint Valentine Bridal (right) | Row 4: Richland Rose Gold Mercury Votive Candle Holders (left); Sethi Couture Wide Pavé Pink Diamond Ring (right) | Row 5: Sophia Webster – Madame Chiara Metallic Leather Sandals (left); Rose Gold Navy Wedding Table Numbers by PrintCess Design Store (right) | Row 6: Brianna Wedding Dress by Truvelle

 

Gatsby Glam Wedding Dresses

by gaby

Great Gatsby 1920s Art Deco Wedding Dresses | SouthBound Bride

The truth is (even though she was a bit of a cow), there’s a big part of me that still wants to be Daisy Buchanan – flitting about in her beautiful dresses with her voice full of money, breaking hearts all over West Egg. Maybe that’s why every time I see a wedding gown sporting art deco embellishment and a slinky, satiny silhouette, I have a full-on, hold-on-to-your-chaise dress swoon. Or why designers like Johanna Johnson and Jenny Packham always have me dying over their latest collections of Gatsby wedding dresses. Forget princess dresses – for a glamorous bride, there’s no better way to go than with a touch of 1920s vintage. Especially when its complemented with gorgeous retro hair, a red lip, or a spectacular hairpiece. I went on the hunt for some of the most breathtaking glam wedding dresses for the Gatsby bride, each of them worthy of Daisy herself.
*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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Styled Shoot Turned Surprise Elopement by Angie Capri

by gaby

This shoot, you guys. It is so filled with love. In most of the styled shoots that I feature here on the blog, it’s all about the details – the pretty flowers, the table, the stationery, the cake… and of course, the ideas that are meant to inspire all of you brideys for your own, larger-scale weddings. Over the years, I’ve seen a few styled shoots that turned into engagements, because let’s be honest, is there a prettier way to pop the question? But when this same-sex shoot from Angie Capri crossed my desk, I knew it was something extra special. Not only did the lovebirds, Kylie & Andrea, have the moment when Andrea got down on one knee captured on film, but they were married on the spot in the most romantic surprise elopement I can imagine. So today, we get to not only be inspired by the pretty details created by Angie and her team, but by the sheer love as well.Read More

BHLDN Autumn 2015 Collection: Twice Enchanted

by gaby

Time for some fashion inspiration, lovelies. As you know by now, there’s nothing I love more than a beautiful lookbook shot in a beautiful place, chock full of beautiful dresses, so I couldn’t help but share the latest images from BHLDN with you all. I adore the gowns that BHLDN curates every season – handpicked from some of the finest designers, they really are worthy of the ‘swoonworthy’ tag. This lot are super glamorous, with incredible beading and embellishment and detailing, as well as some dreamy top-and-skirt combos that are bang on trend, as well as a host of gorgeous accessories. For the lookbook, photographer du jour Chloe Mallett headed to the Palácio de Monserrate in Sintra, Portugal, and the result is a fairytale collection in a fairytale setting – no wonder it’s called ‘Twice Enchanted‘. So let’s get to it, shall we? (PS Shop the look here)Read More

Donna Morgan Serenity Collection

by gaby

Since glamour is the word round SBB this month, I can’t think of a better time to share this particular little collection with you! You’ve probably figured out by now that beautiful, glam, embellished bridesmaid dresses are a big fave for me, so I was absolutely over the moon when I saw Donna Morgan’s latest collection, Serenity. Not only are these dresses GORGEOUS and versatile, and will be a real focal point for any wedding, but they’re that rare and wonderful thing: bridesmaid dresses your girls will want to wear again afterwards. And with this much glitter and sparkle (as well as dreamy chiffons and soft floral prints), in a range of beautiful, ready-to-mismatch colours, who could blame them? I suspect we’ll see a couple of brides turning up in them too!Read More