Category: Inspiration

Inspiration Board: Beach Sundowner

by gaby

Happy Monday friends! It’s a super exciting day here on SBB, as later on we’ll be announcing the finalists for our first ever styled shoot competition. But first, it’s time for some inspiration of our own with the Monday moodboard. Today I’m loving coral (a colour trend that just keeps on going!) mixed with a cool, pale blue – a lovely fresh take on this colour combination and perfect for a laid-back beach celebration (or any celebration, really!). Reflecting the colours of the beach at sunset, it’s the perfect was to kick off a dusky ceremony and a dinner under the stars.

Colours: Pastel blue, coral, peach & white

Top row (l-r): Caravan {Jose Villa}; bride in blue tutu {Jen Huang}; table on beach
Row 2: Paper boat escort cards {Caroline Tran}; bouquet {Analisa Joy Photography}; watercolour menu {Moira West}
Row 3: Bride & groom; driftwood sign {Brilliant Studios/Stacie Steensland}; groom in seersucker suit {Sarah Pudlo & Co}; coral nautical cake {Cyrience Photography/Alexis June Weddings}

 

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20 Creative Save the Date Ideas

by gaby

Hello lovelies! It’s FRIDAY! We love Fridays. Whatever you have planned, here’s hoping you have a fab weekend. And here’s wishing our American friends a happy July 4th! Today I’m rounding up 20 creative ideas for save the dates, to spark your imaginations for your very own STDs. (Yep, most awkward wedding abbreviation ever.) While many people often feel that an actual invitation should be relatively traditional, the Save the Date is a chance to go a bit off the map, play with your theme (or just your personalities) and surprise and delight your guests. Think 3D, texture and fun. Of course, we love electronic STDs too, but if you’d like to do something tactile, here are 20 of my all-time favourite ideas, each of them guaranteed to get your guests excited about the nuptials to come. Yay!

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Inspiration Board: Sophisticated Silver

by gaby

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend? Mine was fab, apart from being internet free thanks to Telkom (coming to you from an iPad right now – argh), and I’m looking forward to another productive week on the blog, in the background and planning a birthday party for my mom (yay, decor!). But first, I’m kicking off the week with a white and silver inspiration board. I must admit, I often veer towards the gold end of the metallic spectrum, but silver is absolutely gorgeous, especially when used as a subtle sister to a classic, romantic white on white wedding. Add chandeliers, a sparkly gown, peonies and (just for fun) and snowball cocktail, and you have silver sophistication at its very best.

Colours: Ice white, silver

Top row (l-r): Wedding dress {Elizabeth Messina/Bob Gail Special Events}; silver shoes {Jen Huang Photography/Charmed Events}; peony & tulle {Pam Cooley}
Row 2: Earrings {Marcie Meredith}; peony bouquet {Billingham Photography}; bridesmaids in silver shimmer dresses {Blumenthal Photography}
Row 3: Mercury glass vases {Picotte Weddings/Events by Heather Ham}; chandeliers; snowball cocktail {Heather Christo}; silver & white wedding cake {COCO Cakes Australia}

 

Inspiration Board: Lovely Laduree

by gaby

You didn’t think I’d let another Monday go by without a SouthBound Bride inspiration board did ya? This is a little colour combination I’ve been looking forward to working with, even since I saw the stationery set in the first row. I thought it was a gorgeous update to the grey and pink palette that has been so successful – a dark charcoal grey instead of a pale dove shade, a soft rosy blush, a baby blue and of course a bit of glamorous gold. It’s delicious, and I love how the pastels play so well together, but are made elegant and sophisticated by the neutral and metallic. The combination of pastels and gold reminded me a little of gorgeous Laduree macaron packaging, and the rest of the board was born!

Colours: Pastel pink & blue, charcoal and gold

Top row (l-r): Bride at Laduree {Jen Huang}; stationery suite; cake {The Cake Parlour}
Row 2: Macarons; rose centrepiece {Aaron Delesie/Lisa Vorce, Event Design & Production}; vintage daybed; champagne {Arielle Doneson Photography}
Row 3: Grey suit with pink bowtie {Adrienne Gunde Photography}; reception decor {Kristin Newman}; blue and pink bouquet; charcoal bridesmaid dresses {Forever Photography Studio/Something To Celebrate }

 

Tropical Boho Styled Shoot by Maxeen Kim Photography

by gaby

Good morning, brideys! We’re kicking off this week with some fresh, beachy inspiration courtesy of the awesome Maxeen Kim, who I first met last year when she was part of our Editorial Wedding workshop. When Maxeen let me know she was putting together a styled shoot loosely inspired by one of my absolute fave SBB inspiration boards, Hawaiian Honeysuckle, I was super excited, and even more so knowing it stars another of my favourite people, the beautiful Ché of indielovebooks. The original board was all about laid back surfy style, which the team translated into a beautiful, ethereal boho setting with a bold tropical palette and sweet ribbon details. I ADORE the Jenny Packham dress, and that casual, hand-tied bouquet with the perfect pop of fuschia complements it perfectly. Best of all, the tablescape was created with real (aka budget conscious) brides in mind, so get ready to be inspired!Read More

African Geometric Styled Shoot by Yolande Snyders & Yellow Papaya

by gaby

Happy Friday lovelies! I have some super sunny, summery inspiration to share with you today, an African take on sunshine yellow with (eep!) a dip-dyed Didi Couture gown. Wow. I adore everything about the styling of this shoot by Simone of Yellow Papaya – the use of geometrical and ombre elements, the relaxed farmyard vibe and the inclusion of shweshwe (which we KNOW I love!). It all makes for a wedding design that is familiar but unusual, and pretty without being overpoweringly girly. In short, super inspiring! Thanks to the awesome team behind this shoot for sharing it with us today, including fab photographer Yolande Snyders and video by The Wedding Revelation.Read More

25 Fresh Pincushion Protea Bouquets

by gaby

Morning, lovelies! We have been having some hosting problems, so the schedule is a bit out of whack, but never mind – today is just going to be FULL of inspiration! We’re starting off with a roundup of no less that 25 gorgeous bouquets incorporating one of our favourite South African flowers, the pincushion protea. Since I first wrote about this spiky bloom a few years back, I’ve been delighted to see it used in some really creative and beautiful ways, so I thought it was about time I shared them. If you’d like a very South African feeling to your flowers, but are a bit over King Proteas, then this is a great choice.

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Announcing the 2014 SBB Styled Shoot Contest

by gaby

Image from a shoot by Adene Photography & Anli Wahl Flowers & Event Styling, featured on Green Wedding Shoes

Wedding pros, I have SUCH an exciting announcement for you all! Today we’re launching a brand new initiative on SBB, one that is very close to my heart. Ever since I started the blog, it has been my aim not just to feature SA’s talented suppliers & brides, but also to try to share a little of what makes South Africa and South African weddings special with the world, and of course to help create and inspire with fresh ideas. Earlier this year I was inspired myself by the styled shoot contest run by my fellow wedding blogger Sara of Burnett’s Boards (which if you don’t follow yet, you MUST!), and with the winter months meaning a bit of playtime for the industry, I thought now was the perfect time to do something similar. So, here we are – the first ever SouthBound Bride Styled Shoot Contest!

And here’s the really exciting bit – the finalists will not only be published here on the blog, but the top team will win a fab sponsorship package. I’m honoured to announce that these winners will be chosen by me along with my fellow judges, the awesome Sara herself, as well as the talented Louise of b.loved (both of whom have a blogger’s editorial eye, a love for fresh inspiration, and experience as successful stylists to their credit). I’m so thrilled that both of them have agreed to be part of the contest.Read More

Well Groomed: The Pastel Wedding

by gaby

So here on SBB, we are often all about the girls (well, it is SouthBound bride, after all). But we really do want to make sure that we’re offering inspiration for the boys as well. And the biggest question I get when it comes to the groom and his merry men is: “What colour should the groom wear if our colour scheme is x”. Ah for the days when this was an easy answer, and all you had to do was match your blush and bashful to his shiny cummerband, right? (I’m kidding, obvs. NObody misses the cummerband.) In fact, the first questions to ask when choosing your groomswear aren’t about the colour scheme at all, but rather about the formality of your wedding, the time of day it will be held, and what will make him (and his budget) comfortable. So taking thes factors into account, I’ve put some options together for ice-cream pastel weddings (one of the more challenging of the groomswear dilemmas). Simple answer? Don’t make him wear a pink suit.

Brunch & Daytime Weddings

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Bridal Boudoir FAQs

by gaby

Happy Friday lovelies! We have a full day of inspiration here on SBB, starting with the most BEAUTIFUL boudoir imaginable from the talented Kate Pleasants. If you’ve been wondering if bridal boudoir is for you, and whether it’ll make you feel sexy or silly, then this is a great example of how subtle (and classy, and gorgeous) it can be when done right. It’s about what isn’t revealed, not what is, and photos like Kate’s are little works of art (a gift for your groom, but a gift for yourself too). As well as sharing them today and making the blog all pretty (yay!), Kate’s answered a few frequently asked questions to help introduce you to the boudoir photography concept.

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