Category: Inspiration

Grace Loves Lace

by gaby

As much as I love the more traditional wedding dress designers (oh, Vera!), I’m also a huge fan of the up-and-comers, and a great place to find them is on Etsy. Every now and then I indulge myself with a good long browse through all the beautiful (often more affordable yet completely handmade) options scouting out new names, and Grace Loves Lace is one I have been looking forward to sharing with you for a while. Not only are the dresses absolutely GORGEOUS (Grace Loves Lace could have written the book on boho-luxe) but they ship from Australia all over the world and yes, that totally includes South Africa. Local brides, rejoice! I know it can be nerve-wracking ordering a dress over the internet, but every one is made to order from their studios, and since they only sell online they have built their reputation on satisfied web customers. It’s definitely about time that you knew the name. So today I thought I would bring you some dress swoonage. You’re welcome ;)Read More

Rock Climbing Engagement Shoot

by gaby

Afternoon, friends! I have such a fun e-shoot to share with you this afternoon, courtesy of Kate from The Girl in Gumboots Photography (how adorable is that name? you just know we’ll love her). It’s not every couple that goes for an adrenaline-filled location for their couple shoot, but I absolutely love how this gung-ho couple rocked (literally) their unusual setting.Read More

Travel Themed Wedding Invitations

by gaby

Fold out map Save the Date tied with baker’s twine by Ello There Design via Elsje Designs blog.

Get ready, paperlovers and stationistas, because we are about to have a gorgeous invitation FEST. We’ve spoken before about travel themed weddings, and how it’s one of the big themes that brides and grooms are loving (and personalising) at the moment. We’ve even had a few fun colour schemes for different travel wedding styles. While I was researching that post, I was struck by just how many gorgeous travel-style invitation suites there were out there, and I promised myself I would do a post on it to follow up. Now here’s what I especially love about this collection – each designer (amateur or professional) has combined a series of recognisable, stylish travel elements (mainly maps, postage stamps and cancellers, airmail stripes, postcards, luggage tags, and suitcase stickers) into a unique look with different invitation styles, colours, elements and textures. My favourites are the suites that use a few of these elements, and some unexpected ones too, so that all the different pieces come together in one gorgeous, jet set-style look. Whether you’re looking to DIY your invites or, better yet, working with a pro to come up with a suite that’s uniquely yours, you should find plenty of inspiration here. Even if you’re not having a travel theme as such, but planning a destination wedding or have a love for seeing the world together, you may like to include just one of these ideas in your stationery as a personal element.Read More

Gold & Glitter DIY Roundup

by gaby

Evening, friends! You know, in the reader survey (which I’m still keeping open for a day or two – would LOVE it if you would fill it in!), one of the big things people said they’re like to see more of was DIY. So I’ll be making a plan on that front! But in the meantime, I have an awesome DIY roundup to share with you – and it’s all about the sparkle! Contrary to the saying that ‘all is not gold that glitters’, we’ve rounded up fifteen absolutely gorgeous tutorials for gold or glitter (or both) accents that will add that extra special something to your wedding style. Just, um, don’t use them all at once, obvs.

Read More

How to Wear Statement Bridal Jewellery

by gaby

Source: Oak & the Owl/Em the Gem

This morning, lovelies, we’re talking about one of my all-time favourite things. Jewellery! Oh yes indeed, because who doesn’t love looking at (and wearing) pretty jewels? I’m a huge fan of sticking to classic fashion and using interesting accessories to make it pop, so it’s no wonder really that I’m so in love with the current trend for wearing statement jewellery on your wedding day. After all, if it’s not your personal style in day-to-day life, why suddenly revert to a demure string of pearls on your wedding day? The big question for a number of brides I talk to, though, is how exactly to rock this look without going overboard – after all, nobody wants to look like a bride who (as someone once said about Joss Stone) was covered with glue and rolled through Claire’s Accessories. So today, courtesy of the good folks at Fragments Jewelry, we’re bringing you all the tips and inspiration from real brides that you need. And, just because I can’t resist it, I’m sharing some of my favourite pieces from the Fragments collection. If you’re not already familiar with the brand, then do head over to their online store – but you might want to get someone to hide your credit card first, because I warn you, what you’ll find there is seriously gorgeous!Read More

Inspiration Board: Teal with a Kiss

by gaby

Good morning my lovely friends! This is such a special week for me, I’m so excited for it to start! Because my awesome friends Abs and Phil are in town, together with their three sons, all of them my godsons. I just adore these little guys, but because they live in Australia I haven’t seen them for almost five years (apart from on Skype, not the same). So I am beyond thrilled at the idea of spending some time with them – hopefully it won’t affect the blog schedule, but if I go quiet, you’ll know why. Sometimes, you just have to let life get in the way of work ;) ANYWAY, for today, we’re getting started with another beautiful inspiration board, with a colour combo that I have a feeling will be very popular. Teal and pink are just such a pretty pair, but when you add that little gold kiss… well. Heavenly!

Colours: Teal, rose & gold

Top row (l-r): Place setting {Lisa Dolan Photography/Lauren Field Design}; bridesmaids {Brandon Chesbro/CJ’s Off the Square}; gold champagne bottles {Clary Pfeiffer Photography/Bride’s Vision}; stationery suite {Cheree Berry Paper}
Row 2: Cracker {Jennifer O‘Donnell Photography/La Fete Event Design}; glitter blue confetti; breakout lounge area {Frenzel Photographers/Joyful Weddings and Events}
Row 3: Bride; gold shoes {Ever Whim Photographs}; gold cake {Metro Custom Cakes}; table setting {Lisa Dolan Photography/Lauren Field Design}; balloon.

 

Rosa Clara 2014 Collection

by gaby

Wow. I thought I was in love with the Rosa Clara collection last year, but… wow. This year, they have outdone themselves. Just scrolling through the collection of floaty, lacy, ivory, super-feminine gorgeousness, I am blown away. All the big trends are there – illusion, Gatsby, peplums. But what I love so much about this design house is that there’s a little (beautiful, not gimmicky) twist in every single dress, a combination of detailing and shape that mixes things up a little but retains the elements that we’re all so in love with. It’s an astonishingly beautiful group of dresses, and I can’t WAIT to see these on brides! Rosa Clara is stocked exclusively in South Africa by Olivelli, so give your local branch a call to try on or order one of these beauties.Read More

Cascade Bouquets

by gaby

WAIT until you see the beautiful bouquets I have to share with you today. At the risk of sounding like a total kugel, you are going to daaah. Now, you may associate cascade (or waterfall or trailing, whatever you want to call them) bouquets with the ’80s and early ’90s, Princess Diana style. But in fact, they are this year’s hottest flower trend. And if you had any doubts before, the pics in this post will convince you that the new wave of these bouquets are absolutely, beyond, incredible, gorgeous. And so romantic! Most cascade bouquets use a variety of flowers from large to smaller and hanging foliage, creating that pretty trail at the bottom. You can stick with a single type of bloom, but my favourites are those that use a variety, the next step from the loose handtied look that has been so popular and so inspiring this last while. Pinning fingers at the ready! You’re definitely going to want to keep some of these on file ;)Read More

Braai Weddings

by gaby

Source: Yolande Marx on SBB

Hello friends! It’s a public holiday in SA so I’m taking some time off, but as it’s heritage day, aka National Braai Day (that’s BBQ for my overseas readers), I just had to bring you a special on how to create a braai wedding. “Really?”, you think. But it can be done, by combining the informality and the good humour (and the food, of course!) of our national pastime with some wedding prettiness. Here’s why you might want to have a SouthBound Braai… (ho ho)Read More

Inspiration Board: Love Hearts

by gaby

Pastel lovers, get ready, because today is your lucky day. I’ve really liked the ice cream pastels that have merrily floated their way into weddings in the last year or two – so pretty! Especially with mismatched pastel bridesmaids. This is a look that many brides have combined with a vintage (and sometimes rustic) look – baby’s breath bouquets, vintage books tied with lace, proteas, you know the drill. So today I wanted to reinvent the colour palette for modern romantic brides and grooms. A bit of a geometric detailing, a tiny touch of sparkle, and here you go. I think I have a new style crush :)

Colours: Mixed ice cream pastels

Top row (l-r): Love hearts; stationery set {Every Last Detail/Justin DeMutiis Photography}; wedding dress; ruffle ombre cake {Veronique Photography/Just Jack}
Row 2: Bouquet {Aaron Delesie/Kelly Oshiro Design}; place setting {Amelia Lyon/Amorology Weddings}; geometric place name holder {Indie Wed/Amanda Megan Miller Photography}; bridesmaids in pastels
Row 3: Tassel & geometric escort card display {Amelia Lyon/Amorology Weddings}; table with hanging geometric lamps {Indie Wed/Amanda Megan Miller Photography}; outdoor ceremony {Abigail K./Jade Customised Events}