Styled Shoots - SouthBound Bride

Spring Blossom Bridal Shoot

13 April, 2018 by gaby

Spring has sprung! Okay, not here technically, as we’re heading into autumn (although you’d never know from the pure sunshine outside my window in Durban today) but this time of year it’s always fun to see spring blossoms making their way onto the pages of my Northern Hemisphere blogger friends. So we’re taking a trip into the orchards full of blossoms here too, and filling our lungs with fresh spring air, as we enjoy this beautiful bridal shoot from Sulet Fourie and her team. One of the things I love about this editorial is the soft touches of purple – a great way to incorporate this year’s Colour of the Year, Ultraviolet, in a subtle and super pretty way! Stunning florals, a gorgeous dress, and happy smiles – it’s the perfect way to start the weekend off right.

Sheer Ever After Wedding Inspiration

12 April, 2018 by gaby

I am so SO excited to share this shoot with you all! A few months ago, when I published the SBB trend report for 2018 and announced that we’d be focusing some of our features on the transparency trend, the very lovely Carmen of Two Cherries Events got in touch and told me about a shoot that she was dreaming up with photographer Jaqui Franco and their team of creatives. I couldn’t wait to see the final images and they were even better than I imagined! Sheer fabrics, perspex and acrylic stationery and details, huge glass windows – it’s all here! What I especially love is that, while one take on this transparency trend is to go for a more modern, minimalist aesthetic, this shoot incorporates those details but in a very soft, romantic, fairytale way. It’s the perfect fusion of romantic and contemporary wedding styles! From the clear menus to the dreamy Cindy Bam gowns, to the table laid in a cool green and blue palette, to the beautiful cake, you’re about to be oh-so-inspired! Sheer beauty indeed.

Greenhouse Romance Wedding Inspiration by Pear & Bear Photography

9 April, 2018 by gaby

So as you know, we’re currently crushing on everything sheer and transparent and luminous and lovely, and that includes venues. And while we have some of the coolest glass marquee venues in SA, I have a particular love for greenhouse weddings – something about greenhouses in general that’s sort of vintage and elegant, and then combined with botanical wedding details… well, they get me every time. Which is probably why I fell madly in love with this gorgeously moody greenhouse wedding inspiration the second I laid eyes on it. From the beautiful peachy blush florals to the luxe Jenny Packham gown, it really captures that vintage elegance I was talking about, with a modern, playful edge. Absolutely gorgeous work from Anna at Pear & Bear Photography, and the talented team that came together to make this magic happen! Let’s step inside the greenhouse…

Tropical Transparency Wedding Inspiration

13 March, 2018 by gaby

So excited to share this gorgeous shoot with you today, friends! This month we’re celebrating all the many gorgeous elements making up the hottest 2018 wedding trend: transparency. From see-through stationery to sheer dresses, I am loving every bit of this chic modern look, and today’s shoot is exactly why. A minimalist Brooklyn loft overlooking the New York skyline is the perfect location for a look that manages to be classic and contemporary at the same time. The team, including stylist CCL Weddings And Events decked the glass tabletop with a mix of clear, marble and metallic decor that really let every piece shine. As you know, I am kind of obsessed with tropical greenery, and I adore the way that palm leaves and ferns are paired here with soft yellow blooms – so eyecatching! (And hello, delicious monster wedding cake – OBSESSED.) The acrylic stationery is stunning- again pairing those clear elements with gold and marble to stunning effect. The model bride rocked a super stylish minimalist wedding gown, and of course there were cocktails. And on top of all that, a spectacular ceremony area bringing the tropics to the city, with a stunning tropical arch framing that famous skyline, and plexiglass boxes filled with fauna. There’s just SO much to inspire you here – not least the magnificent pics by Ruth Eileen Photography!

Romantic Iridescent Wedding Inspiration

27 February, 2018 by gaby

I have been SO excited to share this shoot with you! Because with iridescence one of 2018’s biggest wedding trends, I’ve been seeing it a lot, but this luminous styled editorial from photographer Jessica Notelo and a talented styling team is hands down the prettiest take I’ve seen on it yet. From tables to flowers to stationery to cake to macarons (seriously, iridescent macarons you guys!), it’s like a beautiful iridescent dream. And what’s so clever about the look for me is that, instead of just incorporating iridescent elements, the whole shoot is a bringing-to-life of the spectrum, with soft florals in pink and purple and white, romantic fabrics, and elements of both base matte grey and sparkling shine to bookmark the pastels. Cohesive, dreamy and bang on-trend. If this doesn’t make you fall in love with the iridescent look, then nothing will. Let’s get inspired!

Romantic Spanish Wedding Inspiration

23 February, 2018 by gaby

We’re off to Toledo in Spain this afternoon, the land of Don Quixote and the royal court of Charles V, for a bridal shoot that is just pure prettiness, and the perfect inspiration for a natural summer bride. The florals are soft and abundant, in shades of peach and green and white – the foliage of the bouquet perfectly reflected in the romantic stationery, the gorgeous cake, and the bride’s own hair wreath. Soft curls tumble over the bride’s shoulders, and her dress swirls around her bare feet. And while Spain may conjure images of sand and sea, the vibe here is rainy and mysterious, giving it a mysterious old world vibe that I love. According to stylist Natalia Ortiz, the small town’s impressive architecture offers a mirror to the bridal style they created: “Everything there is made of wood, intertwined with saturated green leaves,” she says. And no matter where you’re planning your nuptials, Spain or beyond, it’s worth taking a leaf from Natalia’s and her team’s simple, classic, but oh-so-romantic style.

Atmospheric Wedding Inspiration

20 February, 2018 by gaby

“You had me at alpacas.” That’s what I told Stacey of The Shank Tank when she sent over this uniquely gorgeous styled shoot that combines wild, natural elements and dramatic scenery. It’s a little otherworldly, like a visit to another planet, but combined with that atmospheric strangeness is some seriously beautiful and inspiring inspiration, from gowns to table decor, stationery to hair and makeup, and a gold dripped cake for extra yumminess. And the flowers… oh my. SBB faves Natural Nostalgia were absolutely in their element here with a loose, wild bouquet arrangement, pastel-with-an-edge table arrangements, and a floral arch that is just boho perfection. Plus there’s ALPACAS. You can’t get cooler than that!

Celestial Romance Wedding Inspiration

14 February, 2018 by gaby

I am beyond excited to share this stunningly beautiful styled shoot with you all today! Celestial weddings are one of 2018’s biggest trends, but although I’ve seen it done well, I’ve never seen fine art wedding style and astronomical themes come together in such a beautiful way until I came across this gorgeous editorial by Kiss from Fleur, Cornelia Lietz and their team. Everything from the table styling to the hair and makeup to the stationery is dreamy and ethereal, with just a touch of moody and I adore the little details: a cake that looks like it’s been dusted with stars, star map place settings, sparkly gowns, and even a crescent moon backdrop. So very inspiring!

Beautiful Indoor Bridal Session with Four Knockout Gowns

23 January, 2018 by gaby

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!

Moody Blues Winter Elopement Inspiration

22 January, 2018 by gaby

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 Photography, Myrtle 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!