Before we round off our Friday afternoon (yay, Friday!), it’s time for a bit of practical planning advice. There’s so much to think about when planning a wedding, but one question I get a lot is about when to send invitations, and when/if to send Save the Dates. So I thought I would compile everything into a simple guide and quick (pinnable) reference.Read More
Yay, it’s Friday. And yay, it’s time for the latest in our SouthBound Guides, teaching you all the wedding lingo you need to communicate effectively with your lovely suppliers. Since this is about the time that many of you will be finalising your cake choices, I thought today was a good day to talk about just that – and with it being Nelson Mandela’s birthday, a cake feels kind of appropriate. In fact, it’s been a cake-y kinda week here on SBB, so feel free to indulge yourself in something sugary as you enjoy each of these handy (pinnable!) examples. (Any excuse, right?)
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.
Happy Friday, loves! What do you have planned for the weekend? Before we head off, I thought it was time for some education, SBB style. As much as I advocate hiring great wedding pros and then trusting them to do their job for you, you’ll want to give them an indication of the kind of styles and ideas you have in mind. Pics are great, but there’s some wedding-speak that will help communicate those ideas (so that you’re not like me at a hairdresser: “short, but not, like, short short”) and that’s what this glossary is all about. So today I’m breaking down the most common bouquet types, with lovely, pinnable examples of each!
If you follow SBB on Facebook you may have seen that I was invited back this last Tuesday to chat to the lovely Yolanda Martens at OFM, a radio station based in Bloem, as part of her wedding planner series. This time, we were talking all about bridal showers, hen dos, kitchen teas, bachelorettes – whatever you want to call them, I shared lots of info and ideas for bridal shower planning. (You can hear the podcasts here.) To tie in with my interview, I thought this afternoon I would post the complete SBB guide to how to plan the perfect bridal shower (that is, the more sedate day-time party!). If you scroll to the end, you’ll even find a very handy printable bridal shower timeline and checklist that your Maid of Honour or bridesmaids can use to help them in their planning, so don’t forget to pin it! I’ve thrown quite a few showers in my time (both bridal and baby), and organisation is the key to make it as stress-free for the planner as well as for the bride and guests as possible. It’s such a special gift to give one of your best friends – an afternoon with her favourite people, celebrating their relationships with her – but it doesn’t happen by magic. So here’s everything you need to know about how to plan the perfect bridal shower.
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
Afternoon, lovelies! I get a lot of queries from readers and as much as I have learned about weddings, there are lots of times where I think it’s best to consult the pros – especially since South Africa has such a wealth of fantastic wedding service providers. So when I had a request for information on vegetarian wedding menus, I went straight to a caterer who I knew would be able to answer my questions and provide you lovely readers with lots of inspiration, Sasha of Prep’d by Sasha Catering. With lots more couples going meat-free themselves (as well as meat eating couples who want to make sure their veggie guests are treated like VIPs), it’s a great time to ask yourself whether a vegetarian menu is right for your celebration. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice even a little on taste, as Sasha proved by whipping up an AMAZING menu for you all. And the best part? You can download all of her completely delicious recipes!
*UPDATED FOR 2021* You know how on Say Yes to the Dress, there are those moments when a bride comes in and she’s adamant about a specific shape of dress she wants, and when she puts it on it just looks… wrong. And then, if she’s smart, she tries a shape the consultant suggests instead, and is instantly transformed into a goddess? I love those, because I KNOW the feeling of trying something on and it looks nothing like how it did in your head or on the hanger and you feel desperate because omigodnothingisevergoingtofitmeorlookawesome. Trying something on that is right for your shape is the opposite of that feeling, but the truth is that it only happens when you let go of some of the pre-set ideas you have, and work with reality. That’s what this series is about – making our brides feel like a zillion dollars, whichever of the main body shapes they are rocking. Today we are all about hourglass shaped brides, and I’ll be giving you some tips for dressing this curvy shape to perfection, as well as swooning over some incredible hourglass wedding dresses from Etsy.
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
I’m getting married in a month and, I’ll be honest, I’m nervous.
It’s not that I’ve got cold feet. Quite the opposite! I’m so ready to marry this phenomenal man of mine. It’s just that my only lifelong commitment so far has been my legal obligation to pay my TV Licence. This is a much bigger step!
Gideon and I have been fortunate to attend of series of pre-marital counselling sessions with our church. I’m grateful for the lessons we’ve learned through these sessions from wiser couples who have been married many happy years. Lessons like the importance of making decisions together and being an attentive listener.
Despite these lessons, there are some things we need to figure out ourselves, on our own terms. Since the day we got engaged there’s a particular topic I’ve struggled with: the surname change.Read More
*UPDATED FOR 2020* It’s time for another installment in our series looking at wedding dresses ideal for your body shape. Brides come in all shapes and sizes – it isn’t about looking like some perfect perfume-advert style bride or fitting into the smallest dress in the shop, it’s all about celebrating your own beauty and style. After all, that’s what your groom fell in love with, right? Choosing a wedding dress that highlights your best features is the best way to feel amazing, so try to let go of any hard and fast ideas you may have about the silhouette you want to cut, try lots on, and take the advice of your seamstress or gown salespeople, who really know what they’re talking about. Today we’re focusing on inverted triangle/strawberry shape brides, and sharing some exquisite dresses from Etsy to inspire and illustrate.
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
Hello lovelies! To start off your Friday, I asked Cheryl McEwan, a fab Cape Town photographer (and SouthBound Bride too!) to share some of her insider secrets – what you need to know to get started, how to get the most out of your pics and what to do with them after the wedding. She’s sharing her top tips from engagement to happy ever after with you this morning – thanks so much Cheryl!
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Hi all you lovely SouthBound Bride readers! I am so honoured to have been asked by Gaby to share a bit of advice and perspective from a wedding photographer’s point of view with you all. Your wedding photos are one of the most important aspects of your special day and of course the lasting memories left after your wedding. You want to be able to get the very most out of your photos and your photographer so I hope the following will help you with this.Read More
