Bride - SouthBound Bride

20 Gorgeous Beach Wedding Dresses

28 April, 2017 by gaby

De Havilland – Old Hollywood Argento Wedding Gown by Gibson Bespoke (Image: Tamara Lichtenstein)

Well folks, it’s the last day of the last week of our extended beach-themed content, and it’s also Fashion Friday, so there’s really only one thing for it – beach dress bonanza! A beach wedding gown is such a special garment – it should have a mix of casual and elegant, an ease of wear but also a beautiful fit, and ideally some kind of movement, so that it photographs beautifully against the wind and the waves. Whether your style is boho, modern or classic, you’ll find at least one dress in this roundup that makes you go ‘oooh!’. You’ll find all of them over on Etsy. Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

20 Barefoot Sandals for Beach & Boho Brides

25 April, 2017 by gaby

Enchanted Barefoot Sandals by Forever Soles

The other day we brought you a whole range of beachy accessories from Etsy, but there was one I left out because I like this lil’ trend so much I thought it deserved its own roundup. Barefoot sandals are something we’ve featured in some of our real weddings, and I can’t get enough of this barely there footwear (or really, more like jewellery for feet!) trend that’s being embraced by both boho and beach brides. It’s barefoot… but prettier. All the freedom and earth childiness, but with an extra something special. From crochet to beading to bling, I found loads of lovely options – these are just 20 of my favourites. Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Elegant Beach Wedding Accessories for the Bride

21 April, 2017 by gaby

Boho Beach Destination Bridal Hairpiece Vine by Emma Rose Treasures

I do love my little trawls around Etsy – it feels a little like I’m in search of buried treasure, and whenever I turn up something truly lovely, something I know you all will love, it really is like I found the pirate’s gold. That’s particularly appropriate for today’s roundup, which includes all kinds of lovely little trinkets with a touch of the sea for brides, grooms, and bridesmaids. And while too many themey things could be a little cheesy, each one of these accessories stands alone as an elegant addition to your wedding attire. So peek inside the treasure chest and see which is your favourite!
Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

20 Bridal Hairstyles with Real Flowers

21 February, 2017 by gaby

These last several seasons, it has been allllll about the floral crown in wedding lala land, and I couldn’t have been happier, because flower crowns combine two of my favourites – gorgeous bridal style and fresh flowers! But this season there’s been another emerging trend – a little more subtle but no less pretty, and I am loving it. Brides have been rocking fresh flowers – in arrangements at the tuck of a chignon, as single blooms pinned behind one ear, tucked into their veil, or even woven into a braid. SO pretty. And with this being our month dedicated to secret garden prettiness, I just had to round up twenty of my faves. Now hands up, ladies – which is your fave?

Key Wedding Dress Trends for 2017

13 January, 2017 by gaby

Hello friends! As usual, January has been craaaazy, and I didn’t get to post this yesterday, so we’re going to have a jam packed Friday! Let’s get this party started. Last week we looked at all the top trends in weddings for 2017 and today we’re focusing in on bridal fashion because boy, there’s a lot of pretty stuff going on right now! Ever since these designs made their way down the catwalks at New York Bridal Fashion Week in October, I’ve been sighing over my personal faves, and watching to see where the trends are for this year. And as always, what’s new is often an evolution of what’s already established, so you’ll see some familiar shapes coming to the fore, but there’s also lots of cool new stuff to influence your own wedding dress dreams. As I mentioned in my trend report, this year it is ALL about the shoulders, whether that’s off-shoulder, shoulder detailing, or capes. And I have to say, I’ve never loved this neckline more. Add in details like bows, feathers and every kind of sleeve you can imagine, as well as beautiful textures and fabrics, and you have one pretty season!

Best of 2016: Dresses

29 December, 2016 by gaby

Ah, one of my favourite posts of the year! Wedding dresses are one of the elements I adore about the real weddings we feature, and we’ve seen so many absolutely GORGEOUS dresses over the years, each with a story of how they came to be ‘the one’. This year has been no exception, and while we’ve seen a return to more traditional white gowns in general, it’s been all about the details – low backs and plunging necklines, soft tulle skirts, lace sleeves and backs, extraordinary fabrics and elegant silhouettes. It’s so hard to pick just twenty favourites, but in the end, this is the group of beauties we settled on. Dress swoon!

20 Ethereal Wedding Dresses

24 November, 2016 by gaby

Sorry I’m a bit scarce this week, lovelies, but I’m working like a demon on a super important project here at SBB HQ. But I thought in the midst of all the shopping and holiday craziness today, it would be fun to have an oasis of prettiness in the form of 20 ethereal wedding dresses from two of our favourite Etsy designers, Cathy Telle and Mywony Bridal, all of which just make me all swoony. If you weren’t convinced by coloured dresses before, you will be, and even if you’re after something more traditional, but with a gorgeous, high fashion edge, this curated collection of ethereal wedding gowns won’t disappoint. So, so beautiful!
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

20 Wedding Dresses for a Boho Bride

27 September, 2016 by gaby

Hello lovely friends! Sorry we’ve been a bit quiet on SBB – been having a bit of a tech upgrade! Which is a good thing, obvs, but interrupted normal workflows. So I’ve actually decided to extend this month’s ‘Wild Beauty’ theme on through October – after all, I have so much more natural/boho wedding goodness to share with you! Starting with some fashion fabulousness, because oh my word, but Etsy is just a treasure trove for a bohemian bride. I rounded up some gorgeous boho wedding dresses a while back, and today I’ve found 20 more – just wait till you see them! *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Bridal Body Jewellery

13 September, 2016 by gaby

JACQUELYN Gold Bridal Shoulder Necklace by Blair Nadeau Millinery (Image: Whitney Heard Photography)

Just when I think I’ve seen it all in terms of bridal accessories, body jewellery has come along and blown me out of the water. I mean, seriously, could a boho bride (or a glamorous Gatsbybride, or any bride for that matter) ask for more? Pretty, intricate, interesting, feminine pieces that enhance that gorgeous wedding dress of yours and make you look like a total goddess. I’m especially partial to shoulder jewellery at the moment, but I’m also loving the hand chains and barefoot sandals and waist chains and I thought it was the perfect time to round up some Etsy faves. *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

20 Super Chic Birdcage Veils

29 August, 2016 by gaby

Mini birdcage veil with pearls by Joy and Felicity (photography by Elizabeth Ngundue Photography)

When I think of the bold, fashion-forward brides we’ve featured over the years, there’s one thing that many of them have in common and that’s the classic birdcage veil. Whether you wear them over the face or super short, close to the face or poufy, and in classic white netting or a variety of other colours and textures, this is one look that never goes out of style. There are loads of ways to wear a birdcage veil, and you can even make your own (as in this gorgeous tutorial we shared last year), but I personally love browsing the Etsy artists’ work for some of the most beautiful and creative examples of the style that you’ll find for sale on the web. Rounding up just twenty of the best birdcage veils was tough, but I’ve narrowed down my faves, and I can’t wait to share them with you! *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.