The SouthBound Guide to Brunch Weddings

Planning A Wedding Brunch

I have just one word for brunch weddings: LOVE. Seriously, morning weddings are one of my absolute favourites (and I’ve been to a few in my time too). Yes, evening weddings are fun and you can tear up the dancefloor all night long and have your first dance under the stars. But if that’s not your thing, or if maybe you want a more intimate gathering or a chance to appreciate the daytime beauty of your venue, or even if you just want something a bit more different, then planning a wedding brunch could be perfect for you. Plus, I mean, it’s BRUNCH. Who doesn’t love brunch? And some people ask: are brunch weddings boring? Or, are brunch weddings tacky? And the answer on both counts is definitely no. In fact, with a morning wedding, you have the flexibility to make it as casual or as formal as you wish, and with a shorter timeline, you actually have less time to keep your guests amused. And trust me, nothing keeps them amused like great food and drinks, and brunch style weddings are ALL about the menu (foodie couples rejoice)! Bottom line, morning weddings are awesome, so we’ve put together a comprehensive guide full of brunch wedding ideas to help you plan one!
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20 Best Wedding Cakes of 2017

Today we’re counting down our favourite cakes and I have to say, this is one wedding detail that I always love! Not just because cakes are yum (and I’ll bet every one of these was delicious beyond!) but because they often encapsulate the style or spirit of a wedding in one gorgeous element. No pressure or anything :) Fortunately, the talented cake designers of South Africa and beyond are well up to the task, and this year we’ve featured some absolute beauties! So here we’re counting down our faves from both real weddings and styled shoots, and whether your style is simple semi-naked or full on metallic glamour, you’ll find something to inspire here!

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20 Geode & Crystal Wedding Cakes

There’s one wedding cake trend that’s been really waking up the neighbours this year, and that’s geode cakes! Along with all things crystal and mineral, geodes are a HUGE wedding trend right now, and bakers have taken up the challenge, rolled up their sleeves, and enlisted the help of rock candy and gold leaf to produce some fabulous creations that look like they were mined straight from the earth (but are way more delicious, obvs!) So of course, I just HAD to round up my faves!

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20 Stunning Semi-naked Wedding Cakes

When I put my mind to this month’s theme, Rustic Elegance, there was one current trend that immediately jumped out at me as MADE for this look. Because as much as I have loved featuring naked cakes over the past couple of years, I am even more in love with their more sophisticated cousin, the semi-naked cake. And where naked cakes are ideal for a rustic bash, semi-nakeds have that extra bit of something (well not something, icing actually) that puts them squarely in between classic and avant garde. I love them. And boy are there some pretty ones out there! So let’s look at 20 of my faves, shall we? Oh yes, we shall.

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20 Chic Beach Wedding Cakes

When it comes to beach weddings, I’ve got to tell you, I have seen a LOT of cheesy cakes. Which is a pity, because a beach wedding definitely doesn’t have to be ‘themey’, and a cake is always such a lovely way to get creative with your setting or wedding style. I knew that over the years I had seen many gorgeous coastal cakes as well, so I went on the hunt, and tracked down 20 of them, to inspire. Whether you’re getting married on the sands, or just want to pay tribute to your love for the beach, each of these creations is a little ocean-themed work of art – and I bet they’re delicious too!

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20 Fancy Floral Wedding Cakes

Oh flowers! I’m so excited that this month is about everything floral and green and garden wedding related, because it really gives me a chance to indulge my love of extravagant florals and do I ever have some pretty stuff coming your way. But to kick it off, I just had to round up one of my favourite places to find florals (apart from bouquets and tables) – on wedding cakes. I’ve rounded up floral print cakes in the past (swoon!) but today we’re going 3D. Some of these floral toppers are real, some are sugar, some you can barely tell. But what they all are is stunning. Whether you go for something statement and extravagant like this or something more subtle, even the most plain and classic cake can be completely transformed with a floral makeover.

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Best of 2016: Cakes

Oh, cakes! Gathering together the greatest confections from the year that was is one of my favourite parts of this series, because it always reminds me just how many incredible creations have breezed into SBB HQ over the last twelve months. This year I think we had even more than ever, because wow, narrowing them down was hard! We’ve had tiered cakes and metallic cakes and naked cakes and even a display of cupcakes made to look like succulents that was a breakout on social media. Some have come from real weddings, some from our beautiful styled shoots, but every one of them will inspire you – and if you want to see more amazing cakes, be sure to check out our Pinterest board!

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How to: Hot Chocolate Bar

Hot Chocolate Bar & Printable Sign by Pen and Paper Flowers

One of the things I love most about winter weddings, whether you’re having them in some snowy cabin in the mountains of Canada, or in our more temperate climate (not that it feels that way at the moment!), is that you can bring in details that are really cosy, to give your guests that comfy, wrapped up feeling. From blanket favours to hot drinks, it’s a great way of pampering them and using the chilly weather to your advantage. And speaking of hot drinks, a hot chocolate bar has to be one of my favourite kinds of details! I mean, who doesn’t love a delicious, warming cup of cocoa, especially when it comes with all the trimmings. So today I thought I would break it down into simple steps, so you can easily create your own (and make it beautiful!) Links in bold denote sponsored affiliate links. SouthBound Bride may earn a commission if a sale is made.

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20 Crazy Gorgeous Winter Wedding Cakes

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – a gorgeous cake defnitely gives me a case of the wedding ‘oohs’. Especially when it reflects the feel or theme of the wedding. If you’re planning a winter or autumn bash, you may be looking to go for the always chic rustic feel (and we’ve rounded up some seriously adorable rustic winter cakes and naked cakes in the past), but there are lots of other options too, thanks to the incredibly creative cake designers around the internet. How about a touch of knit or plaid, or icing reminiscent of icicles or snow? Decorations like snowflakes and antlers, pinecones, gingerbread houses or snowy peaks? Simple white cakes glammed up with evergreen, sugar crystals, or berries? Or simply a nod to Scandi style with a traditional Norwegian/Swedish/Danish kransekake? Each one of the cakes below channels a winter wonderland vibe, but with the most stylish of executions. Let’s get cake-spired! ;)

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20 More Metallic Wedding Cakes

Happy Friday, lovelies! Before we close out the week, I have some more lovely wedding inspiration to share – and warning, this might make you hungry as well as inspired! I just love a gorgeous cake, which is why a couple of years ago I rounded up 20 sparkle & metallic wedding cakes – a trend that has just grown and grown since! Because who doesn’t love a shiny cake, right? So, with this being our month of all things industrial chic, I thought it was only appropriate to bring you 20 more metallic cakes – whether you’re choosing an industrial wedding style or just want something a bit bling on your cake table, and whether your preference is gold, silver, or copper, you’ll find something to love here.

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