Trends & Ideas - SouthBound Bride

15 Ways to Use Wine Barrels in Your Wedding Decor

7 October, 2015 by gaby

Y’all already know that I am all about the details when it comes to wedding decor, and when it comes to winelands weddings, there are a couple of details that can really add an elegantly rustic vineyard ‘theme’ to complement the venue. We’ll be rounding up a whole lot of these ideas soon, but for today, we’re focusing on one of my favourites: wooden wine barrels. I never get tired of seeing these at real weddings – I don’t know why, but there’s something so romantic about them as a feature piece, maybe because they bring to mind the French countryside, or a vintage cellar. Whatever the reason, they’re lovely, and the good news is that they’re also pretty versatile in terms of how you can use them. Here are 15 of my favourite ideas from around the web.Read More

How to Make a Cheese Wheel Wedding Cake

2 October, 2015 by gaby

Wine farm brides and grooms, rejoice! This October on SBB, our theme is Vineyard Weddings, so we’ll be looking back at some of our favourites from SA’s wealth of wine farm venues, as well as rounding up lots of little details and lovelies that you can include to bring your location to life (or just bring a bit of the vineyard into whichever venue you choose!). When I think about wine (which is a lot), I also think about cheese – the two go together like love and marriage. So an obvious option for a vineyard wedding cake is to go for a cheese wheel tower instead of (or as well as) a traditional sweet cake. It may no longer be a new idea, but it’s always a crowd-pleaser! Because cheese, duh. And sure, you could just plonk a bunch of cheese on a tray or pile a few rounds up and call it a cake, but it’s much more fun to create something pretty with just as much panache as a classic cake. Depending on how you style your cake, it can fit in perfectly with a rustic wedding, a contemporary one – even a romantic or glamorous one! And the best part is that you (or a friend or family member) can do it yourselves, following our handy tips. And, of course, we’ve rounded up lots more gorgeous cheese wedding cakes (many from our own SBB weddings) to inspire you!Read More

Long Mix & Match Pastel Bridesmaid Dresses

1 October, 2015 by gaby

While it may be October officially today, we’re sticking with spring pastels for one more day so I can bring you this lovely roundup of long pastel bridesmaid gowns. Because really, this mini trend is too lovely not to. And, while I still love cute little ice cream pastel dresses on BMs, the latest version of the look is a little softer and a little more grown-up, with pale pastel shades and long lengths. Whether they’re paired with boho flower crowns or lush bouquets, these mix and match lineups of long pastel bridesmaid dresses are sure to make both your girls and your photographer very happy. I’ve gathered some lovely inspiration from real weddings, as well as some pretty dress options for mix and match pastel dresses for you to shop.
*Shopping sources in this post use affiliate links. This means SBB may earn a commission if you make a purchase from our links.

20 Escort Card Displays & Table Plans for Spring Weddings

25 September, 2015 by gaby

Happy Friday lovelies! I am away for the long weekend (as, I know, are many of you all!) so I thought I would simply bring you a fun little roundup. Escort card displays are one of those details that aren’t strictly necessary in terms of getting too fussed, but I have to admit that it’s one wedding detail that always captures my imagination when it’s done well, and makes an event’s design stand apart. I think it’s because it’s a great way to showcase something about your theme without being too themey, about your story without having to make it a theme, or something about your season or venue that just adds to the whole ambience of the reception. So I’m a fan. And for that reason, I’ve been trawling the webs, picking out my favourite plans and displays that are absolutely PERFECT for a sweet spring wedding. Whether they incorporate spring blooms, fruits, or motifs like birds/eggs or gardening, each of these is sure to make your guests take notice, and set the mood for the most perfect spring celebration.Read More

20 Watercolour Wedding Invitations

21 September, 2015 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2020* I suck at art in general, but if there was one technique I wish I could just magically wake up having mastered, it would probably be watercolour. I just love it, and it’s been so lovely to see watercolour make its way into wedding design the last couple of years. One area where I think it’s particularly adaptable (as in, you don’t have to be having a watercolour or ombre wedding in general to incorporate it) is through stationery – watercolor wedding invitations never fail to look lovely and romantic. The look can work for winter, spring, summer or autumn, it can be moody and boho or floral and fun. Want to see how? Check out these 20 gorgeous watercolor wedding invitations from those clever folks at Etsy. And best of all, they’re all printable and super affordable. Just pick your invitation, customise with your colour and details, and you’re good to go.

Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Flowers in Season: Spring

18 September, 2015 by gaby

Hello lovelies! It might not look like spring outside my window today, but TECHNICALLY we’re supposed to be all about this fresh new season, so I thought it was the perfect time to take a squizz at some seriously gorgeous spring bouquets. Seasonal flowers are a big thing with me – I really think that whatever time of year you choose to get married in, you’ll get the most beautiful, vibrant blooms when you go seasonal. And spring… well, when it comes to flowers, spring is king. We’ve already covered autumn and winter in this series, matching up some drop-dead amazing bouquets with invitations, and highlighting seasonal blooms, and today we get to play with some of my all-time favourite flowers. Hello, peonies! Let’s have a look, shall we… Read More

Pastel Wedding DIY Roundup

17 September, 2015 by gaby

I thought it was high time for another DIY roundup, and of course with spring pastels on the brain, I just had to go a-looking for some pastelly loveliness for you all to add to your wedding To Do list. From table decor to bridesmaids gifts, I’ve found 15 seriously cute ideas in sorbet shades that would really brighten up any celebration, or add that extra little somethin-somethin to a pastel themed Big Day. My absolute fave is those candyfloss sodas (above) – anyone serving those at cocktail hour would immediately have me over the moon as a guest. So fun! Which is your favourite? Remember – even if pastels aren’t your thing, you can totally adapt any of these to suit a different colour scheme, so go ahead and be inspired!Read More

Macaron Tower Wedding Cakes

16 September, 2015 by gaby

So this month we’re all about spring pastels and you KNOW I couldn’t do that without mentioning macarons, because to me there’s no prettier or classier inspiration for mixed pastels than that kingdom of the macaron, Laduree. We’ve chatted about macaron favours before, but another option for including these blogger faves is as an alternative to a cake – a macaron wedding tower. These always invite oohs of delight, and they’re a great way to mix and match colours, as you’ll see below – you can even go metallic (is there anything more covetable than a gold macaron? Not in my book). So let’s sit back and be inspired (and try not to get too hungry) with some of my top picks from around the web.

20 Mixed Pastel Wedding Bouquets

10 September, 2015 by gaby

What can I say about pastel bouquets, you guys? I mean, I could use the word ‘pretty’ a bunch of times, or gorgeous or dreamy, or even throw a couple of ‘swoonworthy’s about. I could, but I’m not gonna, because come on, you just KNOW these bouquets are going to be amazing. Ice cream pastels at their most beautiful and natural, all in one perfect bunch, and created by some of the most talented floral artists I could find on the internets. So basically… is there anything better?Read More

How to Style a Pastel Dessert Display

8 September, 2015 by gaby

Credit: Jenna Rae Cakes/Tracey Kiansky Photography/One Plus One Design via Weddings in Winnipeg

It’s a couple of years now since candy buffets burst onto the wedding scene, and for a while there, it seemed like everyone HAD to have one. That trend has calmed a little, but I still think that a well-designed dessert display makes for an amazing focal point at a wedding, and one that will definitely put your guests in a happy mood! That’s especially true when we’re talking pastel weddings, because the mix of colours that can be achieved with a few sweet treats is particularly complementary to a mismatched pastel colour scheme. So I thought that we should break down how to go about creating a pastel dessert display, step by pretty step. You can use these same instructions for any colour scheme really – just adapt the dessert buffet display ideas here as needed!

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.