Trends & Ideas - SouthBound Bride

15 DIY Table Number Ideas

20 February, 2015 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Table numbers – most couples need ’em, but how to make them so they’re just as pretty as everything else on your table? Well, DIY brides and grooms, your answer is right here. I’ve rounded up fifteen of the prettiest, most original DIY table numbers here today – all you need to do is click through on the links to find the full tutorials, and get crafting! There’s something here for all kinds of weddings: rustic, woodland, elegant, classic, modern, botanical, vintage. Which is your favourite? (And just in case you don’t have the time to make these yourself, I’ve also included links to some ready-made wedding table numbers 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.

20 Gorgeous Protea Bouquets

18 February, 2015 by gaby

Ah proteas. The love affair that just keeps on going. Everytime I think I might have seen enough protea bouquets to last a lifetime (and let’s be honest, as the editor of a South African wedding blog, I’ve seen a LOT), I see just one more that melts my heart. Not to mention that everytime I buy myself one of these blooms, I spend hours looking at it. Proteas are just so cool. And that’s how you should feel about your wedding flowers, right? So I thought it was high time I did another roundup of gorgeous protea bouquets. Good luck picking a favourite – they’re all so lovely! And remember, you can find all my latest protea finds on our Protea Bouquet & Centrepieces Pinterest board.

40 Heart Shape Wedding Ideas

11 February, 2015 by gaby

As you know, it’s Valentine’s Week, and that means all things heart-shaped and lovey dovey. Now, let’s be honest, hearts CAN be super cutesy and cheesy as a wedding detail. But used in the right way, this ancient symbol gets a new lease on life. I love every one of the elegant heart themed wedding ideas below, and so many are a fresh take on a heart themed wedding! 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.

Get the Look: Red Hot Bridesmaid Dresses

9 February, 2015 by gaby

It’s Valentine’s week! And that means we’re covering everything red, pink or heartshaped, with a stylish wedding twist, so this afternoon I’m rounding up some of my favourite red bridesmaid dresses. Now I’ll admit, red as a wedding colour is something I have a love/hate relationship with, and not all shades of red suit all people, but with these dresses, I am fast becoming a convert. They’re chic, they’re a little bit sexy, and will leave your girls feeling red hot and gorgeous.Read More

20 Greenery Wedding Bouquets

5 February, 2015 by gaby

One of the biggest flower trends at the moment, is the no flower trend – ironic, no? Don’t get me wrong- I am still crazy in love with beautiful floral arrangements, but for eco-friendly, organic, woodland and botanical style, or even simply budget brides, this is a seriously cool alternative right now. We’ve already seen how lovely green garlands look, and now fabulous foliage is making its mark in bouquets as well. All of these bouquets have no or minimal flowers, and they’re all just darling! You heard it here first: foliage is the new flowers.

Get the Look: Sheer Illusion Bridesmaid Dresses

2 February, 2015 by gaby

I must tell you guys, I’m loving putting these little bridesmaid dress posts together each week – hey, any excuse for window shopping, right? But I think this is the week I’ve been most tempted to pull out my credit card and fill my wardrobe up with the prettiness I’ve sourced, because I absolutely LOVE the look of an illusion neckline. This is a style that’s taken brides by storm, and now bridesmaids are getting in on the act. Which, as far as I’m concerned, is awesome. In fact, the only downside is picking your favourite! Be sure to find these and other gorgeous dresses on the SBB Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest board, which we’re keeping updated with current dresses from a variety of shops and shipping destinations. For more illusion bridesmaid dress inspiration, see our special feature. And don’t forget this illusion lace wedding dress roundup for the brides!Read More

Stunning Off-the-Shoulder Wedding Dresses

28 January, 2015 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2021* I think I may have mentioned this before, but the first wedding dress I fell totally in love with was off-the-shoulder. It was also bloody hideous. Does anyone remember Jennifer & Jack’s wedding from Days of our Lives? (Don’t blame me, it was the ’90s.) Anyway, then like everyone else, I went off of off-shoulder, because nothing dated a dress more quickly, right? And then, the fashion pendulum swung, as it always does. Princess Charlene rocked a gorgeous off-the-shoulder, then so did Amal Clooney, and hey presto, they’re officially one of bridal fashion’s most trendy and romantic looks. And like every good soap opera character, I’m desperately in love again. This time around, the off the shoulder look is all about the fabric – soft lace sleeves and swishes of tulle, ornate jewelled beading, or boho fringes. Instead of creating weird, giant artificial ‘shoulders’, the sleeves fall softly across the arm, giving brides the best of both sleeved and sleeveless dresses. I’ve rounded up 25 of my absolute favourite off-the-shoulder bridal looks to inspire!

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

Gatsby Glam Bridesmaid Dresses from Frock and Frill

26 January, 2015 by gaby

A little while back, I wrote a post on Gatsby-style bridesmaid dresses, thinking it might interest a few people, but holy moly, it went on to be one of our most viewed posts of all time (and still is). Clearly the embellished flapper look is one that brides have fallen in love with, and who could blame you, because wow, these dresses are gorgeous and even better, they’re so much easier to find on the high street (or in the mall!) these days. You don’t even have to be having a 1920s or Art Deco wedding for these to make sense – they’re pretty enough to work with any elegant wedding style. (Although I do love a Gatsby wedding. After all, a little party never hurt nobody, right?) I recently became familiar with a UK brand that is taking this look to the next level, Frock and Frill. This label carries a wide range of flapper style dresses in a range of colours – all knock-me-down gorgeous – that would not only work for a bridal party but actually could work for a laid-back bride as well, or as a reception dress. I’m in love with the beaded embellishments, the flattering cuts, and the range of colours, so I’ve just had to dedicate today’s post to my top wedding-appropriate Frock and Frill dresses. Good luck picking a favourite – they’re all GORGEOUS! (Oh, and PS: You can also find all of them on our Bridesmaid Boutique board over on Pinterest!) Click on any of the dress images below to shop.

This is not a sponsored post but contains affiliate links.

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15 Free Printable Save the Dates

22 January, 2015 by gaby

In the world of wedding stationery, Save the Dates serve a really useful purpose. They mean you don’t have to worry about sending invitations too early (a tough call when, for example, you may not yet have nailed down your style or budget) but equally, they mean your guests have plenty of notice to make sure they can attend your wedding. So kind of a win-win. Of course, lots of brides and grooms these days send their STDs (worst wedding acronym ever) via email, which is a great budget and environment saver. But maybe you’d like to send something tangible, to get your guests excited for the celebration to come. Here’s the good news – while of course getting custom wedding Save the Dates created by your stationery designer is awesome, there are also loads of gorgeous (and free!) printable Save the Dates available online, whatever your wedding style. So today I’m rounding up 15 of my favourite free save the dates. Just click the links to make it happen and take your favourite design off to your fave on demand print service (and if you’d like to know more about wedding stationery timelines, see our feature).

The New Classic: 20 White Wedding Cakes

21 January, 2015 by gaby

A couple of weeks ago, when I rounded up 2015’s wedding trends, I included white wedding cakes. Now of course, white cakes are nothing new, but with innovative techniques and amazingly talented designers around these last few years, as well as an increasing openness to less traditional wedding elements, they’ve taken a bit of a back seat to their colouful, sparkly, and sometimes naked cousins. But this season we’re seeing a swing back to tiered white cakes, and these new classics come with a little twist in the tale. Think white-on-white detailing, from textures and geometric patterns to fondant flowers, leaves, petals, ribbons… your imagination is the limit really. Some cakes even have unique detailing on each tier. They’re impossibly romantic, sweetly traditional, and pretty much perfect for any style of wedding. Get ready for a very welcome comeback.Read More