Category: Trends & Ideas

Berry & Jewel Tone Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

Time for our latest rundown of gorgeous looks for your bridesmaids, and today we’ve come over all autumney with a line-up of berry and jewel toned dresses in the prettiest shades of purple, lilac and, of course, the colour of the year Radiant Orchid. I’m loving how these colours are popping up in bridal parties round the globe and brightening things up – and I have to say, I am especially fond of the look where you have a wedding that otherwise uses earth tones or neutrals. It really pops. Of course, you can choose a single shade of plum or cranberry, but this is another of those cases where tonal mismatching really comes into its own. Plus, there are loads of dresses in these colours popping up on the catwalks, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to pick up some you all love in the shops. Win.Read More

Illusion Neckline & Statement Back Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

We’re continuing our busy Friday with a look at one of my FAVOURITE bridesmaid trends of the moment. Actually, this one started as a wedding dress trend, but good news girls, illusion necklines and statement or portrait back dresses are now for bridesmaids too! There’s just no denying how pretty these are, and how gorgeous and sophisticated they will make your bridesmaids feel. Plus, win, they look GREAT in photos! I think we’ll be seeing lots more of these this season, but today I’ve rounded up some of my favourite looks so far.Read More

DIY Paper Plane Drink Stirrers

by gaby

Morning lovelies! We have a busy day here on SBB, as Telkom and Eskom put paid to some of my well-laid plans this week, but all the better to fill up your Friday with pretty. We’re kicking things off with a little bit of DIY goodness. BY FAR the most popular theme in weddings (if you could call it that, since it isn’t necessarily all themey) is travel. Every time I write about it on SBB, it gets a ton of hits and frankly, I love writing about it since travel theme design often includes some of my favourite things – air mail stripes, vintage stamps and postcards, maps, globes, hot air balloons… and paper planes. I’ve been wanting to do a couple of travel theme DIYs for a while, and I thought I would kick things off with a little something for cocktail hour. This DIY is super, super easy. If you can fold paper and use glue, you can make these. They make an adorable little detail for your pre-drinks, and you can just as easily use the same DIY (with toothpicks instead of full size skewers) as cupcake or even cake toppers.

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Two-tone Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

If you follow on Twitter or Facebook, you might have spotted a little something about SBB making its radio debut on OFM, a radio station based in Bloemfontein yesterday. Fun! I was delighted to be approached by DJ Yolanda Maartens, and I was more than happy to act as one of her experts on a spot she calls The Wedding Planner. This time, Yolanda suggested we chat about bridesmaids and the latest trends for dressing your girls, and it got me thinking that it’s been a while since I did one of our bridesmaid dress trend roundups. Last year I covered a huge series of looks, and many of these are going strong into 2014 (hello sparkle, lace & pastels!) but there are a couple of key looks I haven’t yet covered. So I’m declaring March the Month of Bridesmaids, and I’m starting things off today with two tone dresses. Now, colour blocking is by no means a new trend on the catwalks (or even on bridesmaids), but I think 2014 is the year it really comes into its own, thanks to the development of two other trends. One is for longer lengths, with many bridesmaids rocking floor length gowns where a couple of years ago it was all about the cocktail dress. The other is for skirts (one of the trends I looked at last year). And while two-tone dresses can be any combination really, my favourite look – and the one that I’m seeing more of this season – is a white top or bustier with a long, flowing, skirt. Not only is it very, very pretty, but it’s super flattering on a huge variety of figures. So yay. We like this one. :)

If you’d like to hear my full OFM interview, you can play the podcasts from here. Read More

Protea Bouquet Recipe #1: Protea & Bougainvillea

by gaby

This is such an awesome week on SBB, with lots of exclusive content, created just for you! Today we’re debuting a brand new series, which I am super excited about. With a big bow to Wedding Chicks, who pretty much pioneered the whole idea of bouquet recipes, I wanted to focus on proteas – not just our national flower here in South Africa, but a current wedding trend that we have been rocking for quite some time. Because we South Africans love us our proteas, just like we love butternut, and avocado, and braais, right? Even after seeing literally hundreds of protea bouquets, I still get a thrill when I see a new one, especially when it uses an unusual variety or combines it in a different way. So I decided to throw out the challenge to South African floral designers, and we’ll regularly be bringing you gorgeous protea bouquets in all their glory, as well as broken down into their components. Kicking things off is the very lovely Lizl Pieterse of Flamboijant, one of our very special sponsors. Lizl’s bouquet is perfect for a summer wedding, and I loved that it not only used proteas and other fynbos, but incorporated Bougainvillea. I have such a summer flower crush on this plant, and I would LOVE to see it in more bouquets! As well as showing off the bouquet thanks to Lulia Photography & Design, we asked Lizl a few questions about her ideas and inspiration. Huge thanks to both these talented ladies for sharing this with us today!Read More

Sequin Table Runners

by gaby

Sequin Table Linens

Last month, I identified pretty table runners as a trend we’ll be seeing lots of in the coming season. While many of these will be lace for vintage-loving brides, we’re also seeing some gorgeous sparkly sequin runners coming through (and not just runners, full sequin tablecloths, in all their glittery glory!). You’d think this would all be a bit much, but I have to say, each time I see one of these tables, it makes my magpie heart do a little hop, skip and a jump. And why not? It’s your wedding! Even your tables should get to wear their party dresses, right? So today I’ve rounded up some of my favourite sequin runners, as well as a few suggestions for bringing a bit of sparkle to the table if you don’t want to go the whole hog.

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Wedding Dresses with Sleeves

by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Hello lovelies! The internet was not my friend yesterday, so today we’re jam packing the fabulous content in here on SouthBound Bride, starting with some very lovely bridal fashion. Now, I never thought I would say this, but sleeves are SO my new fashion crush. Of course, there are sleeves and then there are sleeves. And the wedding dresses with sleeves we’re talking here, whether they are little delicate caps perfect for a summer bride or soft sheaths for winter ones, are just as romantic and beautiful as the rest of the dresses they adorn. There’s lace – of course, because lace is a huge trend right now – but not just lace. Dreamy chiffons, sparkly beads, smooth silks. So ridiculously beautiful. The age of the all-triumphant strapless A-line is officially a thing of the past.

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

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Ten Tables: Beach {Part 2}

by gaby

Hello lovelies! How did you enjoy Part 1 of our beach wedding tables series last week? Which was your favourite? Today we’re back with five more, and I hope you love them as much as I do! As before, I have broken each one down into its key components and shared my suggestions for recreating the look, including tips for budget and DIY brides. Each of these tables is different and would of course suit a different kind of beach reception (or can be adapted for a non-beach reception, if you take out some of the seaside elements like shells), but the main thing to notice is how they are built up layer by layer. That way, you can go out in search of your own lovely finds and bargains, and create your own perfect wedding table.

Table #1: Beach Blush

FLOWERS: Roses, dahlias, succulents, hare’s tail

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Lace Wedding Table Linens

by gaby

Lace Wedding Table Linens

*UPDATED FOR 2021* It’s funny with wedding trends – one minute they’re brand new, and the next it seems like they never went away. Maybe it’s because everything goes in cycles. But I remember how, just a few years ago, sitting in Hyde Park watching Kate Middleton emerge in her wedding dress, myself and fellow blogger Annie of Marry You Me looked at one another and said: “Lace. Lace is going to be huge again.” And so it has been. But while brides have been getting their lace on in every beautiful combination of portrait back and illusion neckline imaginable since, it’s time for tables to have their turn as well. Lace wedding tablecloths and lace runners are a beautiful look, whether you’re trying to add an air of old European romance or a touch of grandmillennial vintage chic. But be warned! This is an unforgiving look for functional tables. Make sure your venue has ones that look good without a tablecloth (or if you love the look, hire one for just the head table). Either that, or opt for lace overlays on solid tablecloths rather than a sheer lace look. Below I’ve gathered some lovely inspiration, as well as some options for purchasing lace wedding table linens 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.

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Ten Tables: Beach {Part 1}

by gaby

Our Ten Tables series is back, hooray! For those of you who didn’t catch the rustic tables (Part 1 & Part 2) last year, the idea of the series is to break down different tables along a specific theme into their components so that you can see what EXACTLY goes into creating a look. You can pick your favourite and treat it as a shopping list, or mix and match elements you like and add your own touches. You’ll also be amazed at how many of the details can be DIYed or included on a budget, and I’ve detailed those as well wherever possible. This time, we’re all about beach weddings. Now, let me be clear – I don’t necessarily think that if you are having a beach wedding or a wedding at a beach venue, you need to have a beach themed table. You don’t need to have shells, or driftwood, or boats. You don’t even have to have a nautical colour scheme. So if you don’t like those things, you go ahead and create a table that would work at any venue. But if you want to add a song of the sea to your decor, each of these tables is a classy and pretty way to do it.

UPDATE: You can find Part 2 here.

Table #1: Beach Ombre

FLOWERS: Air plants, succulents, hyacinth, thistle, lisianthus, scabiosa pods, privet berries

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