Ceremony style has been a real focus in weddings this year, from gorgeous arches to stunning scenery, drapes to chandeliers, and everything in between. I’m so thrilled that ceremonies are finally getting the attention they deserve – after all, they should be the focal point of the day, and while extravagant decor must always take second place to the vows being exchanged, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to set the scene for full-blown romance! From boho to luxe, these were the ceremony setups we loved most this year.
Yay, bridesmaids! As y’all have probably picked up by now, BM fashion is one of my fave parts of wedding design- even after doing this job for so long, I always do a big OOOOOH! at any perfectly styled bridesmaid party! And just when I thought I’d seen it all, this year’s bevvy of bridesquad beauties came in and made everything fresh and pretty and awesome once more. From mismatched lineups to ladies rocking the same gown, every one of these 20 examples is sure to inspire! And not just for bridesmaids, for the love of fashion too! Which makes it extra handy that we’ve included lots of shopping options. (Post includes affilate links – SBB may receive a commission on any sales.)
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!
Hooray! It’s that time of year again! And I don’t mean Christmas (although yay Christmas!), I mean time for us to do our countdown of all our favourite details and pretties from the year that’s almost done. It’s something I look forward to, revisiting all the beautiful real weddings and styled shoots, although trust me, narrowing down a Top 20 in every category is hard! This year was no exception. Nevertheless, we’re kicking off with a roundup of the most breathtaking bouquets. These are the florals that made a big impression on us, and then made you go crazy on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram. And while they come in all shapes, sizes and colours, I’d definitely say that rich jewel tones made a big splash in 2016 (watch out for more of them next year!). I also loved seeing our native flowers – proteas, strelizias, fynbos, etc. – making a bouquet splash in new and exciting ways this year, and hope to see much more of that creativity going into the new year! So here we go – in no particular order, our top 20 bouquets!
*UPDATED FOR 2020* For those of you who’ve just tied the knot, the festive season is a really fun time to check in with family and friends and thank them for their love and support – maybe share a few wedding photographs or double up with a thank you card in the envelope. Or maybe you’ve yet to marry, but as an engaged couple, you’re dying to take some holiday snaps and send your first card together. Sure it’s cheesy, but so fun! Well, as it turns out, the makers at Etsy have come up with some seriously adorable ways to say “Merry Christmas from US”. I’ve rounded up 20 of my favourite newlywed Christmas cards here!
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
I always say that colour-loving brides have all the fun, and if you take a look at this collection of bright blooms you’ll know exactly what I mean. These bouquets could cheer up any day, and on the happiest day of your life, they just reflect the joy and excitement (and add a bright pop of colour against a white dress that says “hello, I’m here and I’m gorgeous!”. Flowers come in all kinds of acid bright colours – vivid purples, eyepopping reds, sunny yellows, standout oranges, showstopping corals. Mixed together in a combination of a few or all together, they look amazing! And they’re the perfect way to make a bold statement from the minute you make your entrance. I’ve gathered together 20 favourites – let’s get inspired, shall we?!
Wedding season is upon us again, and while almost all of you summer brides will have your dresses, décor and details down, one thing you may still be undecided on is your hair and makeup aka “your LOOK”. And we get it: you want to look fresh and fabulous and on-trend, but also timeless and classic and most importantly, still like yourself. It’s enough to give a bride sleepless nights (bags under the eyes? NOT cute). So we’ve asked one of our favourite local hair and makeup geniuses to pop by today and share her expertise – super excited to introduce the very lovely Marisa of Sketch & M! Marisa loves creating natural bridal makeup looks – flawless, glowing complexion, earthy eyeshadow shades, bold lashes and neutral lips – but she also appreciates brides that are a little more experimental. Today she’s showing how some of those high fashion catwalk looks can be beautifully interpreted for modern brides, and sharing some images of her at work, captured by Leanne Love Photography. Take it away, Marisa!
*UPDATED FOR 2021* As we come to the end of our month of Fine Art Wedding inspiration, I thought that it might be a fun idea to put everything together into one neat little guide. There are of course no hard and fast rules in wedding styling, but if this is a look you love, there are a few elements that, when put together, will recreate the look (or when added one by one, will add just a touch of that fine art wedding style to any big day). There are also some important elements that I haven’t included here. Photography is the most obvious, since that’s where it all began – if this is a look you love, you’ll want to connect with a photographer who shoots film or digital with a film look (think light, airy, ethereal). After all, the point of these particular details is that they photograph beautifully! The next guiding principle is to choose a muted palette (and not to get matchy about colours) – taupes, greys, muted pastels, etc. When it comes to your venue, you’ll want to lean towards a romantic, old world style rather than something too modern (and yes, I know we can’t all book a villa in Tuscany, but there are many local options that will work just as well, with a South African twist!) Finally, embrace texture and quality when it comes to the details. Beautiful linens, handmade stationery, dreamy gowns with unique colour or embellishment, lush blooms. And that’s where all of the ideas below come in. I’ve included some gorgeous inspiration from around the web, as well as shoppable items from Etsy, so you can easily recreate the look for yourself.
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
Haven’t you guys been loving the agate slice place cards and marble escort cards that have been ALL OVER styled shoots for the past year? They are so fabulous. They kind of appeal to my inner kid who wants to go trawling through the semi precious stones in a scratch patch. And the first time I saw these I assumed they were only for the actual richie rich, but it turns out that they are on a par with many other escort options, and they definitely make a statement! Plus, they double as a favour, since guests will love taking them home as a keepsake. Anyway, so they rock. (Ha – see what I did there?) And as always, I’ve done all the research for you and pulled 20 fab options from Etsy. And for those on a budget, I’ve even included a few faux marble paper options which would make a gorgeous addition to any table! Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
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!
