Trends & Ideas - SouthBound Bride

5 Easy DIY Origami Wedding Ideas

16 November, 2011 by gaby

Hello, lovelies! It’s time for another roundup, and today I’m not only bringing you some detail candy, but also some fab DIYs to help you incorporate the origami trend into your wedding. I’m personally a big fan of wedding origami, and as both an easy DIY and one that’s flexible enough to look great in a number of different styles of weddings, I can see why it’s become more popular recently. Origami cranes are, of course, the big one when it comes to weddings (and they have special meaning – brides and grooms are supposed to fold 1,000 cranes for luck, since the patience and perseverance in folding all that paper is supposed to be a small taste of the qualities needed for a happy marriage). But recently I’ve seen some other lovely (and basic) origami details emerging as well, and I’ve rounded them up here. If you’d like to add a handmade touch to your day without going to DIY hell, if you feel like your tables need that little extra something, or you’re looking for cute escort cards or origami invitations, or or or… this may just be the post for you! Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Book Themed Wedding Ideas

9 November, 2011 by gaby

Vintage Penguin Book Style Personalised Wedding Poster Print by WizBitArt on Etsy

Today’s post is inspired by my dear friend Shannon, who just so happens to work at Penguin, and just so happens to be getting married next year. I don’t think she’s using Penguin books as part of her decor, but probably because of her I’ve been more aware of a few instances of them coming up in weddings recently. I have to say though, that I wouldn’t call this a trend – it’s certainly not for everyone. But for a certain type of bride and groom (library wedding, love of books, English Lit graduates, writers or editors, etc.) it makes a lovely and personal motif. All books would, of course, but Penguin books marry literature so successfully with iconic design. There are, of course, the original Penguins – those single colour covers that we all instantly recognise. But more recently, there’s been the work of Coralie Bickford-Smith, a senior designer at Penguin who has won awards and acclaim for her beautiful, covetable covers (I own a complete set of the Fitzgerald ones and I’M COMPLETELY IN LOVE with them). Including these in your decor immediately adds an element of great design, and I think that’s why some couples have been using them so successfully. Let’s have a look.
Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Bold Wedding Nails

12 October, 2011 by gaby

So, nailpolish. Do you love it? I love it. And I don’t know if it’s a fashion thing or a me thing, but I’ve become way more experimental as I’ve got older (totally rocked ombre nails at a wedding this summer, which was fun). Thing is, I always thought weddings were a strictly French manicured zone. Lately though, little pops of colour and funkiness are turning up across the wedding blogisphere, and it’s starting to become clear that brides are getting bolder with their digits. Read More

Wedding Flowers: Tulips

5 October, 2011 by gaby

Credit: Lisa Dolan Photography via Style Me Pretty

Ah, tulips for weddings. Hearty heart heart heart them. I mean, what’s not to love? They’re beautiful and elegant, they come in every colour imaginable, most are unscented, and they’re affordable. And for me, they really mark the start to spring, when I see them appearing on flower shop pavement displays all over London. Unlucky for me, those days are gone here on Mud Island, but with spring very definitely in the air in South Africa, I thought it was a good time to cheer myself up with a focus on one of my all-time favourite flowers. Here are some of my favourite recent wedding flower inspirations, from tulip bouquets to tulip centerpieces. *This post contains affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Love Story Wedding Invitations

28 September, 2011 by gaby

**UPDATE** Find our roundup of 20 Adorable Love Story Wedding Invitations from Etsy here

Here’s a little trend I am weak at the knees for. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for romance, and maybe it’s just because I like to have something to read on my fridge, but I love the idea of sharing your love story with your guests as part of your invitation. It’s a great reminder of how it all began and what you’re getting together to celebrate, but more than that, from a design perspective, it’s the perfect marriage between sentiment and beautiful typography. Form and function. Goosebumps. As far as I know, it all started with this one – a totally original invitation dreamed up by New York designer Matt Dorfman for his own wedding.

Dessert Table Inspiration

14 September, 2011 by gaby

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in love with dessert tables ever since I discovered the genius that is Amy Atlas. It takes such a simple concept – a spread of sweets, usually including a cake (but I’ve seen them done with all veggies, or cheeses, or whatever you like really!) and elevated it to a level where dessert meets design. I’d hate to be the first person at these buffets, because it must feel a little like taking a bite of a museum masterpiece, they’re just that pretty. And the best thing is, you can be really creative with them, and incorporate one into just about any style of wedding and make your dessert table a real feature of your reception that your guests will be talking about for years to come! To show you how, I’ve paired up some gorgeous dessert tables with matching Cap Classique inspiration boards. So fun!

VINTAGE BIRDS

This is one of my all-time favourite dessert tables, combining gorgeous green, brown and blue with vintage elements and a bird motif. It’s so usable, and all the different containers at different heights make it so easy on the eye. Perfect for an elegantly rustic wedding, or for a lovebirds theme. It’s paired here with (and partly inspired) the Vintage Birds inspiration board.

Milk Glass

7 September, 2011 by gaby

Oh, hello lovely! Is pretty much what I think every time I see milk glass as part of wedding decor. Which, right now, is OFTEN. This is one of those times when being part of wedding world has kind of been an education, because a year ago I’d never even heard of milk (also called opaque) glass, let alone discovered how absolutely gorgeous it can look with a variety of different kinds of fillers from succulents and moss to lush bunches, single blooms or even candles. So what IS milk glass anyway? Well, it was first made in Venice in the 16th century and comes in a variety of colours (although white is the most popular – achieved through adding an agent like tin dioxide or bone ash to the glass). It was super popular at the end of the 19th century. Collecting genuine milk glass can be a pricey business, but while nothing quite compares to the beauty of the real deal, you can achieve a gorgeous and budget-friendly alternative following one of these simple DIY tutorials.Read More

Bespectacled Brides

12 August, 2011 by gaby

There’s a group of brides out there who have to make a very personal fashion choice when it comes to their styling. Many of you ladies who wear eyeglasses as part of your everyday life choose to go with contacts on the Big Day, but what if you feel your glasses are part of your identity? I’m a big believer in the ‘you, only better’ school of wedding looks – after all, you want to feel comfortable and your husband doesn’t want to see a stranger walk down the aisle! Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of inspiration around for brides who wear glasses, and I regularly see brides asking if it’s okay for them to rock their frames with a wedding dress. The answer is yes, absolutely!

I was lucky enough to feature an absolutely stunning bespectacled bride in one of my first weddings, and I’ve loved the look ever since. Here she is, the gorgeous Louise of Lovelab (and by the way, if you haven’t seen this wedding, you totally should, it’s insanely gorgeous):

Source: Annemari RuthvenRead More

Pashmina Wedding Favors

27 July, 2011 by gaby

Pashmina Shawls by Mia Krafts Shop/Justin De Mutiis

In the last couple of weeks we’ve looked at options for keeping your bridesmaids and the bride warm in chilly weather, and today we’re looking at one way of keeping your guests toasty and warm. Pashminas are a popular winter wedding favor, not just because they’re lovely gifts that your guests will use on the night and beyond, but also because they can be a great addition to your decor either in soft neutrals or bright pops of your theme colours. Here’s some ideas for presenting them in photo-friendly ways, and some options for pretty signage. Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Brides in Cardigans

18 July, 2011 by gaby

I promised a follow up to my post on bridesmaids in cardigans, and here it is! And after all, why should your girls get to have all the pretty? There are so many reasons why this works for brides as well. First, if you’re having a religious ceremony and want to cover your shoulders, they’re a sweet and more laid back alternative to sleeves or a bolero. Or, if you’re getting married at a time of year where the weather isn’t going to be brilliant, wearing a cardie will be your saving grace through a long couple shoot (nothing worse than trying to look hot and relaxed when all you can think about his how chillsome you’re feeling!). Or your cardie could be a late night addition – perfect for wearing as your guests see you off into the cold evening air. Plus, cardigans are a great style choice for an autumn or winter wedding – they add a pop of colour to your white dress and work in anything from soft, neutral colours to statement brights. And who could forget the ultimate jersey girl, aka Princess Kate? (OK, not jersey, darling, but angora. Still, Kate knew how to work her evening cover up.) What about you? Would you wear a cardigan with your wedding dress? Have a look at these lovelies, worn by real brides around the web.
Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.