Trends & Ideas - SouthBound Bride

Rock ‘n Romance Hen Night: The DIY

12 November, 2010 by gaby

In terms of DIY, I wouldn’t exactly call myself an expert. I take on craft projects on a need-to basis – when I need to make something, I figure out how to do it. And I could pretend that I am one of those super awesome creative people who came up with all the completely original projects for Heidi’s hen night all on my own, but I didn’t. I did exactly what most of you do. I found things I needed and liked on this here internet, and I adapted them. I learned by doing, and I made things up where necessary. It was time consuming, and fun, and crazy, and I’m pretty sure my housemate (who happens to be a beefy rugby player) mustn’t have loved the den of pink and girliness that our dining room table became (cheers, Mark!), but it was 100% worth it to see everything come together on the day. So I thought I would share my DIY inspirations and links, so that you can see how to follow and adapt them to create something YOU love. The best thing is that many of these can be used for other parties, or weddings – whatever takes your fancy.

The Invitations

Parisian Stripes

3 November, 2010 by gaby

Oh, I do like a trend! It’s no secret that stripes have been all over the catwalks recently, and they’ve been showing up in subtle wedding details and especially in stationery for a while. But recently I’ve noticed a lot of bold black and white stripes showing up on tables, including in yesterday’s gorgeous featured wedding, and I couldn’t help but wonder, are stripes the new damask? It’s true that they have the same magic of allowing pops of colour to really stand out against a black and white print. And they have the added bonus of a bit of Parisian ooh la la. Aaaand they perfectly walk that narrow line between bold and sophisticated. In fact, I can’t think of a single reason not to love them!

Sheet Music Wedding Details

20 October, 2010 by gaby

Hot on the heels of the book trend comes another piece of paper awesomeness that you can DIY. Sheet music makes the most gorgeous, subtle accent for just about any kind of wedding – it works perfectly with vintage, adds whimsy to formal and can be used cheekily for a modern celebration if you pick your song sheets wisely. And what better way to celebrate your shared love of music? In fact, who can live without it, I ask in all honesty? (And yes, I totally just quoted ABBA).

My favourites? The boutonniere and the pinwheels, which are small enough to be cupcake toppers and omigod the cutest things EVER. I want them. So here they are, along with some other delicious eye candy that’ll have you hitting the high notes. (Sorry.)

Which are your favourites?

Travel-inspired Wedding Details

13 October, 2010 by gaby

**UPDATE: Looking for fresh travel themed wedding ideas? Read our latest roundup here.**

One of the mini-trends I’ve noticed popping up in quite a few weddings lately is the use of travel-inspired details. As a keen traveller myself, I love this, especially the way so many couples are using it to bring more of their histories and personalities to the wedding. It might be something as simple as naming tables after places they’ve been, but there are also lots of very cute and creative ideas coming through for making travel even more of a central motif, especially when combined with a vintage vibe. Here are some of my favourites. I’ve grouped them by the different wedding elements, but many of the ideas can be adapted to other parts of the wedding, so there’s plenty of opportunity to make this trend your own if wanderlust is something you and your partner have in common. And while you’re at it, why not have your guests contribute to your honeymoon as an alternative to the gift list? The Wedding Gift List Registry can do this for you in South Africa.

Save the Dates & Invitations

Carnations

22 September, 2010 by gaby

Source

Yep, I said it. Carnations. For your wedding. And I know this is going to be controversial, and that right now you’re making a face and thinking you may not bother reading to the end of the post because this isn’t for you. I know this because every single time I mention carnations to friends in any context, they get that same look and say “I’m not such a big fan of carnations, personally…”. Who is? They’re the flowers we overlook at the market stall, that we wouldn’t be caught dead giving a friend for her birthday, and probably the only flowers that can get a guy negative points for giving us. I get it. But bear with me, because you’re wrong. Seriously. Carnations. Trust me.Read More

Movie-themed Engagement Shoots

15 September, 2010 by gaby

Now I admit, I wasn’t an immediate convert to this particular trend. I’m a big fan of engagement shoots, but my favourite are those that show off a couple’s personalities, what they like to do together, etc. But there’s something kinda fun and silly and romantic about recreating the style and mood of a favourite film – and when else will you get the chance to do it? Ultimately, what won me over was the images I’ve seen coming out of these shoots – thanks to some amazing photographers, they are nothing short of spectacular. So grab your popcorn and check out my favourites.

The Twilight Saga

Wedding cake alternatives

8 September, 2010 by gaby

There was a time, not too long ago, when a wedding cake was a completely standard part of every wedding reception. And, in fact, when it would have been pretty much unheard of for that cake not to be a traditional fruit cake. (As a lifelong raisin hater, let me tell you, I was at the front of the queue cheering when that tradition gave way to all sorts of new and yummy cake options.) Then came the cupcake revolution, which felt very cutting edge at the time. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a cupcake? I still think they’re a great option. But recently, couples have been getting more and more creative and personalised in choosing their ‘cake’ (which usually doubles as their dessert). It’s just one more way to show your personality or extend your wedding theme, and can provide a charming talking point for your guests.

Probably my favourite cake alternative (for those without a sweet tooth) is the cheese cake – literally, rounds of cake stacked up to look like a cheese. We featured a fab one as part of Kira & Jason’s wedding, and here are some of my favourites (especially LOVE the goat’s cheese one!)

DIY: Easy Paper Bunting

1 September, 2010 by gaby

Hooray! Abbie’s back with another DIY project today and this one’s very close to my own heart… BUNTING! I just can’t get enough of this stuff. And if you caught today’s bunting roundup, you’ll have lots of inspiration for how to use this for your own wedding or party (or, you know, just because). Enjoy! Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Bridesmaid Dos & Don’ts

21 May, 2010 by gaby

Image: Yolandé Marx on SouthBound Bride

What does being a bridesmaid mean to you? For me, it’s having your closest girl friends with you and part of one of the most important and exciting things you’ll do. Over the years we’re there to dry each other’s tears, be each other’s cheerleaders, celebrate each other’s successes. We’re sisters, whether by birth or by design. So there’s something very special about including those same women who have been with you through it all in the mechanics of your special day. Just like the heart of a wedding is the commitment between two people, the heart of having a wedding party is that they are your witnesses, and that makes them part of your marriage as well as your wedding. I’ve done my fair share of bridesmaiding over the years and loved every minute of it, but I’ve also learned some big lessons about what can make the experience wonderful and what can make it a chore on both sides. So here are my top tips for brides and bridesmaids!