Hello lovelies! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas break, and are enjoying some much needed off-time until the new year! We’re continuing with our Best of 2016 series today by counting down twenty of our favourite details and ideas from real weddings throughout the year. Each of them is sweet and stealable, so take a look and be inspired!
Today we’re turning our attention to that most special time of a wedding day, the ceremony. I personally love it when a couple puts that extra attention and care into their ceremony style, because while it’s relatively short compared to the reception, the ceremony is where all the most important stuff happens, right? This year, each of these couples created something extra special – a dreamy, magical place where vows where exchanged and a new chapter was begun. And PS, if you’re looking for even more aisle style ideas, you can find them in our dedicated Pinterest board.
Bridesmaid gowns are one of my FAVE parts of weddings, you guys, and let me tell you, when I’m looking at submissions they always catch my eye. And catch my breath sometimes too, because some brides get this so, so right. Whether the look is uniform or mismatched, classic or fashion forward, and whether the colours of the bridesmaid dresses complement or reflect the wedding palette, a well dressed group of ladies always stands out, and they always make the bride look extra amazing (tell THAT to anyone who says your bridesmaids shouldn’t upstage you by looking good). This year we’ve seen such a range of looks, and I loved every one, but eventually managed to narrow them down to these twenty favourites. So get inspired, and then if you like them, get shopping – links in bold denote affiliate links; SBB may earn a commission on any sales made.
Oh, cakes! Gathering together the greatest confections from the year that was is one of my favourite parts of this series, because it always reminds me just how many incredible creations have breezed into SBB HQ over the last twelve months. This year I think we had even more than ever, because wow, narrowing them down was hard! We’ve had tiered cakes and metallic cakes and naked cakes and even a display of cupcakes made to look like succulents that was a breakout on social media. Some have come from real weddings, some from our beautiful styled shoots, but every one of them will inspire you – and if you want to see more amazing cakes, be sure to check out our Pinterest board!
It’s that time of year again, lovelies! For the next two weeks, along with some off-time for Christmas etc., we’ll be bringing you the best of the year’s weddings and styled shoots. I must say, compiling these is something I always look forward to, even though narrowing them down is SO HARD. And this year, we really have such a diverse crop of bouquets, in all different shapes and sizes and colours. What they all have in common is that they make a beautiful statement, and I hope that they inspire next year’s crop of brides to go the extra mile in choosing something special to carry down the aisle at their wedding. So here we go – in no particular order, our top 20 bouquets!
Cheryl McEwan, I could kiss you. Every time we feature one of this lovely Cape Town photographer’s weddings, I get to immerse myself in golden light and pure romance. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when, as with Tarryn and Aidan’s big day, the bride is a beauty, her hubs is dapper as can be, and their classically styled wedding is choc full of pretty in pink details from the cookie favours right down to Tarryn’s blush Badgley Mischkas (shoe swoon!). There’s so much to love about this wedding, so let’s get started, shall we?
This wedding really embodies a gentle elegance for me. Soft greys combined with dreamy pastels, a light and bright country venue, and long wooden tables. It’s a perfectly neutral backdrop for the main event – the exchange of vows followed by a veritable feast, commissioned by the foodie bride and groom, Mariza & Duan. From cocktail hour roosterkoek fresh from the fire, to a table groaning with sweet treats, these lovebirds broke bread and shared love with their friends and family – and all in a venue that turned out to have a very special significance. Now that’s wedding fate! Our friends, the wonderful As Sweet As Images, captured every one of these lovely pics.
Hello friends! I’m melting here in Durban today, and with the month feeling ever more festive, I thought today was the perfect time to share this colourful, summer, boho wedding. Because we do love summer, don’t we? Tara and Antony had a cross-continental celebration, with one wedding in France and another in Cape Town (how awesome is that). Their style is boho in the most free-spirited, joyful sense of the term, and they brought that vibe to both weddings with a choice of rustic venue, colourful blooms, and laid back atmosphere. Basically, the kind of wedding that’s the most fun to attend ever. Even for photographers – especially when those photographers are also dear friends of the bride and groom, as the team from Piteira Photography are. Kerry and Luis were on the scene to capture these gorgeous images, which we’re letting tell the story all on their own today.
Today’s wedding is one of those that I spotted on the photographer, Vizion Photography‘s, social feed and immediately asked for a feature. Because seriously, how can you not love SW and Gerhard’s glamorous, opulent, bright and beautiful celebration? It’s floral but masculine, colourful but elegant, and has so much love and personality, which I’m guessing is a tribute to the smitten grooms at the centre of it all. The couple wanted to create a formal but intimate atmosphere, a sense of occasion but with the dinner party atmosphere that long tables and family style dining provide. Which might be one reason why the guests look like they’re having so much fun! Another is perhaps that uber planner, Aleit, created one of his signature experiences, where each part of the day and decor felt different. From the clean, modern look of the ceremony with an incredible display of orchids and candles lining the aisle, to the lush floral chandeliers at cocktail hour, to the breathtaking reception decor, each part of the day was a treat on its own, and part of a beautiful whole. But my favourite detail? The cake, which is all formal elegance on the outside, with a mardi gras surprise!
You all know how much I love the details at a wedding, but when I’m putting a feature together and curating the images, I have to tell you, it’s the faces that stick with me. The moments of pure elation written all over the faces of brides and grooms and families and friends witnessing the ceremony, and pure love between the couple in those quiet moments out of the storm when they’re having their photos taken… that’s what gets me every time. And there were SO many of those moments in Nonto and Lebo’s wedding! I think the image of the bride as she reaches the top of the aisle, so full of emotion, is one of my all-time favourite pictures. It’s clear what an awesome couple these two are, and their grand romance deserved nothing less than a grand occasion to celebrate it, complete with opulent luxe florals in shades of blush and champagne, rich fabrics, twinkle lights, and a touch of on-trend copper (love this colour combo by the way). But like I say, as fabulous as the wedding is, it’s the expressions of love and joy that will stay with you, beautifully captured on film by Thunder & Love Wedding Photography.