Real Weddings - SouthBound Bride

Wilderness Glam Wedding Inspiration

5 September, 2016 by gaby

Happy Monday, lovely ones! Spring has sprung, the sun is out in Durban and it has me wanting to get out of my winter cocoon and out into nature. Which is pretty appropriate, since this month on SBB, we’re all about wild beauty – everything from boho to desert chic to game lodge weddings and back again. And there’s really no better way to kick that off on a South African blog than to head into our own wild place, the breathtaking bushveld, for some inspiration. I absolutely ADORE aloes, so the first thing that struck me about this gorgeous shoot from Charl van der Merwe (commissioned for the rebrand of the Mohatjane venue) was the backdrop of tall aloes, and of course, the bride’s incredible dress. There’s a lovely marriage here between earthy and glam: a palette of mixed neutrals with a touch of shimmery copper; succulents and seed pods with elegant white orchids (and a gold-foiled, orchid topped cake); a rustic wooden table laid with vintagey luxe decor; a table for two in the bush and a serving of champagne. It’s basically the perfect inspiration for an elegant safari-style wedding!

Rustic Romantic Wedding at Bell Amour by Clareece Smit

30 August, 2016 by gaby

Oh my! I just want to wrap myself up in this wedding, with its neutral backdrop, romantic textures and pops of bright colour from the most gorgeous florals. Throw in magical elements like a trio of cakes (one dusted with copper dust), a cathedral length veil, floral runners, sparkling chandeliers and soft flutters of fabric dancing in the breeze, and you have a mix of rustic and elegant wedding style that is equals romance. WJ and Chantelle also just happen to make the most adorable couple, and Clareece Smit‘s beautiful pictures of their big day are such a pleasure to behold!

Magical Forest Wedding at Die Woud by Fiona Clair

29 August, 2016 by gaby

People talk about a fairytale wedding, and they often mean a princess dress or a horse and carriage, or a grand castle-like venue. But for me, today’s wedding has a real fairytale quality. It’s like it takes place in its own magical, intimate little world, deep within a forest. An outdoor ceremony down a path through the trees… a reception in an elegant glass marquee with dapped sunlight falling through the branches, and when night falls, lit by chandeliers and fairy lights long into the night. From first look to last dance, Elizma & Ruan’s big day is the very picture of an enchanted forest wedding, and with gorgeous images by Fiona Clair, the fairytale is complete!
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Bright & Festive Winelands Wedding at Hidden Valley by Claire Thomson

25 August, 2016 by gaby

It’s time to stop and smell the roses – or rather, the roses, peonies, tulips, orchids, banksia, hydrangea and more! The flowers at this colour-happy wedding fest really had me doing double take – Leipzig as usual have done an incredible job of creating the most gorgeous array of blooms in shades from deep crimson to soft blush to vibrant yellow and tangerine. Add in some sweet bunnies (which became the couple’s own wedding motif), soft pastels, rustic textures and classic elements including an elegant winelands setting, and you have a wedding lover’s paradise. And to prove it wasn’t all just a beautiful dream, Claire Thomson was on the scene to capture these gorgeous images of Sianne and Shane’s big day!

DIY Farm Wedding at De Hoek Country Lodge by DGR Photography

19 August, 2016 by gaby

Planning a rustic wedding filled to the brim with fynbos and burlap and cute ‘down on the farm’ touches? Well then, this one’s for you, brideys! Christel and Andries, farm lovers at heart, wanted a real ‘plaas troue’, an intimate celebration with family and friends that brought all their favourite things together: proteas, succulents, windmills, hay bales… even some adorable tractor-themed touches! My favourite detail is their escort display using little enamel mugs – so adorable! Everything was DIY, pretty much, which created a much-cherished opportunity for family to share special times creating all the decor. And I can’t not mention Christel’s dress, with its unusual nude lace overlay effect – love! – as well as the groomsmen’s leather braces and bows (definitely the farm wedding must-have in SA this season!). DGR Photography were on the scene to capture every farm-fabulous detail of the event

Laid-back Al Fresco Wedding at The Dairy Shed by Duane Smith

18 August, 2016 by gaby

I’ve developed quite a crush on this whole celebration – and frankly, on the couple too, since Libby & Bren are chilled out, fun-loving and completely adorable (as you’ll discover when you read their his ‘n hers story of the wedding day below). To start off with, they chose one of our absolute favourite venues, the incredible Dairy Shed , for their rustic elegant, laid-back, outdoor, natural, Aussie-meets-South-African celebration. It really was the perfect setting, and along with stylish choices like mismatched bridesmaids and groomsmen, long wooden tables, wood, organic fynbos arrangements, copper flatware, strings of twinkle lights, and of course Libby’s ridiculously gorgeous gown, it was an event to remember. Thanks in part to an awesome team, many of whom are long-time SBB faves: Theresa of Creation Events, who did a great job pulling everything together; Paradiso Flowers, who did the arrangements; Vizion Photo, who did the video; and the awesome Duane Smith, who captured these beautiful photos.

Fynbos & Lace Wedding at Harmonie Proteas by Maiden Moose Photography

11 August, 2016 by gaby

Proteas and lace. Lace and proteas. Two of our favourite things. So any wedding that begins with a hold-the-presses gorgeous lace gown (those sleeves!) with a touch of boho glam, and is held on a protea farm, is pretty much guaranteed to be legendary. Hugo and Renata’s wedding had that beautiful genuine quality to it – close to nature, filled with fynbos, and punctuated by the happiest of smiles from family and friends, and of course, the smitten couple. From the forest clearing ceremony to the epic dance party, this was a wedding day among wedding days, captured beautifully by our friends, Maiden Moose Photography. And those sunset portraits? Swoon.

Marsala Elegance Wedding at The Rose Pavilion by Genevieve Fundaro

10 August, 2016 by gaby

An elegantly rustic destination wedding infused with pops of rich Marsala has SBB written all over it. So no surprise, when I spotted this lavish little number via photographer Genevieve Fundaro, I couldn’t wait to share it with you all! It’s a day filled with pretty, from the long wooden tables decked with proteas and copper details to the naked cake, to a harvest table groaning with treats, to bride and groom Kerry and Shane’s Hollywood glam knockout style. And it’s full of love too – the usually tough groom had a definite moment when he saw his beautiful wife-to-be walking down the aisle towards him (aw!). There’s so much here to love, and Genevieve has captured it all beautifully as ever.

Elegant Country Blues Wedding at Le Franschhoek by Adene Photography

8 August, 2016 by gaby

Nothing makes my wedding blogger heart light up like an elegant day full of lush blooms, gorgeous colour and a couple who are crazy in love. Today we’re talking soft shades of hydrangea blue paired with an elegant winelands setting, sweet details and some of our absolute favourite service providers like Botanica Flowers, The Mosaic Wedding Company and Adene Photography, and I love it! Kerry and Tom were married on their six year wedding anniversary at the spectacular Le Franschhoek, having planned their wedding from the UK with the help of Kerry’s mom and Cara from Mosaic. Kerry wore a beautiful Robyn Roberts lace sleeve gown, and carried a bouquet that included succulents alongside soft blue and white flowers. With a classical duo playing her down the aisle, afternoon shadows falling through the leaves as friends and family offered their congratulations, and fairy lights twinkling gently long into the night, it was the perfect day.

French Country Naturals Wedding at Green Leaves by Louzelle van Dyk

25 July, 2016 by gaby

Simple, natural weddings always have my heart. Take Kirsty & Kobus’ big day. An adorable couple in gorgeous surroundings, neutral French country decor, a beautiful dress handmade by the bride’s mother, organic floral runners, and friends and family all around. It’s understated and elegant, and oh-so-pretty. Then throw in fun touches like tekkie wedding shoes, groomsmen in shorts and leather bowties, and these lovely images by Louzelle van Dyk, and you have a celebration that’s personal and unique too – the perfect recipe!