Real Weddings - SouthBound Bride

Contemporary Luxe Wedding at Bordeaux Game Farm by Louise Vorster

7 June, 2016 by gaby

Fair warning, lovelies – your Pinterest boards are about to get a whole lot prettier (and more crowded)! I am pretty much obsessing over everything about today’s wedding, from the venue (the amazing Bordeaux Game Farm, which we love so much we included it in our SBB Collection) to the blue, white and gold colour scheme, with chinoiserie-like vases and stationery and glamorous gold flatware, to the crisp white orchids, to the bridesmaids’ gowns. It all fits together into the most gorgeous contemporary luxe whole, with the beautiful bride and her dashing groom, Allane & Wim, at its centre. And with photographer Louise Vorster there to take these fantastic images, the picture is complete.

Relaxed Rustic Wedding at The Stone Cellar by Leandri Kers

25 May, 2016 by gaby

They say home is where the heart is (and I say, where the wine is ;) ) so it’s no wonder that today’s sweet couple, Chris & Karin, wanted to create a home-away-from-home atmosphere for their wedding, in the relaxed, rustic setting of the Stone Cellar. The decor was simple and lovely – lace runners on long wooden tables, hanging greenery and wreaths, lasercut elements, a classic palette of white and green – all of which perfectly complemented the family-style dining and casual canapés that they had in mind. Add in some gorgeous scenery and photographer Leandri Kers to up the romance stakes with her dreamy pictures, and you have a wedding that’s as warm and welcoming as it is pretty.

Charming Forest Wedding at Florence Farm by Carolien & Ben

18 May, 2016 by gaby

This couple, you guys! They are just too cute for words. Exhibit A: Chris’ absolutely awesome surprise proposal on top of a mountain in the Drakensberg (just try watching the video without smiling!). Exhibit B: A forest ceremony with thousands of paper cranes dancing in the breeze above, and so many happy tears from the groom and bride, and father of the bride, and basically everyone who was there, when Ursula made her entrance. Or how about the romantic signage – the quote about forests at the altar, or the banner that declared they’d decided on forever? Or the farm-style rustic reception with country vintage details and pastel flowers, and lovely little wooden crates stencilled with the wedding date? There’s so much to love in this forest-meets-farm chic wedding, but the love between the couple are at the centre of it all, and Carolien & Ben did a fabulous job in capturing that in their beautiful, light-filled way. *Shopping sources in this post use affiliate links. SBB may earn a commission if you make a purchase from our links.

See more real forest weddings on SBB!

Handmade Natural Wedding at DuVon Estate by Marli Koen

13 May, 2016 by gaby

For a couple who love the outdoors, it’s a natural (pardon the pun) choice to bring a sense of Mother Nature’s own elegance to their big day. Hannes and Wilna decided to keep things simple, focusing on the things that really mattered to them, keeping the details simple and beautiful, and letting the stunning setting of the area they grew up in speak for itself. Add to that: lovingly crafted handmade details (including the bride’s gorgeous fits-like-a-glove lace dress, made by her mama), a mix of greenery and white blooms (including oversize bouquets – LOVE), good food, good wine and good company, and you have the magic combination. Marli Koen captured it all in these lovely pictures.

Classic Pastel Winelands Wedding at Holden Manz by Illuminate Photography

11 May, 2016 by gaby

There’s just no denying it – a wedding in the Cape winelands is always enchanting. But when it takes place at Holden Manz, with its emerald vineyards and breathtaking Franschhoek Valley views, and has Illuminate Photography behind the lens… well, now we’re talking. Tom and Jess, high school sweethearts from Zim who now live in Australia, chose a classic, elegant vibe for their wedding day, with soft pastel colours, lush blooms and little rustic touches like jam favours and distressed wooden lanterns filled with flowers on their tables. I just loved their romantic outdoor ceremony too, with a draped arch, petals lining the aisle, and wine barrels to finish off the look. Timeless!

Beach Bohemian Wedding at De Vette Mossel by Anina Harmse

10 May, 2016 by gaby

I’m not exactly known for being at a loss for words (Gaby by name, gabby by nature), but I honestly don’t know where to begin with this wedding. I properly love every single thing about it, from the bride’s stop-you-in-your-tracks AMAZING boho ensemble, to the beach ceremony, complete with Moroccan touches like carpets and lanterns and drapes, to the super laid-back rustic oceanside reception in shades of scarlet and protea, to the gorgeous portraits of Conrad and Lucinda by photographer Anina Harmse on the sand. I kind of had to pinch myself a couple of times when it landed in my inbox, and I have definitely gone a little overboard in the photo selection, but I just couldn’t resist the mix of boho perfection and toes in the sand chill. It’s awesome. And let’s just take another moment to talk about Lucinda’s dress and her sandals, because bride looks like an absolute goddess, which was actually her inspiration (and which, by the way, I loved). So I’ll stop going on, trying and failing to introduce this bohemian loveliness, and let you get an eyeful instead.

Elegant Forest Wedding at Beloftebos by Kobus Tollig

6 May, 2016 by gaby

Close your eyes and imagine standing in a forest clearing, light falling dappled through the trees, and the quiet whisper of branches harmonising with the crunch of leaves and pine needles underfoot. Imagine garlands of crochet ‘dreamcatchers’ moving gently in the summer breeze, as a bride makes her way down the wooded path, attended by bridesmaids in forest fairy flower crowns and smiling at her groom in a suit as blue as the sky. Which might sound like a dream or a fairytale, but for Dylan and Lara, it was their wedding day reality. Following their magical forest ceremony, the couple and their guests headed to a marquee decked out for classic elegance, and danced the night away by the glow of hundreds of twinkle lights and candles. And capturing it all, was photographer Kobus Tollig.

Botanical Barn Wedding at Rosemary Hill by Aline Photography

5 May, 2016 by gaby

I’m seriously on board with barn weddings right now, and Rosemary Hill has fast become one of my absolute faves. So Clint and Vanessa’s DIY-tastic, greenery-garlanded, rustically romantic, filled-with-love fête is one I would been first in line to attend. Add to that paper cranes bobbing in the summer breeze and some of our fave suppliers involved in making the bride and her girls look like rockstars (I’m looking at you, Refinery Creative Co.!), and you have the perfect way to start our day off sweetly. These lovely, light-filled pictures come courtesy of Aline Photography.

Blushing Bride Protea Wedding at White Light by As Sweet As Images

4 May, 2016 by gaby

Have I ever mentioned that I love proteas? Yep, I know, about a hundred times. But I bloody LOVE proteas. Set against a crisp white background and filled with the most gorgeous Kings and Blushing Brides, this contemporary classic wedding captured by As Sweet As Images has SBB written all over it. From the glasshouse ceremony at dream venue White Light, to the beautiful reception filled with blooms, to the actual blushing bride in her lace illusion neckline gown, smiling at her new husband, Ash & Andrew’s big day is the kind of celebration that hits my wedding sweet spot and has me oohing over every frame, not to mention falling in love with South Africa’s favourite flowers all over again.

Bright & Bold Countryside Wedding by Christine Le Roux

26 April, 2016 by gaby

I feel like things have been a little muted around here recently, and while I adore a wedding in classic white or soft neutrals, it’s always a pleasure to have colour wash across my computer screen and warm my wedding-loving heart. Inspired by the colours of a country sunset, this bright and beautiful farm wedding does just that. Liree and Willie (who met as housemates – adorable!) took on a challenge when they picked a venue that needed everything brought in, but the result was a celebration that was exactly as they’d envisioned – a “proper fun farm get-together”. Mingling sophisticated touches like Liree’s gorgeous lace gown and glamorous gold elements with relaxed spit braai catering and ‘just picked’ flowers, they pulled off the perfect mix of laid back and luxe, and the fab Christine Le Roux was there to capture it all in these pictures.