Country Weddings - SouthBound Bride

Country Wedding with a Touch of Delft at Cavalli Estate by Lindy Truter

13 April, 2017 by gaby

A sweet soiree sprinkled with personal touches that reflect a couple’s lives and journey together is a wedding after my own heart, and that’s a fact. Kirsty and Brandon’s wedding was one of those days. From the Delft touches which not only provided the pretty blue and white colour scheme but reflected their love for Amsterdam, to the favours (a reference to Brandon’s proposal) to the table names and flowers, to the recurring mentions of their dogs, everything about it was authentic as well as lovely to look at. And I just have to mention the gorgeous stationery by our friends at Blooming Wonderful because hello, Delft delight! It’s the perfect country wedding celebration to sit down with this fine Thursday, captured on camera by Lindy Truter!

Vibrant Country Wedding at Bergland Venue by MVZ Photography

11 April, 2017 by gaby

Today’s real wedding is one of those magic celebrations that, beyond being pretty (and with wreaths and flower crowns and pops of aubergine it certainly is that!) has a bunch of personality, and just looks like the kind of event you’d love to attend as a guest. And for me, that usually goes back to the bride and groom, and their personalities. So much of the lovely Alte-Maré and Jéan’s happy courtship was spent on the dancefloor, so it was no wonder that not only did music play a big role in their wedding day (with carefully selected, non-traditional choices for those big moments like the bride’s entrance) but that the whole day was relaxed and fun – a feast of family and food and of course, dancing. MVZ Photography captured these special moments.

Informal Forest Feast Wedding at Mina’s Art Café by Alicia Landman

10 February, 2017 by gaby

A personal, genuine wedding is a happy wedding, and a happy wedding is one that has SouthBound Bride written all over it. Today’s wedding really embodies that, and it’s making my little heart so happy right now! Andre and Lynn-Marie didn’t dream of a cookie cutter traditional wedding, or of anything glitzy and glamorous. What they wanted was simple, but awesome in its simplicity. A beautiful setting. Great food. Simple flowers (with the exception of the bridal party’s fabulous crowns and the bride’s bouquet!) Tables set under the trees. And all their favourite people sitting at those tables, laughing and chatting and having a wonderful time together. That’s it – but then again, what more IS there? After a romantic first look, they walked into the forest to exchange vows encircled by their family and friends, then enjoyed a sit-anywhere feast and ended the night with a midnight swim. And if that doesn’t sound like the perfect day, I don’t know what is! Alicia Landman took these lovely images, so let’s dive in, shall we?

Vibrant Outdoor Wedding at Langkloof Roses by Moira West

8 February, 2017 by gaby

I’m all for a classic palette, but I have to admit that colour-happy brides seem to have all the fun! Take, for example, this delight of a wedding on Langloof rose farm, with that incredible winelands backdrop as a setting to an outdoor wedding extraordinaire, punctuated with cheery pops of blue, orange, pink and grapefruit. I mean, doesn’t it just make you want to be there RIGHT NOW? I love the way that Cara and Jared (who by the way, must be one of the most gorgeous couples ever), took a calculated risk for their summer nuptials and celebrated post-ceremony with a meal out in the open under wooden frames decked with crisp linen curtains and floral chandeliers. I love the way they included coloured glassware, touches of glamorous gold, printed fabric and floating candles that must have looked absolutely magical as the evening wore on. And once the meal was over and the dance floor was open, that outdoor wedding really came into its own with a party under the stars. Wow. The fab Moira West captured it all in these lovely pics!

Vintage Glamour Winter Wedding at Embassy Hill by Jani B

7 February, 2017 by gaby

I’m a summer girl, it’s true – despite having lived in the UK for more than a decade, I’ll always choose being too hot over too cold. But there’s something about a winter day – not the grey nothing winter days, but the really seasonal ones – that is so special. When you can curl up under a blanket (or better yet, by an open fire!) and listen to the rain, and drink hot chocolate or mulled wine and just feel cosy and happy. That’s what today’s wedding reminds me of – it’s a PROPER winter wedding, with all the elements that make a winter wedding so special, from those fireplaces and candlelight to gluhwein and blankets for the guests. Add in a great big dose of glamour, of the very elegant, slightly antique kind – think foiled Art Deco menus, candlelight and roses, a bride in a ballgown and bridesmaids in the most fabulous old gold dresses. Coordinated and styled by SBB fave, Neva of Bright & Beautiful, there are so many graceful touches to love, like the hanging frames with gold sprayed branches and fairylights that really made the venue’s high ceilings feel intimate. The end result will make your heart beat a bit faster, especially when you look at it through the lens of photographer Jani B, who took these wonderful images.

Love in Bloom Country Wedding at Thorner Estate by Vanilla Photography

3 February, 2017 by gaby

My first clue that Andrew and Marie are a couple after my own heart? The fact that the Proudly South African pair went about sourcing every detail of their gorgeous KZN Midlands wedding from local businesses – rings, bridesmaid dresses, decor, everything. All in line with their pretty-as-a-picture garden-style wedding vision, and the result is an affair that will have all you country wedding-loving brides jumping straight out of your seats and cheering for joy! I loved the way that the pair chose a cool blue hue to contrast with the mixed colours of all the flowers – such a lovely touch that really stands out. And the blooms really were everywhere – in floral runners along the tables at the reception (thanks to Marie’s mum’s ‘army of ladies’ and their very own gardens!), in beautiful bouquets, in darling little embroidered wreaths on each napkin, on the wine labels and stationery… even right on down to the bridesmaids’ getting-ready robes. And love was in bloom too, of course, overflowing on the faces of the delighted bride and groom, and those of their family and friends. Michigan Behn was on the scene to capture these precious moments for Vanilla Photography and share them with you today.

Fynbos Chic Wedding at Emily Moon by Maxeen Kim

27 January, 2017 by gaby

When you have a memorable backdrop like Emily Moon River Lodge in Plettenberg Bay, it’s always a good idea to embrace its beauty and character as part of your wedding. Today’s couple, Rosalie and Martin, did just that, with a rustic wedding which included playful pops of colour, lots of lovely fynbos flowers, and fun personal touches, like a polaroid escort card wall. You can see every moment from their sweet celebration thanks to the marvelous Maxeen Kim, who took these gorgeous pics!

Graceful Greenery Wedding at Red Ivory Lodge by Carla Adel

25 January, 2017 by gaby

Over the past few weeks I’ve seen some big differences in opinion when it comes to this year’s Pantone Colour of the Year. Some love it, some hate it. It’s Marmite. But I’m definitely in the ‘love it’ camp, because while it’s a powerful green to be used sparingly and organically, it’s also a trend beyond the colour itself. Greenery has really been having its moment as a statement floral (or not-floral, more accurately!) and I’ve loved seeing it transform from a very simple, rustic choice to one that can look just as elegant as a sea of blooms. Today’s wedding is proof, because Jesse and Teri’s big day is overflowing with gorgeous greenery (and some well chosen white blooms, for good measure!), but it’s also black tie glamorous, from Teri’s goooorgeous dress to the tables, where each menu is tied with a simple black ribbon. Tres chic! Carla Adel captured these lovely images.

Pretty Rustic Wedding at Langkloof Roses by Marli Koen

19 January, 2017 by gaby

It’s not every bride who’ll take on the challenge of a two month wedding planning schedule, but for Natasha, as soon as she said “I will”, she discovered that her romantic husband-to-be, Stefan, had already booked her favourite venue for the sweetest of winter weddings! I actually love short engagements, because I feel like styling decisions get made from the heart (with a dash of practicality, of course) and Stefan and Natasha’s wedding is the perfect example, as the end result is just so lovely. Gorgeous blooms in Delft vases adorning long wooden tables (not to mention a very swoony peony bouquet!), both the bride and her bridesmaid in elegant lace, cosy touches like homemade blankets and a rice krispie cake second to none – it all comes together beautifully. Add in these images from Marli Koen, and… well. Let’s just say the pretty-ometer is going crazy.

Opulent Organic Wedding at Diamant Estate by Nadine Aucamp

11 January, 2017 by gaby

You know, I’ve spent a lot of the last couple of weeks talking about wedding trends, and although I adore the whole greenery thing that’s going on at the moment (because what’s not to love about foliage?), I just don’t see flowers going anywhere for so many couples this year – or any year. You just have to look at the bright blooms in Stephanie and Tiaan’s spectacular wedding (which also has plenty of pretty greenery, thank you very much) to see why. Bright blooms in vintagey vases, overflowing organic bouquets, even floral print stationery (so pretty!). I love how this wedding comes together in a range of gorgeous shades, but I especially love how over the moon happy the bride and groom are on this special day, and all the smiles on the faces of their wedding party and guests. Now that‘s a trend that never goes out of fashion. Our fave, Nadine Aucamp, took these absolutely beautiful pics!