Intimate Weddings - SouthBound Bride

Lush Secret Garden Wedding at Zonnevanger by Sonje Ludwick

16 March, 2018 by gaby

A marquee overflowing with flowers, hung with bowers of greenery, edison bulbs twinkling, whimsical china, pops of fuschia and candy pink – all in a lush, green garden setting. Sounds magical, doesn’t it? Well folks, that’s the setting for this gorgeous intimate celebration, with sort of an Alice in Wonderland meets Secret Garden vibe. Sjaun and Anita came from London to celebrate their big day and they did it in style, with their closest friends and family, in a wedding that looks like it was as much fun as it was pretty. And with pretty pictures by Sonje Ludwick, whimsical brides will be pinning to your hearts content!

Intimate Italian-style Wedding at Zorgvliet by Tasha Seccombe

25 October, 2017 by gaby

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of all things Italian (I mean, I’m half Italian myself, and proudly so). But in the absence of a plane ticket to Tuscany, if I were to receive an invitation to a beautiful, intimate, Italian-inspired soiree like this one? I’d be there faster than you could say “I do”. Ilna and Neil created something really special for their big day – a sophisticated, jewel-toned celebration that manages to fuse the best of the South African winelands with a touch of La Bella Vita. The flowers, for one, are ridiculously beautiful – peonies and hydreangeas and orchids in shades of mauve and plum and burgundy. And contrasting with that abundance is Ilna’s breathtakingly elegant gown and Neil’s classic black suit. Sleek sophistication meets organic. And talking about sophistication, I love that the couple opened the dancefloor with a tango! These beautiful pics by the lovely Tasha Seccombe capture every bit of their big day, and will stick in your memory for a long time to come!

Casual, Intimate Wedding at Café Felix by Hewitt Wright Photography

8 September, 2017 by gaby

I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to wedding planning, subtlety can be vastly underrated. After all, this is the world of extravagant walls of flowers, and crystal embellished gowns worth thousands of dollars. But sometimes the best weddings focus on the most important things – the setting, the food, the vibe of fun and togetherness and love; and when that’s the case, just the littlest touches can pack the biggest punch. Case in point? Ashleigh & Tim’s sweet-as-pie Riebeek West wedding, which brought together their nearest and dearest for a beautiful, heartfelt garden ceremony and then adjourned to the courtyard at Café Felix for wining, dining and dancing under the stars. Tables overflowing with greenery, and fairy lights everywhere… it’s just magical. And Hewitt Wright‘s photographs bring all of it to life for us again. Who needs a bunch of bling when you have this kind of enchantment?

Colourful, Glamorous Wedding at Holden Manz by Vizion Photography

22 November, 2016 by gaby

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!

Alice in Wonderland Inspired Elopement by Andries Combrink & Runaway Romance

16 November, 2016 by gaby

I have a special place in my wedding-loving heart for elopements. There’s something so utterly romantic about the idea of two people taking this moment away from the rest of the world for just them, to promise their forevers wrapped up in one another with no distractions, and bask in the glow of the moment, seeing it reflected in each other’s eyes. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but a beautiful wedding à deux always makes me smile. And I know someone else who loves these kinds of weddings as much as I do – the lovely Rebecca of Runaway Romance, who has made it her mission as a wedding planner to focus on more intimate celebrations and bring them a special kind of magic through her love of detail and styling. After all, just because it’s only the two of you, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look amazing! Today’s wedding is just that. Theuns and Ewalda chose to infuse their elopement with their love of literature in general and Alice in Wonderland in particular, and the result is a wonderfully whimsical celebration with the sweetest of details, from paper flowers (mixed in with red roses, of course!), to Scrabble tile elements, to a custom ceremony backdrop that proclaimed ‘It was always you’. Told you elopements were romantic! Andries Combrink was there to capture the whole thing on film.

Bijoux Botanical Wedding at Lalapanzi Lodge by Michelle du Toit

27 October, 2016 by gaby

There’s an expression I always remember from one of my favourite films, that goes: Simple may not always be best, but the best is always simple. That’s what I think about when I come across weddings like Carla & Bruce’s, that take an idea (in this case, greenery with a touch of gold) and make it incredibly elegant. Add in a romantic forest ceremony in the most beautiful surroundings, natural elements like glass and wood, and little personal touches like olive oil favours and a tribute to their missing loved ones, and you have something really special. You won’t be surprised to know that I’m in love with Carla’s wild, organic style bouquet, which worked so beautifully with her Robyn Roberts gown, or that I think Michelle du Toit‘s swoony photography is the final, perfect touch! Simple just became extraordinary.

Intimate Surf Lodge Wedding by Long Exposure

7 October, 2016 by gaby

Surf’s up! This laid-back, beachy wedding took place at a local surf lodge – the perfect venue for a couple who first started noticing one another during early morning sessions. With this natural coastal setting in place, they set about infusing their ‘I do’s with soft blooms (including the bride’s sweet flower crown!), rustic elements, and nods to their love of sea and sand. With an intimate guest list and long trestles set up under the trees while paper lanterns swung in the breeze, Alice and Joel’s wedding has the feeling of a family dinner in the garden rather than a buttoned up formal do, and it’s no wonder, as all the details (including the customisation of Alice’s dream dress) were a labour of love by the bride’s mum and other dear family and friends. It really makes you smile, and happily, Christie Long was there to capture all of the love!

Fun Pastel V&A Waterfront Wedding by Jana Marnewick

3 March, 2016 by gaby

Earlier this week we showcased a city wedding, and we’re spoilt enough to have another today, although Robyn & Jamaal’s shows off a completely different side to Cape Town. The couple, who met during one of our legendary summers, wanted to bring that feeling into their big day so they decided to not only host it at the iconic V&A Waterfront, but to bring the pastels of the surrounding buildings into their palette. They had a rooftop ceremony overlooking the harbour (love!) and a reception filled with pastel blooms (beautifully put together by awesome SBB Directory members Bright and Beautiful). And like all good Cape Town summer nights, this one ended on the dancefloor, where they partied late into the night. Jana Marnewick took these lovely images.

Black, White & Gold Wedding at Emily Moon by Ruan Redelinghuys

2 March, 2016 by gaby

It’s Kate Spade-esque monochrome prints meets eclectic countryside chic in today’s wedding, which took place at the gorgeous Emily Moon in Plett, a venue I’ve been dying to feature for ages. I love the way that Stefan and Jemma, designers themselves, decided to work with the already-awesome venue aesthetic, but still managed to add their own stamp with their black, white and gold theme, which included whimsical ‘Woohoo’, ‘yay!’ and ‘yes’ banners (how could these fail to make you feel happy?), gold dipped vases, spray painted animals, stripes and spots, and flowers put together by a creative bunch of dear family and friends. And let’s not forget the sequin bridesmaid dresses, which Jemma ties in perfectly to her own romantic gown with a well-placed gold sash. It’s spots and stripes and lovely all over, and Ruan Redelinghuys was there to take these lovely images.

City Botanical Wedding at The Pot Luck Club by Marli Koen {Catherine & Jason}

6 May, 2015 by gaby

Brides and grooms, I beg of you, consider a city wedding, because OMG they are so fabulous. And as cities go, let’s be honest, Cape Town is amazing. So when you combine urban chic with lush botanical styling and a Table Mountain skyline, you get the wedding we have today – super romantic with a touch of glitz… fun, intimate and relaxed… and did I mention pretty? I’m especially in love with both the bride and bridesmaids’ dresses, as well as the greenery that Catherine and Jason chose to decorate both the church (Kate and Wills-style) and their favourite restaurant, The Pot Luck Club. Flowing greenery, inspired by a meadow, bringing the outdoors indoor, and perfectly complementing the city location. Perfect. The lovely Marli Koen was on the scene, capturing every smiley moment and flash of sequin and lace.Read More