We started the week with macarons, so I thought it was the perfect way to finish our week as well. Because a girl can never have too many macarons. If you loved our feature on macaron favours and are wondering where you can find some of these pretty pastries for yourself, then allow me to introduce you to Cape Town’s Lady Macaron.Read More
Brides, get ready for some serious dress lust. Julie Vino‘s Orchid collection is AMAZE – a combination of red-hot sexy and extremely feminine and romantic, it really stands out. Based in Tel Aviv, Julie’s a new designer on my radar (although already well established) and I just can’t get enough of her sleek silhouettes and glamorous details. And oh, those details. Hand embroidery, ornate beadwork, shimmer, lace, a shiny gold belt, an Olivia Palermo-style short/skirt combo… This collection has it all. And while it’s currently only available to buy in Israel and the US, I just had to share the inspiration with my South African brides!Read More
You know, when it comes to wedding dress features, I always love featuring Rosa Clara, not just because the gowns are gorgeous (which they are) but because this is a collection that’s available in SA, so I don’t feel like I am taunting my SA-based readers with forbidden fruit. Rosa Clara is one of the ranges carried by the fab Olivelli, so after sighing over the swooniness of this Spanish label, you can get yourself down to your closest store and try on many of the dresses in person. It’s a huge range as wedding collections go, but that means there’s really something for everyone each season, whether your style is Jackie O. preppy, fairytale ballgown, or Daisy Buchanan chic, all created in a range of luxe fabrics with an amazing attention to detail. The 2015 collection is particularly breathtaking – so excited to be sharing it with you today!Read More
A few years ago, when I started this blog, farm weddings were fast taking over from vineyard weddings and beach weddings as the big new trend. Well, this has definitely been the season of the forest wedding. And I couldn’t be happier – there’s something so intimate and natural about a forest setting, not to mention the mix between fairytale and boho influences. Today’s lovely wedding is all of this and more – an absolutely gorgeous woodland ceremony and a reception full of twinkling lights and fynbos flowers, followed by a huge party (a given, since the groom is the owner of Silk Music, one of Cape Town’s top DJ services). Lar Leslie was there to capture every perfect, golden moment.Read More
You know, there are some wedding dress designers that each year when they release a new collection, I think they’ve outdone themselves – surely reached the tippety top of as pretty as their dresses can be – but lo and behold, the next season I’m dying over their new collection all over again. Mira Zwillinger is one of those designers, and true to form, her 2014/2015 collection is my favourite yet. Holy embroidered and illusion lace amazingness. Combined, as Mira does, with super soft, billowy skirts that combine into the ultimate mix of drama and elegant femininity. Long story short, I’m a huge fan. So let’s schedule some sigh-time to have a look at this latest bevy of beauties from the Israeli designer (not available in SA as far as I know, but can be found at Browns in London).Read More
As you probably know by now, I’m a HUGE fan of Veluz Reyes, the powerhouse designer behind some of the most pinned wedding dress images since ever. Based in the Philippines, her fame has spread worldwide, and with her first ever Ready to Wear collection last year, finally international brides were able to get their perfectly manicured paws on her creations (the heart of the business is still custom dress design from the studio, which is wildly in demand among lucky local brides). So of course I just have to share the latest installment in the Ready to Wear line, the 2014 collection. Like Veluz’ previous RTW, it’s awash with silky, billowy skirts, intricate beading and the most spectacual portrait backs, but it also manages to be fresh and modern. And be sure to scroll to the end where there’s a super fun little video (with bridal models who actually SMILE, but then, who wouldn’t smile wearing one of these beauties?).Read More
When I was a little girl (just a few years ago, haha) I DREAMED of being a flowergirl in somebody’s wedding. Sadly, I’m an only child and an only grandchild so it never happened, but I still have such a soft spot for dreamy little dresses for the mini members of a bridal party and I think they deserve to look every bit the princess that they feel being part of your day. So I couldn’t help but fall head over heels when I came across the Demetriou Collection on Etsy. Hand made in Cyprus and shipped worldwide, these luxurious little creations are frothy ballerina fantasies, walking that perfect line between innocent sweetness and elegant chic. The range includes accessories like shoes for babies (oh, the shoes!), head pieces and capes, as well as the dresses themselves. Let’s have a little look, shall we?Read More
You know, I thought I was in love with South African-born, London-based wedding dress designer Clinton Lotter‘s 2012/2013 collection (okay, I definitely was). But this season’s collection is just… beyond. I’d go so far as to say that the Mia dress is my absolute favourite of all dresses I have seen this year so far. I mean, beautiful floor length French lace, covered buttons, a portrait back, a slinky silk crepe sheath and the most perfect combination of ivory and blush imaginable. And that’s just one of the gowns in this collection. Each of them is so elegantly tailored and has its own unique touches and details – I just can’t wait to see them on real brides. They’re exclusively sold through Blackburn Bridal in London, so those of you based in the UK, book your fitting!Read More
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE getting packages in the mail. Best. Thing. Ever. So when a package turned up in my postbox recently with my name on it, instructing me to ‘open the box and shout hooray because this is your special day’, it put a huge smile on my face before I’d even opened it (if you follow SBB on Instagram, you will have seen all the adorable goodies that were inside). The box came from Blooming Wonderful, a creative husband and wife team based in Somerset West. Their business, which has stationery, a shop and a decor hire ‘wing’, is kind of a one-stop-shop of awesomeness, and full of the quirky little touches that I know brides and grooms are always looking for.Read More
Well, folks, I promised you some wedding dress loveliness to slide into the weekend with, and I shall not disappoint you! As you know by now, SBB loves our local designers (as well as the international ones, of course) and one of our all time FAVE labels (and industry people) is Elbeth Gillis. I never hear a bride say a bad word about their experience with Elbeth, and it’s no wonder, when her dresses just keep getting lovelier and lovelier every year. The 2014 collection is my favourite yet, and it’s such a perfect combination of romantic, old world fabrics and flattering, modern cuts. Looking through all ten creations, I was also struck by how perfect each dress’s name is for it – how it seems to describe an individual personality, from the 1920s Paris glamour of the Zelda, to the Armani-esque simplicity of the Jennifer. For those of you who loved Princess Catherine’s dress (um, all of us?) there’s even a Catherine, which is a romantic lace-sleeved tribute rather than a tacky knock-off. They’re all so lovely that it’s almost impossible to choose, but I think Edith, with its chantilly lace overlay, delicate cap sleeves and deep V back is my personal favourite. Head over to see the full collection on the Elbeth Gillis website.Read More