Time for some gorgeous adornment, brideys! I’m forever getting stopped in my tracks while browsing Etsy by some of the absolutely spectacularly gorgeous bridal hair accessories – and I’m especially partial to those with a bit of a botanical bent. Cleverly crafted gold and silver leaves in goddess-like crowns, pearls and crystals fashioned to look like flowers and berries… I just wish I had an excuse to wear one of them, but they might be a bit faaancy for the supermarket, no? Anyway, if you’re planning your big day accessories, I really don’t think you’ll get much prettier than these 20 nature-inspired hair accessories, from some of my favourite Etsy makers. (Contains affiliate links – the cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission on any sales)Read More
Since we’re already head over heels for everything floral print this month, from cakes to wedding dresses to bridesmaid dresses, we certainly couldn’t leave out the little ladies that make up the short end of your bridal party – after all, they’re called flower girls! As it happens, there are so many gorgeous floral mini-bridesmaid dresses, many so gorgeous that I wish they made them in big-people sizes too. Even if you don’t incorporate any other floral or botanical elements in your wedding, I can’t think of a prettier way to dress the little ones for a spring or summer celebration. So let’s get inspired! As always, you can click on any of the product images to shop, and visit our brand new Flower Girl Boutique board on Pinterest for regular finds.
When I decided on ‘greenhouse’ as our theme for July, there was one supplier I immediately thought of and couldn’t wait to share with you guys, because every time I come across their work on the web it gives me a little thrill. And by little, I mean a huge OMG-I-want-that thrill. Oak & Orchid are an independent studio based out of the US (although they create bespoke designs for couples all over the world), and I’m particularly over the moon about their botanical range because they pretty much encapsulate everything that’s elegant and romantic and contemporary about this look for me. Receiving one would be like receiving a surprise bouquet – and we know how good that feels! Think restored antique botanical prints paired with rustic elements like wood and kraft paper, with special details like botanical envelope liners and calligraphy fonts. They are just SO pretty. And the best part of it is that even couples on a lower budget can access the Oak & Orchid design aesthetic with a range of printables from their Etsy shop. **As always, you can click on any of the images below to shop.**Read More
We talk wedding dresses a lot here on SBB, but there’s one type that we’ve never really covered before, and that’s maternity wedding gowns, aka gowns for pregnant brides. Now I think a bride never looks more beautiful than when she has that gorgeous mama-t0-be glow, but at the same time, I imagine it’s a bit of a challenge to find the perfect dress when you’re not a hundred percent sure what your body is going to be doing between that first try-on, and the big day. You’re dealing with a whole new body shape, basically, and it’s hard enough for us to flatter the one we normally have, right? It’s your wedding day, and you want to look amazing, not like you’ve been swaddled in a big white mumu, or squeezed into something that shows every lump and bump either. Choosing a maternity wedding dress is definitely a unique challenge, but fortunately help is at hand. We’ve teamed up with our friends at GF Bridal Couturein Johannesburg (whose impressive bridal range includes a specialised section of beautiful maternity dresses) to answer all your questions on finding the gown of your dreams when you’re dressing for two.Read More
We already know that you brideys love a bit of ruffle on their wedding gowns (and their wedding cakes, for that matter) – and why wouldn’t you? Ruffles are awesome. But I also LOVE me some ruffly bridesmaids dresses! Whether it’s just a little bit of a rosette detail on a colour or cuff, a softly ruffled chiffon number, or a full scale ruffly skirt or dress, it always catches the eye. It’s the texture, of course – and I also think that ruffles have a bit of whimsy and romance to them. A bit of Parisian froufrou maybe? I don’t know. Whatever it is, I thought it was high time we got some inspiration, both from real brides, and from our favourite shops.Read More
Afternoon, lovelies! As part of our month of natural beauty, we’ll be looking at all the little bits and pieces that go into making a bride look her best on that all-important wedding day – and night. That includes lingerie, so today we’re showcasing the new bridal collection from trendy LA label For Love & Lemons, a favourite of stars such as Ellie Goulding. This series of dreamy lookbook shots is so pretty that they also serve as beautiful boudoir inspiration, for those of you considering a shoot. Whether you’re after something fun like the ‘I do’ or ‘Wifey’ knickers, or something super sexy like the Honeymoon thong, garter and bra set, you’ll be inspired – my fave is the lacey little ‘Yours Truly’ lace robe – and I’ll bet your man will love it too, wink wink.Read More
I am definitely not what you’d call an early adopter. I’m not the person queuing up to get a new iPhone, and it would scare you to know how long it took me to get a flat screen. It’s a policy that actually works really well for me, because usually I miss out on all the early tech problems and bugs, and by the time I get round to buying something, there’s a shinier version for the first adopters, so I get a better price. (I’m sounding like an old woman now, aren’t I? Oh well.) Sometimes, with wedding trends, it’s the same. There’s something new and hot and awesome, and then over the following couple of years, the trend doesn’t die away, it just stops being hot news on wedding blogs. But the good news is, meanwhile more people get involved in becoming suppliers of that thing, which gives you a lot more choice (and more options for your budget). A couple of years ago, love story infographic invitations were HUGE news – I wrote this post about them, which has remained one of the most popular on SBB (and that shows how many of you all still love this sweet idea). I also still think they’re completely adorable and a very personal way of celebrating your history together (setting a great tone for your wedding day), but I was glad to see when revisiting them recently that now there are loads of options when it comes to designs, designers – and price points, based on how much of the story and design is customised, and whether you buy a printable PDF or fully printed invites. So, why not consider one of these suites for your big day? As Taylor Swift would say: It’s a love story… baby, just say yes.Read More
So here’s the question: what do you guys really think about garters? Personally, in the past I never really liked them – most of the ones I came across looked a little cheap and nasty, and I kind of hate the whole bouquet/garter toss traditions anyway. But here’s where I love a garter – in a bridal boudoir shoot or in those pretty getting ready shots where you see the garter isn’t just an unnecessary extra, but a really pretty part of the bride’s foundation garments. Something delicate and decadent and spoiley that makes her feel extra pretty. And sexy. And fabulous. Now that I can get behind. So I thought it was high time I rounded up some really gorgeous handmade garters that could easily fit the bill.Read More
You know what always makes me feel a bit sad? You know when you see those pictures of a winter or autumn wedding, and there’s the bride in some fancypants wrap or fur-look stole or whatever looking snug and cold-weather-stylish, and then you see the bridesmaids and they’re standing there in the same little strappy dresses that their summer cousins were wearing, freezing their bazoomas off. Shame. Of course, stylish wraps for the entire party are always an option, but recently a chic (and practical) option has been popping up in more and more real weddings – long sleeve bridesmaid dresses! Yep, dresses with long sleeves aren’t just for the wedding gown now. From shiny sequined minis to sleek long black dresses, we are absolutely loving this look. So let’s get inspired! And shop. Because we can. *Shopping sources in this post use affiliate links. This means this site may earn a commission if you make a purchase from our links.
Texture, you guys. I am all about texture. From wood to velvet to sequins to linen, it’s the addition of a texture to a palette or wedding design that often takes things from pretty to pretty amazing, in my book. Since we’re talking autumn weddings, I thought it was appropriate for us to talk about a texture that works for many autumn weddings (especially those that lean toward the rustic) and that’s wood. And of course, there are lots of ways to incorporate wooden texture into your wedding day, but one of my faves is through the invitations themselves. Here’s the really cool bit – with lasercut and printing techniques being what they are now, you can get invitations that are actual slices of wood. So unusual! And, as it happens, better for the environment than processed paper invites. I love this idea, as well as paper invitations that have a woodgrain effect – and the good news is that lots of designers have wood invitation options these days. So I turned to my favourite online market, Etsy, to pick a few favourites. ‘Wood’ you like to see them? (Yes, I know. Poor. I couldn’t help myself ;) ) Just click on the links (or any of the images) below, and you’ll be taken straight to Etsy to get more information and make your purchase. This post includes affiliate links (in bold). SBB may receive a commission on any sales, but the cost to you remains the same.
