Category: Suppliers

20 Perfectly Pretty Printable Bridal Shower Invitations

by gaby

For those of you planning a shower at the moment, one of the details that can really be a pain in the pachanga (unless you’re actually a designer) is the invitations. The last shower I organised, I spent DAYS making them from scratch, complete with fabric envelopes (nobody even commented on them, gah). Frankly, I would have been better off going with one of the gorgeous printable bridal shower invitations you can get these days – Etsy in particular is full of these lovelies. The best part is that printable invitations are either an immediate download, or are sent to you once customised, so they’re quick, reasonably priced and can be bought from anywhere in the world. All you do is take them to your local printshop or online print service, or even send the file via email (for extra eco points) and you’re sorted with your DIY shower invitations! There’s loads of choice too – in fact, so much choice, that it can be time consuming to sift through all the options. That’s where today’s post comes in, because we’ve picked out 20 of our absolute favourite Etsy printable bridal shower invitations for you to choose from. Yay!
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Fiona Mauchan Demi-Couture Collection

by gaby

Dress crush alert! I’m super excited today to be featuring the work of up-and-coming South African designer, Fiona Mauchan, who has just launched her demi-couture collection. Up until now, Fiona’s only made one-of-a-kind dresses, and while she’ll continue her bespoke service, she’s also created this exciting ‘petite’ ready to wear collection, comprised of three breathtaking gowns: Angelica, Anise and Annabel. The collection made its debut just last weekend at the Canal Walk Bridal Show, so this is really hot off the press news. And even better, we have some beautiful lookbook images to share, courtesy of the talented Claire Thomson! Now that’s how you kick off a Friday. ;)Read More

Phase Eight Spring/Summer 2015

by gaby

Gorgeous dress alert! Phase Eight havebrought out their 8 Bridal collection of wedding dresses, and I just had to share the brand new lookbook with you today. This sophisticated UK label really has something for everything in their bijou range, whether you’re a classic, vintage or contemporary bride. Short or long, sparkle or lace – I think everyone will find a favourite. Mine is Hope (pictured above), a spectacular beaded and embellished 1920s-inspired gown, with a sheer blouson top and sweet little train (total steal at £595, no?). It’s details like this that raise Phase Eight from high street to high fashion. And the best part is that the gowns are available online from different retailers, so South African brides don’t have to miss out. Winner winner, chicken dinner.Read More

Get the Look: Red Hot Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

It’s Valentine’s week! And that means we’re covering everything red, pink or heartshaped, with a stylish wedding twist, so this afternoon I’m rounding up some of my favourite red bridesmaid dresses. Now I’ll admit, red as a wedding colour is something I have a love/hate relationship with, and not all shades of red suit all people, but with these dresses, I am fast becoming a convert. They’re chic, they’re a little bit sexy, and will leave your girls feeling red hot and gorgeous.Read More

APRIL LOOK Spring/Summer 2015

by gaby

Most of the fashion we showcase here on SBB is for the ladies, but we love our grooms to feel stylish and special just as much as the ladies! And just like with bridal, groom’s accessories can really be in the detail. The perfect shade or texture or style can turn a plain ol’ suit into something wow. That’s where APRIL LOOK comes in, a fab men’s accessories line that can be found on Etsy. Their range is simple and classic: bowties, neckties, pocket squares and bandanas. Each item is made by hand from high quality natural fabrics, and are presented in elegant packaging with binding instructions on the back. One of my favourite things about the brand is that, in addition to a general range of patterns and colours, twice a year they release a special collection in gorgeous, contemporary colours. We were so inspired by the four colours used for the brand new S/S15 collection that we just had to include some gorgeous images to represent the kind of wedding each brought to mind. Enjoy!

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Get the Look: Sheer Illusion Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

I must tell you guys, I’m loving putting these little bridesmaid dress posts together each week – hey, any excuse for window shopping, right? But I think this is the week I’ve been most tempted to pull out my credit card and fill my wardrobe up with the prettiness I’ve sourced, because I absolutely LOVE the look of an illusion neckline. This is a style that’s taken brides by storm, and now bridesmaids are getting in on the act. Which, as far as I’m concerned, is awesome. In fact, the only downside is picking your favourite! Be sure to find these and other gorgeous dresses on the SBB Bridesmaid Boutique Pinterest board, which we’re keeping updated with current dresses from a variety of shops and shipping destinations. For more illusion bridesmaid dress inspiration, see our special feature. And don’t forget this illusion lace wedding dress roundup for the brides!Read More

SBB Visits The Alphen Hotel

by candice

Ladies, 2015 is the year for boutique weddings, and if that is what you’re after, we have the most perfect venue for you! On behalf of SBB, I was invited to share in experiencing the magic of the Alphen Boutique Hotel, and was left in awe.

This gem of a hotel is tucked away in the beautiful leafy suburb of Constantia, and you are immediately transported away from the humdrum of daily life as you drive through the entrance. We were greeted by the lovely Nadia, from Greater Than Events, Rosalie Greener, the charming Events Coordinator at the Alphen, and Angela Lorimer, the Sales & Marketing Manager, who were all so warm and welcoming, I felt as if I had known them forever. (Definitely a good sign for people with whom you will be planning one of the most important days of your life!)Read More

Gatsby Glam Bridesmaid Dresses from Frock and Frill

by gaby

A little while back, I wrote a post on Gatsby-style bridesmaid dresses, thinking it might interest a few people, but holy moly, it went on to be one of our most viewed posts of all time (and still is). Clearly the embellished flapper look is one that brides have fallen in love with, and who could blame you, because wow, these dresses are gorgeous and even better, they’re so much easier to find on the high street (or in the mall!) these days. You don’t even have to be having a 1920s or Art Deco wedding for these to make sense – they’re pretty enough to work with any elegant wedding style. (Although I do love a Gatsby wedding. After all, a little party never hurt nobody, right?) I recently became familiar with a UK brand that is taking this look to the next level, Frock and Frill. This label carries a wide range of flapper style dresses in a range of colours – all knock-me-down gorgeous – that would not only work for a bridal party but actually could work for a laid-back bride as well, or as a reception dress. I’m in love with the beaded embellishments, the flattering cuts, and the range of colours, so I’ve just had to dedicate today’s post to my top wedding-appropriate Frock and Frill dresses. Good luck picking a favourite – they’re all GORGEOUS! (Oh, and PS: You can also find all of them on our Bridesmaid Boutique board over on Pinterest!) Click on any of the dress images below to shop.

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Frock and Frill

 

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Romantic ART Life Collection 2015

by gaby

You know that moment in Say Yes to the Dress (go on, we all watch it) when a bride’s all “hmm, I like this dress so much, but I’m not completely…” and a consultant will add a sparkly belt or a hairpiece or a veil and suddenly everyone’s like “OMG that’s IT!”. When it comes to bridal style, accessories matter. The right accent can turn a simple, chic gown into something extra special and completely bespoke. The right hairpiece can add a touch of knee-melting romance. Not just for brides either – this is a perfect way to turn a basic bridesmaid look into a super stylish one. And that’s why I absolutely love this collection of flower accessories from Romantic ART Life. Each piece, from floral hairpieces to sashes, is handcrafted, inspired by the delicate beauty of nature, and created using fine fabrics, soft laces, delicate beadwork and crystals. Swoonage.Read More

Get the Look: Little Black Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

Short Black Bridesmaid Dresses

Black bridesmaid dresses are one of those things I get asked my opinion on A LOT. I’ll tell you, people love ’em or hate ’em. But just like I don’t feel like brides HAVE to wear a white dress, I don’t see why bridesmaids shouldn’t rock a little black dress. Especially since I have seen many weddings get this look just right, and not only do the girls look amazing, they also have the best chance of actually wearing their BM dresses again – come on, you know it’s true! So this week in our Bridesmaid Boutique post, we’re looking at some of our favourite little black dresses for bridesmaids, each with the kind of texture, detail or just plain style that makes a bridal party look wow, whether they all rock the same gown or go for mismatched bridesmaid dresses. Yay for the LBD! This post contains affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission on any sales made.Read More