Before we round off our Friday afternoon (yay, Friday!), it’s time for a bit of practical planning advice. There’s so much to think about when planning a wedding, but one question I get a lot is about when to send invitations, and when/if to send Save the Dates. So I thought I would compile everything into a simple guide and quick (pinnable) reference.Read More
You know how everyone has that guilty pleasure movie, that they’ve seen a hundred times but wouldn’t admit to a film buff? For me, that’s Young Guns II. I was pretty much obsessed with it in high school (or was that obsessed with Emilio Estevez, I don’t know?). Even though it’s hardly representative of the Western genre (and let’s be honest, in a cage fight between Clint Eastwood and the Brat Pack, we know who would win), it did give me a love of all things cowboy. Years later, I visited New Mexico and fell head over heels for the scenery, but that’s another story. The fact is, we all love a bit of a high noon, gun-totin’, quick-drawin’, OK corral-showdownin’ Western, even if we’re from the south of Africa rather than the south of America. Today’s couple, Lana-May and Duke (how could you be called Duke and NOT have a cowboy-themed wedding?) pulled on their stetsons and cowboy boots and gave their guests a western wedding to remember, complete with line dancing, moonshine and rustic decor details hotter than a Texas summer. SO FUN. Marinda May was there to capture every fabulous moment.Read More
Credit: Be Inspired PR/Intertwined Events/J Wiley
The web is an amazing place – so many creative people sharing their expertise and ideas, and so often for free. It seems a pity not to make use of their generous gifts, especially when planning something like a bridal shower slash kitchen tea slash bachelorette slash hen night (can I just call it a henkitch showerette from now on?). I often come across gorgeous bridal shower printables that would fit into a variety of decor schemes, so I thought today I would gather some of my favourites into one place, for easy reference. Here you’ll find everything from hen party games to bachelorette invitations, from recipe cards and gift tags to decor items. All you need to do is click over to the source page, download, customise where relevant, and send to your favourite on-demand printing service. Where relevant, the designer as well as the original source of the hen party printables is listed – if you like their work and you’re looking for something customised, why not click through to see more of their portfolio? I’ve also included some not-free options from Etsy to give you extra choice!
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made
Get ready for a dose of rustic wedding loveliness that’s sure to set any bride-to-be or lover-of-pretty’s heart a-racing. Cristi and Jason were inspired not by a specific theme or colour, but rather by a love of natural, rustic style and a sense that they wanted their celebration to feel warm and intimate, like a family dinner. Don’t you just love that? They certainly succeeded, with simple, well-chosen details like a gorgeous rustic venue, a touch of burlap and lace, pocketfold napkins, long tables and clouds of dreamy baby’s breath. The mood ranges from cheeky fun (love the bridal party portraits especially!) to pure romance, and SBB faves Carolien & Ben Photography have done an amazing job of capturing all of it. Softie that I am deep down (sshh, don’t tell anyone), my fave has to be the first look – I get goosebumps whenever I see one of these!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
Today’s wedding is extra special, not just because it’s gaaaahwjuss (in different shades of glittering gold, I die), but because it features a couple who I feel are part of the SBB family. I’ve been working with photographer Bernard Bravenboer since the early days of SBB, and from his tweets I picked up that he had a sweetheart called Grethe (who assists him often at weddings). Fast forward a few years, and Grethe got in touch to ask my advice on some of her hiring, and when she told me what they had planned for their big day, I knew it would be beautiful! Seeing the breathtaking images by Du Wayne Denton, I wasn’t disappointed – it’s not just the sparkly, shiny loveliness, but the whole day seems bathed in a golden glow that can only be true love. There are some fantastic ideas here to inspire – I loved the dummy cakes, the white flowers against sequin linens, and the way that the couple wove a favourite CS Lewis quote into their day especially. Congrats Grethe & Bernard!Read More
Hooray, you guys! Today we’re debuting a brand new feature (which after this you’ll be able to catch on Sundays). This idea came out of a chat I had with my friend Belinda late last year, when she suggested a bit of a SouthBound Bride revisited feature, asking our lovely brides and grooms which is their favourite wedding picture, now that years have passed, and why. I thought it was a brilliant concept (thanks Bel!), and it’s a great chance not only to check in with the couples we’ve featured, but to get their take on life beyond the wedding. Back when I started SBB (when it was still Cap Classique), the very very first bride I featured was my friend Carmen, so I thought it was only appropriate that we kick off our new feature with her and husband Costa too!
Which of your wedding pictures has remained your favourite?
My fav pic is the one with the sun setting behind us.
What changes have happened since your wedding?
We now have another little Savvas in our little family, the mischievious monkey Luka :-) Oh and I’m now officially British :-) Life is a lot more rushed and frantic but so much fun with the little feet running about the house :-)
Any marriage advice for SBB readers?
Discuss everything with your partner, be open and honest at all times. Fight, it’s healthy! But always make up and remember to say I love you before bedtime every night :-) A cheesy quote which I saw recently is ‘We don’t get married to escape the world; we get married to heal it together’.
See Carmen & Costa’s full wedding feature here.
Morning, lovelies! I have a busy week ahead (including throwing a very special party for my mum), so let’s start it off right with a mix of two gorgeous styles that I think make a beautiful wedding combination! Lots of weddings that incorporate the botanical trend have a rustic feel (which is fantastic) but I think that the botanical look just as easily lends itself to a very glamorous, black tie wedding as well, with just a few sophisticated tweaks. The look is lush and luxurious, in classic shades of white, black, emerald green and gold, with the tiniest hint of blush. Swoonage!
Colours: Black, white, gold, emerald, blush
Top row (l-r): Bride & groom {Three Nails Photography/Clementine Custom Events}; cake {Anushé Low/B.loved Wedding Styling & Design/Cakes By Krishanthi}; table setting {Bryce Covey}; botanical invitations {Aubrey Renee Photography/Tiffany Collins Events}
Row 2: Botanical escort cards {Aubrey Renee Photography/Tiffany Collins Events}; rosemary cocktails {Jose Villa/Laurie Arons}; table setting {Alissa Saylor Photography}
Row 3: Boutonnieres {Onelove Photography/JL Designs & Events}; bouquet {Leo Patrone/Honey of Thousand Flowers}; gold shoes in cloche {Simply Bloom Photography}; groom in tuxedo {Trent Bailey/Inspired Bride/Daughter of Design}
Yay, it’s Friday. And yay, it’s time for the latest in our SouthBound Guides, teaching you all the wedding lingo you need to communicate effectively with your lovely suppliers. Since this is about the time that many of you will be finalising your cake choices, I thought today was a good day to talk about just that – and with it being Nelson Mandela’s birthday, a cake feels kind of appropriate. In fact, it’s been a cake-y kinda week here on SBB, so feel free to indulge yourself in something sugary as you enjoy each of these handy (pinnable!) examples. (Any excuse, right?)
I’ve seen a lot of pretty dessert tables over the years but today’s – if you’ll pardon the pun – takes the cake! I just loved Storm & Daryn’s ‘share a cake’ concept (not to mention how delish said cakes actually look), but it’s also just one detail that I think encapsulates the simple sweetness of this pastel pink wedding that was cute as cupcakes and a true labour of DIY love. Every aspect, from a beautiful heirloom dress to lace-decked vases collected by the couple’s circle to for months ahead of time speaks of family and friendship and the true sweetness of love. The wonderful Leani Holmes, who is a member of the SBB family, was on hand to take every dreamy picture.Read More
