Charity Wedding Favours

by gaby

Well, this is one wedding trend that really makes me feel good to be talking about. Because, you know, sometimes when you look around at all the need in the world, it can seem a bit obtuse to spend so much time thinking about napkins and sequins. With all the money spent on a wedding, it’s no wonder that so many couples get to wondering if they can share the love beyond the circle of friends and family, and benefit their community or favourite causes. Or perhaps it’s a case of paying tribute to the memory of loved ones, including them in your day in a meaningful way. Whatever the motive, wedding favours are an easy way to have a charitable aspect to your wedding. We’ve all heard stories of brides who spend hours picking out fancy favours, only to find piles of them left behind on the tables – well, this is the perfect way to skip that problem altogether, ensuring that the money you spend on this hospitable tradition ends up doing good somewhere. There are so many lovely ideas out there for charity favours, and it’s been awesome to see local companies and charities getting on board and coming up with fresh options. As always, there’s so much creativity in real weddings too – I’ve rounded up some of my favourites to inspire.Read More

Puppy Love Engagement Shoot

by gaby

Afternoon, friends! Well, I promised you a double dose of this couple (and of course the fab Jacki Bruniquel too) today, and you won’t be disappointed with this super adorable e-shoot on the family farm. Jax so perfectly captures the mood of each couple shoot she does, and this one is so personal, what with all the memories the farm has for Chantel from growing up there. It’s also the place Brett proposed, making it even more special as a shoot location. And I love, love, loved that they included their three dogs in the pics. Anyone who knows me will know that I am a total dog person – in fact, my family has a standing joke that wherever we are, if there’s a dog in the room it will immediately come up to me (secretly, I love this). So not only am I cooing at how utterly cute these furbabies are, but I’m loving the laid-back happy atmosphere they add to the pictures, perfectly the happy vibes given off by this loved-up couple. They say never work with children or animals… but Chantel and Brett may beg to differ!Read More

Real Wedding at Netherwood {Chantel & Brett}

by gaby

We have a double whammy for you gorgeous people today, with both an e-shoot and wedding lined up from the same adorable couple and talented photographer. But how could I resist when the awesome Jacki Bruniquel sent them over? After all, each one of Jax’s weddings and engagements tells a unique story. For Chantel and Brett’s big day, that’s a story of winter beauty, of frosty mornings and sun falling on winter grass, and Nguni cows grazing peacefully in the countryside. But it’s also a story of fun and laughter, and of everything that the couple love incorporated into their wedding design, from orchids to rubber duckies! I love the mix of elegance and irreverence, the understated colour scheme and table design on the one hand, and the colourful, crazy sweet buffet on the other. That’s what creating a wedding that genuinely reflects you as a couple is all about. So enjoy – and be sure to pop back after lunch for the farm fab e-shoot! Spoiler alert: there are cute dogs a-plenty. :) Read More

Colour Story: Hawaiian Honeysuckle

by gaby

Afternoon, my lovelies! We’re heading into the last few weeks of the year, and as we do, I thought it was time that we gave a bit of a spotlight to some of the invitations from the SBB Collection at Invitation Gallery that you may not yet have come across. Although some of them have starred in shoots I have styled, there are still a few more that I absolutely love, but haven’t had a chance to play with yet. And today’s is hands down my favourite. In fact, it may be my favourite from the whole collection: Hawaiian Honeysuckle. Here’s the inspiration board that started it all…

Hawaiian Honeysuckle

Full inspiration board credits here

Hawaiian Honeysuckle is all about relaxed beach loveliness, and m.studio did a phenomenal job in putting it together in a gorgeous coral and turquoise/aqua colour scheme. Even the wording is fun, perfect for a picnic wedding on the beach, with a camper van as a getaway car.

Read More

Inspiration Board: Copper & Cobalt

by gaby

If I had as many boy crushes as I do colour crushes, I’d be falling in love every other day of the week. And here I go having my head turned again, this time by a gorgeous combination of copper/rose gold and blue. It’s amazing. And it totally works using every shade from a blue indigo to a dusk or smokey blue, to bright royal shades to sophisticated navy, so you can vary according to your favourite combination. I suspect that blue is going to be THE colour for 2014, and with metallics not going anywhere, bronze, copper and rose gold are a lovely update on glitzy gold or shimmering silver. What do you think?

Colours: Cobalt blue, copper & white

Top row (l-r): Shoes {Jennifer Laura Design/Val & Sarah}; cake {Fiona Kelly/Always Andri Wedding Design}; copper crockery; bridesmaids {Corbin Gurkin Photography/Loluma}
Row 2: Groomsmen in blue suits {Corbin Gurkin Photography/Loluma}; diamond ring; invitation suite {Kristen Weaver Photography/An Affair To Remember/9th Letter Press}
Row 3: Blue dress; cobalt vases; bridesmaid with corsage {Mr Haack/Jesi Haack}; hydrangea centrepiece {Docuvitae/Kourtney James Perry}

SouthBound Sundays {10 Nov 2013}

by gaby

Hello lovelies – how has your weekend been? This year is racing along to its close – I can’t believe I am already planning editorial for 2014! Ack. But before we let time rush by too much, let’s stop and smell the roses. Or at least, stop and appreciate a little of the loveliness that has been on the blogs this week. But you guys, if you really want to see a proper GORGEOUS lot of inspiration this week, look out for the latest issue of Magnolia Rouge. I have seen a sneak peek, and it is seriously amazing! Anyway, for now, here are my top picks from the week…

♥ WEEKLY FAVES


Read More

Save It for a Rainy Day

by gaby

Looking out at the sunshine in Durbs today, it’s hard to imagine a wedding ever gets rained out in this country but as you all know, that is not even close to being the case. In fact, of the five weddings I’ve been to in South Africa in the last two years, three had some kind of rain to deal with. And okes, one of them was in Phalaborwa. Chances? Anyway, the point is this: we hope for sunny skies (and we usually get them) but rain is something that you need to plan for. So I asked fab SBB sponsor Lizl Pieterse of Flamboijant to share her top tips as a planner for avoiding those rainy day blues, and she’s here with some really fantastic advice. Not just that, but I’ve rounded up some beautiful pictures from our photographer friends, which just goes to prove – you can still get the most gorgeous images of your day, come rain or come shine! Over to you, Lizl… ;)Read More

Hen Party Theme: Glitter & Glam

by gaby

Source: Paige Winn via Ultimate Bridesmaid

It’s been a sparkly week, you guys. From a glitzy gold wedding, to a glam rock shoot this morning, we’re on a sequin strewn roll. Yay. Who’s complaining, right? Anyway, I have been seeing quite a few lovely sparkly bridal showers recently, and what I love about it is that if this is something you like but don’t necessarily want to incorporate into your wedding, it gives you the chance to do that. Plus, it’s the kind of theme that your girls will be more than happy to dress up for, and it’s surprisingly easy (and can be inexpensive) to decorate. The key thing is to mix textures, so a little sparkle goes a long, long way. Here’s how I would go about pulling all the details together for the perfect glittery hen party.Read More

A Little Bit Boho, A Little Bit Rock ‘n Roll…

by gaby

Morning lovelies! Sorry about the lack of post yesterday – this week has just been insane. But we’re making up for it with a double dose of awesome today. Starting with this absolutely gorgeous styled shoot from some of my absolute favourite suppliers. We hear a lot in the industry about ‘alternative’ brides – I am totally behind people making their wedding style reflect their personalities, but sometimes I wonder if these ‘alternative’ weddings are getting a little cookie cutter in their own way. That’s one of the reasons I loved this glam rock styled shoot – it’s genuinely different But (and yes, that is But with a capital B) totally elegant. The couple and their stylish crew, sitting down for an intimate reception at a lavish gilded table. The bride’s huge statement bouquets. The DRESS (and who knew sequins went so well with leather?). It’s the Kate Moss or Russell Brand of styled shoots: beautiful, but with an edge. And even though I know most of you won’t necessarily take the entire look on board, you’ll find tons of inspiration for glitzing up your own winelands venue (how stunning is Langverwagt?) or mixing and matching colours and textures and styles, or adopting some high fashion styling for you and/or your bridal party. The photographic glory here goes to Lauren Kriedemann, with styling by Karien Belle, Paradiso and the talented Theresa of Creation Events, a long-time friend of SBB! Enjoy!Read More

Real Wedding at Kleinevalleij {Alicia & Stefan}

by gaby

Glitter, y’all! The magic word to get a girl excited. And actually quite an appropriate one for me today, because for the last couple of weeks that’s exactly what I have been on the hunt for. Let’s just say, I figured out why I get so many queries about glitter bridesmaid dresses from South Africa. Sequins may be everywhere in the UK, but I’ve been hard pressed to find the outfit I had in mind for my latest portrait shoot (taking place as you read this, eek!). In the end, I stumbled into YDE, which I have to say is the last place I thought I would find what I wanted. Last time I was there, I was a skinny 21 year old, and even so, I don’t think those dresses would have fitted on one thigh. I just assumed it was for very tiny, very young people, but today it turned out to be a surprise shopping success. So it made sense to see that today’s gold-loving bride also dressed some of her sequin-clad bridesmaids in YDE dresses – and they look amazing, as does the rest of the glimmering decor. I know the time will come when I’ll get sick of this trend, but for now, it still makes me get all swoony, especially when paired with a touch of lace and a splash of duck egg blue. Get ready for some really beautiful pictures from the talented Adene Photography, one of the cutest pups ever, and an all-round wonder of a wedding!Read More