Audrey Hepburn said it: Paris is always a good idea. And it’s not just the city in general that I have a total crush on, it’s the people. Parisian women (oh heck, all French women) are so impossibly chic, they frighten me a little. I look at the Facebook albums of French friends and wonder how not only do they always look perfectly put together, but so do their mothers, their grandmothers, their friends. I mean, we Italians have bella figura, but the French… well, they’re something else entirely. I’m not sure it’s something you can learn or buy or replicate – I have a feeling it’s part of the DNA. But what you can do, if you want to have that je ne sais quoi on your wedding day, is to invest in a dress by Cymbeline Paris. If there’s one label that embodies that French knack for combining vintage and modern, timeless and fashionable, formal and avant garde, then this is it. There’s even a bridal trench coat, fergoodnesssakes. Here’s what they had to say about it themselves: The Parisian lady is known worldwide for her “unconventional chic”. She highlights the basics and makes her daring a major asset. Everything is about attitude, being in tune with oneself and combining this with a little bit of irreverence.
I love every piece in this collection – appropriately named Le Parisienne – and even better, it’s photographed around the beautiful city, so we can do some Paris travel dreaming at the same time. Sigh. Oh, and the male model in this shoot aint too hard on the eyes neither. Oui to all of it! Enjoy.Read More
SouthBound Bride on Wedding Chicks {+ bar printables}
Hello! Thanks for your patience today if you tried accessing SBB – we’ve migrated servers (of course, the downtime was impeccably timed by my providers) which is good news, but did result in some nailbiting from me. Because I’ve been waiting to share this little piece of news with you, and I am SO EXCITED. Seriously, I am smiling so huge right now, because today is not just the day I get to fulfil an ambition, it’s the culmination of a whole year’s worth of work behind the scenes. For a while now, you will have heard me mentioning a shoot I co-styled with Louise of b.loved, which was shot by Chanelle Segerius Bruce. You may even have seen the shoot if you picked up copies of You & Your Wedding or My Wedding Day in the UK and South Africa, respectively. The days those mags hit the shelves were immensely good days too, but today is the day I finally get to see those images being set free online. Our little birds are taking flight. Which is actually an appropriate metaphor, because I’m delighted to say that they are featured today on Wedding Chicks. WEDDING CHICKS, YOU GUYS. I’ve loved WC for YEARS – long before I ever dreamed I would have my own wedding blog. They’ve grown and grown since then, but what I really admire about them is they’ve never lost their brand or what they’re about, and they have been wonderful to work with too. The fact that a shoot I co-styled, based on an inspiration board I created, including stationery from the SBB Collection (designed by my very dear friend Anelle of Seven Swans, no less) is on one of the top wedding blogs in the world today kind of blows my mind. I’m so happy! See the full feature here.Read More
Real Wedding at Towerbosch {Ja-nien & André}
So there I was having dinner with Louise of b.loved last weekend (more from her later today!), and we were chatting about how most good wedding blogs focus on a specific style – it’s just good blog business, really. But I thought to myself, not for the first time, how fortunate I am to have chosen a geographical rather than a stylistic niche. I get to feature all kinds of weddings (as long as they’re in South Africa) – from achingly beautiful formal affairs to barefoot beach braais. And in my eyes, that makes me a very lucky girl, because I have eclectic tastes. Variety is definitely the spice of blogging life for me. And one of the styles I love featuring most is handmade weddings, because not only are they always so pretty, but they’re filled with warmth and love, the same way that you always have a special appreciation for a gift someone makes for you. Today’s wedding has everything that makes handmade weddings lovely – a charming venue (Towerbosch/Knorhoek), fresh flowers in jam jars tied with lace or painted white, homemade preserve favours, crochet boutonnieres, flower crowns for the bridesmaids, and a bride and groom beaming with joy. We don’t have our usual background info, but that’s all the more reason to sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the beautiful pictures from Cape Town photographer Coba Engelbrecht.Read More
Words as Wedding Decor
Cari Photography/The Aleit Group on SBB (left); Paige Lowe Photography/Sitting In A Tree via Green Wedding Shoes (centre); Tammy Horton Photography via Style Me Pretty (right)
Something that always amazes me about Pinterest – it being a visual medium – is that one of the most popular things people pin is quotes. Beautifully designed renderings of quotes, yes, but words. Pictures of words. It’s a little odd, right? But then, I get it. After all, I am, if nothing else, a words person. So here’s a quote for you, from Elie Wiesel: Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds. I like that quote. Because it reminds me that even though actions are important, sometimes words can be every bit as good. Like how, if I’m sick, I just have to call my mom and hear her say “I’m so sorry you’re sick, my darling” to feel better – those words are like a hug. Or how words can be a slap in the face, or a handshake, or a pat on the back. Sometimes they wrap around you like a blanket, or sweep you up like a conga line. And sometimes, when the action is as big as giving your whole heart to someone, you need words to share that with the people you love. So they can feel it with you. Which is all a totally poetic way of saying that today’s post is about words. As decor. It’s one of my top 10 trend predictions for 2013, and I officially love it!Read More
Real Wedding at Netherwood {Michele & Brad}
Morning SouthBound Brides! We’re kicking off today’s pretty with a foggy wedding from the beautiful Natal Midlands. Now fog might be one weather scenario you hadn’t considered (and to be fair, most of you won’t need to), but Michele and Brad got a LOT of it. And here’s what immediately made me love them when Michele sent in her photos from Tyme Photography – there was no hiding away inside trying not to get her hair damp. They went out into that fog and rocked it like it was a Prince video. The results are amazing! And that’s just one thing to like about this cozy autumn wedding, with it’s swish black and white colour scheme, spirals of lamps and chocolate tequila (best favours EVER). It might be a million miles away from South African summer, but for those of you just getting cracking with your planning, I hope this (and the other lovely autumn and winter weddings we’ve featured here) will at least make you consider an off-season wedding. Because they can be so, so lovely! Anyway, before I start preaching, I’ll hand you over to the lovely Michele…Read More
Come Fly With Me Engagement Shoot
Hello lovelies! Time for an engagement shoot, and today’s comes from the always delightful Cheryl McEwan. And you guys, it’s a goodie. I think over the years I’ve been doing this, my favourite couple shoots are those where the couple are doing something a little different – but more specifically, where they’re doing something they love, or visiting a place that has meaning for them. Which might be what makes today’s shoot so cool. Then again, it might be the aeroplane. Either way, flying is something this couple love to do, and up in the air narrowly missed being the site for their engagement… I’ll let groom-to-be Neno tell you his and Megan’s story:Read More
Real Wedding at Molenvliet {Sarah & Liam}
Good morning SouthBound Brides! It’s our first real wedding of the year, and I can’t think of a more auspicious start than one captured by South African photography legend Christine Meintjes. A wedding from Christine is always a treat, but with a breathtaking Cape venue (the lovely MolenVliet), the most delicate pastel details and special touches like a canopy of flowers for the ceremony, white vases inside tall glass ones on the tables (love this) and dreamy bridesmaids’ dresses, this is extra special. Not to mention a to-die-for bit of hair accessorising on the lovely bride. It’s the perfect way to kick off what is set to be a year of real wedding awesomeness, and I for one, cannot wait!Read More
A Bride Abroad #6: The Photography
Whenever I chat to someone who’s been in a lengthy, happy marriage about their wedding day they get this little sparkle in their eyes and as they are taken back to that special day they reach for their wedding album. Then starts the trip down memory lane – the dress, the food, the “oh look how so-and-so looked back then”, the fond memories and small details….it’s all there in the pictures.
Inspiration Board: Carnevale
Good morning friends? How were your weekends? I had a really good one, doing more January planning and organising as well as catching up with Louise from b.loved and chatting about our big blog and business plans for 2013 – all very exciting! You’ll also get to kuier with her a bit later this week. But for now, it’s time for our Monday inspiration board. I wanted to start the year with something bold and new, and after telling you that copper was one of the year’s hot colours, I just had to get stuck in. I’ve decided to combine it with both teal and navy, and it’s rich, opulent and exciting – maybe even slightly mysterious. It reminded me a little of Venice (hence the name). I’d just love to see this one come to life!
Colours: Navy, teal and copper
Top row (l-r): Copper and teal dress; glitter giftwrap {Grey Likes Weddings/T&H Photography}; copper shoes {Desiree Dawn Events/Shea Christine}; sparkly top {Fiona Kelly/b.loved Weddings}; keys {Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge/Chelsea Nicole}
Row 2: Sweets; teal stationery suite {Sean Flanigan/Lilia DeGregory}; copper cake {Missy Photography/Merci New York}; ribbons {Grey Likes Weddings/T&H Photography}; gorgeous redhead bride
Row 3: Opulent bride {Fiona Kelly/b.loved Weddings}; navy bridesmaids; table settings; Venice.
Downloadable Worksheet: Venue Planning
Source: Ine & Riaan’s Wedding at Clouds Estate (Photography: Lauren Kriedemann)
Hello friends! Aren’t you glad the first Friday of 2013 is almost done? I know I am, but this weekend I’ll be working away to bring you fantastic content for the coming week, and make some changes and tweaks behind the scenes. We’ll be returning to our normal blog schedule on Monday, so expect the usual set of inspiration boards, real weddings, couple shoots, styled shoots, etc. Can’t wait! First though, I have some practical help for those of you just starting on your planning journey.Read More