Wedding Planning: Where to Start

by gaby

Where to Start with Wedding Planning | SouthBound Bride

You’re engaged! CONGRATULATIONS! This is such a crazy, exciting time in your life, and an experience that you’ll never forget. But once the ring selfies have been taken and the parents (and the friends, and the distant cousins once removed) have been called, once the Facebook statuses have been changed and the champagne bottles emptied, there’s an inevitable moment of panic. OMGwehavetoplanawedding! Ack! How on earth, you think, do we do this? And more importantly, where do you start? Well brideys (and groomeys), we have you covered. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 until you have read this checklist for the newly engaged – ten things to get you firmly on track with your wedding planning journey. And also… BREATHE…

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Festive & Colourful Winter Wedding at Orchards by Bright Girl

by gaby

I’m a little biased because I adore her, but it seems to me that everything that’s in front of Eileen of Bright Girl‘s lens turns to gold. Or in this case, gold and sparkle, plus lots of bright, bold, beautiful colour! Lana and Greg’s wedding brought a whole punch of festive flair to the KZN winter – fat red peonies, roses in every shade of pink, velvet linens, a ceiling dripping in stars and twinkle lights, a shiny gold pear at every sitting. And the bridesmaid dresses – oh my! I’m obsessed with Lana’s choice of gowns, which manage to be romantic and a little ethereal, while also being colourful and super stylish – LOVE! They worked perfectly with the abundant blooms and with Lana’s own dreamy pale blush wedding gown and perfectly matched the mix of whimsicality and grown-up glamour that characterised this very special celebration. All brought to life by Eileen’s lovely pics of course! Get those pinning fingers ready!

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15 Chic Black Wedding Dresses for Bold Brides

by gaby

15 Chic Black Wedding Dresses for Bold Brides | Calypso Nightfall Black Tulle Bridal Gown by Mywony Bridal

Calypso Nightfall Black Tulle Bridal Gown by Mywony Bridal

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive commission for any sales made.

Who says you have to wear white on your wedding day? With today being the spookiest day of the year, I’m taking the opportunity to showcase some seriously gorgeous black gowns that are sure to please an edgy or alternative bride. But even if Gothic isn’t your vibe, you might still want to consider a black gown. After all, the designer credited with bringing black to the bridal runway is none other than Queen Vera of Wang, and celebrities including Shenae Grimes, Ellen Pompeo, and Avril Lavigne have all rocked black wedding dresses on their big day. The key is to keep hair and makeup very soft and romantic, and choose gowns with beautiful textural detail, so the look is romantic and ethereal instead of harsh and Halloweeny. There are some absolutely BEAUTIFUL black (and other alt-coloured) gowns on Etsy, where I find designers are often both fashion-forward and accessible price-wise. I’ve rounded up 15 of the most gorgeous I could find!

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Black Beauty: Dark & Moody Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

Happy Halloween! You know, every year at this time, I choose to feature at least one shoot that’s darker than my usual fare – a little bit kookier and spookier, although most haven’t actually been Halloween themed as such. But I don’t think there’s ever been a time where this kind of dark and moody inspiration is also super on-trend. Bold florals popping against black backgrounds and rich jewel toned palettes are definitely the look du jour as we head into the new season, and while this bold, glamorous look isn’t every bride’s cup of tea, it really makes for a stylish and refreshing visual change that is sure to get your guests talking! So while this might be the feast of All Hallows Eve, I think this gorgeous black wedding inspiration from a local team including A Dream Come True Events, Blue Olive Events, and  Anna Pepper Photography will be inspiring you SouthBound brides long past the holiday. Let’s get moody!

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Inspiration Board: Blood Orange

by gaby

It’s Halloween week, and so I thought I would kick things off by revisiting this Halloween-themed wedding inspiration board which has always been a bit of a fave for me. We all know that orange and black are the classic Halloween colours, which frankly, can make them a little tacky for a wedding. That is, until you swap out cheesy store-bought decorations for beautiful organic decor in the form of citrus, which really pops so beautifully against the black! The overall look is elegant and black tie (and ever so slightly vintagey), but also a liiiittle bit dark and spooky for those who want a bit of Gothic charm. Don’t you love it?
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Top row (l-r): Black Vera Wang wedding dress (Jose Villa/Joy Thigpen) | Citrus centrepiece (Belathée Photography/McKenzie Powell Designs) | Groom with orange boutonniere (Magnolia Pair/Meade Wenzel)
Row 2: Agate escort cards (Write on Clouds) | Place setting (Krista Mason/Calligraphy Katrina) | Black lace bridesmaid dresses (Benj Haisch)
Row 3: Blood orange bundt cake (Adventures in Cooking) | Halloween tablescape with hanging centrepiece (Erin Morrison Photography/Absolute Wedding Perfection/The Bride Link/melissa timm designs) | Opera glasses (Brandon Kidd Photography/Amorology) | Citrus centrepiece (Honey of a Thousand Flowers)

Row 1: Twilight Black Wedding Dress by French Knot Couture | Row 2: Black Cathedral Lace Veil by Veiled Beauty (left); Hey Boo Calligraphy Cutout Wreath Sign by Gilded Grace Design (right) | Row 3: Natural Agate Stone Slice Placecards by Write On Clouds | Row 4: Halloween Wedding Favor Bags by Mavora (left); Flapper Shrug Sparkling Wing Capelet by Mamma Mia Bridal (right) | Row 5: Body Frock Bodyfrock Plunge Front Lace Fishtail Maxi Dress (left); Lanvin Tie Ankle Open Toe Heels (right) | Row 6: Higlow Elegant Dripless Taper Candles (left); Round Wedding Menus by LabelsRus (right)

Blood Orange Elegant Halloween Wedding Inspiration Board | SouthBound Bride

 

 

Statement Bridal Veils

by gaby

Statement Bridal Veils

CARMEN Juliet Cap Veil by Tania Maras

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Dramatic statement veils are a huge trend right now! And these days it’s not just length that makes a statement (although we do LOVE a cathedral veil!) – the new statement bridal veils are all about embroidery, embellishment, and colour! Whether you choose flowers, stars, or pearls; flecks of copper, silver, or gold foil; a soft wash of blush, blue, or grey; or unique lace edging, each one of these beautiful wedding veils will accessorise the right gown to perfection. Let’s un-veil (haha) 20 of our statement veil favourites!

*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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Woodsy Modern Boho Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

I’m dreaming of springtime blossoms and cool breezes thanks to this gorgeous inspiration! I love the fusion of styles in this shoot – a little bit woodsy and bohemian, but at the same time, clean and contemporary. The editorial (created by a talented team led by Wren Photography and Juniper & Lace Events) includes includes a beautiful array of textures: wood, macrame, copper, greenery, watercolour. So romantic! The palette keeps things fresh – a stunning combo of deep greens, bright white, and warm copper, that perfectly shows off the natural scenery of Michigan, US, where it takes place. There’s so many details, but no surprise, my fave is the donut wall – these treats are as pretty and on-theme as the flavours are mouth-watering! I also love the idea of a clear marquee and draping to go with the rest of the decor, as it adds an elegant contrast to the more earthy rustic styling of the tablescape. From ceremony styling to florals to food, there’s so much here to inspire a SouthBound bride!

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DIY Forest Greenery Wedding at Matroosberg by Claire Thomson Photography

by gaby

When Claire Thomson sends us something pretty, we know we’re going to love it, and this gorgeous forest wedding is no exception! Carla and Kenné’s forest fete took place in the beautiful Matroosberg Nature Reserve – the perfect choice for a pair who got engaged on a hiking trail! The decor was simple and elegant, a pairing of deep emerald green foliage with touches of gold, soft linens, and patterned glass that was perfectly complemented by the bride’s ultra chic off-shoulder gown and birdcage veil, and the groom’s dapper suit. A designer herself, the bride created all the stationery – in fact the whole day was a DIY collaboration between the bride and groom, their family, and friends. Maybe it’s this element of community, maybe it’s the gorgeous backdrop, and maybe it’s just the love and laughter between the couple that make it all so special – I’m going to guess it’s all three, with a little help from Claire’s gorgeous pics!

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Rooted: Earthy South African Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

You all know I am a FOOL for editorials that take their inspiration from our beautiful, unique country, South Africa. So you can imagine how excited I have been to share this bold, earthy shoot from a local creative team headed up by Elri Pollard of Because Life Photography, and Impressionant Events. The palette is all burnt sienna and concrete, copper, aloe and bright strelizia orange. And the details are wild and fashion forward, but at the same time super rustic and grounded. I especially love the use of texture – leather, concrete, wood, and sand – as well as the incorporation of some very South African menu items!

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Minimalist Greenery Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

We’re starting our week off BEAUTIFUL with today’s styled shoot, an elegant fusion of minimalist and organic style that I am absolutely in love with! It comes courtesy of Carolina Goodwin Photography and her talented team, and features an understated greenery arch, stylish florals, a gorgeously classic cake, and the most amazing stationery! For the tables, a soft white silk linen runner laid with simple greenery interspersed with votives, a napkin tied with more greenery, and a copper calligraphy scroll placecard. Perfection! That’s the thing about this kind of luxe minimalism – the details aren’t many, but every single one of them is carefully chosen and placed and the end result is harmonious and delightful to the eye! Super inspiring. To create it, Carolina says, she “wanted to evoke the spirit of the outdoors by using loose, natural floral arrangements. The movement conveys a sense that they are growing! The use of white negative space highlighted with just simple greenery gives a very earthy and organic feeling that brings elegance with minimal adornment.” Let’s dive in, shall we?

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