I now declare this week’s festival of gorgeous weddings… OPEN! (Just imagine me with a giant pair of scissors here.) (PS, where do you actually GET a giant pair of scissors? Because I totally want one.) I’ve been dying to show you Jess and David’s wedding for a little while now, because to me it encapsulates so many things I love about a Cape wedding. Beautiful weather, a spectacular winelands backdrop (the lovely Webersburg estate), soft pink florals, proteas, quirky personal touches. And of course a couple who are completely besotted with one another. It just radiates from them, doesn’t it? (Just wait until you see their video, which I’ll be posting as a bonus this afternoon.) Other things I love: Jess’s dress and that oversized flower in her hair that I am completely dying over, the map used as a seating/escort chart, the Rob Ryan-esque menu cards and other pretty stationery, the sparklers for the first dance… All so gosh darn puuurty. And all captured by the genius that is Annemari Ruthven! Enjoy…Read More
Happy Monday, lovelies! I have so much goodness coming your way this week, it’s going to be like awesome real wedding palooza. But first, I have a very special inspiration board. This one was created especially for one of our readers, who wrote to me for some help a couple of weeks ago. She wanted a pretty, romantic look for her wedding at a beachside venue, and she wanted lots of white and aqua for her bridesmaids, but she wasn’t sure if she should introduce any other colours. Although aqua and white on their own are lovely, I always think the addition of another colour adds more dimension and gives you more options when you’re sorting out your details. There’s so much that goes with aqua – coral, lemon yellow, pretty taupe neutrals, for example – but the couple’s favourite was a mixture of aqua with rosy pink tones, inspired by the gorgeous image top left. So here’s the rest of what I came up with – light, clean and very romantic!
The key to a look like this is to base everything on a white on white palette, so that you don’t overuse the bright pink and aqua shades – you can also bring in a bit of grey or silver to help. Chantel wondered if a grey or silver damask may work for the tablecloths, and it would, but I think only if it was very subtle (as lovely as damask is, it can really dominate when used in black and white, for example). I’d suggest runners or square overlays as an alternative, and for this palette you could use pretty Cath Kidston-style prints like the pattern seen below from photographer Christine Meintjes’ gorgeous aqua and pink wedding. To bring in the aqua on the tables, I love the idea of using milk glass (or, if not actual milk glass, then glass containers spraypainted white and differing shades of aqua as in the original picture). So pretty! I also added in some beachy touches with shells and starfish, or you could get hold of some pretty white urchin shells or similar, just for a little bit of beach appeal (starfish may make a lovely motif for a romantic beachside wedding). Another place to bring aqua in is in the bride’s shoes (love these ones!) – another pretty little pop of colour alongside the bridesmaids’ dresses, without going overboard. Keep everything soft, especially the flowers (thinking peonies, roses, carnations – maybe with a few anemones for extra visual interest). I also think the ombre trend I spoke about last week works beautifully here – in invitations that have a beachy, washed out look, in pretty cake slices, and in pink flowers that graduate from deep pink to pale pink. For a final, beachy fun touch, have an ice cream bar where guests can create their own cones or sundaes at cocktail hour (or late at night). Or why not try the absolute latest trend and have classy jelly shots instead?
Happy Friday lovelies! I have to be honest, this week has kicked my butt, big style. So apologies if you missed your posts on Weds and Thurs, but the good news is, we have triple – triple! – the loveliness today! And the even better news is that this is a long weekend for us in the UK, starting with me having the afternoon off. I’m going to a schnazzy hair place to be primped, highlighted, blowdried and manicured. Best Friday ever! Anyway, time to kick off with an amazing wedding I have been saving for all of you. Sarah and Pete were married at The Cape Farmhouse in a laid back, intimate, daytime and very African country-style celebration. I love their earthy colour scheme, succulent table settings and eco-friendly approach. And I am completely in AWE of Sarah’s look. Wow can this girl accessorise! I absolutely adore not only her look, but that of her bridesmaids – don’t you? Sarah also happens to be a photographer, which is always a little intimidating, but Brenda Wardall of Hearts in a Shutter has done such an awesome job in capturing all the rustic gorgeousness of the big day.Read More
South Africans. We’re everywhere. And I don’t just mean where I live in South West London, where we basically run rampant, talking Afrikaans on the tube and buying biltong and Fritos from the corner shop. I mean that, in my experience, you can go to the most random place in the world and discover a South African connection. Walk down just about any street, and hear someone say ja. Sssh, but I think we’re secretly taking over the world. Take today’s engagement shoot, which is, by the way, ADORABLE. It took place in sunny Australia and the bride-to-be (Lili) is an Aussie but the groom (Brad) is from Cape Town. And that’s not where the Saffaness ends, because the photographer, Courtney Gold, just happens to be an Aussie marrying a South African as well. In fact, they’re getting married in Cape Town next year, and found their venue, photographer, florist and makeup artist right here on SBB. YAY. I just looooove these shots – they’re laid back and natural but styled to a tee. Love the Notebook feel of the first pics, and Lili’s super cute outfits and accessories. And Courtney’s captured the light so perfectly – I could just eat it with a spoon! Big thanks to all of you for sharing, and good luck in planning your weddings!
Happy Monday folks! Hope you had a great weekend. I had a great one catching up with friends, although I wish the fabulous spring weather we saw last month would come back! I could do with some more sunshine. Anyway, on with today’s inspiration board, which I have to say, has me feeling all girly and giddy. A bit of glitter will do that for you. As you already know, metallics are big this year and they’re often paired with a gorgeous soft pink. I’ve added just a touch of pistachio to the mix, and I think it looks delicious – an updated version of the sharper candy pink and bright green that was popular a couple of years back. This would work beautifully in just about any venue, and you could adapt it depending on the season. Just perfect!
*Updated for 2018* It’s official: the white bridesmaid dress trend started by Kate and William at their royal wedding is here to stay. Ever since Pippa Middleton showed up in that dress, and brides around the world started thinking “hmm, maybe I should have my bridesmaids in white too” – well, this particular taboo became history once and for all (although, for the record, if you’re a guest and you wear white you’re still an asshat). And yes, your granny might disapprove. But once she sees how beautiful your crew looks… well, I think she’ll come around. Whether it’s a beach wedding or an elegant vineyard soiree, they look crisp and classic (and give you a perfectly clean palette). Need some extra convincing yourself? Just take a look at this roundup of lovely bridal parties. And then check out our top tips for styling the white bridesmaid dress trend so that the bride still stands out, as you should! This post contains affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.
Ok, something you don’t know about me – I am a HUGE big band fan. Which may not seem that strange, but when I was in high school, it made me a little unusual. I was, for example, the only kid I knew who begged my father to bring Harry Connick Jnr CDs back from a business trip in America instead of, I don’t know, MC Hammer or Boyz II Men (don’t get me started about my love for Harry). The only person I know who puts Ella, Dean and Frankie on my iPod when I’m feeling the mean reds and can sing along to pretty much any Gershwin lyric. So you can imagine that when I saw Jackie and Japie had pulled off a 1940s Glamour-themed wedding at Molenvliet, I was super excited to feature it! As we all know, love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, and the two of them wanted to celebrate theirs in style – getting a kick out of champagne with their besties, facing the music and dancing all night and promising to love each other come rain or come shine. (Ya, I know. I couldn’t stop myself. Throw your tomato if you must.) They had a shindig old Frank himself would have been proud to have thrown, co-ordinated by Jaco van Loggerenberg of Just Jack and photographed by the fab Andre from Zara Zoo. And now I get to share it with you. Ain’t THAT a kick in the head?Read More
I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her…
Remember that line from Notting Hill? Well, maybe I’m just a sucker for a good royal romance, but even with all the pomp and procession of the royal wedding, at the end of the day that’s what I felt like it came down to. Just a boy and a girl, standing in front of each other and promising to spend their lives together. I know we also all bought into the last big royal romance (and look how that turned out), but Kate and William really did seem totally jubilant and in love, and I loved being part of the London celebrations. I’m sure you’re sick to death of reading about it (are you though, really?) but after a week of reflection, here’s my take – the Top 10 things I loved about last Friday’s royal wedding! Read More
Today I get to introduce you to three awesome people. First of all, is Cape Town photographer Charlene Schreuder. Charlene sent over this ahhhdorable engagement session, all shot in the Bo-Kaap, a fabulously colourful area of Cape Town (also known as the place I landed up instead of Plumstead when the satnav on my last rental car went crazytown on me… I’m just good with navigation like that). I fell in love with it, and with the couple in the pictures, who show how to absolutely rock an e-session – they’re fun, they’re playful, they’re affectionate, they’re relaxed, they’re incredibly photogenic. I guess it’s no surprise that not only are they Charlene’s dear friends, but are brilliant photographers themselves – meet Kerry and Luis of Piteira Photography in Lisbon, Portugal. (And sometimes also of Cape Town, South Africa, in case you thought our friends in Portugal had all the luck!) Every time I look at Charlene’s pictures I have a new favourite, and I know you will love them too.Read More
Okay, confession time. Before I started this blog, when I used to flip through a wedding magazine I have to admit I used to feel totally irritated by how many dress advertisements and features there were. Because to me, it was probably the least interesting aspect of the day. Yes, I know, but it’s true. I was definitely not one of those little girls who grew up imagining my dream dress. Now that I have seen so many unbelievably gorgeous dresses, that’s changed, and there are some brides who literally take my breath away (hello, Kate Middleton!). Today’s is one of them – I am completely and totally in LOVE with her styling. That bracelet! That wrap! That dress! Crazy beautiful. And not just that, but Mitch Wong Ho (who I have been wanting to feature here forever!) turned a photo shoot with her and her handsome groom at the Taal Monument in Paarl from drab to fab – I adore the architectural shots he got (totally appropriate since the bride is an architect) of a spot that is normally not exactly up there on my list of inspiring locations (sorry, I know lots of you love it, but I am not a big fan of monument shots in general. Usually!) Le Bac was the venue for their stunning reception – all in all the perfect wedding for me to feature in our week of celebration!Read More
