Happy Friday loves! It may be a public holiday in South Africa, but I couldn’t resist sharing just one more touch of gorgeous inspiration with you all before the weekend begins. This charming bridal shoot comes from Mauritius-based fine art photographer Josué Bonnefemme (remember that name, those of you heading over to Mauritius for your weddings!) and I’m besotted by its combination of vintage-style lace gown and mantilla veil, and romantic garden elements. It’s such a fresh take on a Parisian shoot, and it has me yearning to visit again. Sigh.
Light, bright, beautiful. That’s just three of the words that come to mind when I look at today’s wedding, which is like a modern meets classic meets botanical wonderland. From gorgeous bride Lauren’s getting ready images, through the greenhouse-style ceremony, to the incredible portraits, to the reception decor which made the most of a blank slate space and prettied it up to perfection, on to a sparkler-lit first dance, every one of Grace Studios‘ images of Juan-Pierre & Lauren’s wedding is gasp-worthy! There’s so much attention to detail – from the bridesmaids’ black-tie style gowns, to the wax-sealed invitations, to the lush florals, I want to pin every picture! The Forum White Light was the absolute PERFECT venue for this wedding – its classic but modern dimensions and clean lines showed off the couple’s vision and I’m still dying over how wonderful and unusual that chapel is! As I say: light, bright… and absolutely beautiful.
Pop question: what’s ‘your song’? I’ll give you a minute, but chances are that you either know the answer to that one without thinking about it (nailed it!) or you have no idea and you read the title of this post thinking “yes, how DO we pick our first dance song?” If you’re one of the second group (or if you’re one of the first, but ‘your song’ is something wildly inappropriate for a first dance, it happens!) then worry not, because there is a perfect song out there for you, even if the closest you come to Fred and Ginger is standing and swaying. And today we’re teaming up with Ryan Engelbrecht of specialised DJ service Silkmusic to show you how!
They say it takes a village to raise a child – well, sometimes I think it takes a village to make a wedding too. I’m always touched by the lengths our couples’ family and friends go to in helping with their big day – from folding hundreds of paper cranes to making space for the wedding on their properties, to simply being there, cheering them on throughout the process. That’s why a wedding is so much more than a pretty day, or even an exchange of vows between two people. It’s also about all the love and joy of their people, the ones who care for them and help them make it happen. So today’s wedding is bittersweet. It’s a beautiful, beyond-happy celebration, made possible not least through the love and generosity and hard work of the groom’s sister Sunita and her husband Jacques. I’m told Sunita loved to create beautiful events, so the farm where she and Jacques lived was the perfect place for Hendriette and Manus to plan their lush, vibrant, rustic barn wedding. Together, the two of them helped turn the utilitarian industrial-style shed into a wonderland filled with curtains of twinkle lights, and lashings of greenery and jewel-coloured blooms. Hendriette made for the most elegant of brides, in her stunning low-back wedding gown, and was joined by a troop of girls in glittery sequin bridesmaid dresses, her handsomely suited and booted groom and his gents, and a vintage car just to finish off the rest of the glam in this rustic + glam equation. It was perfect. And while tragically the family lost Sunita and Jacques recently, this wedding is a testament not only to Hendriette and Manus’ relationship and happiness, but to how much they were loved by those close to them. To the couple and their families, I’m so very sorry for your loss. I hope this post, and Matthew Carr‘s wonderful images, bring back some very precious memories to bring you some comfort.
Y’all probably already know how much I’m in love with greenery and botanical style weddings in general. But being a Durban girl now, that love is even stronger when you combine more subtle greenery (your ferns and eucalyptus for example) with bold tropical foliage. I mean, seriously. So when I caught a glimpse of Lucy and Mike’s New Year’s Eve wedding decked out in all kinds of botanical beauty from the amazing floral chandeliers to mini topiaries to lush palm leaves, I was in LOVE. Mind you, that wasn’t even the first thing I fell in love with when I saw Sasha Campbell‘s lovely pics – that honour goes to the incredible Hanrie Lues gown worn by the bride with its whimsical illusion lace back and flowing skirt. This celebration perfectly marries (ha!) subtle sophistication with botanical boldness, and it was held on New Year’s Eve, so it had that extra dash of magic. Settle in and check it all out!
If there’s one literary inspiration that weddings have embraced again and again, it’s Alice in Wonderland. I have a bit of a weakness for Alice myself, since I played her a million years ago in a school production, and the sense of wonder and whimsy that runs throughout the story has never been forgotten (I mean, croquet with flamingos? Fun!) So I just had to include some Alice-y inspiration in our month of fairytale wedding style, and today I get to share this lovely little shoot by Jaqui Franco and her team, which puts a fresh spin on this old favourite. The tea party element is still there, of course (with some to-die-for cakes and ‘eat me’ macarons!), but glitzed up with sparkly linens and foiled stationery. And there’s plenty of whimsy thanks especially to some oversize paper flowers, which would add a touch of Wonderland to any wedding celebration!
I remember when I was growing up in the ’90s, tiaras were very much a staple of the bridal accessory arsenal, but for a while there, they took a back seat to flower crowns and a multitude of incredible veil and hairpiece options. Perhaps it’s a delayed reaction to the Will & Kate royal wedding a few years ago, or maybe it’s just that we all have a little bit of a princess-wish, but tiaras are slowly making their way back. But you guys, these are not your auntie’s cheap plastic tiaras. These are the real deal – fantasy Disney-esque crowns fit for a bridal queen, heirlooms beautifully made, to be worn with pride. And when it comes to this new generation of crowns and tiaras for real brides, I can’t think of a brand that I love more than Etsy makers Eden Luxe Bridal. This brand has a huge range of gorgeous options, from full crowns to tiaras to headpieces and hairbands, if you’d like to make less of a royal statement. I’m so excited to share some of my favourites with you today! (Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.)
I always think you can tell a lot about someone by the way other people speak about them, and if that’s the case, then the talented wedding pro at the centre of today’s spotlight must be pretty darn amazing! Meet Zenobia of Blue Olive Events – I’m always hearing great things about this lovely lady from people in the industry, and we’ve had the pleasure of featuring some of Blue Olive’s gorgeous work right here on SBB. Today we’re finding out a bit more about this Johannesburg-based events company, and even hearing from one of Zenobia’s real life brides!
When two high school sweethearts finally tie the knot, you know it’s going to be something special to begin with! But add in the sweetest rustic details and a mix of mint, Kraft and greenery, plus textures like wood and burlap, and you have a country celebration that’s something really special. You can just see the joy in Darryl and Kim’s faces throughout Bianca Asher’s images, and there are so many touching moments too, from the funny (courtesy of a mini-groomsman!) to the bittersweet (when the couple remembered their loved ones) to the downright awesome (flash mob anyone?) Let’s get started, shall we?
As an Oud Matie, I may be a little biased, but Stellenbosch weddings, especially those that embrace the incredible feeling of the outdoors there, have such a huge amount of charm about them that it’s impossible not to fall well and truly, head over heels in love with them. Today’s wedding has gorgeousness at every turn, starting with the couple themselves – Carli and Jean-Pierre looked like models as they breezed their way through their al fresco event, from their heartfelt indoor ceremony to their reception in the Nooitgedacht lane, a kind of natural courtyard surrounded by trees, with sun falling in dappled patterns through the branches and tables overflowing with greenery and soft white blooms. SIGH. I love everything about this celebration, not least the lovely pics by Alicia S., which really capture both the beauty and the emotion of this special day.
