Rustic Splendour Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

Just look at that picture! Isn’t it GORGEOUS? I don’t know about you, but I have this thing about ruined and abandoned buildings (which is probably one of the reasons I was so excited to go to Cuba a few weeks ago), and the idea of a wedding in a place that’s got that lost and found, slightly haunted vibe about it is just delicious. Add in dozens of lights, beautiful blooms and elegant table decor and you have this incredible contrast between rustic ruins and classic black tie that’s nothing less than… magical. That’s why I am so excited to share this beautiful styled shoot by Lilly and Lace Photography and NadiaM (and their talented vendor team) with you this afternoon. I just want to step into the world they’ve created, and lose myself in this pretty fantasy. Sigh!

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Glamorous Floral Wedding at Groenrivier by Michelle du Toit

by gaby

I know some of you brides don’t consider yourselves ‘flower people’, and that’s just fine – a wedding should be all about your personal tastes after all. But for me, beautiful blooms are a must-have. Seeing gorgeous florals just makes me so darn happy, and really adds a particular magic to any wedding design. Today’s bride Ineke and her sweetie Marco felt the same way, and I’m so glad they did because the end result is spectacular! Adorned with perfectly pink peonies, elegant orchids and punchy greens, plus touches of glam rose gold, this Groenrivier affair is just chock-full of loveliness, straight from the lens of Michelle du Toit. And I have to give a special shout-out to Marco, who is absolutely rocking the perfect plum blazer to complement his beautiful new wife’s incredible cascade bouquet!

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Inspiration Board: Silver Leaf

by gaby

Ah, I had such fun with this board! I think I forgot how much I love rustic weddings, and those that have a little touch of glitter and elegance… oh my! So much up the Gaby street. I also loved working with silver when I’m used to going with gold, copper or rose gold. And you guys, doesn’t it look lovely? Paired with a nice emerald and a lighter mint, it could be a winter palette but here instead makes for the perfect light and tranquil rustic summer or spring country wedding inspiration. And for an extra touch of the trendy, add in that tiny touch of marble, as in the cake below. Gorgeous!

Top (l-r): Bride with updo (Heather Hawkins/Makeup Santa Fe) | Invitations (Kaitlin Maree Photography/Wedding Playbook/Love Notes Australia) | Silver bridesmaids (Bryce Covey Photography)
Row 2: Bouquet (Dana Fernandez Photography/Flower Power Productions) | Engagement ring (Harwell Photography/Alise Taggart) | Greenery chandelier (Liz Morrow)
Row 3: Greenery confetti (Michelle du Toit/Blooming Wonderful) | Cutlery (Aline Photography/Flower Fantasy) | Silver & marble wedding cake (Mallory Dawn Photography/Just a Kiss Weddings and Events/Elise Cakes)

Silver Leaf Wedding Inspiration Board | SouthBound Bride

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Sposabella Boutique Tour

by gaby

It’s a sunny afternoon when I drive up to The White House in Morningside, Durban, a little oasis for brides, bustling with wedding-related businesses. My destination is Sposabella Bridal Gowns, an exclusive bridal boutique, and I find it at one end of the corridor – its light, modern showroom awash in sunshine and smiles from owner Gayle Erasmus and her team. From behind a mirrorball desk, they welcome guests like old friends. But the real star of the show is, of course, the dresses. With elegant silhouettes of lace, tulle and sparkle lining the shelves and draped on a host of mannequins, it’s hard not to get a little giddy, and I imagine many real brides do. And that’s where the Sposabella team comes in again, with their reassuring presence and extensive knowledge of what brides want (and need!). The boutique is home to the Enzoani Beautiful range, which is even more gorgeous in person than on screen, and for KZN brides, Sposabella is the perfect place to spend an afternoon trying on gowns and undoubtedly falling in love with ‘The One’. I asked Gayle a few questions about what makes her salon unique, and Michigan Behn was on hand to take these lovely images.

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20 Stunning Semi-naked Wedding Cakes

by gaby

When I put my mind to this month’s theme, Rustic Elegance, there was one current trend that immediately jumped out at me as MADE for this look. Because as much as I have loved featuring naked cakes over the past couple of years, I am even more in love with their more sophisticated cousin, the semi-naked cake. And where naked cakes are ideal for a rustic bash, semi-nakeds have that extra bit of something (well not something, icing actually) that puts them squarely in between classic and avant garde. I love them. And boy are there some pretty ones out there! So let’s look at 20 of my faves, shall we? Oh yes, we shall.

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Spring Sophistication Wedding at Avianto by L’Afrique Photography

by gaby

Gugulethu and Kudzai’s wedding at Avianto in Johannesburg was not only glam and sophisticated (I mean, just take a look at the bride’s princess dress – she looks like she belongs in a castle!), but it was also a day filled with family and heartfelt sentiment. And no wonder really, when the couple had one of those incredible love stories that’s pretty much love at first sight. Surrounded by their family and friends, and the Italianate backdrop of Avianto, as well as hundreds of sparkling fairy lights, this was one for the fairytale books, all captured by the fab folks at L’Afrique Photography.

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Shweshwe Game Lodge Wedding at Kuthaba by Liesl le Roux

by gaby

You know what I love to bits? This couple. Seriously, Dominique and Jason are so much a pair after my own heart, a twosome who love the South African bushveld and know how to throw a great party. Oh, and let’s not leave out Dominique’s love of shweshwe, which she used throughout their gorgeous wedding. Throw in a team of awesome wedding pros making the big day happen in the heat of Limpopo summer (including fab photographer Liesl le Roux), proteas, little gold safari animals, and a dreamy dress, and you have a wedding that’s as SouthBound-fabulous as you can possibly imagine! Game lodge brides and grooms take note – this is how to do a bush wedding oh so right.

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Mulberry & Mauve Bridal Inspiration

by gaby

Hold on tight, beauties, because your afternoon is about to get a whole lot prettier! When photographer Nelani van Zyl sent over this shoot, I couldn’t decide which part I was most excited about. The sweet watercolour stationery? The covetable table decor? The marble cake? How about the flowers – that oversize bouquet that has me dreaming of spring fields? Or how about the drop-dead-gorgeous Cindy Bam wedding gowns, or the ‘Pin this for later’ updos? And let’s not forget Nelani’s images or (and I think after all, this may just be my favourite) the Jacoba bridesmaid dresses in a range of purple and berry hues. It’s all so lovely – dive on in and find your favourite!

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Dreamy Rustic Wedding at Lezar Opstal by Stella Uys

by gaby

Oh Stella Uys. You know what makes a blogger’s (and a bride’s!) heart happy. The way that each of your weddings is filled with one perfect, light-filled image after another… oh my. Fanie and Chanté’s dreamy countryside celebration is certainly no exception. The bride’s vision – centred around soft colours, rustic textures, and personal details – came together perfectly. In fact there’s no better expression of this month’s editorial theme: Rustic Elegance. But really, what steals my heart every time I look at it are those golden, romantic portraits. Readers, read on…

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Inspiration Board: Barnyard Blush

by gaby

I’ve actually been amping to get started on the inspiration boards for this month’s editorial theme because rustic + elegant/glam is one of my faaaaavourite looks you guys. It’s that juxtaposition between indoor and outdoor and the mixture of soft, romantic style with more rustic, woodsy elements. And while burlap might be a little bit tired as far as rustic weddings go, there are plenty of other textures that you can incorporate. Wood is the most obvious, and my favourite, because it’s so versatile. Just look at the examples here: wood crates to house soft blush blooms, long wooden tables, wine barrels and wood blocks painted and calligraphed as table numbers. Oh so pretty. Blush is just the most classic of all colours, so it mixes perfectly here, and then a touch of shiny gold adds the final element. This is pretty much the signature look for this style, and you really can’t go wrong with 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 (l-r): Blush bridesmaids (Elizabeth Fogarty/Jenny Yoo/My Flower Box Events) | Wooden signage (Brian Hatton Photography/Rock Paper Scissors Events) | Blush centrepiece (Michele Beckwith/Bustle Events/Mandolin Flowers)
Row 2: Bride & groom (Elizabeth Messina/Mindy Weiss) | Table numbers (Freestyle Mom) | Wooden crate decor
Row 3: Wine barrels | Blush & gold cake | Tablescape (Michael + Anna Costa Photo/Cameilla Floral Design/Joy De Vivre Event Design Boutique) | Blush & gold invitation (Megan Clouse Photography/Minted)

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