Pincushion Protea Wedding Feast at Cheerio Gardens by Charl Van Der Merwe

by gaby

At one stage when I was creating SouthBound Bride I considered giving it a name with ‘protea’ in the title. Not that I ever came up with a good one, but it would have been pretty darn appropriate since as you know, we loooove proteas around these here parts. Today we’re talking pincushions, with a wedding that uses these beautifully unusual blooms against lush greenery and soft charcoal for their bright pops of orange colour, and boy does it ever work! Add in elegant rustic style elements – slate boards, wooden tables, chalkboard signage – and you have yourself a real pretty party! And then with Charl Van Der Merwe‘s lovely pics… well, see Derek and Jana’s big day for yourself – and enjoy!

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Rich Harvest Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

As much as I hate to admit it (and I really, really do), there’s a chilly wind blowing since I touched back down in South Africa and autumn is definitely on its way. And while I’m sad to see the end of another summer, this season brings such pretty wedding inspiration with it, such gorgeous natural hues and such cozy details, that I can’t really complain. So in amongst our beach wedding goodness, I thought it was only appropriate to share this gorgeous harvest-themed styled shoot from a talented local team, led by Alicia S Photography and Kadou Decor and Flower Design. This is perfect for a bride between seasons, with soft, romantic details like an ombre dress and cake (sigh!) contrasting with bright oranges, deep reds and decidedly cold weather textures like leather and wood. And the touch of rosy gold foil? Bliss!

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10 Beautiful Bridesmaid Looks for Beach Weddings

by gaby

When it comes to beach weddings, there are so many gorgeous options for a bride-to-be, but what about her best girls? As you know, we love a bit of bridesmaid fashion here on SBB, especially when it involves fashionable looks that ladies can wear again after the big day. And while there are many, many ways you can go for a beach do, depending on your colour scheme, location and vibe, I’ve rounded up 10 of my absolute favourites, complete with shop-tions so you can get the look yourself!
Top image: Jack and Jane Photography/Timeless Weddings Co./Josephine Clothing on SouthBound Bride

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Blush Collection 2017 by Bride&co

by gaby

Most of you are probably chilling out for the Easter weekend already, but I couldn’t resist bringing you some Fashion Friday loveliness today in the form of the new Blush Collection created by SA bridal boutique heavyweights, Bride & Co. I was so sorry to miss the launch of this gorgeous collection while I was on my travels, so I just had to bring you the a sneak peek now that I’m back! The Bride&co team have thought of every type of bride, dividing the collection into a range of ‘personalities’, so there’s something for everyone, no matter your bridal style. I love that there’s also a range of silhouettes, and every body type will find something that fits them beautifully and makes them feel like a million bucks!

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Beach Wedding Escort Card Ideas

by gaby

Beach Wedding Escort Card & Place Card Ideas

Unique Natural Seaglass Custom Handwritten Calligraphy Place Card by Selena Huan Bridal

*UPDATED FOR 2021* You guys know already how much I love my escort cards and place cards as a wedding detail. Yes, they’re a little indulgent, but they’re such a good opportunity to show a little creativity and delight your guests with a nod to your theme or story! That’s especially true for a beach wedding, where there are just LOADS of beach wedding escort card ideas and beach wedding place card ideas out there, each prettier than the last. And sure, you can DIY a lot of them, but who has the time? Especially when the talented folks at Etsy have gone next level with their beach escort ideas. Just look at these fabulous options and tell me you’re not convinced!

*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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Country Wedding with a Touch of Delft at Cavalli Estate by Lindy Truter

by gaby

A sweet soiree sprinkled with personal touches that reflect a couple’s lives and journey together is a wedding after my own heart, and that’s a fact. Kirsty and Brandon’s wedding was one of those days. From the Delft touches which not only provided the pretty blue and white colour scheme but reflected their love for Amsterdam, to the favours (a reference to Brandon’s proposal) to the table names and flowers, to the recurring mentions of their dogs, everything about it was authentic as well as lovely to look at. And I just have to mention the gorgeous stationery by our friends at Blooming Wonderful because hello, Delft delight! It’s the perfect country wedding celebration to sit down with this fine Thursday, captured on camera by Lindy Truter!

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20 Beach Wedding Ceremony Décor Ideas

by gaby

I don’t know about you, but when I picture a beach wedding, the first thing that comes to mind is the ceremony. Having your feet in the sand and the ocean behind you is just the most romantic way to exchange vows, isn’t it? Well, the talented wedding pros of the world have found a way to make that picture even prettier and more romantic, and we’ve rounded up 20 of our absolute favourite ceremony style ideas for a beach wedding, each dreamier than the last. If this doesn’t convince you to head for the beach for your big day, nothing will! :)

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Vibrant Country Wedding at Bergland Venue by MVZ Photography

by gaby

Today’s real wedding is one of those magic celebrations that, beyond being pretty (and with wreaths and flower crowns and pops of aubergine it certainly is that!) has a bunch of personality, and just looks like the kind of event you’d love to attend as a guest. And for me, that usually goes back to the bride and groom, and their personalities. So much of the lovely Alte-Maré and Jéan’s happy courtship was spent on the dancefloor, so it was no wonder that not only did music play a big role in their wedding day (with carefully selected, non-traditional choices for those big moments like the bride’s entrance) but that the whole day was relaxed and fun – a feast of family and food and of course, dancing. MVZ Photography captured these special moments.

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Inspiration Board: Seaglass & Foam

by gaby

When it comes to beach weddings, some colour schemes pop up over and over again – usually variations on the ocean colours of blue and green. Nothing wrong with that – I’m always a big fan of everything in the blue-grey spectrum! But you don’t need to limit yourself if you’re yearning for a coastal celebration but attracted to some of the other colours of the rainbow. Today I thought I would bring together a soft seaglass green with pale lavender and a touch of peachy blush, and I have to tell you, I love it! What do you think?
*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): Jellyfish invitation (Love Me Do Design) | Seaglass escorts (Keith Morrison) | Cake (Brett Heidebrecht/kneadtomake)
Row 2: Place setting (Erich McVey/Ginny Au) | Bridesmaids in purple (Kelly Kollar Photography) | Popsicles (Eric Kelley Photography)
Row 3: Ceremony (Anastasiya Belik) | Bride on beach (Hairpiece: Romantic Art Life/Dress: Jillian Fellers) | Glass float ‘bouquet’ (Maria Lamb Photography/Emily Riggs Bridal)

Row 1: Colette Chiffon and Lace Wedding Dress by Jillian Fellers (left); Gray Silk Table Runner by Lino & Co. (right) | Row 2: Aqua Glass Netted Fishing Float Ornaments by Top Finials | Row 3: Sea Glass Place Cards by Letters From Eden (left); Seashell Ring Bearer Bowl by Unconventional J (right) | Row 4: Beach Wedding Invitation Suite by Gingersnap Greetings | Row 5: ASOS Design Bridesmaid Bandeau Mesh Embellished Waist Maxi Dress (left); Lilac Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon by Nettle & Silk (right) | Row 6: Personalized Popsicle Sticks by Mushroom Wooden Craft (left); Soft Aqua Blue Sea Glass Stacking Ring by CJ’s Sea Shop (right)

 

Seaglass & Foam Wedding Inspiration Board | SouthBound Bride

Dreamy Desert Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

I’m baaaaack! So you guys, thanks for your patience over the last month as SBB took a bit of a back seat while I did some jetsetting and girlboss business hustlin’ through the last month. As promised, I am all yours again, and I am all fired up with the fabulous inspiration for April that I have to share! We’re going to be carrying on with our beach theme because I didn’t get to share everything I had lined up (and I love beach weddings waaaay too much to miss out), as well as some other beauties of the non-beach variety. Today we’re heading for the dunes with the dreamiest styled shoot that I have been dying to debut from our friends at Thunder & Love. They had always dreamed of shooting in the dunes at Atlantis in the Western Cape, inspired by the desert colours, the simple lines, the wind, and the purity of the surroundings. To make this vision ‘un sogno nel deserto’ (a dream of the desert) come to life, they gathered a team of talented creatives, including stylists Happinest Weddings, to make some wedding magic happen. I simply ADORE the sheer gowns by Brit & Bride, the use of banksia and other proteas (southbound swoon!), the romantic stationery by Oh Yay and the bride’s look courtesy of Makeup by Almari, and it definitely has me dreaming of sandswept nuptials and desert sunsets.

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