Beach Bohemian Wedding at De Vette Mossel by Anina Harmse

by gaby

I’m not exactly known for being at a loss for words (Gaby by name, gabby by nature), but I honestly don’t know where to begin with this wedding. I properly love every single thing about it, from the bride’s stop-you-in-your-tracks AMAZING boho ensemble, to the beach ceremony, complete with Moroccan touches like carpets and lanterns and drapes, to the super laid-back rustic oceanside reception in shades of scarlet and protea, to the gorgeous portraits of Conrad and Lucinda by photographer Anina Harmse on the sand. I kind of had to pinch myself a couple of times when it landed in my inbox, and I have definitely gone a little overboard in the photo selection, but I just couldn’t resist the mix of boho perfection and toes in the sand chill. It’s awesome. And let’s just take another moment to talk about Lucinda’s dress and her sandals, because bride looks like an absolute goddess, which was actually her inspiration (and which, by the way, I loved). So I’ll stop going on, trying and failing to introduce this bohemian loveliness, and let you get an eyeful instead.

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Delft Blue Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

When my dear friend Louise, stylist extraordinaire and editor of B.LOVED, mentioned that she would be a guest at the EWC Workshop in the Netherlands and that for the shoot she was creating she had taken her inspiration from Delft pottery, I was super excited to see the results – not just because Louise’s shoots are always amazing, but because I love Delft, and of course it has a South African connection as well with some of our Dutch history. It’s a beautiful accent to a wedding (one that I’ve been lucky enough to feature in real weddings a couple of times) and of course, the perfect ‘something blue’! So when I picked the theme for May, I immediately thought of this shoot, and was delighted that Louise agreed to share it with the lovely SouthBound readers! Light, bright and blue-tiful, it’s a romantic and elegant take on the theme, with spectacular spring flowers, two gorgeous dresses (one of them the most beautiful shade of blue!), and of course, Delft making an appearance on the tables as well as being reflected in the oh-so-pretty cakes and biscuits. I honestly can’t think of a prettier take on a blue palette, or of any way that the pictures by Anouschka Rokebrand could be any more beautiful!

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Elegant Forest Wedding at Beloftebos by Kobus Tollig

by gaby

Close your eyes and imagine standing in a forest clearing, light falling dappled through the trees, and the quiet whisper of branches harmonising with the crunch of leaves and pine needles underfoot. Imagine garlands of crochet ‘dreamcatchers’ moving gently in the summer breeze, as a bride makes her way down the wooded path, attended by bridesmaids in forest fairy flower crowns and smiling at her groom in a suit as blue as the sky. Which might sound like a dream or a fairytale, but for Dylan and Lara, it was their wedding day reality. Following their magical forest ceremony, the couple and their guests headed to a marquee decked out for classic elegance, and danced the night away by the glow of hundreds of twinkle lights and candles. And capturing it all, was photographer Kobus Tollig.

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Forest Fling Engagement Shoot by Laura Leigh

by gaby

What does your perfect engagement shoot look like? For me, it’s full of love and laughter, shot in a place or with a theme that means something to the couple, beautifully photographed (of course!) and bonus points for great styling. Today’s e-sesh has all of that. Jessica and Matt’s engagement weekend took place in the forests of the Drakensberg, so for their couple pics they wanted to recreate that atmosphere, inject it with their special brand of romance, and incorporate their (fabulous) palette of Marsala and navy. LOVE IT. The beautiful photographs part was taken care of by Laura Leigh, who snapped these pretty, playful shots of the bride and groom-to-be.

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Botanical Barn Wedding at Rosemary Hill by Aline Photography

by gaby

I’m seriously on board with barn weddings right now, and Rosemary Hill has fast become one of my absolute faves. So Clint and Vanessa’s DIY-tastic, greenery-garlanded, rustically romantic, filled-with-love fête is one I would been first in line to attend. Add to that paper cranes bobbing in the summer breeze and some of our fave suppliers involved in making the bride and her girls look like rockstars (I’m looking at you, Refinery Creative Co.!), and you have the perfect way to start our day off sweetly. These lovely, light-filled pictures come courtesy of Aline Photography.

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Enchanted Atelier by Liv Hart: The Dreamers Collection

by gaby

Swoon alert! I have some seriously GORGEOUS fashion inspiration to share with you all today, in the form of the latest collection of fine art bridal accessories from Enchanted Atelier by Liv Hart. Inspired by Albert Joseph Moore’s painting, ‘Dreamers’ and a love for styling her brides with artfully designed pieces, it’s an exquisite collection of crowns, combs, hairpieces and gauzy silk tulle veils that will not only lend their ethereal beauty to the bride who wears them, but become treasured heirlooms in years to come. And don’t get me started on these lookbook images by Laura Gordon – I’m dying over every exquisite frame.

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Blushing Bride Protea Wedding at White Light by As Sweet As Images

by gaby

Have I ever mentioned that I love proteas? Yep, I know, about a hundred times. But I bloody LOVE proteas. Set against a crisp white background and filled with the most gorgeous Kings and Blushing Brides, this contemporary classic wedding captured by As Sweet As Images has SBB written all over it. From the glasshouse ceremony at dream venue White Light, to the beautiful reception filled with blooms, to the actual blushing bride in her lace illusion neckline gown, smiling at her new husband, Ash & Andrew’s big day is the kind of celebration that hits my wedding sweet spot and has me oohing over every frame, not to mention falling in love with South Africa’s favourite flowers all over again.

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20 Something Blue Ideas for the Modern Bride

by gaby

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue… we all know the rhyme from English folklore, and whether or not you’re superstitious about bringing good luck, I think it’s a sweet tradition to observe on your wedding day. In the past, the ‘something blue’ was often a garter or a handkerchief, or embroidery in the bride’s dress, but while those are still lovely ideas, I thought I would round up 20 slightly different ways that the modern bride could incorporate this part of the tradition. From going all-out with a blue wedding gown (they’re gorgeous, why not!) to little details you can add to your design and decor (even if blue isn’t your main theme colour), each one of these ideas is classy and fabulous.

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Secret Garden Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

With a new month, comes a new editorial theme here on SouthBound Bride, and in May we’re focusing on ‘Something Blue’ – or rather, many somethings blue and somethings beautiful. We have some absolutely gorgeous inspiration coming your way, and we’re kicking it off today with a breathtaking styled shoot from one of South Africa’s most talented creative duos, Rensche Mari photography and Eve Poplett of Splendid Wedding Company. The editorial, which was shot on film and digital, took place in a real secret garden, and features a beautiful bride (model Daisy May, made up to perfection by Antonia Gregoriou) in the dreamiest watercolour floral print Silver Swallow gown, stunning florals, and a table decked out in the softest shade of blue. I adore everything about it, and I can’t think of a better way to start our month!

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Industrial Chic Wedding Table Numbers

by gaby

So, who’s ready for a long weekend? Just before you rush off shouting “Weeyheeey, I’m freeeeee”, I have one last piece of industrial inspo for you. In my trawls around the net to see the best of this trend, I noticed some seriously cool ideas for table numbers – a tiny detail, sure, but each of these adds that extra bit of industrial texture to your tables and best of all, most of them are totally DIY-able. Let’s have a peek, shall we?

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