Hello lovelies! We’ve come to the end of our travel-themed month, and are looking forward to December – HOW is it the last month of 2015 tomorrow? Before we leave this theme, I’ve rounded up some fun ideas for your own travel wedding from our partners at Not on the High Street – and don’t forget to stop in quick quick, because they also have some awesome Black Friday deals still available for a few hours today.Read More
Hello friends! I’m stopping in on a Sunday just to give you some time-sensitive (ha ha) news of the Christmas gift variety. Watches are always a wonderful gift for the man or woman in your life – they’re personal in the sense that they wear them every day, and feel like a real spoil to receive as a gift. But since I know that wedding planning can get expensive, I really sat up when I heard that Ernest Jones were running a 50% sale for Cyber Weekend, which included some gorgeous timepieces from brands like Gucci and Michael Kors. I’ve picked some of my favourites, but you’ll need to get in quick, as they’re selling fast! (PS Don’t forget you can find these and lots more gift ideas in our dedicated 2015 Christmas Gift Guide Pinterest Board)Read More
Hooray it’s the weekend! Unless you’re American, in which case you’re already enjoying a long Thanksgiving weekend. In the spirit of that holiday, today I’m thankful for many things, and just one of them is the fact that I get to deal with prettiness all day long. So it seems only appropriate that I share some of that prettiness with you today! Phase Eight have just brought out their latest bridal offering, and you guys, it is so good! You won’t actually believe that this is a collection from a high street retailer – with intricate beading, soft illusion lace and delicate draping, you’d expect it to come at a much higher price point. Plus, the exquisite Hope dress (which still prompted plenty of oohs and aahs when I posted it on Instagram the other day) is back, which will make many a budget Daisy Buchanan’s dreams come true for another year. Yay! (PS while you’re over on the site, be sure to check out some of the amazing deals Phase Eight has for Black Friday weekend – bridal’s not included, but it’s the perfect time to pick up a deal on a party dress or something gorgeous for a bridesmaid!)Read More
If you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise… in this case, because you’d find a fairytale table set up under the trees instead of a teddy bear’s picnic ;) Today’s mini-editorial comes to you courtesy of SBB Directory members Red in Paris, who set up a Jozi-fabulous table in the middle of a rustic woodland – love a bit of contrast to emphasise the glamour factor, don’t you? And we especially love a sparkly rose gold runner – because sequins! If you’re considering a formal wedding (whether it’s in a ballroom or the wild wood), you might want to consider the kind of opulent raised arrangements showcased here – they give guests the chance to see each other and chat, but you also get the height and visual interest. So let’s go down to the woods today and have a look, shall we…Read More
When two architects fall in love, it’s only appropriate that their wedding bears tribute to the design aesthetic they live out in daily life. So it won’t surprise you to learn that not only did today’s adorable couple, Riette and Steven (who you might recognise from their railway romance engagement shoot, which we featured last year on SBB), tie the knot in a Herbert Baker chapel in the historic town of Cullinan, but that instead of organic flowers, they chose to fill their tables (and Riette’s bouquet) with the pleasing paper symmetry of Japanese origami Kusudama flowers. It was the perfect modern touch to their rustic affair, which blended old and new as perfectly as any fine restoration. We’re so happy to welcome the delightful As Sweet As Images for their second feature this week – who can resist when you have such prettiness to share!Read More
We couldn’t let our travel month go by without at least one real travel-themed wedding! But travel is more than a theme – Nicole and Mauro are one of those truly international jetset couples, for whom travel is much more than a set of travelly details, but rather a way of life that they’re celebrating with their family and friends. For one thing, she’s a South African girl and he’s an Italian boy who met in Dubai – they’ve also explored the world together, and invited their guests to celebrate with them from a long list of countries and cities across the globe. They took their colour inspiration (very loosely) from a map, and translated it into the most beautiful pastel style (including three to-die-for tulle bridesmaid dresses in muted berry shades). Everything was warm and welcoming, from the solar jars they used as ice breakers/escort cards/favours to the soft twinkle of fairy lights. And, as they embarked on their greatest adventure together yet, the lovely As Sweet As Images was on hand to capture it all from behind the camera. Oh, and PS, how special is Nicole’s ‘something blue’? Her necklace was given by her father to her mother over 40 years ago. The romance!Read More
You guys, I think I have a problem. Call it FOMO, or fear of commitment, or just plain wedding dress addiction, but at the moment I feel like I have a new favourite bridal designer every week. But how can I help myself, when the most GORGEOUS gowns keep crossing my desk? And if ever a collection were worthy of obsession it’s today’s, from Hungarian designer Daalarna. The lookbook – set against a wall of bright blooms – is spot on (as is the name of the Flower Collection), because each of the dresses captures the beauty of a garden in a different way. For some, it’s through prints (oh, those prints! My fave being the one that combines ombre with floral), for some it’s through blooms of lace applique, and for others it’s with petal-soft layers of tulle. Chief designer, Anita Benes, was inspired by French impressionist Monet, and his harmonious combintion of natural elements of sky, sun, water and flowers. Like I say, GORGEOUS!Read More
I’ve featured a lot of styled shoots on SBB, but I’m not kidding when I say that this might be one of my all-time favourites. It’s so thoroughly South African, from its shweshwe top to its shimmery gold toes. Natalie Elliot of Tickled Pink and her seriously impressive team of suppliers (including Ninirichi Style Studio, who styled it to creative perfection!) have done an amazing job, putting together one idea after another, each reflecting beautiful homegrown wedding style (as well as industrial wedding chic), and giving us a faux wedding that’s as fun and modern as it is glamorous. There are SO MANY clever, stealable details making up this Jozi love story, that you need to look at it over and over again to see them all – from the ‘Ag Sweet’ candy buffet laden with local favourites to the colourful table, but I think the ceremony area with concrete breeze block and wooden protea aisle, as well as textured metal skyline backdrop is my best. Take some time to scroll through the gorgeous pics by As Sweet As Images, and be inspired. (And yes, I included more than usual, but seriously, how could I not?)Read More
I know I say it all the time, but when you let your personalities shine through every detail and facet of your wedding, just as this pair of lovebirds so gracefully did, you’ll end up with a celebration as memorable as it is fun. Think rustic wooden tables laden with boxed arrangements of country flowers, lavender seed favours and gelato instead of cake, the bride in a seriously dreamy Watters gown, and photographer Jani B. floating about turning every so-good-you’ll-remember-it-forever moment into beautiful images. Sounds pretty much perfect to me.Read More
I have to say, I’m having fun with the inspiration boards this month, reinventing the travel theme for current trends and styles. Today’s is no exception. For this one, I was inspired by the idea of a watercolour travel journal, which immediately made me think of this amazing stationery suite, and that made me think of sunny days in the beautiful Italian countryside. I love the way that neutrals as a colour scheme can look so romantic – it’s all about textures. Soft tulle, honey brickwork, soft leather, ribbon, lace… This is one travel-styled wedding that will never date.
Colours: Shades of neutral & white
Top row (l-r): Travel journal invitation suite {Ceci New York}; stone building {Jose Villa Photography}; place setting {Jose Villa/Easton Events}
Row 2: Bride in veil {Jose Villa Photography}; getaway car {Jose Villa Photography}; leather luggage tags {HarLex}
Row 3: Cake {KT Merry/Moda e Arte Workshop/Joy Proctor Design/Hotel Caruso}; bride & groom {Jose Villa Photography/Joy de Vivre Design Boutique}; bridesmaids & bouquets {Kate Preftakes Photography/Events by Sorrell/Apotheca Flowers}
