Harvest Brights Wedding Inspiration by Leipzig & Nicola Bester

by gaby

Good morning, lovelies! And happy Friday! There’s a weekend full of excitement ahead (rugbyyyyyyyy!!!!) but before that happens, there’s a day of inspiration here on the blog. And we’re starting it off with a gorgeous piece of editorial from some of our absolute favourite suppliers, including Leipzig, Flamboijant, Corlé Barnard and Nicola Bester. These ladies do colour to perfection, and today they’re bringing us a table full of harvest brights – rich shades of pumpkin, butternut, tangerine and honey that would be amazing for an autumn wedding but could work just as well in the summer too (or really, any season – as the team says, be daring with your colours!). With the Leipzig team involved, it’s no surprise the florals are AMAZE, but I am also head over heels in LOVE with the cake and its dripping metallics! And of course Corlé has brought her special touch to hair and makeup. Basically, it’s gorgeous, so let’s get to the good stuff, shall we?Read More

Rustic Navy, Red & Yellow Wedding at The Cowshed by Laura Leigh {Leande & Martin}

by gaby

I love that in weddings I feel like I learn something new every day. Today’s fun fact is that the yellow fynbos which is included so liberally and joyfully in Leande & Martin’s gorgeously rustic, elegant-with-a-touch-of-Karoo wedding is called Cape Everlasting – which let’s be honest, is kind of the most perfect name for a wedding flower, and my new favourite South African touch. It also happens to be the loveliest bright against a palette of navy and rust, one lovely detail amongst many – this really is the kind of wedding that every time you look at Laura Leigh‘s pictures, you notice something different. Fruits and greenery lining the aisle, red ribbon on the eucalyptus bouquets, shotgun shell boutonnieres… And combined with the fantastic backdrop of The Cowshed (including a herd of Nguni cattle), this is just about as picturesquely South African as a wedding can be.Read More

20 Gorgeous Two-piece Wedding Dresses

by gaby

Two-piece Wedding Dresses

*UPDATED FOR 2021* I remember the days when I wore crop tops. Now I’m not saying I’m old or anything (I am) but it was the ’90s. I worked all summer on my six pack (ha!) and I rocked the crop out of those babies for a couple of months. Now if I wore one, I’d scare the children. But for bolder (and fitter) brides than me, crop top and two piece wedding dresses are EVERYWHERE. And I have to say, I love them. Not just the crops, but the bridal separates with filmy skirts and ballerina tops or intricate lace numbers – I find myself pinning them all the time. So I thought it was high time that we did a collective SouthBound dress swoon over two-piece wedding dresses. Ready…? Swoon.

*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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Nicole Spose 2016 Collection

by gaby

Bridal fashion time! Today we’re showcasing a collection that comes all the way from Italy (my second home) and has all the glamour you’d expect, as well as the fabulous fits and luscious laces characteristic of Italian couture. The Nicole Spose line comes from designer Alessandra Rinaudo, and really captures brides’ current mood of intricate lace detailing on backs and necklines, along with frothy skirts that look like they’ve been painted by an artist’s brush. As always, it’s the illusion necklines and delicate sleeves that really capture my imagination! Just beautiful – and in South Africa, you can find the collection at Olivelli, so there’s no need to lose out if you don’t happen to be in Europe anytime soon. Let’s have a peek, shall we?Read More

Luxe Three-Day Wedding at Nooitgedacht by ZaraZoo {Ayah & Louay}

by gaby

All weddings are awesome, because after all, the heart of them is the love between two people, and that on its own (without any details or decor or fuss) is awesome. But some weddings are particularly WOW in the decor and details and overall experience department, and Ayah & Louay’s celebration is definitely one of those. After all, the couple (who were married in Dubai but came to the Cape to celebrate with their friends and family) hosted not just one or two, but three parties in their favourite city including a welcome party at the Grand Beach & Cafe (complete with a DJ they brought with them from Beirut), and a picnic at Landtscap with delicious burger stations by SBB Directory members Two Chefs and music by Jeremy Loops. Topping it all off was an absolutely gorgeous reception at Nooitgedacht, with hundreds of candles and opulent florals in rich neutrals, fit for a king and a queen (or at least a fashion designer bride and interior designer groom!) Right down to the huge hashtag sign and the patterned dancefloor there was an incredible attention to detail, not to mention atmosphere, with traditional dancers helping the pair make their grand entrance. Throughout it all, the ZaraZoo Photography team was on the scene to capture the excitement!Read More

20 Vineyard Wedding Ideas

by gaby

Vineyard Wedding Ideas

Image credit: Dasha Caffrey of Exhibit Emotions/Jasmine Champion Weddings via Bridal Musings

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Since we’re talking vineyard weddings in October, I thought it was the perfect moment for me to round up 20 ways that you can bring a winery theme to your wedding – even if you aren’t planning a wine route celebration. There are so many cute vineyard wedding ideas out there, from decor to favours to guest books, and while of course you’re not going to want to do ALL of them (too themey!), adding in a couple will add that extra layer of detail that makes your guests go ‘ooh!’ I’ve tried to find some fresh new ideas, as well as some classics, so scroll down and find your favourite. And don’t forget to check out the fabulous vineyard wedding details I found for sale on Etsy! I think you’ll agree, they’re all rather ‘wine-derful’! (Lame joke, I know. Sorrynotsorry.)

*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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Inspiration Board: Champagne

by gaby

Is it too early in the morning for champagne? Ha, don’t be silly. It’s NEVER too early for champagne. Of course, this is the kind of champagne that won’t get you into trouble with your boss, the latest in our inspiration boards designed for wine varieties (see Rosé & Merlot if you missed them) in honour of our vineyard wedding month. And I have to say, I love this sparkly neutral, which pairs beautifully with many other romantic shades – gold, blush, grey… But today we’re sticking to the single colour, and loving the delicate balance of sophistication and dreaminess. So what do you say – champers, darling?

Colours: Champagne & white

Top row (l-r): Bride in champagne wedding dress {Jennifer Ebert Photography/La Boheme Events/Lovely Bride}; candle tablescape {Wendell T. Webber}; champagne in bucket {Pasha Belman}
Row 2: Peony centrepiece {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management/Francesco Di Bianco}; love letter {Lavender Calligraphy}; bridesmaids {Kate Murphy Photography/The Amalfi Experience Wedding & Event Management}
Row 3: Place setting {Sylvie Gil/Bliss Event Productions}; bridesmaid & invitation {Josh Gruetzmacher/Aerialist Press}; cake {Coco Tran/Lara Kreutner}; champagne coupés {Frank & Joy}

 

Bohemian Delft Wedding at Kalmoesfontein by Hearts in a Shutter {Natasha & Gavin}

by gaby

‘Boho’ is a term that gets applied to a lot of weddings these days, but I feel like today’s wedding really deserves it. It’s got that laid-back, mismatched, organic look down to a tee, with a touch of whimsy, from the maypole ceremony area to the wooden tables to the bride’s yellow-gold dress (and we do love a coloured wedding dress, don’t we!) I think my favourite touch, though, is the use of Delft-style vases and plates on the tables – mixed in with proteas, wildflowers, fruits and silver candelabras, it’s the perfect mix of casual and formal, not to mention oh so pretty! We don’t have a story to share with you today (for the best possible reason – Natasha & Gavin now have a little one demanding their attention!) but we’ll let Brenda Wardell of Hearts in a Shutter’s warm and wonderful pictures tell their own tale.Read More

Wood & Rose Gold Wedding at Old Mac Daddy by Claire Thomson {Mia & Johan}

by gaby

Sometimes, when I’m selecting a wedding for publication, there are details I notice but don’t really understand, and then when I read the bride’s story, everything makes sense. Those are kind of my favourites, because it means that they’re personal in a way that something just taken off Pinterest never can be. That was the case with the poem inscribed on the floor-to-ceiling windows of Old Mac Daddy in today’s wedding, and it turned out to be just one of the lovely tributes from the bride and groom, in memory of their much-missed parents. Such a special touch, and those tributes fitted seamlessly into the clean lines of this beautifully designed, minimalist, organic wedding day. From the stationery ‘branding’ (repeated in the cake toppers and boxes, adorable) to the signs telling the couple’s story down the aisle (even more adorable!), to the rose gold (rose gold! we love!) and wood detailing, to the chevron sparkle bridesmaid dresses and the bride’s convertible princess gown (not to mention immaculate hair and makeup by Corlé Barnard), everything about it is a breath of fresh air and an expression of Mia and Johan. The wonderful Claire Thomson captured these fantastic pics.Read More

Stephanie Allin 2016: Love Letters Collection

by gaby

Fashion is very much at the forefront of my mind (and my insta) at the moment, what with all the amazingness happening over in New York, but today we’re heading back over the pond to England, to showcase an absolutely gorgeous new collection from one of the UK’s top bridal designers, Stephanie Allin. It’s both current and timeless – not only is it full of classic silhouettes and beautiful heirloom-style laces, it has lots of elements that are very much in vogue, including a range of breathtaking separates and accessories. (Amazing two-piece gown alert!) That means you can mix and match to make your wedding day look very much your own, and have a gown that makes you feel on trend both on the day and in years to come. I also happen to be in love with the slightly bonkers but oh-so-gorgeous and inspirational lookbook images (“don’t mind me, I’m just swanning about my country pile in a wedding dress… mind I don’t snag the fabric as I tend to my bees!”). Mind you, if I had a bunch of money and a country estate, I’d probably like to swan around it in amazing gowns too. The point is, these are beautiful dresses, and beautiful images – so let’s get on and start swooning over them, shall we?Read More