We’re edging into the last hours of our working week, and ending it off pretty with a peek at Sareh Nouri’s latest collection. Round SBB we’re a huge fan of this Persia-born designer, with her flowy feminine lines and touchable fabrics, and this latest set of dresses is no exception. As Sareh’s team shared: “The classic collection is complete with hand embroidered French lace, and various silhouettes’ that will draw your eyes with their beauty. Beautiful hints of blush, mint and rustic gold can be found throughout the collection.” For the first time, the collection also includes evening wear. I’m so looking forward to seeing these gorgeous creations on real brides!Read More
A few years ago, when one of my university friends was planning her wedding, I checked in to see how things were going. “We’re doing things a little differently,” she said. “You might think it’s weird.” I doubted that – after all, I believe couples should do what’s right for them. “There are no groomsmen or bridesmaids,” she said. Makes sense, I thought, if that’s what you want. “There aren’t formal speeches – but there’ll be periods where we’ll have an open mic.” I wondered how that would work, but thought it was a fun idea (it was). “And we’re not having assigned seating.” Wait, say what now? I mean, I’d been to plenty of events where you weren’t assigned a specific seat, but you did get assigned a table, but she was talking about no direction at all. A seating free-for-all. Table anarchy! How would that even work? Would it be like a game of musical chairs or (shudder!) the scramble to get on an Easyjet flight? I’ll be honest, I was kind of dreading it, and I totally made sure my friends and I had done some strategising about nabbing seats together. I worried about getting stuck on my lonesome. The funny thing is, that when the day came around, it turned out to be so not a big deal. A table had been reserved for the family and a few close friends, and everyone else just made themselves comfy. In fact, it was kind of brilliant and really in keeping with the laid back vibe of both the couple and their wedding. So since then, I’ve been a lot more open to the idea of unassigned reception seating, which I’m noticing a few more couples choosing these days. You only need to Google it once to find out this is kind of a controversial wedding etiquette topic, so today on SBB we’re rounding up the pros and cons, and helping you with top tips and wording for if you do decide that unassigned is the way to go for you.Read More
In the recent reader survey we did (results coming soon!), one thing that lots of you asked for was more DIY-related content here on the blog – we hear you! So you can expect to see more of our roundups and other DIYs heading your way soon. Today we’re touching on a trend that has grown and grown in weddings – I honestly just can’t get enough of the watercolour look, so much so that I’m planning on dabbling in painting watercolours myself (just for fun mind you, my artistic abilities don’t stretch very far). With this being a popular and versatile look, it’s no surprise that there are loads of really gorgeous watercolour DIY projects out there, and we’ve rounded up 15 of our favourites for you to choose from. (PS Loads of these come from local design powerhouse Susan Brand – love seeing South African talent out there!)
Well hot damn. You know it’s going to be an amazing day when we’re kicking it off with a totally unique and beautiful wedding that also happens to feature the talents of not one but two of our most favourite vendors. Casey Jeanne‘s dresses are always exquisite, but along with some deliciously boho accessories, this one makes bride Taryn look (by her own apt description) like a bohemian goddess. In a fashion spread. In Vogue. And the gorgeous (but totally laid-back) details don’t stop there – I promised you a groom in jeans, and here he is, rocking them. There’s a gypsy band of attendants (how much am I loving the MoH’s style?), flowers for the guests’ hair, a hand-tied bridal bouquet, bunches of wildflowers in pastel tin cans on rustic tables – for a bride who decided not to splash out on her floral budget, Taryn was surrounded by blooms. The whole effect is delightfully un-fussy, the kind of atmosphere where guests are ready to kick off their heels and dance with joy – and I’ll bet that’s just what they did. The wonderful Alexis Diack was on the scene to deliver her usual heart-stopping photographic captures.Read More
Today’s trend roundup is all about the boys (hello, boys!). And one of the biggest trends in groomswear (and even more so for groomsmen) is smart casual wedding gear. Obviously this isn’t going to suit all weddings (you want your levels of formality to match, for example) or all grooms (this is his chance to dress up in a beautifully tailored suit, just as much as it’s yours to wear a fairytale dress) but if you’re planning a less formal occasion or if he’s the kind of guy who just isn’t going to feel like himself all stuffed up into a jacket and tie, then there are some other stylish options to consider. Debrett’s defines ‘formal’ smart casual as “a jacket or blazer, flannels, needlecord trousers, or chinos (not jeans), a shirt with a collar, not a t-shirt, and smart shoes, not necessarily lace-ups, but not trainers or sandals”. Where the look leans towards informal, Debrett’s allows for “jeans, but smart, clean, dark-coloured jeans… a shirt and tie can be worn but an open collar is also acceptable.” With these guidelines in mind, here’s a roundup of some of our favourite smart casual looks from real weddings. (Oh, and PS, one of them happens to be a sneak peek from tomorrow’s wedding, so be sure to stop in for more of the groom’s laid back jeans-wearing style!)Read More
There’s just something especially beautiful about winter isn’t there? As much as I adore carefree summer days, winter has a special coziness and intimacy, a sense of sparkling snowy romance that’s straight out of Dr Zhivago (even if most of South Africa doesn’t actually have any snow). That’s why I love that more of you are planning winter weddings these days. And if you were in any doubt, you just have to look to today’s sophisticated soiree, in shades of white and cream for inspiration. From bridesmaids in sleek little white dresses (LOVE this look) and on-trend long sleeved lace for the beautiful bride, to lush white blooms with touches of gold and lots of clear glass on the tables, it perfectly reflects the clear winter sunshine outside Rockhaven’s rustic walls, as well as the glow of love and joy within. The lovely Kristi Agier was on the scene to capture each special moment for ever and always.Read More
So how adorable was today’s real wedding? We couldn’t get enough of it, quite literally, so we had to sneak in another look at Jo & Stef’s big day by way of their wedding video by the fantastically talented Shank Tank team (as well as a couple of extra pics by the fab Fiona Clair). As well as getting a closer look at that dreamy decor (mixed metallic origami, wowsers) and chic bride and bridesmaid style (I’m even more in love with Jolene’s dress now!), you get a real sense of the excitement and love that went into this beautiful wedding. And that’s what it’s all about :)
My love affair with Fiona Clair‘s photography goes a way back, but it didn’t take long for new SBB team member Candice to fall head over heels with her work as well. So when we snapped up this winter pastel wedding set in the Natal Midlands, we couldn’t stop gushing to each other about how gorgeous every single image was. You probably know by now that I’m a sucker for pastels, and I LOVED Jolene’s take on the palette, taking it from summer staple to winter whimsy completely effortlessly. Add in mixed metallics (♥), painted bottles and origami, a vintage plate table plan, a handpainted banner proclaiming ‘Oh happy day!’, an illusion lace dress, flower crowns, faux fur shrugs… every detail, basically. Oh happy day, indeed!Read More
Morning lovelies! I’m going to keep this brief since, after a fab weekend in Joburg spending time with dear friends, I am in bed with a bug, feeling very poorly and sorry for myself. Bah. Anyway, today’s board is a far cry from my mood fortunately – it’s all about bright yellow and pink colours, set off against a sweetly sophisticated polka dot motif. So much cuteness. I love the way that the print adds a note of fun, but at the same time, the monochrome element keeps things modern and chic. Hope you like it!
I don’t envy you brides sometimes. It seems like every day I see something new and pretty that I love – it must be soooo difficult to make decisions, especially when it comes to your bridal style. So many pretty options for veils, hair accessories, flower crowns. Well, today I’m going to make that decision even harder (in a good way!) by introducing you to an absolutely gorgeous (local!) range that is absolutely PERFECT for a bride (or her maids). Cara, the creative behind Saint Mogue, first came across the art of silk flowers and bespoke millinery when she was searching out the perfect piece for her own big day, and it ultimately evolved into her own line of beautiful headpieces and heirloom florals. What I love about Cara’s work is that even though she’s working in silk, there’s a fresh naturalness to the flowers and leaves she makes, so you get the best of both worlds – a touch of nature, but one that you can keep and hand down. Beautiful! You can visit Saint Mogue Etsy store directly here, or find out more about Cara and her company in our Suppliers Directory.Read More
