beach wedding - SouthBound Bride

Dreamy Beach Wedding at Palm Dunes by Absolute Perfection & Grace Studios

11 January, 2018 by gaby

This time of year I think we’re all missing the beach a bit, so I seriously can’t think of a better real wedding to kick off our 2018 lineup than Chantelle & Ricky-Jon’s (in fact, I’ve been keeping this beauty up my sleeve for that exact reason) – you guys, this is what beach wedding dreams are made of! Think soft, romantic details, watercolour stationery, a gorgeous tropical setting, fine art ocean-style decor by the supremely talented Absolute Perfection, bridesmaid dresses billowing in the sea breeze… sigh. The tables are simple but perfectly styled, right down to the calligraphed rock place holders and the textures of basket and driftwood – a fine art take on rustic beachy chic that I can’t get enough of. And on top of that, there’s an adorable love story and hilarious account of the proposal from the bride and groom – loved these so much I had to call my mom and read them to her! Aw! And let’s not forget the final cherry on this sundae of amazingness – the most romantic images from Grace Studios. Wow. Way to kick off an amazing year, right?

Boho Beach Wedding at Canelands Beach Club by Andy & Szerdi Photography

28 June, 2017 by gaby

A couple of years ago, for my mama’s birthday, we decided to have a day of girly spa fun. We stumbled across the perfect place, which is how I came to find Canelands Beach Club in Salt Rock for the first time. And not only was it an awesome spot for some mother daughter lunching and a massage, but I kept thinking that the patio looking out over the ocean with its beautiful infinity pool and simple, elegant furnishings, was a perfect spot for an intimate wedding reception. Well, I was right. Tanya and Mike, our fab couple today, turned that same thought into a reality themselves, with the most gorgeous reception right on the sands. And for good measure, they added a bunch of seriously adorable DIY and handmade details that really expressed who they are as a couple, from the ceramic skull favours (to remind their friends and family to give life horns – how cute is that?) to the custom beach bar and champagne station. And let’s not forget one of Tanya’s smartest ideas of all – her bridesmaids’ ‘bouquet’s, which doubled up as floral crowns! This whole wedding is beach boho joy and loveliness from beginning to end, and I’m so thrilled to be sharing Andy & Szerdi Photography‘s images with you today!

Inspiration Board: Sea & Sky

3 October, 2016 by gaby

Hello lovelies! How was your weekend? I had such a lovely one, taking some time to celebrate a landmark birthday for my dad, Italian-style, with a table groaning with gorgeous food and my first (successful, yay!) attempt at tiramisu. This month, we’ll be continuing on with our ‘wild beauty’ theme, as there’s lots more boho and naturally-textured inspiration I have to share with you all and I didn’t manage to get to most of it in a busy September. So I thought I would start this week off with a natural, boho take on beach weddings, in shades all the way from deep indigo to the palest of greys, and some absolutely adorable ideas (that arch!). I love it!

Top row (l-r): Beach bride & groom | Starfish on vintage tray (JoPhoto/Honeybee Events) | Beach ceremony arch (Lace and Likes/Swoon by Katie) | Mussel escorts (Greyberry Design)
Row 2: Invitation suite (NotablePaperCo) | Boho beach sandals
Row 3: Beach table decor (Shefter Polina/Studio Victorias) | Beach bride earrings (Marolsha) | Bouquet (Tamara Gruner Photography/Life In Bloom/Veronica Sheaffer)

Top left: Laurel Wreath Earring by Marolsha | Top right: Shell Beach Destination Wedding Escort Place Cards Calligraphy on Mussel Shells by Greyberry Design | Bottom: Hawthorn suite by NotablePaperCo

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Well Groomed: The Beach Wedding

13 February, 2016 by gaby

Happy Saturday y’all! It’s been a week of hectic jetlag and post-travel lurgy for me, but before I move on to next week’s loveliness (and some exciting reveals!) I wanted to share a bit of beachy inspiration with you all- and this one’s for the boys. The fact is, beach weddings can be a difficult dress code to crack, both for grooms and their parties (and even for male guests). A suit too smart for sand? Shorts too casual for an important occasion? It’s hard to find the right balance, but fortunately there are lots of stylish grooms both in our own archives and across the web to give the lads some inspiration. I’ve noticed that it really comes down to personal taste – for example, some grooms go all out and take their black tie to the beach, while others jump at the opportunity to wear shorts and sandals. As with all the best groomswear, I think it comes down to personal taste – a little tweak on a favourite summer look – but with a bowtie here and a well-cut open shirt there, just about any combination can be made to work handsomely. And when in doubt, a light linen trouser and white shirt will never serve you wrong. Here are 20 groom’s parties who rocked their tropical look.

DIY Beach Wedding at Grootvlei by Ronel Kruger

1 February, 2016 by gaby

Considering how amazing our beaches are in South Africa, we get relatively few beach weddings submitted to SBB so I’m always thrilled to see a lovely one, especially when it’s a down to earth, toes in the sand West Coast affair like Jaynie & Rudi’s was. This wedding goes beyond in the DIY category thanks to a super creative bride and her family – even the wedding dress was a labour of love. All that time spent creating something special and meaningful makes this aspect go far beyond the wedding day, because you also get memories that last a lifetime, long after the fabric has faded and the flowers have died. And that’s really what this wedding business is about isn’t it? The love, first and foremost. Ronel Kruger was on the scene to capture these lovely pics of Jaynie and Rudi’s big day.

Inspiration Board: Beach Sundowner

7 July, 2014 by gaby

Happy Monday friends! It’s a super exciting day here on SBB, as later on we’ll be announcing the finalists for our first ever styled shoot competition. But first, it’s time for some inspiration of our own with the Monday moodboard. Today I’m loving coral (a colour trend that just keeps on going!) mixed with a cool, pale blue – a lovely fresh take on this colour combination and perfect for a laid-back beach celebration (or any celebration, really!). Reflecting the colours of the beach at sunset, it’s the perfect was to kick off a dusky ceremony and a dinner under the stars.

Colours: Pastel blue, coral, peach & white

Top row (l-r): Caravan {Jose Villa}; bride in blue tutu {Jen Huang}; table on beach
Row 2: Paper boat escort cards {Caroline Tran}; bouquet {Analisa Joy Photography}; watercolour menu {Moira West}
Row 3: Bride & groom; driftwood sign {Brilliant Studios/Stacie Steensland}; groom in seersucker suit {Sarah Pudlo & Co}; coral nautical cake {Cyrience Photography/Alexis June Weddings}

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Bright & Playful Paternoster Wedding by Justin Davis Photography {Sarah & Gareth}

27 March, 2014 by gaby

Rain rain go away – it’s a miserable day in Durban, but I’m curled up in bed with a dog at my side, bringing you this wedding that’s full of colour and light and beachy goodness. I absolutely love SBB reader Sarah and Gareth’s chilled out attitude, including their choice of Paternoster as a venue and bright colours and references to children’s books and toys on the tables and throughout. In fact, there are tons of great ideas to be had here, so be sure to read Sarah’s story as well as revel in Justin Davis‘ lovely pics. But be absolutely sure to scroll down to the end, where you’ll also find the AWESOME stop motion animation that they made for their invitation. So creative and fun!Read More

Coral and Aqua Styled Shoot

26 July, 2012 by gaby

My goodness am I excited to share this little beauty with you! I spied with my little eye, something beginning with coral and aqua on the Wedding Concepts blog last year when this shoot, which was styled and co-ordinated by the WC team, was featured in Wedding Inspirations magazine. That single pincushion protea place setting really stuck in my mind, and I was so thrilled to get hold of a copy of the magazine and devour every gorgeous pic by one of my photography faves, Annemari Ruthven. So you can imagine I was even happier when the lovely Hannes of Wedding Concepts asked if I’d like to feature it right here on SBB. Um, yes please, Hannes! The thing with styled shoots (and it’s a reason some blogs don’t always feature them) is that it’s unlikely you can replicate the whole thing on the grand scale of a wedding, unless you’re getting set to be a Real Housewife of Constantia maybe. The art of it all is to be inspired, by the mood of the shoot perhaps, by the colours (although don’t forget you can translate a look you like to a whole new palette), or by a single detail or set of details. And that’s what’s so great about this one, because it is just teeming with original and inspiring ideas. First, the colour scheme – we’ve seen it before, and both coral and aqua are huge colours right now. But this shoot shows you how to be bold AND classy in the way that colour is used. Natural textures like the pincushions and coral itself, set against the clean lines of milk glass and graphic stationery are the way to go. The table base is neutral, but through ribbons, flowers and lovely homeware items, the palette comes through. And that’s not where it ends. I love unexpected touches: the bride’s boho styling, the macaroon lollipops, the Bloody Mary bar, or DIY details like the ribbon garland or the paint dipped glass vases. It’s awesome, and I hope you enjoy poring over it just as much as I have!Read More