Simple Elegance Nature’s Valley Wedding by Jenni Elizabeth {Michele and John}

You know, it can be a challenge to find new words and new ways to describe the weddings we feature on SBB. I feel like I say “gorgeous” a lot these days. Well, I’m about to say it again, because today’s wedding is GORGEOUS. Absolutely, get-your-swoon-on, magazine-worthy gorgeous. Michele and John chose to go with a simple colour scheme of white, blush and gold, which was complemented throughout by the deep emerald of foliage from their hanging swags and table garlands, and spectacular floral ceremony arch. Everything about it fits together like the pieces of a beautiful couple, partly thanks to the absolutely breathtaking pictures by Jenni Elizabeth. We’ve been looking forward to featuring Jenni’s work for a while, and I hope you’ll be seeing many more of her lovely images on SBB in future. But for today, let’s sit back and breathe in the simple elegance of Michele & John’s Garden Route wedding, and the sheer romance.Read More

Inspiration Board: Parisian Pastel

Happy Monday, lovelies! Valentine’s may be over, but we’re heading to the city of love for our inspiration today. I just love the combination of blush, dove grey and champagne, especially because it’s like the pastel version of mixed metallics. The perfect combination of soft and glamorous. Which is pretty much perfect for a Paris-inspired wedding. Throw in a beautiful croquembouche, a lush bouquet, rosé champagne, a chic topknot and (my favourite detail) bridesmaids carrying clutches instead of flowers, and you have the most romantic take on city glamour imaginable. And the best part? You don’t have to be wed in Paris to pull it off.

Colours: Blush, dove grey, champagne, white

Top row (l-r): Bridesmaids’ clutches {Davie and Chiyo/Desy Cheng}; stationery suite {Jen Fariello/Easton Events/Erika Jack}; bride with top knot {Kali Lu Photo/Cara Aeschliman/Kae + Ales}
Row 2: Croquembouche cake {Rebecca Yale Portraits}; silver heels {Vicki Grafton Photography}; Paris buildings
Row 3: Chanel perfume {Le Secret D’Audrey/Luxe Paris Events}; bouquet {Jose Villa}; grey ring box {The Mrs Box/Jose Villa}; champagne {Meg Smith}

 

Protea Farm Wedding at Wychwood by Kate Martens {Jess & Jon}

This wedding had me at ‘protea farm’. I mean seriously, what could be more perfect for a protea lover like myself, than a wedding where our beautiful national flowers are grown, amid fields the colours of a Camps Bay sunset? So it’s no wonder that Jess and John chose to accent their wedding design with proteas – dozens of them. But the charm didn’t stop there – think curtains of rose and blush ribbon, bridesmaids in tulle ruffles, elegant lace for the stunning bride and a ballerina flowergirl. There’s even a ruffley cake. It’s just SO PRETTY, and we loved finding out that SBB was Jess’s favourite planning blog – clearly we think her taste in weddings and wedding blogs is impeccable! As is her taste in photographers – Kate Martens was on the scene to capture these gorgeous pics full of movement and life.Read More

Inspiration Board: Chic Antique

Happy Monday lovelies! Before I dive into today’s board, I just wanted to wish the lovely Louise of b.loved a HUGE congrats on her new site and brand – be sure to head over and check it out!
You know, it’s not so long since the vintage trend swept wedding world, but since then things have come a long way as brides and grooms try to find new ways to introduce antique elements and still keep their decor personal and unique. One way to do this is through colour – the first wave of vintage often fell back on neutral palettes, but I think today’s pastel combo has a lovely Victorian feel. I also love how the navy blue sort of anchors the softer colours, and introduces a more grown up aspect. Add a completely swoony old world invitation suite and a chic, one-of-a-kind print wedding dress, and you have the perfect ingredients for a chic antique wedding day!

Colours: Navy, lavender, blush, lemon & baby blue

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Millie Holloman}; bridesmaids {Jose Villa Photography/MAP Events}; cake {Nikole Ramsay Photography/Victoria Keith Cakes}
Row 2: Place setting with lavender {Sugokuii Weddings Capri/Simply Bloom Photography}; boutonnieres {Erich McVey Photography/Kelly Kaufman}; groom
Row 3: Print wedding gown; invitation suite {Elisa Bricker/Mimi Nicole Events/Brown Linen}; ceremony area {Leo Patrone/Honey of a Thousand Flowers}; lavender champagne {Jen Fariello/Easton Events}

 

Pink & Blush Wedding Dresses

Afternoon lovelies! As I mentioned yesterday, this week we’re thinking pink for breast cancer awareness, with a pink-themed post every day. Today is all about pink and blush wedding dresses and man alive, they are gorgeous. I mean, dreamy, super feminine, get-me-to-a-dressmaker-right-now-because-I-want-one, Vera Wang, ballerina fantasy GORGEOUS. There are quite a few dresses included here from real South African weddings – this is definitely one trend that we’ve embraced here and I couldn’t be happier. And while there are other colours that are also making a big impact on wedding dresses (cough cough, blue), I think pink and blush will always have the edge on other shades (other than white, of course). So here we go: 20 beautiful gowns to inspire you!Read More

15 Gorgeous Pink Colour Schemes for your Wedding

Good morning, friends! With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’ve decided to THINK PINK this week, with one pink-focused post on the blog every day. I know what an eternal favourite this colour is with my brides, so there’ll be lots to inspire! Today we’re starting with a roundup of 15 absolutely gorgeous colour combinations featuring shades of pink from blush to brash. Click on any of the pictures below and you’ll be taken to a full inspiration board featuring this colour combo!

Image credits (top to bottom, left to right): 1- Lane Dittoe via Style Me Pretty | 2- via Martha Stewart Weddings | 3- Ling Photography via The Knot | 4- Beaux Arts Photographie/Kelly Oshiro via Loverly | 5- Erin Kate/Soil & Stem via Snippet & Ink | 6- AveryHouse/Ryan Alexander Events via Elizabeth Anne Designs | 7- Emily Steffen Photography/At your Service Weddings via Wedding Chicks | 8- Graze Wedding Catering | 9- Cheree Berry Paper via Martha Stewart Weddings | 10- Every Last Detail/MMD Events/Tina Bass Photography via Wedding Chicks | 11- Citrus & Orange | 12- Jose Villa/Beth Helmstetter via Style Me Pretty | 13- Michaela Egger/Hey Look | 14- Elisa B Photography/Southern Blooms via Style Me Pretty | 15- White Linen Photographers/Flowers by Antonella via Style Me Pretty

 

Mismatched Blush Bridesmaid Inspiration from Forever 21

As those of you in Cape Town will no doubt know by now, South Africa got its first Forever 21 store this weekend, and to celebrate, I thought it would be fun to do a little special of the bridesmaid options available from this US label. The dresses are fun and flirty, and at the moment Forever 21 has a lineup of some gorgeous mixed blush/neutral dresses with little lace, sparkle and portrait back details that would be just perfect for a summer afternoon wedding. Time to be inspired!Read More

Candy Crush: Fashion Preview from Wedding Inspirations Magazine

It’s no secret that we love Wedding Inspirations magazine around these here parts, and it’s always a super exciting time when I get to share a little sneak peek with you of the latest issue (which was released yesterday, YAY!). Today we’re taking a dip into the fashion pages, where in this issue the WI team are showcasing a bit of a love affair with blush wedding dresses – and we know just how they feel, don’t we? In the last few years, since blush gowns first became a whisper on the lips of fashion-forward weddingistas, I’ve fallen more and more for this sweet, romantic look and there are some absolutely GORGEOUS dresses now available off the peg for blush-loving brideys. So without further ado, let’s take a look! And don’t forget to pick up your copy of the new Wedding Inspirations, where you can find all the details on these dresses and so much more loveliness besides.Read More

Rose Quartz by Yolande Snyders & Yellow Papaya

Our final shoot of the competition takes rose quartz as inspiration, a precious stone that is both locally mined and perfectly symbolic for a wedding (it’s called the ‘love stone’ and represents unconditional love in all its forms). Combining this idea with gem-shaped hexagons is bang on trend, and I also love the combination of rose with indigo in the form of shwe shwe (and you know we LOVE shwe shwe!) – including a shwe shwe cake (eek, amazing). The fabulous team headed by Yellow Papaya and photographer Yolande Snyders put together an alternative take on a seated reception with a mimosa bar and cocktail snacks that are all adorable little mini versions of South African favourites. It’s bright, crisp and colourful – the perfect way to end off an amazing week!Read More

Eco Chic Botanical Wedding at Rosemary Hill by Van der Bijl Photography {Leigh & Byron}

When Brownwyn of Van der Bijl Photography sent over today’s gorgeous organic-lovely wedding, I had to go back and double check her email after the first few pics that this was a real wedding and not a styled shoot, since the florals and details are that perfectly styled. Of course, once I saw Leigh and Byron’s ceremony pics, the happy tears and the love between the couple (and on the faces of all their guests) there was no doubt this was as real a wedding as you’ll find, which of course makes me love every pretty botanical detail put together by Carol-Anne of Eco-chic Weddings even more. And eco-chic is the right word – everything right down to Leigh’s gorgeous frothy dress was created with an eye on upcycling and sustainability. It’s a beautiful day with a big heart, and I’m delighted to be sharing it with you all!Read More