bridal fashion - SouthBound Bride

20 Super Chic Birdcage Veils

29 August, 2016 by gaby

Mini Birdcage Veil with Pearls by Joy and Felicity (photography by Elizabeth Ngundue Photography)

Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

**Updated for 2020** When I think of the bold, fashion-forward brides we’ve featured over the years, there’s one thing that many of them have in common and that’s the classic birdcage veil. Whether you wear them over the face or super short, close to the face or poufy, and in classic white netting or a variety of other colours and textures, this is one look that never goes out of style. There are loads of ways to wear a birdcage veil, and you can even make your own (as in this gorgeous tutorial we shared last year), but I personally love browsing the Etsy artists’ work for some of the most beautiful and creative examples of the style that you’ll find for sale on the web. Rounding up just twenty of the best birdcage veils was tough, but I’ve narrowed down my faves, and I can’t wait to share them with you!

A SouthBound Guide to Wedding Dress Silhouettes

16 August, 2016 by gaby

One of the things you take for granted when you’ve been wedding blogging as long as I have, is that the terminology that’s part of your everyday life isn’t necessarily something that all brides know, off the bat, when they get engaged. After all, you ladies have a lifetime of other things to think about! That’s why I love putting these guides together – quick visual references that give you the tools for your planning, whether that’s in choosing a veil, or deciding on the shape of your bouquet, type of cake, etc. A lot of us know dress silhouettes a bit better, but even if you know your ballgown from your mini, do you know your mermaid from your trumpet? So today we’re focusing on the different dress styles, and illustrating each with some of the most gorgeous gowns I could find on Etsy. Win-win!

Geometric Vogue Wedding Inspiration

15 August, 2016 by gaby

I promised you guys some amazing styled shoots this month, and I wasn’t kidding! Plus, today’s slice of chic comes courtesy of one of our favourite local suppliers, the lovely Dominique of Hello Love Photography, which makes it extra special. Dominique and her team decided to create a look inspired by geometric minimalism – a bold, modern, and oh-so-stylish take on both bridalwear and table design that comes in two parts. The colours are incredible – stark white and gold with pops of deep emerald in Part 1 of the shoot and teal in Part 2 – and the geo details are fabulous, from the gold backdrop to the table decor to the cake. Oh, the cake! Add in some statement paper succulents, bold makeup, and a lush organic bouquet, and you have something really special. I especially love the fashion choices here, because as we discovered a couple of weeks ago, bridal pantsuits are so hot right now! And the kimono top and tulle skirt combo in Part 2 is just as amazing. So, let’s get inspired!

BHLDN Wild Serenity Collection

11 August, 2016 by gaby

Stop press! Just in time for our month of fashion inspiration, BHLDN has released its latest collection of beautiful gowns, with the ethereal title ‘Wild Serenity’. Shot with the moody backdrop of the Irish countryside, and featuring amazing lace and embellishment detailing, the lookbook is like something out of Gaelic folkore – the dresses are just as magical. Scroll through and fall in love with both the images and the fashion, and then follow the links to grab one of them for your very own.

20 Chic Bridal Jumpsuits

4 August, 2016 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2020* Whether you’re a city bride, a bold fashionista, a same sex bride who chooses not to wear a dress, or any gal who doesn’t feel at home in a skirt, bridal jumpsuits are the perfect look for you. The bridal jumpsuit is no boring pair of pants though – this is a feminine, flattering and beautiful look, which often features details like lace, interesting backs, and gorgeous fabrics, just like a traditional wedding gown. Bianca Jagger did it. Solange Knowles did it. Why not you? Bridal jumpsuits are also a stylish choice for your rehearsal dinner or after-party, or for a mini-mony or elopement. Here are some of my favourite looks.

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Elbeth Gillis 2017 Collection: Luxury

6 June, 2016 by gaby

It’s always a good day when we get to share the latest from one of our favourite South African wedding designers, Elbeth Gillis! Having dressed South African brides to perfection for years, Elbeth is now making waves overseas as well, and we couldn’t be happier to see foreign editors and brides-to-be discovering her collections. This year, there are two capsule collections, and today we’re highlighting the first. Called ‘Luxury’, it’s a line-up of eight sophisticated gowns, with an emphasis on backs and shoulders and the exquisite details that are Elbeth’s trademark. There are a variety of necklines and silhouettes, all made up from the most gorgeous fabrics: stretch satins, silk chiffons, lace overlays and tattoos. The only question? How to pick a favourite.

20 Breathtaking Blue Wedding Dresses

18 May, 2016 by gaby

Winter Wedding Dress by Reev Bridal

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

**Updated for 2020** Get ready for some serious dress love, my darlings! A while back, I rounded up some of the absolute DREAMIEST pastel gowns on SBB, and I haven’t stopped dreaming about them since. So when the theme for May was settled on as ‘Something Blue’, I couldn’t wait to go out and source some spectacular blue (and blue-grey) wedding gowns from our favourite online inspirational marketplace, Etsy. And my word, but did I ever find some beauties. Every single one of these blue wedding dresses has something that makes it extra special beyond just the colour (which let’s be honest, is pretty awesome on its own, from baby blue to ice blue to dusty blue!) – a lace detail here, a sparkle there, and a whole lot of cloud-soft tulle. If you weren’t thinking of a ‘something blue’ wedding gown before? Well, you will be now!

Enchanted Atelier by Liv Hart: The Dreamers Collection

4 May, 2016 by gaby

Swoon alert! I have some seriously GORGEOUS fashion inspiration to share with you all today, in the form of the latest collection of fine art bridal accessories from Enchanted Atelier by Liv Hart. Inspired by Albert Joseph Moore’s painting, ‘Dreamers’ and a love for styling her brides with artfully designed pieces, it’s an exquisite collection of crowns, combs, hairpieces and gauzy silk tulle veils that will not only lend their ethereal beauty to the bride who wears them, but become treasured heirlooms in years to come. And don’t get me started on these lookbook images by Laura Gordon – I’m dying over every exquisite frame.

BHLDN Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Collection

18 April, 2016 by gaby

From the city to the beach… this afternoon we’re taking a little virtual trip to the tropics with the latest collection from US bridal powerhouse BHLDN. With elopements getting more popular, and South Africa being a perfect place for an elopement or destination wedding (and have you seen our beaches? sublime) I just had to share it with you. From dreamy dresses (in soft, light fabrics, a destination wedding essential) to the most stylish honeymoon gear for a new Mrs, to some sweet accessories that you’ll want to wear well beyond the big day, you’ll find them here.

Julie Vino Santorini Collection

25 March, 2016 by gaby

Holiday! Celebrate! (You’ll be singing that all day now, sorrynotsorry.) Since today actually is a holiday, I thought it would be fun if you and I went on a holiday together – albeit a virtual one. I’ve picked one of my favourite destinations too, the glorious isle of Santorini in Greece, which is the inspiration and setting for Julie Vino‘s current collection. Sugarcube houses and sapphire seas, plus beautiful gowns, is a winning combination. It’s been a couple of years since we discovered Israeli designer Julie Vino, and her collections never fail to impress with their combination of sensual and feminine. This one is fit for a Grecian goddess – or just the luckiest of brides.