bridesmaids - SouthBound Bride

Inspiration Board: Coral & Glam

15 October, 2012 by gaby

Tangerine may have been Pantone’s 2013 colour of the year, but if there’s a breakout shade for weddings this season, it’s coral. And boy, am I ever glad! Coral is such a warm shade, and so versatile – I can’t believe how many colours it works with beautifully! It’s also lovely reader Carrie’s favourite colour, so of course she’s chosen it for her summer wedding. And Carrie must be a girl after my own heart, because she also loves a bit of sparkle, and wants to put her bridesmaids in mismatched glittery dresses – how pretty is that? There are some lovely coral or blush and sequin dresses available at the moment, but for this board I’ve gone for one of my absolute favourite bridesmaid combos of recent times – these copper skirt and top sequin and lace mismatches are just amazing and they look so good with the coral and white bouquets! Add in beautiful copper heart Vivienne Westwood shoes, and some good as gold accents and you have the perfect amount of metallic. A good tip with coral is to use it in a sort of ombre way, with everything from a pale blush to the most powerful orange version of the colour, just the way that it is in this adorable stationery suite. Add a few special touches – homemade lemonade, a ruffly chair back, sparkly mason jars, and you have everything you need for coral and glam wedding wonderful. Hope you like your board, Carrie!

Colours: Coral, blush, white, copper & gold

Top row (l-r): Bridesmaids {P: Jarvie Digital Photography}; table layout {S: Envision Wedding Studio; P: AC Ellis Inc.}; pink lemonade {P: White Loft Studio}; blush ruffle chair back {S: Envision Wedding Studio; P: AC Ellis Inc.}
Row 2: Coral & gold stationery suite {P: Jean-Pierre Gary and Kiera Ormut-Fleishman}; coral macaroons; Vivienne Westwood shoes; fireplace ceremony {P: Justin Demutiis Photography; S: Olivier Events}
Row 3: Sparkle mason jars; lace sheath dress with keyhole back {P: Paul Johnson}; cake {Elizabeth Messina}; single bloom centrepiece {Martha Stewart}.

Ballet Buns

10 October, 2012 by gaby

Sources: Elizabeth Messina via Wedding Chicks (left); Jonas Peterson via Once Wed (right)

So there I was a few months back working a styled shoot with Sev Hubert of The Hepburn Collection (who happens to be a hair god) and I was having a minor OMG-I-didn’t-know-I-was-going-to-be-on-the-video-but-my-hair-is-just-stuck-back-in-my-go-to-bun freak out moment. And he just sort of looked at me appraisingly and said: “It is fine. A bun is always chic.” And you know what, the man knows what he’s talking about. A bun IS always chic, and never more so than at the moment, where the ballet bun/top knot/high bun has become the hottest style of the season. From sleek to a little messy, piled on top of the head or a little lower, it’s been an unexpected and welcome addition to the bridal hair repertoire, and has featured in some of my favourite wedding looks this year. I thought it was about time I collected some inspiration for you, so that’s what we’re doing today!Read More

Trend Alert: Prints

3 October, 2012 by gaby

Source: Jake McBride for Christian Oth via Style Me Pretty

Time for some afternoon inspiration! Last week I was thrilled to be asked by BrideTide (a brilliant hub for wedding news, as well as the keepers of the prestigious Top 100 Wedding Blogs list) to be one of 20 bloggers predicting the big wedding trends for 2013. What an honour to be in the company of some of my absolute favourite bloggers, and people I respect immensely. The list is still being updated, but you can find it here.

Trends are always hard to predict, since sometimes it feels like by the time you notice them, they’re almost over, but there was one that I feel absolutely sure will be a defining look for next year, and that’s prints (or ‘prints charming’, as the article so sweetly phrases it!). In some ways, this is a natural extension of some of the fabric trends we’ve already seen: damask, stripes, chevron, toile as well as the move towards painterly style and modern graphics, resulting in bolder or bespoke choices in linen, be they table runners or napkins. Of course, prints are also big news in fashion, and with mismatched bridesmaids being a much-loved look, it was only a matter of time until brides took the leap into dressing at least one of their girls in a print as well. Some brides have already managed to work a lovely layered print look, incorporating it into their stationery as well – this can work best for a shabby chic or country vibe – or adopting a single look which, again, is incorporated into their stationery or ‘branding’. I have to say, I’m a huge fan of the style in its many guises, particularly the way that a unique fabric on the tables or in the bridal party can really make your colours pop and bring everything together. And, while having all your maids in prints can look amazing, I think my favourite BM groupings are the ones that have a range of colours and textures, including at least one print and one sparkly dress. But that’s just me! I’ve put together a whole gallery of inspiration for you, so you can see that this look doesn’t have to be scary. Let’s start with whole groups of bridesmaids in matching prints…Read More

Let Them Eat Wedding Cake #5: The Flower Girls

24 September, 2012 by gaby

I would like the type of wedding that my younger cousins enjoy. A celebration of our family and friends – where its littlest members know that they are adding something truly invaluable to our day. A family wedding. Beauty without pretence. A day with an air of excitement, a newness, a belief in magic.

Being from a large family I was lucky enough to be a flower girl three times growing up, and I was a flower girl in some of my first and fondest wedding memories. I remember getting dressed with the bride and her bridesmaids, with all the excitement in that room – the hair, the makeup, the flowers. I remember posing for photographs in a field, being made to feel special, being thanked by name in a speech. I recall my feet swinging – not yet being able to touch the lovely grassy floor underfoot, and I remember catching the bouquet. It was simply wonderful – being privy to all the excitement, and being a part of something so special.

Mismatched Bridesmaid Accessories 3 {Jewellery, Hairpieces, Stockings, Cardigans}

15 August, 2012 by gaby

Source: Michelle Lindsay Photography

Hello friends – hope you’re having a great day! Today I’m bringing you the third and final installment of my roundups on mismatched bridesmaid accessories (see here for bouquets, and here for shoes) – even I can’t believe there are so many ways to let your ladies express themselves! Today I have even more amazing ideas, literally from top to toe! Just a word of caution – all of these trends work best when you use one or combine two at the most (including the dresses themselves), so don’t go overboard. For example, you could put your girls in the same black dresses with different coloured shoes and bouquets to match them, or mismatched dresses in the same colour with different statement necklaces. It’s all about making a style statement, not looking like they’re going to a fancy dress party! The good news is that you can be really creative, depending on the time of year, the style of your wedding or even your personal style. If you love wearing scarves and your wedding is in autumn, give each of your ladies a beautiful and unique scarf to wear. Or if, like me, you’re a fan of chunky cocktail rings, gift each of your girls with a different ring for a special touch to add to their look that will always make them think of you. I think this trend will just continue to grow – I can’t wait to see what maids will be rocking next season!Read More

Mismatched Bridesmaid Accessories Part 1 {Bouquets}

18 July, 2012 by gaby

Source: Stephanie Williams Photography via Before the Big Day

One of the biggest trends of the last couple of years has to be the move away from uniform bridesmaid dresses, to putting your girls in a variety of styles or colours that complement each other. I still get a little thrill whenever I see this done well, and I know that it’s made many bridesmaids themselves happy, including me. But what if you really want your girls to wear the same dresses, and still want to distinguish them? To let them each express their personality a little? Then this series of posts is for you. In Part 1 we’ll be looking at the mini-trend of individual bouquets. This has to be one of my all-time favourite bridesmaid trends! Probably because of how much I love flowers – the idea of having several beautiful bouquets instead of just one with variations really excites me.Read More

Real Wedding at Anura Vineyards {Cheryl & Sven}

5 July, 2012 by gaby

SOOOO excited to share today’s (bumper!) post with you – it feels like it has been in the pipeline since forever! Of course, that’s because today we’re sharing the wedding of Cheryl McEwan, our friend and colleague, SBB sponsor, and of course, Real Life Bride. Together we’ve followed Cheryl on her planning journey, from inspiration to reality. And wow. That reality is so much more gorgeous than I could even have imagined. Not just because it’s photographed by the legend that is Nastassja Harvey (although it helps). As a photographer, Cheryl has an amazing eye for detail, and putting that together with her wedding experience, she created a masterclass in shabby chic/country vintage styling that must have been a pleasure to shoot and attend. She’s also collaborated with her friends in the industry – Doodles Laser in particular – to add sweet new twists to the ideas that inspired her (read her Real Life Bride archive to see how these evolved). The result is an incredible wedding, blessed with rainbows (literally) and laughter – here’s wishing Cheryl and Sven many blessings in the next chapter of their lives together.Read More

How to Style the White Bridesmaid Dress Trend

11 May, 2011 by gaby

*Updated for 2018* It’s official: the white bridesmaid dress trend started by Kate and William at their royal wedding is here to stay. Ever since Pippa Middleton showed up in that dress, and brides around the world started thinking “hmm, maybe I should have my bridesmaids in white too” – well, this particular taboo became history once and for all (although, for the record, if you’re a guest and you wear white you’re still an asshat). And yes, your granny might disapprove. But once she sees how beautiful your crew looks… well, I think she’ll come around. Whether it’s a beach wedding or an elegant vineyard soiree, they look crisp and classic (and give you a perfectly clean palette). Need some extra convincing yourself? Just take a look at this roundup of lovely bridal parties. And then check out our top tips for styling the white bridesmaid dress trend so that the bride still stands out, as you should!
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London Hen Night

9 November, 2010 by gaby

Happy Tuesday, folks! Instead of a wedding, today we have a real hen party, organised by yours truly for my lovely friend Heidi. It’s actually kind of nervewracking showing off something I’ve designed myself, especially since the printer and I had a little last minute disagreement (machines! pff!) and the fonts are a little, shall we say, pedestrian as a result. Fortunately, I’m pretty sure that Cheryl McEwan could make anything look good with her beautiful photographs. She seriously went above and beyond for us, and I cannot sing her praises loudly enough. (I’m only sorry she’s leaving London, but our loss is Cape Town’s gain!)

Bridesmaid Survival Kit

6 August, 2010 by gaby

Image: Vanilla Photography on SouthBound Bride

One of the best pieces of advice I picked up ahead of my first stint as a bridesmaid was to make sure I had an emergency kit with me to sort out any little problems that cropped up on the day. For the bride especially, of course, but often I’ve found that guests need to delve into the kit as much as anyone else! On a stressful day, it makes such a difference to have one person who is cool, calm and collected, and comes prepared to nip any minimergencies in the bud. Here’s what I’ll be carrying when one of my best friends ties the knot in December – put them together in a little case and you have your very own DIY bridesmaid survival kit! *Links in bold denote affiliate links – SBB may receive a commission on any sales made.