Classic Wedding with a Twist at D’aria by The Picturess

I love to be surprised. Not so much in a “surprise!-it’s-your-birthday-and-everyone’s-here-at-your-surprise-party-waiting-for-your-reaction-and-it’s-kind-of-awkward” way, and definitely not in a “surprise!-shonda-killed-mcdreamy” way, but visually, I love to be surprised. A bouquet with an unusual texture, a dress with  special detail at the back, an unexpected theme or motif or detail. The kind that makes you look twice, and maybe even “ooh!” a little. That’s why I love Dale & Kirsten’s wedding. On the surface it seems like a classic white wedding, with touches of green and charcoal, and a beautiful forest setting, and a bride who looks (and feels) like a Disney princess. But look again, and you’ll see fun little details you don’t expect. Huge crepe paper flowers for the bridesmaids (reflected with paper flowers at each setting). Flowers enclosed in little transparent lightbulbs hanging from the trees at the ceremony. The ferns from the bride’s father’s garden in the centrepieces reflected in a sparkling fern clip in her hair. Those little visual surprises that make you go “ooh!”. And of course, in amongst them, all the classic beauty that we love, including gorgeous blooms by SBB Directory members Bright and Beautiful, and lovely pics by The Picturess.

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Real Wedding at D’Aria {Grethe & Alex}

Happy days, friends! Ever since rainbow weddings became a thing, I’ve been patiently waiting for a brave South African bride to put her stamp on it, and today is the day. Yay. And seriously, if I had been giving someone advice for pulling off this colourful, bold look without making it tacky or like a children’s party, I couldn’t have explained it better than the way bride Grethe put her design together. There are lovely pops of colour everywhere – in the flowers, in the ribbon-backed chairs (a room full of them – I am in LOVE!), in the cocktails, even in the cake (so cool that it had a plain white outside and a surprise inside!). But it isn’t too much. In fact, the bridesmaids are in a sober navy (sober, but very, very pretty with their lace backs and gold belts) and with the bride’s beautiful, classic Elizabeth Stockenström dress and her handsome groom, the look says 100% wedding. Look out for tons of clever touches – the fun way the church flowers are displayed, the braai plank favours, the custom linen binding for the ceremony. And Bernard Bravenboer was there to capture it all to perfection!Read More