etsy - SouthBound Bride

Bridal Body Jewellery

13 September, 2016 by gaby

JACQUELYN Gold Bridal Shoulder Necklace by Blair Nadeau Bridal (Image: Whitney Heard Photography)

*UPDATED FOR 2020* Just when I think I’ve seen it all in terms of accessories, bridal body jewellery has come along and blown me out of the water. I mean, seriously, could a boho bride (or a glamorous Gatsby bride, or any bride for that matter) ask for more? Pretty, intricate, interesting, feminine pieces that enhance that gorgeous wedding dress of yours and make you look like a total goddess. This is a great option if you’ve chosen a simple dress and want to dress it up a bit, or change up your look between ceremony and reception (or between a minimony and sequel wedding). I’m especially partial to shoulder jewellery at the moment, but I’m also loving the hand chains and barefoot sandals and back necklaces and I thought it was the perfect time to round up some Etsy bridal body jewellery faves.

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

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!

20 Statement Back Wedding Dresses

19 August, 2016 by simoné

If you’re planning your wedding and have given your wedding dress some thought, you might already have some of the lingo down by now. Illusion necklines, tulle layers and lace details are all the rage, but somehow we often forget to mention the back of the dress. Taking into consideration that your guests will be staring at the bride and groom’s backs for the entire ceremony (and I’m sure we all have attended a ceremony that seemed to last forever!) it is just such a pleasant surprise for them not only to be wowed when you walk down the aisle, but also to be in awe of the breathtaking details that have gone into the back of your wedding gown. Seriously, how gorgeous are these wedding dresses with back detail I have found? Have a cuppa while you take your time to look through all the unique dress back styles, and start planning your wow factor today!

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

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!

10 Custom Bridal Illustration Keepsakes

1 August, 2016 by gaby

Custom Wedding Dress illustration by Art Rose Prints

As we announced this morning, August is couture month on SBB (loving this theme!). One aspect of fashion that I personally adore is fashion illustration, and I follow a number of brilliant illustrators on Instagram. But outside of being involved in the fashion world, it’s not often that you’d get to have your very own illustration. Let’s be honest, it’s not often you might have a dress designed for you either! That’s what makes a wedding dress the perfect opportunity, and a fashion illustration of your gown the perfect keepsake. Some designers will create one for you themselves, but if that’s not the case, or if you’re buying a dress instead of having it made, that doesn’t mean you should lose out. I found some wonderful illustrators on Etsy who will do custom designs, and I just had to share them with you! Each has a slightly different style and medium, but they’ll all take an image of your gown and turn it into a masterpiece that you can display with pleasure in your home or office – or give as a gift to someone else.

A SouthBound Guide to Veil Types

18 July, 2016 by gaby

Image: Kate Pleasants on SouthBound Bride

When it comes to classic and romantic wedding inspiration, there’s nothing more representative than the traditional (or even the traditional-with-a-twist) wedding veil. Long or short, I love these beauties. So I thought it was the perfect time to update one of the most popular posts from deep in the archive, our guide to bridal veils and types of wedding veils. A veil dictionary, if you will. And of course, I just had to update it with lots of beautiful, pinnable images. The best part? You can actually buy any one of the different veils featured here for your own wedding – just click on the links in bold. Of course, you may not want to rock a veil at all, but if you’re considering it, read on, because you’re about to discover a whole world of pretty options you didn’t even know existed! Links in bold denote sponsored affiliate links. SouthBound Bride may earn a commission if a sale is made.

20 Winter Wedding Invitations

1 July, 2016 by gaby

*UPDATED FOR 2020* As you know by now, I love using wedding stationery as a sophisticated way to get across whatever theme or motif you have chosen for your big day, and in the case of a winter wedding, it’s a great way to pay tribute to the season! Whether you’re planning something frozen and fabulous or cozy and comforting, I’ve found some seriously beautiful invitations from the Etsy makers to get your guests in the mood for a winter wonderland of weddingness. And PS, many of these would be gorgeous for an autumn or rustic/woodland wedding too! The best part? All of these winter wedding invitation templates are printable and affordable!

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

Mismatched Pastel Bridesmaid Dresses Done Right

16 June, 2016 by gaby

Photography: Anneli Marinovich | Make-up Artist: Ana Ospina Ruiz | Hair Stylist: Jo at Lovehair | Florist: Adventures in Flowers

You know how much we love perfectly mismatched bridesmaid dresses here on SBB, especially when they come in a range of the prettiest sorbet shades. A few years back I worked with the brilliant Maids to Measure on a styled shoot and their gowns are absolute perfection, so I was super excited to find out that this breakout label has just launched their collection at UK department store John Lewis. There are seven different styles and eight beautiful colours, so whatever your palette (or season), it makes co-ordinating your girls’ dresses an absolute dream. In fact, I was so excited that I decided to have a little play and put together three colour stories using the new Maids to Measure gowns and matching them up with stationery, flowers, table settings and pretty details. I’m seriously struggling to pick a favourite! (PS You can see the full Maids to Measure at John Lewis collection HERE.)
Shopping images and links in bold denote sponsored affiliate links. SouthBound Bride may earn a commission if a sale is made.

21 Something Blue Engagement Rings

20 May, 2016 by gaby

Ice Blue Sapphire Engagement Ring by Eidel Precious

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Engagement rings with coloured gemstones are a trend that’s definitely here to stay. And as much as I do love a classic diamond, I’m also loving seeing this trend evolve, because why shouldn’t there be as much choice in rings as there is taste in jewellery? Pink and yellow engagement rings have had their moment in the spotlight, but now blue engagement rings are having their moment. The sapphires, the aquamarines, the blue topazes, the blue diamonds, and of course, tanzanite. It’s amazing how many beautiful options there are with these gems, and best of all, they’re at a huge variety of price points to suit any budget. So if blue is your colour and you want lots of bling for your buck, consider this statement alternative. After all, if a sapphire was good enough for Kate Middleton…

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

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!