Tag: floral

Love in Bloom Country Wedding at Thorner Estate by Vanilla Photography

by gaby

My first clue that Andrew and Marie are a couple after my own heart? The fact that the Proudly South African pair went about sourcing every detail of their gorgeous KZN Midlands wedding from local businesses – rings, bridesmaid dresses, decor, everything. All in line with their pretty-as-a-picture garden-style wedding vision, and the result is an affair that will have all you country wedding-loving brides jumping straight out of your seats and cheering for joy! I loved the way that the pair chose a cool blue hue to contrast with the mixed colours of all the flowers – such a lovely touch that really stands out. And the blooms really were everywhere – in floral runners along the tables at the reception (thanks to Marie’s mum’s ‘army of ladies’ and their very own gardens!), in beautiful bouquets, in darling little embroidered wreaths on each napkin, on the wine labels and stationery… even right on down to the bridesmaids’ getting-ready robes. And love was in bloom too, of course, overflowing on the faces of the delighted bride and groom, and those of their family and friends. Michigan Behn was on the scene to capture these precious moments for Vanilla Photography and share them with you today.

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20 Fancy Floral Wedding Cakes

by gaby

Oh flowers! I’m so excited that this month is about everything floral and green and garden wedding related, because it really gives me a chance to indulge my love of extravagant florals and do I ever have some pretty stuff coming your way. But to kick it off, I just had to round up one of my favourite places to find florals (apart from bouquets and tables) – on wedding cakes. I’ve rounded up floral print cakes in the past (swoon!) but today we’re going 3D. Some of these floral toppers are real, some are sugar, some you can barely tell. But what they all are is stunning. Whether you go for something statement and extravagant like this or something more subtle, even the most plain and classic cake can be completely transformed with a floral makeover.

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Floral Print Wedding Cakes

by gaby

Everything’s coming up floral at the moment, and that shouldn’t be limited to wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses – your cake can get in on the pretty party as well. In fact, these cakes are so pretty that good luck actually eating them – they look like they should just sit on a shelf and be art! Perfect for a spring or summer wedding, they’ll make a spectacular focal point for your reception or as the centrepiece for your dessert table, and will definitely have guests oohing and aahing. So let’s get inspired! I’ve picked my 20 favourites from the talented bakers and makers around the web. (PS You can find more gorgeous examples of painted wedding cakes here)Read More

Rustic Brights Wedding at Murasie by Adene Photography {Stephanie & Hennie}

by gaby

Lots of our brides and grooms plan their wedding in South Africa from abroad, but it isn’t many who have to do it from as far away as China. That was Hennie and Stephanie’s challenge, but as you’ll see from their gorgeously colourful rustic farm celebration, it didn’t end up fazing them in the least (even with a dress scenario that would have been stressful for any bride, but hooray, worked out beautifully in the end!) Through it all, the couple kept a sense of perspective – do be sure to read right to the end, where Stephanie shares some very sensible advice. And they pulled off a day that was relaxed, beautiful and full of joy. I’m especially in love with all the beautiful bright blooms, and the blackboard backdrop that Hennie’s sister created for them – so unique! One of our perpetual faves, Adene of Adene Photography, was on the scene to capture the pics as beautifully as ever.Read More

Vintage Floral Farm Wedding by Cari Photography {Rieke & Jurgens}

by gaby

While we’re obviously fans of everything soft and subtle here at SBB HQ, I won’t lie – a bright sea of statement botanicals sure sets my heart racing. And wait till you see the florals in this incredible wedding – Heike of Fleur le Cordeur has truly wowed us again! Bride Rieke started off with a palette of duck egg blue and coral, and rustic wood texture, and a passion for peonies so strong that it determined her wedding date to hubby Jurgens (a girl after my own heart!). Heike added in bright pops of purple and orange and yellow and blue, dreamy greenery chandeliers, orchid-strewn flower crowns, and a statement flower-decked wall. Antique botanical prints added an elegant antiquey feel, and even Rieke’s gorgeous gown sported a garden’s worth of tulle blooms. From the groom’s velvet blazer to the foodtruck at cocktail hour, to the sparkly-topped lilac bridesmaid dresses, we’re loving every single detail, and who better to capture it all than the lovely Cari of Cari Photography?Read More

Lush Floral Wedding at Forest 44 by Justin Davis {Erine & Niel}

by gaby

With greenery and foliage weddings being such a huge trend at the moment, sometimes I forget how much I adore weddings that are awash with blooms. And then something special crosses my desk, like today’s gorgeous wedding from photographer Justin Davis. I swear, it took me all of five seconds to fall in love – the bright colours, the hydrangea-filled bouquets, the garden feeling of the wooden planters, the hanging roses, and can we just talk about how much I adore the ‘Come Away with Me’ box hanging above the main table? It’s all just SO romantic. And I’m also crazy for the way that this sense of (slightly vintage) romance translates to the bride’s beautiful lace gown, and the gorgeous getaway car. But I think my favourite of all is the couple’s how-we-met and proposal stories… I dare you to read them without a huge smile on your face! :)Read More

Wedding Flowers: Hydrangeas

by gaby

Image: J. Crew

It’s been a while since I did a focus on just one flower type, but I think that a shout out for hydrangeas is long overdue. Along with the trends for lush but affordable flowers as well as watercolour/ombre, hydrangeas have become way more popular in the last couple of years, and I couldn’t be happier about it. There’s something about them that just epitomises summer for me. They also come in a beautiful range of colours (even within the same bloom – hence the watercolour effect). There’s just one caveat: these are seasonal flowers, and they’re usually at their peak for 2-3 weeks, changing colour as they go. So if you’re buying them yourself (or even sometimes if you’re using a florist), you may need to be a little bit flexible on the exact shade you’re using. That said, they’re worth it for their price point and ability to fill up a bouquet with a small number of blooms. Use them on their own, or together with other flowers – both ways are truly lovely. Here are some of my absolute favourite hydrangea bouquets and arrangements.Read More

Wedding Wreaths

by gaby

Sources: Meg Perotti /The Stylish Soiree via Style Me Pretty (left); Paula O’Hara Photography/Laurens Norton via Southern Weddings (right) 

It’s the ciiiiiiircle of liiiiife…. Okay okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic (and also? the last time you’ll hear me singing a song a) by Elton John and b) from a musical), but there’s no denying that a circle is an appropriate symbol at a wedding. It represents connectedness, eternity, the wedding rings. And when it’s made out of flowers – well, it’s just so gosh darn purdy. I’ve been noticing wreaths all over weddings for a while now, and every time I do they catch my attention, so today I thought we’d just bask a little in the eye candy.Read More

Flowers in her Hair

by gaby

So a couple of weeks ago I featured a roundup of beautiful birdcage veils, but if your style is more bohemian than retro, I have a bridal accessory trend that’s just for you. Brides with flowers in their hair are nothing new (although they’ve gained a lot of popularity as an alternative to veils in the last couple of years), but recently I have been seeing a bloom of brides wearing full-on floral crowns. And you guys, I LOVE them! Once the preserve of ’80s flowergirls, the new wave of flower wreaths are soft and sweet but with a bold, high fashion edge. They’re not subtle, but boy are they beautiful. Check out these lovelies…

The great thing is that you can combine the crowns with short or long hair, which makes this one of the most wearable trends (although it works best with soft curls, whatever the length). You can use fresh or fake blooms, and customise your wreath to suit your colours and bouquet. You can choose to keep it on all day, or just for your ceremony or photos. You can also choose how big you want to go, depending on the blossoms you choose. It’s so flexible. And you can also choose to use the look for one or all of your bridesmaids or flower girls, although I really like the statement it makes on a bride.

Image sources (top to bottom, left to right): 1- Meg Perotti; 2- Adene Photography via The Pretty Blog; 3- Blooms by Martha Andrews via Style Me Pretty; 4- Clayton Austin via Green Wedding Shoes; 5- Simply Bloom Photography via Green Wedding Shoes; 6- welovepictures via The Pretty Blog; 7- which goose; 8- Mignonne Handmade & Ventola Photography via Green Wedding Shoes; 9- Simply Bloom Photography; 10- So Happi Together via 100 Layer Cake