Here at SouthBound Bride, I love bringing you all the latest trends. As you know, I believe that each wedding should be an expression of a couple’s unique style and personality, but it doesn’t hurt to get a sense of the ideas that are floating around out there. Eventually, those ideas can get a little repetitive. And while in some ways that doesn’t matter (remember that most of your guests don’t sit on wedding blogs all day and won’t have seen it before), it can be fun to consider fresh twists and new options. So here are eight of my top alternatives for creating your favourite effects.
Here’s my disclaimer: I’ve loved and promoted all of the ‘old’ ideas here, and I’m nobody’s fashion police. So if you love something, you DO IT. This is just about being creative and exploring other avenues along the way!
Tag: pink
Inspiration Board: Cape Dutch
Oh I do love Inspiration Board Monday. These babies are one of my favourite things about running the site, and I’ve been getting lots of requests from you for boards for your weddings – keep ’em coming! Today’s scheme is one which is HUGE news in the South African wedding scene, and an awesome next step for brides who have loved the Victorian country vintage look of the last two years but want something slightly fresher. With this look, you can still use your proteas, still use your vintage touches, but instead of sticking to soft pinks and neutrals, you combine it with navy blue. My prediction is that you’ll see a lot of this colour next season. It reminds me a little of the Dutch still life themed tables which I have seen a few times recently, especially when combined with Delft pottery in blue and white. As I mentioned in my Love List this weekend, the look is particularly apt for the South African market, what with having so many wedding venues that include Cape Dutch architecture. Enjoy!
Colours: Navy, white, pink and neutrals
Top row (l-r): Bridesmaids’ dresses {S: Amy Bridges Events; Verite Photography}; cupcake; bride {S: Kirkbrides; P: Arielle Doneson Photography}; books and watches {S: Kirkbrides; P: Arielle Doneson Photography}; protea decor {P: Love Made Visible}
Row 2: Delft table plan {S: Aleit; P: Glee Photography}; protea bouquet {P: Love Made Visible}; lace and navy invitation {D: The Paper Guppy; S: Revel & Bloom; P: Trulife Photography}; quails eggs {S: Canvas and Canopy; P: Braedon Photography}; navy tables {S: Engaging Affairs; P: Liga Photography}
Row 3: Curtain and chair {P: Exhibit Emotions}; protea; table decor with candelabra {P: Love Made Visible}; Delft plates; Cape Dutch homestead {Babylonstoren}.
Real Wedding at the Mount Nelson Hotel {Heide & Greg}
When I was in high school, I used to spend the afternoons at my mother’s office. At some point I discovered a second hand bookshop down the road, where I used to spend a fair amount of browsing time. And, you know, I have a literature degree, so I’m a little embarrassed to admit that they weren’t stocked with Shakespeare, but rather row upon row of Harlequin Romance. So unfortunately, I’m qualified to tell you that two doctors in love? Is straight out of a romance novel. This particular love story has a sweet beginning, an enviable proposal, and a beautiful wedding captured perfectly by new-to-SBB photographer Moira West. Heide had me at hello with that pearl headband, but the iconic Cape Town location (the Mount Nelson Hotel), the carnation bridesmaid bouquets (I TOLD you they were back!), the abundance of roses and the classic pink and grey colour scheme had more than enough to keep me interested, right through to the happy ending.Read More
Real Wedding at Knysna Elephant Park {Caroline & Keith}
As a proudly South African wedding blog, one of the things I want SBB to do is to showcase the depth and breadth of awesome that getting married here in my lovely homeland offers. Sometimes, that includes something REALLY special and uniquely Saffa, and that’s what you’ll find in today’s wedding. It doesn’t get more African than having a herd of elephants among your guests (although, I should point out, for all the foreigners who think that we live in huts and ride to work on impalas, that this is a pretty unusual experience, even for us!). Keith and Caroline are two of our own, now living overseas, and they wanted a wedding that really honoured their heritage. They chose to get married at Knysna Elephant Park on the Garden Route, an extraordinary venue where the couple and guests can get up close and personal with the resident herd. I just love this idea, and what makes it even better is that the park makes such a valuable contribution to elephant conservation. Add in an intimate, close-knit family group, a pretty pink and pewter colour scheme, a wonderful photographer (Judy Stofberg of Just Judy) and a very happy bride and groom, and you have the loveliest of lovely South African weddings.Read More
Inspiration Board: Pastel Protea
Happy Monday my friends! Sorry last week was a little quiet – I’m afraid it was just one of those weeks. Anyway, today I have a board that I am SO in love with. And even better, I got to create it for a friend. The lovely Louise came into my dear friend Sven’s life a little while back and he was immediately smitten, so we were all thrilled when they announced their engagement. They’ll be getting married in Natal next year, and are planning a brunch wedding (so fun!). When Louise described what she was after, I immediately knew what she was looking for, since it’s a look that I’d had in the back of my mind for ages, and I think it came together beautifully. It uses soft pink and green, proteas, brown paper (how much do I love the table plan?), chalkboard and watercolour, and I’ve added in a few pretty paper details as well. Isn’t it lovely? Oh, and look out for brunch ideas coming your way this Wednesday if you’re also planning a morning wedding!
Colours: Soft pink, green and neutrals
Top row (l-r): Bride with single bloom protea bouquet (Jose Villa); brown paper escort cards (Katie Stoops); pastel table arrangement (White Room Events/Pobke Photography); chalkboard pancake menu (Green Wedding Shoes/Lauryl Lane/My Bride Story/Birds of a Feather); wish jar (White Room Events/Pobke Photography)
Row 2: Tablescape (White Room Events/Jennifer Sando); watercolour wedding invitation suite (oh my deer); bride and groom with pancakes (Green Wedding Shoes/Lauryl Lane/My Bride Story/Birds of a Feather); papel picado decorations (Erica Velasco)
Row 3: Brown paper menu/favour bag (Nancy Liu Chin via Snippet & Ink); protea bouquet (White Room Events/Jennifer Sando); brown paper table list; doily details (source unknown); bride with bridesmaids (Jose Villa)
Real Wedding at Clouds Estate {Ine & Riaan}
Attitude, baby. It’s all about attitude. In life, in work – even in weddings. The truth is (and I need to remind myself of this a LOT), that there’s a limited amount of control you have over the material you have to work with every day, but the one thing you always have control over is how you deal with it. I don’t know today’s bride, but I feel like she gets that. She planned her Clouds Estate wedding herself (with lots of help from friends and family) and put a lot of thought and effort into the perfectly pink details (how much do I love the Mr and Mrs style favours?). But on the day, she let it all go and spent her day basking in marrying her husband and spending time with all the people she loves. You just need to take one look at her radiant smile in these absolutely gorgeous photos by Lauren Kriedemann to know that kind of attitude was working for her, and then some! So even if you usually skip the text, make sure you read it today, because Iné really has some great, down-to-earth advice!Read More
Real Wedding at Kleinevalleij {Candy & Nic}
Well bake me a cake and call me Martha. If this isn’t one of the sweetest weddings! Sweet like sugar. Sweet like candy! ;) Candy and Nic chose one of the breeziest venues in the Cape (the light, bright, white-washed Kleinevalleij) and the loveliest of colour schemes (grey and pink, which I still heart bigtime), and created a little piece of heaven for their family and friends. There were pretty shoes, and ribbons, and a fairytale dress, and roses, and sugar and spice and all things nice. And proteas, you guys. I never get sick of looking at them, and I adore the table arrangements and bouquets in this wedding. I also LOVE the little fabric hearts on each chair, and the way that the wooden fan favours have been integrated into the place settings. Not to mention the lovely stationery, designed by the bride herself. And here’s the kicker – absolutely BEAUTIFUL photographs by Jani B. It is, quite simply, the kind of wedding that little girls dream about. Oh, and Nic – seriously awesome proposal skills, dude. You should give seminars.Read More
Inspiration Board: Candyfloss & Lemonade
Ah, summer. There’s nothing like it. And for the most part, this British summer has been nothing like it. Which is why I’m off to Greece on Friday, woohoo! But in the meantime, I’m dreaming of a lighthearted beach wedding in shades of candy pink and warm yellow, with candyfloss and pinwheels and bunting and ribbon and stripy straws, and everything that makes a day at the beach carefree and wonderful transported into a wedding. You could even have a cake made to look like a sandcastle, and why not? Compliment your decor with soft flowers including cute Billy balls, and dress your bridesmaids in adorable alternating pink and yellow dresses. Oh, and don’t forget the popsicles/lollies! I love the idea of making alcoholic versions of these and serving them to your guests instead of cocktails. How cute would that be?
Colours: Pink and yellow
Top row (l-r): Candyfloss; flip flops (Natalie Spencer); bride door sign (Kristen Weaver Photography); pink and yellow bouquet (Honey & Poppies); heart sweets (Creative Push)
Row 2: Summer love sign (Sarah Layne Photography); sunglasses; beachy dessert table (Party Dreamz/Frog Prince Paperie); pink and yellow bunting (Stephanie Cristalli); lollies
Row 3: Bride with bridesmaids (Kai Heeringa); ribbon garland (Party Dreamz/Frog Prince Paperie); ribbon wands (Cameron + Kelly/Sedona Bride); lemonade with stripy straws.
Real Wedding at The Foodbarn {Amy & James}
One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve heard, and that I always pass on to couples in the early stages of wedding planning, is to pick three priorities together. Three things you want to make sure are exactly as you want them on your big day, no compromises, spare no expense. And then – this is the important part – let the other stuff go. If it’s not going 100% according to plan, let it go. If you can’t afford it, find a cheaper alternative. If you don’t have time to DIY it, let someone do it for you, or buy it, or do without. Prioritisation keeps you sane. I don’t know if anyone passed this little nugget on to today’s bride and groom, but they seemed to get it anyway. They’re foodies, so they chose a venue with incredible food (The Foodbarn in Noordhoek). They didn’t have time to go crazy with the decor, so they found a place that already had lots of unique and lovely design details and just added special, personal touches. They wanted to spend time with their guests, so they did a pre-ceremony shoot with photographer Nielen Bottomley. It all comes together into a beautiful, intimate wedding with a pretty pink and grey colour palette, that feels completely unforced and unhurried. I love it. And of course, I especially love that Amy used Cap Classique in her planning. We inspired her – and now she’s inspiring us!Read More
Inspiration Board: Message in a Bottle
Happy Monday lovelies! I’ve been dreaming up this inspiration board for months, ever since I saw the line of dresses in the second row. I just love how the soft pinks and blues work with beach neutrals and a touch of dark grey, and it reminded me of a beautiful beach sunset. There’s a dreamy, castaway feeling to this palette, and it would make for the most romantic of seaside weddings! As always, the key is in the textures – a billowy bride’s dress, fabric floating in the breeze, and coloured glass, contrasted with rustic touches like raffia, coral and shells, and indigenous foliage like brunia. I’m obsessed with the astilbe bouquet, and I think it would be perfect to complete the look. Plus, don’t you love the sailor’s knot favours/escort cards? I pretty much just want to dive into this board and stay in it forever. If only… ;)
Colours: Pastel pink, blue, white and slate grey
Top row (l-r): Beach sunset with boat (Millie Holloman); sailor’s knot favours (Simply Bloom Photography); couple on beach (welovepictures); bottles (Millie Holloman)
Row 2: Dresses (Lane Dittoe); astilbe bouquet (Windy Dougall); urchin place setting (Elizabeth Messina); cake (Elizabeth Messina); torches (Elizabeth Messina)
Row 3: Couple with banners (Bella Sera Event Design/She Wanders); map (Bella Sera Event Design/She Wanders); flowers (Simply Bloom Photography); ceremony seating (Elizabeth Messina).