We’re heading for the bushveld this Monday morning, my favourite place to be (and holy cannoli, I really need to go again soon because it has been WAY too long). This gorgeous shoot comes from our friends, the talented duo of Jack & Jane Photography, who headed for Lion Sands reserve in order to capture a creative take on a real life bushveld fairytale. With soft fabrics, dramatic florals and makeup, and that great big African sky, it’s my kinda romance.
You know what I love to bits? This couple. Seriously, Dominique and Jason are so much a pair after my own heart, a twosome who love the South African bushveld and know how to throw a great party. Oh, and let’s not leave out Dominique’s love of shweshwe, which she used throughout their gorgeous wedding. Throw in a team of awesome wedding pros making the big day happen in the heat of Limpopo summer (including fab photographer Liesl le Roux), proteas, little gold safari animals, and a dreamy dress, and you have a wedding that’s as SouthBound-fabulous as you can possibly imagine! Game lodge brides and grooms take note – this is how to do a bush wedding oh so right.
Happy Valentine’s Day, lovelies! Totally one of my favourite days of the year. And to celebrate, I have a dreamy styled engagement shoot to share with you today that is truly South African! Kyle and Lindsay love the bushveld, so for their couple sesh, they settled on a glamorous safari shoot. They chose Glen Afric as their location – a wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation centre with an outstanding reputation for animal care, which was also the filming location for the BBC series Wild at Heart. They took a walk in the bush in their finery (including that iconic Silver Swallow gown!) and came across the facility’s elephant family, who let’s be honest, totally steal the show! Marissa of Studio40Six was on scene to capture the magic.
Happy Monday, lovely ones! Spring has sprung, the sun is out in Durban and it has me wanting to get out of my winter cocoon and out into nature. Which is pretty appropriate, since this month on SBB, we’re all about wild beauty – everything from boho to desert chic to game lodge weddings and back again. And there’s really no better way to kick that off on a South African blog than to head into our own wild place, the breathtaking bushveld, for some inspiration. I absolutely ADORE aloes, so the first thing that struck me about this gorgeous shoot from Charl van der Merwe (commissioned for the rebrand of the Mohatjane venue) was the backdrop of tall aloes, and of course, the bride’s incredible dress. There’s a lovely marriage here between earthy and glam: a palette of mixed neutrals with a touch of shimmery copper; succulents and seed pods with elegant white orchids (and a gold-foiled, orchid topped cake); a rustic wooden table laid with vintagey luxe decor; a table for two in the bush and a serving of champagne. It’s basically the perfect inspiration for an elegant safari-style wedding!
I think we all know by now that the South African bushveld is my happy place – everything about it makes me calm and joyful, and grateful for this beautiful country I get to call home. So safari-style weddings are kind of my wedding happy place too, especially when they’re pulled together as beautifully as this one! Chris-Marie and Heinrich chose to marry on the family farm near Pretoria and literally built their venue in the middle of the bush from scratch – laying the floors, making the tables, digging up the aloes that they used as decorations. A little oasis of wedding elegance in the middle of nature – and that’s just what their wedding reflects: natural, earthy goodness. There are so many details here to love – the hanging wreaths of greenery, the little stations built to make guests more comfortable (or well-watered) along the way, right down the bridesmaids unique (and gorgeous) skirt and top combos. And as if I couldn’t love it all more already, there’s a dash of copper glam to complement all those beautiful neutrals in the palette. Rianka’s Wedding Photography took these gorgeous pics – and there’s a bumper lot of them today! Too many pretty details to narrow down – and why would I? Like I say. Happy place.
Earlier today we shared Sandra and Murray’s gorgeous bushveld black tie wedding, but we have an one more treat in store before we’re done. The couple, who have a “farm in Ahfrihcah” in the Free State (where their wedding was held), also organised to have a gorgeous safari-style engagement shoot with their photographer, Wil Punt of Peartree Photography. With a few well-chosen props, a gorgeous sunset and a camp fire, they created something really special to reflect their love of Africa and their new home. It’s so fabulously ‘Out of Africa’ that you can almost hear Mozart floating out from a gramophone across the plains. Beautiful.Read More
Last week, an impressive little envelope landed in my postbox. The kind of paper you want to run your fingers over, with an old-school wax seal on the back. Inside was a thick letterpress invitation, an extra that today’s lovely bride Sandra shared with me ahead of our feature today. The dress code: strictly black tie – full length dresses for the ladies, tuxedos for the men, and white frocks and flower crowns for the little madams. That invitation really set the tone for Sandra and Murray’s chic wedding, introducing their guests to a world of ballroom formal and Out of Africa safari style that took place right on the couple’s farm in the Free State. I just adore everything about this look, from Sandra’s red-lipped mantilla-ed bridal style to the orchid laden tables, all with the most incredible bush backdrop (all captured beautifully by photographer Wil Punt). And today, we’re extending the invitation to you too. The pleasure of your company is requested… PS You can see Sandra and Murray’s awesome safari engagement shoot here.Read More
Today’s wedding is such a happy mix of some of my favourite trends. There’s a little bit of floral print (love those napkins) and pop of pink colour against a palette of neutrals in the flower choice (orchids, such an elegant bloom, and a personal choice for the bride). There’s a touch of sparkle (amazing bridesmaids dresses alert!), and a whisper of lace (ditto for the wedding dress!). There’s a bit of rustic, a hint of vintage, and of course a safari feel thanks to the Garden Route Game Lodge location. And even though it’s an eclectic mixture in some ways, it totally works. Like the wedding equivalent of ‘these are a few of my favourite things’. (That song’s going to be in your head for the rest of the day now, SORRY.) The lovely Luzanne and her hubby Jean pulled off a fabulous weekend fete, and photographer Nelis Engelbrecht, was there to capture every perfect moment.Read More
Happy Monday, lovelies! It’s time for our weekly colour inspiration, and today we’re bringing you a board that would be perfect for a glam safari wedding, or one where the couple want to showcase their love of Africa. It started with the image top left for me – I just loved the idea of a gold zebra print paired with navy and elegant flowers like white orchids. For this look, you’ll want to stay subtle with the animal print details (although I’ve sneaked in some lion cakes and gold animal swizzle sticks (also a great idea for place settings), which allows the overall look to be sophisticated and not too themey. As an extra nod to safari style, I love the idea of leather luggage tag favours. Add in groomsmen and bridesmaids in smart navy, touches of glamorous gold including a cuff for the bride, and an ultra modern cake (not seen a navy one before – don’t you love it?), and you have the perfect combination for bushveld black tie.
Colours: Navy, gold, white
Top row (l-r): Invitation with zebra envelope {Blue Rose Photography/Simply by Tamara Nicole}; navy suit {Du Wayne Denton/House of Monatic}; navy cake {Cindy Gannon Photography/Georges Chakra}; gold animal swizzle sticks
Row 2: Lion cakes {Stephanie Wiley Photography/Bloom Designs Online}; zebra print invitation {Max Koliberdin Photography/Two Oranges/Katrin Krasnostanova}; gold shoes {Mango Studios/Melissa Andre Events}; leather luggage tag favours {HarLex}
Row 3: navy bridesmaid dresses {Miki and Sonja Photography/XOXO BRIDE}; orchid bouquet {Joey + Jessica Weddings/Tiger Lily Weddings}; place setting {The Nichols/Pearl Events}; bride with gold cuff
My love for the South African bushveld is not undocumented – in fact, I’m pretty sure I tell you all how much I lurve it every time I feature a bush wedding on the blog. But it’s a love that runs deep – so deep, in fact, that it was my dad’s major complaint about my last boyfriend. How could you really love me, he reasoned, if you didn’t love the bushveld? Ten points, Dad. So I really appreciate a couple who not only shares this feeling of mine but who, even when not getting married at a game lodge, managed to infuse their wedding with some of the same vibe. For Jill and Mike, it was through cheeky touches – wooden giraffes on the tables, bridesmaids in an adorable animal print (it sounds wrong, but it looked oh so right!), succulents and beautiful protea bouquets. But this was no cheesy safari-themed event – with the elegant backdrop of the Hilton estate and an outdoor marquee, a chic updo and layers of tulle for the bride and a gentle palette of black and white with soft pinks and greens, this is every bit the classic formal wedding. It’s a delicious combination pulled off perfectly, and photographed perfectly by Vanilla Photography. Oh, and can we get a shout out to some awesome groom styling – loving Mike’s gingham tie!Read More