Elopement en Vogue by Green Goddess & Debbie Lourens

When I put out a call for elopements and intimate weddings among our favourite SBB wedding pros, I was absolutely thrilled to receive this stylish gem by Green Goddess flower studio, with beautiful images by Debbie Lourens – one of those submissions I just think of as a ‘hell yes’. With a sort of 1950s Italian Vogue feel, it tells the story of a pair of starry-eyed lovers and a surprise elopement. Totally adorable, and incredibly romantic! I just love everything about it, from the bride’s gorgeous Gavin Rajah dress and coat to the flower-embellished umbrella, and the cake display that’s almost too pretty to eat. And even though it’s an editorial, I love the intimate, fun feeling that the team managed to create – the same feeling I imagine that a real couple would experience if they pulled off this wedding coup. This, friends, is why elopements are awesome.Read More

Forest Foliage Wedding Inspiration from the NEW Wedding Inspirations Magazine

Hooray, lovelies! It’s that time again, when you can grab a brand new copy of Wedding Inspirations magazine from the local newsagent, pour a large cup of coffee (or glass of wine – it’s five o’ clock somewhere) and thumb through its pretty pages to your heart’s content. As always, there’s a ton of inspiration in store for you in the new issue, and we’re delighted to be sharing just a little slice of it here. This particular little editorial focuses on foliage, which as you’ll have gathered by now, is one of 2015’s loveliest trends. Don’t get me wrong, flowers are forever, but as Carol-Anne Frey & Andre Sonnekus, the team behind the shoot, say: “Foliage is finally enjoying its day in the sun. It’s nature’s answer to organic, budget-friendly decor that lends itself to just about any theme or venue.” So let’s get to enjoying a bit of this gorgeous greenery, shall we?Read More

Marsala Romance by Nyx Photography {Plus Poached Figs in Red Wine Recipe}

Happy Thursday, lovely friends! It feels like the long weekend has already begun, but we have lots more inspiration to bring to your pretty faces first. Yay! I’ve been looking forward to sharing this particular shoot for a while – and it’s in this year’s hottest colour, Marsala! Okay, I have mixed feelings about Marsala, but I definitely don’t have mixed feelings about how lovely the Marsala tones look on this particular tablescape and dashing couple. The team behind the shoot, including Natalie Loots of Nyx Photography and Colleen from Lieflingkind Design, used natural berry shades from fruits like pomegranates and grapes, alongside the loveliest watercolour-style stationery – and of course, lush Marsala blooms, and dresses for the ‘bride’. The end result feels a little baroque without being over the top, and has a lovely sense of natural abundance. Plus! Natalie sent over a recipe for the figs – just for you!Read More

Spanish-inspired Styled Boudoir by Angie Capri

There’s nothing I like more than opening up my inbox to find some amazing inspiration, and when I saw this styled session by the fabulous Angie Capri, there was a lot of oohing going on. Angie always shoots beautiful boudoir, but she really takes it up to a whole ‘nother level here, with an absolutely gorgeous palette, original concept, and spectacular images which serve to inspire not just visually, but in bringing confidence to brides to be. I also love how it’s sexy, but very tasteful – if the idea of posing in your undies isn’t for you, it just shows that a boudoir session can be as covered up as you want it to be without losing any of the spark! That’s why, alongside a bath lined with sequins (which let’s be honest, I want to basically live in now), my favourite detail is the mirror calligraphed with the words: ‘Confidence is the most beautiful accessory’. Spot on. That’s exactly true!Read More

Green & Gold Wedding Inspiration by Mint Photography

Here in South Africa, we love our green and gold – for us it isn’t just a pretty colour combo, but the one our sportsmen wear, two of the colours from our flag, colours of the green land we call home and the gold that runs through its veins deep beneath the earth. So I can’t actually think of a better palette for a South African wedding than this one, but just because you pick green and gold doesn’t mean your wedding has to end up looking like game day at Ellis Park. In fact, if you’re lucky, it might look a little like today’s breathtakingly gorgeous editorial, which comes to us all the way from Austin, Texas, and a very talented group of wedding pros there who put it together. It’s the perfect mix of rustic and romantic, and has a cosy glow that makes it an elegant choice for an autumn or winter wedding. From the lush greenery arch to the groupings of gold-dipped candles and gold wax-sealed stationery, from the amazing wood-textured cake to the bride’s oh-so-delicate beaded crown, and most especially the dreamy film photography from Kelly at Mint Photography, this is pure inspiration.Read More

This Searching Heart: Woodland Fairytale Inspiration by Gingerale Photography & Absolute Perfection

You guys, I have something so special in store for you today! You know, back in high school, one of my favourite things was my homework diary. Not because of the homework, obvs, but because I used to decorate mine so meticulously with images I cut out of magazines. Particularly fashion editorials. Here were these beautiful images, and it always made me so sad that they’d just sit in an old mag and be forgotten. I loved choosing them and using them. I think that’s where I might have fallen in love with photography. I can’t believe that today I get to play with gorgeous images for a living, and today’s shoot reminds me why that’s such a joy and a privilege, because this styled shoot from Gingerale Photography and Absolute Perfection is sheer beauty and creativity. And yes, there’s some absolutely gorgeous wedding inspiration there – the most amazing woodland-style cakes, and dresses, and canapes, and stationery, and styling – but this is the kind of editorial where you can just sink in and immerse yourself in the loveliness. (With the water shots, it reminds me a bit of the story of Ophelia, except in this case, Hamlet stops fannying about with philosophy and rescues his drowning girlfriend. Go Hamlet.) I went a bit overboard on the number of images, but what can you do? They were too wonderful to cut! Enjoy…Read More

An English Country Garden Styled Shoot by josie photography

It’s time for some Friday prettiness folks, courtesy of the lovely Josie of josie photography. This sweet little styled shoot was inspired by the legend of Camelot, and it really does have an idyllic English country garden feeling – you can just imagine Arthur and Guinevere prancing about in these green and pleasant surroundings. But more than that, there’s some fresh inspiration for rustic brides in the real world too – gorgeous flowers in the perfect spring or summer palette, soft botanical touches, and of course a bride crowned with flowers. And hello, proteas. We just can’t get enough of them this week, it seems! :)Read More

Contemporary Cinderella Styled Shoot by Samantha Jackson

Hidey ho, brideys, happy Friday! It’s time for some editorial inspiration, courtesy of the lovely Samantha Jackson Photography. The theme for this one was a loose ‘vintage versus glamour’ style, with two separate tables sure to please both modern and vintage glamour brides! There’s also a cute shoe theme (because who doesn’t love SHOES, right?), with lots of pretty footwear from Anella, and did I mention, absolutely gorgeous dresses by Janita Toerien and Eve’s Bridal? From head to toe to table, there’s plenty here to inspire. And unlike actual Cinderella, you’ll get to take both your glass slippers home at the end of the night.Read More

Poppies & Pastels Styled Shoot by Davene Prinsloo

Happy Friday friends! Can you believe we’re almost at the end of January? I refuse to start looking ahead to autumn though (not quite yet, anyway!), and today’s styled shoot is absolutely perfect for keeping that spring/summer vibe alive. With a mix of watercolour detailing (including a beautiful ombre dress!), sparkly gold and pops of poppy poppiness, it’s absolutely perfect for a romantic beach wedding. Davene Prinsloo and her team were on the scene to capture every detail and make each one count.Read More

Frozen Fairytale Styled Shoot from the New Wedding Inspirations Magazine

On a day like today, where every fan in the house is on full blast and I’m still wilting at my desk, it seems a million miles away to be featuring an editorial shoot with misty castles and frozen gems, but that’s another reason why I love it so much! Loosely inspired by Disney’s Frozen, it’s the tale of a princess who is trapped in a freezing castle, dreaming of escape and a world of colour and sunlight and laughter. But even though it’s so fantastical, at the heart of these gorgeous images is a set of super inspiring wedding details, from berry-laden table and cake, to the most GORGEOUS gowns by Gavin Rajah, that would make any bride feel like an absolute princess. We’re sharing this shoot from the pages of the current Wedding Inspirations magazine, and inside you’ll find all the info you need to reproduce this stunning wintery look from the lovely Celeste Potgieter of Celeste Styled Events, as well as loads more wonderful wedding inspiration, so do grab a copy today. In the meantime, let’s sit back and enjoy these beautiful images by Claire Harries and Kristi Agier.Read More