Tag: Trends & Ideas

Travel Themed Wedding Trends Reloaded

by gaby

I’ve heard planners calling it the wedding trend that just won’t die – and it’s true, in that I’ve been writing about travel-themed weddings for about as long as I’ve been blogging. But there’s a reason why this motif isn’t going away, and that’s because it’s meaningful. You guys – i.e. the only people who really matter when it comes to planning your big day – love travelling or you’ve travelled together, or you come from different places, or you’ve done long distance. Travel is part of your story, and it’s the story you want to share with your guests. We get that, and that’s why November is dedicated to travel themed weddings. BUT. SBB is in the business not only of helping you tell your story, but doing it with style. And sure, we could just reshare all the same ideas (the ones that have made this roundup, and this follow-up two of our most popular posts), but you only have to search Pinterest to find any of those. We’re all about fresh takes and new angles, and that’s what I hope to bring you through November. So there’s no better way to kick things off than with a reload of the travel-themed wedding ideas that have been around the longest and are a little… done. Of course, if you love them, that won’t matter – but here’s some food for thought in creating the same effect in an updated way.Read More

Black Wedding Cakes

by gaby

We don’t usually post on a Saturday, but since it’s Halloween I just couldn’t resist doing a roundup of black cakes because oh my gosh they are so surprisingly pretty! As it happens, black (and navy) cakes are actually a big trend at the moment and are more elegant than eerie, more gorgeous than Goth. And why not? Black bridesmaid dresses have already proved what an air of sophistication and style they can add, and black wedding dresses have conquered the runway (and the aisle). Now it’s time for darker cakes to have their moment, and once you’ve seen this lot, you’ll understand why! Oh, and ps – happy all hallows, lovelies! Hope your weekend is more treat than trick ;)Read More

20 Utterly Gorgeous Peony Bouquets

by gaby

I saw an article the other day that was all ‘every single wedding these days has peonies, boring, snark blah blah’ and I laughed, because in South Africa we wish we had that problem. Peonies unfortunately are few and far between for our brides, although in the past few years it’s been a pleasure to see their use in weddings increasing – at least during the tiny short window in which they’re available. Which is basically now, you guys. End October, early November, they briefly show their beautiful fluffy faces and we fall in love with them all over again. So in honour of peony season, I decided to round up 20 seriously amazing peony bouquets. Flowerswoon!Read More

Two-piece Wedding Dresses

by gaby

I remember the days when I wore crop tops. Now I’m not saying I’m old or anything (I am) but it was the ’90s. I worked all summer on my six pack (ha!) and I rocked the crop out of those babies for a couple of months. Now if I wore one, I’d scare the children. But for bolder (and fitter) brides than me, crop top and two piece wedding dresses are EVERYWHERE. And I have to say, I love them. Not just the crops, but the separates with filmy skirts and ballerina tops or intricate lace numbers – I find myself pinning them all the time, and next year will be even more so, since all my fave designers included some kind of separates at Bridal Fashion Week. So I thought it was high time that we did a collective SouthBound dress swoon over two piece gowns. Ready…? Swoon.Read More

15 Ways to Use Wine Barrels in Your Wedding Decor

by gaby

Y’all already know that I am all about the details when it comes to wedding decor, and when it comes to winelands weddings, there are a couple of details that can really add an elegantly rustic vineyard ‘theme’ to complement the venue. We’ll be rounding up a whole lot of these ideas soon, but for today, we’re focusing on one of my favourites: wooden wine barrels. I never get tired of seeing these at real weddings – I don’t know why, but there’s something so romantic about them as a feature piece, maybe because they bring to mind the French countryside, or a vintage cellar. Whatever the reason, they’re lovely, and the good news is that they’re also pretty versatile in terms of how you can use them. Here are 15 of my favourite ideas from around the web.Read More

20 Escort Card Displays & Table Plans for Spring Weddings

by gaby

Happy Friday lovelies! I am away for the long weekend (as, I know, are many of you all!) so I thought I would simply bring you a fun little roundup. Escort card displays are one of those details that aren’t strictly necessary in terms of getting too fussed, but I have to admit that it’s one wedding detail that always captures my imagination when it’s done well, and makes an event’s design stand apart. I think it’s because it’s a great way to showcase something about your theme without being too themey, about your story without having to make it a theme, or something about your season or venue that just adds to the whole ambience of the reception. So I’m a fan. And for that reason, I’ve been trawling the webs, picking out my favourite plans and displays that are absolutely PERFECT for a sweet spring wedding. Whether they incorporate spring blooms, fruits, or motifs like birds/eggs or gardening, each of these is sure to make your guests take notice, and set the mood for the most perfect spring celebration.Read More

Flowers in Season: Spring

by gaby

Hello lovelies! It might not look like spring outside my window today, but TECHNICALLY we’re supposed to be all about this fresh new season, so I thought it was the perfect time to take a squizz at some seriously gorgeous spring bouquets. Seasonal flowers are a big thing with me – I really think that whatever time of year you choose to get married in, you’ll get the most beautiful, vibrant blooms when you go seasonal. And spring… well, when it comes to flowers, spring is king. We’ve already covered autumn and winter in this series, matching up some drop-dead amazing bouquets with invitations, and highlighting seasonal blooms, and today we get to play with some of my all-time favourite flowers. Hello, peonies! Let’s have a look, shall we… Read More

Floral Wedding Dresses

by gaby

If there’s one trend that has just EXPLODED all over the runways and new collections this year, it’s flowers and floral prints. And these are not like your typical flowery dress, oh no. Combine gorgeous colours, pretty prints and watercolour effects with bridal shapes and dreamy fabrics, and you get something truly spectacular – real little works of botanical art. I’m stoked that a couple of our real brides over the years have been ahead of this curve, but I’ve seen so many pretty examples on the wedding web of late that I couldn’t wait to share my favourites with you in a roundup. And since our theme for July is ‘Greenhouse’, there’s never been a better time!Read More

Wedding Hair Inspiration: Long & Loose

by gaby

We can’t talk beauty this month without talking hair, and since we’re all about the natural beauty in June, I thought it was only appropriate that we looked at some long & loose wedding styles. I’m personally a huge fan of the updo, but in real life, when I talk to my friends, they almost always tell me they’re thinking of a down do, often because their fiance prefers their hair down. And I have to say, after squizzing through many luscious long styles to put this roundup together (as well as having seen many of my friends radiant with natural hair in real life), I’m a bit of a convert – I honestly think brides should look the best version of themselves, and if an updo isn’t ‘you’, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t rock a glammed up version of your favourite style. So here we go – get ready for some top level hairography!Read More

Long Sleeve Bridesmaid Dresses

by gaby

You know what always makes me feel a bit sad? You know when you see those pictures of a winter or autumn wedding, and there’s the bride in some fancypants wrap or fur-look stole or whatever looking snug and cold-weather-stylish, and then you see the bridesmaids and they’re standing there in the same little strappy dresses that their summer cousins were wearing, freezing their bazoomas off. Shame. Of course, stylish wraps for the entire party are always an option, but recently a chic (and practical) option has been popping up in more and more real weddings – long sleeves! Yep, long sleeves aren’t just for the wedding gown now. From shiny sequined minis to sleek long black dresses, we are absolutely loving this look. So let’s get inspired! And shop. Because we can.Read More