wedding dresses - SouthBound Bride

A SouthBound Guide to Wedding Dress Silhouettes

16 August, 2016 by gaby

One of the things you take for granted when you’ve been wedding blogging as long as I have, is that the terminology that’s part of your everyday life isn’t necessarily something that all brides know, off the bat, when they get engaged. After all, you ladies have a lifetime of other things to think about! That’s why I love putting these guides together – quick visual references that give you the tools for your planning, whether that’s in choosing a veil, or deciding on the shape of your bouquet, type of cake, etc. A lot of us know dress silhouettes a bit better, but even if you know your ballgown from your mini, do you know your mermaid from your trumpet? So today we’re focusing on the different dress styles, and illustrating each with some of the most gorgeous gowns I could find on Etsy. Win-win!

BHLDN Wild Serenity Collection

11 August, 2016 by gaby

Stop press! Just in time for our month of fashion inspiration, BHLDN has released its latest collection of beautiful gowns, with the ethereal title ‘Wild Serenity’. Shot with the moody backdrop of the Irish countryside, and featuring amazing lace and embellishment detailing, the lookbook is like something out of Gaelic folkore – the dresses are just as magical. Scroll through and fall in love with both the images and the fashion, and then follow the links to grab one of them for your very own.

Mira Zwillinger Whisper of Blossom Collection

2 August, 2016 by gaby

I promised you guys an abundance of beautiful fashion this month, and I can’t think of a better collection to kick things off with than the 2017 Mira Zwillinger. Long time readers of the blog will know that we’ve been a fan of Mira’s since forever, and every year I look forward to sharing the new collection. Every year I say they couldn’t get more gorgeous, and then they do. This year is no exception. Nobody does ethereal, demure illusion lace like Mira Zwillinger, the embellishment on each gown so delicate it’s almost organic. If a dress could form itself out of flowers, Disney-style, then these would be it – and no wonder, as the collection was inspired by that moment of spring: “when the first buds of life appear on the naked branches, still shuddering from the cold winter… it’s that moment when nature starts to whisper and hum its tune of rebirth and renewal… the moment of pristine stillness, hinting at the eye-opening magnificence to come.” But don’t be fooled by how dainty they look. Having worked with Mira’s dresses on a shoot before, I know that as soft as they appear, each gown is exquisitely constructed. So let’s take a peek at the latest, most beautiful collection from one of my all-time favourite international designers. Dress swoon DELUXE.

Toujours Wedding House Boutique Tour

29 June, 2016 by gaby

Maybe it’s from watching too many movies, but when I think about wedding dress shopping, I picture a charming little shop full of soft light and plush chairs and flowers and champagne – a place where dreams are made, and where somewhere in amongst the silk, tulle and lace, that perfect wedding dress is just waiting for you to try it on and fall crazy in love, and share that amazing moment with your mum or best friend. Sadly, reality sometimes falls short of the fantasy. So you can imagine how thrilled I was last year to discover the most wonderful little boutique right here in Durban, tucked in amongst the leafy streets of Westville that I know so well. Toujours Wedding House is an absolute gem – a light, bright studio nestled off a sunny courtyard, with just the right amount of chic understated detail to let the gowns, veils and accessories take centre stage. Guiding her brides through their experience is owner Tracey Laubscher, who you immediately warm to like she’s an extra bridesmaid, and who knows and cherishes each dress in her collection like a favourite song. I couldn’t wait to go back to the boutique to do a special little tour, together with the talented Eileen Laubscher of Bright Girl Photography. We spent our morning drinking tea, shooting these beautiful images, and chatting to Tracey about what makes Toujours such a special place…

Daalarna Couture Ballet Collection

20 June, 2016 by gaby

I have SUCH a beautiful wedding collection to share with you lovelies today! I honestly struggled to narrow down the images for this one, because each and every dress in the collection is totally pin-worthy! Last year I shared Daalarna, the Hungarian couture bridal label, with you all for the first time, and now I’m delighted to spotlight the label’s new Ballet-inspired collection. I feel like ballet is having a real moment with bridal inspiration this year, probably because of the sleek silhouettes, ethereal fabrics and two-piece elements in the recent collections. I love it, because for me, a ballerina also epitomises so many of the qualities that brides wish to embody on their big day, like grace, passion, and elegance. You’ll find all of that in this collection, which took its cue from the beautiful Sleeping Beauty. In fact, the campaign photos below were shot on the set of the Hungarian National Ballet with the Ballet’s exceptional ballerina, Lili Felmery, bringing the collection to life. Let’s take a peek, shall we?

Elbeth Gillis 2017 Collection: Luxury

6 June, 2016 by gaby

It’s always a good day when we get to share the latest from one of our favourite South African wedding designers, Elbeth Gillis! Having dressed South African brides to perfection for years, Elbeth is now making waves overseas as well, and we couldn’t be happier to see foreign editors and brides-to-be discovering her collections. This year, there are two capsule collections, and today we’re highlighting the first. Called ‘Luxury’, it’s a line-up of eight sophisticated gowns, with an emphasis on backs and shoulders and the exquisite details that are Elbeth’s trademark. There are a variety of necklines and silhouettes, all made up from the most gorgeous fabrics: stretch satins, silk chiffons, lace overlays and tattoos. The only question? How to pick a favourite.

20 Breathtaking Blue Wedding Dresses

18 May, 2016 by gaby

Winter Wedding Dress by Reev Bridal

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

**Updated for 2020** Get ready for some serious dress love, my darlings! A while back, I rounded up some of the absolute DREAMIEST pastel gowns on SBB, and I haven’t stopped dreaming about them since. So when the theme for May was settled on as ‘Something Blue’, I couldn’t wait to go out and source some spectacular blue (and blue-grey) wedding gowns from our favourite online inspirational marketplace, Etsy. And my word, but did I ever find some beauties. Every single one of these blue wedding dresses has something that makes it extra special beyond just the colour (which let’s be honest, is pretty awesome on its own, from baby blue to ice blue to dusty blue!) – a lace detail here, a sparkle there, and a whole lot of cloud-soft tulle. If you weren’t thinking of a ‘something blue’ wedding gown before? Well, you will be now!

Julie Vino Santorini Collection

25 March, 2016 by gaby

Holiday! Celebrate! (You’ll be singing that all day now, sorrynotsorry.) Since today actually is a holiday, I thought it would be fun if you and I went on a holiday together – albeit a virtual one. I’ve picked one of my favourite destinations too, the glorious isle of Santorini in Greece, which is the inspiration and setting for Julie Vino‘s current collection. Sugarcube houses and sapphire seas, plus beautiful gowns, is a winning combination. It’s been a couple of years since we discovered Israeli designer Julie Vino, and her collections never fail to impress with their combination of sensual and feminine. This one is fit for a Grecian goddess – or just the luckiest of brides.

Robyn Roberts Collection 2016

14 March, 2016 by gaby

Over the years here on SBB, we’ve featured a lot of real weddings and gorgeous wedding dresses, but the days that there’s a Robyn Roberts gown on the books, are always special. One of SA’s top bridalwear talents, Robyn’s gowns walk that perfect line between modern and romantic, contemporary and whimsical, and make brides feel both like supermodels and princesses on their big day. Honestly, I’ve never met a Robyn Roberts dress I didn’t love, and so I’m absolutely delighted to be sharing the brand new collection exclusively on SBB today. These gowns are ah-mazing – bang on trend, but oh so wearable! According to Robyn, the idea was to create a range of dreamy dresses with a modern edge. Textured effects were created by layering multiple ethereal, whisper-soft fabrics, and focusing on back details and soft, comfortable skirts. The colours vary from crisp white to creamy ivories and rich blush undertones – swoon! And not only do we get to bask in all the fashion glory, but we also get to enjoy some drop dead gorgeous florals from our faves at Green Goddess flower studio as well. Told you it was a special day!

Hanrie Lues Fleur de Ballet Collection

8 March, 2016 by gaby

If you follow us on Instagram (and if you don’t, you totally should!), you may have seen that some exciting mail arrived at SBB HQ the other day, specifically the brand new lookbook from Hanrie Lues Bridal. Durban-based designer Hanrie is part of our sponsor family, and while we’ve always loved her beautiful bespoke gowns, she’s just launched a demi-couture collection which will be available both from her studio and from Calegra Bridal House in Cape Town and Joburg, and I couldn’t wait to see it! Called ‘Fleur de Ballet’, it was inspired by the ballet, which I absolutely love, and it has the same combination of structure and sheer femininity that makes ballerinas’ gowns the stuff that dreams are made of. With the most gorgeous fabrics and an inspiration straight from the ballet, these dresses are perfect for the modern South African bride, employing breathtaking illusion elements and elegant shapes and details that make each gown special and unique, and will make each woman who wears them feel like a prima ballerina on her own opening night.