Posts from the ‘Inspiration’ Category

Aug 12

Inspiration Board {1 Theme 3 Ways}: Rock of the Bushveld

This week we’re featuring three safari-themed inspiration boards to show how a single theme can be interpreted in a number of different ways. Which one is your favourite?

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Geez Louise, did this board ever take a long time to do! But I’m glad I persevered, because even though it’s an unusual take on a safari wedding, it’s bold and unusual and I LOVE it! This week I’ve showcased two other game farm wedding ideas – one where I took the usual animal print and tried to make it as classic and elegant as possible. The second was a vintage safari, where I avoided all of the usual animal motifs. But for this one, I wanted to embrace the animals – just in a completely different way! Starting with plastic animals on the table (another awesome idea here is to spraypaint plastic animals gold, white, or even chalkboard black for your table numbers). Fill tins and other containers (extra points for truly South African brands!) with a range of wildflowers, and top up your decor with fun touches like crepe paper balls, funky tin animals, and don’t you love this garland made with painted clothes pins? Your stationer will have a ball using bright colours and animal silhouettes – I’ve gone for a loose purple, blue, pink and green scheme, but this is also a great time to incorporate that rainbow trend that wedding world is in love with at the moment! Needless to say, styling is bold – big necklaces, chunky rings, wellies. And I just adore the idea of a sunset bush ceremony under this beautiful arch, followed by wild festivities with your guests. It’s true that this idea won’t suit every couple, but you’d be surprised how easy (and FUN) it is to pull off!

Hope you’ve enjoyed your week of safari weddings! Which board did you like best?

Colours: Purple, blue, green, apricot pink.

Top row (l-r): Bride & groom (Paige Newton); crepe paper balls (Simply Jessie); tin rhino; bouquet (Simply Jessie); invitation (Zoom Photography)
Row 2: Clothespin garland (Paige Newton); bridesmaids (onelove photo); chunky ring (Zoom Photography)
Row 3: Ceremony arch; tin vase (onelove photo); animal escort cards (Mr Boddington’s Studio); plastic animals (Fat Orange Cat Studio).

Aug 12

4 Comments

Bespectacled Brides

There’s a group of brides out there who have to make a very personal fashion choice when it comes to their styling. Many of you ladies who wear eyeglasses as part of your everyday life choose to go with contacts on the Big Day, but what if you feel your glasses are part of your identity? I’m a big believer in the ‘you, only better’ school of wedding looks – after all, you want to feel comfortable and your husband doesn’t want to see a stranger walk down the aisle! Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot of inspiration around for brides who wear glasses, and I regularly see brides asking if it’s okay for them to rock their frames with a wedding dress. The answer is yes, absolutely!

I was lucky enough to feature an absolutely stunning bespectacled bride in one of my first weddings, and I’ve loved the look ever since. Here she is, the gorgeous Louise of Lovelab (and by the way, if you haven’t seen this wedding, you totally should, it’s insanely gorgeous):

Source: Annemari Ruthven Read more

Aug 11

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Inspiration Board {1 Theme 3 Ways}: Vintage Safari

This week we’re featuring three safari-themed inspiration boards to show how a single theme can be interpreted in a number of different ways. Which one is your favourite?

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Thursday, hooray! Almost the end of the week. You’ll have noticed by now that the blog schedule’s been shaken up a bit what with 3 inspiration boards due to appear this week and then the unexpected quiet day on Tuesday. But whatever, let’s just go with it. So today I have the next in our inspiration board series, and the latest trend roundup due this afternoon. And tomorrow is going to be jam packed, so be sure to keep checking back!

I’m really excited about today’s board, because it’s a reader request as well as the second variation on the safari theme I’m featuring this week. Simone contacted me to help with ideas for her game farm wedding. She didn’t want the ‘typical’ safari decor, with animal prints and Big Five table decorations, but preferred vintage decor and softer colours. (It should go without saying that this is a style reference to Sydney Pollack’s Out of Africa, rather than suggesting any kind of glorification of colonialism, obviously.) You’ll remember a few weeks back we touched on this as part of the Blog Around the World post, and Alicia put together that look so perfectly that I couldn’t help using a few of her images again (click here and follow round all the blogs to get all the pictures) but I combined them with a palette of sage green and soft coral which I hope Simone will love. It’s inevitable that there are going to be lots of brown neutrals in a bushveld environment, and these colours lighten and modernise things up a little and complement them perfectly. The real key to this look is in the interplay between wild natural surroundings and classic fine dining elements, so for table settings you’ll want patterned crockery, crystal glasses, silverware (I love the idea of using old silver to contain flowers) and pressed linen. The really fun part is in including lots of found vintage objects – gramophones, compasses, storm lanterns, binoculars, and of course old suitcases (which you can use as props in a number of ways). Scout around your friends and family’s homes to begin with – you may find some gems! I’d have the bridesmaids in floaty, slightly vintage green dresses, and the bride in a gorgeous vintagey gown (birdcage veil is a must!). Fill your table with lush white blooms and pops of coral, and a few succulents. And don’t forget the cocktails! This is the perfect place to serve a classic (and delicious) G&T.

Colours: Sage, coral, white, beige and bronze

Top row (l-r): Bouquet; bride with giraffes (Fancy Fin Photography); bride with binoculars (Fancy Fin Photography); safari tent
Row 2: Out of Africa book cover; cocktail; compass escort cards; table setting (Jose Villa); hurricane lamp with jewellery (Fancy Fin Photography)
Row 3: Bridesmaid dress (Nadine Photography); gramophone (Justin & Mary); flowers (Jose Villa); boma reception; vintage suitcases.

Aug 8

5 Comments

Inspiration Board {1 Theme 3 Ways}: Chic Safari

Happy Monday folks! We have one of my favourite features on Cap Classique this week – 1 Theme 3 Ways, where I bring you three inspiration boards around a particular theme or motif, all with very different looks. Safari style isn’t something we always associate with the Cape, since there are such spectacular bush venues around the rest of the country, but I’ve had many requests recently for safari style (more about venues later this week). In fact, one of this week’s boards was designed specifically for a reader who is considering vintage safari as her theme. But today I thought I would start with a more modern palette – one that is bang on trend in fact: green, grey, black and white. I know lots of you want to avoid the very obvious animal motifs, but I think a touch of zebra works perfectly here – just be sparing and use it wisely. I love the combination of pale green and grey bridesmaid dresses and a delicate white and green bouquet with a touch of brunia, and then bolder graphic touches like the zebra stationery and the black and white striped rosette. And this being 2011, we can’t not have a bit of sparkle – how gorgeous is this bride’s bolero? This look is ideal for a couple who want an elegant modern wedding that still has a touch of the bushveld about it, or who want to reflect elements of a game lodge setting without going overboard, and it’s very easy to achieve. I love it – what do you think?

Colours: Green, grey, black and white

Top row (l-r): Bride with sparkly bolero (onelove photography); green and grey bridesmaids’ dresses (13:13 Photography); hanging lanterns (Cari Photography); lamp with rosette (Cari Photography)
Row 2: Zebras; bouquet with roses and brunia; I Married Adventure (onelove photography); rings with stamp (Laura Ashbrook Photography)
Row 3: Bride & groom (Zara Zoo); zebra stationery suite (Paper Moss/Laura Ashbrook Photography); outdoor reception (Shanna Jones).

Aug 1

6 Comments

Inspiration Board: Par Avion

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow, it has been an exhausting weekend for me – I finally did the big move, so it has been non-stop packing and unpacking, etc. What a schlep. But I’m so excited about my new place, and can’t wait to get decorating! One of the best parts is that I have an en suite bathroom again, so get to pull out of storage a fab little gadget I have – it’s a bath rack/caddy that stretches over the bath and instead of having place for soap, has a rack for a book, and a holder for a glass of wine. Actually, it also has place for a candle, but I figured paper… alcohol… flame… maybe not the best idea! Anyway, I can’t wait to make use of it again, and with all my sore muscles from carrying boxes and a day of cleaning today, I’m sure I will soon! ANYWAY, on to today’s board, which is inspired by a different kind of moving: travel! As you may have picked up, I adore air mail stripes, and I like the idea of combining them with a soft vintage palette and fun travel, aeroplane and postage-inspired details. It brings together the idea of love letters, and far flung places, and the old world romance of the aeroplane. This would be perfect for a couple who have done long distance, or just for one who love to (or long to!) see the world. Favourite real wedding detail? The ‘departure planes’, which were thrown at the bride and groom as they made their exit instead of confetti. Cute, huh?

Colours: Peach and soft neutrals

Top row (l-r): Bride with bouquet (Tying.the.Knot Wedding Coordination); bouquet (Ella Jae Weddings); dresses (Jose Villa); globe (Rock Paper Scissors Events/Ohana Photographers); vintage suitcases with framed escort card display (Kate Foley Designs/Catie Ronquillo Photography)
Row 2: Airmail invitation; aeroplane biscuits; air mail stamp; DIY toy glider save the dates
Row 3: Departure planes (Nine Photography); vintage plates; boutonniere (Josephine Sicad); airmail escort cards on map (Kate Foley Designs/Catie Ronquillo Photography); cake with stamp garland.

**Like this idea? Click here for more travel-inspired wedding details.**

Jul 29

5 Comments

The Love List {29 Jul 2011}

Woohoo! Friday! I was supposed to be moving today, but now Steve, aka the Man with a Van, is coming on Sunday so I have all weekend to get my pack on and didn’t have to resort to throwing everything into black bags. But apart from the stress and the admin and the outlay of moving, you guys I can’t WAIT. Okay, I am leaving my beloved Putney. And okay, I am losing my London postcode (even if where I’m moving is TOTALLY inside London borders, I checked!). But I am gaining to lovely housemates with two little kittens, and the cutest little suite of rooms just for me including bedroom, dressing room (OMG, seriously), en suite bathroom and the one I’m most excited about (only a blogger really understands this I think!), my own office. I have big plans for that office, and lots of plans for this here blog which have been going on in the background this week and I can’t wait to share everything! But not yet. For now, you’ll have to content your good selves with my best of the web from this week.

Jul 27

3 Comments

Fun Favours: Pashminas

In the last couple of weeks we’ve looked at options for keeping your bridesmaids and the bride warm in chillier weather, and today we’re looking at one way of keeping your guests toasty and warm. Pashminas are a popular favour, not just because they’re lovely gifts that your guests will use on the night and beyond, but also because they can be a great addition to your decor either in soft neutrals or bright pops of your theme colours. But how to present them? Fortunately there are lots of ideas from real weddings to inspire.

Suitcases and chests
Perfect for the vintage bride, suitcases and linen chests make for a lovely display. Roll up or fold your pashminas and pack them in neatly, or allow a few to spill out prettily like real luggage.

Jul 25

13 Comments

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).

Jul 23

2 Comments

The Love List {23 Jul 2011}

Happy weekend, lovelies! Hope you’re having a good one. It’s been a busy week, and next week even more so, as on Friday I’m moving into my new home. Can’t wait! Although all the hassle of cleaning and paying for things and OMG PACKING isn’t making me very thrilled right now. I’m hoping to keep on top of everything blogwise, but if I don’t manage it, please bear with me! In the meantime, here’s some loveliness from around the web to share – all these finds just made my toes curl with excitement!

Jul 20

21 Comments

Blog Around the World {Out of Africa #2}

So we had an African princess this morning, and boy do I ever have something awesome for you this afternoon! You may remember that last year I participated in Elegant Decay, and today I’m again privileged to be part of an international group of bloggers sharing another virtual trail of photos for you to follow around the web to make up a full shoot. And here’s the real kicker – the theme this time is something VERY close to home. Think “Ai had a fahm in Ahhfricaah”. Think the incredible continent that we call home, paired with the vintage look I know you love. For those of you getting married on a game farm, I’m about to make your afternoon! For this shoot, Alicia from The Charity Wedding paired up with some awesome vendors to create a gorgeous vintage safari look at a local animal park. It features a kick ass beautiful bride in a landie (who was also brave enough to pose with a python, eek!) and some super inspiring details I know you’re going to love. Here’s a bit more from Alicia:

Hello Lovelies! I am Alicia from The Charity Wedding and I am excited to present another round of Blog Around the World with some of my favorite wedding bloggers! I recently helped organized a styled shoot using the theme of a Vintage Desert Safari. Each blogger will be showcasing a photo from the shoot and sharing some tips, advice, or just some pretty-eye candy for you to enjoy! Be sure to visit all the blogs to make sure you catch all the goodness! Thanks so much to all of the participants!