20 Christmas Cards for Newlyweds

Christmas Cards for Newlyweds

Image: Riekert Cloete on SouthBound Bride

For those of you who’ve just tied the knot, the festive season is a really fun time to check in with family and friends and thank them for their love and support – maybe share a few wedding photographs or double up with a thank you card in the envelope. Or maybe you’ve yet to marry, but as an engaged couple, you’re dying to take some holiday snaps and send your first card together. Sure it’s cheesy, but so fun! Well, as it turns out, the makers at Etsy have come up with some seriously adorable ways to say “Merry Christmas from US” – and I’ve rounded up 20 of my favourites! Links in bold denote affiliate links. SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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20 Elegant Minimalist Wedding Dresses

Minimalist Wedding Dress

Magnolia Minimalist Wedding Dress by Lilu Bridal

Some brides are all about extra-ness – enchanting embellishment, beautiful bling, statement lace, or frothy tulle skirts that wouldn’t look out of place at an embassy ball. But for some brides, less is more. Think clean lines, ’90s-style silhouettes, and minimal embellishment. For a sophisticated minimalist bride, it’s all about gorgeous fabrics, stunning cuts, and fresh, pared-back styling, and designers are LOVING the look of right now. So if you’re planning a modern minimalist wedding or just want to rock elegantly simple chic on your big day, I have the perfect roundup of minimalist wedding dresses, which also happen to be fairly minimalist on the ol’ pocketbook – forget high end designers; every one of these beauties comes from either Etsy or the high street! *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.



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Fall in Love with Me

I’m really not much of a cold weather gal, but every year when my Northern Hemisphere blogger friends start posting cosy autumn weddings and styled shoots, there’s a part of me that gets all nostalgic for crisp days, hot cider, cuddly blankets, and crackling fires. And even more than that, I LOVE a good autumn wedding palette! All those rich jewel tones, lavish textures… yum. That’s why I’m excited to share this lovely styled shoot submitted by co-ordinator & makeup artist Nicole Amory and captured by photographer Marsel Roothman, and styled by Melabee Events. Gorgeous dresses, fabulous florals, a plush table – and a palette of navy, burgundy and plum. If you’re a lover of rich colours and vintagey details, this will definitely make you ‘fall’ in love!

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Lavish Modern Mixed Metallics Wedding Inspiration

Well, I promised you guys modern minimalism this month and this shoot… is not it. Ha. But trust me, when you take a peek at the utter glam gorgeousness of this inspirational editorial? You won’t mind one bit. And minimalist it may not be, but it is modern, and its clean lines and cool palette will challenge even those of you with the most simple of tastes not to fall in love. But the thing I love most about this shoot by Claire NicolaLavishly Done and their team, is how it has that SouthBound African twist – strelizias painted gold (LOVE LOVE LOVE), ferns, pods and foliage in bronze, and driftwood adding a natural elegance to the gold, silver and bronze table decor. With the Conservatory as a venue, there’s also a touch of industrial glam, and the whole look put together is a glorious mishmash of styles that absolutely, totally works in a fresh and fabulous way. Add in a model in some gorgeous Janita Toerien gowns, some laser cut geometrics, and lots of lovely candlelight, and you have one of my fave featured shoots to date! Can someone do a wedding like this, pretty please? I’ll be first in line to feature ;)

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Afro-Asian Fusion Wedding Inspiration

Just when I thought I’d seen it all, this incredible styled shoot landed in my inbox! And when I saw who it was from, I knew it would be special – Ninirichi Style Studio never fail to deliver meticulously conceptualised, cutting edge design with African flair, and boy did they blow me out of the water with this one! It’s the ultimate cross-cultural concept – a wild fusion of African and Asian design influences from right across both continents, brought together into three compelling and exciting looks! This month on SBB, we’ll be focusing on modern minimalism, and this shoot really embodies that for me – not just in the less-is-more sense, but rather in the way that each element is carefully chosen for inclusion based on its contribution to the overall design, and the clean lines combined with modern textures that you’ll spot throughout. I’m especially in love with the suspended decor elements – again, this is something I’ve seen a lot of over the past while, but these three tableaux give hanging decor a fresh new spin. So let’s be thoroughly inspired, thanks to these beautiful images by Ginger Ale Photography! (And yes, I included a lot of pics, but with all this amazingness going on, I had no choice!)

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The Phoenix

It’s Halloween folks! And we have some Boo!-tiful inspiration for you. Instead of focusing on all that is dark and spooky, this fab editorial from Stephanie Norman Photography and her team looks for bright in the darkness and delivers a pop of incredible colour against soot and shadow, which is not only inspiring but fits in perfectly with the colour obsessed month we’re having. From the black lace dress to the lush bouquet, this is definitely a look for a bold bride – but it’s utterly spooktacular! (Ok, I’ll stop now!)

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10 Bright Wedding Colour Palettes

This month has been all about bright colours (and we’ll actually be carrying on with this through the end of the week) – it’s been the perfect way for me personally to welcome in summer! And since it’s all about the colour, I just had to go through our archives and pull together 10 palettes that use bright shades of orange, yellow, coral, blue, green and pink to show you just how gorgeous colour can be! Every one of these makes me feel super happy, and for me that’s the best reason to use bright hues on your big day – they reflect the sheer joy of the occasion and get everyone in a celebratory mood! So… which is your fave? (Links in bold denote affiliate links. SouthBound Bride may make a commission if a sale is made.)

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Midnight Mixed Metallics Wedding Inspiration

It’s that time of year when blog features turn a little darker and get a kooky, spooky edge just in time for Halloween. And while, to be honest, Halloween isn’t a big favourite of mine (scary movies, ugh), I am a big fan of gorgeously dark and moody features like this one. Not to mention mixed metallics, which always have my heart. So I’m super excited to be sharing this fabulous inspiration from MLK Photography and their team. It’s a little bit forest wedding, a little bit celestial chic (love that half moon necklace, so This Is Us!), a little bit ethereal, and a whole lot romantic! And adding to that romance, you may recognise the models as real bride (and stationer) and groom, Lauren and Sean, whose wedding was recently featured right here on SBB, as well as Lauren’s gorgeous Toujours Wedding House wedding gown! If the bright colours we’ve been featuring this month aren’t your thing, this might be where your wedding inspiration is AT! And don’t even get me started on the cake… Love.

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Spanish Summer Wedding Inspiration

Happy Monday! I am starting my week feeling weirdly more relaxed than usual, thanks to an involuntary internet break (so thanks for cutting my Wifi on Friday, Telkom). And I am also starting it feeling as bright and breezy as can be, thanks to this Spanish-inspired editorial from Uche Photography and their talented team. Colourful blooms, bold bridesmaid dresses, a groom in a red velvet jacket (SO loving velvet everything in weddings right now!). And a bride who looks super classic in contrast, all lace and romance. It’s fabulous, and has the glow of a summer afternoon in the Mediterranean. And oh my, the florals! Which just so happen to include our fave, the protea, along with a host of bright flowers in pinks and yellows and reds. So much colour! So much happiness. Olé!

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20 Bright Wedding Bouquets

I always say that colour-loving brides have all the fun, and if you take a look at this collection of bright blooms you’ll know exactly what I mean. These bouquets could cheer up any day, and on the happiest day of your life, they just reflect the joy and excitement (and add a bright pop of colour against a white dress that says “hello, I’m here and I’m gorgeous!”. Flowers come in all kinds of acid bright colours – vivid purples, eyepopping reds, sunny yellows, standout oranges, showstopping corals. Mixed together in a combination of a few or all together, they look amazing! And they’re the perfect way to make a bold statement from the minute you make your entrance. I’ve gathered together 20 favourites – let’s get inspired, shall we?!

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