Best of 2014: Groom & Groomsmen’s Style

Happy Friday, lovelies! And happy last-day-of-work for so many of you. Today we’re focusing on the boys, and you guys, this has DEFINITELY been the year when grooms have started to really hold their own in the fashion stakes. From coloured suits (in a good way!) to smart casual and casual looks for less formal weddings, and of course, original boutonnieres. And it’s also been the year of the bowtie in South Africa – a few years back I predicted these would be a huge trend and then noted it hadn’t happened, but apparently it just took our boys a little longer to fall in love with a look that many American grooms were already rocking. This year I have seen loads of bowties, and I love them! Another key look this year is the ‘country gentleman’ as I think of it – tweeds, flatcaps, and winter textures. All of these are included below, so let’s take a gander at our most stylish grooms!

Formal & Fabulous

Read More

Best of 2014: Bouquets

Happy public holiday lovelies! Today in our countdown of 2014 favourites we are all about bouquets (my best!). Last year I called 2013 the year of proteas, but this year (although we’ve seen lots of gorgeous inclusions of our national flower), I’ve seen the most colour and variety and general gorgeousness yet. Cascade bouquets (as predicted!) have been huge, and speaking of huge, I’m loving how big and bold some of you have decided to go with your blooms. Not that big is the only way, of course, but I do love a floral statement. So here are 20 of them!

Read More

DIY Bridesmaid Hair Roundup

So, as I mentioned this morning, I’m going to a wedding in a couple of weeks, and although I promised myself years ago that I would never do my own hair for another wedding (after that one time at band camp when it was 42 degrees in Stellenbosch and it all went horribly wrong), for various reasons, I’m going to have to. Which mean I’ve been browsing Pinterest and YouTube for tutorials on relaxed, easy updos. And I realised just how much is actually out there now in the way of fabulous DIY hair advice. Now as a bride, you’re still probably going to want to call in the professionals, but maybe the budget doesn’t stretch to having your girls’ hair done too, or maybe they just prefer to do it themselves, but that doesn’t mean that they have to be stuck with everyday hair unless they want to be. Today I’m rounding up fifteen gorgeous styles – many of them really easy – that would be absolutely perfect on bridesmaids. Just click through to the links for each tutorial, and don’t forget to do a practice run!Read More

Enamelware Wedding Details

Afternoon, brideys! You know how I’m always on the lookout for details that add a uniquely South African twist to your big day, so while today’s roundup isn’t a trend as such, it’s definitely a fun local-is-lekker addition to your decor and one that I’m seeing quite a few South African brides incorporate beautifully. Enamel tin mugs are a relatively inexpensive piece of tableware we’re all familiar with, but did you know you can pretty them up to make a fab wedding detail? Whether it’s as an escort card or favour (with or without the addition of a candle or a little plant inside), an addition to your table decor (at each place setting or as a centrepiece, especially if you include the enamelware kettles and pots in your scheme), or just a sweet way of serving drinks during cocktail hour or a late night coffee or hot chocolate bar, they’re sure to make your guests smile. My favourite place to buy the mugs for your wedding is The Perfect Day, who can custom engrave them with your design and sell at a bulk price for 48 mugs, making them perfect for favours. Here are some of my favourite ideas for using them.Read More

Forest & Woodland Wedding Details

If there’s one wedding style that’s really taken off in the last couple of years, it’s forest weddings. A gorgeous combination of the relaxed boho vibe, the rustic farm style and a touch of magical whimsy, it’s no wonder that we all want to go down to the woods today! I don’t know about you, but I was OBSESSED with the Magic Faraway Tree books when I was little, so I’ve always felt like there was something special about a forest setting, and it has the advantage for outdoor ceremonies of creating a sort of cathedral atmosphere, which is the perfect nod to tradition. In South Africa we’re really blessed with some absolutely breathtaking forest venues, so all you need to complete the look is the perfect whimsical woodland decor. That’s where Not On the High Street – one of my favourite indie shopping sites – comes in, because among their curated wedding collections is a fab selection of foresty accessories that add just that extra touch of thought and detail. I just had to share!Read More

Watercolour DIY Roundup

In the recent reader survey we did (results coming soon!), one thing that lots of you asked for was more DIY-related content here on the blog – we hear you! So you can expect to see more of our roundups and other DIYs heading your way soon. Today we’re touching on a trend that has grown and grown in weddings – I honestly just can’t get enough of the watercolour look, so much so that I’m planning on dabbling in painting watercolours myself (just for fun mind you, my artistic abilities don’t stretch very far). With this being a popular and versatile look, it’s no surprise that there are loads of really gorgeous watercolour DIY projects out there, and we’ve rounded up 15 of our favourites for you to choose from. (PS Loads of these come from local design powerhouse Susan Brand – love seeing South African talent out there!)

Read More

Well Groomed: Smart Casual

Today’s trend roundup is all about the boys (hello, boys!). And one of the biggest trends in groomswear (and even more so for groomsmen) is smart casual wedding gear. Obviously this isn’t going to suit all weddings (you want your levels of formality to match, for example) or all grooms (this is his chance to dress up in a beautifully tailored suit, just as much as it’s yours to wear a fairytale dress) but if you’re planning a less formal occasion or if he’s the kind of guy who just isn’t going to feel like himself all stuffed up into a jacket and tie, then there are some other stylish options to consider. Debrett’s defines ‘formal’ smart casual as “a jacket or blazer, flannels, needlecord trousers, or chinos (not jeans), a shirt with a collar, not a t-shirt, and smart shoes, not necessarily lace-ups, but not trainers or sandals”. Where the look leans towards informal, Debrett’s allows for “jeans, but smart, clean, dark-coloured jeans… a shirt and tie can be worn but an open collar is also acceptable.” With these guidelines in mind, here’s a roundup of some of our favourite smart casual looks from real weddings. (Oh, and PS, one of them happens to be a sneak peek from tomorrow’s wedding, so be sure to stop in for more of the groom’s laid back jeans-wearing style!)Read More

20 Ways to Incorporate Lavender Into Your Wedding

With summer fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about summer blooms, and one of my absolute favourites is lavender. This pretty, fragrant (and yay, relatively inexpensive) bloom is a regular feature in wedding design, and it never fails to hit the pretty buttons for me! So today I thought I would round up 20 gorgeous lavender wedding ideas – pick your favourites and adapt or reproduce to add some lavender loveliness to your own big day.Read More

Pink & Blush Bridesmaid Dresses

Happy Friday lovelies! It’s the last day of the working week and the last of our special Think Pink posts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today we’re not just rounding up some lovely images for inspiration, we’re going shopping at some of our favourite South Africa, US and UK online shops to find the most gorgeous bridesmaid dresses in a range of shades from blush to bashful and everything in between. Whether you’re planning a relaxed day wedding, cocktail attire, or something more formal, you’ll find something to love here.

Read More

Pink Wedding Cakes

This week, we’ve been rounding up the prettiest pink details for you all to enjoy, and today, we’re doing cakes. But first, I wanted to share this fab blog post I came across from Sara Burnett of Burnett’s Boards, giving brides some sound (and funny!) advice on how to win your groom round to a pink wedding. Because boys can be weird that way. And after all, whether it’s a touch of pink or a whole blush & bashful colour scheme, this is one colour that brides and wedding pros just love to work with. So once you have the Mr on board, be sure to check out these 20 gorgeous wedding cakes – you’re sure to fall in love with at least one of them!Read More