Weddings by Type - SouthBound Bride

Proudly South African Wedding at The Emkhathini by Judith Belle

22 June, 2018 by gaby

One of my fave things about running SBB is that, even though I love all the beautiful, elegant, ethereal, fine art style weddings and shoots that cross my desk, every now and again, something bright and bold and proudly, uniquely South African lands in my inbox and announces its presence like the happy toot of a vuvuzela. And I LOVE it. Today’s wedding is one of these fabulous, colourful creatures, a celebration of everything Jozi and South Africa, full of fun and romance. Bride and groom Samantha and Richard met in Johannesburg, and since it formed such a vital part of their story, they decided to opt for an urban celebration that was pure modern Joburg, from the rooftop ceremony venue with the city skyline on display to the African print bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen’s accessories, to florals like proteas and strelizias, right on down to the food (from the couple’s favourite Melville restaurant). It’s fierce and fun, and totally awesome. Judith Belle captured these images of the big day.

Lively Lilac & Greenery Wedding at White Water Farm by Juliette Bisset

14 June, 2018 by gaby

Some weddings you just take one look at and you know they were SUPER fun to attend! Talia and Andre’s big day has joy and vibrancy written all over it, from Talia’s gorgeous convertible gown, to an aisle lined with hearts, to a reception that kicked off with Israeli dancing, right down to bottles of Autumn Harvest on the tables as a tribute to the groom’s dubious taste in first date wine and a unique way to toast the newlyweds. It’s no surprise this pair kept the party going long into the night! But beyond the fun, the wedding also has a sense of simple elegance, like the greenery garlands hanging in their clear marquee, or the understated colour scheme of lilac, silver, green and white, or the bride’s silver botanical crown. And with Juliette Bisset‘s beautiful photographs to bring the day to life, this is one you don’t want to miss!

Cozy Rustic Wedding at Galileo Farm by Claire Thomson

12 June, 2018 by gaby

Love at first sight. Whether you believe in it or not, that’s what happened to Michelle and Devon. And it was love at first sight for SBB when it came to their gorgeous wedding too! Rich red hues, candlelight, proteas everywhere, a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace at their reception, a gin bar, a drip cake… everything wonderful, basically! And with these gorgeous pictures by Claire Thompson to bring the couple’s big day to life for us, the dream is complete.

International Cross Cultural Wedding at Le Franschhoek by Hayley Takes Photos

7 June, 2018 by gaby

Y’all know how much I love a multi-cultural wedding – the fusion of cultures and families (smooshed together with family and friends from all around the world) makes me so happy. To me, this is what weddings are all about: two souls finding one another in the vast world, and joining their lives together to create something beautiful and new. Today’s wedding is all of these things – April and Avi come from across the world from one another and have different cultural heritages and religious backgrounds, but found each other at college in the US, making this one of the most uniquely international weddings I’ve come across. And where better to tie the knot than in the Rainbow Nation of South Africa? The day was filled with colour and happiness, with two different celebrations, three gorgeous gowns, acknowledgement of all those influences (including SA, with some Zulu dancing, yay!), old traditions and new friendships. It’s appropriate that April and Avi chose an umbrella motif for their big day too, because that’s really what it did: bring everything they love under one big beautiful umbrella. Hayley Takes Photos was there to capture these wonderful images of the day.

Japanese Inspired Wedding at The 12 Apostles Hotel by Kaitlyn De Villiers

5 June, 2018 by gaby

When it comes to wedding industry pros, I think there’s a lot of pressure when it comes time for them to plan their own weddings (at this point I think I would just elope LOL), but they do have one huge advantage, and that’s knowing the best people to help pull off a spectacular big day. With friends like these, it’s easy to exceed expectations! And that’s just what happened for bride Melissa of Blackeyed Susan, and her sweetheart Louis, when they married in a gorgeous Cape Town celebration inspired by Japanese design. With a clear vision of the aesthetic they wanted to achieve, they briefed their suppliers and then let them work their creative magic, and the result is STUNNING. The cake, the flowers, and of course the setting! And that’s before we even talk about Melissa’s cap sleeve, ivory lace bodice gown, which of course she decided to create herself (because after all, who knows a designer’s vision better than herself?) Again, she incorporated Japanese elements here to fabulous effect, including an obi belt and a traditional Kanzashi. This really is something special, and it was captured to perfection by Kaitlyn De Villiers Photography!

Festive Forest Wedding at Die Woud by Hayley Takes Photos

30 May, 2018 by gaby

Forest wedding lovers brace yourselves, because this woodland chic celebration will knock your socks off! Amy and Gerhard knew a forest wedding was the right call for them because they love taking forest walks (love that they brought their guests into this personal element of their relationship with the venue!) and didn’t look any further than Die Woud, with its glass marquee hidden amongst the trees and feeling of being lost in a kind of fairytale world. They hung the branches with ribbons, decorated the reception space with woody touches like branch votives, moss, and the most spectacular hanging floral branches, then contrasted that rustic loveliness with cut glass vases and sparkling chandeliers, and invited their nearest and dearest into this magical little space to celebrate their love. One of my fave touches has to be Amy’s heirloom wedding dress, which was remade from her late mom’s Chantilly lace gown into a stunning off the shoulder beauty that perfectly blended something old and something new. Hayley Takes Photos took these wonderfully moody pics.

How to Steal Harry & Meghan’s Royal Wedding Style

20 May, 2018 by gaby

All royal wedding images issued by The Royal Family via Facebook & Instagram

It’s official! Harry and Meghan (aka the Duke and Duchess of Sussex) are married! And with a guest list that meshed Hollywood royalty with actual royalty, the Royal Wedding 2018 is certain to go down as the wedding of the year. I’ve seen lots of mixed opinions about Meghan Markle’s wedding dress and big day style in general but I personally LOVED it – I think the gown was incredibly chic and looked stunnning on her, and that she accessorised it to perfection. I have a feeling it’ll go down as being just as iconic as the gown Princess Catherine wore a few years ago, and I have no doubt that many brides-to-be will be influenced by Meghan’s minimalist elegance, both at the wedding ceremony itself, and at the evening reception, where she wore a halter neck gown and aquamarine cocktail ring. Want to get a bit of Markle sparkle for your big day? Or get your groom kitted out like Harry (minus the military uniform, unless he’s actual in the forces, obvs)? We’ve got you covered! From jewellery to dresses to a classic black tux, here are ten ways you can steal a bit of Harry and Meghan’s wedding style for yourself. *Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

Forest Food Truck Wedding at Helderberg Farm by Cheryl McEwan

17 May, 2018 by gaby

In an enchanted forest setting, surrounded by their nearest and dearest, Kelly and Shaun’s dream wedding came to life. The couple decided to do as much as they could themselves, bringing their personalities into every detail they handcrafted and styled for their woodland ceremony and reception, from decor to favours. Love that! And I also LOVE that they decided on food truck catering, because OMG how fun, right? Forests and food trucks – two of our favourite things. No wonder there are so many happy smiles in these gorgeous pics captured by SBB fave Cheryl McEwan. Let’s take a peek shall we?

Romantic Pastel Wedding at Oxbow Country Estate by Rensche Mari

9 May, 2018 by gaby

Oh, but this wedding is charming! I mean, straight up, when Rensche Mari Photography is involved, I know a celebration is going to be gorgeous, but when you add in bride and groom Antonie and Melissa, with their sweet, loved-up smiles and classic style, a palette of soft pastel pinks and purples and blues, and hello – a flower wall!, you’ve got a super inspiring wedding that might just break Pinterest when you all get going! Every detail works perfectly in harmony, and Rensche’s images… well, they’re pure romance. Swoon! *Shopping sources in this post use affiliate links. This means SBB may earn a commission if you make a purchase from our links.

Blush & Rose Gold Wedding at The Venue Fontana by Bright Girl Photography

8 May, 2018 by gaby

When it comes to describing Coral and Devon’s dreamy, elegantly rustic wedding, I can’t think of any better way than as the lovely Eileen of Bright Girl Photography told it to me! “I knew their wedding would be amazing, but I was blown away when I arrived and saw all the beautiful decor and the warm sunshine bouncing off the green leaves in the forest where the ceremony was going to take place. It was magical. When Coral slipped her dress on, the magic continued… The friends, the flowers, the tears of happiness and all the stones which the guests held throughout the ceremony… all was magic or so it seemed. I mean who else can catch popcorn with a smiling mouth wide open with laughter while leading his gorgeous bride up the aisle. Yes, Devon can! These two were wrapped with warmth and love for each other and from their friends and family.” Awwww! It really is a special day, and includes the work of some of my very favourite KZN wedding pros, including the very talented Eileen, Hanrie Lues Bridal (who made Coral’s gorgeous dress!) and one of my all-time fave venues, The Venue Fontana. Enjoy!