Posts from the ‘Top Posts’ Category

Jan 2

Wedding Trends for 2013

2013 baby! I don’t know about you, but I am amped. I’ve spent the last few days thinking about what worked and didn’t in 2012 and dreaming and planning for the year to come. It was amazing to realise how much was achieved last year, and I have some big plans, so watch this space! Of course, thinking about the future always gets me thinking about wedding trends for the new year, and I’m ready to make my (now annual) predictions. A lot of what I spotted for 2012 came about, so let’s see if I can do the same again. :) Here we go…

Erin Hearts Court via Style Me Pretty

1. Prints
A couple of months ago, I was asked by BrideTide to pick my top wedding trend for 2013 and since prints was my choice, it seems only right to put it at the top of my list here too. This is going to be big – we’ll see it on invitations and stationery, bridesmaids dresses, linens. Set against a white backdrop, it’s a fresh and vibrant look, and one which will really make your wedding look unique. And bonus, you can go for any kind of print that suits you, from soft florals and watercolour styles to bold stripes and graphics, to vintagey toile. If tablecloths or runners are too much, stick to napkins, and remember not to go too overboard – and complementary rather than matchy matchy is key. Let’s just say you do not want to put your bridesmaids in the same material as the tablecloths. That’s just wrong. You can see my full roundup, and lots of ideas and advice over here. Read more

Nov 28

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Twinkle Twinkle

I hate Christmas lights. Said no one, ever. Because seriously, who doesn’t love a good string o’ lights? I know I do. In fact, the first time I saw the tree at Rockefeller Centre in New York, I almost passed out with delight. And the second, and the third. (I liked that tree a LOT.) Admittedly, actually getting them wound around a tree I am less a fan of (cue: annual family tree argument) but once they’re up, twinkling away, there’s nothing quite like it. Maybe that’s why fairy lights/ twinkle lights/potato/potahtoe are always such an exciting component of wedding decor – maybe they remind us of things magical and childlike. Or maybe we all just like shiny stuff. Whatever the cause, it’s coming on Christmas, and I feel like looking at some sparklies, so today’s post is sheer fairy light indulgence. Some of these babies go big on quantity, but they’re also big on impact and romance. Lights transform an outdoor area into an intimate evening space, or warm up a winter wedding, or create an illusion of height, or just add that extra bit of wow. Hang them in strings, wind them around trees, hang them vertically from the ceiling. Create a wall of light, or a curtain, or a path. But whatever you do, take a few moments to drink them in – the hundred tiny stars shining just for you. Read more

Oct 19

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Guest Post: The Bridesmaid’s Duties

Source: Joy & Dylan’s Simon’s Town Wedding (Photography: Nastassja Harvey)

Good morning, friends! It’s been a long and crazy week for me, including an amazing shoot with such a great team mid-week that I am dying to share with you (in the words of Barney Stinson… wait for it…) so I’m pretty glad it’s Friday. And what a fun Friday we have lined up for you, as it’s our unofficial Bridesmaid Day! We’re kicking things off with some comprehensive, down-to-earth advice from friend of the blog Theresa Lazarevic of Creation Events.. I love that Theresa not only has a great eye for decor that really benefits her brides and grooms, but she’s also a source of wedding wisdom and practical ideas. I like to think I’ve always been quite a switched-on bridesmaid, but I know many friends who have felt a bit lost in knowing their place in the planning and what they can do to help and support. Well, here’s everything they need to know. Be sure to make use of the sharing buttons at the end of the post to share these with your own bridesmaids and MOH! And don’t forget to pop back later for more bridesmaid inspiration from our sponsors. Read more

Sep 26

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Feather Wedding Dresses

It always amazes me that when most women start thinking about and planning (and talking about) their wedding, the first thing they think about (and the one detail that matters above all others) is the dress. Two years ago, when I started the blog, I would have told you that dresses were what I was least interested in. I mean, they all looked the same anyway, right? (Okay, to be fair, a few years ago at the height of the strapless A-line tsunami, they kind of did all look the same.) Well, I have to admit that that has changed (thanks in no small part to a minor obsession with Vera Wang). I still think the other details of the wedding – colour schemes, stationery, details – are more interesting, but now I also drool a bit when a beautiful gown catches my eye. And of all the trends in wedding dresses of the last season, none has caught my eye quite like the use of feathers (usually ostrich). Like ruffles, only better. It must be heaven to float down the aisle in one of these beauties, whether it’s feather embellishments, a feather bodice (so Swan Lake) or a full feather skirt that seems to froth around the wearer like a wave. Many designers have incorporated feather textures in their 2012/2013 collections, so I thought it was about time I brought you an inspirational roundup! Read more

Sep 19

Naked {Un-iced} Cakes

Let’s get naked, people. If you’ve been following my inspiration boards you will already know that I have a style crush on the biggest trend to hit wedding cakes since pies and donuts, and if you follow any other international blogs you probably will have seen a good few of these already, but I thought it was high time we had some naked cake roundup goodness here on SouthBound Bride. So what is a naked cake? In short, it’s a sponge cake that remains un-iced. It might have icing in between layers (although cream cheese frosting, cream and fruit are also common) and it might be beautifully dusted with icing sugar or dribbled with caramel, but the sides are generally left au naturel. And unlike Britney getting in a cab without her undercrackers, it’s a beautiful sight to behold, especially if you’re having a rustic wedding. Decorate with fruit, flowers or both, and stick to a series of smaller cakes or follow the traditional tiered round or square cake. You can go for a classic deconstructed Victoria sponge, or have different layers in different flavours and colours, which also looks pretty amazing! Of course, not everyone is a fan – some cake pros I know feel it looks unfinished and worry about the cake drying out – and, of course, there’s no hiding any cake mishaps under fondant here. Despite this, I think we’ll be seeing lots of these in the upcoming season. Read more

Aug 24

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Guest Post: How to Choose a Venue

Source: Mehtap & Paul’s Tintswalo Atlantic Wedding (Photography: Zarazoo)

Hey hey, it’s Friday! And it’s the best kind of day for me, as I’ll be heading over to Cambridge as you read this so I can attend my lovely friends Kerenza & Matt’s wedding. Yay! Not only do I love weddings, but Kez and Matt are the loveliest. Anyway, never fear, because not only do I have a lovely bonus inspiration board for you this afternoon, but this morning I’ll be leaving you in the very capable hands of my friend Theresa of Creation Events. Theresa is a full service wedding c0-ordinator based in Cape Town, and as one of our treasured SBB sponsors, I’ve been keeping a close eye on what she’s been doing this season. Recently, Theresa has been sharing her extensive expertise in planning on her own blog in a series of ‘how to’ posts, and I’ve convinced her to share one of them exclusively with you here today. And it couldn’t be a more important one, since the venue is the cornerstone for any design you are going to put together, and probably the first thing you’ll book after saying ‘yes’. Over to you, Theresa! Read more

Aug 22

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A Beautiful Illusion {Portrait Back Wedding Dresses}

K-Patz in happier days. Tut tut, Kristin. No more sparkly boyfriend for you.

Blame it on Kristin Stewart. (I mean, she’s getting blamed for everything else right now, why not.) I thought the biggest style statement of that there Twilight wedding would be the hanging blooms, but it turns out that Bella’s gorgeous illusion back gown was the big winner. With lace being huge right now, I am seeing beautiful lace backs popping up everywhere, and goodness if they don’t always catch my breath. Now I’ll admit, there’s a bit of envy here because no way no how am I ever going to be wearing one of these in any form (let’s just say the look gets a little ruined by a bra strap, and I get a little ruined without a bra), but for you ladies who can pull this look off, they make an incredibly stylish and romantic statement. (For the rest of us, of course, there are still illusion necklines which are also a big trend, but that’s another post). There’s something about the mixture of covered and sheer, of lace and skin, that makes them simultaneously demure and sexy. Just one note of caution – if you have your heart set on wearing your hair down (or even half down, or in a ponytail), give this dress style a miss. No point in covering up Mona Lisa’s smile!

To get you inspired, I thought I would introduce you to some of the key designers who have been working this look recently, and then show you my local favourite. Read more

Jul 13

Moroccan Themed Wedding Details

Source: Jose Villa/Cortnie of Canvas and Canopy for Rue Magazine

Welcome to Part 2 of our Moroccan-themed inspiration Friday! Didn’t you just love the dresses I showcased this morning? Not to mention the gorgeous backdrop… Of course, I’ve never actually been to Morocco (although I have done Tunisia and Egypt) but it is most definitely on the list. There’s just something so romantic and English Patienty about it all, isn’t there? Which is probably why it makes a great wedding theme, and I’ve been seeing full-scale Moroccan style weddings or just weddings with Moroccan touches popping up all over the place. But there’s one big word of warning here. Going overboard will make this theme look like a cheap Christmas party. Do not – I repeat, do NOT – go overboard. Don’t lean towards the obvious, but rather be inspired by the general North African design aesthetic, and then have fun with it. Read more

Jul 10

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Sparkly Bridesmaid Dresses {High Street Fashion}

If there’s one thing I know you brides love as much as I do, it’s a sequin-fest. Sparkle and metallics have just been getting bigger and better in fashion and weddings over the last couple of years, and the glitter train shows no sign of stopping. I especially like seeing one sparkly bridesmaid dress rounding out a team of neutrals – it always catches the eye in photographs and gets my bling-lovin’ heart a-flutter. Not that you have to limit it to one – I recently came across a couple of weddings where the bridesmaids were dressed in full scale sequins, and they looked fabulous. So with the end of summer on the British high street (pff, what summer?), I thought it was time to round up the best sparkly dresses for your maids before they all get snapped up in the sales. Enjoy!

Left: Coast – £99; Centre: Monsoon – £54.50; Right: Lipsy – £110 Read more

Jul 5

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Real Wedding at Anura Vineyards {Cheryl & Sven}

SOOOO excited to share today’s (bumper!) post with you – it feels like it has been in the pipeline since forever! Of course, that’s because today we’re sharing the wedding of Cheryl McEwan, our friend and colleague, SBB sponsor, and of course, Real Life Bride. Together we’ve followed Cheryl on her planning journey, from inspiration to reality. And wow. That reality is so much more gorgeous than I could even have imagined. Not just because it’s photographed by the legend that is Nastassja Harvey (although it helps). As a photographer, Cheryl has an amazing eye for detail, and putting that together with her wedding experience, she created a masterclass in shabby chic/country vintage styling that must have been a pleasure to shoot and attend. She’s also collaborated with her friends in the industry – Doodles Laser in particular – to add sweet new twists to the ideas that inspired her (read her Real Life Bride archive to see how these evolved). The result is an incredible wedding, blessed with rainbows (literally) and laughter – here’s wishing Cheryl and Sven many blessings in the next chapter of their lives together. Read more