Boho Equestrian Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

Boho Equestrian Wedding Inspiration | Credit: MORE Than Just Photography

I always wanted to be a horse person, and spend my afternoons galloping through the countryside with the wind in my hair, but sadly, my horse riding experience is limited to just a couple of rides with these gorgeous animals. (To be fair, the last time was on a beach in New Zealand, which was pretty romantic, so don’t feel too sorry for me.) But I love the idea of a touch of equestrian inspiration, especially tied in with a boho feel and gorgeous winter palette that combines soft pastels with a beautiful dark denim blue. That’s what today’s styled shoot incorporates, and it features not just a whimsical picnic-style table and a deliciously ruffled cake, but a beautiful bride and her bridesmaids in their bohemian wedding finery. From the romantic floral crowns to the strings of clear glass bulbs hanging over the table, the details are sweetly casual, and the whole thing has been beautifully captured and created by Anica of MORE Than Just Photography and her styling team!

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Alice in Wonderland Inspired Elopement by Andries Combrink & Runaway Romance

by gaby

Alice in Wonderland Inspired Elopement | Credit: Andries Combrink & Runaway Romance

I have a special place in my wedding-loving heart for elopements. There’s something so utterly romantic about the idea of two people taking this moment away from the rest of the world for just them, to promise their forevers wrapped up in one another with no distractions, and bask in the glow of the moment, seeing it reflected in each other’s eyes. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but a beautiful wedding à deux always makes me smile. And I know someone else who loves these kinds of weddings as much as I do – the lovely Rebecca of Runaway Romance, who has made it her mission as a wedding planner to focus on more intimate celebrations and bring them a special kind of magic through her love of detail and styling. After all, just because it’s only the two of you, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look amazing! Today’s wedding is just that. Theuns and Ewalda chose to infuse their elopement with their love of literature in general and Alice in Wonderland in particular, and the result is a wonderfully whimsical celebration with the sweetest of details, from paper flowers (mixed in with red roses, of course!), to Scrabble tile elements, to a custom ceremony backdrop that proclaimed ‘It was always you’. Told you elopements were romantic! Andries Combrink was there to capture the whole thing on film.

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Pantone Serenity & Rose Quartz Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

Pastel Wedding Bouquet | Credit: Jack & Jane Photography

Can you feel it? It’s getting to that time of year again, where it becomes all about summer and holidays and parties and celebrations and the end of another year and the start of new things and new diaries and new dreams and goals and ideas. I don’t know about you all, but I spend most of my year wishing it would go more slowly and then get to November and wish it would go more quickly (because Christmas!). But one thing I’m always sad to say goodbye to this time of year is the Pantone colour of the year because while yes, I often start out lukewarm about it to begin with, by the end of the year I feel like it’s really come into its own as stylists and real brides have played with it and found a hundred new ways to make it beautiful. Of course, gone doesn’t mean forgotten, because even though the wedding and fashion industry move on to the next COY, that last one is still going to be making real weddings beautiful for months and years to come. That’s maybe never more true than with this year, when we got two colours, and both were wedding ready from Day 1. Serenity and Rose Quartz have been like a spring breeze or a summer sunset. I’ve loved them separately, and I’ve loved them together. So it only seems appropriate to celebrate them one more time with this gorgeous modern meets vintage styled shoot. Even better, it showcases the amazing talents of so many of our favourite service providers, including Blue Olive Events, Jack & Jane Photography, Janita Toerien (dress SWOON!) & Candi Makeup. These folks are not just great at what they do, they’re some of the nicest people in the industry, and together with the rest of their wonderful team, they’ve pulled off something truly inspirational. Enjoy!

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Protea Pink Country Wedding at Cranford Country Lodge by Kate Martens

by gaby

I’m so delighted to be sharing today’s wedding with you all, I feel like I might break into song (I won’t, don’t worry). Zoë & Mike’s big day is the quintessential country wedding, filled with bunting and lace and proteas and hundreds of origami cranes. It has the sweetest love story, the prettiest blush palette, and a dreamy Robyn Roberts lace gown. It’s relaxed and rustic, and full of love and laughter. It’s all these wonderful things. But it’s also a chance for me to show off one of my absolute favourite venues, Cranford Country Lodge. Cranford is part of the SBB Collection – our growing collection of the venues we recommend because they each have something truly special. For Cranford, that something special is a feeling of authentic country charm, the warmest of farm welcomes, genuine hospitality. With a mix of spectacular rural scenery and rustic chic ceremony and reception spaces, it’s also gorgeous, which makes it pretty much the perfect Natal Midlands wedding venue. The kind of place that feels like a home. For a couple like Zoë & Mike, who wanted their guests to share in their laid back, intimate vibe, it was perfect. And with Kate Martens there to shoot these lovely images… well. Take a peek for yourself.

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Winter Rustic Glamour Wedding at The Conservatory by Karina Conradie

by gaby

Winter Rustic Glamour Wedding | Credit: Karina Conradie

Who doesn’t love a long distance love story? We all know how difficult these can be, and how much patience and hard work goes into a union where you have to rely on alternate forms of communication, and limited time in person, to get to know one another. So I think it takes a really special connection to make its way past that, and Janine and Francois clearly have just such a connection. Together at last, they celebrated their wedding with a beautiful, jewel toned, festival atmosphere wedding at the stunning Conservatory in Franschhoek, filling the reception with DIY details (including Japanese moss balls called kokedamas), and mixing rustic style with a touch of opulence in both palette and details (I especially love the cake and the maroon bridesmaids’ gowns including a couple by our newest directory members, Jacoba). So pretty, you guys! Karina Conradie took these beautiful pictures.

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Bella Sorella

by gaby

Italian Garden Wedding Inspiration | Credit: Magnolia & Magpie Photography

Outside of South Africa, if there’s one location in the world that’s my happy place, it has to be Italy. Hands down. Which isn’t really a surprise, since I’m half Italian, and I’ve lived there and travelled extensively. But it never gets tired or old or been there done that. And when it’s been a while (which it has for me right now), I get this palpable longing to visit again and breathe it in. Happily, that longing just got a little bit satisfied for me with today’s bridal inspiration, which is like a slice of Italian wedding heaven. First off, it’s shot on the most gorgeous Italian estate you can imagine. Add in exquisite Claire Pettibone gowns on the models (who look like mythological sisters), headpieces from Enchanted Atelier, and lush, elegant florals in classic shades of white and green. A touch of romantic calligraphy? Check. Susie Saltzman rings? That too. And with beautiful images by Magnolia & Magpie Photography to round things out, it’s pretty much the most perfect way to start a week I can imagine. Sigh…

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Autumn Greenery DIY Wedding at Bell Amour by Those Photos

by gaby

Autumn Greenery DIY Wedding | Credit: Those Photos

There’s nothing I love more than a country wedding filled with fynbos and laughter and love, especially when that wedding was handmade by all the special people in the couple’s life, just for them. Pieter and Renée’s wedding was just that, and it set the tone for a sweetly personal affair in the cool air of autumn, embellished with a host of darling DIYs. But my favourite part? That incredible, intense moment when bride and groom see each other for the first time at each end of the aisle. Tears! And the way they look at each other in every lovely frame by Those Photos, you just know they’re the real deal.

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Floral & Metallic Wedding at Zorgvliet by Cheryl McEwan

by gaby

Bride & Groom | Credit: Cheryl McEwan

You all know by now that I love lush, beautiful floral arrangements, and you definitely know I love anything glittering and gold. Put the two together? I’m in blogger heaven, floating around like a cherub, on a cloud of pretty, playing my happy harp. That’s what Erin and Rob’s wedding is full of – luxe berry tone florals throughout, touches of gold and rose gold (including the bridesmaids’ glitzy cocktail dresses!). With a breathtaking tulle gown, an abundance of romantic winelands scenery, and the most darling little details, like gold-sprayed pears at every setting, it’s lovely to the max, and with SBB fave Cheryl McEwan behind the camera, the puzzle is complete!

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Día De Los Muertos Wedding Inspiration

by gaby

Día De Los Muertos Wedding Inspiration | Credit: Hello Love Photography

I promised you a second gorgeous feature today, and I am SUPER excited to share this one, as it’s so utterly beautiful! If you didn’t know, today and tomorrow mark the celebration of the Mexican festival, Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead. It’s a holy day, where families gather to celebrate their loved ones who have passed on, celebrate their lives, and help support their spiritual journey. I think it’s such an incredible way to honour these friends and family members who we miss, and instead of being creepy or sad, it’s celebrated with a fiesta of colour and life. It’s top of the bucket list for me to go to Mexico to see this wonderful festival for myself, and one day I will, but for now, I get to bring a little bit of Mexico to SouthBound Bride with this wonderful styled shoot created by a team of local wedding pros, including SBB faves Hello Love Photography. I adore what they’ve put together here – the bright colours and beautiful blooms (real, paper and on one of the showstopping Silver Swallow gowns!), and hello, tequila bar – it’s a vibrant tribute to the occasion and an absolute feast for the eyes!

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Elegant Minimalist Wedding at Tokara by Kikitography

by gaby

Elegant Minimalist Wedding | Credit: Kikitography

Just in case you needed any more reason to love Bright & Beautiful after yesterday’s Halloween wedding inspiration, let me introduce you to this adorable real wedding. Carla and Quintin’s taste was simple and refined – these high school sweethearts let the incredible natural beauty of the Cape winelands and their venue, Tokara, take centre stage, and just added complementary details – armfuls of white flowers and greenery, a drop dead gorgeous two-piece convertible Anna Georgina wedding dress, incredible food from the Tokara kitchens, a naked cake. And the pictures… oh the pictures! Kikitography have done a brilliant job as ever with the most beautiful golden autumn light you can imagine. Warning: dreaminess levels high.

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