Inspiration Board: Rustic Tangerine

Hello lovelies – did you enjoy our DIY post today? (Don’t worry though, I’m not leaving you short on weddings this week – I have a stunner for you tomorrow!) Today there’s just enough time for one last little bit of inspiration. This one’s a reader request from the lovely Dee, who is getting married in summer in Zimbabwe. She’s planning the most gorgeous rustic combo of orange and burlap and was looking for suggestions for simple but elegant table decor. I think Dee’s made a lovely choice of colour, and just because orange makes a statement doesn’t mean she needs to sacrifice on elegance – if anything, tangerine is this year’s hottest shade, and one that instantly creates warmth. I’d suggest that Dee focus on just using orange in her florals, so that it pops against the burlap and other decorations, and beautiful flowers always keep things classy. Start with lush bouquets for bride and bridesmaids, and on the tables make use of Consol mason jars – simple, easy, effective. Dee could also add in some found vintage objects, and other rustic textures like chicken wire or wood to add interest. A great place to add detail here is in the place settings – I love the menu printed on to a napkin and the silverware tied with twine, and basic kraft paper luggage tags make a very effective name tag and escort card. Or Dee could make these cute little hearts from hessian and add one to each place setting. A ‘naked’ cake, interesting (church) seating at an outdoor ceremony and a curtain of fairy lights round out the decor. For bridesmaids, I’d stick to neutrals, and consider long grey dresses which not only will make the orange bouquets pop, but will also add to the general air of rustic elegance. Hope you like your board, Dee!

Colours: Tangerine, green and neutrals

Top row (l-r): Bouquet {F: Blossom Sweet; S: Forevermore Events; P: Gideon Phototography}; table flowers in mason jars with burlap runner {F: A Modern Touch; P: The Studio Nouveau}; escort card luggage tags {S: Hey Gorgeous Events; P: Tonya Peterson Photography}; scale {S: The Stylish Soiree; P: Meg Perotti}; bride and groom {P: Half Orange Photography}
Row 2: Un-iced cake {C: Sedona Cake Couture; P: Sedona Bride}; tangerine boutonnieres {F: Kate Foley Designs; P: EE Photography}; invitation with burlap tie {Invitations by Alecia}; church seating {P: Jose Villa}; place setting {P: J. Cogliandro Photography; D: Atheneum Creative}
Row 3: Table decor {F: Roost Flowers; P: Andi Grant Photography}; fairy lights {Mastin Studio via Apple Brides}; burlap heart {P: Tanja Lippert Photography}; wire bell jars {P: McGowan Images}; bridesmaid {F: The Bride’s Cafe; P: Amelia Johnson Photography}.

 

Wedding Wreaths

Sources: Meg Perotti /The Stylish Soiree via Style Me Pretty (left); Paula O’Hara Photography/Laurens Norton via Southern Weddings (right) 

It’s the ciiiiiiircle of liiiiife…. Okay okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic (and also? the last time you’ll hear me singing a song a) by Elton John and b) from a musical), but there’s no denying that a circle is an appropriate symbol at a wedding. It represents connectedness, eternity, the wedding rings. And when it’s made out of flowers – well, it’s just so gosh darn purdy. I’ve been noticing wreaths all over weddings for a while now, and every time I do they catch my attention, so today I thought we’d just bask a little in the eye candy.Read More

Real Wedding at Old Mac Daddy {Amé & Karel}

Holy moley me oh my – now if this isn’t an amazing wedding, I’ll eat my fascinator. Ever since the team behind the Grand Daddy Hotel (which I am still dying to stay at) opened a country version of their rooftop airstream trailer park in Elgin called Old Mac Daddy, I have been dying to feature a wedding there. (For those who don’t know, each of the trailers – already pretty rad on their own – is custom decorated to a theme by a local artist).  I knew if I held out, the perfect wedding to show off this rustic, funky, informal venue would come along, and boy has it ever. I am so in love with Amé and Karel’s style – from their very cool stationery (how cute is the game-style invitation, not to mention their classy on-the-day farm look and adorable table names!) and quirky ideas, to their green and white flowers and laid back farm chic decor. And those bridesmaids’ dresses! Everything about this wedding is in synch – it’s so beautifully put together and well-thought-out. And, of course, I am also thrilled to be showcasing the work of the awesome Love Made Visible – their ability to see and capture the behind-the-scenes moments that really make up a day so much more than the decor or colour scheme ever could, always astounds me. Sit back, bliss out and enjoy.Read More

Real Wedding at The Bridge {Roslynde & Louis}

You know, there’s a story behind why origami cranes are considered lucky for weddings. Supposedly, the qualities you need to fold 1,000 cranes (patience, good communication, perseverance, and so on) are the same ones that you’ll need to have a successful marriage. But the origami cranes in today’s wedding teach something different. These were folded by a friend of the bride, and this detail, as well as the many other handmade touches from friends and family, reminded the bride and groom of the support they have in their marriage. Isn’t that just so lovely? Of course, the loveliness doesn’t stop there. The first thing I fell in love with from Roslynde and Louis’ wedding (apart from her pretty name!) was the wooden proteas carried by her bridesmaids – aren’t they just the coolness? Followed very closely by her dove grey dress, with the prettiest lace detailing. Not to mention some brilliant rustic details – plantable bird thank-you cards, hanging succulents in little bottles, a feast of ribbons (I think I even spied some measuring tape on one of the succulent tins – another great DIY-able detail). Oh, what the heck, I love it all. Melanie Wessels (welcome Melanie!) did the photographic honours.Read More

Fields of Gold Engagement Shoot

I looooove this shoot. It’s so chilled out and dreamy; I feel like Sting should be playing in the background when I look at it. Simple ingredients: a couple in love + a field + awesome photographers Modern Hearts. Can’t go wrong!

Peter-Allan and Nicolene met at a mini-market – Nicolene says she fell in love with his voice before anything else! He surprised her with a proposal on a weekend away in Redelinghuys, right in the middle of town during an evening stroll. And of course, she said yes!Read More

Real Farm Wedding {Nicola & Nick}

I think one of my favourite parts about working with real weddings every day is hearing the ‘how we met’ stories. That unique conglomeration of circumstance that puts two people in one place, at one time, on the same page, in the same headspace, where they can fall in love. We’re funny creatures, human beings, full of sharp corners and rough edges, so it’s pretty incredible to me sometimes that this happens at all. But it does. Every day. It’s like a series of tiny miracles. And some of my favourite stories are of the people who don’t see each other across a crowded room and immediately: thunderbolts; but rather find that timing is everything. Nick and Nicola are one of those couples – I don’t know them, but based on the fact that we were all at Stellenbosch at the same time, I’m pretty sure I bumped elbows with both of them at the Terrace at some point or another. They were just friends. And then, one day, they were more than friends. Another tiny miracle. There’s so much happiness in these lovely pictures from brand new SBB contributor Kiekie Photography (welcome, Schantel!), and all the fun of a rustic, family-oriented, down-home barn wedding. And I love the little details, especially the light-hearted chalkboard quotes. To paraphrase one of them, moments like these are avocado bits in the salad bowl of life. Enjoy!Read More

Real Farm Wedding {Stephanie & Grant}

It’s not every day you come across a wedding as special and thoughtfully put together as this one. It’s also the first time I’ve featured a truly organic wedding, including a raw food cake! But what I love most about Stephanie and Grant is that they embody the SBB philosophy of creating a day that is uniquely yours, and a celebration of who you are as individuals and as a couple. Stephanie (with support from Grant) dreamed up every bit of their beautiful wedding, which was held on a family farm that has so much history and resonance for them. They’re both in the health industry, and this was reflected in their menu choices – the natural, organic theme also extended to the rustic chic decor at both their ceremony and reception. Looking at the pictures (beautifully taken by Peter Russell), you can feel pure happiness radiating off them. It’s Pretty, with Heart. Just the way we like it.Read More

Real Wedding at Cloof Vineyards {Cynthia & Chris}

Afternoon, lovelies! So, as you know, I have a total crush on being Southern. It’s all about the drawl, y’all. So you can just imagine how much I lurve this wedding, which is not only full of sweet Texan touches, but combines them with the elegance of an English garden party and the best of my beautiful home country as well. It’s just the loveliest way to do multi-cultural, ever, and full of steal-able ideas. Not to mention, fun. They had a barn dance! With hats! And sheriff badges! Could it be more adorable? Not to mention the whole long table-outdoor eating thing (Denim table runners? I die). Responsible for all this handmade prettiness is clever Southern belle Cynthia and her South African husband Chris, as well as Cynthia’s sister, who just happens to be talented photographer Julie Wilhite. I’m so excited to be able to share Julie’s gorgeous pics of a very special family celebration on this, my first day as a self-employed person (free at last, free at last) – and lucky for us, although she’s based in the US, she’s always keen to visit her sister and shoot in SA, so give her a shout if you’d like to ask about availability! I had a ball putting these pics together, and I know you’d love looking at them.Read More

Inspiration Board: Burlap & Blueberry

Good morning! How was your weekend? I spent mine on a massive organisation kick – moving into my new office, and trying to implement a system for getting things done. Although the To Do list is massive, it’s actually really empowering to feel more on top of it all! One thing on this weekend’s task list that didn’t take me very long to complete was this little inspiration board, because I’ve been dreaming it up for ages. I am totally smitten with navy at the moment, and while I do adore a nautical wedding, there are so many other ways of using navy as a wedding colour. One of my favourite is to combine it with burlap or hessian for a stylish cross between preppy and rustic that I am just crazy about. And of course blueberries make the perfect country motif. I am dying over the blueberry bouquet below (okay, those are probably choke or elderberries, but they have the right look – your florist may be able to achieve something similar with ivy or similar, and make sure to have them wrap it in twine for the perfect rustic detail) and the blueberry cups – such a sweet dessert, or leave one at each place setting. Printed burlap elements give that extra preppy edge (don’t you just love the date ring pillow?), as do the striped navy napkins. Kraft or corrugated paper also work really well here alongside the burlap. And of course, what would a farm-style celebration be without strings of bunting and fairy lights? (Best news – the bunting invitations come from this free template!) As always, it’s the tiny details that make a big difference – matching burlap rose and boutonniere for the bride and groom, and navy nailpolish for the bridesmaids (where do I find that? sign me up). You could introduce other colours – a soft pink, coral, yellow, or green would all work, but I like the cleanness of this simply stylish palette.

Colours: Navy, white and beige

Top row (l-r): ; Blueberry ring shot (Jamie Delaine); burlap place mat (Amy Karp); blueberry cups
Row 2: Burlap Save the Date ring cushion (Shawn Connell for Christian Oth); navy and burlap garland (Domestic Construction/Max Dworkin); blue bunting love birds invitation (EE photography/Wedding Chicks); striped navy napkin and 3D glasses (Domestic Construction/Max Dworkin)
Row 3: Bride & groom (Jodi Miller Photography); blueberry bouquet (Oasis Flowers/Sakura Photography); barn (Stone Crandall Photography)

Inspiration Board: Burlap & Blueberry

Real Wedding at Die Strandloper {Nadine & Philip}

There’s a part of me that is all Tiffany’s girl. Give me a martini (vodka, extra dry extra cold with a twist, cheers), a pair of Badgleys and a rooftop bar in Manhattan and I’m a happy woman. But I grew up on the coast, and there’s another big part of me that is all barefoot, shell necklaced and freckle nosed. That wants nothing more than salt on my lips and the beat of the surf in my ears. That’s one of the reasons why I’m so in love with beach venues, and the more rustic, the better. Today’s is about as laid-back seaside as you get – the awesome Strandloper restaurant in Langebaan, where you can rock up, pay your cover and enjoy a long session of fresh and delicious seafood right on the beach. (I am seriously salivating right now just thinking about it!) Nadine and Philip chose it as their wedding venue, and the result was a super relaxed day with family and friends that I am completely smitten over. Their details are just subtle enough to enhance the venue, never competing with it, and allowing all of their guests to get into the beachy groove. As usual, Warren Williams‘ pictures really bring the celebrations to life. Doesn’t it just look like so much fun? I want to be there. Now.Read More