Cozy & Elegant Wedding at 401 Rozendal by Justin Davis

One look at this cozy winelands wedding and you can see it’s drop dead gorgeous. Understated, yes, with its elegant navy, grey and plenty of white colour palette, but still completely showstopping. Just look at bride Chantelle’s white peony bouquet, or her beautiful lace dress, or the reception hall dripping with chandeliers and hanging glass bulbs. But I think what I like best about Christian and Chantelle’s design is that, even though they used classic elements and a sophisticated vibe, they managed to make their whole day also feel warm and welcoming and cozy – perfect for a winter wedding where you want your guests to feel right at home. And let’s not forget personal, because this pair paid attention to the little details as a way to tell their story, like the surfboard boutonnieres that mirrored the (completely adorable!) story of Christian’s proposal. Justin Davis was on the scene to capture all this winter wedding wonder, and make the fairytale complete.

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Elegant Day Wedding at Molenvliet by ZaraZoo Photography

Stylish Molenvliet Wedding

Real weddings. They’re our bread and butter here on SouthBound Bride, and this year we have plans to share more than ever before. So it’s always a happy moment when I get to kick off a new year of real weddings, and I can’t think of a lovelier one to start with than Kiki & Duma’s. Like all our favourite weddings, it combines beautiful decor and a fantastic South African setting with heartfelt emotion that jumps off the page and gives you that giddy kind of smile that only true love can. Kiki and Duma chose the wonderful Molenvliet for their day wedding, and used a palette of mint and peach brightened up with gold and pops of tangerine to make it extra lovely. My favourite thing about this one – beautifully captured by ZaraZoo – is the exuberant joy shared by the couple with their guests (that moment where Duma’s groomsmen do a victory dance after the wedding? One of my all-time faves). We don’t have full info from the bride and groom to share with you today, but everything you need to know is written all over their glowing faces.

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Inspiration Board: Wineland Pastels

Hello lovelies! We started our Monday with winter whites, but now it’s time to add some colour to your afternoon. Specifically, pastels, because we LOVE pastels, don’t we? I’ve done quite a few pastel boards before (and I’m especially fond of mixed ice cream pastels, let’s be honest), but today I wanted to do a little more of a grown-up pastel board, combining the soft rainbow of shades with elegantly rustic vineyard style. I am absolutely loving how it’s turned out, aren’t you? Here’s hoping this is one board I see brought to life by a real bride soon. (PS Find more pastel inspiration here!)

Colours: Ice cream pastels

Top row (l-r): Name tags {Em The Gem/Kathryn Murray }; flowers on wine barrel {Jessica Burke Photography/FleurEssence Floral Design}; pastel bridesmaids {Sweet Little Photographs}
Row 2: Flowers in wine crate {Nikki Meyer}; cork escort cards {Braedon Photography}; pastel yellow cake {Matthew Land Studios/Petal And Pie}
Row 3: Pastel cupcakes {Lindsey A. Miller Photography/MOD Events/D’lish Dessert}; ruffled wedding dress {KT Merry}; wine barrel breakout area {Caroline Tran Photographer/Malibu Family Wines}

 

Inspiration Board: Seafoam Vineyard

Good morning friends, and what a beautiful morning it is in London. The sun is out again, the garden’s freshly mowed (thanks Olly), and there’s still the hint of woodsmoke in the air from using the outdoor stove last night (unfortunately temperatures aren’t quite summery yet). Today’s board is a reader request from Kate, who’s planning a summer wedding at Constantia Uitsig (one of my favourite venues, and somewhere I am dying to stay!). Even though it’s very much a wine country wedding, with a rustic boho vibe and an incredible view of the vineyards and Table Mountain, Kate’s chosen a palette inspired by the sea, with soft blues, greens and cream as her colours. I love this – in fact, it’s the same palette my friend Heidi chose a couple of years ago for a garden-style wedding, and it looked fantastic. Using these cool colours is sure to make everything seem fresh and natural, and it’s also easy to warm them up with tiny touches of peach or pink. Kate had some really lovely ideas that she’ll be including, and hopefully I’ve added a few more to the mix with her board. Hope you like it, Kate!

Colours: Pastel blue, green and cream

Top row (l-r): Boho bride {Rylee Hitchner/Joy Thigpen}; barrels as tables {Caroline Tran Photographer/Malibu Family Wines}; loose bouquet {Erich McVey}; blue and green glass containers with white flowers
Row 2: Bridesmaids {Judy Pak Photography}; hanging carnations; doily cutlery wraps; reception sign {Braedon Photography}; cake {Abi Q Photography/Sugar & Fluff}
Row 3: Constantia Uitsig; cork escort cards {Braedon Photography}; hydrangea bouquet {Scott Piner}; dress {Scott Piner}; groomsmen {Jenna Walker Photographers}

 

An Autumn Vineyard

Let the SBB loveliness begin! :) And I can’t think of a lovelier way to start, than with this GORGEOUS inspiration shoot, which has been sitting prettily on my laptop waiting for you. It’s also super appropriate for the season we’re in at the moment, and I hope will inspire some of you in love with wine farm weddings to consider an autumn date for your big day. I mean, just look how gorgeous it is, right? It’s also shot by two of my favourite photographers, Luis and Kerry of Piteira Photography. Kerry is a homegrown South African lass who met her husband Luis when they were working on board a cruise ship. They are the cutest. They’re based in Portugal for most of the year, but you can catch them during the summer months in Cape Town, so if you’re still on the hunt for a photographer, give them a call.Read More

Inspiration Board: Berries & Stripes

I’m just going to go ahead and say it: I LOVE today’s inspiration board. It started with the image top left, and has grown into a board I want to put on my party best and climb inside of. Because how can you not love the marriage of city sophistication and wine farm charm? Classic elements like swirly calligraphy invitations, white roses, chandeliers and a gleaming getaway car mix perfectly with softer country touches – hypericum berries, a wedding signpost, dining under the vines. Serve guests a choice of champagne or this swish gold take on mason jar cocktails during pre-dinner drinks, and wow everyone with a beautiful, sophisticated cake (from local caketress Roxanne Floquet). I love the way that the grey pinstripes bring everything together, and the palette of grey, black, white and gold with little pops of berry red smacks of sophistication. Of course, a swish bride deserves a swish dress, and I’m totally obsessed with this one! Like I say: I love all of it. Hope you do too!

Colours: Grey, black, white, gold and red

Top row (l-r): Red hypericum boutonniere (Andy Duback); wedding car with gifts (Jose Villa); wine bottle table numbers (Missy Cochran); grey striped ribbon bouquet wraps (Cari Photography)
Row 2: Calligraphy letterpress invitations; gold shoes (Jose Villa); wedding signpost (So Happi Together/Gabriel Ryan); gold mason jar with stripey straw; champagne with berries
Row 3: Bride & groom (Yvette Roman); rose bouquet with red hypericum berries (Stephanie Hunter Photography); cake with ribbon and crown details (Roxanne Floquet); vineyard chandelier tables (Jose Villa).