We all know how stressful planning a wedding can be, making wedding planning burnout a very real possibility. Whether you’re trying not to pull out your hair as wedding costs skyrocket or you’re obsessing over every little detail to ensure that everything goes the way you’ve pictured it, feeling overwhelmed is guaranteed to happen if you’re not careful.
Thankfully, this isn’t something new and there are endless resources to help the modern bridal couple looking to keep costs and anxiety low.
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Incorporating Mzansi flavour into your wedding is a lovely way to pay homage to your country or family. Whatever your heritage, here are some of the best ways to stay proudly South African on your big day.
1. A sense of ceremony
Are there poems, quotes or vows that are particular to your heritage or culture? Incorporate them into your ceremony and make sure to emphasise them in your programme. You could even elaborate on the origin and history of the words you include or ask whoever is marrying you to add these anecdotes as well.
2. Your attire
Is there a specific colour or print that has meaning in your family? Try and include it in a subtle way, for example, maybe a hairpin, brooch, pocket square or even a pair of shoes in a colour or pattern that represents your particular heritage.
3. The food
How about serving welcome drinks infused with flavours of well-known South African herbs and plants? Think buchu gin, geranium cordial, rooibos iced tea … the options are endless. And when it comes to food, traditional doesn’t have to mean boring. There are many ways you can transform much-loved homestyle dishes – from bredie to braai – into appetising, intricate canapés and sophisticated mains.
4. Flowers & decor
South Africa is blessed with an abundance of unique, exquisite flora. Instead of trying to get hold of exotic plants and flowers, try using indigenous, seasonal ones that are found in your hometown. Proteas, strelitzias and succulents can look striking paired with simple greenery, and will be a much more cost-effective option too! Consider texture as well: wooden, woven or African-print table runners and underplates work well when combined with minimalist elements.
5. The music
A wedding playlist is very personal and should include songs from some of your favourite moments together. Add a little twist by including a traditional song somewhere in the playlist – whether it be during your first dance or when people are grooving on the dance floor later.
Celebrate your love, the Mzansi way
At the heart of it all, adding a touch of Mzansi flair to your wedding is about celebrating where you come from and the people who helped shape your story. Whether it’s through music, food, fashion or meaningful traditions, these local touches create a wedding that feels warm, personal and unmistakably South African. The beauty of a Mzansi-inspired celebration is that there are no strict rules — just moments that honour your culture, your love story and the joy of bringing people together.
ALSO SEE: 7 Fun-loving wedding ideas to move your wedding from traditional to funtastic
7 Fun-loving wedding ideas to move your wedding from traditional to funtastic
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Wedding dresses have always been a reflection of their time. Bridal fashion has shifted with culture, politics, and pop-culture icons shaping what brides wear down the aisle. Here’s how the look of “the modern bride” has evolved decade by decade.
1920s: Flapper-inspired glamour and beaded detail
The 1920s bride embraced freedom in silhouette and movement. Waistlines dropped, fabrics softened, and dresses took on a loose, straight shape that felt modern for the time.
Intricate beadwork, embroidery, and lace detailing defined the era, adding texture and elegance. Brides often completed the look with statement headpieces (think tiaras, floral accents, and decorative hairpins), usually paired with a soft, flowing veil.
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1930s: Elegant silhouettes and Hollywood-inspired
By the 1930s, wedding dresses became more refined and understated. Influenced by Hollywood glamour, brides favoured long, streamlined silhouettes with subtle waist definition.
Satin and silk were popular fabrics, often styled with long sleeves and minimal embellishment. Soft detailing like embroidery or appliqué added sophistication, while dramatic “shower bouquets” (long, trailing floral arrangements) became a signature bridal accessory.
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1940s: Wartime simplicity and practical bridalwear
The 1940s brought practicality into bridal fashion. With wartime restrictions and limited resources, many brides wore suits, borrowed dresses, or reworked garments they already owned.
Looks were simple and functional, with little decoration. Even so, brides still added meaningful details like veils, corsages, or small floral touches to signal the occasion and elevate everyday pieces.
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1950s: Full skirts, cinched waists and fairytale glamour
After the war, bridal fashion returned to grandeur. The 1950s bride embraced feminine, structured silhouettes with fitted bodices and full, voluminous skirts.
Inspired by Hollywood icons and Dior’s “New Look,” dresses were often dramatic and ultra-feminine. Tea-length gowns also gained popularity, layered with petticoats, lace, satin, and structured detailing that created a distinctly romantic feel.
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1960s: Mod minis, structured dresses and style experimentation
The 1960s brought contrast. Early in the decade, brides favoured structured gowns with clean lines, high necklines, and shorter veils, often influenced by Jacqueline Kennedy’s timeless elegance.
As the decade progressed, fashion became more experimental. Mini dresses, bold silhouettes, and even coloured gowns emerged. Flower crowns, headbands, and natural styling began replacing traditional veils.
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1970s: Boho brides, bell sleeves and relaxed silhouettes
The 1970s bridal look was relaxed, expressive, and deeply influenced by bohemian style. Flowing fabrics, bell sleeves, and soft silhouettes defined the decade.
Brides moved away from traditional formality, often opting for hats, ribbons, or loose natural hair instead of veils. Some even chose tailored suits or unconventional white ensembles, embracing individuality over tradition.
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1980s: Statement sleeves, volume and maximalist bridal fashion
The 1980s was the era of “more is more.” Bridal gowns became dramatic with puffed sleeves, full skirts, and long cathedral trains.
Lace, taffeta, and structured fabrics dominated, while oversized silhouettes created a bold, high-impact look. Influenced heavily by royal weddings and pop culture, this decade defined the iconic “princess bride” aesthetic.
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1990s: Minimalist silhouettes and sleek bridalwear
The go-big-or-go-home trend seeped over into the 90s. However, as we drew closer to the 2000s, it shifted toward simplicity. Brides embraced clean lines, understated elegance, and pared-back silhouettes.
Slip dresses, satin fabrics, and fitted gowns became popular, often paired with minimal accessories. The focus moved away from volume and embellishment and toward effortless, modern refinement.
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2000s: Strapless gowns and structured glamour
The early 2000s were defined by strapless wedding dresses. Corset-style bodices, crystal embellishments, and full skirts dominated bridal fashion.
As the decade progressed, designs began to soften, with more classic and vintage-inspired gowns entering the mainstream alongside the still-popular structured silhouettes.
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2010s–present: Modern minimalism and personalised bridal style
Today’s bridal fashion is less about following a single trend and more about personal expression. Minimalist gowns, lace sleeves, and modern tailoring all sit side by side.
Brides are now choosing looks that reflect their personality, whether that’s sleek and simple, vintage-inspired, fashion-forward, or dramatically detailed. The modern wedding dress is no longer defined by one rule, but by individuality.
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ALSO SEE: Wedding dress inspo for autumn and winter brides
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You do not need to spend your entire wedding budget on one pair of shoes you will wear for a few hours. These days, budget-friendly bridal shoes are proving that style, comfort and affordability can absolutely go hand in hand.
There are plenty of bridal shoes under R600 that look just as dreamy walking down the aisle as they do styled with jeans, dresses or tailored pants long after the wedding day is over. Because honestly, if you can rewear your wedding accessories after the big day, that is a win.
We rounded up beautiful bridal shoes under R600 that are wedding-worthy, wearable beyond the aisle and proof that looking chic on your big day does not have to cost an arm, a leg or your two front teeth.
Tori Satin 9cm Heel With Netted Trim Court Shoe, R550, Lamara Paris
Pointy Slingback Kitten Heels, R459, Foschini
Jayna Block Ankle Strap Heel, R519, Superbalist
Rasa Embroidered Slingback Pointed 4.5cm Heel, R500, Lamara Paris
Peeptoe Ankle Tie Heels, R499, Foschini
Misty Block 9cm Heel Open Waist Cross Over Belts Glitter, R499, Lamara Paris
Women’s Iconography Strappy Block Heel, R599, BASH
Mesh And Beaded Shoe With Ankle Strap, R550, Queenspark
ALSO SEE: Non-white wedding dresses are no longer a bridal taboo
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