• 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.

    There was a time when walking down the aisle in anything other than crisp ivory or bridal white would have caused a few gasps from the front row. But modern brides are rewriting the rulebook.

    Why brides are choosing a non-white wedding dress

    The rise of the non-white wedding dress says a lot about where weddings are headed in general. Brides are moving away from tradition for tradition’s sake and leaning into choices that feel a bit more authentic and emotionally connected to their personalities.

    For some, white simply does not feel flattering. For others, it feels too expected.

    A soft sage gown may suit a nature-loving bride far more than bright white ever could. A champagne dress can feel timeless yet warmer against certain skin tones. A black wedding dress might perfectly suit a fashion-forward city celebration. And then there are brides who simply want the freedom to wear colour because they adore it.

    The colours brides are loving right now

     

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    The beauty of a colour wedding dress is that there are no limits. Some brides choose the subtlest hint of colour, while others embrace dramatic statement shades.

    Popular options include:

    • Soft blush pink
    • Champagne and nude tones
    • Dusty blue
    • Sage green
    • Lilac and lavender
    • Floral appliqué gowns
    • Ombre detailing
    • Black wedding dresses
    • Gold or metallic finishes
    • Rich jewel tones for winter weddings

    Which brides tend to choose colourful wedding dresses?

    Interestingly, colourful wedding dresses are no longer reserved for unconventional weddings only.

    You will often spot non-white gowns at:

    • Garden weddings
    • Destination weddings
    • Intimate weddings
    • Art-inspired weddings
    • Modern city weddings
    • Second marriages
    • Fashion-forward luxury weddings
    • Cultural fusion celebrations

    They also appeal to brides who:

    • Love fashion
    • Want standout wedding photos
    • Feel disconnected from strict traditions
    • Want a dress they may realistically rewear
    • Prefer individuality over convention

    And perhaps most importantly, many brides choosing non-white gowns say the dress simply feels more like them.

    Nervous about going fully colourful? Start subtly

     

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    Not every bride wants a bright pink ballgown — and that is perfectly fine.

    If you love the idea of a non-white wedding dress but still want something timeless, consider:

    • Champagne instead of white
    • Floral embroidery over ivory
    • A soft blush underlayer
    • Coloured gloves or a cape
    • A pastel overskirt
    • Delicate blue or silver detailing
    • A dramatic second reception dress

    ALSO SEE: High-neck wedding dresses we love

    High-neck wedding dresses we love

    Feature image: Unsplash

    Some proposals are beautiful. Some are emotional. And then there are the rare ones that somehow belong to everyone who witnesses them.

    Aqib and Laiqah’s engagement at Maiden’s Cove in Cape Town has become one of South Africa’s most talked-about love stories. Sure, the romantic setting played a role, but it’s also because of what unfolded around them: a spontaneous, overwhelming wave of celebration from complete strangers.

    The moment was captured by photographer Bianca Asher, who later shared the full behind-the-scenes story on her blog. What was meant to be an intimate seaside proposal quickly turned into something far more unexpected, eventually gaining more than 64 000 likes on Instagram and becoming a powerful example of Ubuntu in action.

    When Aqib reached out to me a few months ago to plan his proposal I don’t think either of us could have imagined how everything would unfold. We went back and forth on location ideas – with the main focus being on a beautiful backdrop and catching Laiqah’s reaction. When I arrived at Maiden’s Cove I saw a lot of tour busses and even more people, which was not in the plan of a quiet proposal shoot. Aqib and Laiqah were down the road at Plato grabbing coffees as the decoy plan to go on a walk for the proposal. I was in comms with Aqib and tentatively changing the location to somewhere quieter, but as I was waiting the crowds dispersed around the cove. When he messaged to let me know he was a few minutes out – I just asked a handful of students who were directly in my shot if they wouldn’t mind moving for a few minutes while I captured the moment. They were really excited and asked if they could watch and I said of course, just act natural. I don’t know exactly what happened but I’m assuming a few texts were sent out to other students who were there and as Aqib dropped to his knee – these huge cheers broke out behind us. It was the most incredible moment of Ubuntu and celebration between strangers.

    Instead of the usual quiet anticipation that surrounds a proposal shoot, the cove erupted into cheers as Aqib dropped to one knee, turning an already emotional moment into a shared celebration between strangers, students, tourists and passersby.

    I’m getting goosebumps just typing out what happened. It’s hard to explain how beautiful it is when a community comes together to celebrate strangers. I’ve been capturing proposals for years and I love being part of the best days of people’s lives – but this was something I’ll never forget. There’s nothing like the incredible spirit of South African’s coming together to celebrate joy. Everyone is asking for an invite to the wedding so it seems like we’ll need a stadium to pull this off. It would be incredible to keep this good cause going and raise funds for charities while celebrating their love. If any brands and vendors are keen to get involved – reach out in the comments or email me.

    The reaction online has been just as warm as the moment itself, with South Africans embracing Aqib and Laiqah as “their” couple.

    At its heart, this proposal story is a reminder of how quickly strangers can become a community when something real and joyful unfolds in front of them. And in this case, that joy happened to be two people saying yes to forever, framed by the Atlantic Ocean and a chorus of unexpected cheers.

    The wedding exit photo is an important one! It symbolises you, as a newly-wed couple, taking your first steps out into the world as a unit. Many couples go all out for wedding exists, from leaving in a tractor to escaping in a helicopter.

    If you want to keep it simple but still make it special there are tons of options too! There’s no need to stress about an over-the-top exist that, in the end, burns an unnecessary hole in your pocket.

    Here are some simple but stunning ideas to inspire you:

    Classic: 

    (Many people are now against confetti and instead use biodegradable versions like this couple who are using “Floralfetti”)

    Sparklers: 

    Bubbles: 

    Through your bridal party:

    Ribbons: 

    Light Sabers: 

    Pom-poms: 

     

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    Glow sticks: 

    Sports references:

    Flower petals: 

     

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    ALSO SEE: What is an Irish exit?

    What is an Irish exit?

    Feature image: Pexels