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    Anita Froneman

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    In News

    Gauteng woman ‘marries’ herself

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    A woman who wanted to make a promise of commitment to herself, decided to make it official by marrying herself. Rita Woodall-Terblanche (63) from Vanderbijlpark says she knows people will probably think she’s crazy, but she doesn’t care.

    She has been married twice before. She divorced from her first husband in 1981, saying they married too young and was not meant to be. She married her second husband in 1982, who passed away three years ago. “I loved Alan, but I promised myself I would never marry a man again, so I went ahead and married myself” she told Netwerk24. 

    This marriage is not recognised as official by the state, and as such is only symbolic. Rita says that she has been through a lot in her life, and she owed it to herself. Her second husband, Alan, had been retrenched and had health issues, to such an extent that he was bed-ridden. “I took care of him all those years, but each day was an uphill battle.” Now, she wants to put herself first.

    Rita made herself a ring with a horse shoe shaped cut-out, filled with yellow diamonds. The horse shoe symbolises good luck.

    Her best friend “conducted” the wedding, and seven other friends and family members made up the guest list. To celebrate this new chapter in her life, Rita will take herself on “honeymoon” to relax in a holiday resort in Bela-Bela.

    Picture: Facebook/ Vaal Weekblad

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    In Planning

    15 most popular wedding songs in SA

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    We all know what the best part of the wedding is. Sure, the heartfelt moments were sweet, the vows made you teary and the food was absolutely to die for. Fast forward a few hours to you head banging on the dance floor. Now you’re in your happy place and having a blast.

    But what do people want to hear? The music you choose will have a big affect on the overall mood. Not all DJ’s get your vibe, and creating your own playlist is loads of fun.

    Here are some classic, all-time favourites that never get old, as well as the latest local tunes South Africans love. Scientifically proven to guarantee a good time.

    1. Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
    2. Feeling you- MiCasa
    3. Don’t stop believing – Journey
    4. Can’t stop the feeling – Justin Timeberlake
    5. Mandoza – Nkalakatha
    6. I wanna dance with somebody – Whitney Houston
    7. Kaptein – Kurt Darren
    8. Thinking out loud – Ed Sheeran
    9. Dancing Queen – ABBA
    10. Going Back West- Boney M
    11. Footloose – Kenny Loggins
    12. Potbelly – Freshly Ground
    13. Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel
    14. I do – Amanda Black
    15. Beautiful – The Parlotones

    This list is bound to set the floor on fire and have guests rocking it out until the am. There’s only one rule on the dance floor: There are no rules on the dance floor.

    Pictures: Pexels

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    In Fashion

    Dresses we love: Detachable skirts

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    In recent years, many brides have taken to wearing two different dresses: one for the ceremony and another for the reception. However, this can become quite costly. So why not have a two-in-one dress that does it all?

    Dresses with detachable skirts gives you two unique wedding looks. Mix a gorgeous design with practicality and you get this smart trend. We absolutely cannot get over this smart trend. Perfect for a full dress when you’re gliding towards the altar, and a shorter, more comfortable piece when you want to dance. From rock star to princess, it’s all here.

    Jumpsuit-dress

    Dress or jumpsuit? Have both!

    Short dress, long skirt

    Go from business to party as quick as a heartbeat.

    Layered

    This dress goes from flowing to form fitting and we love both to bits.

    Overskirt

    Don’t hide the dress, show both at once with an overskirt that’s open at the front.

    Long slits

    This glam look shows a bit of leg when you want to, and doesn’t when you don’t.

    Image: Unsplash

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    In Fashion

    Dresses we love: Halter neck gowns

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    As fashion trends evolve, so do wedding gowns. One that has been relived many times and has experienced a resurgence since Meghan Markle stepped out in one on her wedding day is the halter neck. This design has a very elegant look to it, and we love the different ways you can play around with it.

    Romantic

    This lovely look is feminine and soft, with a dash of sparkle.

     

    Low-cut

    If you prefer a more sultry look, this sexy neckline plunges down but comes together at the top for a finished look.

    Applique

    Patterns are eye candy. These designs sewn onto transparent netting gives the image of the dress gently caressing the skin.

    X-shape

    If you want to flaunt some shoulder, rock this design.

     

     

    Image: Pexels

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    In Advice

    Groomsmen gift ideas

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    This might not be something men think about a lot, but the fact is, your groomsmen give just as much time, energy and money towards your wedding as any loyal bridesmaid. The least you can do is say thank you, and show them that you really appreciate them sharing your journey to the altar with you. Depending on your budget, you can go big or small.

    Of course, men are notoriously difficult to give gifts to. Here are some cool ideas to help you out:

    Personalized beer case
    We love this wooden case, and carving their name on it adds a personal touch.

     

    Braai kit
    You can’t go wrong with this one. Always handy!

     

    Travel mug
    For all the campers, travellers and always-on-the-go dudes.

     

    Bluetooth speaker
    With a small speaker that’s easy to carry, your boys will always be the life of the party.

     

    Liqueuer
    Not only is liqueur super classy, it actually tastes better than you think!

     

     

     

     

    Picture: Unsplash

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    In Fashion

    Bridal crocs are here

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    Let’s face it, it was always going to happen at some point. If you’re one of those people who wears crocs proudly and confidently, now is your time to shine! If you think about about, bridal crocs make sense. You’re on your feet the whole day and dancing all night. You’ll be the last to laugh when you wake up the next morning without a day-old.

    Ranging from R599 to around R1 470, they’re actually pretty affordable as far as wedding shoes go. And people seem to love them:

    And if you do prefer heels, they’ve got you covered too.

    What do you think? Will you be captivating in crocs on your wedding day?

    Picture: Twitter/ Alexandra_hoho

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    In Engagements

    Bride helps brother propose at her wedding

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    Proposing or announcing big news at someone else’s wedding is mostly frowned upon. Then again, it really does depend on the couple getting married, as some take delight in having others celebrate their own special life events on their big day.

    A Texan man proposed to his girlfriend at his sister’s wedding, and the bride was in on the whole thing.

    Sierra Mcginty-Rush spent months planning the moment with her brother Solomon McGinty II. At the customary bouquet throwing during the reception, Sierra pretended to get ready to throw the flowers over her head, then turned around and gave her flowers to her brother’s girlfriend, Baylee Gillmore, instead of throwing her bouquet into the crowd.

    And there Solomon was, waiting on one knee with a ring to pop the big question. The woman in question looks stunned, then a few words are exchanged and she happily says yes. They even got their cousin in on it to film the whole thing. Watch how it unfolded:

    In a Facebook post, Sierra wrote: ‘Doing it at MY reception that MY coins paid for was MY idea. If you know me and my brothers relationship then you would understand why I was more excited then they were! I was nervous and trying not to cry,’ she added. ‘Sharing Saturday with him just gave us more memories,’ she said.

    Picture: Daily Mail

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    In Advice

    The latest wedding trend: Touch-up stations

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    It might sound unnecessary, or even a little vain but we’re not here to judge. All we know is, touch-up stations are becoming a thing! A touch up beauty station is a great idea for a bridal party that wants to have all the fun but still be photo ready at a moment’s notice.

    Touch-up stations are literally just that: stations set up at your wedding venue for any necessary make-up touch-ups.

    Depending on the wedding venue, it can be set up in the bathrooms or a neutral space. There are a few options you can consider:

    You can easily (and cheaply) just create a private corner by a mirror for everyone who wants to bring their necessities and leave it there for the day.

    You can also dedicate a whole pop-up stand or mobile home and supply all the items yourself.

     

    There are even companies who rent out mobile beauty bars and can send you stylists who are ready for the quick touch-up or the emergency sewing kit.


     
    Here are some essentials your station should include:

    – Tissues
    – Cotton wool
    – Ear buds
    – Make-up remover
    – Lip balm (get one that uses finger application for hygiene reasons)
    – Mascara
    – Hair comb (add a cleaning product for guests to clean it after use)
    – Hairspray
    – Anti-perspirant
    – Tampons/sanitary pads
    – Needles and thread
    – Hand lotion

     

    Picture: Pexels

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    In Advice

    Engagement parties: Yay or nay?

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    Getting engaged is a big deal. We get it. When your loved one pops the question, or says yes, all you want to do is shout it out to the world. Adventure awaits. But how practical are engagement parties really?

    The upside:

    FUN

    There’s really not much to explain here. It’s a good time. You get to celebrate this special time in your life with people you care about!

    Sharing stories

    It’s natural that everyone will want to know how it happened, who asked whom and how. Was it a grand gesture or a private moment? It’s all pretty exciting. So instead of having to answer a bunch of questions over and over, it’s a great opportunity to tell your love story while everyone is gathered.

    Show off the bling

    The real reason most ladies want to throw a party! If your partner gave you a customary ring, you are bound to be super proud of it. Everyone will want to see it up close, and you will want to show it off. Sometimes, it’s okay to brag.

    The downside:

    The money issue

    Sigh. Why is everything so darn expensive? Unless you’re a celebrity, it will probably hurt your wallet. You’re already spending money on the wedding, the honeymoon, the ring and dress… An engagement party seems like an unnecessary expense.

    It can be stressful

    Planning a wedding is already pretty stressful. There is a lot to do and there are many people involved, all wanting to weigh in on how it should go. You have a ton of things on your mind. Planning one more event might add to the stress and only make you anxious.

    Finding the time

    We know it is supposed to be about the couple, but the reality is, everyone’s busy. Supposing you and your fiancee can find an open date, all your guests might not be available. They are already putting time aside to attend the wedding itself, and it might be hard to find another date and time that suits everybody.

    Yay or nay?

    In conclusion, of course, it’s a personal choice so it’s up to you as a couple. However, we think it would be wise to rather put the time, money and energy towards the big day. You’ll see everyone there anyway, and those who really care will call or drop by to say congrats and share in your happiness.

    Picture: Pexels

     

     

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    In Destination

    Hawk swoops in as ring bearer

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    Josh and Andee Constine wanted a wild and beautiful destination wedding. So they flew their loved ones in from the US to Ireland. But it didn’t stop there. They got married at a castle and had a hawk bring them their rings. Yes, you read right!

    Luttrellstown Castle outside of Dublin is an exquisite estate that offers an array of activities and also has a falconry that trains falcons and hawks.

    “They’re very well-trained, and just gorgeous animals,” Josh said to Business Insider. “We really wanted to make sure it was done in a way that was safe for the animal, and that there was nothing about this that felt exploitative to them.We thought it would be something that would really set the wedding apart,” he added. “And make people think, ‘Wow, I’ve really been transported back to the medieval era’.”

    Josh wore a leather falconry glove to protect his arm from the hawk’s talons.

    The couple did say that they were slightly nervous about the idea that the bird might fly off with the rings and they’d never get them back. In fact, the venue does not guarantee anything and also does not take out insurance in case things go wrong! However, everything went smoothly and the rings were delivered safe and sound.

    Sticking to the medieval theme, Andee gave Josh a custom sword engraved with the words: “Poetry. Love. Adventure. Honour.” They used the sword to cut the cake.

    Pictures: Business Insider/Christina Brosnan

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