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    Ariella Cohen

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    5 simple and unique ways to propose

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    Proposing is a special and memorable event, but it doesn’t have to be over the top to make an impact.

    Here are some unique and simple ways to propose that won’t leave you planning for days, cause you stress and will ensure an instant ‘yes!’

    1. Include your fur-baby

    If you share a pet, a great way to pop the question is to include them in the proposal.

     

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    How could you refuse this proposal? . . . . #proposalideas #propose #engagement #hesaidyes #shesaidyes #labrador #petproposal

    A post shared by Karina ODonnell (@simplyproposalsuk) on

    2. Photo booth proposal

    A fun way to propose that will also capture the moment.

    3. Scrabble Tiles

    Suggest a game of scrabble and use your tiles to spell out the proposal.

    4. Incorporate food

    Who wouldn’t want to be proposed to and get some yummy food at the same time?

    5. Photo album

    Create a photo album filled with memories and on the last page, ask your partner to marry you.

     

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    It’s a pleasure to share one’s memories. Everything remembered is dear, endearing, touching, precious.

    A post shared by Heilsa Handmade Photo Album (@heilsadiyalbum) on

    Image: Pixabay

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    In Advice

    A quick guide to women popping the question

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    Traditionally, it has always been that the man proposes to the woman. But in this day and age where gender roles are changing and same-sex relationships are legal and accepted, more and more women are bending the knee.

    Just do it

    Whether you’re a woman in a same-sex relationship or a straight relationship, you should disregard what is traditionally accepted and be able to propose to your partner. If you feel the time is right and that you and your partner are in a place to get married, there is no need to wait for them to propose; you can ask them to marry you.

    The moment

    The proposal should go the same as any traditional proposal in the sense that you plan the proposal. Look at creating a special moment that will become a beautiful memory in your relationship.

    A symbol of love

    If you are a woman proposing to a woman, then it is likely that you will present an engagement ring. If you’re a woman proposing to a man, you should consider presenting some sort of gift that they can keep forever and has sentiment to it. A great proposal gift for a man is a watch, and a great addition to that would be to get it engraved.

    Despite the fact that a woman proposing is not the norm, it certainly should be. With the dismantling of gender roles, leaving proposals solely up to men should be dismantled too.

    At the end of the day, it is a decision to get married and it should not matter who asked whom.

    Image: Unsplash

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    In Advice

    Honeymoon destinations for: Food and Wine

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    Some couples want to relax on the beach, others want an adventure-filled honeymoon and some want the food and wine experience. If that’s you, take a look at these places known for their excellent food and wine.

    France

    With gastronomy and champagne originating in France as well as being one of the largest wine producing countries in the world, it is an obvious choice for a honeymoon destination.

    French vineyard

    Italy

    You’ll find Italian food all over the world, but no-one does it quite like the locals. Italy also has a large variety of unique wines and of course, prosecco.

    Italian winery

    Spain

    Food and wine is a part of the Spanish culture and with its mixture of traditional and experimental recipes, its easy to see why.

    Spanish food market

    Argentina

    Argentina is famous for its grilling, new-world cuisine and wine production with Spanish roots making for a great honeymoon destination.

    Argentine vineyard

    South Africa

    Although not necessarily known for its food and wine, South Africa boasts world class cuisine and is filled with wine farms and reasonable pricing.

    South African wine region

    Tunisia

    With French and African influenced food combinations, fully flavoured and spiced dishes, and a full history of wine production, Tunisia is an overlooked destination for foodies and wine lovers.

    Tunisian spice market

    Images: Pixabay

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    In Destination

    Honeymoon destinations for: Sightseeing

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    There is no right or wrong answer to what a newlywed couple should do on their honeymoon. You should do what feels right for you and what you are interested in. If seeing some of the most beautiful and natural sights in the world is something you want to tick off your bucket list, then consider these places:

    Peru

    Peru is known for its ancient ruins and beautiful museums, as well as delicious food and rich culture.

    Machu Picchu

    Australia

    A variety of culture and sights to see made all the more enjoyable by the friendly locals.

    Great barrier reef

    Scandinavia

    Full of natural wonders and an impressive stance on ecotourism and sustainability.

    Northern Lights

    USA

    The USA comprises of many landscapes, climates and yes, even natural wonders.

    Antelope Canyon

    Zambia

    Home to a vast wilderness and diverse wildlife bringing you a new adventure every day.

    Victoria Falls

    South Africa

    One of the places that seems to have it all, sightseeing being one of them.

    Cape Town

    Images: Pixabay

    Feature image: Unsplash

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    In Advice

    Pros and cons of a destination wedding

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    Destination weddings are quickly becoming a popular option, but as with any wedding choice, they come with their own pros and cons.

    Guests

    The biggest appeal of having a destination wedding is being able to get married in a beautiful setting and potentially having a much smaller guest list as not everyone will have the time or money to make the trip. However, this also means that some people that you would have wanted to be there might not be able to make it.

    Before settling on the idea of a destination wedding, chat to the people that you absolutely have to have at your wedding and see if they are able to make it. You can also consider covering a portion of their costs if your budget allows. For example, you could pay for their accommodation and then they are just responsible for their flights.

    Costs

    While your guest list may be smaller, meaning your ceremony and reception will cost less, you will have to spend more money on events surrounding the wedding to thank your guests for attending and making their trip worthwhile, and again, if you decide to cover their accommodation or some other costs, you will be spending even more.

    Gifts

    The biggest gift you will receive from your guests is their presence; if you are having a destination wedding, that should be enough. Since most of your guests’ budgets will go towards flights and possibly accommodation, you need to be okay with receiving smaller or fewer gifts.

    Planning

    Some resorts at popular destination wedding locations offer all-inclusive packages which means that most of the planning and execution will be done for you, which takes a lot of the stress off. But leaving the fate of your wedding day in the hands of others, especially when you are not able to be there to oversee planning and preparations, can also be very stressful. One way to combat this is to be flexible and to find reputable vendors.

    Legality

    Do your research on marriage laws in the location of your wedding and find out if the marriage licence you obtain is also legal in your home country. A way to get around this potential hassle is to get legally married in your home country and use your destination wedding as your celebration. You can decide whether or not to tell your guests about your legal marriage before the wedding, but since your destination wedding will be the main event and look exactly like any other wedding it might not be necessary.

    Honeymoon

    A big pro that comes with having a destination wedding is that you will save on your honeymoon as you will already be in the setting of your dreams. Although, this also means that your wedding guests will potentially be on your honeymoon with you as they have already travelled quite a way. You can consider travelling a short distance from your wedding location for a more private honeymoon. For example, if you decide to host your wedding in Santorini, you and your partner can travel to one of the other Greek islands for your honeymoon.

    Things to consider:

    – Whether the location of your destination wedding is easily accessible
    – Sending out save the dates way before the recommended time to give your guests enough time to look at flights and book at cheaper rates
    – Whether you are able to contribute towards any of the costs that come with a destination wedding like flights, accommodation or food
    – The fact that not everyone will be able to make it… and that some people you were hoping wouldn’t come will think this is a great excuse to take a little vacation.

    At the end of the day, it is your wedding and you decide where you get married, so you just need to see if the pros outweigh the cons based on your personal preferences.

    Image: Unsplash

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    Engagement party venue: Gorgeous George

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    Now that you’re engaged, you’ll want to have an engagement party to celebrate with your family and friends.

    Where to have it?

    Gorgeous George is a new boutique hotel situated in the central Cape Town featuring a stunning rooftop and Gigi restaurant and bar. It is the perfect venue as it has everything you need: beautiful views, delicious food, curated drinks and seating for up to 80 guests. But don’t take our word for it – have a look for yourself:

    Restaurant and Bar

    Lounge Area

    Dining Area

    Bar Area

    Rooftop

    Lounge Area

    Dining Area

    Pool Area

    All in all, Gorgeous George is a stunning venue that will cater to your every need.

    If you would like to hire the venue, contact Gorgeous George at: +27 87 898 6000

     

    Images supplied by Gorgeous George

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    In Destination

    Best island honeymoon destinations

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    Now that the wedding is over, you and your partner can finally relax, and spending your honeymoon lazing on a tropical island is the perfect way to do this.

    Being away from the hustle and bustle of city life and lounging on the beach all day sounds like a dream, especially if you had a stressful time planning your wedding.

    Here are a few exquisite islands to spend your honeymoon on:

    French Polynesia

    What you can expect: Impressive peaks, beautiful beaches and turquoise lagoons.

    When to visit: The best weather is between June and August when it is warm and dry.

     

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    BRB, we will be right here. ? (?: @matthewhahnel ?: Bora Bora, French Polynesia)

    A post shared by BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS (@beautifuldestinations) on

    Hawaii

    What you can expect: Mountains and volcanoes, coral reefs and gorgeous beaches.

    When to visit: Summer falls between May and October.

    Caribbean Islands

    What you can expect: White beaches, clear waters and a vast wilderness.

    When to visit: It is generally warm and sunny all year round, but the dry season is from December to April.

     

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    Pastel evenings by the beach ? (?: @kevinandamanda)

    A post shared by BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS (@beautifuldestinations) on

    Greek Islands

    What you can expect: Charming white houses with blue features and exquisite blue water.

    When to visit: June to August are the summer months.

    Seychelles

    What you can expect: Lush forests, palm trees, stunning beaches, and dazzling blue seas.

    When to visit: There are breaks between the humidity in April, May, October and November.

    Maldives

    What you can expect: white sand beaches and clear blue water.

    When to visit: Winter months (November to April)  have the least rain, and the best weather is from January to April.

    Thailand

    What you can expect: Jungle-dense islands and spectacular blue waters.

    When to visit: The cool and dry season falls between November and April.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Emerald days ? (?: @mariasauh)

    A post shared by BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS (@beautifuldestinations) on

    Philippines

    What you can expect: Emerald rice fields, volcanoes and magnificent beaches.

    When to visit: The dry season is between November and April while the cooler but pleasant weather is from December to February.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Coron Island, also known as “Calis,” and its surrounding fishing grounds are part of the ancestral domain of the Calamian Tagbanwa people, one of the oldest indigenous groups in the Philippines — the tribe has the sole right to manage and preserve the rich and majestic region’s land and marine resources. Some of the lakes and smaller islands near Coron are restricted only to Tagbanwa tribespeople, held sacred as burial grounds and ancient ritual sites. Traveler tip: If you get a chance to make it to this beautiful, history-laden destination, be sure to visit Kayangan Lake, Maquinit Springs, and to go for a swim in the turquoise waters off the island’s coast, pictured here. (?: @thiago.lopez ?: Coron, Palawan)

    A post shared by BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS (@beautifuldestinations) on

    Indonesia

    What you can expect: White sand beaches, volcanoes and tropical forests.

    When to visit: May to September are the dry and sunny months.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    Emerald hues by the beach ? (?: @dekdeoka)

    A post shared by BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS (@beautifuldestinations) on

    Fiji

    What you can expect: Coloured reefs and breathtaking beaches.

    When to visit: The weather is dry and mild from May to October and the overall best time to visit is mid-October to mid-November.

    Image: Pixabay

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    Should you invite colleagues to your wedding?

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    Weddings are a huge expense which grows together with your guest list. Inviting colleagues is a frequent topic of discussion – you see them every day but after inviting family and friends, there might not be much space left on your guest list.

    Technically, you don’t have to invite anyone you don’t want to/don’t have space for, but it’s never that simple when it comes to colleagues. After all, you do spend a lot of time with them and not inviting them could turn awkward.

    With colleagues you have three options.

    1. You can either invite no-one from work and easily explain that you are just having family and friends
    2. You can invite the few colleagues that you really get on with
    3. Or you can invite your whole team which will obviously be easier if you work in a small group

    First make your guest list which includes including family and friends  is accounted for, then save your colleagues for the end of your list. If you have enough open spaces to invite all of them and that’s what you would like to do, then do that. If you only have a few open spaces then you will need to think about who you would really like to be there.

    Are you friends with your colleagues outside of work?
    If you see colleagues in your free time then they should be treated the same as your non-work friends and definitely be invited. If you handle the situation correctly, this shouldn’t cause any tension in the office. Let your colleagues that are invited know you are not able to invite everyone from the office, so your wedding should not be a topic of discussion at work.

    If you still feel awkward about the situation, explain to those colleagues who aren’t invited that your guest list is tight and as much as you would like to, unfortunately you can’t invite everyone. Most people will understand and if they don’t, well, it pretty much justifies them not making the guest list.

    If you have limited numbers, a good rule of thumb is to save your invites for friends and family. Colleagues are colleagues and if your friendship is limited to your work place, you should not feel bad about not inviting them to one of the most intimate days of your life.

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    A brief guide to sending out thank you cards

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    The wedding is over. Now you can finally relax, right?

    Nope! There is still one thing left to do – send out thank you cards. This may seem like a daunting task, but it has to be done. The general rule for sending out thank you cards after a wedding is that you have 3 months to do so, but try to do it as soon as possible.

    Some tips for making this process as easy as possible:

    • When opening gifts, keep a list of every gift received and who it was from. This will help you when you are actually writing the cards as you won’t have to rack your brain trying to remember who gave what.
    • Keep a pen and your wedding stationery next to your bed so that you can write a few cards each night when you get into bed. This is better than writing them all at once as you want the cards to be as appreciative and sincere as possible which can be hard to maintain after you’ve already written 50 cards. It also takes the pressure off finding time to sit down and write them all.

    A few things to include in the card: specify the gift that was received so that the card is personalised, write something personal about the giver, and comment on the joy that the gift will bring you.

    The best tip I can give when writing a thank you card is: NEVER start with thank you. Start with any other sentence. If you start with thank you, you won’t know what to say next.

    A great thank you card doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be done.

     

    Image: Unsplash

     

     

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    Setting a wedding budget and actually sticking to it

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    Whether you are paying for the wedding yourselves or your parents are contributing, you will need to calculate how much money you have to spend. Once you have this figure, immediately set aside 5-10% of that for contingency.

    Establishing and sticking to your budget is the best gift you can give yourself as a couple. In order to do this, you have to ensure that all your planning is documented. But before you start crunching numbers, think about the overall feeling you want your wedding to have as this will affect how you spend within your budget.

    Do your research on vendors and get estimates on how much each thing will cost. This will include everything from venue to flowers to the dress and so on. Then get quotes from vendors and write it all down next to estimated costs.

    Now that you know what kind of wedding you would like to have and how much money you have to spend, put together a rough guest list. The number of guests determines your venue, food and alcohol.

    These are generally the largest expenses and a wise rule to follow is to allocate 40% of your budget to these three things.

    It is time to discuss your non-negotiables with your partner (try to keep it down to three). These are things that you have always dreamed of having at your wedding and are willing to spend the money needed in order to achieve them. Research vendors and get quotes so that you can allocate it to the budget and then see how much is left to spend on the rest of the wedding. If you are already over budget based on your list, or close to the end of your budget, have a look at your priorities again and see what you can reduce.

    Now that you’ve got all your quotes and guest list numbers, you can create the spreadsheet. You can get a template online or create your own but try to keep it as simple as possible. Put your overall sum in the top corner somewhere and then create these tabs: estimated, modified and actual.

    Your estimated tab will be amounts that you have found based on research.

    Modified will have real quotes from vendors.

    Actual will be the final amount that you end up paying.

    Time for a reality check – does your budget allow you to achieve what you want? If not, you may have to adjust your budget if that is an option or adjust your expectations.

    Steps to take in order to ensure you stick to your budget:

    1. Figure out how much you have to spend.
    2. Research vendors and get quotes before settling on your budget.
    3. Write a list including all researched costs and quotes from vendors.
    4. Write down your proposed guest list
    5. Create the spreadsheet and input all the relevant information.

    Image: Unsplash

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