Wedding ETC, Author at Wedding ETC

In Celebs

Princess Victoria celebrates 10th anniversary with husband

June 17, 2020 No Comments

On Friday, June 12, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Daniel Westling, celebrated a decade of marriage. To mark this momentous occasion, the pair had a photoshoot at Gustav III’s pavilion.

Shot by photographer Elisabeth Toll, the series of enchanting photos were posted to their official Instagram account. Showing off various elegant outfit changes, the images were accompanied with a caption explaining the reason for the photoshoot.

“On Friday, the Crown Princess and Prince Daniel celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary. Ahead of the wedding day, photographer Elisabeth Toll has taken new official portrait pictures of the Crown Princess couple. The photographs are taken in Gustav III’s pavilion at Haga.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBdTA7rAIsy/

Princess Victoria met her future husband in 2001 when she moved back to Sweden after completing her studies at Yale University in the United States. She had just broken up with a long-term boyfriend at the time.

When she moved home, she tried to get settled into a new routine and as such, she joined a small gym in Stockholm. As it happened, the gym was co-founded by her now-husband, Daniel Westling.

He then became her personal trainer, and it is reported that it took a while for their friendship to turn to love.

They faced many challenges together, as Westling was unaccustomed to the fame that came with being with a royal and the King and Queen were unsure of whether he would be able to handle the role of being a prince. It has also been reported that the King did not want his daughter marrying a “commoner”, even though he had married one.

The pair pushed through all the trials and tribulations and proved everyone wrong. They tied the knot in 2010 and celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this year.

They now have two children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, and are truly living happily ever after. Their love story is one straight from the loveliest of fairytales.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvJLM1NlMbX/?utm_source=ig_embed

Image: Instagram / kungahuset

In Weddings

5 unique Chinese wedding traditions

June 15, 2020 No Comments

Western wedding ceremonies come with a number of traditions, from the presence of a ring bearer to the garter toss and even saving the top tier of the wedding cake for a year later. Similarly, different cultures across the world have their own interesting wedding traditions.

Being aware of different cultures and their traditions helps us be more accepting of others and saves you from the embarrassment of attending a wedding of a different culture and having no clue what’s going on!

To help you enlighten yourself, here are a few traditions and customs of Chinese weddings:

Collecting the Bride

Prior to the wedding, the groom decorates the car and collects his bride in a lively procession. As the groom begins his journey to the bride, firecrackers are set off, and drums and gongs are banged. A young child often leads the procession, along with the groom. This symbolises future children for the couple.

The procession walks with lanterns and banners and musical instruments are payed too.

Wedding Dress

It is tradition for a Chinese Bride to wear a red dress, known as a ‘qipao’, and to hide her face with a red veil. Red is a symbol of happiness, good luck, and a prosperous future.

Many brides today have both a white bridal gown and a red wedding dress.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7v_1VmnezG/

The banquet

The banquet is a lavish affair. At the beginning of the dinner, the bride commonly changes into her traditional wedding dress. In the past, both sets of parents throw separate feasts however these days the feasts are commonly combined. The feast comes with about six courses each. The bride and groom both change clothing between the 3rd and 6th courses.

At the banquet, guests sign their names in a book or on a scroll when they present their gifts.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1GTDHGjZcY/

Arriving home

Once again, firecrackers are set off as the newly married couple arrives at their new home. A red mat is laid out so that the bride’s feet do not touch the floor as she makes her way into the house.

Chinese Tea Ceremony

The couple’s families are formally introduced during the Tea Ceremony, at which they commonly drink Tsao Chün, a Chinese Tea. After everyone’s cups are empty, the couple is given a red envelope which is considered to be lucky and is filled with money and at times jewellery too.

Tea is served by the newlyweds, as this ceremony takes place either immediately after the wedding or the next day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBbMKEBDi_Z/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDqj6ODuFe/

Image: Instagram /oliviabuckleyinternational

In Celebs

Kim and Kanye’s wedding costs revealed

June 15, 2020 No Comments

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West somehow always manage to be the talk of the town. Recently, they’ve been in the news for something as simple as a birthday wish between a wife and husband.

Now, details of their wedding, specifically the enormous prices of vendors, the wedding dress, and more are of interest to the public. According to Hello Magazine, the pair who are now in their 6th year of marriage spent a whopping R103 402 500 ($6million) on their wedding weekend.

No doubt it was an extravagant affair, with details to die for. The famed coupled spared no expense.

https://www.instagram.com/p/sgtC-WI1I0/

Taking place at a venue in Florence, Italy, they were accompanied at their wedding by 200 guests. The venue reportedly charged R5 181 854 (or £240,000). That price excluded any and all extras, such as flowers and decorations. The cake, which had 7 tiers, and took 3 people to deliver, cost R51 871 (£2,400).

The Wests also, of course, provided private jets for their guests, to transport them from Paris to Florence. Per jet, they dished out R972 416 (or £45,000).

Kim’s bespoke couture dress, designed by Riccardo Tisci (the former creative director at Givenchy) cost her R3 846 615 (£178,000). The total of her all other outfits she wore, including dresses for her hen party and for the rehearsal dinner, came to R1 231 718 ( £57,000).

https://www.instagram.com/p/ohzguennS1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdEcdCAl47/

This was not even everything. There were a number of other costs attached to the wedding which have not been detailed here, including the wedding menu, the menu at their rehearsal dinner at the Palace of Versaille, and more.

Six years after their massive, lavish wedding, the pair seem happier than ever. They share 4 children – North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm – and are always seen supporting each other wholeheartedly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8dCVEHAO1Q/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBRHMYpAfNL/

In a recent post for Kanye’s birthday, Kim said “Life wouldn’t be the same without you”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBL7RCjAbjf/?utm_source=ig_embed

Image: Instagram / Kim Kardashian

In Celebs

Swedish royals share unseen photos on 5th anniversary

June 15, 2020 No Comments

For fans of royals, never-before-seen photos are always a treat. When they’re posted for an anniversary, it’s even more special. Prince Carl Phillip and Princess Sofia of Sweden shared special unseen photos of their wedding day on their 5th anniversary, June 13.

On their Instagram page, the pair commemorated the special day by showing candid images of their wedding day, including a kiss between the two, the chefs preparing food, and a glimpse inside the church.

Along with the stunning images, they wrote a sweet caption.

“Sometimes every person comes to a decisive choice; a choice that determines one’s future and is about who one is and above all, who one wants to be. And often it takes courage. Courage not to choose the easy path just because it is easy, without courage to stay on the hard road because it’s right,” they said, adding: “Today we are celebrating our five-year wedding anniversary.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBXb44ln2QT/

The pair tied the knot on June 13, 2015, at the royal chapel in Stockholm. Like most royals, their guests included family, friends, and other royals and after the ceremony, they took a carriage through the streets.

The royals now share two children. Prince Alexander was born in 2016, a year after their marriage, and Prince Gabriel was born in 2017.

Picture: Instagram / prinsparet

In Engagements

Nurse proposes during clap for essential workers

June 12, 2020 No Comments

Essential workers, including nurses, across the world have been separated from their loved ones for months, on account of COVID-19. Many are living away from their partners and children as they reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to the ones they care for the most.

Alyssa Kayhill and Linh Trinh are one such couple. Kayhill was a nurse in the cardiology unit of a New York hospital, Brooklyn Hospital Centre. When the pandemic hit, Kayhill was was transferred to care for COVID-19 patients, and Trinh moved out of the apartment that the couple shared.

As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. During the time they were apart, Kayhill decided it was time to make it official.

She immediately started planning an epic proposal, which fell in Pride Month and on Kayhill’s birthday. Kayhill’s sister, Kristie Loscalzo, suggested that she get on one knee during the nightly applause for essential workers.

“The 7 p.m. cheer has always been very uplifting to me, so it was wonderful to combine that with the proposal,” said Kayhill to the New York Post.

On June 8, Loscalzo helped Trinh move back into her apartment with Kayhill, as it was deemed safe to do so. She staged it as a surprise for Kayhill. Little did Trinh know, she was the one who would receive the surprise of a lifetime.

As she walked up to Kayhill to gift her with some flowers, people applauded and Kayhill got down on one knee.

“I had zero idea this was going to happen,” Trinh said. “And even though I am a shy person who hates being the center of attention, it was really beautiful.”

Of course, she said yes! The couple are now back in the same apartment and planning to start wedding preparations as soon as it’s safe to have big celebrations again.

Congrats to the happy couple!

Watch the proposal here:

Image: Screenshot from video

In Celebs

Queen Rania and King Abdullah II celebrate 27th wedding anniversary

June 12, 2020 No Comments

Jordanian royals Queen Rania and King Abdullah II celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, June 10. The Queen paid tribute to her husband in a touching post on Instagram.

A candid photo of the couple holding hands and walking side-by-side showed the comfort and love between the two. The image was accompanied by a sweet caption declaring her love and appreciation for the King.

“How could you not fall in love with the smile over and over again for 27 years! So lucky and grateful to have you by my side, happy anniversary,” said the Queen.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBPzxXQhkfF/

Queen Rania and Kind Abdullah II (or Prince of Jordon, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein as he was then known) met in August 1992, at a dinner party.

In his book, Our Last Chance, Kind Abdullah II detailed the night they met. “When my eyes fell on her, I said to myself: What a beautiful lady!”

At first the Queen was weary of the man pursuing her. However, she finally accepted his invite to have dinner in November, 1992, after he tirelessly made an effort to woe her by finding out her interests and her indulgences. He found out from a friend that she loves chocolate, and sent her a box of Belgian chocolate, which was the move that lead her to accept his first date request.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ittLVBqRU/

“Things evolved and we began to talk more and go out together. On January 30, I invited Rania to dinner for my birthday, where my father sat next to her, and was amazed by her beauty and intelligence,” said Kind Abdullah in his book.

“I took Rania to one of the best places; a mountain at the outskirts of Amman: Tal Al-Rumman, When we got off the car, I told her ‘I see our relationship taking a serious turn, and our marriage is a good idea.’ I smiled, and she stayed silent. I took this silence as a yes. We visited her parents after two weeks.”

After his family met hers, their marriage was approved and they tied the knot on June 10, 1993.

They now share 4 children together, and 27 years later are still as happy as ever!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6De_LSBa6A/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B776SAOhPXo/

Source: Special Madame

Image: Instagram / Queen Rania

In Advice

How to choose your wedding colours

June 10, 2020 No Comments

To some, wedding colours may seem like a trivial topic. However, it is actually a tremendously important part of the planning process and in fact not much can be decided on, in terms of decor, if you don’t know what your colour scheme is.

It’s not as easy as it sounds, though. While it should be based on your general preferred style and personal taste as a couple, you can’t simply throw together your favourite colour and your partners favourite colour and be done with it. That might lead you to a rather odd looking wedding! Don’t risk it.

Your bridal party’s attire, table settings, flowers, and other decorative details all have to be synced to the same colour scheme. It’s likely it’ll be tough to get this sorted out if you’ve chosen colours that don’t match or even worse, if you haven’t decided on wedding colours at all.

Despite all of this, you shouldn’t let it stress you out! Follow these simple steps and you’ll decide on your wedding colours in no time:

– Start simple

If there is one colour you’ve always wanted to feature in your wedding, start with that. By beginning with a base colour, the rest of your decisions will come much more easily. If you don’t have a base colour in mind just yet, that should be your first task. Look for inspiration where ever you can find it.

– Think theme

A dramatic theme calls for dramatic colours, while a more low-key theme, like a bohemian style for example, calls for toned-down colours. Consider what you’d like your wedding to look like in terms of theme, and base your colours on that.

– Season and style

We all know as seasons change, so do styles and colours. Some colours are best used in specific seasons. For example, coral works great in summer while silver stuns during the winter time. Thinking seasonally can easily lead you to your perfect wedding colours.

Additionally, you’ll want your colour scheme to work across all parts of your wedding. So you’ll have to think about whether your colours are seasonally appropriate for your bridal party’s outfits too!

– Venue

If you’ve already booked your venue, or have one in mind, consider what it looks like. Is it an outdoor venue with lots of greenery, or is it a warehouse with empty walls? These factors can inform your decisions on colour choices too. In fact, they can make or break your colour choices! For example, if your venue has walls decked out with wallpaper in intricate patters, it already gives a busy feel to the room. If you go with colours which are too bright, or decide to have too many different colours, it could start to look a bit messy.

– The colour wheel

Don’t forget about this useful tool for colour co-ordination. The basics of the colour wheel are that colours which are opposite to each other on the wheel go well together. If you’re having trouble deciding on a second colour, consult this trusted resource.

Image: Pixabay

In Advice

What to do if you forgot your anniversary

June 10, 2020 No Comments

Even the best of us experience a bout of forgetfulness every now and then. However, when we forget an anniversary it may land us in the dog box. The day is, for obvious reasons, special to both partners and it stings just a bit when your significant others forget.

If you’re the one who’s forgotten, not to worry. While your partner may be a bit upset, you definitely can fix it with a few simple but thoughtful gestures.

Here’s what you have to do:

– A simple apology goes a long way

Saying sorry genuinely makes the world of difference. A simple apology, taking the time to acknowledge that your partner’s feelings are hurt, is always appreciated. Make sure you note how this may have hurt them, and ask what you can do to make it up to them.

– Explain, but don’t hide behind excuses

Explain to you partner what it is that led to your forgetting your anniversary. When you’re explaining, ensure that you note that you are not using these occurrances as an excuse. You shouldn’t try to play the victim or downplay its importance.

– Plan an intimate celebration

Once all is forgiven, you should make an effort to celebrate, whether its a belated celebration or not. Cook dinner and lay the table out with candles and flowers. Make it intimate and personal.

Others may want to make a day of it. Celebrate by spending quality time doing different things throughout the day. Perhaps you could recreate a few of your early dates in your relationship, or take a day trip to somewhere pretty. The world is your oyster.

– Do something sweet and unique

Do something quirky and cute, to make your partner laugh. Maybe you decide to make matching anniversary t-shirts, maybe you’ll decide to go big and get a tattoo of your anniversary date (although admittedly this has not turned out well for many people), or maybe you’ll make a funny anniversary video. Whatever you do, try to make it personal, adding details only you and your partner would understand.

– Remember it next time!

Do not forget it ever again! Set a calendar reminder, write it down, memorise it, do what needs to be done. When you remember it next year, all the effort will be worth it when you see the joy and love on your partners face.

Image: Unsplash

In Celebs

Supermodel Iman celebrates late David Bowie on wedding anniversary

June 9, 2020 No Comments

The late, legendary rocker David Bowie would have celebrated his 28th wedding anniversary with now widow, Somalian-born supermodel and actress Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid on Saturday, June 6. To pay tribute on this special day, Iman shared a heartwarming video.

In a recent Instagram Live post, Iman shared a slideshow of images from their wedding day, with the caption “June 6th, Wedding Anniversary” accompanied by the hashtags #BowieForever and #EternalLove. As the photos switch from one to the next, Bowies song, Wild is the Wind, plays.

The photos show true love and romance between this iconic pair.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CBGVPGBj5Ma/

It seems some of these images have never been seen before as Oscar James, Emmy Award-winning hair stylist commented, “Wow!! I’ve known you a very long time, and I’ve never seen some of these photos before. Thank you for sharing. ❤️”

Of course, comments sending love came pouring in from many people, including fellow supermodels Niomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford.

The iconic couple met at a dinner party in 1990, just after Iman had retired from her modelling career, according to E! News. Many have reported that Bowie, in that instant, knew he would love her forever. He once said that he was already naming the children they would have together on the night they met.

Iman, however, was not keen on being with a rockstar. She once said to The Gaurdian: “I did not want to get involved with a rock star. No way. It is not a sane thing to do.”

Thereafter, Bowie pursued her endlessly and he eventually changed her mind. “He wooed me,” she reminised.

In 1992, they said their “I-do’s” in a civil ceremony in Switzerland. They celebrated again with a bigger wedding in Florence. 8 years later, in 2000, they welcomed their daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, into the world.

According to E! News, Bowie once said, “You would think that a rock star being married to a supermodel would be one of the greatest things in the world. It is.”

Bowi passed away on January 10, 2016.

Image: Screenshot from video

In Advice

Advice on drastic colour changes from Wella Professionals, for Bride-to-be’s

June 8, 2020 No Comments

Bride-to-be’s have dozens of nightmares leading up to their wedding day, but your hair doesn’t have to be one of them! A bad hair day on your big day can be avoided by following these 5 easy steps.

Step 1: Plan Ahead

When booking your appointment with a hair salon, make sure to mention if the appointment is for a specific occasion, so that the hair salon can make sure they have adequate time for the perfect consultation. A perfect consultation will help your hairdresser select the best suitable hair colour and hairstyle for your big day. Your eye colour, skin tone, hair history, current hair condition and facial shape plays an important role in this decision.

Find a Wella Professionals hair salon near you HERE.

Step 2: Prepare your hair at home

Moisture and hair condition is critical! So you should invest in a professional home care treatment range, such as the Wella Professional Fusion Range, which is an instant and long-lasting hair care recovery regimen. It contains Silksteel Technology that provides 95% more resilience against breakage. Creating a soft as silk and strong as steel hair texture. Also, give your hair a break from heat styling for a while, before your appointment.

Shop the Wella Professionals Fusion Range HERE.

Step 3: The Colour Change

Dark to light – This can be a tricky process. It is important to be honest about your hair history with your hairdresser and make sure to have realistic expectations, because the end result might not be achieved at the first appointment.

Wella Professionals Color Renew is a zero-damage colour reducer that optimises and prepares your hair for a new colour, by removing the current colour from your hair, without affecting your natural hair colour. This service can be performed more than once on the same day, depending on the colour build up in the hair.

Wella Professionals WellaPlex is another great treatment option to use when going from dark to light. It works as a bond multiplier, which links the bonds inside the hair, reducing damage during the lightening process.

Ask your hairdresser about Color Renew and WellaPlex, should you want to change your hair colour.

Light to Dark – This desired result is far more achievable with your first appointment. Wella Professionals KPME+ will provide you with even, pure colour results with natural depth and shine and it requires very little prep and salon time.

It is also important to invest in a good professional home care range to ensure your colour stays true to tone and does not go brassy. The Wella Professionals Brilliance Range is pH optimised, which means that the low pH formula helps to de-swell the cuticles after colouration, ensuring up to 7 weeks colour protection.

Shop the Wella Professionals Brilliance Range HERE.

Remember, having a visual reference with you is another great tool for the hairdresser to use, because everyone sees colour differently!

Step 4: Know your stylist

Certain colour changes, such as removal of unwanted tones, are more difficult and should be handled by a true colour expert. Stick to one hairdresser for the duration of your wedding journey and make sure you understand each other.

Step 6: Book a post-colour appointment

Schedule another appointment 1 week after your colour change for a Wella Professionals Illumina Glossing Service. This will add an extra glow and shine to your locks, before you say ‘I DO’! This is a quick and super easy service to add shine and refresh colour all in one.

The time leading up to your big day can be very emotional and stressful. Be sure not to leave everything for the last minute.

Find a Wella Professionals hair salon near you HERE.

Feature image: Unsplash