Wedding ETC, Author at Wedding ETC

In Bridal Shower

Celebs on the side: Famous bridesmaids

April 24, 2020 No Comments

You’d assume that a bride and groom would want to be the centre of attention on their wedding day. It would be difficult for this to be the case if you have a celebrity in your bridal party, right?

Maybe not. Throughout the years, quite a few celebrities have been bridesmaids for the special people in their lives (both famous and not). They seem to always understand that the day should not revolve around them!

Whether you’re shocked by this or not, you’re probably curious to see some celebs who have been happy on the sidelines. Here are some of our favourites:

– Beyonce

BEYONCE?! Yes, the extremely popular singer, Beyonce Gisslle Knowles-Carter, stood up next to her little sister, Solange, on her special day. Of course, Beyonce would never steal the show at her own sister’s wedding, because as we all know… Solange can fight!

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

– Rihanna

RiRi is something else! The ‘Love on the Brain’ singer’s assistant, Jennifer Morales got married in Honolulu in 2015. Naturally, Rihanna was a bridesmaid in the wedding.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ5XDdwDiVC/

– Sofia Vergara

Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara wore a yellow bridesmaid dress for her friend Chi’s wedding, in 2015. She was escorted to the wedding by her fiancée Joe Manganiello.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaxFb3CDTEr/

– Rachel Bilson

Not the first time Bilson has been a bridesmaid, the actress played the role again for her Hart of Dixie costumer Gelareh Khalioun.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSJM6VrA60M/

– Taylor Swift

For her childhood friend, she would do anything. The award-winning singer stood beside her friend Britany Maack as she said her vows. Swift was the maid of honour at this wedding, performing all duties from train carrying to posing for photos.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCEGFImDbl8/

– Margot Robbie

Robbie was a bridesmaid at her friend Juilia Koenig’s wedding in Kauai, Hawaii. At the time she was a newly-wed herself.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRW3rtjYJM/

– Victoria Beckham

Victorial Beckham does it all! No we’re not talking about in her personal life. For her friend actress Eva Longoria’s wedding, she was not only the bridesmaid, but also designed the wedding gown and assisted the bride with her shoes.

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

– Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The twins were bridesmaids in New Zealand in their friends wedding. The all-black attire devotees seem to have gotten their way for their outfits too!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRf-td4gBTb/

– Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts was a bridesmaid in the wedding of her friends Kara Elkin, a designer, and Nick Walker, a photographer.

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

– Kelly Rowland and Lala Anthony

Ciara’s wedding was star studded, not only in its guestlist, but in the bridal party too. The two most famous bridesmaids are songstress and Destiny’s Child legend, Kelly Rowland, and actress Lala Anthony. The bridesmaids also included a well-known choreographer, and a celebrity make-up artist.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTHVqPTD_B5/

Image: Instagram / Ciara

In Celebs

Working with royals: Meghan Markle’s dress designer speaks

April 24, 2020 No Comments

Clare Waight Keller, Meghan Markle’s wedding dress designer, took to Instagram to talk about her experience working with the royal. She also detailed the days as they approached the iconic ceremony.

Keller, a British stylist, fashion designer and the current Artistic director of Givenchy, was – as could be expected – over the moon to be a part of the royal wedding two years ago. After the special wedding day, she showed her excitement and gratitude on Instagram. She detailed what she did at at each moment, and gushed over the experience.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAIZ5PjVsT/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi-aVw4jkAs/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjA1kaPjcqT/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjC85XNjQya/

Now, two years later, Keller has taken to Instagram again to share more insights on how the famous wedding dress came to be.

“Two years ago today I was in the final fittings for a very secret dress. So many emotions were running through me during those months leading up to the big day,” she wrote. “A wedding dress is one of the most exquisite and beautiful moments for a designer, but also personally as a woman artist, creator there is a lot of sensitivity that flows through the process from the knowledge and understanding of the feelings that you have as a bride.”

She said that in order to ensure that Markle’s dream dress was made a reality, she had to put herself in Markle’s shoes. “Learning to let go of my emotions and embrace the feelings of someone you are designing for brings about an incredibly beautiful relationship of trust and intimacy. Through hours of conversation, meetings together, and research, slowly all the pieces of that story came together,” she said.

According to Keller, the guiding principles given to her were “purity and simplicity”. About the design, she also said that she weaved “a narrative of nature through the 53 florals of the Commonwealth to bring the world into the journey of the ceremony and subtlety bringing the lines of Givenchy and the history of the Maison to capture the classical timeless beauty I knew she wanted to achieve”.

Keller thought the wedding was a very special day, and she was in awe. “It was obvious the significance of this occasion was more than any other, it would be a very personal ceremony with so many choices that would reflect both the bride and grooms heritage and their unique way of being incredibly inclusive, genuine and generous,” she wrote.

Image: Facebook / Mamamia

In Engagements

Love, laughs, and lockdown: The funniest tweets about marriage

April 23, 2020 No Comments

Quarantine and social distancing has brought out the creatives and comedians in everyone. With little to no chance of going outside, many turn to Twitter for social interaction and some laughs.

Married couples seem to be a bit stir-crazy, as they’re getting absolutely no time apart. Of course, the love remains stronger than ever but everyone needs some breathing room every now and then.

As a result, many comical situations are taking place in the households of married couples spending more time than ever together as they’re stuck inside.

Here are some of our favourite tweets, documenting the silly situations:

If my husband farts one more time it won’t be a virus that takes him.

— Maryfairyboberry (@MaryJustice86) March 19, 2020

My husband’s favorite snack while we watch tv is whatever makes the most noise, apparently.

— Snarky Mommy (@SnarkyMommy78) April 5, 2020

I reveal a different one of my annoying tendencies to my wife each day in quarantine just to keep our relationship spicy

— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) April 7, 2020

My wife and I play this fun game during quarantine, it’s called “Why Are You Doing It That Way?” and there are no winners

— Eric Spiegelman (@ericspiegelman) April 4, 2020

Turns out that my husband knew how to clean thoroughly this whole time. He just needed the motivation of a deadly pandemic.

— Sara Says Stop (@PetrickSara) March 26, 2020

What’s a good quarantine excuse for not watching a 10-hour documentary about Michael Jordan with the husband?
I’m…um…busy??

— Allison Kirksey (@KirkseyAllison) April 22, 2020

Quarantine day ???: husband is finally getting on my nerves with his incessant need to wipe boogers on me.

— Chloe? (@hammonschloeee) April 22, 2020

Quarantine Status…

Wife: Your face makes me drink

— Dadalorian — Hold my Corona (@DadWithABeer) April 23, 2020

Last night, my wife said she wanted to go fishing with me. We’ve been together 8 years and have never discussed anything about fishing. Quarantine day 30, we’re starting to lose it

— Michael Kliska (@michaelkliska) April 22, 2020

For sure. During quarantine I’ve learned my incredible wife loads a dishwasher LIKE A SERIAL KILLER and now I’m questioning everything.

— Steven Shega (@StevenShega) April 5, 2020

Quarantine has different impacts on us all. I present to you Dadosaur. ?#spiritbath pic.twitter.com/CkmPI5rqdE

— Spiritbath (@Spiritbath) April 14, 2020

Quarantine: husband is annoying before he enters the room

— One Nerve Left (@onenerveleft1) April 4, 2020

Me, to my husband, on day three of quarantine: “Okay, so, here is a list of the annoying habits that I can usually tolerate but will result in your death by day five.”

— Ali Hanford (@Ali610) March 17, 2020

Image: Unsplash

In News

Couple celebrates their ‘not wedding day’

April 23, 2020 No Comments

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to turn wedding ceremonies across the world upside down, some couples are having fun with the circumstances and doing the best they can to lighten up the situation. This Falkrik based couple decided to celebrate their “not wedding day”.

Laura McKinlay and Ruaridh Macmillan were set to be wed on Saturday. Of course, their plans fell through as a result of a national lockdown. Instead of letting the uncontrollable circumstances get them down, the pair celebrated what should have been their wedding day by holding a mock wedding.

To keep things light, they called it their “not wedding day” and wore silly outfits for the ceremony. McKinlay sported a bed sheet for a veil while Macmillin strutted his stuff in his pyjamas. Like many other couples these days, they hosted on online ceremony for their loved ones to join in on their celebration.

“So…yesterday should have been mine and @rua2 wedding day. But #covid19 had other ideas. However, thanks to the immense skill, generosity, kindness and love from everyone in our lives, we had the most amazing NOT Wedding yesterday, hosted online”, wrote McKinlay in a post on Instagram.

“We wore formal casual – Pjs and bedsheets for a veil! We set up a make-shift altar in the living room with our Christmas tree lights round it, I carried an orchid in a jar from @marksandspencer as my flowers,” she added.

McKinlay said they spent the rest of the evening having a drink with their neighbours through the fence, and were spoiled with some Chinese takeway from their neighbours too!

“True it wasn’t the original day we had planned, but it will stick in our memories as one of the happiest days we’ve ever had. Stay safe people, this isn’t forever,” wrote McKinlay.

Of course, a day like this deserved a breakfast for champions! Macmillian posted a picture of their “not wedding day” breakfast to Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Hqe70h0oX/

Images: Facebook / Laura McKinlay – Violinist

In Engagements

Why we wear diamond engagement rings

April 22, 2020 No Comments

When you hear the words “diamond ring”, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably an engagement ring, right? These days, the gems are closely connected to love and romance. However, as with many wedding traditions, it has a not-so-romantic beginning.

According to Marie Claire, the first recorded bride to have received the sparkling surprise for her engagement was Archduke Maximillian of Austria’s bride-to-be in 1477. However, this was not the inception of the diamond ring proposal.

That achievement is attributed to the jewellery giant, De Beers. Insider reports that diamonds have become the world’s most popular choice for engagement rings as a result of a marketing ploy by De Beers.

Early in the 1900s, diamond production was low. Engagement rings were often given to women for the purpose of marriage, however for the most part the gem was not a diamond. By 1938, the diamond had become more popular for this purpose. But, as its value dropped with the Great Depression, their popularity dropped once again.

In 1947, De Beers launched a clever advertising campaign. The slogan for the campaign was “a diamond is forever”. De Beers built their marketing around the idea that diamonds – with their brilliance, unbreakable character, and everlasting nature – are symbolic of the commitment of marriage, which is forever.

De Beers’ tactics were elaborate, as they targeted the psychology of human beings. In 1982, an investigating journalist named Edward Jay Epstein wrote an exposé in The Atlantic about the campaign.

In this tell-all, 20 000 word piece, Epstein revealed shocking truths about the advertising campaign. “Even though diamonds can in fact be shattered, chipped, discolored, or incinerated to ash, the concept of eternity perfectly captured the magical qualities that the advertising agency wanted to attribute to diamonds,” he wrote.

According to Epstein, part of the advertising strategy included sending lecturers to schools to ensure children knew the value of diamonds. He said that they also created a weekly service called “Hollywood personalities” which “provided 125 leading newspapers with descriptions of the diamonds worn by movie stars.”

The campaign was so rigorous and aggressive that it spread across the ocean to other countries. It may, however, not be that surprising as they had spent millions a year on the campaign which even reached Japan, a country that had not included engagement rings in their traditions prior to this. The campaign lasted about 4 decades, and remnants of it can still be seen today in some advertisements.

These days, however, diamonds are falling in popularity. Many refuse to participate in the diamond business for ethical reasons. De Beers is a massive, powerful company though. Who knows what their next ad campaign will achieve.

Feature image: Unsplash

In News

91-year-old couple marries amid coronavirus

April 22, 2020 No Comments

It’s never too late for more love, and once you find it nothing will stop you from keeping it! This 91-year-old couple proved just that as they tied the knot in the middle of the coronavius pandemic.

Jeanine Sprague and Don Sandin made it official on Easter Sunday, (which also happened to be Sprague’s birthday) despite the worldwide health crisis. The St. Petersburg couple told the Tampa Bay Times that they wanted to ensure they were legally married in the event that one of them needs to be hospitalised.

“We just decided a couple of weeks ago. Because of the circumstances that are going on in society, we just felt that we should legalise our relationship, so we would be protected,” said Sandin to the Tampa Bay Times.

The couple had their first date on New Years Eve 2018. It was a five course meal, after which they viewed the fireworks over Tampa Bay from Spragues apartment. For their Easter Sunday wedding, Sprague wore the same outfit that she did on their first date.

Of course the wedding was kept small. They held their nuptials in their pastor’s St. Pete Beach backyard. The announcement of their wedding however, was much bigger. Along with a photograph of the couple which was sent out, was a recording of Sandin singing ‘I’m getting married in the morning’ from My Fair Lady.

“I had been singing it ever since we decided we would get married,” said Sandin.

Both previously widowed, the couple believe they have a good understanding of each other. They said they have the same beliefs and have lived in the same times. “It’s a very easy relationship. We have the same stories. We lived in the same time,” said Sprague.

Image: Twitter / garner pete

In Advice

What to do if you’ve booked a destination wedding in 2020

April 21, 2020 No Comments

A destination wedding is probably one of the most difficult types of nuptials to deal with, under the current circumstances. Social distancing and international travel bans essentially ensure that these weddings can’t happen.

At this point, you’re most likely extremely worried about what to do with regards to your destination wedding. Lisa Sheldon operater of I Do Island Weddings & Honeymoons in Janesville and president of Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association, told Boston Globe that it might be a bit of a tough situation.

She said that the honeymoon side of things can be quite flexible. However, “it’s a little bit harder when it’s a destination wedding. This is a day that a couple has dreamed about for a long time and planned and spent money on. It’s already an emotional trip — and then to have something like this come in and affect it. . . . That really is out of their control,” she said.

Her advice was to cancel as much as possibly as quickly as possible, in order to get refunds. When the health crisis is contained and things go back to normal, everything can be rebooked.

Many airlines and travel agents have adjusted their policies to allow for cancellations at this time. There is more flexibility now, as suppliers are aware that everything is not in the control of travellers.

Some have advised to change the location to one that is more local. However, in South Africa, no gatherings are allowed so this would not be a viable option.

Unfortunately, the best you can do is chat to all your suppliers as quickly as possible, and attempt to have everything postponed. People will be very understanding during this time, so we’re sure you don’t have that much to worry about.

What’s most important right now is that you consider the health and safety of yourself and your guests. You wouldn’t want to put anyone in to harm’s way. It is an unfortunate turn of events, but things will turn out fine if you put your best foot forward!

If your destination wedding is planned for much later in the year or next year, you may want to have a chat with some travel agents and keep your eyes peeled to the news. You never know, it may still be possible to carry on as planned if the situation surrounding the spread of coronavirus takes a turn for the better.

Image: Unsplash

In News

Nurses have self-isolation wedding, fill pews with photos

April 21, 2020 No Comments

These days, soon-to-be married couples are desperate to find a way around social distancing in order to still safely have their weddings. These nurses got creative by filling pews with pictures of their loved ones.

Louisiana couple, Clare Seghers and Mel Keefer, ensured that their wedding would go on and that they would feel the love from all the people they hold near and dear.

Of course, it would be tremendously irresponsible to have a church wedding with guests filling up the pews. As nurses who are both fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic, the couple knew this. Instead, they set up a live stream (as many other couples have done in recent times) and to make it even more special they asked their loved ones to send them photographs of themselves.

Before the ceremony started, the couple printed each photo and placed them on the pews in the church, where they would have sat.

Seghers made her way down the aisle, with only ceremonious music playing in the background, seeing the smiling faces of her loved ones in the pews. They said their vows, and carried out the ceremony as normal. However, they had no idea that a surprise was in store when the left the venue and entered the parking lot.

As they exited the church, all their guests sat safely in their cars and hooted in congratulations! A welcome surprise that they surely will never forget!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_HCniTB3IE/

Congrats to the happy couple!

Picture: Screenshot from video / Scottie Hunter WAFB

In Celebs

Ellie Goulding surprises nurse during online nuptials

April 20, 2020 No Comments

Almost everyone dreams of having their favourite musician peform at their wedding. However, the chances of this are usually extremely slim. Now more than ever, a celebrity appearance at a wedding is one of the least expected things that could happen.

This lucky couple, however, were one in a million. Hayley Pitman, a NHS nurse, and Harvey Skelton were forced to postpone their wedding like many others across the world. They decided they would hold their ceremony on Zoom, a very popular trend these days.

Their online wedding organisers, For Better For Worse, organised a little surprise for them. A performance by Ellie Goulding was on the cards and the couple had no idea.

Tammy Madge from For Better For Worse said to Metro UK: “It was really difficult to see so many couples having to postpone their weddings after spending months or even years saving and planning for their special day.”

“To help bring a smile back to a special couple’s face, we took it upon ourselves to organise a virtual wedding. With such close ties to the NHS, Hayley and Harvey were the perfect choice for us, and of course Ellie Goulding surprising the couple made it so much more special and beautifully emotional even if we were all sat behind our screens! We hope that people will get on-board by donating to our fundraiser page, to show how appreciated our amazing NHS is, especially during this unprecedented time,” she added.

After the ceremony and the kiss, Ellie Goulding appeared on screen and said “Congratulations Harvey and Hayley, you’re both heroes and we all love you.”

They had their first dance to an acoustic version of the pop star’s hit ‘Love Me Like You Do’.

Watch it unfold here:

Congrats to the happy couple!

Image: Twitter / @ILoveGlosUK

In Planning

Custom wedding dresses: Now may be the perfect time

April 17, 2020 No Comments

There’s a lot of debate about custom wedding dresses versus off-the-rack dresses. Many claim that a custom dress takes much more time and effort. Since we’re in a nationwide lockdown, perhaps now is the perfect time to consider a bespoke gown.

With a custom gown, there are many advantages. Your imput is the most important thing, whereas with off-the-rack gows, you might have to settle for what’s available. The world is your oyster with a tailor-made gown, you can let your imagination run free to come up with exactly what your dream dress looks like. Not only that, you won’t have to spend hours in stores trying on dress after dress.

Since you have two weeks (possibly more) left at home you can get to thinking. Start by searching Instagram and Pinterest to gather some inspiration. From there, you can note which styles are your favourites, what fabrics and colours you like, and other small touches to make your wedding dress truly unique.

You could even spend some time chatting to dressmakers, offering them your ideas to see if they’re able to create something that you’d like. With the technology we have these days, you could have your entire first appointment online, as long as you can take your own measurements.

Of course, with a custom dress you may have to spend a bit more money and have a few more fittings. However, these problems are easily turned into non-issues if you try hard enough.

You may be saving money in other areas of your wedding expenses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. For example, if your guest list is slightly trimmed to ensure that you have a smaller gathering (since we may still have some restrictions after the lockdown ends) then you’ll save money by getting a smaller venue, or by catering for less people. You’ll also save on printing and sending invitations. These savings could be used for your dress, if you’d like.

A bespoke dress ensures a perfect fit, no style limitations and many more up sides, so it’s worth considering. After all, who knows you better than you!

Image: Pexels