Wedding ETC, Author at Wedding ETC

In Advice

Virtual date night ideas for romance under lockdown

April 8, 2020 No Comments

Trying to keep the romance alive while being separated from your love doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal! There are many virtual options for a great date night.

You’re not alone as many couples around the world are figuring out how to navigate the world of love, while being stuck at home. To make things a little easier, here are some virtual date night ideas to try out:

– Take a virtual tour

Since self-isolation and legally enforced quarantines are global, many facilities have decided to help ease cabin fever by making virtual tours available. Why not take advantage of this while you still can? You can see things from all around the world, with your partner (virtually) by your side, without leaving the comfort and safety of your room!

Here are some to check out:

L.A.’s Getty Museum
The Louvre
The Smithsonian’s Natural History
The National Women’s History Museum’s NASA exhibit
The San Diego Zoo live cam
Tennesee Aquarium’s River Otter Falls Cam
International Wolf Centre’s ambassador wolves

– Dig Deep

If you’re looking to become closer during your time (physically) apart, answer The 36 Questions That Lead to Love. This little back and forth quiz was published in 2015 and is considered one of the best conversational road maps around. Find out more about each other, by asking questions you never thought about before.

– Distanced Dinner Date

Just because you’re in separate locations, doesn’t mean a dinner date is off the table. You can each get dressed up, grab some food, light some candles and eat together on a Skype call. Play some music in the background for that extra bit of mood-setting.

– Online games

The internet is filled multiplayer games for you and your partner to try out. Explore a new universe together, by playing online together. Some couples have even taken to gaming weddings.

– Watch a movie in sync

Use the chrome extension Netflix Party, to watch a movie together. The extension allows you to connect your Netflix accounts so that your movie plays at exactly the same time. There’s also a chat bar for running commentary between the two of you during the movie.

– Plan your next in person date

If you haven’t already, you can spend some time together deciding on what you’ll do as soon as the lockdown is over. Plan a big, special date to celebrate being by each others sides again.

Also read: Pair have Animal Crossing wedding amid corona virus

Also read: How to have a honeymoon during lockdown

Also read: How to celebrate your anniversary while quarantining

Image: Unsplash

In Planning

Beach wedding venues in South Africa

April 8, 2020 No Comments

Just because weddings have been put on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, doesn’t mean you have to stop planning for the future. Keeping your eye out for the wedding venue of your dreams is important!

If you’re considering a seaside wedding, then you’re lucky that you live in South Africa. Our country is overflowing with magnificent beach wedding venues.

Here are some of out favourites:

Tintswalo Atlantic

Within the Greater Table Mountain National Park, at the base of Chapman’s Peak, you’ll find Tintswalo Atlantic. You’ll have unmatchable views of the bay and the mountains on your special day. The lodge includes their luxurious suites in their wedding package too. This venue is best for an intimate wedding, as it seats about 25 guests.

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The Oyster Box Hotel

This Umhlanga wedding venue is truly like no other, offering you a a stunning backdrop which includes a lighthouse for your nuptials. The hotel overlooking the ocean offers a variety of venues to accomodate almost any size wedding.

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Birkenhead House

On the cliffs of Hermanus overlooking Walker Bay, lies Birkenhead House. The coastal setting is perfect for a beach wedding. The venue caters for weddings of up to 50 guests.

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Strandkombuis

For a more laidback beach wedding, head to Strandbombuis in Yzerfontein. You’ll have your reception on the deck only a few steps from the untouched beach. With a capacity of up to 200 guests, you can fit everyone in.

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Twelve Apostles Hotel

If a luxury seaside wedding is what you’re looking for, then the Twelve Apostles Hotel is where you need to be. Situated between the Twelve Apostles Mountain range, the setting is perfect for anyone looking for a dramatic backdrop. This hotel is suitable for a wide range of wedding options.

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Blue Bay Lodge

Undisturbed beaches, quiet surroundings and Saldanha Bay in the background. What could be more perfect? Blue Bay Lodge offers wedding co-ordination, seating for 150 guests, and a wooden deck at the end of a walkway on the beach where your ceremony can be performed.

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Image: Unsplash

In Celebs

Jeannie Mai announces engagement to Jeezy

April 8, 2020 No Comments

Love conquers all, even a world wide pandemic, self-isolation, and quarantines. “The Real” presenter Jeannie Mai and rapper Jeezy (Jay Jenkins) are proving it with their engagement in the time of the coronavirus.

Mai took to instagram on April 7 to officially announce their engagement and share her good news. “I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life loving you….YES,” she said in her caption.

“Thank you, everyone, for celebrating this journey with us. We are praying love over everyone from here,” she added.

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The couple have been together since November 2018, but only made their relationship public last year.

People reported that Jenkins proposed at their “quarantine date night” in his Los Angeles home. Mai’s rep told People that Jenkins planned to propose on their trip to Vietnam in April this year. However, due to travel restrictions and self-isolation orders on account of the coronavirus, Jenkins had to come up with a new plan.

“Instead, Jay decided to bring Vietman to Jeannie with a surprise quarantine date night in his home filled with Vietnamese food and decor,” said Mai’s rep.

Of course, people are tremendously happy for them and congratulations flooded in on her Instagram post. Co-hosts at The Real were also ecstatic for Mai. The Real congratuated Mai on their Instagram page too, posting a picture of the happy couple.

“OUR HEARTS, HUNNAY!!!” they said. “Screaming all the contratulatory wishes from the rooftops for our very own @TheJeannieMai and her new FIANCE. @Jeezy!!!! We are so thrilled and over the moon for the both of you.”

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Congrats to the happy couple!

Image: Twitter / Complex

In Advice

How to celebrate your anniversary while quarantining

April 7, 2020 No Comments

The national lockdown has truly forced us all to readjust to a new way of life for the time being. All plans that were made previously are on hold or cancelled and other plans are having to be rethought. While all of this happens, time still ticks on.

If your anniversary is one of the events coming up during quarantine, you should probably think of a way to celebrate it indoors! There’s no need to worry if you made plans that require leaving home, an at-home anniversary can easily be planned too.

Here are some ideas:

Recreate a special meal together

Perhaps you had a fancy meal on your first date, or you’re still dreaming of the delicious meal served at your wedding reception. You could take to the kitchen and try to recreate these meals together. We all know cooking together can be tremendously romantic… and the eating part is great too. After you cook the meal, indulge in the delicious food by candle light.

Wedding reminiscing

Pull out your wedding album and video and spend some time remembering the special day. It’ll bring back many amazing memories and will show you how far you’ve come. Tell each other stories about your individual experiences of the wedding day, about how you were feeling, who you interacted with, and anything else you can recall. You’re sure to have some funny and interesting tales to tell.

Symbolic vow renewal

Plan to have a vow renewal ceremony for just the two of you. Write new vows, decorate the room, and go all out. It’ll be quite intimate and special, definitely something you’ll never forget.

Learn to dance

Search YouTube for some couples dance tutorials and try to learn a new dance together. Salsa is a great option!

How I met your mother

If you have kids and you want them to be involved too then this one’s for you. Draw up a quiz about your relationship with questions like “how did mom and dad meet?” or “how old were we when we got married?” and have your kids participate in a competitive quiz night. It’s a great way to celebrate your anniversary and it’ll be an evening filled with laughs too.

Image: Unsplash

In News

Pair have Animal Crossing wedding amid coronavirus

April 6, 2020 No Comments

Many couples are facing the disappointment of having to cancel or postpone their weddings due to the coronavirus pandemic. While some are planning to simply wait until the health crisis blows over, others are finding creative ways around the problem.

With the forced cancellation of their wedding, Sharmin Asha and Nazmul Ahmed had to get past the disappointment. They decided they would start playing the popular Nintendo game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While they played, Ahmed had an idea.

He put together a surprise in-game wedding for his wife-to-be. “Nazmul invited me over to collect resources [on his island] since he had been playing longer than me. As soon as I got there, he was at the airport and there were arrows on the ground. He told me there was some special in-game event, so we followed them,” said Asha to The Washington Post.

As they followed the arrows, Asha collected virtual flowers that Ahmed left for her. At the end of the path she found a beach, where her friends waited with their own Animal Crossing characters.

Ahmed told The Washington Post that the entire thing took him four to five hours to set up. He said that their friends were happy to get on board with his plan, since they already played the game.

Of course, this is not a replacement for the New Jersey couple’s wedding but it has served as a great way to celebrate what would have been their wedding date.

Ahmed and Asha are not the only ones to have celebrated their nuptials this way. A host of other couples have made their way to Animal Crossing too as it serves as a proxy for real-world social interaction.

Image: Twitter / GoNintendoTweet

In Advice

How hand sanitizer affects your engagement ring

April 3, 2020 No Comments

With the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa and across the world, people are much more conscious about hygiene. Specifically hand hygiene. All we’ve heard from our leaders is for weeks is “wash your hands, don’t touch your face”. This has led to an increase in the use of hand sanitizer.

The hand sanitizer you should be using consists of about 70% alcohol (isopropyl or ethyl) mixed with water, glycerine and fragrance.

You’d think that no harm can come from using proper hand sanitizer. After all, you’re trying to protect yourself from a pandemic. While you’re taking care of yourself, however, be sure to take care of your engagement ring too!

It turns out that hand sanitizer is quite bad for your ring, especially when it’s used excessively (much like we’re all doing these days). According to James Allen, an online diamond and bridal jewellery retailer, contact with cleaners that contain chlorine, bleach, and rubbing alcohol “can break down the brilliance of metals and gems over time”. The last thing you want is for your ring to lose it’s sparkle!

Experts at James Allen also warned of a different way the sanitizer could be ruining your ring. “Extensive hand sanitizer use can also loosen prongs that hold diamonds in place,” they said. This means you’re putting your diamond at risk. It could loosen and fall out without you noticing.

Of course, we don’t want these risks to stop you from practicing good hygiene. Quite the opposite, actually.

All you need to do is remove the ring from your finger each time you sanitize and you should be good to go! Remember to wait until your hand dry’s before placing the ring back on your finger.

If you really want to protect your ring, you could choose to remove it until the coronavirus pandemic passes. Bacteria can make its way into the grooves of your ring. If you don’t plan on cleaning the ring, it may be better to store it away until this all blows over.

It’s not that difficult to clean your ring though! So, if you want to keep wearing it, simply pop it in some warm water with dish washing soap at least once a week! Voila, good hygiene and a ring that remains safe and sound.

Image: Unsplash

In Advice

Romantic home proposal ideas

April 2, 2020 No Comments

So lockdown ruined your big proposal plans but you can’t keep the secret inside any longer? It looks like an at-home proposal is your only choice! There’s no need to worry though, there are more than a few ways to make it special.

If you’re in search for some at home proposal ideas, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to get your love locked in during lockdown:

– The games night proposal

If you’re a playful pair, plan your proposal around a games night. You could do it under the guise of keeping busy on another night under quarantine. Set out a scrabble board, and throughout the game try to spell out words that eventually lead up to “will you marry me?”. “say yes?” or “wife/husband?”.

Alternatively, you could play charades, pictionary, or any such guessing game, and take your proposal from there! Act out or draw marriage, and then get down on one knee.

– The classic dinner proposal

Cook your soon-to-be a romantic dinner, decorate the table with candles, and do it just like they do in the movies. After some casual dinner-time conversation or perhaps during dessert, pop the question.

– The pet proposal

We know those of you with fur babies don’t want to leave the little ones out of anything! Plan to have your pet involved, by placing the ring on their body (without hurting them of course). Have your pet approach your partner for them to find the ring.

– The treasure hunt proposal

Hide the ring, write down some clues, and make a fun activity out of your proposal. Tell your partner you’ve got them a gift but they need to go on a treasure hunt for it. Voila, a fun and flirty at home proposal.

– The pamper proposal

Treat your significant other to a spa day, full with DIY face masks and a massage, perhaps even a bubble bath. After they’ve relaxed to the max, and you’ve built up the nerve then get down to business.

Good luck with your proposals!

Image: Unsplash

In Advice

How to have a honeymoon during lockdown

April 2, 2020 No Comments

Of course, for your honeymoon you’d prefer to be lounging on the beach on a tropical island or roaming the streets in a city unfamiliar to you. However, when the President calls for a national lockdown, and all travel is banned, a stay home honeymoon is what’s on the cards!

Fret not though, newly weds! Your quarantine honeymoon can be great too. After all, you’re in this together, and who doesn’t want to be stuck alone with their number one person? We guarantee there are tons of couples who want to be in you shoes right now.

If you’re trying to turn your self-isolation into a bae-cation, here are some things you should do:

– Unplug

First and foremost, take some time off from technology. Turn those phones off and unplug! You’ll feel more like you’re away, because you won’t have people texting and calling all day.

– Decorate your bedroom

Turn your bedroom into a honeymoon suite. Lay out some new bedding, put some chocolates on the pillows, and create a romantic getaway hotel in your own home.

– Activities by candle light

Candles make everything 100 times more romantic, don’t you agree? Fill up the bath and add some bubbles, pop the lights off and add some candles. There you have it, a perfect honeymoon activity.

If bubble baths are not your thing, or your tub is too small to take the both of you, a candle lit dinner is great too. Cook up something tasty and have a dinner date.

– Open wedding gifts

Start off your journey together by opening all those gifts you received! It’ll make you feel very special and loved, and you’ll get some constructive things done at the same time.

– Breakfast in bed

Take turns bringing each other some food to get the day going. Pancakes, waffles, omelettes, go all out.

– Massages

A whole new definition of “couples massage”. While you can’t go out and get a massage together, you can totally give each other massages. It can be very romantic!

– Planning

Spend some time planning a trip away. We’re sure you want to take a “real” honeymoon when the lockdown is over. So why not use some of this time to get ahead with the planning!

Image: Unsplash

In Advice

A guide to wedding dress shopping online

April 1, 2020 No Comments

Online shopping can be risky business. There’s always a chance, no matter how small, that you end up with something that’s not quite what you were expecting. If you’re considering switching from window shopping to (Microsoft) Windows shopping, then read on!

We’re absolutely certain that you don’t want to be the bride who buys her dress online and, on delivery, instantly regrets it. As with everything, there are pros and cons of online wedding dress shopping. However, there is something to be said for the convenience, savings, and options that come with the online experience.

Whether you’re sick of making your way through racks and racks of dresses, or you’re simply not keen on the idea of hunting for dresses in store, online wedding dress shopping could be a great option.

If this is the route you’re taking, then keep these tips in mind:

– Measurements

You need to know the measurements of your bust, waist, and hips. If you don’t know these, your dress will not be the best fit it can be. Brides who have undertaken the online shopping experiment report that a great way to find your fit is to go in store (oh no!) and fit on some dresses there, with the sole purpose of finding what fits you. Once you’re clued up on your measurements, pop back online and get searching. Of course, you could just use the trusted measuring tape.

– Fabrics

Be familiar with fabrics and how they look and feel. You wouldn’t want a detail like this to ruin what you expected to be your perfect dress.

– Policies

Look, we’ve said it once and we’ll say it again. There are always risks with online shopping. Before you make this very important purchase, find out what the online store’s policies are. Imagine you’re unable to return a dress that has turned out to be a Halloween costume! The horror!

– Social media

Check across all social media platforms for brides wearing a similar dress to the one you’ve chosen. It’ll give you a good idea of how the dress looks in real life!

– Read reviews

Be sure to check the online reviews of the stores you’re shopping at. You’ll either see many angry customers or tons of happy brides. This will help you decided whether to keep shopping there.

– Read carefully

Be aware of common terms like “fully lined” and “partially lined”. The latter will have you in a see-through dress on your special day. Pull out those comprehension skills and read the dress descriptions carefully.

Image: Unsplash

In Engagements

Man takes the last flight during global pandemic to propose

March 30, 2020 No Comments

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, this man had to make a decision of vital importance: to stay in Cairo or take the last available flight to Canada to be with his girlfriend. He chose the latter.

Eihab Boraie was in Cairo when the covid-19 broke out. His Italian-American girlfriend, Francesca Brunndisini, is in Quebec City. As the global health crises deepened and became increasingly serious, Boraie realised he had to act fast.

Soon things became more tense, as Egpyt announced that airports would shut down on March 19. This meant that the very few left over tickets were much more expensive than usual. But Boraie took his chances anyway. He didn’t expect things to work out.

“I assumed the only way I would be travelling home was if the Canadian government sent a plane to retrieve stranded Canadians,” he wrote on CNN.

Miraculously, he secured a seat on the very last flight to Canada. So he set off to be with his girlfriend, leaving behind his loving parents who’s health he worried about.

Once he arrived in Quebec City, he couldn’t wait any longer. The first thing he did when he saw Brunndisini was to get down on one knee and propose.

“She was completely caught off guard as less than 48 hours before she didn’t know when and if she would ever see me again, let alone predict that I would ask her to marry me,” he said.

“She accepted my proposal, we removed our masks and made it official with a long kiss,” he added.

Boraie joked that they sealed the deal with a ring and the possibility that he could have passed her the virus in that moment.

“When the world is healed, our plan is to get married in Italy on the island of Giglio, but it’s hard to imagine when that will be. Until that day the only couple goals we set in stone is to stay isolated and survive the quarantine,” he said.

Image: Facebook / Eihab Boraie