Wedding ETC, Author at Wedding ETC

In Advice

When you shouldn’t wear your engagement ring

March 4, 2020 No Comments

Once you receive your precious engagement ring, it’s understandable that you’d never want to take it off. The ring shows your partners love, affection, and commitment to you, which makes it extremely special. For this reason, it needs to be protected!

The best way to protect your engagement ring is to know when you shouldn’t wear it. This way you won’t lose or damage it.

Here’s when to remove the bling:

– When you’re doing housework

While you’re cleaning you may knock the ring. This is more common an occurrence than you’d expect. To ensure that your ring remains unscratched and unharmed, remove it before you start cleaning.

Additionally, cleaning products like bleach and ammonia damages both the metal and the stone of your ring.

– In the shower

The scrubbing and soaking you do in the shower will take a toll on your band. It may even end up scratched.

– Working out

First off, the ring may fall off and you’ll lose it. That’s the last thing you’d want. Second, the ring could get damaged by weights you use – the pressure on the ring could bend the band and result in the stone falling out of its setting.

– During your beauty routine

Soaps, creams, perfumes and other such products all result in damage to your ring. If you keep your ring on every time you apply these products, it will build up and collect. This will result in a build up of grease and over time will result in deterioration. If the products get under the stone, it way loosen it from its setting too.

– Travelling

Travelling is tiring and keeps you busy, you could get lost in the activities and end up losing your ring.

– Cooking

This is a recipe for disaster. The oils, fats, and flours will result in long term damage to your engagement ring. In fact, cooking is one of the biggest reasons people’s rings get ruined! So ensure that you take it off when preparing that romantic meal.

Image: Unsplash

In Honeymoons

Ways to give back while on honeymoon

March 3, 2020 No Comments

When you find your partner for life, you feel like the luckiest person on earth. Getting married and going on a honeymoon only adds to these feelings of good fortune. For some, this makes them want to spread the joy and abundance.

A good way to do this is by spending your honeymoon giving back. The experience will bring you and your significant other closer together and will be a memory you’ll cherish forever. On top of that, only good can come from starting your marriage off on a charitable note.

This is actually more common than you’d expect. For couples who love to give back, an alternative to honeymooning is slowly rising in popularity. The trend has been termed ‘honeyteering’. If you’re keen to use your honeymoon to give back, here are some ways you could do it:

– Ask your hotel

When you arrive at your honeymoon destination, you can speak to the hotel staff about local non-profit organisations you can lend some of your time to. They would be able to direct you to the best places to go and the best things to do in order to ensure people and places are left better than you found them.

– Pack for a purpose

Pack for a purpose is a non-profit that helps you give back. As you pack for your holiday, you should pack some items needed by the communities you’re planning to visit. When you arrive at your destination, handing over the package is easy. Pack for a purpose would have ensured that there is a drop off spot close to your hotel.

Check their website for a list of locations and supplies needed for each destination.

– Build a home

Habit for Humanity is well-known for its volunteering programmes. You could use your honeymoon to attend one of these programmes and construct, renovate and provide disaster relief for those in need.

– Create a Honeyfund for donations

Similar to a wedding registry, couples have begun to use honeymoon registries too. You could create a registry using honeyfund, a website which allows you to organise cash-gifts, and indicate that all money will go to a specific charity.

Image: Unsplash

In Celebs

Six of the shortest celebrity marriages

March 3, 2020 No Comments

As we all know, Hollywood relationships have a reputation of being rocky. While some may be true stories of everlasting love, many have proven to be quite the opposite.

From Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries to Jennifer Lopez and Chris Judd, here are some of the shortest celebrity marriages.

Britney Spears and Jason Alexander

In 2004, the songstress wed her childhood friend after a wild night out in Las Vegas. As they say, ‘what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’, because the pair had their nuptials annulled only 55 hours later.

Cher and Greg Allman

In 1975, Cher married the rock star, Allman. The two made it official in Las Vegas only a few days after Cher finalised her divorce from previous husband, Sonny Bono. After spending 9 days as a married couple, Cher and Allman called it quits. Apparently, Cher is the one who filed for divorce; during the nine days she discovered some of Allman’s drug and drinking issues which she decided were too much for her to handle.

Mario Lopez and Ali Landry

This marriage lasted only two weeks, and the bachelor party was the cause of the split. After they wed on April 24, 2004, Landry found some compromising photos of Lopez at his bachelor party. On making this discovery, she immediately filed for an annulment. Lopez admitted that he was unfaithful only a few days before the wedding at his bachelor party in Mexico. The pair split on May 8, 2004.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries

This is one of the most infamous short-lived marriages of all time. The popular reality TV star married Humphries, a basketball player, in 2011. The wedding was an extravagant affair, costing the couple over ten million dollars; they even aired a two-day reality TV special titled “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding”. Unfortunately, the couple called it quits only 72 days later.

Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock

While the two may seem like a great fit, unfortunately their marriage didn’t last. Anderson and Kid Rock got married in July 2006. Their wedding was exactly what you’d expect from the pair – on a yacht wearing swimsuits. In November 2006, the couple filed for divorce. The marriage lasted only 122 days.

Jennifer Lopez and Cris Judd

The Latina superstar married dancer, Cris Judd, in September 2001. They met after J-Lo hired him to appear in her “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” video. Just as quickly as they wedded, they called it off getting divorced in June 2002. This marriage lasted 218 days.

Image: Facebook / My Publicist

In News

Woman takes over cinema to propose on Leap Day

March 2, 2020 No Comments

Aneliese Rix decided to take advantage of the Leap Day this year, by following tradition and proposing to her boyfriend, Matt Philpott. She went all out, and took over a cinema in Gorleston (in Norfolk), England.

The big screen proposal took over 14 months to plan and prepare for, as Rix had prepared and filmed a special video to play on the movie screen. “I have had late nights working, when in reality I’ve been filming for the video,” she told Eastern Daily Press.

“We are a bit of a unique couple and I wanted to do something different,” she added.

On the evening of the proposal, the couple headed to the cinema. Philpott was under the assumption that they would be watching the new Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Instead, Rix’s homemade movie, titled “The Missing Thing”, played on screen.

Apparently, Philpott had no idea what was going on, until he saw his girlfriend on screen. “He didn’t twig, until I appeared on the screen, ” said Rix.

As the realisation set in, a ring bearer walked down the cinema aisle and handed a ring to Rix. She finally got down on one knee and proposed and of course he said yes!

The rest of the audience in the cinema, who happened to be about 60 of their closest friends and family, cheered and applauded. Some of them had all snuck in through the back of the cinema to surprise this lucky groom-to-be.

About the entire evening, Rix said: “It was very special with lots of tears – a very, very emotional moment – and thankfully he said yes.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9LtKShjcD2/

Congrats to the happy couple!

Image: Facebook / Aneliese Rix

In Weddings

Five wedding superstitions you may want to remember

March 2, 2020 No Comments

As time passes, superstitions surrounding weddings tend to fade away. Today, couple’s are keen to have the ‘first look photoshoot’, but in the past seeing each other before the ceremony was considered to be bad luck.

While people have become less superstitious, some beliefs still persist. If you’re one of the people who would rather be safe than sorry, then this is your chance to clue yourself up on what to avoid and what to be weary of.

– The grooms tie

It is said that if a groom’s tie is crooked as he enters the wedding ceremony, he will be unfaithful to his bride-to-be. You might want to send your bridesmaids on a tie straightening mission before the wedding, just to be safe!

– Nuns and Monks

Some have said that a curse of a barren life is in store for brides who see nuns and monks on the way to their wedding. The superstition says that the couple will forever be dependent on the charity of others. For those who are religious, this one may be a bit difficult to avoid.

– Knives as gifts

Folklore states that a knife set as a wedding gift signifies a future with a broken relationship. Even if you’re big on cooking, you may want to take that knife set off of your wedding registry!

– Ringing bells

This Irish tradition is a way to ward off those pesky evil spirits. The superstition goes that if you ring some bells before your wedding, you’ll chase away the bad and ensure that you and your partner have a harmonious life together. Some brides even add little bells to their bouquettes, to keep them ringing as they make their way down the aisle.

– A clock as a gift

In China, the people believe that receiving a clock as a wedding gift is terrible luck. The word for ‘clock’ in Mandarin also means ‘the end’. For this reason, Chinese people tend to stay away from clocks as gifts.

Image: Unsplash

In Engagements

The guilt-free gem: Lab-grown diamonds

March 2, 2020 No Comments

For those humanitarians and environmentalists out there, engagement ring shopping can be a struggle. Due to the carbon footprint – among other things – caused by diamond mining, younger people are attempting to take a step away from the traditional engagement ring. This has led to a fast growing trend – lab-grown diamond rings.

According to BBC Future, almost 70% of millennials have considered this guilt-free engagement ring alternative. An added bonus to lab-grown diamonds for your engagement ring is that they are much more affordable, meaning you won’t break the bank.

So what exactly is a lab-grown diamond?

Essentially, they are man-made diamonds. What’s interesting, however, is that while they are created in laboratories, they are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds, and are just as hard.

There are two main methods used to grow these diamonds: The CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method and The HPHT (high pressure high temperature) method. Lightbox, a company who lab-grows diamonds describes these methods:

CVD – “Lab grown diamond seeds are loaded into a CVD reactor. Then, a mix of gasses containing carbon is added at a very low pressure. Microwaves are added to heat the gases and generate a plasma. When the temperatures climb over several thousand degrees, the gas molecules break apart and carbon atoms bond to the seeds, growing them one layer at a time,” says Lightbox.

HPHT – “This method mimics the conditions under which diamonds naturally form. Large mechanical presses are used to apply extreme pressure and high temperature to carbon in the presence of a diamond seed. The seeds act as a template for a lattice of carbon to grow layer by layer over the course of a few days,” they said.

Because of their man-made nature, they only take a few weeks to make whereas a real diamond takes billions of years to grow.

So if you’re looking to live a more eco-friendly, sustainable and conscious life then lab-grown diamonds are the way to go!

Here are some lab-grown diamond engagement rings to inspire you:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvxi-HzlGKH/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiwA1PGhFJO/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6wwQL9hKt0/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7x42eRF1K0/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9F6woGBMzO/

Image: Unsplash

In Legal

Applying for a South African marriage certificate

February 28, 2020 No Comments

The formalities of getting married are stressful for most couples, as visits to Home Affairs go. But if you have some key information about applying for a South African marriage certificate before hand, the process should be as smooth as can be.

When you enter into a marriage, the marriage officer will provide you with a handwritten marriage certificate (form BI-27) , free of charge. You’ll need to apply for an unabridged marriage certificate as soon as possible. The abridged certificate is issued on the same day that it is applied for.

While the abridged certificate contains the personal details of both you and your partner as well as the date of marriage, the unabridged certificate contains more detailed information. The latter is often required for legal reasons by the government (for when you travel, emigrate or obtain foreign passports) and financial institutions (for opening accounts etc.).

It’s best to ensure that you are in possession of an unabridged marriage certificate, it’s a better document to have and is much more useful.

If you require another copy of the abridged certificate, or want a unabridged certificate, then here’s what you need to do :

– Complete Form BI-130 in black ink

– Pay the prescribed fee (a re-issue is R75)

– Bring certified copies of you and your spouses ID’s

– Submit these to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs

– Call the Home Affairs toll-free hotline 0800 601 190 to follow up on the progress of your application for an unabridged marriage certificate.

Other things you need to know:

– If you (or your spouse) aren’t South African, the unabridged certificate will be required to register the marriage in your home country.

– If you’re overseas you can apply for a marriage certificate at any South African embassy or consulate.

– The unabridged marriage certificate takes about 6 to 8 weeks to receive after you have applied.

Image: Facebook / Department of Home Affairs

In cake

A guide to groom cakes

February 25, 2020 No Comments

As with many practices surrounding weddings, the groom cake comes from deeply rooted traditions. Beginning in the late 19th century in England this form of cake gained popularity across the world quite quickly.

It started as a result of perceptions that the traditional wedding cake appeared much too feminine for the groom. As such, a special confectionary treat was made for the man. It was often a liquor-infused fruit cake.

At the time the tradition started, a legend formed. The story goes that single women would take a piece of this cake home and put it under her pillow as she slept, in the hopes of dreaming about her future groom. Sleeping on a slice of cake doesn’t seem too appealing, but hey, perhaps it’s worth it for a glimpse into the coming years.

These days the groom cake serves as a gift to the groom from his partner. They should have the cake made especially for him, ensuring that it incorporates his personality, interests, and favourite flavours. At the end of the wedding, the cake is cut up, boxed, and given to guests to take home.

If you’re planning on getting your groom a special cake, here is some inspiration:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Lf6OgH63E/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7hzuF7BP6H/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7b6OlsA_bE/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Byvr_3Hg6An/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Butr8RcnaQ1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7RIt0CF06m/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6wBjOeHEs5/

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/B59Sg4bhT4i/

Image: Pixabay

In Destination

World’s Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destinations

February 25, 2020 No Comments

If you’re the type who enjoys sharing your experiences on Instagram, then you should read closely. Photography and videography experts, The Photo Team, did some research and found out which honeymoon destinations are the most insragrammable.

By searching the hashtag #honeymoondestinations, as one does when looking for honeymoon inspiration, the team complied a list of the top 26 locations.

The results are in and they are very interesting. Cape Town has ranked 8th on the list, being hashtagged 12 234 629 times!

Here are the top 10:

1. Paris

Number of searches: 120 351 166

https://www.instagram.com/p/B89yktloXt3/

2. Bali

Number of searches: 67 097 317

https://www.instagram.com/p/B80Mh–n14K/

Also read: Must-do honeymoon activities in Bali.

3. Tokyo

Number of searches: 50 531 831

https://www.instagram.com/p/B86OZN6J7rD/

4. Bangkok

Number of searches: 34 864 480

https://www.instagram.com/p/B84s93xhZCe/

5. Sicily

Number of searches: 18 338 616

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8-oQqUC74K/

6. Buenos Aires

Number of searches: 17 168 992

https://www.instagram.com/p/B89vtVUCLjf/

7. Venice

Number of searches: 16 382 292

https://www.instagram.com/p/B82SohCHOZK/

Also read: Heavenly Honeymooning:Italy

8. Cape Town

Number of searches: 12 234 629

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nBM9aAyrj/

9. Sri Lanka

Number of searches: 11 243 511

https://www.instagram.com/p/B85Yy7Znk27/

Also read: Romantic things to do in Sri Lanka

10. Cancun

Number of searches: 10 366 556

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5WFW6YJTTO/

The rest of the list is as follows:

Phuket, Maldives, Marrakech, Lombok, Maui, Santorini, Mauritius, Nairobi, Dubrovnik, Amalfi Coast, Bora Bora, Lapland, Napa Valley, Reykjavik, Seychelles, and São José do Campos.

Be sure to check them all out on Instagram before making your pick! You’ll find the best place for you, and have fun while doing it.

Featured image: Shutterstock-Phattana stock

In Advice

Romantic things to do in Livingstone

February 24, 2020 No Comments

Livingstone is one of the most popularly visited locations in Zambia. The town is only 10 kilometres from the Zambezi River and is the hub for tourists looking to visit the Victoria Falls.

Boasting the title of home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the town is perfect for a romantic getaway. Not only is there stunning natural elements, but the town is steeped in history too.

Here are some things you should get up to with your partner when you visit Livingstone:

– Visit the Victoria Falls

Being one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, it would be a huge mistake to miss the Victoria Falls. It’s not every day you get to witness things like this, and to see it with your loved one by your side makes it that much more special.

It’s likely that you’ll catch a very special rainbow show too – the side effect of tons of water flowing over the edge of the cliff.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B79RRoCAynD/

– Take a dip in the Devil’s Pool

While the name sounds scary, the activity is a must-do. It is the perfect way to top off your visit to the Victoria Falls.

The pool is located on the very edge of the waterfall. Get your heart racing as you stare down at the unnervingly drop, and get the adrenaline rush that’ll make your romantic getaway unforgettable.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jbsC0AuA9/

– Visit The Elephant Café

This sanctuary allows you to get a glimpse of some wildlife, ethically. The elephants have been rescued from dangerous situations such as culling and drought and are kept here where they roam freely.

After spending some time with these gentle giants, you can have a delicious meal at the café. Relax on the wooden deck and experience a meal like you never have before.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkR-nD_FuAq/

– Take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River

Sit back, relax, and take in the views with a drink in hand. Sundowners are a staple of any getaway, but sundowners on a river cruise makes for the perfect romantic activity.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7qSulcFljl/

– Visit the Livingstone Museum

Learn about the town, its history and its culture. You’ll gain some interesting knowledge and see some cool exhibitions, including a life-sized village display. Add a dose of culture to your romantic getaway!

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

– Have a fancy meal on a steam train

Taking you on a sunset ride on the Victoria Falls Bridge, the Royal Livingston Express will be a trip that you never forget. Indulge in some fancy, local cuisine as you take in the sights and sounds from the window of the old school train.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bne2VnMFFjU/

Featured image: Instagram / livingstoneislandzambia