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    Pranking the groom on his wedding day can be risky business. He is likely already on edge and any small thing could set him off. If you’re planning on pranking the groom, be sure to tread carefully. After all, you don’t want to be the guy who ruins the day for the groom. “Harmless” is the mood you should aim for with your pranks.

    What is a harmless prank, you ask? At a wedding, a harmless prank is anything that doesn’t offend the couple, doesn’t affect the day overall,  and doesn’t come across as disrespectful.

    If you’re looking for a few ideas, we’ve got some for you.

    – “You’re late!!”

    While the groom is asleep, change the time on his watch and phone. Set the time two or three hours ahead. Make sure you wake up bright and early to wake him up. Frantically run into his room the morning of the wedding shouting about how late he is. When he checks the time, he’ll panic too. Little does he know, he is not late at all.

    – “You’re a joke”

    This is not so much a prank, but usually gets people laughing. If you’re giving a speech, all you need to do is throw in tons of embarrassing stories about the groom. Another classic groomsman move.

    If you want something a bit more risky, we’ve got two ideas for you. But be warned, pranks during the ceremony may not be well received, no matter how harmless. If you’re doing this, be certain that you know the groom AND BRIDE will take it well.

    – “That’s not the ring!”

    When the time comes to hand over the ring to the groom, hand him a toy ring or a ring pop instead. This is sure to catch everyone’s attention.

    – “A for effort”

    Get the other groomsmen in on this one. Each groomsman should hide a number written in bold inside their jackets. After the couple’s first kiss, get the guys to reveal the numbers as if they’re rating the kiss or giving it a score.

    Finally, take a look at these two perfectly executed pranks on the groom, and decide if you have the pre-planning skills to pull them off:

    – Best Man replaces bride in first look photoshoot

    Groom-to-be Keegan prepares himself to see his beautiful bride for the first time. He is nervous and excited and surely can’t wait to see her. Little does he know, he is in for the surprise of his life. When he turns around, its not his bride but rather his best man in a wedding dress! If you’re going to try this one, you’ll have to get the bride in on it…and buy a wedding dress.

    Credit: Sarah Pukin Photography
    Credit: Sarah Pukin Photography

    – Best man replaces groom’s suit

    Best man Colm Carberry went out of his way to pull this prank on his brother. He requested that the suit company tailor a suit exactly like his brother’s, but two sizes smaller. He switched the real suit with the smaller one, and he set up a camera to catch his brother’s reaction to the extra small suit.

    Credit: Youtube/360carbo

    Which prank will you try?

    Image: Unsplash

    Bouquets have come to be the classic accessory for bridesmaids to carry as they walk down the aisle. A bride in Plant City, Florida, however, decided on something different. When Andee Ondina and Tina Krasinski wed on Monday, their bridesmaids strolled down the aisle with puppies instead of flowers.

    The bride, Ondina, made this unorthodox decision in the hopes of raising awareness for rescue animals and to persuade people to adopt, not shop. Adoption applications were even available at the wedding reception.

    Credit: Facebook/Andee Krasinski

    The bridal party included 10 adoptable five-week-old puppies. Ondina told WFLA-TV  that she decided to nickname her furry bouquet substitutes “puppquets”.

    This unconventional choice made the day even more special by adding an adorable flare to the ceremony. The couple’s decision to use their wedding for a good cause is likely to have an even happier ending. From stories we’ve seen in the past, these kinds of thoughtful gestures usually end with most, if not all, of the puppies ending up in happy and loving homes.

    It isn’t just the Krasinski’s getting into the puppy spirit. In 2017, North Carolina bride  Meghan Bulter also opted for puppies instead of bouquets for herself and her bridesmaids at her wedding. Like Ondina, Butler had decided on this in the hopes that she would raise awareness for puppies who needed rescuing. After the wedding, Butler told People that all the puppies had since been adopted.

    Similarly, Sally Burky told Insider that after her wedding, which also showcased adorable dogs who were up for adoption, four out of the total five dogs were adopted. On this occasion, having the puppies at the wedding not only allowed for the adoption of four puppies, but also drew a lot of attention to the rescue home that the dogs were living in. The rescue home, Haven of the Ozarks, was overwhelmed by the support they received after Burky’s wedding.

    So, to us, having bridesmaids carry puppies is cool and unconventional but also heartwarming and adorable. It may just be the pawfect decision.

    Image: Facebook/Wishing Well Barn

    There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a new perfume, only to find the scent will last a whole of five seconds before it fades into the wind. We give you a few simple ways to help make your fragrance last longer and stronger, especially for your big day.

    A clean slate

    Timing is everything, so spraying on your perfume after a hot shower and a layer of moisturiser is the best way to lock in that scent. After a shower, your pores are clean and skin is moist, making it more susceptible to hold onto the fragrance.

    Layered levels

    To achieve the maximum scent profile of your favourite perfume, try layering the same scent with its matching body wash and body cream. The products work in harmony to last as long as possible and also reach areas you wouldn’t normally spray your perfume on. For that added punch, lightly mist your hair at the nape of your neck with the scent as well.

    Pulse points

    These points on our bodies are where blood flows closest to the surface, i.e. behind the ears, along your neck, your inner wrists and behind the elbows and knees. It is always preferred to target these areas with the scent as the skin is thinnest here and they emit natural heat from your body. This heat helps the perfume scent to evolve as the day progresses and works with your natural body scent.

    Dab, don’t rub

    When spraying perfume onto your skin, always dab instead of rubbing it into your skin, or better yet, just leave it. While the pulse points release heat, rubbing those points together (like your wrists) has the potential to break the perfume’s molecular structure.

    The perfect distance

    As obvious as it sounds to spray more perfume if you want a stronger scent pay-off, try to not overspray your perfume in one particular area. However, in that same breath, don’t spray into the air and completely miss it landing where it should. The ideal should be the perfume bottle at an angle, half an arm’s length away from your body so that it can settle evenly onto your skin.

    Store away from light & heat

    Lastly, always keep your perfumes away from direct sunlight and intense heat or humidity. The light and heat break down the perfume itself which causes it to fade faster than usual. One would hate to spend thousands of rands on a beautiful perfume that won’t even last you the month if it’s already broken down.

    By Yashna Balwanth

    Feature image: Unsplash

    Choosing your bridesmaids can be tough. It comes with all kinds of complications like having to choose between friends, having the friend you chose be unavailable for the wedding, or not having enough people to complete your bridal party. Professional bridesmaids, it seems, are on the rise as the best solution to these complications and more.

    Kerstyn Walsh, a professional bridesmaid who has been part of more than 150 weddings, operates her very successful business (Hire a Bridesmaid) in Sydney. She explains to the Daily Mail that “Brides often need someone who is willing to do all the jobs.” Depending on the tasks required of her, Walsh’s fees range between $1000 (R101 59) and $8000 (R812 74).

    The jobs Walsh listed in her repertoire include taking on administrative tasks like consulting with vendors, helping with various chores throughout the special day so that family and friends can give their full attention to the wedding and the couple, and sometimes simply to bring the number of bridesmaids up to equal the number of groomsmen.

    This list is already attractive enough to get us interested in professional bridesmaids. When we consider the lengths Tifanny Wright, a UK-based professional bridesmaid, goes to for her clients, the option seems almost too good to be true. Wright has changed her hair colour for a bride who wanted all her bridesmaids to be brunettes. She also convinced an entire bridal party to do a bootcamp instead of the classic bachelorette party. She has even spied on a groom at his bachelor party (not that we suggest you request this service). Wright does a consultation for £25 (R475). Thereafter, her services fees could go as high as £5000 (R95 153).

    It’s clear then that a bride can ask way more of a professional bridesmaid than a regular bridesmaid. Asking too much of your best friend who is also your bridesmaid can get a bit awkward. But if you’re paying for a professional bridesmaid, you can ask her to do (just about) anything. A professional bridesmaid can’t object to the dresses you want either.

    The benefits of a professional bridesmaid seemingly starts to pile up when you consider that a “normal” bridesmaid has much less experience (if any at all) in the type of planning required for this job than a professional bridesmaid would have.

    With all of this acknowledged, we must say that the idea of a professional bridesmaid does seem much less personal than having a friend or family member as a bridesmaid. Having somebody who knows you, your story, and the in’s and out’s of how you got to your big day by your side is part of what makes things special.

    At any rate, you may struggle to find a professional bridesmaid in South Africa. So this may not be a choice you have to make any time soon. But with the professional bridesmaid market on the rise in Australia, the UK, and USA, you never know.

    Image: Unsplash

    Designers call it the modern-day ‘frothy dress’. Known for its dramatised aesthetic, tulle dresses are now taking over the runways and have made its way into the top list of wedding fabrics with a modern design. It is referred to as an aesthetic that you wear not to only look good, but also to feel good. The layering of tulle creates a fairytale-like design, encouraging the bride to feel like a little girl playing dress-up. And isn’t that exactly what it is though?

    Tulle and organza are fabrics associated with haute couture, which leads to the end result being, what we call, ‘OTT’ – a look perfect for your big day. Tulle has been used in bridal gowns for decades but now designers are taking looks straight from the runway and creating a more wearable style for brides and their bridal party. Below are some of our favourite tulle gowns, ready to hit the aisle:

     

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    By Rojaun Devos

    Feature image: Unsplash

    Social trends are moving towards sustainability, therefore directly impacting the way we think about the environment around us. These trends have become more apparent as we are consciously making decisions about what we put in our bodies, as well as where we buy our clothes. This growing awareness has changed the way we see waste and pushed us into being more aware of recycling, repurposing, biodegradable elements and ethically sourced products.

    Subsequently, the idea of sustainability has trickled down into weddings. Thanks to the popularity of conscious fashion, there has been a burst of innovations, fashion brands and accessibility. As a result, brides are offered a variety of options in the hunt for the perfect wedding dress. Many well-known designers now offer women a sustainable collection or range, and we believe that it’s only the beginning.

    Below are a few stand-out designers and why we love them:

    Stella McCartney

     

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    Stella is known for her work in sustainability and being at the forefront of a conscious movement. The designer has launched a vegan-friendly, eco-friendly bridal collection, with designs that are effortless and beautiful, while still keeping with the iconic ‘Stella’ aesthetic. Stella’s first bridal collection ranges from lace, chiffon to couture fabrics.

    Reformation

     

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    A California based clothing brand that pioneers the ethos of sustainability. Reformation creates beautiful silhouettes for every size, complemented with eco-friendly fabrics. The brand uses deadstock fabrics and repurposed vintage clothing that allows for a truly unique design.

    Lunar Life

     

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    The South African based fashion and lifestyle brand is headed by two powerhouse ladies and has a design aesthetic that is inspired by nature, while their use of materials is a mindful expression of the core brand values. For the bride that seeks a touch of uniqueness on her wedding day, Lunar Life might be your winner.

    Minna

     

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    At Minna, also known as Indiebride London, dresses are made to order, which means the fit and shape of the dress is completely perfected to suit your body. Indiebride’s aesthetics are simple and classic – they play on the theme of bohemian chic. The brand offers in-house handcrafted dresses which promote artisans and encourages brides to work hand-in-hand with the artisan creating their dress. Materials are seen as precious and little to no waste is made, so off-cuts are often donated to students or organizations.

    Deborah Lindquist

     

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    Deborah Lindquist gowns are for style-savvy, but eco-conscious brides. Garments are created from a mixture of vintage/upcycled, organic fabrics and each creation is unique and limited. Deborah has designed gowns for celebrities such as Sharon Stone, Pink, Jessica Alba and Rihanna. Will you be next?

    By Mia Smith

    Feature image: Instagram / Reformation

    After all the stress that comes with planning a wedding, it’s no doubt that you’ll welcome your honeymoon with open arms. Just you and your partner against a backdrop of romance, quality time and breathtaking scenery in foreign places. To make things easy and to ensure that you minimise any unnecessary stress from here on out, we’ve listed some useful tips to help you pack the perfect honeymoon suitcase.

    Create a packing list:

    To maximise on space and save time when selecting outfits, you want to consider a few things when creating a packing list. These factors will ensure that you don’t end up taking unnecessary items that you won’t end up using. Consider the:

    • Destination
    • Weather
    • Itinerary
    • Comfortability
    • Practicality

    What to pack:

    After carefully taking into considering what the climate will be like at your honeymoon destination and everything you have set out on your itinerary, don’t forget about these basics:

    • Versatile clothing items. These are items that can be worn to any occasion and are comfortable, practical and stylish, like a comfortable pair of pants that can be dressed up or down.
    • Try and stick to packing in wrinkle-resistant microfibers and fabrics that don’t require extra care.
    • Pack in travel-sized essentials like shampoo, toothpaste and skincare, but also share products with your S.O. where possible.
    • All important documents should be kept separate from your check-in luggage, so that you don’t end up looking for them at customs.

    How to pack:

    Minimising your luggage weight can prove to be a huge benefit. Not only will you be able to move around more freely with less luggage, but you can accommodate space for those souvenirs you couldn’t resist buying.

    • Layer the bottom of the suitcase with your shoes.
    • On top of the shoes, pack in all folded items. Rolling outfits into tight rolls can create a ton of extra space because you can insert clothing into every nook and cranny in your suitcase.
    • For clothing that wrinkles easily, it may be best to fold instead of roll, and then place on top of everything else.
    • Once all your smaller items have been packed, you can now pack the bulkier clothing right on top.
    • Another option would be to purchase suitcase dividers – this may take up a bit more space but will ensure that your suitcase is more organised, making things easier to find.

    What to avoid:

    • Refrain from packing in items you’ve never worn before – chances are they’ll never leave the suitcase either.
    • Don’t pack in multiple items of the same kind. One pair of comfortable sneakers is enough!
    • Don’t overthink your clothing choices – you’ll end up with your entire closet in your suitcase.

    By Aadilah Hallam

    Feature image: Unsplash

    Yes, Bieber fever is still a thing, and the wedding of Hailey & Justin Bieber hasn’t made it go down whatsoever. To say Hailey looked perfect on her wedding day is an absolute understatement. Her glam team pulled out all the stops and we are totally here for it. We break down how to achieve the Hailey Bieber bridal beauty look with a few simple steps.

    Overall, Hailey had a make-up look that just added to her features instead of overpowering one another, and we are obsessed. Make-up artist to the stars, Denika Bedrossian, opted for subtle and natural glam to bring out her best features.

     

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    Natural glowing skin

    Before you can start with foundation and all the added extras, your skin needs to be well cleansed and moisturised. This means cleansing with a gentle cleanser and following it up with a moisturiser with an added hit of hydration. Also, try to go for monthly facials leading up to the wedding to deeply cleanse and promote blood circulation for a healthy, believable glow.

    We recommend: Nuxe Comforting Cleansing Milk R260

    Nude glossy lip

    The glossy nude lip is a staple classic and totally tied the whole make-up look together, making it extremely wearable.

    We recommend: MAC Cremesheen Glass in Deelight R295

    Fluffy brows

    Precisely defined brows are no longer top of the list as natural and fluffy are now the way to go. Hailey’s well-groomed brows were full, yet still subtly defined. Try using a brow setting gel with just a hint of colour to hold the hairs in place.

    We recommend: Benefit 3D Browtones R375

    Fluttery lashes

    Lengthy, fluttery lashes are enviably romantic and utterly flirtatious. Make-up artist Denika used a defining and lengthening mascara to achieve this. Make sure it’s waterproof to ensure those inevitable waterworks don’t ruin your make-up.

    We recommend: Lancome Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara R360

    Subtle eyes

    Neutral was the name of the game with this entire make-up look and using subtle pink shades with brown and warmer undertones most certainly created a softness to the eye and added that romantic glam. There was also no dramatic cat eye, with Denika opting for a non-winged eyeliner to just define the eye less harshly.

    We recommend: Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette R860

    By Yashna Balwanth

    Feature image: Instagram / Denika Bedrossian

    We love celebrity weddings not only for the wow-factor and all-round glamour, but for setting trends that will have us looking back at them years, and sometimes decades, later. This time, we take a look at some of the most iconic veils celebrities wore on their wedding day:

    Grace Kelly

    Grace Kelly was the epitome of elegance in her intricately detailed veil. The veil consisted of a lace headband, covered in layers of sheer tulle with embroidered trims. It was created out of 82.29m of tulle and skimmed the actress’ elbows before dropping down to the floor. The design was covered with appliquéd lace lovebirds and thousands of seed pearls.

     

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    Gwen Stefani

    Gwen Stefani chose the non-traditional route and opted for a floor-length veil dipped in pink dye to match her ombré wedding dress. The ensemble was custom dip-dyed and hand-painted, designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior. The veil also featured rose patches delicately scattered at the top.

     

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    Bianca Jagger

    Bianca Jagger swapped the wedding dress for a white YSL smoking jacket and long skirt. Not one to stick to conventions, the traditional veil was also replaced by a sun hat draped with white tulle and trimmed with rosebuds. It is speculated that this non-traditional veil was to keep all guests’ eyes focused on her face and not her expanding midsection. At the time, she was four months pregnant with her and Jagger’s daughter, Jade.

     

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    Priscilla Presley

    Priscilla Presley’s wedding look was topped off with an extravagant amount of tulle and a crown. The crown was adorned with crystals, while the veil was waist-length and 3 feet long.

     

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    Lady Diana Spencer

    The People’s Princess wore an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown with a 7.62 m train and a 139m tulle veil. The veil was studded with thousands of hand-sewn sequins. The dress and veil combo has become one of the most famous bridal looks in history.

     

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    Priyanka Chopra

    Priyanka wore a Ralph Lauren designed dress that was hand-embroidered and hand-beaded with more than two million mother-of-pearl sequins sewed into it, but it was her veil that truly stole the show. A 22 m veil, that is! Chopra’s veil required assistance from five people to bring to the altar where Nick Jonas was awaiting her.

     

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    Meghan Markle

    The Duchess of Sussex wore an unforgettable Givenchy gown and a 5m veil that featured gorgeous, intricate embroidery. Adding a personal touch, her veil was embroidered specifically with the signature flowers from the British Commonwealth.

     

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    Angelina Jolie

    Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt wanted their children to be heavily involved in their wedding, but Angelina took it to the next level. Colourful drawings created by the couple’s children featured on her wedding dress and veil, making it a truly unique work of art. Her wedding look was designed by Luigi Massi of Atelier Versace.

     

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    By Larissa Vermeulen

    Feature image: Instagram

    You want to look and feel your absolute best on your big day. Here are some good habits to help you get there!

    Go to bed earlier

    The busy-tired-exhausted cycle is one we’re all familiar with. While too many people wear their busyness and lack of sleep like a badge of honour, sleep deprivation has far-reaching harmful effects on our overall health, wellbeing and performance. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to try and get more sleep. Experts reckon adults need between seven and nine hours a night. That may sound like a lot so start small, like going to bed 15 or 30 minutes earlier than you normally do.

    Get a little help

    If you’re one of those burning the candle at both ends, your body and mind will thank and reward you for giving it a bit of help in the form of a supplement, such as folic acid, Vitamin B or Essentiale Extreme.

    Stretch while watching TV

    Surely nobody needs to be told that exercising is good for you. We know this, and what you choose to do with that information is up to you. An easy one is simply to do stretches while enjoying the latest binge-able Netflix series.

    Cut down on sugar

    Cutting sugar out completely is difficult, but the good news is that you only need to cut down your sugar intake. Start with something manageable, such as reducing the amount of sugar you take in your coffee, swapping soda for water (even if it’s only every second time) and opting for dark chocolate over regular milk chocolate.

    Keep healthy snacks on hand

    Quiz almost anybody and they’re likely to say that their biggest healthy eating challenge is when they get hungry and there’s nothing wholesome within reach. It’s easy to reach for a chocolate, a packet of chips or a sugary fizzy drink when the hunger pangs hit and cloud your judgement. Proactively curb the hangriness by keeping snacks like almonds, fruit, biltong or kale crisps in your bag or desk drawer.

    Schedule time for yourself

    Me-time would be great, but I don’t have time! Yes, we hear you but this is where you need to get serious about simply taking the time. Slot your me-time into your calendar as you would with any other appointment. Make it fun by calling it a play date, and use the time (even if it is just 30 minutes a week) to do something that gives you joy, be it reading, listening to music, going for a run, chatting to a friend or doing nothing at all. Regularly taking time for yourself will ultimately make you happier.

    Breathe deeply

    What could be easier than breathing? We’re doing all the time already, but breathing deeper  – and thinking about the action as you do it – has a number of health benefits such as increasing your energy levels, improving posture, reducing inflammation and relaxing both mind and body. So just breathe. And then breathe deeper.

    Picture: Unsplash