Engagement rings stacked with stones are not a new idea, however, incorporating a more clustered design has exploded in popularity.
Ever since Emily Rajakowsi showed off her unique, bold ring, combining stones together in a unique way has become acceptable and even more admired than the standard solitaire.
Clustered rings come in all shapes and designs but are especially great if you want to incorporate coloured stones into your ring, rather than the standard diamonds.
We’ve pulled a few cluster creations to inspire and surprise you.
There are two reasons why people come to a wedding, other than to celebrate eternal love of course. Those two reasons are: Free food and free booze.
Alcohol and food go hand-in-hand in that you want to ensure your guests have lined their stomachs enough before the drinking begins.
There is an art though, to ensure all your guests dietary requirements are met. While you can make exceptions for the mains, the grazing table is a beast of its own.
You have to consider the vegetarians, vegans, carnivores, gluten-free, sugar-free and everything else in between-free.
To kill 6 birds with one table, here are some tips on what to include in the ultimate grazing table, without anything going to waste.
1. Cheese and crackers
No this is not the most boring combination on Earth. Cheese and crackers are the unsung hero of a grazing table. You’ve essentially covered every single dietary requirement except the vegans. Wheels of cheese are not only the thing dreams are made of but they are also super helpful in feeding en mass. Throw in some vegan cheese options, salt and pepper, rye and gluten-free cracker options and voila! A feast is born.
A cheese tower is a must. Picture: Pinterest
2. Fruit that isn’t fermented
Wine is a guarantee on the day but the only grapes on the grazing table should not be fermented. Red grapes pair with literally anything, especially cheese, to add a bit of sweetness. If you want to add more pzaz than the old faithful grapes, consider some aesthetically pleasing fruits that won’t grow warm and overripe. Most berries such as blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries and strawberries look beautiful on a massive table. Seasonal availability will need to be considered. If you’re having a Summer wedding, think mangoes, litchis, watermelon, sliced white nectarines and other stone fruit. The options are endless. It gives the vegans a variety of yummy foods to choose from too.
Fruites galore! Picture: Pinterest
3. Cold meat’s a treat!
Cold meat cuts are generally a crowd pleaser for those who still consume them. Anything Italian or German is sure to go down well. The meat section of your grazing table will pair nicely with the cheese section, so long as it is nowhere near the vegan cheese options. The protein will help to subdue the hunger pangs enough for the long wait that is the post-wedding ceremony photoshoot.
Cold meats for the carnivores. Picture: Pinterest
4. The side pieces
The only side piece one wants at their wedding are those awkward foods that make up a grazing table. Thing gherkins, capers, carrot and cucumber sticks, saucers of olives, baby tomatoes, lemon slices: Those sorts of fruit and veg that aren’t necessarily aesthetically pleasing but can act as a glorified cracker or filling nonetheless.
Those awkward fruit and vegetables that complete the grazing table. Picture: Pinterest
4. It’s all about the SAUCE!
Sauces are essential on a grazing table. While they don’t necessarily need to be their own separate amenity, honey drizzles over some figs, some sweet chili over the chevin, and a patê or 5 will go down very well. They also force guests to pair it with a carb, or glorified cracker, which will help line the stomachs BB (Before Booze).
5. Extra additions
If you want to spoil your guests, throw in a few freshly baked breads sliced to perfection. Bread will load them up with carbs and essentially get your guests to consume more of the toppings, so nothing goes to waste on the day!
It doesn’t have to be beautiful, it has to be delicious! Picture: Pinterest
Celebrities are quick to tie the knot after announcing an engagement. Some very high-profile people, though, took their time to say ‘I do’.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Engagement length: 6 years
Miley and Liam were the epitome of teenage romance, having met on the set of The Last Song. The pair were on and off for a number of years and in 2012, they got engaged. After a few tumultuous years following their engagement, the pair tied the knot in 2018. Sadly the marriage was short lived and Liam filed for divorce less than a year later.
Image credit: Pinterest
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Engagement time: 3 years
The pair got engaged in 2012, after Justin asked Jen to marry him on her 41st birthday. The couple then wed in 2015 in an intimate ceremony. Three years later, in 2018 the couple got divorced for mutual reasons.
Image credit: Pinterest
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Engagement time: 2 years
Brad and Ange were together for seven years before getting engaged in 2012. Brad famously divorced Jen Aniston for Ange, who he co-starred with in Mr and Mrs Smith. The rumour is that he cheated on Jen with Ange but who really knows? Ange and Brad married in 2014 and divorced in 2016. Let this be a lesson on starting a relationship borne in infidelity kids!
Image credit: Pinterest
Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy
Engagement time: 3 years
The Queen Kate Hudson never actually married her finacé Matt Bellamy. The pair were engaged a year after meeting back in 2011 and share a son. After a 3 year engagement, the pair went their own way in 2014.
Image credit: Pinterest
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard
Engagement time: 4 years
The power pair who are Kirsten Bell and Dax Shepard, were engaged for 4 years. In 2010 Dax popped the question but, being the amazing humans they are, they waited until same-sex marriage became legal in California in 2013. They are still going strong today.
If a wedding you were supposed to attend has been cancelled, you can still celebrate from afar. A social distanced celebration is the new norm and these gifts are a thoughtful token.
1. Flowers
Yes it’s generic but a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a bonsai tree or an array of succulents will add a pop of colour to home of the soon-to-be married couple. It will also serve as a daily reminder that you are thinking of them. NetFlorist has ample plants to choose from and they do delivery so you don’t have to.
Granadilla Eats is your one-stop online shop for sustainably sourced food. You can help support a small business and farmer while sending your friends a delicious box of goodies. Chocolate makes everything better and a custom box will help your friends to make peace with their decision to cancel.
Yuppie Chef offers boxes of premium wines that can be delivered to the future Mrs and Mr. It’ll be a delicious addition to their collection and is a really great gift, who doesn’t love wine? They could even keep a bottle aside until their wedding day which can be shared between you and them, making for a special and sentimental moment.
Lots of spas around the country are offering specials on spa treatments, you just need to do some digging. A couples massage would be a dream of a present and allow the couple to really chill out.
This may not be the most original idea but a gift from the couple’s wedding registry is sure to go down well. There is safety in this option as you know that whatever gift you choose, the couple wants it and will be happy.
Scrunchies are a timeless accessory that have been shifted from decade to decade as a must-own item. A scrunchie can be worn as a stand-out hair accessory throughout your bridal party, to add an extra flair to your wedding day.
Barbara’s Scrunchies is a small business owned by Barbara Lephuthing (39) from Dunoon, Cape Town. She hand makes an array of these beautiful hair accessories to help build a better future for her two children.
Her scrunchies can be ordered online and delivered anywhere in South Africa. She has an incredible selection of scrunchies that will add a sense of originality to your final wedding look.
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Visit Barbara’s website here and help support a small, female, BIPOC owned business, where your sale really counts towards making a difference in someone’s life.
The Pont des Arts in Paris is commonly known by it’s other name, the Love Lock Bridge. People from around the world have flocked to this site to immortalise their love for their partner by clipping a padlock on the railing and throwing the key into the Seine river below.
Love lock bridges are not exclusive to Paris but are found around the globe. According to City Wonders, the first love lock bridge was actually in Hungary.
The urban legend of how the concept of love lock bridges started dates back to World War 1. The story goes that a woman who lost her love during the war began placing padlocks on the bridges where they would meet. The locks were symbolic of her unbreakable love.
In Paris, people had been placing padlocks on the Pont des Arts since 2008. Unfortunately though, the weight of all the locks began causing structural damage to the bridge. By 2015, city officials removed all the locks from the bridge to prevent the bridge from collapsing.
Paris has also put an official ban on placing locks on bridges. Of course this hasn’t really stopped people from doing it anyway.
Love her or hate her, Emily Ratajkowski has style. Her chic, seemingly effortless silhouette was echoed on her wedding day in 2018.
True to herself, Ratajkowski wed her man, Sebastian Bear-McClard, in a simple courthouse ceremony. Rather than splashing on luxury, the bride wore Zara (maybe not the most ethical choice). Nevertheless, her $250 mustard yellow suit stole the show.
She took to social media to announce her nuptials. According to Vogue, Ratajkowski wrote “got married today” in an Instagram story. Her and Bear-McClard had only been dating for a few weeks but have known each other for years.
Bear-McClard is in the film industry and works as a writer, director and producer. Some of the films he has worked on include Heaven Knows What and Good Time.
A wedding day is about celebrating the love between two people. It can also be an incredible opportunity to give back. Here are six ways to utilise your wedding day for the greater good.
1. Swap presents for donations
Rather than ringing up an expensive registry, ask guests to donate to a charity of your choice. This action is two-fold. A wedding registry may contain items that are financially unviable for some guests. Rather than unknowingly putting them under financial pressure, a donation allows them to dictate the amount they are able to spend. Whether it’s a local animal welfare organisation or charity, any bit goes a long way. Asking for donations rather than presents is a selfless way of giving back.
An eco-friendly wedding is one way to ensure you give back to Mother Nature. You can opt for a full, off-the-grid wedding or you can incorporate eco-friendly elements. Choose a venue that operates on solar power, that way you know you won’t be burning any unnecessary fossil fuels on your special day. Opt for a cruelty-free caterer, one the works in close proximity to the venue would be ideal. This ensures your wedding has a decreased carbon footprint. Serve vegan alcohol. There are a variety of vegan wines available in South Africa, along with other spirits for when the party get started. For other ways to go green, read here.
3. Before your wedding day, take the bridal party on a charitable outing
Yes the pre-wedding build up is always an eventful time. We aren’t suggesting cancelling your boozy bachelorette or bachelors. Rather, get both the parties involved for a day of doing good. Help out at a soup kitchen, work in a community garden or help out at an animal shelter for one day before the wedding. It’s a brilliant way for everyone to bond and spend some quality time together before the big day.
Rather than handing out thank-you favours at the end of your wedding, send everyone home with a plant. Succulents make for excellent parting gifts. They are so easy to grow and require very little maintenance. These plants are brilliant for the environment because they don’t need that much water to survive. Succulents such as the desert rose, spekboom, jade plant, jelly bean plant, zebra plant, Echeveria ‘Raindrops’ and Aeonium haworthii ‘Tricolor’ are all examples of hassle-free plants.
5. Ensure your vendors source locally and ethically
You’re going to be throwing a lot of money into your wedding day, make sure it lines the pockets of those who really need it rather than a massive corporate that doesn’t really need the sale. By selecting vendors who source locally and ethically, you’ll be helping to build a small business. In South Africa there are so many creative entrepreneurs who are overlooked for the larger companies. Choose your vendors wisely and take some extra time to see what else is out there.
Wedding dresses are very rarely short. However, a handful of celebrities opted for a modern twist for their big day by sporting short gowns to say “I do” in. From Cindy Crawford to Kiera Knightley, take a look at five celebs who kicked traditionalism to the curb.
Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford married Rande Gerber in an off-the-rack Galliano slip. Their wedding was a secret and so Crawford lied to her stylist, saying she was attending a black tie event and needed a dress that was either black or white.
Kiera Knightley
Kiera Knightley stunned in a classic pale pink tulle Chanel dress when she married James Righton in 2014. She re-wore the dress on a number of occasions afterwards – the controversy!
Sharon Tate
Actress Sharon Tate married director Roman Polanski in a short silk wedding gown. She sported puffy shoulders and the dress was a yellowy-orange colour. In 2018, the dress sold for $56 250 in Julien’s Auctions in LA.
Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow married Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas in 1966 and wore a gorgeous short dress for the occasion.
Nancy Shevell
Nancy Shevell sported an above-the-knee white dress for her wedding to Paul McCartney.
Weddings are believed to set the tone for your marriage in some cultures. There are also superstitions that are either a good or bad omen for your marriage. Rain on your wedding day is a good sign. The groom accidentally seeing the bride in her dress, a bad one.
Some may believe in these correlations, but this doesn’t make them fact. Getting hitched in Las Vegas, for instance, may be symbolic of an inevitable failed marriage.
Despite the many, many annulments and divorces that happen after a Sin City wedding – there are a few exceptions to the rule. Here are some of the marriages that have gone the distance in spite of the wedding’s location.
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas
Yes it’s only been a year, but this couple have already outlasted hundreds, if not thousands, of other Vegas marriages.
This must be one of the longest standing celeb marriages to have had their wedding in Vegas. The couple wed in 1996 and are still going strong 24 years later.
