• Author

    Kirsten Jacobs

    Browsing

    Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi suspended a number of services, including the solemnisation and registration of marriages until further notice. This comes as South Africa continues its second round of lockdown Level 3, as well as a second wave of COVID-19 infections worse than the first.

    In a statement on Tuesday [January 12], the Minister explained that Home Affairs will now only offer priority services, as the crowds that gather daily outside the offices are a massive concern.

    “At the beginning of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, certain Home Affairs services were suspended in order to reduce the number of people who visited our offices. This was to limit the risk of their infecting each other and the staff because social distancing is difficult when you have a large crowd,” he said.

    “As the lockdown levels were relaxed, we incrementally reinstated services until 01 October 2020 when we went into lockdown Alert Level 1. This is when almost all services were reinstated. Unfortunately, the impact of what we did on 01 October had the effect of taking us back to pre-COVID-19 days where huge crowds gathered at our offices while not observing any of the protocols, especially social distancing.”

    Out of their 412 offices, 266 had to close at some point since the beginning of the lockdown in March 2020 because of staff members testing positive for COVID-19. Hundreds of employees have tested positive for the virus and in the first 10 days of this year alone, they have already lost seven front office employees.

    “These trends and numbers are going upwards, suggesting there’s going to be an even greater demand for death certificates. Taking all these factors into consideration, the Department of Home Affairs has decided to temporarily suspend certain activities and services until further notice. This is unfortunate but we are forced by circumstances,” added the Minister.

    The following services have been suspended until further notice:

    – Applications of Smart ID Cards, except for matriculants

    – Applications for passports, except for people who fall in the categories permitted to travel in the amended Disaster Management Act Regulations

    – Marriage services such as solemnisation and registration.

    Picture: Pexels

    Is a conventional diamond too boring for you? If you enjoy the darker things in life, a gothic-inspired engagement ring may be perfect for you.

    You don’t have to go crazy to incorporate this theme. Swop out your normal diamond for a black or salt-and-pepper one, or opt for a black platinum band for a unique look. If you want to go even bolder, you could have skulls built into your ring to hold up your diamond.

    Here are some unique looks to inspire you:

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by ???? ♓️? (@crystal.module)

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Jessica Rodriguez (@jess_rote)

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by @edgineventco

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Bloody Mary Metal (@bloodymarymetal)

    Picture: Pinterest

    Celebs, they’re just like us. You would think being rich and famous would make dating slightly easier, but some still need some extra help.

    Luckily, they’ve got great friends to play matchmaker. Here are some celebrity couples who came to be thanks to their cunning pals.

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle:

    This modern-day fairytale is all thanks to a mutual friend, although their identity has no officially been confirmed.

    “It was definitely a set-up. It was a blind date,” Meghan has previously said of their first encounter. “I didn’t know much about him and so the only thing I had asked her when she said she wanted to set us up was, I had one question, I said ‘Is he nice?'”

    Source: Pinterest

    Emily Blunt and John Krasinski

    This much-loved couple were introduced to each other by fellow actor Anne Hathaway, who Blunt worked with on The Devil Wears Prada.

    “It was one of those things where I wasn’t really looking for a relationship and I was thinking I’m going to take my time in L.A,” Krasinski explained during an interview with Ellen Degeneres. “Then I met her and I was so nervous. I was like, ‘Oh god, I think I’m going to fall in love with her.’ As I shook her hand I went, ‘I like you.'”

    Source: Pinterest

    Benji Madden and Cameron Diaz

    We can thank Nicole Richie for this couple. The actress and reality star, who is married to Benji’s brother Joel, The reality star, who is married to Madden’s brother, Joel, took credit for playing cupid for the couple.

    “I approve of anything that’s going to make Benji happy,” she said during an interview on Watch What Happens Live. “I’m going to take responsibility for everything!”

    Source: Pinterest

    Giselle Bunchen and Tom Brady

    The original supermodel and sports star couple met through a matchmaking mutual friend.

    “This friend told me he knew a girl version of me,” the NFL player said in an interview.

    “I knew Tom was the one straightaway. I could see it in his eyes that he was a man with integrity who believes in the same things I do,” Gisele told Vogue.

    Source: Pinterest

    Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara

    This pair were introduced to each other at a party by Vergara’s Modern Family co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Taking it a step further, he even gave Manganiello Vergara’s phone number to make sure they kept in contact.

    Source: Pinterest

    Picture: Instagram / Sussex Royal

    For over a decade, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have been one of the most prominent and powerful couples in Hollywood. Here’s how the pair fell in love.

    DeGeneres and De Rossi met at a party back in 2000, and De Rossi told Oprah she fell in love instantaneously. However, at the time she had not come out as gay, so she could not express her feelings.

    Three years later in 2004, they reconnected at VH1’s Big in ’04 Awards. At the time, DeGeneres was in a long-term relationship with photographer Alexandra Hedison and De Rossi was dating director Francesca Gregorini.  However, their connection was undeniable and the pair ended their individual relationships to be together.

    “She had a girlfriend and I had a girlfriend, but it wasn’t like, ‘Oh, we’re going to have an affair,’” DeGeneres explained to People Magazine. “We were just supposed to be together. It was a tough decision. I was physically getting sick because I was trying not to say anything. So I told Alex and she told Francesca. It was really hard to uproot everything.”

    They went public as a couple in 2005 at the HBO Golden Globe Awards After Party. They soon moved in together.

    Speaking to People Magazine, De Rossi said: “It’s the first time that I’ve known in every cell of my being that I’m with somebody for the rest of my life.”

    DeGeneres and De Rossi married on August 16, 2008, soon after same-sex marriage was legalised in California. They said ‘I do’ at their Los Angeles home with only 19 guests present. Both brides wore Zac Posen outfits for the big day. Late philosopher and self-help guru Wayne Dyer officiated the ceremony.

    “Today we have taken a giant step forward toward the ideal that all of us, with no exceptions, are not only created equal, but we each have the unalienable right to pursue our own happiness,” he said during the ceremony.

    “I have often said that true nobility is not about being better than anyone else, it’s about being better than you used to be. With your exchange of vows today, you symbolize for many who have gone before you, who were forced to live their lives in quiet desperation, lurking in the shadows, that we as a people, are truly becoming better than we used to be.”

    Picture: Instagram / Portia de Rossi

    After the stress of wedding planning, a honeymoon away with your loved one sounds like the perfect remedy. Unfortunately, that requires even more planning.

    Travel agents are experts in their field and can turn a getaway into a trip of a lifetime. If you’re still on the fence of deciding on doing it yourself or relinquishing control, here are some pros and cons to help you make your decision:

    The Pros:

    It’s literally their job to create perfect trips

    Travel agents are seasoned professionals at planning trips, and consider every aspect. If you’re a newbie to travelling, there may be some things you don’t even think about that could have a huge impact on your getaway.

    They also tend to know a lot more about certain destinations and properties and can recommend restaurants, clubs and sightseeing spots off the beaten track.

    They can get deals and discounts not available to the public:

    With all their connections in the industry, travel agents are more likely to get discounted rates for hotel stays and experiences. It can sometimes even be slightly more affordable to book a package through them than to book it all separately by yourself.

    It saves you time, effort and stress:

    Outsourcing a responsibility allows you to focus your energy on something else, which is especially helpful for couples planning a wedding at the same time. All you need to do is pack your bags and hop on your flight to your dream destination.

    The cons:

    It’s another expense

    While travel agents are typically not costly, planning a wedding is already expensive enough and adding another vendor to your list might not be in your budget. If you don’t have the wiggle room or would rather save your money to use on your honeymoon itself, then hiring a travel agent may not be the best idea.

    It can be hard to find the right one:

    Like with anything in life, you want the right person to handle your business. Travel agents are not all made equal, and some may push you into more costly experiences or not tailor your trip to your personality but instead on what they enjoy.

    Picture: Unsplash

    Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the bathrobe has become the ultimate fashion statement. Comfy and cosy, it’s easy to see why people would want to wear it everywhere. One place you wouldn’t expect to see a robe, however, is at a wedding.

    Ever the trendsetter, musician Harry Styles donned a bathrobe to the wedding of his agent Jeff Azoff in Montecito, California on January 4. He started the day off with a formal black suit but changed into the bathrobe to pose for pictures with the newlyweds.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by ??ℯ?ℯ ❥︎ (@kindstyless)

    This weekend also confirmed that Styles is dating actor Olivia Wilde, who is also directing the film Don’t Worry Darling which he is currently starring in.

    Picture: Instagram.

    As the COVID-19 pandemic contonies, wedding vendors are looking for easier ways to continue hosting events in a safer way. One easy way is to eliminate crowding and contact.

    Throw the cake out of the window and opt for individually-sized desserts. These single portions are easier to serve and reduce the need for multiple hands to touch a knife in order to cut a cake, which is perfect in these times.

    These individual cakes ar essentially cupcakes, except they are not served in cupcake holders and replicate the look of a full cake. No need to skip your original wedding cake vision, you can still stick with the colours and style although on a smaller scale.

    Here are some sweet treats your guests will love:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Bakers Man Inc. (@bakersmaninc)

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Autumn (@autumncakedesign)

    Picture: Pexels

    Pink and hubby Carey Hart are celebrating a milestone 15 years of marriage. To mark the occasion, the musician took to social media to share a gallery of images of their love over the years.

    “15 years. Proud of us babe. See, sometimes being stubborn pays off. What a wild ride it’s been, once we learned how to stay in our race line. Here’s to at least the next 15 months hahahAh. I love you and I love our family,” the singer wrote on Instagram.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by P!NK (@pink)

    Hart shared a video of his wife dancing on a yacht, captioning it “15 years w/ this amazing woman! Damn, baby!!!!! There is no other woman that I would want to go through this crazy world with than you. Thanks for being a great friend, wife, mother, and person. Throw your ?? in the air.”

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Carey Hart (@hartluck)

    Pink, (real name Alecia Beth Moore) met former professional motocross rider and current off-road truck racer Carey Hart at an extreme sports event in 2001. He was a contestant and piqued her interest.

    The non-traditional rockstar honoured her ‘rebel’ persona by proposing to Hart during a motocross competition in 2005.

    She painted a sign saying “Will you marry me?” and showed it to him on the course during the race. When he didn’t respond, she added “Serious!” at the bottom and showed it to him again. Of course, he said yes!

    They tied the knot in 2006 at the luxurious Four Seasons resort in Costa Rica. The Walk me home singer wore a tiered halter neck with a black bow belt and headband.

    The couple has a daughter, Willow Sage, and a son, Jameson Moon.

    Picture: Instagram / P!nk

    A large diamond is stunning, but it is also costly. If you want the look without the price tag, why not consider composite diamonds?

    A composite diamond is made of of many small diamonds placed together to create the appearance of one large diamond. Thanks to its setting, they often offer the same glitz and glam of a large single stone at a much cheaper cost.

    Since they are made of an array of smaller stones, composite diamonds are much more affordable than one large diamond. You also do not have to be concerned with the four Cs when purchasing these diamonds, since they are quite small so lower grade stones will work perfectly. They also allow for much more intricate detail.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Mannatt Jems™ (@mannattjems)

    However, composite diamonds may become costly in time due to maintenance and repairs. If a stone dislodges and goes missing, it may be a struggle to find another one of the appropriate size to replace it. Replacing stones is even more difficult with an invisible setting, as they can only be replaced with notched diamonds, which are not kept in bulk at diamond wholesalers so they may need to be ordered externally.

    When shopping for a composite diamond ring, make sure to speak to your jeweller about possible future repair costs so that you know what to expect.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Zales (@zalesjewelers)


    Picture: Unsplash

    Your first dance as a married couple is a special moment, and you need to the perfect soundtrack. Music is highly personal, and the songs that are chosen to play at a wedding often speak to the unique couple.

    There is a large amount of popular music that is gender-specific. For a couple not into pronouns, this may not be the right fit. Luckily, there are also just as many gender-neutral songs about love that will sum up your relationship.

    Here are a few of our favourites:

    – “Love Me Like You Do,” by Ellie Goulding

    – “At Last,” by Etta James

    – “Butterflies,” by Kacey Musgraves

    – “I’m Yours,” by Jason Mraz

    – “Lucky” by Chelsea Cutler

    – “Come Away With Me,” by Norah Jones

    – “Thinking Out Loud,” by Ed Sheeran

    – “Love on Top,” by Beyoncé

    – “Let’s Stay Together,” by Al Green

    – “I Like Me Better,” by Lauv

    Picture: Pexels