Kirsten Jacobs, Author at Wedding ETC

Double proxy weddings boom amid COVID-19 pandemic

December 18, 2020 No Comments

“I do”, said the bride to her laptop. No, this isn’t a dystopian telling of our future in which robots are our new partners, it’s a reality for many separated by thousands of kilometres amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid the pandemic, some couples forced apart are still going ahead with their wedding day, albeit in a much less traditional format. If you thought Zoom weddings were novel, wait till you hear about double proxy weddings, the hot new trend in 2020.

A proxy wedding or proxy marriage is a wedding in which one or both of the individuals getting married are not physically present for the nuptials, and are represented by other people standing in for them. A double proxy wedding is when both partners are physically absent and two other people stand in for them.

This is legally permissible under certain circumstance in some parts of the world, like if one partner is enrolled in military service, imprisoned or due to travel restrictions. Importantly, this marriage is not legally recognised by most countries as common law requires both parties to be present.

Marriage by proxy was very common among nobility centuries ago. Marie Antoinette married Louis-Auguste by proxy in 1770 and French emperor Napoleon married Archduchess Marie Louise by proxy in 1810. This service became even more popular in the early 1900s in America during the war efforts.

In 2020, it has seen a resurgence thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Times writes of Randy Nuñez and Sasha Nuñez-Carvalho, who married via double proxy in October while he was quarantining in San Diego and she was deployed in the Navy in Europe.

Proxy marriage is legal in the state of Montana and several other American states, all the couple has to do is sign their right-of-attorney over to two stand-ins who them get married for them and sign the marriage licence on their behalf with an officiant present.

The couple who stood in for the Nuñez’s, Chris and April Coen actually specialise in double proxy marriages. For $675 (about R9910), the Coens will stand in for couples wanting to to tie knot. In fact, business has grown by 400% amid the pandemic and by the end of 2020 alone they would have performed about 2500 double proxy marriages.

Picture: Pexels

In Celebs

Keeping up with Kimye: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s love story

December 17, 2020 No Comments

You’ll be hardpressed to find two celebrities better suited for one another than Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. Together, the pair make up one of the most famous couples on the planet.

Kardashian has famously been married three times, and her third has by far been her most successful. Here’s how their love story began.

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Long before Kardashian hit the big time thanks to her reality show, she met rapper Kanye West on set of a Brandy music video back in 2002/3.

“I met him, I think, in 2002 or 2003. He was recording a song with Brandy, and I was her friend. I vividly remember hanging out with him, and then they did a video together, so I’d see him a few times. He was asking his friends, ‘Who is this Kim Kardajan?’ He didn’t know what my name was,” Kardashian recounted during the 10th anniversary special of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

It wasn’t until years later that the pair would grow close. In 2008, the pair were brought back together to work on a pilot for a TV show called Alligator Boots. From here on out, they were good friends and West even appeared on an episode of Kourtney and Kim Take New York in 2010.

Kim would go on to marry basketball player Kris Humphries in 2011, a marriage that would end after a mere 72 days. She may have been able to avoid this fate if she had listened to an anonymous caller who warned her against the marriage.

“I got a phone because somebody decided they wanted to marry Kris Humphries,” Kanye recalled on an episode of Kocktails with Khloé. “I started sending her pictures of, like, certain basketball players that used to be cool that now they wear their pants all the way up to here. Like, ‘This is your future.'”

Luckily for West, the marriage was short-lived and the pair reconnected during a trip to Paris for Fashion Week in 2011.

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In Celebs

The best celebrity weddings of 2020

December 17, 2020 No Comments

2020 has been anything but conventional, but one thing that endured was the power of love. Despite all the changes this year threw at us, many were determined to tie the knot with that special someone.

While they were not to the grand standard we are used to, there were many celebrity couples who tied the knot in 2020. Some were lucky enough to walk down the aisle before the pandemic broke out, while others restructured to celebrate in a more low-key and safe way.

Here are a few of our favourite celebrity weddings for 2020:

Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Nel Peters

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Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Nel Peters kicked off the year with a celebrity wedding to note. From their pre-wedding ‘Welcome to Africa’ cocktail dinner in the Cape winelands to their rehearsal dinner, no expense was spared. The couple’s weekend events are all planned by celebrity planner Zavion Khotze.

The pair married at the La Paris Estate in Franschhoek on January 20, 2020. South African celebrity wedding planner Zavion Khotze organised the day. The former Miss Universe wore an off-the-shoulder cowl-neck dress by Davids Bridal and Tim wore a tuxedo by Antar Levar.

According to PEOPLE, their ceremony lasted 30 minutes and was attended by 260 guests. The couple wrote their own vows.

The wedding blended South African and American wedding traditions, because their cultures are very important to the couple.

Brittany Snow and Tyler Stanaland

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The Pitch Perfect actress said ‘I do’ to longtime beau Tyler Stanaland in an intimate ceremony at Cielo Farms in Malibu, California on March 14.

Snow wore a long-sleeved wedding dress with a low back for her big day. Her hair was pinned back in a low bun and adorned with white flowers. Tyler and his groomsmen donned black tuxedos and Converse shoes.

According to reports, the bride walked down the aisle with her beloved pet pooch Billie by her side. As it rained on the day, the ceremony was moved from the lawn area to a covered terrace.

Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell

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Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell said ‘I do’ on March 25 in a small ceremony at the Australia Zoo where they all live, with no guests in attendance beside her mother and brother. Despite planning their big day for over a year, all their plans had to change amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The wedding was a meaningful moment for her family. Irwin’s mother helped her get ready, her brother walked her down the aisle and they had a special tribute to her father, Steve Irwin.

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

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Almost two months after their planned wedding date, Princess Beatrice and entrepreneur Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi tied the knot in a small, private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor on Friday, July 17.

They had their closest family members in attendance, including her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of York.

For her big day, the Princess wore a stunning vintage dress by Norman Hartnell and accessorised with the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara, both belonging to Her Majesty the Queen. The tiara was worn by Queen Elizabeth on her wedding day in 1947.

She carried a bouquet of trailing jasmine, pale pink and cream sweet peas, royal porcelain ivory spray roses, pink o’hara garden roses, pink wax flower and baby pink astible. Of course, she had a sprig of myrtle in it as well to continue royal tradition.

Lily Allen and David Harbour

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Singer Lily Allen said ‘I do’ to Stranger Things star David Harbour in a secret Las Vegas ceremony on Monday, September 7.

They celebs exchanged vows at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. In true Vegas fashion, they even had an Elvis impersonator officiate the wedding. This wedding location proves popular with celebs, as both Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Ray Cyrus have tied the knot here previously.

The singer went casual with a boat neck double-breasted Dior dress and tulle veil for the nuptials. Harbour wore a simple black suit.

Picture: Instagram / Demi Tebow

In Celebs

Lana Del Rey is reportedly engaged to Clayton Johnson

December 17, 2020 No Comments

It appears Lana Del Rey is ending the year off on a high note. The musician set engagement rumours aflame during her recent performance on Jimmy Fallon’s show.

While performing “Love You Like A Woman” on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Del Rey shocked fans by wearing a massive rock on her ring finger.

y’all see that pic.twitter.com/hlfCrAU4hp

— peyton (@tropicoviolet) December 15, 2020

While reps for Del Rey have not commented, a source confirmed to PEOPLE magazine that the Grammy nominee is engaged to fellow musician Clayton Johnson. The pair reportedly met on a dating app.

The two officially followed each other on Instagram in August, and have since then appeared on social media together. They celebrated Halloween together and wore matching Wizard of Oz costumes, and Del Rey could be seen wearing a ring on her ring finger in pictures from the event.

Picture: Twitter

In Wedding Music

Top streamed wedding songs on Spotify

December 15, 2020 No Comments

Music can make or break an event and with a party as important as your wedding, you better make sure you play the right beats.

Some songs reign supreme in the wedding world, and have done so for decades. According to data from Spotify, these songs are still on the top of the list for couples tying the knot.

Spotify recently exclusively shared with Brides their most streamed songs of 2020 at weddings and wedding-related events.

Of course, classics like “At Last” by Etta James, “Your Song” by Elton John and “Thinking out Loud” by Ed Sheeran made the playlists.

Ed Sheeran topped the list as the most globally streamed artist for weddings and related events in 2020, followed by Bruno Mars and Dan + Shay.

Top 20 Songs From Bachelorette Party-Themed Playlists:

“Wannabe” – Spice Girls
“Jumpin’, Jumpin”– Destiny’s Child
“Truth Hurts”– Lizzo
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
“WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)” – Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion
“Crazy In Love (feat. Jay Z)” – Beyoncé, Jay-Z
“We Can’t Stop” – Miley Cyrus
“Glamorous” – Fergie, Ludacris
“Run the World (Girls)” – Beyoncé
“Any Man of Mine” – Shania Twain
“SexyBack (feat. Timbaland)” – Justin Timberlake, Timbaland
“Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris)” – Lil Jon, Ludacris, Usher
“No Scrubs” – TLC
“Bootylicious” – Destiny’s Child
“Buttons” – The Pussycat Dolls
“Get Low” – Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Ying Yang Twins
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
“Fancy” – Charli XCX, Iggy Azalea
“Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” – Beyoncé

Top Songs From Bachelor Party-Themed Playlists:

“Post Malone (feat. RANI)” – RANI, Sam Feldt
“Shotgun (The Wild Remix)” – George Ezra, The Wild
“Higher Love” – Kygo, Whitney Houston
“Body” – Brando, Loud Luxury
“Wow.” – Post Malone
“South of the Border (feat. Camila Cabello & Cardi B) – Cheat Codes Remix” – Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Cheat Codes, Ed Sheeran
“Ride It – Jonas Blue Remix” – Jonas Blue, Regard
“Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
“SICKO MODE – Skrillex Remix” – Skrillex, Travis Scott
“I Don’t Care (with Justin Bieber) – Loud Luxury Remix” – Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Loud Luxury
“Insomnia – King Arthur Remix” – Daya, King Arthur
“High Hopes – Don Diablo Remix” – Don Diablo, Panic! At The Disco
“SOS (feat. Aloe Blacc)” – Aloe Blacc, Avicii
“The Rhythm of the Night” – Corona, Sean Finn
“Better Now” – Post Malone
“Ni**as In Paris” – JAY-Z, Kanye West
“Low (feat. T-Pain)” – Low (feat. T-Pain)
“Old Town Road – Diplo Remix” – Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, Lil Nas X
“Sweet but Psycho – Morgan Page Dance Remix” – Ava Max, Morgan Page
“Everytime We Touch – Radio Edit” – Cascada

Top 20 Most Streamed Songs in Father & Daughter-Themed Playlists:

“Father and Daughter” – Paul Simon
“I Loved Her First” – Heartland
“You Are My Sunshine” – Johnny Cash
“Wildflowers” – Tom Petty
“My Little Girl” – Tim McGraw
“Sweet Pea” – Amos Lee
“Daughters” – John Mayer
“First Man” – Camila Cabello
“My Wish” – Rascal Flatts
“Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac
“Butterfly Kisses” – Bob Carlisle
“Don’t Blink” – Kenny Chesney
“It Won’t Be Like This For Long” – Darius Rucker
“Fathers and Daughters” – Kristin Chenoweth
“You’ll Be In My Heart” – Phil Collins
“Daddy’s Little Girl” – Michael Bolton
“The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra
“Daddy Dance with Me” – Krystal Keith
“Lights” – Journey
“God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton

Top 20 Most Streamed Songs in First Dance-Themed Playlists:

“Conversations in the Dark” – John Legend
“You Are the Best Thing” – Ray LaMontagne
“Yours – Wedding Edition” – Russell Dickerson
“Beyond” – Leon Bridges
“At Last” – Etta James
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Haley Reinhart
“Marry Me” – Train
“How Would You Feel (Paean)” – Ed Sheeran
“Thinking out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
“Greatest Love Story” – LANCO
“How Long Will I Love You – Bonus Track” –Ellie Goulding
“From the Ground Up” –Dan + Shay
“Speechless” –Dan + Shay
“Perfect” –Ed Sheeran
“I Won’t Give Up” –Jason Mraz
“Everything” –Michael Bublé
“Say You Won’t Let Go” –James Arthur
“Then” –Brad Paisley
“I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice
“Your Song” – Elton John

Picture: Unsplash

In Weddings

Amazing wedding customs from around the world

December 14, 2020 No Comments

Love may be the same in any language, but these wedding customs at home and across the globe are refreshingly novel.

No matter where in the world you are from, marriage ceremonies usually consist of a standard set of procedures. There’s a couple deeply in love, an officiant who’s seen his fair share of doe-eyed lovers, a congregation eagerly anticipating the feast to come, and a celebration of some sort. But the similarities often stop there.

Here are four unique traditions from Asia to Europe.

INDIA – Joota Chupai

According to South-Asian custom, the groom is required to remove his shoes, called joota, during the ceremony. The bride’s single female relatives will attempt to steal the groom’s shoes and the groom’s family must then thwart their efforts. If the bride’s relatives are successful, the groom must negotiate payment for his shoes to be returned. The tradition is seen as a means of uniting families in a fun way.

JAPAN – San-san-kudo

In a ritual integral to traditional Japanese weddings, the bride and groom are presented with three stacked cups in which sake, a Japanese rice wine, is poured. Both must drink from each cup three times, hence the ritual’s name, translated into English as ‘three-three-nine-times’. The three sips represent three couples – the bride and groom, the bride’s parents and the groom’s parents – and many believe the ritual strengthens bonds between the two families.

PERU – Cintas de torta

Roughly translated from Spanish as ‘cake ribbons’, cintas de torta is the South American variation on the bouquet-throwing custom. When the cake is made, ribbons are placed beneath it or between its layers with one of them attached to an inexpensive ring. Before the cake is cut by the couple, the single females in attendance gather around and choose a ribbon to pull. The one to pull the ring is next in line to be engaged.

ITALY – Confetti

No coloured paper here. In Italian, the word ‘confetti’ denotes sugar-coated or Jordan almonds, which are given to guests during the reception, often in bags made from tulle. The bags usually contain five almonds as this number is not divisible by two (and marriage is a union between two people). The combination of bitter nut and sugar coating represents the bittersweet nature of marriage and life. This tradition is also kept alive in Greece.

Picture: Pexels

In Advice

What to do if you can’t sleep in the days before your wedding

December 14, 2020 No Comments

Weddings are exciting, but they can also be super stressful. Brides are often so wrapped in the planning and details of their big day that they forget to take care of the most important detail, their health – and more specifically, their sleep.

Sleep deprivation can trigger anxiety and stress, making it difficult for you to feel your best on your wedding day, as well as the weeks and months leading up to it. Preparing for your wedding is a joyous time, and you should enjoy it well-rested.

Of course, stress itself also contributes to difficulties with sleep. You may find yourself lying in bed, thinking about what you need to do next, worrying about vendors and so much more. It’s important to let these anxieties go so that you can get the rest you need to function at your best.

Try these tips and tricks to reduce stress and get a better night’s sleep, especially on the eve of your big day.

Ask for help

Staying up late working on decorations can seriously cut into sleep time. Instead of trying to take it all on by yourself, get help. Ask your bridesmaids, family and friends to come over and work on wedding craft projects to take some of the load off.

Pass off duties that other people can handle. Ask your fiance to arrange the tuxes and take on some of the planning. Letting go of some duties may be difficult (we know you want to be in control), but it will also reduce your own workload.

Keep a journal for your thoughts

If you’re plagued by stressful thoughts and lots of what-ifs when you’re trying to get to sleep at night, consider keeping a journal by your bed. You can write down any thoughts that pop into your head. This process allows you to let them go so you can go to sleep knowing you’ll have that reference to take care of it in the morning, without having to remember it yourself.

Practice meditation and mindfulness

Relaxation techniques are one of the best ways to help you calm down and drift off to sleep at night. Consider mindful deep breathing and meditation. Take a warm bath, practice yoga, or try any other relaxation technique you know works for you.

Talk it out

If you’re feeling anxious or stressed about your wedding, or anything else, reach out. Therapy can be helpful, but even just calling up a friend to chat and vent will make a huge difference. Lean on your fiance and talk through what’s stressing you out. You will feel better just having laid out any issues that are causing you stress.

Try aromatherapy

Aromatherapy can make your sleep environment more relaxing and healthy. Consider using essential oils aimed at relaxation, like lavender.

Maintain healthy sleep hygiene

Create a comfortable, healthy sleep environment. If you need to buy a new mattress or blackout curtains to help, both are great investments in your health. Also avoid caffeine, heavy exercise and large meals right before bed. Maintain a regular sleep schedule and keep a consistent bed time to encourage you to sleep more easily.

Picture: Pexels

In Announcements

Mans proposal to sleeping partner grips the internet

December 14, 2020 No Comments

Being proposed to is a special moment and for some, may feel like a dream come true. Well, it seems one man took this saying quite literally and decided to propose to his sleeping partner. After sharing the moment on Facebook, social media users across the world were obsessed with finding out the outcome.

On December 9, Facebook user Michael Mayorga dedicated a post to his partner, Jamilah Williams. It wasn’t any old Facebook post, however, it was THE Facebook post to propose to her.

“It’s 5:00AM. for weeks now I been planning on how to pop the question…. you know all my moves and you are one very hard woman to surprise but the jokes on you because now you’re going to wake up with 3 surprises… a phone full of congratulations notifications and text, an engagement ring on your finger and a picture of you sleeping that you don’t want all over the internet . SURPRISE!!! I’ll let y’all know the verdict when she wakes up,” he wrote alongside a picture of the pair in bed, in which he holds up an engagement ring.

This proposal had Facebook friends and strangers obsessed and desperately waiting to find out if she accepted this creative proposal.

“I have questions!! Wait, is she up yet? Did she say yes? Did he get his ass beat for posting this picture! I need answers please!” wrote one user.

“The fact I’ve checked her page like 4 times to see if she woke up yet and I never met this lady a day in my life lol. Let us know how you feel Jamilah!!!” added another.

Luckily Jamilah said yeas. In a Facebook post of her own, she gushed about her “amazing” partner.

Picture: Facebook

In Advice

Creative ways to incorporate technology into your wedding

December 11, 2020 No Comments

Looking to have a trendy vibe and capture some beautiful memories at your wedding? Incorporating technology into your wedding is sure to make it a unique experience that you will be able to look back on and cherish forever.

Here are five easy ideas that are worth the extra cost.

1. GO-PRO CAM

Go-Pro cameras are a big trend at the moment and are intended to be used in creative ways. If you want to get some interesting videography or photographs, you can attach a Go-Pro to your flower bouquet to capture some hidden moments, or strap it your dog’s collar and let them wander around to all of your guests. You’ll be able to look back and laugh at some incredible moments you wouldn’t have captured otherwise.

2. SELFIE STATION

Instead of a simple photo booth, set up a selfie stand kitted out with a themed background, selfie sticks, phone chargers and props that your guests can use to take pictures they will cherish. You can also include a personalised hashtag to use in social media posts, making it easier to get all the wonderful photographs together.

3. LIVE STREAMING

If you have guests who are unable to attend the big day, an option is to live stream the event on social media or on a website where your loved ones can watch at home or wherever they are. This way they won’t miss out on any of the incredible moments at your wedding.

4. DRONE FOOTAGE

Drones are able to cover a wide range, which is what makes them so suitable for big events. However, they also work well to add a creative aspect to small spaces. You’ll be able to get up close to your guests and catch them all having a great time on the dancefloor from afar. This works well with a Go-Pro.

5. SATTELITE BAR

Want to impress your guests? Get a portable and automatic cocktail machine to serve a signature cocktail at your wedding. The robotic machine can be programmed to make a specific drink, and then serve it to your guests. This will be in addition to your cash-bar for other drinks.

Picture: Unsplash

In Engagements

Woman takes boyfriend to court for not marrying her after 8 years

December 11, 2020 No Comments

Waiting a long time to get married can feel almost criminal. Clearly, one woman took this quite seriously and allegedly decided to take her man to court for failing to take the next step and get married after eight years together.

According to Kenyan news site Tuko, a Zambian woman named Gertrude Ngoma (26) grew tired of waiting for her longterm boyfriend and father of her child, Herbert Salaliki (28), to say ‘I do’. Despite a dowry being paid, the pair have never lived together and no wedding is on the horizon.

She took matters into her own hands and took him to court for wasting her time. During the court case, Ngoma alleged that Salalili had promised to marry her but never followed up. In fact, she had caught him texting another woman.

“He has never been serious, that is why I [brought] him to court, because I deserve to know the way forward and our future,” Ngoma told a Zambian court.

According to Salaliki, he cannot financially afford a wedding and that is why he has not proposed. He also added that Ngoma does not give him sufficient attention in their relationship.

Zambian news site Mwebantu reports that the judge, Evelyn Nalwize, said she cannot do anything as there is no formal marriage. However, she advised Ngoma to sue for breach of marriage contract.

Picture: Pexels