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Kirsten Jacobs

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Wedding favours are a sweet way to show your guests your appreciation for sharing in your special day. While not essential, it is a nice touch to give your guests an exciting send-off.

Anyone who has planned a wedding before knows how expensive it can be. Things add up quickly and unexpected costs can crop up at any minute, so it’s best to be financially savvy where you can be.

If you’re working with a tight budget, fear not. There are tons of affordable wedding favour options to incorporate into your big day. Some of them are easily DIYable, which means you save on labour too.

From seedlings to tea, hangover kits made of mini bottles of water and painkillers, to DIY tic tac toe, you can make a wedding favour out of pretty much any common household item.

Here are some ideas that won’t break the bank:

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South Africa is lucky to have thousands of artisans and brands creating unique products for our everyday lives. From fashion and jewellery to makeup, you can find anything you need from a South African creator.

While the big brands are familiar, why not support a local business instead? Here are a few of our favourite local beauty brands offering incredible products to enhance your bridal look.

Swiitch Beauty

 

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@ismaeelbagus’s swiitch stuff ✨?

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Rabia Ghoor is the mastermind behind Swiitch Beauty, a South African beauty brand born out of the internet. From blush palettes to brow gel, their products are designed to enhance natural beauty. They’re also incredibly affordable and aesthetically pleasing to boot.

Chick Cosmetics

 

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what shade is calling your name? ? take a trip with us?✨?

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Chick Cosmetics, founded by Nomfundo Njibe, is all about cruelty-free ingredients, ethical marketing and sustainable practices. From makeup to skincare and beauty brushes, this is your one-stop shop to complete your bridal look.

Sorbet

 

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Sorbet is famed for its beauty salons, and they now offer makeup products. The nationwide beauty therapy hub with over 200 stores countrywide produces makeup and skincare, as well as body products to treat yourself like the queen you are.

Constance Beauty

 

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Formally known as Connie Transform, this beauty brand was created by Connie Bhebhe after being as tired of being unable to find lipstick shades to compliment her skin tone.  Her products specifically cater to women of colour, and are also vegan and cruelty free.

Lulu and Marula

 

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Lulu and Marula is a natural, ethically produced cruelty-free skin and body care collection developed in Cape Town by Jesslynn Shepherd. It focuses on clean, simple and sustainable ingredients that are free from artificial colours, fragrances, parabens, petrochemicals, synthetics or other harmful ingredients.

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A British couple now shares a rather unusual surname. After tying the knot in a pre-second lockdown wedding, the pair now go by Mr and Mrs White-Christmas.

Tilly Christmas and Kieran White met as children and got married on Tuesday [November 3] at the Roman Baths in Bath, just before England began its second lockdown.

Christmas already has a unique surname and decided to keep it after marriage. However, combining her surname with her husband’s surname was an offer she could not refuse.

“I wanted to keep the name going. It just so happens the man I am marrying has the perfect surname to go with it,” she told the BBC.

The pair first realised their surnames came together as the festive White-Christmas at their secondary school prom when their friend uploaded pictures to social media using #WhiteChristmas.

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Nevada voters have overturned an 18-year old amendment and became the first American state to officially remove a ban on same-sex marriage from its state constitution.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling same-sex marriage legal in every state across the country in 2015, an inactive ban from a 2002 amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman remained. Nevada was one of 30 states to pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

During Tuesday’s [November 3] election, state residents voted in support of the “Marriage Regardless of Gender Amendment” to have the inactive ban removed from the constitution. According to Nevada secretary of state, about 62% were in favour while 38% of residents voted against the amendment. Now, marriage will be defined as between couples, regardless of gender, although religious organisations and clergypersons will still retain the right to refuse to solemnise a marriage.

“This overwhelming majority should be a reminder that LGBTQ equality is not just the right thing to do, it is exactly what Nevadans want,” said Briana Escamilla, Human Rights Campaign’s Nevada director.

“It’s the fix we need to make here,” André Wade, head of Silver State Equality, told KTNV-TV. “We have discriminatory language in the constitution, and we need to take it out. We know Nevadans value equality, and we want our constitution to mirror that.”

Concerns of a conservative majority on the Supreme Court have increased following the appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Removing the same-sex ban thus acts as a way for residents to offer some form of protection for same-sex couples, regardless of any future federal moves in the Supreme Court.

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Tradition dictates that only the bride can wear white on her big day. Well, it’s 2020 and rules are meant to be broken!

The tradition of brides wearing white began with Queen Victoria back in 1840, and has been an accepted and essential part of weddings ever since. However, many brides are skipping tradition and creating memorable weddings following their own tastes on desires. Some opt to not even wear white.

Why not take it one step further and have your bridal party dress in white too?  The key to pulling off this trend is contrast. Even though everyone is wearing white, guests should immediately be able to tell who the bride is. Keep enough difference between your dress and your bridesmaid dresses so that the roles are clear.

Here are some beautiful bridal parties wearing white and making a statement.

 

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Talk about an out-of-this-world proposal! This couple got engaged while on a ZERO-G space simulation flight.

Xavier Andrews popped the question to his girlfriend Shanté Cosme aboard the ZERO-G in a modified Boeing 727-200, a commercial way to experience what it’s like to be in space without actually going there.

Speaking to Brides, Andres explained that he wanted to do something special for the proposal.

“We’re an adventurous couple,” he said“We’ve been to 12 countries together and have done everything from exploring the caves of Railay Beach, Thailand to snowmobiling the Vatnajökull glaciers of Iceland—so it felt right.”

The incredible images, captured by photographer Steve Boxall, shows the couple floating as if on Cloud 9 as the proposal takes place.

Cosme was suspicious of her partner and had already sussed out that a proposal was near.

“When we got to the Blade lounge in NYC and I realized we’d be taking a helicopter to the airport, I thought, ‘This would be a really cool way to propose,’” she told Brides. “People kept pulling him aside and he assured me he was just handling the bill, but I knew something was up.”

While enjoying the experience, Andrews pulled out the ring, which was fastened to him by string to keep it from floating away.

Cosme immediately burst into tears at the sight of the ring and accepted the proposal before Andrews even officially asked.

 

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Congrats to the happy couple!

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While many brides want to be different on their special day, your hair is not something you need to be unique.

There is no need to go crazy with a wedding hairstyle. In 20 years time, you don’t want to look back at your wedding pictures and hate your hairstyle. Sometimes, a classic look is best.

Soft flowing waves or a chic chignon are popular for a reason. They are eternally glamorous styles that have been in fashion for decades.

Whether you want your hair up or down, a simple hairstyle can quickly be elevated by adding a fun hair accessory. From a flower crown to jewel-encrusted clips, choose a look that goes with the overall vibe you have in mind. This way, you have the classic look with a little something for added personality.

Take some inspiration from these brides.

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South African celebrity couple Moshe Ndiki and Phelo Bala shocked fans when they recently announced they secretly tied the knot a year ago. The pair have just shared another never-before-seen look into their special day.

Ndiki and Bala said ‘I do’ on October 31, 2019, in a secret ceremony.  In an Instagram post, Moshe shared their anniversary news and a collage of images from their time together, captioning the post: “Happy 1 year Wedding anniversary to us♥️ “What God Has Put Together Let No Man Put Asunder” Matthew 19:6Happy One year wedding anniversary my love, always has been you, always will be you.”

In another video recently shared, Ndiki posted a clip from their actual wedding day. Surrounded by family and friends, the pair lovingly say their vows to one another.

“I promise to love you in this life and the next (lifetime),” Ndiki says in the clip.

“The kind of love I have for you is the Godly love…it’s unwavering…baby I love you…I really love you,” Bala expresses. “I love you today, I love you tomorrow and we’re still going to go through things and I will still love you then.

 

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I still get those butterflies , crazy after all this time…

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The secretive couple have been together on and off since 2010 and got engaged in September 2019 when Bala went down on one knee. Two months later, unknown to the general public, they tied the knot.

Since then, they have had a whirlwind few months. In June, reports emerged that Ndiki had allegedly assaulted Bala with a candle stand, leading Bala to obtain an interim court order against Ndiki.

In a statement, Ndiki denied the rumours and later filed a counter case, claiming that Bala had been abusive towards him on numerous occasions.

Picture: Instagram / Phelo Bala

When crafting a wedding look, many brides keep their culture close to their heart. For Muslim women who choose to wear a hijab in everyday life, it seems natural to wear one on their big day too.

A hijab is a headscarf worn by Muslim women. It covers the hair, neck and upper chest in accordance with Islamic tradition. Wearing a hijab is not compulsory, which is why it is a choice for women to wear one from puberty onwards.

Those who do choose to wear one do so stylishly. Many work it into their personal style, and your wedding look should be no different. Customise your bridal look by using the detail on your dress to adorn your hijab. From lace to beads and pearls to tulle, anything goes.

Here are some wonderful hijabi brides to inspire you:

 

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Etsy has announced the winners of its second Etsy Design Awards, and a wedding dress has made it on their list of favourites.

The Etsies is a global design competition in which people from around the world can submit their creations for categories from home and art to fashion, kids and pets.

Winners of the Etsies are chosen with the help of two star judges. This year, actress Drew Barrymore and NBC’s Making It judge and Etsy Trend Expert, Dayna Isom Johnson were part of the panel.

The competition has 12 categories, including a wedding category. This year, Lithuania-based designer Inge Stalyte took home top honours for her celestial-inspired wedding dress.

The tulle gown is adorned with silver and gold stars, and features a cascading cape.

 

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“Inge Stalyte’s intricate, celestial bridal gown is full of sparkling silver and gold sequin stars, carefully sewn into satin and tulle. Her collection of free-spirited, bespoke bridal pieces are completely made-to-measure, with a focus on comfort and inclusive sizing,” Etsy explains.

Picture: Instagram / Etsy