Kirsten Jacobs, Author at Wedding ETC

In Advice

Tips for planning a DIY wine tasting for your bridal shower

October 26, 2020 No Comments

Wine tasting is basically a national sport in South Africa. With award-winning wineries found across the country, wine not take advantage and spend the day sipping away?

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people are advised to stay home as much as possible. However, if you still really want to host a bridal shower then you can bring it to the safety of your home. Create a DIY wine tasting experience for your closest friends with these easy steps.

Create (and stick to) a Guest List

This may seem like an obvious first step when planning an event, but there is always someone who doesn’t RSVP and shows up anyway. Gently remind everyone you invite that you need a definite yes or no answer. The last thing you want is thirsty friends and not enough wine and glassware to go around.

“Extra” is Just Enough

Wine is an inherently fun theme for a bachelorette party or bridal shower, but why not make your event as Insta-worthy as possible? Create a fun bar or bar cart, deck your tables out with florals or tossed confetti, or incorporate fun signage to make your venue really pop! You can also have fun with your food. Cheese and crackers always pair well with wine but offer your guests something sweet as well as a macaron tower or petit fours.

Pick Your Poison

It may be best to stick to a specific type of drink on the day. Mixing alcohol can be dangerous, so avoid sipping on gins to wine to beer in one sitting. Once you decide the type of alcohol you want to serve, it’s time to choose the different brands. Choosing four to six different brands is just the right amount to have enough variety and keep your guests sipping pretty.

Since you don’t have to fill up the glasses completely, an average 750ML or 25.4oz wine bottle is enough for about eight people. We recommend having an extra bottle of each wine for every eight attendants, so if someone wants a refill of their favourites after the tasting is over, it is readily available. Plus, once a favourite is chosen, you’ll want to have enough of that wine for a toast!

Winner, winner

Help identify the winning bottle by setting up a wine scorecard. This allows your guests to track their notes and assign numerical values to each wine. Lastly, don’t forget enough pens (to write with, duh) and water (to cleanse the palette) for each attendee.

Execution

Remember the four “s’s” (see, swirl, sniff, sip). Have your gals take the time to really enjoy and savour each sip. Invite them to judge the appearance, aroma, body, taste, and finish of each wine in front of them. Although the responses are based on an individual’s taste, it is a great way for your friends and family who don’t know each other to bond over likes and dislikes.

Whether you wine a little or a lot, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the moment with your closest family and friends.

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

How to cover up acne on your big day

October 26, 2020 No Comments

On your big day, the last thing you want to wake up to is a bright red zit on your face. Acne happens to the best of us, and, like taxes, are unavoidable.

From stress to environmental factors and not removing your makeup, there are many things that can lead to a breakout. Even getting a facial could cause your skin to react negatively as it purges all the bad toxins, which is why experts recommend getting one day before your big day.

If you do have a breakout on your big day, fear not. There are tried and tested methods to cover up these uninvited guests so that the focus is all on you.

Spot treatment

Before covering your breakout up, make sure you’ve treated it to kill off the bacteria. Going in with some tea tree oil on a Q-tip is great to clean the area.

Less is more

It may seem like the best thing to do is cover your skin up with a full coverage foundation, but this will just end up looking cakey and highlighting the texture in your skin. Instead, go in with a luminous, light to medium weight foundation. Remember to pounce the product into your skin using a beauty sponge to remove some excess product. This will create a light and even base layer to build on when you go in with your next products.

Concealer saves the day

Concealer will be your best friend. Spot conceal your breakouts using a small face brush, making sure to lightly tap over the concealer and then blend the edges to feather it out. Tapping motions around the edges is best here. You can also go in with your foundation brush afterward and use the excess product on the brush to help blend the concealer in even further.

If the breakout is quite red and inflamed, go in with a thin layer of a green-toned concealer first then layer the skin-coloured concealer over it. The green will cancel out the red tones.

Remember to set your concealer by going over spots with a setting powder.

Take out texture

If you have a particularly bumpy breakout that stands out on your face, another step is to go in with a full coverage powder foundation, like the MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, and push the product onto the skin surrounding the breakout. This will build a more even layer that will make the breakout bump appear less severe.

Here are some amazing tutorials to help guide your way:

Picture: Pexels

In Bridal Party

Bridal shower vs bachelorette party: What’s the difference?

October 26, 2020 No Comments

Picture this. You’re surrounded by the women in your life: your mother, grandmother, and future mother-in-law are all smiling at you as you unwrap a gift from a friend. To your dismay, it’s a dainty piece of lacy lingerie that you now have to show everyone.

With so many different pre-wedding events, it’s easy to get confused. While they seem similar on the surface, a bridal shower and bachelorette party are designed for different audiences.

We’re here to help clear things up to avoid these awkward situations.

Bridal shower

This is the tamer party of the two. Normally a brunch or high tea, it’s a lovely gathering with yummy treats, delicious drinks, and good old-fashioned bonding. Back in the day, this was the event at which the bride was presented with all the things she would need for her kitchens, such as crockery and tea towels. Hence it’s also known as the kitchen tea. Now that times have changed, you can present the bride with whatever you want – just make sure the gift is PG!

This is the event your gran and niece will attend and is also a good opportunity to spend some time with your mother-in-law, away from all the wedding chaos. Get some advice from the married women in your life, enjoy delicious finger sandwiches, and sip on some bubbly. There are also a great number of family-friendly games you can play to break the ice and help both sides of the family mix and mingle ahead of the big day.

Bachelorette party

When the cucumber sandwiches are finished and the sun goes down, it’s time to gather your girlfriends and paint the town red. Some brides opt to have the bridal shower and bachelorette party on the same day as all the people you’re having at your wedding are all in one place, but it’s really up to you.

The bachelorette party (or hen night) is a chance for you to let your hair down and have some fun with your friends. This is usually the place where the naughty gifts – think toys for the bedroom – and craziness appear. For lots of people, a bachelorette party is just that – a party. But it doesn’t have to be. You can indulge in a spa day, cocktails, dress up, dress down, it doesn’t matter. As long as you have fun.

Picture: Pexels

In Engagements

Perfectly elegant: The prong engagement ring setting

October 26, 2020 No Comments

A setting can make of break your engagement ring, so it is important to choose one wisely. One of the most popular choices in the wedding world is the prong setting.

Classic and elegant, the prong setting is one of the most famous diamond ring settings. This setting is perfect for the timeless bride.

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A prong setting typically features four to six thin metal claws that are placed on the diamond’s surface to secure its position. This setting is designed to perfectly highlight the diamond’s brilliance by giving maximum exposure to the stone.

This particular range of settings can be shaped in different ways – prongs can be rounded, squared, V-shaped, elongated or even pointed.

Ideally, the prongs should end on the diamond’s surface. If the claws extend too high, the diamond’s top portion will be less visible, thus reducing its brilliance.

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This setting has been in style for decades, and first grew in popularity in the 19th century as more dramatic and larger stones were being unearthed. Jewellers wanted to showcase these stones, and thus needed a setting that would allow it to shine.

The advantage of this setting is that it allows the diamond to take centre stage. It is also easy to clean and maintain. For those wanting to customise their ring, this setting is versatile enough to complement all diamond shapes, and is easy to adjust for different sizes of stones.

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On the other hand, because the diamond’s girdle is only partially covered, it is quite prone to chipping. The claws of the setting are also more prone to get caught on clothing.

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

Don’t get married before asking your partner these questions

October 26, 2020 No Comments

Marriage is a big step, one not to be taken lightly. Before making this commitment, its important to spend time with your partner to discuss major topics that could affect your future.

While love and mutual respect is considered the most important aspects of a relationship, there are many other external factors that could affect your journey. Making sure you and your partner are open and honest with each other about various topics will help alleviate future issues.

Here are some topics to bring up before your big day:

Debt

If you have debt, it is important that your partner knows about it and how much it is. South Africans automatically marry in community of property, which means that the estates of the married couple are combined and thus debt is inherited. Property and debts acquired prior to or during the marriage are shared equally in undivided shares (50%) and spouses are jointly liable to creditors.

Children

Do you and your partner want children? If yes, how many? It is incredibly important to be on the same page with this, as bringing a child into the world is a major life decision that should not be made lightly. Some people don’t want to have kids at all, and it is unfair to persuade an unwilling partner to change their mind later on in life.

Career/education

If your partner gets an amazing job or learning opportunity that requires relocation, how will you deal with that? Are you committed to moving with them or will you be long-distance?

Religion

While you and your partner do not need to practice the same religion, the core beliefs could cause conflict if they are incredibly different. For example, if one of you is Catholic and therefore oppose abortion while the other is pro-choice, this could be an issue in the future if an unwanted pregnancy were to occur.

Sexual compatibility

Sex is a part of marriage, and when and how you choose to do it is an important discussion. Consent needs to be defined, and both partners must be aware that it is necessary every time you have sex as marital rape is illegal in the country. It is also important to have an open and honest conversation on sexual fantasies and expectations, so that partners feel comfortable expressing their desires.

Finances

Money is one of the major issues in a relationship. How will you pay for things once you are married? Will you split bills equally, or divide based on salaries? How will you save and spend your money?

Gender roles

This will impact on household duties and who does what in the relationship. For example, if one person believes women should do all the cooking and cleaning while the other believes the work should be equally divided, this could cause major resentment.

Boundaries with others

What is your partner comfortable with in regards to how you interact with people of the sex you are attracted to? For example, if they are the jealous type, you being touchy-feely with someone, even in a non-romantic way, might create tension with your partner. It is important to know what your partner’s boundaries are and to discuss it if it conflicts with your own.

Social media activity is also connected here. Some are more private than others, and don’t like to share details about their personal life on the internet while others post everything and anything.

Picture: Pexels

In Legal

State marriage officers are now prohibited from refusing same-sex civil unions

October 26, 2020 No Comments

In a win for LGBT couples in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Civil Amendment Act of 2020, making it illegal for state marriage officers and magistrates to refuse to solemnise a civil union between same-sex couples.

The act, which was signed and passed on October 22, repeals Section 6 of the Civil Union Act, 2006 which previously allowed marriage officers to object to marrying same-sex couples.

The act also requires that the Minister must ensure that there is a marriage officer, other than a marriage officer referred to in section 5 of the principal Act, available to solemnise a civil union at every Department of Home Affairs office.

The new act states that any marriage officer who has been granted an exemption by the Minister in terms of section 6 of the principal Act, prior to the commencement of this Act, lapses 24 months from the date of commencement of this Act.

This move follows after many controversial cases of marriage officers refusing to solemnise same-sex civil unions because it was contrary to their beliefs.

Non-profit Christian organisation Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) has opposed the President’s decision, calling it ‘unconstitutional’.

“The Amendment Act removes the right of State-employed marriage officers and magistrates to object – on grounds of their sincerely held conscience, religion, and belief (which are protected by section 15 of the Constitution) – to being personally forced to solemnise same-sex marriages. The Amendment Act fails to replace it with another remedy that meets constitutional standards,” said Daniela Ellerbeck, Legal Advisor of FOR SA.

Read the Act here:Act_8_of_2020_Civil_Union_Amendment_Act

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

How to get a marriage certificate in South Africa

October 26, 2020 No Comments

When you tie the knot, you enter into a legally binding agreement. With all the paperwork required, it’s important to do things right the first time to avoid any further legal issues.

All marriages in South Africa must be registered at the Department of Home Affairs. There are three types of marriages that are recognised under South African law: civil marriages, customary marriages and civil unions. Each one has different paperwork requirements, so couples need to know which one they plan to enter into.

If you are planning on having a civil marriage, you must:

– ensure that you are legally allowed to marry

– understand the legal consequences of a marriage, particularly that marriages in South Africa are automatically in community of property, unless a valid ante-nuptial contract has been entered into before the marriage, and

– make sure that your marriage will comply with all the legal requirements for a valid marriage

Should you be unsure of any of these, legal counsel should be sought before the marriage is entered into.

On the day of the marriage, a couple must present the following documents to the person officiating at the wedding:

– Identity documents(for each person getting married)

– If a foreign national is marrying a South African citizen, they should both present their valid passports as well as well as a completed BI-31 Form (Declaration for the Purpose of Marriage, Letter of no impediment)

– If the wedding is for a minor (a person under the age of 18 years), the written consent of both parents/ legal guardian or the Commissioner of Child Welfare or a judge should be submitted on Form DHA-32 as well. If the minors getting married are under the ages of 18 for boys or 15 for girls, the written consent from the Minister of Home Affairs will also be required

– If any of the persons getting married are divorced, then the final decree of divorce should be furnished

– If any of the persons getting married are widowed, the deceased spouse’s death certificate must be submitted.

Marriage certificates

Two witnesses and the marriage officer must sign the marriage register after the solemnisation of a marriage. Then the marriage officer must issue the parties with a handwritten marriage certificate (BI-27) free of charge.

The marriage officer must then submit the marriage register to the nearest office of the Department of Home Affairs, where the marriage details will be recorded in the National Population Register (NPR).

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

Everyday items you can repurpose for a unique wedding seating chart

October 23, 2020 No Comments

Weddings are special days, and it’s natural one would want it to be absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, perfect can be quite expensive.

With all the moving parts of a wedding, it’s easy to go over budget. It’s important to get creative and think of ways to limit your spending while still delivering an epic day.

One way to do that is to use the things around you. Items like chopping boards, leaves, wine bottles and mismatched photo frames are easily accessible as we’re likely to already have them in our homes. You could even ask close friends and family to donate a few items to increase your supply.

Here are a few ordinary items that can be given new life and act as a truly unique wedding seating chart:

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In Wedding Gowns

Life-saving wedding dress made from parachute now on display in museum

October 23, 2020 No Comments

A 75-year-old wedding gown is now standing proud as part of the Cradle Of Aviation Museum’s collection on Long Island. This dress is made of the silk of a parachute that once saved a man’s life.

The gown was made in 1945 for a woman named Evelyn, the mother of Kate and Mike Braet. It was fashioned out of a World War II parachute that saved their father’s life.

The siblings’ father, George, was a young army pilot. He was on a mission to defeat Hitler in Europe when his plane took on enemy fire. His parachute saved his life, although it was punctured by flying debris from the enemy attack.

Speaking to CBS2, Kate explains: “My father came home with this parachute filled with holes. If the parachute were not there, it would have killed him.”

He survived and he tied the knot with his love, Evelyn. During the war, silk was in short supply so Evelyn had the idea to transform the silk parachute into a wedding dress. She removed the Army/Navy lettering and salvaged the tattered pieces to create a stunning gown to walk down the aisle in.

“Something that was meant to save somebody from a crashing plane, then became the parachute that carried them throughout their marriage,” said Kate.

Decades later, the dress has now been donated to the Cradle of Aviation Museum to educate people on the reality of the war and how it impacted people.

“It’s just one story of millions, I’m sure, of what people went through during the war… and how difficult it was,” said Mike. “My parents are now going to live forever.”

“The story goes beyond us, because it’s a story of love. It’s a story of bravery. It’s a story of hope. It’s a story of future,” said Kate.

Picture: Instagram / Cradle of Aviation Museum

In Advice

Carnival-themed wedding decor ideas for a fun-filled evening

October 22, 2020 No Comments

A night at the carnival is guaranteed to be a memorable experience, filled with tons of colours, delicious food and exciting rides. Capture the spirit with a carnival-themed wedding. From your decor to your outfit and food, there are so many ways to bring the fun.

A canival theme is all about being over the top. Go big with a variety of colours and textures, they don’t even have to complement each other.

Of course, you need to have food stands offering sweet treats. From popcorn and donuts to lemonade and hot dogs, you could incorporate any of your favourite foods.

Here are some festive ways to fill up your space:

Picture: Pexels