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    Kirsten Jacobs

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    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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    Picture: Pexels

    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

    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:

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    Picture: Pexels

    New York Bridal Fashion Week kicked off digitally in early October, offering stunning trends for brides-to-be for the 2021 season.

    Although designers were given challenging circumstances with production halted across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they soldiered on to create unique shows to inspire us all.

    A major trend this wedding season appears to be inspired by the pandemic itself. With the various restrictions around the world, many have opted for more relaxed and less traditional looks to reflect the mood of the current climate.

    More jumpsuits and shorter dresses were showcased in shows this season, although they did not sacrifice style. Many designers went theatrical with volume and fabric. Detailed shoulder work, detachable capes and fun fabrics were the moods of the day. Tulle, lace, feathers and ruffles continue to be popular in the wedding world as well.

    Here are a few of our favourite looks that graced the (digital) runway:

    Oscar de la Renta

    Vivienne Westwood

    Elie Saab

    Naeem Khan

    Marchesa

    Jenny Pakham

    Galia Lahav

    Picture: Instagram / Oscar de la Renta

    Couples will often go to great lengths for a truly unique wedding photo, but some locations are a step too far. A British couple learned this the hard way and is now under fire for posing on live train tracks in North Yorkshire.

    The unidentified couple is now unwillingly the face of a new campaign to educate people on rail safety.

    In a Twitter post, the national Network Rail in Scotland called the photoshoot ‘plain stupidity’, and urged residents to practice basic rail safety at all times.

    British Transport Police Superintendent Alison Evans explains that anyone walking across a railway line is putting themselves in danger.

    “Every time someone strays onto the rail network they are not only putting themselves at risk of serious, life-threatening injury but also delaying essential journeys.

    “Passenger and freight trains are still using the railway 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing much-needed services of transporting people and goods. Please, stay off the track”.

    According to Network Rail and British Transport Police, there have been 5100 trespassing incidents over their summer months, and 1239 incidents recorded in September, their worst recorded month in the last five years.

    Picture: Twitter / Network Rail Scotland

    A wedding does not have to be fancy and stuck up. Modern weddings are all about individuality and doing what feels right for you.

    Throw the rule book out of the window and cater your big day to your tastes, literally. If you love comfort foods and childhood favourites like grilled cheese, pizza, and burgers, why not incorporate them into your big day?

    The key here is in how you serve it up. Doing miniature versions of your favourite snacks wrapped up in cute packaging can easily elevate it. Opt for more premium ingredients like gruyère for your grilled cheese, or kobe beef for your sliders to make your canapès more gourmet. Add unique dipping sources and garnishes for a more fancy finish.

    You could also hire food trucks to dish out the foods, adding a fun element to your big day. Another option is to create unique displays like a cookie wall, hanging pretzels, or simply serve your snacks in cute individual bowls.

    Here are some snacking ideas guaranteed to be a big hit.

     

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    A proposal is always a sweet moment, and when it goes perfectly, it can bring some serious tears of joy. This public proposal at a theme park really had people feeling the love, and has since gone viral.

    In a video shared to social media, believed to have been filmed at Hopi Hari theme park in Brazil, a couple can be seenstanding on a flight of stairs when one of the men suddenly goes down on one knee and takes out a white box.

    His partner stands in shock as the proposal ensues. Instead of responding, he walks away and rummages through his bag to pull out a white box of his own.

    Clearly the pair are on the same wavelength, and secretly planned to propose to each other on the exact same day.

    It is uncertain when the video was first shared, but it has since racked up a whopping 28-million views on social media. It went viral when it was reshared to Reddit, and the app’s users could not believe how romantic and sweet the moment was.

    “This really is a testament to their love that they are literally on the same page at the same time,” wrote on Reddit user.

    “That made me cry, too beautiful,” wrote another.

    Picture: Screenshot from video

    Popping the question is a nerve-wracking but special moment, one that you want to go perfectly. Unfortunately for this man, his proposal caused a splash in the wrong way.

    In a video recently shared to social media, an unnamed man can be seen standing on one boat while his partner stands on the other. He walks to the edge of the boat and pulls out a ring to ask for her hand in marriage, which his partner accepts.

    As the pair embrace to celebrate their special moment, the bride-to-be seems to accidentally hit the throttle of her vehicle, causing it to speed off. She falls over in the sudden jolt of the boat, and her husband-to-be makes waves when he lands up in the water.

    Since been shared, the video has gone viral with over 87 000 views and tons of comments from entertained social media users.

    Picture: screenshot from video

    With all the love in the air on a wedding day, it’s impossible to not get swept up in it. The stunning venue, the moody lighting, and the delicious food are enough to put anyone in the right mood. Given all the above, it’s easy to see why some people may take this opportunity to pop the big question.

    Proposing during someone else’s wedding has been a controversial topic for decades, and continues to polarise the masses.

    I give you my blessing

    If you are particularly close to the bridal party, it might make the day extra special for them to see you get engaged to your love. Another bonus is that many of your closest friends and family are likely to also be in attendance, which allows them all to share at the moment with you.

    Some couples are happy to have someone else get engaged during their wedding, but the key is to have their blessing. It could be quite cute to even have them get involved in the proposal somehow, like having the bride toss her bouquet as a distraction while their partner gets down on one knee behind them.

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    Hijacking someone else’s special day

    On the other hand, however, the day is not about you. When a couple gets married, their wedding day is a celebration of their love. You were invited to honour their love and commitment to one another. The bridal couple likely spent a lot of money to make the day perfect, and their hard work should not be taken advantage of and used as a free stage for your proposal.

    The only time a proposal during someone else’s wedding is appropriate is if you’ve been given permission by the couple getting married. If you don’t have their blessing for the proposal, do not do it as you risk upsetting them on their special day. No matter how close you are or how chilled a person may seem, you don’t know how they will react.

    You could also create tension with the bridal couple if they are not happy with you hijacking their big day, which could affect your friendship in the long run.

    While it’s not pleasant to think about, your partner could still say no to your proposal. Getting turned down in front of everyone during a wedding will definitely ruin the mood.

    Picture: Pexels
    Always dreamt of being a redhead or finally ready to try platinum blonde? But what if it doesn’t suit me, how will I maintain it and what if my hair breaks off? We dig a bit deeper and give you 5 things to consider before you colour your hair:

    1. Choose a colour that suits your skin tone

    When it comes to choosing what colour to go for, not only do you need to think about whether the colour you fancy will suit you, but whether the undertones of the colour will suit your skin tone. For example, there can be ashy or red undertones in brown colours, and it’s not that you can’t wear either, but one will be more complimentary than the other. Think about what colour you want to bring out in your face:

    – Cool-toned skin has pink or olive undertones

    – Warm-toned skin have more yellow or gold undertones

    As a rule of thumb, if your veins appear blue or purple, you probably have a cool undertone, whereas a greener appearance indicates a warm undertone. You ideally want to go for an opposite undertone when it comes to choosing your hair colour, so platinum blonde and chocolate brown would be the right undertones if you have a warm skin tone. Sound complicated? Well, it is, and that takes us to the next point…

    2. Leave it to the professionals

    Slow and steady wins the race and when it comes to making major colour changes, it’s no different. If your goal is to go from dark brown to blonde, it’s better to ease into it and go lighter gradually, every time you go back to the salon. If you simply don’t have the patience and want instant results, be sure to go the professional route and choose a reputable salon that uses the new WellaPlex system. It works at protecting the hair shaft, allowing for extreme colour changes with minimal damage to the hair cuticle.

    3. Subtle shade changes don’t fade as fast 

    A vibrant wash of violet will make a colour statement like no other, but with this comes the unfortunate reality that when going drastic in colour, the colour tends to fade faster than more subtle shade changes. Sometimes a simple tone change can give you the wow factor you’re looking for, by taking your current colour up a notch, giving you shine and richness without the commitment needed for a complete overhaul.

    4. Going lighter hides the grey

    If you are going grey and not quite ready to embrace it, lightning your hair colour works wonders at melting away those greys. This doesn’t mean you have to go blonde, even by adding some caramel streaks into your brown hair will work wonders at helping to prevent that strip of regrowth at the roots.

    5. Choose the right products

    You’ve taken the plunge and changed the colour, now don’t skimp on the aftercare. You want to protect the vibrancy of the shade for as long as possible, so start with making sure it’s conditioned properly. Colouring hair will make it more porous, which means it loses moisture easily and will then lose the colour faster too. To combat this, avoid over washing hair, use cool rather than hot water, and use a product that is colour protecting like the WellaPlex No3 Hair Stabilizer.

    Give your hair the extra TLC it deserves with #WellaPlex! Make an appointment with a participating salon for a Wellaplex in-salon treatment and receive a free Wellaplex No.3 home treatment to the value of R490.00! For more, go to: linktr.ee/wellaprofessionals_sa

    Picture: Unsplash