An engagement ring is a promise of forever. In the quest to be unique, some may go far beyond expectations. Diamonds are predictable, and many have opted for statement jewellery pieces to proclaim their love.
Here are a few of the most… unique rings we have come across online:
Gotta catch ’em all:
Remember when Pokemon Go was huge? This couple must have been pretty swept up in the craze, and have the ring to prove it! The centre stone is encircled by a pokeball shape to prove that they have finally captured their love.
A piercing choice:
Piercing engagement rings have been popular among those who don’t want a traditional ring. Instead of wearing a band, the diamond is implanted into the skin of the ring finger.
Game of Thrones fans, we might just have the ring for you. If you’re still heartbroken over the deaths of Daenerys’s beloved winged children, your engagement ring can be the perfect tribute. This bride’s ring is shaped as a dragon in mid-flight, which we’re sure she thought was pretty fly. It even glows in the dark!
Polly want a cracker?
Parrots are beautiful birds, but they are never really associated with weddings. One unique couple, however, opted to showcase their love of birds. This custom-made ring features a mini sculpture of two parrots perched together on the band, and is definitely a scene-stealer.
Take a bite:
Parents often keep their children’s teeth once they’ve fallen out as a special memento. California couple Carlee Leifkes and Lucas Unger took this to the next level. Unger had his wisdom tooth embedded into the ring instead of a traditional diamond.
Source: Pinterest
A hands-on jewel:
A Japanese man collected his fingernail clippings for a year, then ground it to a powder and baked it to create a “stone” for an engagement ring. The end result is a pitch-black, rock hard stone. If you didn’t know, you would probably never guess that’s it’s made from human nails.
Feature image: Facebook / That’s it I’m wedding shaming
The bride wanting to show off her décolletage area will stun in a low-cut gown. This cut is incredibly flattering on a number of body shapes, and compliments a variety of dress styles. While it is often considerd sexy or risqué, it’s all about how you do it.
Whether you’re going for soft and elegant or va-va-voom, a plunging neckline does it all. A simple satin number gives a classic finish, while a full tulle skirt and floral appliqué paired with a low cut neckline is more whimsical. If you’re going for the glamorous look, incorporate intricate beading and luxurious fabrics. The options are truly endless.
There are so many ways to pull of this look, here are a few of our favourites:
The Hallmark Channel is famed for its cheesy straight-to-TV movies. For the first time ever, a storyline on the network will include a lesbian marriage.
The channel’s upcoming film ‘Wedding Every Weekend’ will be the first time the network features a first same-sex wedding. The plot of the movie centres on two friends who “buddy-up” as guests for a four-week wedding marathon, and then recognise that there’s more between them than trying to catch someone else’s bouquet.
“Tune in to an all-new premiere! Amanda (Carmel Amit) and Vicky (Makayla Moore) celebrate their special day in one of the many weddings taking place in “Wedding Every Weekend,” Saturday August 15 at 9pm/8c, only on Hallmark Channel,” writes Hallmark on their Facebook page.
Many have applauded this decision for its inclusive nature, saying it is about time the LGBTQI+ community is represented on the channel.
“THANK YOU Hallmark. We are people too and just want to live our lives like everyone else. This includes all the ‘passages’ in life. Thank you for celebrating our life events,” writes a fan on Facebook.
“Good for you Hallmark! I’m so glad that you guys keep making movies that are all-inclusive! Everyone deserves to be happy and be loved! If people don’t like to bad, they don’t have to watch! As for me and my family we will be watching, and teaching my kids to be kind and not judge others. Love no matter skin color, religion or gender identity!” comments another.
Some, however, have criticised the network for this decision and believe it goes against the channel’s traditional values.
“Will not be watching. First new movie we will miss. No deviant lifestyles on our TV,” comments one Facebook user.
“Nope. I thought Hallmark was a good clean family Christian channel. Sorry Hallmark had to join the other side and its ok to offend us Christians but not them. Sorry Hallmark I thought you were better than that,” says another.
One Million Moms, a division of the socially conservative American Family Association, has since criticised the channel and started a petition to encourage people to boycott the channel.
“The once conservative network has recently caved to LGBTQ pressure and has done a one-eighty from the wholesome content the channel once aired, and the network is now catering to the Left,” reads the petition. “So many people feel betrayed by Hallmark over these past seven months. Hallmark Channel was one of the remaining channels that families could watch without being bombarded by politically correct commercials and the LGBTQ agenda.”
By Monday, August 10, the petition had amassed over 56 000 signatures.
The highly-anticipated third season of Selling Sunset recently premiered on Netflix. Promising heartbreak, love and drama, fans were not disappointed.
The final episode detailed Chrstine Quinn’s extravagent wedding to millionaire tech entrepreneur Christian Richard. Christine is known for being over-the-top, and her wedding would naturally be nothing different. To top her circus-inspired engagement party that came complete with fire dancers and a live zebra, she worked with luxury wedding planner Lisa Lafferty to create a true showstopper.
Speaking to Oprah Magazine, Lafferty said the event had no monetary cap, as the budget was love.
“She said, ‘The budget’s love.’ They were very generous with their budget,” Lafferty told the magazine. “It was absolutely over a million dollar wedding. We did everything custom and couture for her, because her style is kind of wild. We were able to take risks.”
The ceremony venue was designed to look like a dead forest, complete with ice sculptures, chandeliers and live black and white swans. As Christine walked down the aisle in her custom black Galia Lahav gown, a faux storm complete with thunder and fake snow rained on her guests.
It took a team of 100 people to transform the reception venue into a gothic winter wonderland. Red and black were the primary colours.
While little was seen of the actual reception (mainly because the plot was overshadowed by an argument that broke out between the cast regarding costar Christell’s recent divorce from This is Us star Justin Hartley), it was truly mesmerising.
The multi-layered wedding cake was over 8 feet, covered in velvet black petals, golden leaves and deep red poppies. The cake was topped with a sugar gargoyle “watching over the couple, making sure their love will never die”, explains Christine on Instagram. Inside the black cake, a vanilla sponge was revealed to have a ‘bleeding’ centre.
Following the episode’s airing, Christine explained that the wedding was so much more special and over-the-top than was shown. Unfortunately, her big day was somewhat overshadowed by Chrishell’s divorce, which editors heavily focused on.
“I understand they wanted to get certain storylines in there, but this was actually my day. This was my day, and I was just disappointed in the way it was perceived on camera and translated, unfortunately,” she said.
“I’m not going to lie, I was crying when I watched it. I was like, ‘This is not my wedding, this is not my wedding.’”
Weddings are meant to be a happy occasion, where couples can celebrate their love for one another with their closest friends and family. Testing positive for COVID-19 afterwards, however, puts a big damper on the day. As the COVID-19 pandemic escalates across the world, more and more cases of wedding ‘super spreaders’ are being reported.
In South Africa, public gatherings of over 50 are currently banned which means that weddings as we know them cannot currently go ahead. Countries across the world have instilled similar regulations on public gatherings. However, many members of the public have broken these rules and continue to host large events. This has lead to these parties being called ‘super-spreaders’, as one COVID-19 positive person can spread the disease to several others.
The reality:
In July, 25 guests who attended a wedding in KwaZulu-Natal tested positive for COVID-19. A couple in San Francisco tried to sneakily have a wedding ceremony in the city’s iconic Saints Peter and Paul Church in August. Dozens of their loved ones, including friends and family, were present at the event and several of them were infected with COVID-19.
A wedding which took place in the Patna District of Bihar, a state in India, effectively started a COVID-19 chain as 113 people tested positive and the groom passed away. It has been reported that this was the largest chain of infection in the state thus far.
Breaking the rules:
In America, weddings are allowed but each state has differing rules on how they may continue. For many in the wedding industry, this has become a great concern as guests don’t follow health and safety regulations.
“Weddings are so different from going into a store or sitting in a restaurant for 45 minutes,” an anonymous wedding planner told the New York Times. “These receptions last for three, four hours, and everyone is in an indoor space, breathing the air. They aren’t wearing masks and they are dancing. And when they start drinking, it’s like there is no pandemic.”
“I am scared there is going to be an outbreak at one of my weddings and someone is going to die.”
While vendors can control the behaviour of their employees, it’s hard to tell a guest what to do. Sanitising stations can be set up, socially distanced seating arranged and a mask-wearing policy encouraged but in reality, it’s up to guests to follow those rules.
Vendors thus put themselves at risk to fulfill their contractual obligations, but cannot easily rely on strict safety protocols other businesses have enforced.
The way forward:
The South African wedding industry is desperate to get back to work after months of inactivity amid the pandemic. Before this happens, government will have to outline strict regulations to prevent further spread of the virus.
As with sit-down restaurants, wedding guests should be required to wear a mask at all time except for eating and drinking. It is likely that government will also require guests to fill in health questionnaires, and be subjected to temperature testing. This responsibility will fall on wedding vendors.
The issue is enforcing social distancing on such a special day where people will naturally want to hug one another and celebrate.
Once weddings do continue, they will be nothing like before. We will all have to adjust our behaviours to celebrate responsibly, and help protect the health of others.
As one of the most memorable moments of your wedding, the perfect first dance not only opens the floor but is a special and intimate moment between the newlyweds which has become an important wedding tradition over the decades.
It stems from many years ago when ballroom dancing was an acquired skill everyone had to have, and the first dance at a ball or special event was usually done by a royal guest of honour to open the floor.
Nowadays, couples typically pick a song suited to their personal love story and practice a routine before the time to entertain their guests. But to make your first dance special, there needs to be a touch of originality. Since not everyone is a skilled ballroom dancer, it can be challenging to put on the performance you want.
Here are some easy steps to getting your first dance-off on the right foot.
STEP 1 – THE VIBE
What kind of story do you want to tell with your first dance? As we’ve said, this is a crucial moment to show off the type of couple you are. You could go romantic and sultry with a tango, or cheesy with an 80s-inspired throwback that references moves like the electric slide and the hammer dance. If you’re more emotional, a slow dance is perfect whereas a classic couple might enjoy a foxtrot. Each dance style gives a different vibe and will determine the music choice and choreography going forward.
STEP 2 – THE SONG
The song you choose for your first dance should be representative of the personal relationship you have with your partner. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to choose a completely original song, but you should feel that it speaks to you and your partner’s feelings towards each other. You also need to keep in mind the length of the song and the beat for your dance.
STEP 3 – THE CHOREOGRAPHY
You can either choose to have a professional dance instructor choreograph a dance for you and your partner, or do it yourself. If you want to choreograph your dance, however, you need to start as soon as possible as the more time you have the more time you will have to learn the steps. This can be a good time for you and your partner to become even closer during the wedding planning, through learning to dance together.
STEP 3 – THE DANCE
When it comes to your big day there will be a swarm of emotions, and executing a rehearsed dance may be a challenge, despite all your practice. Don’t feel discouraged by this, and, instead, focus on your partner and all the moments you’ve shared and the ones you’ve yet to share. A perfect dance will look different for everyone and should be about celebrating with your loved ones.
Smaller factors to keep in mind:
– Take your wedding shoes into consideration when planning your wedding dance. Practice in them a few times before your big day. – When deciding on your wedding outfit, think about whether you will be able to move around and dance comfortably in it. – Make sure to speak with your DJ and MC beforehand to let them know how and when you would like your dance to happen. – Give yourselves enough time to practice, and remember to relax and allow for mistakes to happen in your first few tries.
Before Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie sizzled on the silverscreen in their 2005 film Mr and Mrs Smith, the movie star was married to America’s sweetheart Jennifer Aniston.
The iconic couple shared a deep love for one another, as well as matching outfits and hairstyles. If they had stayed married, they would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this year.
As we know, things didn’t work out that way. Since we can’t predict the future, why not look back on how things used to be?
Source: Pinterest
The beginning:
Brad and Jen met in 1994 through their managers. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Aniston described him as a sweet, normal guy from Missouri. At the time, Pitt was dating fellow actor Gwyneth Paltrow, a relationship that would end a few years later in 1997.
In 1998 the pair first began dating after their agents set them up. It was on this first date that Aniston knew they were meant to be, she told Diane Sawyer in an interview.
“It was weird … That was a really easy evening. It was really fun.”
At the time, they were already two of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars, so it wasn’t long before their relationship was uncovered. In April 1999 they made their official debut as a couple at the Emmy Awards.
Source: Pinterest
Love and marriage:
A few months after going public, the pair announced their engagement at a Sting concert in November 1999. The pair crashed the stage and Aniston showed off her new diamond sparkler.
They tied the knot on July 29, 2000 on a Malibu bluff. For her big day, Aniston wore a glass-beaded floor length silk and satin gown with a low back, designed by Lawrence Steele. She accessorised with a circular veil topped with a pearl-and-Swarovski-crystal crown.
Their wedding had 200 guests who were entertained by four bands, a gospel choir and fireworks, reports People. The wedding is estimated to have cost $1-million.
Of course, Friends co-stars Courtney Cox Arquette, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow were in attendance (Matt LeBlanc could not attend as he was filming a movie in Budapest at the time).
Other notable names in attendance included Pitt’s Fight Club co-star Edward Norton with Salma Hayek, who he was dating at the time, as well as Cameron Diaz, David Arquette and David Spade. Aniston’s mother was not present, as they were estranged.
Source: Pinterest
Things fall apart:
For the first few years after their wedding, things were going well for the pair. In 2004 when Friends was ending, Aniston said she was looking forward to being able to dedicate time towards starting a family with Pitt.
“Yeah. It’s time. It’s time. You know, I think you can work with a baby, I think you can work pregnant, I think you can do all of it,” she said in an interview with The Guardian. “So I’m just truly looking forward to slowing down.”
At the time, Pitt had signed on to star in Mr and Mrs Smith alongside Angelina Jolie. In her interview, Aniston said she and Pitt planned to travel after filming wrapped.
As we all know, this was the beginning of the end of the couple. By May 2004, cheating rumours began to circulate and Pitt and Jolie became closer during filming.
Much later in 2006, Jolie told W Magazine that love began to blossom between them on set.
“Because of the film we ended up being brought together to do all these crazy things and I think we found this strange friendship and partnership that kind of just suddenly happened,” she said. “I think a few months in I realized, ‘God, I can’t wait to get to work.
“We just became kind of a pair. And it took until, really, the end of the shoot for us, I think, to realize that it might mean something more than we’d earlier allowed ourselves to believe.”
Source: Pinterest
It’s over:
In January 2005, Pitt and Aniston officially announced their separation.
“We would like to announce that after seven years together we have decided to formally separate,” read their joint statement. “For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media. This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration. We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another.”
By October of that same year, their divorce was finalised.
The world quickly took sides and joined wither ‘Team Jen’ and ‘Team Angie’ as news on the couple’s break-up dominated headlines. To date, its been one of the largest, most influencial celebrity break-ups in history in terms of its impact on pop culture.
In an interview, Aniston famously said Pitt was missing a sensitivity chip. She also later told Vogue that she learnt many details of the affair from interviews Pitt and Jolie did.
“There was stuff printed there that was definitely from a time when I was unaware that it was happening,” she says. “I felt those details were a little inappropriate to discuss. That stuff about how she couldn’t wait to get to work every day? That was really uncool.”
Moving on
Since their breakup, Pitt went public with Jolie and they married in 2014. They have six children together, and announced their divorce in 2016, filing irreconcilable differences.
Source: Pinterest
Aniston also remarried when she said ‘I do’ to actor Justin Therous in 2015. They later divorced in 2018.
Source: Pinterest
With both actors single, many rumours began to circulate that they would get back together. Soon after his divorce, Pitt reportedly reached out to Aniston. In February 2019, he attended Aniston’s 50th birthday party and have had a few run-ins since.
The global pandemic has forced many couples across the world to postpone their big days, and celebrities are not exempt from this.
Modern Family star Sarah Hyland and former The Bachelorette contestant Wells Adams were meant to tie the knot on August 9, but postponed due to COVID-19. This didn’t stop them from celebrating their big day, however.
Dressed all in white, the pair spent the day in style at a vineyard to honour their would-be special day.
“A couple, a pandemic, & a postponed wedding: A series. We were supposed to get married today. Instead… we took pictures and drank wine. I love you to Pluto & back @wellsadams,” Hyland wrote on Instagram.
Hyland showed an interest in Adams back when he was on The Bachelorette. The two started flirting on Twitter in 2016 but only made things official in late 2017. The happy couple had been in a long-distance relationship, since he lived in Nashville, Tennessee and she in Los Angeles, California, but took things to the next level in August 2018, when Adams moved in with Hyland.
In July 2019, Adams popped the question while on vacation in Fiji.
South African politician Mmusi Maimane has reached a special milestone with wife Natalie. The pair have been married for an incredible 15 years.
Taking to social media, Maimane expressed his love and appreciation for his wife.
“Today, I have been married to this girl for 15 years. It’s been a journey and I’m grateful to God she has been a champion through it. She the strength of our family and an incredible friend to me. We got married and never knew where the journey would take us, we are here today and now to the next 15. Ka lerato,” he wrote on Instagram.
The pair met at the Community Ministries church in Muldersdrift, north of Johannesburg, although neither can remember much of their first encounter. They remained friends for years before beginning a romantic relationship. Within six months of dating, Mmusi popped the question and the pair wed on August 6, 2005, at the church where they met.
They had their white wedding on the Saturday and a traditional wedding on the Sunday, during which Natalie was given a new name from her in-laws – Rethabile, which means ‘happy family’ in Setswana.
The pair have two children together: Kgalaletso and Daniel.
While the term ‘laminating’ may remind you of your days at school, it’s gotten a new upgrade in the beauty world. Brow lamination has risen as a less-permanent alternative to microblading, allowing people to have the eyebrows of their dreams.
If you’ve got pesky eyebrows that won’t stay in place no matter how much eyebrow gel you apply, brow lamination might just be for you. Brides who get these procedure done can rest assured their eyebrows will be on point for their wedding day.
Brow lamination is almost like a perm for your eyebrows, which will leave the hairs structured into a particular shape. The hairs are brushed straight up and a chemical treatment is applied to retain it. Once removed, the brow hairs appear fluffy and feathery.
At first, the brows can appear quite overwhelming and straight. However, they settle within a few days.
This treatment is ideal for people with bushy brows that follow irreguar patterns as it trains the hair to go in one direction. It’s also good for those with finer, more sparse brows as it can create the effect of fulller brows.
Another bonus is that it’s not permanent, as it typically lasts for eight weeks as your eyebrow hairs grow out. Microblading, however, lasts for about a year and the procedure can be painful, which deters many.
This treatment is similar to a lash lift, and is not painful although it may slightly irritate sensitive skin. Two treatment solutions are applied to the brows. First, a keratin-infused straightening treatment is brushed through the hairs and left on for 20 minutes to soften them and make them more malleable. In the next step, the hairs are brushed into the desired shape and another solution is applied to keep them in place.
For the first 24 hours after your appointment, it is important to avoid getting your brow hairs wet. Thus, one should avoid exercising, swimming, going out in the rain or wetting their face when bathing. You should also condition the brows daily with a lash serum, ask your beautician to recommend a good product.
