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    Kirsten Jacobs

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    Things to look for in a wedding dress besides its style
    In Advice

    Things to look for in a wedding dress besides its style

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    Finding the perfect wedding gown is a dream come true, and whether you’re buying yours off the market or having it designed specifically for you, there are a couple of things to look for in a wedding dress, aside from it looking amazing.

    While style is important, there are a number of elements to consider when choosing a gown that will greatly impact on how it looks on you. Here is what to keep in mind:

    COMFORT

    It is so important to ensure that you feel comfortable in your dress. You will be spending a fair amount of time in it and besides the wedding nerves, you don’t want to aggravate any stressful feelings by having a dress that is heavy, painful to wear or inconvenient on the dance floor.

    For example, if you love the look of a corset but find its boning is affecting your ability to breathe, you need to have that refitted or simply opt to not have one.

    SIZING

    It is common for brides to order a dress in a smaller size to motivate them to lose some weight before the big day. We advise against this, as it can bring unnecessary stress and pressure. There is always room to pinch in some extra fabric at a later stage, but there is little you can do about a dress that is too small.

    FABRIC

    Choosing the right fabric can make all the difference – it can change the look, feel and cost of your dress. Be sure to know what fabric you want and why before deciding on your dress. Stay away from fabrics that won’t wash well, are too hot, see-through or will reveal any sweat stains.

    You have to consider where you will be holding your wedding and the weather of the day. A velvet dress isn’t the best choice for a summer beach wedding, and a strapless chiffon number might leave you feeling frosty during an outdoor winter wedding in the mountains.

    SEASONAL

    Remember to keep the season in mind when picking your perfect gown. You may want to add sleeves if you’re having an autumn/winter wedding or opt for less fabric during a summer wedding. Whether your big day will be outdoors or not is also a factor to keep in mind when thinking about style, especially if you don’t want a low hem or long train to get dirty outside.

    MOVE ON

    Once you have settled on your gown, stop looking for other options. This will only cause unnecessary stress. If you’re ever feeling unsure, sneak a try-on (carefully, of course) or look at some snaps of you in the gown to remember why it’s perfect and why you love it.

    Your dress should be one that captures your personality while emphasizing your best qualities, but it’s not all about the looks. Try to remember all of the smaller details about the dress that will make it perfect for you and your wedding.

    Feature image: Unsplash

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    How to keep your guest list under control
    In Advice

    How to keep your guest list under control

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    Guest lists will have to be smaller for the foreseeable future amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as weddings are allowed to continue again, we predict there will be a strict limit on how many people may gather.

    As a result, couples will have to be extra cautious when determining who will attend their wedding. Beyond this, your guest list size is also a key issue because it will largely affect the total cost of your wedding.

    Here are some tips for creating a list and sticking to it.

    Decide who plans the list:

    In most cases, you, your fiance, and both of your families will each have their own idea about who should be invited.  While everyone can share how they feel, it’s key to discuss beforehand who has the final say on the list.

    To get off on the right foot, have everyone involved submit a list of the people they’d like to attend. They should rank the names in order of importance, starting at the top. Then you and your fiance can compare the lists and cross off any duplications. Add up the numbers that are left to determine how close you are to your estimated count and figure out how many more people you may need to eliminate (or, if you’re lucky, who you can add). Then, have each of the parties involved cut an assigned number of names, starting from the bottom of his or her personal list. This way, both families are treated fairly, while you manage to keep control over the size of the guest list.

    Make an A and B List:

    While it may sound harsh, there are some guests that are more important than others. Having your parents and best friends present is probably more meaningful than your cousin twice removed. A good idea is to create separate lists: your A and B list.

    In list A, include all the essential people you want at your wedding, like your close family and best friends. Anyone you deem non-essential but would be nice to have around should go in your B list. This will include colleagues, distant relatives and neighbours.

    Determine budget and venue:

    Before going crazy with your list, it’s helpful to know what you can afford and what your budget allows. There is no point in having a long list if your venue can only accommodate 100 people. When venue shopping, keep in mind whether you want a small. medium-sized or large wedding.

    Similarly, you need to know that you have the budget to back this up. If you want a big wedding, you need to have the funds or a plan to be able to finance a wedding of this scale before inviting people. You don’t want to have to un-invite people later, or scrimp on other aspects of your big day.

    Adults only:

    An easy way to limit a guest-list is to go child-free. While it’s cute to have nieces and nephews in your wedding, some decide that no other children who are not in the wedding party may be invited. This also helps to cut down on costs of an on-site babysitter for super small kids, and needing entertainment to prevent tiny tots from boredom.

    Feature image: Pexels

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    When you shouldn't wear your engagement ring
    In Advice

    When you shouldn’t wear your engagement ring

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    You’re engaged and you want to flaunt your ring all day, every day, we don’t blame you. But wearing a new and expensive piece of jewellery 24/7 takes some getting used to and there are times and places not to wear your engagement ring to keep it safe and sound.

    Here are some places you might want to go ring-free:

    The beach

    You want to take a selfie in your stellar bikini and show off your gorgeous ring but there’s a risk of losing it in the sand or the water. Sand can also easily get into the ring setting or under your stone.

    The gym

    You could probably wear your ring during cardio but if you’re doing weights don’t even try it. The strong pressure of the weights could bend the band and if you have a pavé band it’s possible that the smaller stones may fall out of the setting if it takes too many knockings.

    The shower

    This one may be obvious but it’s easy to forget to take off your ring if you’re in a rush to shower. Shampoos, body washes, soaps, hair and beauty products all cause a residue buildup either on or under your stone which is difficult to clean. Also remember to be careful when you’re applying lotion or hair serum with your ring on.

    The pool / jacuzzi

    Chlorine in pool water can cause damage to your ring, and over time it will discolour the metal of your ring band.

    While cleaning

    Whether you’re cleaning the oven or your car or even just washing the dishes, take your ring off! If you have a coloured stone you need to be even more careful because the chemicals from the detergents can erode the finish and polish of the stone.

    Feature image: Pexels

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    Mother's lost wedding ring found in backyard after 34 years
    In Emotional

    Mother’s lost wedding ring found in backyard after 34 years

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    A Scottish family were granted a stroke of good luck when their late matriarch’s wedding ring was found in the garden of her home, 34 years after she lost it.

    Mary Cunningham passed away in 2017, and is survived by son Phil Cunningham and daughter Laura Cunningham-Brown. She married her husband Jack in 1950 and had worn her wedding band ever since. Unfortunately, she lost her ring in 1986.

    Fast forward 34 years, the new owners of Mary’s home happened upon the gold band in their garden, reports South West News Service (SWNS). They had been digging a new patio in their yard when they discovered the ring sitting in the mud. They then tracked down Phil to return the ring, to his complete surprise.

    “We are all really thrilled, it totally came out of the blue. Such a lot has happened since she lost the ring, I had kind of forgotten about it. She saw the inscription and knew my mum’s name was Mary so tracked us down,” Phil told SWNS.

    The return came soon after the family marked the three-year anniversary of Mary’s passing, making it even more emotional. Phil said that his mother would have been so happy to know the ring was back with the family after so long.

    Phil’s sister Laura now proudly wears the ring.

    Picture: Pexels

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    Cutting-edge geometric-inspired wedding cakes
    In Wedding Cakes

    Cutting-edge geometric-inspired wedding cakes

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    If you love modern design and clean lines, this cake trend is for you. Many couples have been loving incorporating geometry into their wedding cake to bring a unique finish and edge.

    This style is greatly inspired by the minimalist trend that focuses on simple detail to create a big statement. You don’t need tons of flowers, loud colours and tiers upon tiers to impress your guests. Simply turn to your junior school maths set for inspiration!

    Using shapes like circles, squares, triangles and hexagons on your cake add a unique and modern look. You can go flat or use them in 3-dimensional elements to really pack a punch. Remember to keep the rest of the cake simple to avoid it being too overwhelming.

    Here are some shapely ideas to inspire you:

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    Feature image: Pexels

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    Couple slammed after ranking wedding guests' importance on invite
    In Do's And Don'ts

    Couple slammed after ranking wedding guests’ importance on invite

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    One of the toughest decisions engaged couples can make while planning a wedding is their guest list. Of course, you want your closest family and friends present on your special day. However, sometimes its not possible to include everyone. If your wedding venue has imited space, you have to make the choice on who to include and who to leave out.

    One couple faced this conundrum and instead of keeping their guest list small, they decided to let their guests know exactly what’s going on. In a wedding invite, the unnamed couple explains that they have had to “categorise” guests to ensure they do not surpass capacity restrictions.

    “Dear friends and family, please understand that our venue is limited in the number of guests we’ll be able to accommodate for our wedding day,” the invite reads. “As much as we’d love to have each and every one of you join us on our big day, we’re forced to split our guests into groups to ensure we don’t surpass our capacity restrictions.”

    Guests were separated into Groups A, B and C. Group A are the special few at the top of the list, and are asked to RSVP as soon as possible . Groups B and C must watch the couple’s wedding website to see if there are any available spaces that open up, depending on Group A’s RSVPs.

    The couple also ask that guests leave their kids at home with a babysitter, and that singletons don’t bring a partner to keep the guest list as low as possible.

    This ranking quickly went viral on Reddit and Facebook page when a user posted: “That’s it, I’m wedding shaming”. It sparked a fierce debate on whether the couple are right to categorise guests in this manner. Some believed it was the smart thing to do, while others thought it was rude for the couple to tell guests which group they are in, as it essentially says how important (or not) they are to the couple.

    “Nope.. if I got that and found put i was in group b I would be pissed. Find a venue that can accommodate everyone you want there or don’t invite me after the fact because you then want to fill it up. No thanks,” writes on Facebook user.

    What do you think? Were the coupe right, or is there a more tactful way they could have gone about it?

    Feature image: Pexels

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    In Celebs

    Behind the photo: Nicole Kidman’s iconic divorce celebration

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    A divorce doesn’t seem like it would be a joyful moment. For those that go down this route, it brings an end to a relationship that was meant to last forever. For one mega-celebrity, however, her divorce appeared to be a thrilling moment.

    Although it is strange to remember, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise were once married. The pair met on the set of Days of Thunder and tied the knot in 1990, when Kidman was only 23 years old. They even share two adopted children: Isabella Jane and Connor Anthony.

    In 2001, they officially split. Cruise was the one to file, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’, which left Kidman shocked. Speaking to People, she said, “Our life together was perfect. It took me a very long time to heal. It was a shock to my system. That was a great relationship. I think it ran its course. I was really damaged and not sure whether [love and marriage] was ever going to happen again to me.”

    While we don’t know the reasons for the split, we do have these iconic images of Kidman leaving her attorney’s office after finalising the divorce. The photo has since become somewhat of a meme in pop culture, with many aspiring to the level of joy Kidman appeared to be experiencing in this moment.

    While both have been incredibly tight-lipped about their breakup, Kidman has made some comments that shed a bit of life on this relationship of yesteryear.

    According to the famed actress, she felt like she lived in Cruise’s shadow for the majority of their marriage as he was the bigger star at the time. This caused her to doubt herself.

    “I became famous very young. I became very famous because I was the wife of somebody. I felt I became a star only by association. I didn’t think (my early movies) were very good, which is why I would always cower in the background,” she told US Weekly.

    “I thought, I don’t deserve to be here. We would go to the Oscars and I would think, I’m here to support him. I felt it was my job to put on a beautiful dress and to be seen and not heard.”

    In an essay for New York Magazine, Kidman also said her marriage helped her survive in the industry.

    “I got married very young, but it definitely wasn’t power for me – it was protection. I married for love, but being married to an extremely powerful man kept me from being sexually harassed. I would work, but I was still very much cocooned. When I came out of it at 32, 33, it’s almost like I had to grow up.”

    She also revealed that she suffered two miscarriages during the marriage.

    Going Clear, an expose on the Church of Scientology, claims that the church was also a big factor in their split. According to the film, the Church of Scientology intimidated Cruise to divorce Kidman because her father is a psychologist, a practice the church does not believe in. She also reportedly tried to distance Cruise from the religion and was semi-successful until they intervened, claims the film.

    Kidman has said that she will never truly speak on why they divorced out of respect for Cruise.

    “I don’t want to take away from 11 years with that man that were really important. Really, for our kids — they were amidst a lot of love. It wasn’t bad. And now we’re amidst a more evolved love. I want to honour that marriage for what it was, and there is nothing I would go into about that. I have never discussed the intricacies of it and I never will,” she told People.

    Since then, Kidman has found love again with country singer Keith Urban. They married in 2006 and they share two children together: Sunday Rose born naturally in 2008, and Faith Margaret born in 2011 via surrogate.

    Her career rose to new heights following the split. She won a Golden Globe for her role in Moulin Rouge in 2002, and an Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA for her starring role in Hours in 2003. Her most recent hit Big Little Lies is much-loved by critics, and she’s won many awards for it.

    Cruise went on to marry actress Katie Holmes in 2006, and they share daughter Suri who was born the same year. They divorced in 2012.

    Feature image: Pinterest

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    Take your gown from day to night with a detachable skirt
    In Advice

    Take your gown from day to night with a detachable skirt

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    Choosing the perfect wedding dress is a painstaking process for any bride-to-be. Along with flattering your figure and being within your budget, you want your wedding gown to reflect your personal style. But with so many looks to choose from, it can be hard to pinpoint which one to go for.

    Here’s where detachable skirts come in. This style can transform a slinky number into a full-skirted gown or even a dress into a jumpsuit, saving you from having to choose just one look for the day.

    Here are some gorgeous detachable-skirt wedding gowns we’ve seen: 

    This gown goes from simple and elegant to fun and modern with the simple addition of a skirt.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by The Z Tailors • เดอะซีเทลเลอร์ (@theztailors) on

    The no-overskirt alternative of this gorgeous ensemble is definitely for the more daring bride, but it’s also undeniably haute couture (read: still classy) and a truly different statement look.

    If everyone’s been asking you who wears the pants in your relationship, now they know. This is a particularly clever take on detachable skirts.


    This frothy, tiered, detachable train transforms a body-hugging gown fit for the Met into a modern take on the classic wedding dress.

    This dreamy dress says Grecian Goddess, with and without the detachable skirt, and is utterly elegant.

    The long lacy sleeves, the decadence and the fine detail of this dress with a (detachable) train work together to create a gown fit for royalty.

    Feature image: Pexels

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    In Venues

    Venue spotlight: Bosjes

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    Breathtaking architecture and serene surroundings combine to create one of the most popular South African wedding venues: Bosjes.

    At the foot of the Waaihoek Mountain, situated in the beautiful Breede Valley lies Bosjes, a working Cape Dutch farm meets hotel and bistro.

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    Couples have fallen in love with Bosjes since it was opened to the public in 2016, and it’s clear to see why. The glass-walled chapel features a unique curved roof, making it appear as it the building rests on the body of water. It was designed by Steyn Studio and is inspired by Psalm 36:7

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    Couples wanting to host their wedding at this Avante-garde venue will have to restrict their guest list. Bosjes can only accommodate a maximum of 100 guests.

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    The price of booking this iconic venue includes the use of the chapel, Bosjes Kombuis and gardens, as well as private use of Die Skuur Guesthouse for two nights for a maximum of 13 guests, among other perks.

    For details on hosting your wedding here, read all about Bosjes’s wedding package: Wedding-Package-March-2020-Feb-2021

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    Feature image: Instagram / home_chef_tang

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    Lady Amelia Spencer engaged to SA sweetheart
    In Announcements

    Lady Amelia Spencer engaged to SA sweetheart

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    Lady Amelia Spencer, the daughter of Earl Spencer and niece of Princess Diana, is engaged to be married. The cousin to Prince William and Harry said ‘yes’ to her university sweetheart, Greg Mallett on July 22.

    Amelia grew up in the country along with siblings Lady Eliza Spencer, Louis Spencer Viscount Althorp and Lady Kitty Spencer, who is engaged to South African-born Michael Lewis, the chairperson of Foschini Ltd.

    She met Mallett at the University of Cape Town, where they were both students. They have been together for 11 years.

    Mallett popped the question at the Clouds Wine & Guest Estate in Stellenbosch.

    “So this was the best day of my life. 22nd of July 2020, I asked the love of my life to spend the rest of her life with me and she said YES. Couldn’t be happier and I love you with all my heart @ameliaspencer15,” wrote Mallett on Instagram.

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    Her father, Charles Spencer took to Twitter to express his happiness. According to Spencer, Mallett asked for his blessing before proposing.

    Feature image: Instagram / Greg Mallett

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