Kirsten Jacobs, Author at Wedding ETC

In Celebs

The most expensive royal weddings ever

July 2, 2020 No Comments

They say you can’t put a price on happiness, but some think differently. Royal weddings are known to be lavish and larger-than-life.

Over the decades, royals across the world have spared no expense to make sure their big day was picture perfect. Here are some of the most expensive royal weddings that have dazzled crowds over the years.

Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini

The Sultan of Brunei’s daughter Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah married non-royal Pengiran Haji back in 2012. The pair wed at the monarch’s 1 700-room palace, and their guest list included 3000 people, which probably greatly contributed to the $20 million cost (R338 718 000) of their big day.

Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano

Spanish Crown Prince married journalist Letizia Ortiz in 2004, before they became King and Queen. The couple had over 1200 guests witness their big day, and was the first Spanish royal wedding in almost a century so they had to do it big.

The bride wore a stunning Manuel Pertegaz gown with gold details and a 14-foot (4.27 metre) train. The wedding reception featured a 7-foot (2.13 metre) high cake and over 1000 bottles of champagne. The government and the Royal House shared the estimated bill of between $25-30 million (R423 397 500 – R508 077 0000).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmnZhevBfiM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Prince Harry and Megan Markle

The fairytale 2018 wedding had a pretty frightening bill at the end of it. The wedding is estimated to have cost about $45 million (R762 115 500), of which $30 million alone was dropped on security to keep the Royal family safe during the day.

Interestingly, the royals paid for the majority of the wedding themselves instead of having the state foot the bill. “As was the case with the wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Royal Family will pay for the core aspects of the wedding, such as the church service, the associated music, flowers, decorations, and the reception afterwards,” read a statement from the Royal Family.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi9mxPjn9NP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock Wedding

Many tuned in to witness South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock become royalty when she said ‘I do’ to Monaco’s Prince Albert II in 2011. The wedding festivities lasted three days.

Wittstock’s Giorgio Armani wedding gown was made of silk, embellished with pearls and 40 000 swarovski crystals. The 450 guest wedding cost the Crown about $65 million (R1 100 833 500).

https://www.instagram.com/p/y6Msw3hCEz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Princess Diana and Prince Charles

The marriage of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles was considered the wedding of the century, and of course it had the price tag to match.

Being such high-profile figures, the royal family shelled out an estimated $600 000 on security and crowd control alone. Princess Diana’s dress cost around $13,000. All together, the wedding is believed to have cost the modern day equivalent of $70 million (R1 185 513 000).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7tu8hYgUfR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Princess Salama

The prince and Princess of Abu Dhabi hold the record for the most expensive modern royal wedding. They tied the knot back in 1981 in a 20 000 seat stadium they had specially built to accommodate the week-long wedding celebrations. The royals dropped a casual $100 000 (R1 693 590 000) on their big day, of which very few public photos exist.

Feature image: Instagram / The Royal Family

In Weddings

The evolution of the rice toss tradition

July 2, 2020 No Comments

The wedding exit is a special moment as newlyweds step out for the first time as a married couple. Traditionally, excited guests line the steps and hurl handfuls of uncooked rice at the couple on their way.

The rice toss tradition is an interesting yet strange one that can be dated back to the Ancient Romans. Here’s how it started and evolved over time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5xgq2cn1Eg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The origin:

In Ancient Roman times, marriage was symbolic of expansion, both in terms of starting a family and growing one’s assets. Because of its affordability and easy availability, rice was used to usher newlyweds into their marriage and encourage both fertility and prosperity. The rice is meant to resemble rain, which is also a positive symbol on a wedding day. Romans also used wheat and oats as alternatives.

The tradition began losing popularity after a rumour grew that birds would eat the rice once the wedding was over and their stomachs would explode from it. In the US, state legislation banned the tradition entirely in 1985 to protect unsuspecting birds. However, this theory has since been proven false, the rice doesn’t actually expand in a bird’s stomach and cause them to explode.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B69Gcb7nlSw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Modern times:

Nowadays, the rice toss doesn’t hold the same weight it once did as modern couples are more conscious of their surroundings. Eco-friendly, alternative options are more commonly used for the perfect exit moment.

If you’d still like to have a rice toss but in a way that’s kinder on the environment, consider using items like dried petals, fresh leaves, or eco-friendly confetti made of growing paper.

Feature image: Pexels

In Legal

More South Africans applying for divorce amid lockdown

July 2, 2020 No Comments

There has been a reported increase in divorce applications and interest since lockdown came into effect in South Africa. The reasons behind the choice, however, are varied.

New stats reveal that South Africa is ranked at number 83 out of 154 countries in the world for its divorce rates. Local law firm DIY Legal says they have seen a 20% increase in divorce applications since level 4 lockdown was instated as the courts reopened for the service. The firm took a deeper look at these concerning stats to understand the reason behind it.

According to DIY Legal, there are many reasons South Africans cite as the basis for wanting a divorce. 16% of respondents said their choice was down to a lack of love, respect or affection from their partner.

Brendan McNulty, founder of DIY Legal, explains additional stressors like unemployment, financial strain and being stuck at home all day also contribute to these statistics.

It is important to note that an increase in divorce rate is currently being experienced worldwide, South Africa is not unique in this regard. There are various reports relaying a surge in divorce applications in China. National media has reported that marriage registration offices in some districts in Xi’an, capital of Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, have experienced unprecedented divorce appointments since their reopening on March 1.

“As a result of the epidemic, many couples have been bound with each other at home for over a month, which evoked the underlying conflicts, adding that the office had been closed for a month, therefore the office has seen an acutely increasing divorce appointment,” an official from the registration office told reporters. “Usually the office would see a wave of divorcement after Spring Festival and the college entrance examination.”

Saudia Arabia has seen a 30% increase in divorce applications, and in Britain the divorce rate increased by 42% between late March and mid-May.

Feature image: Unsplash

In Advice

Ways to bring your love of breakfast into your wedding

July 1, 2020 No Comments

Is breakfast your favourite meal of the day? Bring in your love for the important morning meal into your wedding!

There are a number of ways you can honour breakfast on your big day. Here are some ideas to try.

Have a breakfast wedding:

We’re all familiar with dreamy afternoon weddings that celebrate late into the evening. While this can be a beautiful and more traditional approach, there’s something simply magical about a breakfast wedding. They’re more budget-friendly, offer more flexible timing, and provide a wide variety of foods to serve.

If you’re having a breakfast wedding, it makes sense to offer bars tailored to specific foods. From a coffee or juice bar to a hot breakfast buffet, the options are endless (and delicious!).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBXIvB2gV2F/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Get punny:

There are so many egg-cellent food puns you can use in your big day. Here are a few of our favourites.

Fruity fancies:

Fruits work as amazing breakfast sides and decor. Use aromatic delights like oranges, lemons and grapefruit to add a pop of colour to your big day and get the room smelling like a tropical vacation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-5BVkDAH8h/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B24uEThh1MI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_nImyPA7DW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Sweet treats:

For your wedding cake, you have two options. You could go literal by using popular breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles as alternative cakes, or infuse flavours you commonly associate with breakfast into the cake. You could do a coffee cake or a cinnamon cake or even incorporate your favourite fruits like oranges, blueberries and banana into the decor.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBp_eQQnell/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAP3oQ6nKDU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdFu-I2HiH8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BozI7BEH5Jg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image: Unsplash

In Celebs

Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo celebrate 3-year anniversary

July 1, 2020 No Comments

Childhood sweethearts Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo have officially been married for three years.

The Argentinian sports star and the model tied the knot in 2017 in a star-studded ceremony. The event took place in Messi’s home town Rosario outside of Beunos Aires, and has been called Argentina’s ‘wedding of the century’. Just a few names on the guest list include football stars Neymar, Luis Suárez and Gerard Piqué, as well as international superstar Shakira.

Taking to Instagram, Roccuzzo shared a romantic video flashback to their big day to honour their wedding anniversary. Her caption, written in Spanish, translates to: “I will love you and you will love me, I love you and it’s my only truth And it is our great love, What will never die … ” Happy 3rd anniversary my love. I love you.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCEEgnaJxdR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The pair have known each other since they were children. They met when Messi was five-years-old and Rccuzzo four. They were introduced to one another by Messi’s best friend and fellow footballer Lucas Scaglia, who is Roccuzzo’s cousin.

The pair remained friends and stayed in touch when Messi left Argentina for Spain to play soccer at the age of 13. They began dating in the late 2000s. The pair now live in Barcelona and have two sons.

Feature image: Instagram / Antonela Roccuzo

In Advice

Modern ways to add 80s detail to your wedding dress

June 30, 2020 No Comments

When we think of 80s fashion, cheesy is one word that comes to mind. The popular style of the decade involved tons of primary colour, oversized shapes and lots of lace.

While some may not look fondly on the fashion of the time, fusing retro style elements into modern style is very on trend right now. Popular style icons are influenced by iconic trends from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, and these can be seen from the catwalk to the streets, as well as bridal styles.

Typical 80s trends like puffed sleeves, full skirts, lace detailing and sparkling applique dominated the day. Here are a few ways to incorporate the 80s into your wedding dress in a modern way.

Drama on the shoulder:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBfxu-6nKqj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Kns0sjiXD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CATOWu0gNds/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6TcY26F32D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBSTacGBtZZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Flouncy, flouncy:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBk2bFkpdbd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CByzwQLp09S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBq8vK1DNAw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBc5Mq2lRCS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B61ExSlAPNz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Devil in the detail:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA_a9wljczA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AlgIRnyxN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBS73Kwn-UR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBS0Lr6hJ_7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image: Unsplash

In Celebs

Zoë Kravitz and Karl Glusman celebrate one year of marriage

June 30, 2020 No Comments

Another celebrity couple has reached an exciting milestone in their relationship. Actors Zoë Kravitz and Karl Glusman celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary yesterday, June 29.

Kravitz took to Instagram to honour their big day, simply captioning the image ‘one year.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCOJUmpTKA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Glusman had a bit more to say, writing “One year. Not the year we expected… but I feel like if we can make it through this, we can take on anything. I love you. More than anything. You’re my best friend… you crack me up and you melt my heart… you call me out on my bullshit and you challenge me to grow… I love you for that. And I’ll do anything and everything for you until the day I die. Now let’s go save the world @zoeisabellakravitz”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCURSYjKOp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Kravitz and Glusman said ‘I do’ in Parison June 29, 2019. Zoe’s father, Lenny Kravitz’s 18th-century mansion acted as their wedding venue.

For their big day, Kravitz opted for an ankle-length scoop neck dress with a drop waist and full skirt. Instead of heels, she wore ballet flats. Her hair was elegantly pulled back into a low bun and she accessorised with a headband. Glusman went classic with a simple black and white tux.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6wZa8DpsN_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The wedding was attended by Kravitz’s Big Little Lies co-stars Reece Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Nicole Kidman, as well as mom and dad Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, and step-father Jason Mamoa.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6waUd_Jj-r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image: Instagram / Karl Glusman

In Accessories

Unique wedding cake toppers to complete your cake

June 29, 2020 No Comments

A wedding cake topper is the final element of your wedding cake, giving that last touch to your perfect dessert. These toppers work wonders in personalising your cake.

Wedding cake toppers have decreased in popularity over the decades, with many couples preferring the cake’s detail to be the focus. However, those opting for simpler cake designs will benefit from a unique and quirky cake topping that speaks to the couple’s personality.

From adorable animals to Lego creations, here are some creative toppers to act as the cherry on top of your cake:

Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

An out-of-this-word stone: Peridot engagement rings

June 29, 2020 No Comments

Peridot may be an unusual and largely unknown stone for an engagement ring, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. Modern brides wanting to be different should opt for this unique and incredibly rare green stone that is truly otherworldly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvT47Xnv1g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Peridot is a remarkable stone found in lava, meteorites, and deep in the earth’s mantle. Most of it is formed deep inside the earth when the seafloor spreads and splits the earth’s crust. Rocks from its mantle are then pushed to the surface of the earth. The gem also often occurs in volcanic rocks called basalts.

This unique stone is truly out of this world. According to the Gemological Institute of America, a rare version of peridot was found in pallasite meteorites, remnants of our solar system’s birth. In 1749 a meteorite containing peridot crystals was found on a desolate hilltop in Siberia, and it is believed to have fallen to the earth’s surface some 14.8 million years ago.

In 2005, peridot was found in comet dust brought back from the Stardust robotic space probe.

Some scientists even believe large portions of the moon are made of these crystals.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2iLdLNl0BT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It’s name is derived from the French word ‘peritôt’ meaning ‘unclear’, as a result of the stone’s numerous imperfections and internal fractures. The word also comes from the Arabic ‘faridat’, meaning ‘gem’.

While typically yellow-green in hue, the stone can range in colour from brown-green to pure green.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0q58B7nAtB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Early historical texts suggest it was first mined in an island of the Red Sea called Topazios, now called St. John’s Island or Zabargad.

This stunning stone was much loved by the Egyptians, who called it ‘the gem of the sun’. Some wore it as a form of protection to ward off evil spirits.

Because of its look and hue, peridot was often confused for both emerald and topaz. In fact, the gems on the shrine of the Three Holy Kings in Germany’s Cologne Cathedral are peridots, not emeralds, as was long believed. Some historians even believe that Cleopatra’s extensive emerald collection might have largely been made up of peridot.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYRceDA43t/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Peridot is the birthstone of August babies and also symbolic of 16 years of marriage. It is considered the stone of compassion and believed to bring good health, peace, and balance to relationships.

It ranks a 6 and a half to 7 on the Mohs scale of Hardness, meaning it is durable enough for everyday wear. However, it is sensitive to heat, acids, ammonia, and hot water so wearers must be cautious.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBXl9XepEnt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image: Instagram

In Celebs

Katherine McPhee and David Foster celebrate first wedding anniversary

June 29, 2020 No Comments

Congratulations are in order for Katherine McPhee and David Foster, who recently celebrated one year of marriage.

The actress and singer and her music executive husband both took to social media to express their love for each other on their special day.

“A year ago today I married the love of my life. Thank you for always loving me and inspiring me in all aspects of my life. I love you. Here’s to the future! (Oh and happy anniversary to the other love of my life – this dreamy dress! ?? thank you @ZacPosen!!)” McPhee wrote on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CB_XBsRjVpc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Foster was a little more short and sweet with his message, simple writing “happy anniversary to the love of my life!! Last summer at the beautiful Miramar!!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CB_bmMGnr9_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The couple met in 2006 on the set of American Idol, when McPhee was a contestant and Foster was a mentor. They only began dating in 2017 and got engaged a year later.

They married in 2019 at the Church of Saint Yeghiche in South Kensington, London. It was the second marriage for McPhee and fifth for Foster, who was previously married to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and mother to Gigi and Bella Hadid, Holanda Hadid. He was also married to singer Linda Thompson, the first ex-wife of Caitlin Jenner.

The couple, who have a 35-year age gap, had planned to return to London to celebrate their anniversary, but scrapped those plans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they had a small celebration with friends and family.

Feature image: Instagram / Katherine Foster