Art-lovers will find a new favourite in abstract-inspired wedding cakes. These cakes display the visual language of abstract art, which does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect.
Abstract art is about bold, unregulated design. Much like love, it cannot be controlled and cannot be easily defined because it is all about perspective.
For those who live in the grey area of life, this aesthetic is perfect. You can let your imagination run free with unique strokes, shapes and colours.
Here are some stunning abstract cakes to inspire you:
If you’re a Sailor Moon fangirl or boy, you’re in luck. A new wedding line is bringing the magic of the anime to real life, allowing brides and grooms to dress up like their favourite characters on their big day.
The Pretty Guardian Sailor Moonwedding collection is inspired by the popular Japanese shōjo manga series which has been adapted into an anime series much-loved across the globe.
The collection is created by Japanese fashion line Mariarosa and was completed under the supervision of Professor Naoko Takeuchi. It features six wedding dresses and two tuxedos, and will be available to rent or purchase from August 2020.
“The lineup is rich in variations, including princess serenity dresses and wedding dresses that Usagi-chan wore in the final episode, including those that reproduce the dresses that appeared in the work, as well as image dresses inspired by the work. ..” says the website.
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.
Source: Pinterest
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).
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!).
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.’
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”
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.
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.
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:
