Kirsten Jacobs, Author at Wedding ETC

In News

Bride demands refund after photographer supports BLM

June 18, 2020 No Comments

A bride reportedly demanded a refund from her wedding photographer after they publically supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, but her actions ended up backfiring.

Shakira Rochelle of Shakira Rochelle Photography is just one of many business owners who voiced their support for the movement, which has gained renewed traction in the wake of George Floyd’s death. On June 6, she took to Instagram and posted this image, captioning it “Shakira Rochelle Photography stands in solidarity with the black community. The black lives matter movement has my endless support.”

View this post on Instagram

Shakira Rochelle Photography stands in solidarity with the black community. The black lives matter movement has my endless support ✊?.

A post shared by Shakira Rochelle? (@shakirarochellephotographyy) on Jun 5, 2020 at 5:34pm PDT

This image reportedly did not sit well with one of her clients. A bride-to-be messaged Rochelle asking for a refund back and to be relieved of their contract. In her message, the client explained that they cannot support someone who does not support their beliefs.

“We have done a lot of talking and we cannot bring ourselves to support anyone who is so outspoken on matters that simply do not concern them as well as someone that does not believe that ALL lives matter.”

In response, Rochelle said that their contract is non-refundable, and that it would instead be donated to the BLM movement.

“Unfortunately the contract you signed states that your deposit is non-refundable. I will email you a cancellation agreement shortly that will require your signature to forfeit your date. I wish you a lifetime of growth and I would like to thank you for your donation to Black Lives Matter.”

Rochelle’s friend shared screenshots of the exchange to Twitter, where it quickly went viral. To date, the post has over 1-million likes, 192.4k retweets and 3.7k responses.

I love it here. pic.twitter.com/hKH4WFOSk2

— Q.? (@PINKdot_COM) June 16, 2020

Rochelle has since been flooded with positive support. However, she recently posted to warn that there is a photoshopped screenshot claiming that this was a business tactic to make a profit on the BLM movement.

“This is the most incredibly absurd thing I have ever heard. The original post started out private until a friend asked if she could share it. I never had the intentions or the desire to go viral for this or anything else,” Rochelle explained on her Facebook post. “Prior to this I am already booked until winter. I am not in need for clients or business as I already don’t have enough availability as it is.”

“I considered deleting the original post but it is viral on multiple platforms from other people and deleting it would go against everything I stand for. I have always stood up for human rights and will continue to do so. I have marched with my loved ones as well as alone. My intentions are pure.”

Feature image: Unsplash

In Fashion

Sparkly wedding dresses for the glamorous bride

June 17, 2020 No Comments

A little bit of sparkle never hurt anyone. Glamorous brides who aren’t afraid of a little over-the-top design will love a sparkly wedding gown that shines like the star they are.

Sparkly wedding dresses are perfect for winter weddings or glamorous themes. Go opulent with intricate beading, sequins or rhinestones to elevate your look. Depending on the detailing, these shiny additions can give a vintage effect or go full-on modern day princess.

If you love a bit of glitz and glam, try out one of these gowns.

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Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Pretty in pearl engagement rings

June 17, 2020 No Comments

Many may consider pearls to be old-fashioned and matronly, but we disagree. This timeless gem adds a vintage feel but can easily be updated to reflect more a modern design.

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Trends come and go, but style is eternal. A pearl engagement ring is the perfect choice for a timeless bride. This classic gemstone is also known as the ‘Queen of the gems’ and can be dated back to 520 B.C. A pearl fragement was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, making this stone the oldest known gem to be worn as jewellery.

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The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all revered this gemstone. In fact, the Greek word for pearl can also translate to ‘unique’, in honour of the fact that no two pearls are the same. Pearls quickly became a symbol of wealth and status, and at one point int time, a law was passed allowing only nobles to wear this gem in public.

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Pearls are the only gemstones that grow inside another living organism. They come in various types, which will determine the price. The most rare and expensive is the natural pearl. This type is formed when an irritant like a parasite naturally enters a a bi-valve mollusk like an oyster, mussel or clam. A fluid coats this irritant as a defense mechanism, and continues to deposit multiple layers of this coating until a pearl is formed.

There are an estimated 8000 different species of bi-valve mollusks, of which only 20 can consistently produce pearls. As a result, natural pears are incredibly rare.

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Cultured pearls are made in a similar fashion, except the process requires human intervention. An irritant like a bead or piece of shell, known as Mother of Pearl, is surgically inserted into the mollusk. The cultural process takes years to complete. After 3 years, mussels are at a mature stage and are able to receive an irritant either naturally or via implantation. Once there, it take another three years for the pearl to reach its full size. Only 5% of pearls produced are true gem-quality.

Cultured pearls are grown in pearl farms under strict conditions, and fall into two categories: saltwater and freshwater.

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Imitation pearls are typically made of glass beads coated in a solution made from fish scales. It’s easy to tell whether a pearl is an imitation by rubbing it against you teeth. A fake pearl will glide across, while a real pearl will feel gritty.

While this gemstone is most commonly round, it can also come in alternative shapes like pear or baroque pearls.

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Feature image: Pexels

In Celebs

Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster celebrate 13-year anniversary

June 17, 2020 No Comments

Iconic musician Rod Stewart and English model, photographer and TV personality Penny Lancaster have reached a new milestone. The couple recently celebrated their 13-year wedding anniversary, and they seem happier than ever.

Despite lockdown, the pair still honoured their special day. Lancaster shared an image to Instagram, revealing that the pair went to Hyde Park in London and had a take-out lunch to celebrate.

“Celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary with a trip into London for a take out in Hyde park, cheers everyone ? good health!” she captioned the image.

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Stewart also took to Instagram to express his love for his long-time partner.

“Cheers to my beautiful wife, 13-in-a-row #weddinganniversary,” he wrote.

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The couple began dating in 1999 and married in 2007. Stewart explains that Lancaster changed him for the better and helped him realise the importance of a long-lasting, healthy marriage.

Stewart still seems to be head-over-heels for his wife. Earlier this year, he told The Mirror that, “They have not invented the words for how I feel about her. She is everything”.

They have two children together: 12-year-old Alastair Wallace Stewart and 9-year-old Aiden Patrick Stewart.

Feature image: Instagram / Penny Lancaster

In Celebs

Every British royal bride carries this sprig in their bouquet

June 17, 2020 No Comments

The British Royal family are sticklers for tradition. The many Royal brides who have walked down the aisle over the decades are all connected in a number of ways. From the wedding rings made from the same nugget of welsh gold to brides incorporating orange blossom into their dress design, these royal brides are bonded together forever.

Another thing British Royal brides have in common are their wedding bouquets. While they look different, each royal bride since 1858 has had a spring of myrtle in her bouquet. What’s even more interesting is that the sprigs all come from Queen Victoria‘s 170-year-old garden.

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Myrtle is said to represent love, fertility and innocence. The flower has been growing at Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s holiday home in the Isle of Wight, for about 170 years and its descendants still bloom today. The plant was gifted to Queen Victoria in 1845 by Prince Albert’s grandmother. Queen Victoria planted the myrtle at her home, and her daughter carried a spring from that myrtle bush when she married in 1858.

Since then, myrtle has appeared in the bouquets of iconic royal brides like Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Megan Markle.

In 1923, Queen Elizabeth built on this tradition when she placed her bouquet in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in a gesture of remembrance for her late brother, who died at the Battle of Loos in 1915. She also did this to honour the millions of others killed and injured in World War I. She then continued to walk down the aisle sans bouquet.

Since this day, many other royal brides have followed in her footsteps. The only difference is that they lay their bouquets down after the ceremony, not before. Most recently, Duchess of Sussex Meghan laid her flowers on the tomb as she left the church.

Feature image: Instagram / The Royal Family

In Advice

Whimsical bridal hairstyles for the boho bride

June 15, 2020 No Comments

On your wedding day, you’ve got to be dressed to the nines from head to toe. Your bridal hairstyle helps complete your look and adds to the overall vibe you’re going for.

If you’re a lover of the boho aesthetic, extend it to your tresses. Well-placed sprigs of flowers and unique hair accessories, as well as fun braids and twists will take you bridal look from drab to fab.

Here are some ideas to inspire you:

Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Kid-friendly wedding favours little ones will love

June 12, 2020 No Comments

Wedding favours are the perfect way for newlyweds to thank their guests for attending their special day. They’re often tailored to the couple, and range from edible treats to easily DIY-ed wonders.

Hangover kits are cute and tongue-in-cheek, but not so appropriate for little ones. If you plan on inviting chidren to your wedding, make sure they feel special with a wedding favour designed specifically for them.

Here are some adorable ideas:

Sweet as candy

Colour me impressed

Roast ’em up

Story time

A dough-lightful day

Tic-tac-toe, away we go

Fishing for compliments

Hot chocolate thunder

Also read: How to entertain kids at your wedding

Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Amazing art deco-inspired wedding cakes

June 11, 2020 No Comments

The Art Deco design aesthetic exudes glamour, exuberance and luxury. It first rose in popularity in France before World War I, and quickly came to influence the design of buildings, furniture and fashion.

Art Deco is reminiscent of the roaring 20s, making it the perfect style to incorporate into your big day now that we’re in the new decade. Take inspiration from the style’s bold geometric shapes and rich colours when designing your sweet treat.

Here are some stunning designs:

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Also read: Art-deco inspired wedding decor

Feature image: Pexels

In News

Photographer shoots quarantine engagement over FaceTime

June 11, 2020 No Comments

The coronavirus outbreak has caused many industries to come to a standstill. In the wedding industry, vendors like photographers, musicians and caterers rely on some form of face-to-face contact to carry out their jobs.

As many put their lives on hold, others are getting creative to maintain a sense of normalcy, like photographer Lex Alinsod from the Phillipines.

Although this wedding photographer couldn’t perform his job as normal, he found an inventive loophole to still do what she loves.

Alinsod shot an engagement photoshoot over FaceTime for couple Poy and Jeryl from the Philippines. The pair have postponed their November wedding due to COVID-19, but still wanted to have beautiful images to remember their engagement.

“What inspired me is the drive to still create art and to express myself despite the pandemic. I was inspired by one of the photographers I look up to- Alessio Albi who shoots models virtually using facetime. I want to incorporate it to my field which is wedding photography,” Alinsod told Wedding ETC.

Alinsod used his Photoshop skills to add graphics to the photos. He also asked the bride-to-be to write letters to her partner that he then superimposed onto the photos.

Alinsod says that a Facetime photoshoot brings its own unique challenges.

“The process of shooting on FaceTime is very much different from shooting with an actual camera. There’s an extra challenge to it. Other than directing the poses of the couple, you’ll need to also direct the placing of the camera. Prior to shooting, I asked the couple to give me a “virtual tour” of their place so I would know where is the good light and to also determine where will I let them position.”

The only difficulty he faced was in the quality of the photos because comparing the quality of screenshots to an actual shot from a camera is way different.

This unique photoshoot goes beyond the pandemic, proving that creativity and love cannot be stopped. Despite the tough current climate, this couple will always have these stunning shots to remember that their love is real and survived the unexpected.

For more, visit Lex Alinsod’s Facebook page and Instagram.

Image/s: Lex Alinsod

In Advice

A story of desire: The science of smell

June 10, 2020 No Comments

Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. These senses help us understand and navigate everything around us.

Researchers say humans have 400 smelling receptors and can identify over one-trillion scents. A smell stimulates the olfactory cells in your nose, which sends a message to your brain to help identify that scent and your response to it.

Your olfactory scent can tell you whether there’s freshly baked bread or a newly mowed lawn nearby, without you even seeing it. Some smells create excitement, other evoke a craving, and a few make you turn and run.

Scent goes beyond just identifying your immediate surroundings. It also serves as a form of memory and a message to you and others.

Science historian Diane Ackerman best explained it when she wrote, “A smell can be overwhelmingly nostalgic because it triggers powerful images and emotions before we have time to edit them… When we give perfume to someone, we give them liquid memory. Kipling was right: “Smells are surer than sights and sounds to make your heart-strings crack.”

What wo/men want

Much like how scents can excite or repulse you, the way you smell can encourage those reactions in others. Desire is formed by engaging all the senses, and smell is a key factor.

Scent has been a key element of desire for centuries. It is believed that Cleopatra used cardamom, cinnamon and basil to seduce Mark Antony and Julius Caesar. She would even bathe in a mixture of milk and saffron for its aphrodisiac qualities.

Research shows that people tend to be attracted to certain scents over others. Every person is different and the scent you are drawn to is shaped by a number of external factors. However, there are key aphrodisiac smells said to be particularly potent to humans.

Women are attracted to scents like vanilla, lime, leather, musk and peppermint. Men are drawn to spicier scents like sandalwood, pumpkin pie, citrus, lavender, cinnamon and musk.

Considering this, it’s likely many will revel in Montblanc Legend and Montblanc Explorer, must-haves for the masculine wardrobe. These fragrances are elegant, sophisticated and substantial, perfect for the man who exudes confidence. Legend combines notes of bergamot, lavender, sandalwood and oakmoss to create a contrasting and strong, yet tender, perfume. Bergamot, veviter and patchouli mingle to produce the woody, aromatic and leathery concoction that is MontBlanc Legend.

Beauty is in the (nose) of the beholder

Fragrances smell completely different on everyone. How fragrances mingle with your skin can change based on a number of factors, like your skin’s pH, your hair colour, your hormones and even your diet.

With this is mind, it’s important to remember there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to perfume. Much like a watch or a pair of funky socks, the fragrance you choose is an accessory, an extension of your personality and the image you want to present to the world. Your fragrance can speak volumes to and for you, so take the time to find your perfect perfume and spray away.

Feature image: Pexels