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Kirsten Jacobs

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Do you and your partner share a sense of wanderlust? Or maybe you’re dreaming of a destination wedding but don’t have the funds to make it happen. Fear not. There are many fun and creative ways to bring the world to your wedding.

Adding travel-themed elements to your big day is a great way to honour your love of travel. Using creative decor ideas, you can easily add that sense of wanderlust into your wedding.

Here some ideas to make your guests feel like they’re part of an exciting adventure.

Invitations:

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Escort cards and seating charts:

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Decor:

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Dessert:

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Feature image: Unsplash

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, designers have gotten especially creative. The new trend? Haute couture bridal face masks.

These fashionable designs, created by Winnie Couture, encourage brides and grooms to stay safe and stylish on their big day. Winnie Couture describes them as “protective wedding masks that offer style and safety for engaged couples across the globe.

“Each Haute Mask is handcrafted with the finest wedding attire fabrics and elements, 100% organic cotton lining, and a filter pocket for safe and comfortable wear.”

Masks range from $239-$389, and come in four main variants.

The L’amour mask. Credit: Winnie Couture
The Grandiose mask. Credit: Winnie Couture
The Nior Luxe mask. Credit: Winnie Couture
The Nior Homme mask. Credit: Winnie Couture

The masks are for a good cause as 100% of the proceeds from the collection will be donated to Direct Relief, a non-profit organization that is providing personal protective equipment and essential medical items to U.S. and international health workers responding to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Our most selfless medical heroes are keeping us safe with limited access to protective face masks. In order to contribute to the alleviation of the situation, my team and I have been making hand-sewn cloth masks to donate to hospitals and senior communities,” said Winnie, CEO of Winnie Couture.

Feature image: Winnie Couture

World number 1 tennis player, Novak Djokovic has shared the sweet story of how he surprised now-wife Jelena with an adorable proposal.

Novak and Jelena have known each other since childhood. They met in high school and have been together since 2005. In 2013, Djokovic went to new heights, literally, with his proposal when he took Jelena on a hot air balloon ride.

“She thought we’re going hiking or something like this but we went for a hot air balloon ride. I arranged another hot air balloon in the distance that when we were coming closer to it, it rises and released the banner sign ‘will you marry me”, Djokovic said during an interview on ‘In Depth with Graham Bensinger’.

However, the plan did not go off smoothly. The hot air balloon pilot in the other balloon was struggling to detach the proposal sign. There was also a hole in the balloon, causing it to start sinking.

“So there was a panic as the balloon started going down and she was like ‘oh my god’,” he continued.

As the balloon is sinking, the pilot manages to release the sign.

“And then the thing goes down and I’m reading it slowly because it’s letter up. I’m like what will you marry me. But I’m like its a commercial? Is he crazy at 7:00 am? Why would he want to put a commercial out? It’s not a commercial banner and he’s already down on the knee,” Jelena recalled.

Despite the hitches, the proposal was perfect because Djokovic was able to surprise his future wife.

“She keeps on telling me, she knows me so well that I can’t surprise her. But I am really glad that I managed to surprise her that time when I needed to,” Djokovic concluded.

The pair married on 10 July, 2014 and are still together. They share two children.
Feature image: Instagram/Novak Djokovic

 

Metal singer Marilyn Manson and burlesque performer Dita von Teese seemed a strange romantic pairing, but that’s exactly what drew them to each other.

Both from middle America, the two had reinvented themselves into who they wanted to be. Born Heather Sweet from Michigan, Von Teese became one of the most famous burlesque performers in the world. Brian Warner of Canton, Ohio grew up to be the world-famous controversial and iconic rocker.

After a five-year relationship, the pair tied the knot in a private ceremony at home in Los Angeles in November 2005, then exchanged vows again in a more lavish event at a friend’s castle in Ireland a week later. Their unconventional nuptials were even captured in an iconic spread for Vogue magazine.

Their nuptials went on for several days, starting with a civil ceremony at Von Teese’s Los Angeles home. This location was chosen as many of the churches they approached were apprehensive of having Manson inside their venues, according to Vogue.

Von Teese wore a simple white Moschino suit, designed by the label’s then-creative director, Rosella Jardini for the low-key event. It was Von Teese’s vision to look like “a forties bride going to the courthouse to get hitched before going off to the war” that inspired the design. Manson wore a Dior Homme jacket, a Galliano shirt, and Moschino creepers.

Their formal ceremony was much more extravagent. Held at Ireland’s gothic-style Castle Gurteen,  the wedding was officiated by surrealist film director and comic book writer Alejandro Jodorowsky. Gottfried Helnwein, the owner of the castle, stood as Manson’s best man. The wedding was attended by about 60 guests, including Lisa Marie Presley and Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark.

Credit: Instagram

For the nuptials, Von Teese wore a striking royal purple silk tafetta gown designed by Vivienne Westwood that featured a custom corset for her a 17-inch waist. She accessorised with a tri-corned hat designed by Stephen Jones and custom Christian Louboutin shoes the designer had created just for her. John Galliano designed Manson’s black silk taffeta tuxedo for the big day.

Credit: Pinterest

Of course, the reception was as unconventional as the couple. The banquet table was lined with giant centerpieces of black and crimson rose and featured gold skull-shaped candles. The waitstaff all wore Moschino tailcoats and pipers, and serenaded guests.

Credit: Pinterest

In the days after the wedding, guests partook in skeet shooting, archery and falconry on the castle grounds.

Unfortunately, the pair divorced a year later. During an interview with Khloe Kardashian on the Kocktails with Khloe show, she explained that getting married ruined their relationship.

While they were not friends for a long time after their divorce, the pair are now amicable.

Feature image: Pinterest

 

 

Movie-lovers unite! If a specific movie has a special meaning for you and your partner, why not incorporate it into your big day? The challenge here is to not be overly cheesy with the design.

It’s easy to over-theme a wedding cake, and then run the risk of hating it in the decades to come. Instead, its best to go subtle. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate your favourite franchise into your big day in a way that still looks timeless.

Star Wars:

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Harry Potter:

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Disney:

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Lord of the Rings:

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Feature image: Unsplash

Basketball player Dennis Rodman has made many bizarre moves throughout his career. From his outlandish outfits to his close friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, nothing seems surprising for this iconic public figure.

Another strange moment from Rodman’s life? The time he reportedly married himself in a dress.

While promoting his memoir  “Bad As I Wanna Be” back in 1996, Rodman decided to experiment with cross-dressing. He arrived at a book signing in a horse-drawn carriage escorted by a bevy of tuxedo-clad women, while wearing a custom wedding dress made in France.

At six feet, seven inches, the basketball player caused quite a scene in his wedding dress.

The star then declared that he was bisexual and was marrying himself.

While it was just a publicity stunt, there is no denying that it was effective. His book topped the New York Times bestseller list and remained on it for 20 weeks.

What an iconic moment in celebrity history.

Feature image: Pinterest

The coronavirus pandemic has hit people hard the world over. As many struggle to make ends meet, others are spurred to action. This rickshaw driver decided to do what he could to help those in need.

Akshay Kothawale from Pune, India, saved 200 000 rupees (R48 764) for his marriage. However, the nuptials were cancelled amid the pandemic. Instead of doing nothing, Kothawale decided to put that money to good use by feeding migrant labourers and those in distress in his area. Together with his friends, Kothawale feeds about 400 people per day.

Not only that, Kothawale is also helping senior citizens and pregnant women by offering them free rides to clinics in his vehicle, and is also going around the city to create awareness on the virus and how to protect yourself from it.

Kothawale explains that it was difficult to see so many people suffer, and wanted to lend a helping hand.

“I saw several people on roads who could not even afford to have one meal and were struggling to survive. I and some of my friends then thought of doing something to help the daily wagers and needy people,” he said. “I decided to use my savings for the cause and some of my friends also chipped in,” said Kothawale.

“Using my auto-rickshaw, we distribute one-time meal among people at Maldhakka Chowk near the railway station, Sangamwadi and Yerawada areas.”

The group plan to continue this feeding scheme until May 31, as their funds are lessening.

Feature image: Unsplash

 

Project Runway judge, New York Times best-selling author Elaine Welteroth said ‘I do’ to musician Jonathan Singletary in a virtual block party wedding outside their New York apartment.

Elaine and Jonathan met at the young age of 12 through church, but it was only in 2013 when the pair would be reunited as adults that a romance began to blossom. They became engaged in 2016. Their wedding date, May 10, 2020, was chosen for its special numerical order:  5-10-20.

“There was so much symbolism in this sequence of numbers [5-10-20] that only come together once in a lifetime,” Elaine explains to Vogue. “Also, it fell on a Sunday—the day we met as kids and saw each other every week growing up. But it wasn’t just any Sunday, it would be Mother’s Day!”

They were meant to marry at a church friend’s home close to the church in Northern California where they first met. However, with the coronavirus pandemic, those plans were cancelled. Instead, they threw a “virtual quarantine wedding” on their stoop in Brooklyn.

Their friends and family all jumped in to make sure the new plan was a success. The stoop was decorated with a whimsical floral arch that framed the front door.

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All 200 guests, even the ones attending via Zoom, were given a white dress code. The in-person guests followed social distancing protocols and were provided gloves and masks on-site in addition to white parasols, bubbles, seeds to plant flowers, and homemade brownies from Elaine’s mom’s family recipe in a gift bag.

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The bride made her walk down the ‘aisle’ wearing a label-less dress she’s owned for years, and her mother’s wedding veil. She even did her own makeup in the backseat of a car.

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The wedding was officiated via Zoom by Dr. Stanley Long, the founding pastor of South Bay Community Church, the couple’s home church in California.

Then, the virtual block party began. Each guest had been sent a playlist to join in on the party. Their friend also DJ’ed live for the guests.

Even though it wasn’t the wedding they had planned, it was still a special one because their loved ones were there and they could hold it on their original date.

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Feature image: Instagram / Vogue

 

 

If you’re not one for grand occasions, why not go for something more relaxed and intimate? Picnic-style weddings are perfect for boho brides and grooms.

Lovers of the outdoors will rejoice in this wedding style that celebrates nature. Another bonus is that it’s relatively easy to plan. All you need is a beautiful outdoor space, some cosy blankets and pillows, and low boards to act as a table. Voila!

Here are some inspo pics to help you plan your own big day:

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Feature image: Unsplash

From terrible tragedy, this couple found love. One of the most terrifying mass shootings in the US became a turning point for Austin Monfort and Chantal Melanson.

Austin Monfort and Chantal Melanson first met at a Las Vegas country bar in September 2017. Monfort made enough of an impression on Melanson that she invited him to hang out with her at the Route 91 Harvest music festival outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Vegas.

It was at this festival that gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on 22 000 unsuspecting partygoers. The Las Vegas mass shooting has since become the deadliest of its kind in modern US history. 58 people were killed and more than 850 injured.

Monfort instinctively felt the need to protect Melanson when the gunfire began.

“I felt a sense of responsibility for Chantal,” he told People. “She was with me and not her friends. I felt like not only did I have to get myself out, but also her. Keeping her calm and getting her out kept me calm, and didn’t allow me to panic.” He helped guide her to safety, much to Melanson’s appreciation.

“I remember laying on the ground just looking into Austin’s eyes, trying to make sense of everything,” she said. “Next thing I knew, Austin was holding my hand and we were running through the entire grounds trying to make it to safety.”

“I felt safe with him — I didn’t want to leave his side,” Melanson said. “In many ways, he did save my life.”

This tragic, frightening night bonded the two together. They stayed in contact over the following months, eventually falling in love. They became engaged in March 2019, and have since married at a San Diego, California, courthouse.

Their traditional ceremony was planned for May 8 of this year in Vegas. However, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the pair have postponed their big nuptials.

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Feature image: Instagram / Tragedy to love