Kirsten Jacobs, Author at Wedding ETC

In Venues

Stunning libraries where book-lovers can tie the knot

May 15, 2020 No Comments

If you’ve spent most of your life with your nose buried in a book, a library is the perfect place to tie the knot. This way, you can honour your love of reading without making it a wedding theme that you may deem tacky in a few decades.

There are beautiful libraries across the globe that also double as wedding venues. Here are a few of our favourites.

Centre for the Book – Cape Town

The Centre for the Book in Cape Town city centre has a mission is to promote a culture of reading, writing and publishing in local languages. The library is dedicated to providing book publishing information and advice as well as advocating for, and promoting the culture of, reading, writing and publishing in South Africa.

The building has a stunning domes strium for the central reading room, and a hall that is perfect for receptions.

George Peabody Library – Baltimore

Opened in 1878, this library is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful library spaces in the world. It was designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind, in collaboration with the Peabody Institute’s first provost, Dr. Nathaniel H. Morison.

Six tiers of stately cast-iron columns and ornate railings embellished with gold leaf encircle the Reading Room, creating an ambiance that is both enchanting and scholarly. Filled with over 300,000 volumes of books, the Library creates a stunning backdrop for ceremonies and receptions, providing each with a timeless and storied setting to create your personal memories.

The New York Public Library – New York

Founded in 1895, the New York Public Library is an historic institution and highly sought-after wedding venue. It was even featured in the Sex and the City movie as the place where Carrie got stood up on her wedding day.

The Library’s landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a quintessential New York City icon. Located in the heart of Manhattan, this magnificent Beaux-Arts building caters to intimate gatherings and lavish extravaganzas, lending a sense of grandeur and distinction to any occasion.

Chawton House Library – Hampshire

This stunning restored Elizabethan library located just outside of London was once owned by Jane Austen’s brother. The famous author would often visit the location, and would refer to it as the ‘Great House’ in her letters.

Licensed for civil ceremonies, Chawton House is one of the most unique wedding venues in the UK. As you sweep up the imposing drive, Chawton House welcomes you into an era of elegance, grace and wit. Follow in Jane Austen’s footsteps by dining in the Oak Room, dancing in the Great Hall or strolling across the South Lawn to a classic marquee with your own Mr Darcy or Miss Bennet.

The Signet Library – Edinburgh, Scotland

The Signet Library, situated in the very heart of Edinburgh, Scotland and just a stone’s throw from St Giles Cathedral, is the unique wedding venue of choice for brides and grooms who are searching for a magical combination of breathtaking setting, gorgeous design and details.

There are several rooms to accommodate nuptials of any scale. The Lower Library is perfect for a drinks and canapés reception. The Upper Library can accommodate 50-220 guests for any type of reception from a wedding breakfast to an evening affair.

The Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri

What makes this venue truly unique is its giant display of books outside the library, which makes for the perfect backdrop for book-lovers.

The Central Library offers Kansas City’s smartest wedding venue that will make your day truly special. Simply choose from one of their unique space options that will wow and energise all of your guests. Ceremony rentals include the space, setup/teardown, furniture, bridal/groomsmen dressing rooms, and a rehearsal time.

West Dean College – West Sussex

With award-winning gardens and a gorgeous backdrop, West Dean College and Gardens in West Sussex is the perfect venue for a wedding reception. The unique historic character and beautiful surroundings create a perfect venue set in the picturesque South Downs countryside.

Be wined and dined in the Old Library, Music Room or Old Dining Room or, for larger celebrations, all three rooms are interconnecting. Dinners can be arranged for 10-90 guests. Glittering chandeliers and walls graced with original artwork provide a warm and elegant space with sense of occasion.

The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles

California’s largest new and used book and record store was featured in Flavorwire’s list of The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores In The World, so it must be something special. It features tunnels of books and tons of open space. This venue is perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Feature image: Instagram

In Engagements

Accidentally flushed wedding ring found 80 years later

May 15, 2020 No Comments

What is yours will always come back to you. This saying is especially true for this story. A wedding ring that was accidentally flushed down a toilet back in 1940 has just been found mere metres from where it was lost.

Margarete Herzog accidentally dropped her ring into a public bathroom toilet while she was washing her hands back in 1940. Her daughter, Sonja Güldner, explains to Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung, a Brandenburg-based newspaper that Herzog was heartbroken over the loss.

After all the years, Herzog eventually lost hope that she would ever recover her precious band. She died in 1996 at age 87, never getting the chance to wear her ring again.

Now, however, the ring has miraculously been recovered. According to Beelitz city spokesman Thomas Lähns, hobby metal detectorists uncovered the ring in a fruit orchard near a water mill in the city, only metres away from where it was lost.

“Hobby archaeologists who recently traveled with the metal detector on the site of the old watermill exposed for the State Garden Show and in the immediate vicinity have brought to light all sorts of things, including a gold shimmering ring on which the initials H.H. and the date March 30, 1940 are engraved. ”

The detectorists then took the ring to the civil registry office to find the owner.

“Based on the few details provided, it was determined that Hans Herzog and Margarete Fechner were the only couple who got married on the day engraved on the jewelry,” Lähns said.

Feature image: Unsplash

In Celebs

Celebrity brides who didn’t wear white on their wedding day

May 15, 2020 No Comments

Wearing white may be tradition, but it’s not a rule. Over the decades, many celebrity brides have decided against the expected, instead donning colourful gowns that truly made a statement.

From blush pinks to marigold yellow and even vivid purple, these famous brides have laid a serious case for colourful wedding dresses. Here are some celebrity brides that didn’t wear white on their wedding days

Elizabeth Taylor:

Screen icon Elizabeth Taylor went for bold colour for many of her eight weddings. She wore emerald green for her 1959 wedding to Eddie Fisher, yellow for her 1964 wedding to Richard Burton and a rainbow gown to wed Burton again in 1975.

Also read: Always a bride: Elizabeth Taylor

Keira Knightley:

Not only did she wear a colour-tinted dress, actress Kiera Knightley chose a knee-length dress she already owned. She paired her pale-pink Chanel minidress with sunglasses and a cardigan for her big day, and has since reworn the dress on the red carpet.

Kaley Cuoco:

The Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco married former professional tennis player Ryan Sweeting in 2014 wearing a bright pink custom Vera Wang gown.

Mandy Moore:

Mandy Moore wed musician Taylor Goldsmith in a lacy, tiered pink gown by Rodarte that perfectly complimented her pink wedding colour scheme.

Julianne Moore:

Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore went against tradition for her big day in 2003. Instead of white, she donned a lilac Prada dress featuring a deep v-neckline to marry director Bart Freundlich, who matched witha purple tie and striped shirt.

Sarah Jessica Parker:

The Sex and the City star went polar opposite tradition, opting for a black gown she purchased off-the-rack to say I do to Matthew Broderick back in 1997.

Kristen Bell:

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard tied the knot at a courthouse back in 2013. For their big day, Bell wore a simple black dress.

Anne Hathaway:

Anne Hathawy looked every inch of a princess on her big day. In 2012, she married actor and producer Adam Shulman in a custom-made pink Valentino gown that she accessorised with a beautiful Flapper-inspired headpiece.

Gwen Stefani:

‘Hollaback Girl’ Gwen Stefani had the best of both world’s for her wedding dress. When she married musician Gavin Rossdale in 2002, she did so in a pink dip-dyed gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior.

Dita von Teese:

Living up to their unconventional relationship, burlesque performer Dita von Teese donned a Victorian-inspired violet gown custom designed by Vivienne Westwood when she married metal performer Marilyn Manson.

Jessica Biel:

Jessic Biel wore a stunning cotton-candy pink couture Giambatista Valli gown to marry longtime love Justin Timberlake. The custom stapless dress featured layers of delicate tulle.

Amber Tamblyn:

Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants actress Amber Tamblyn went bright for her wedding dress. She opted for a marigold-yellow gown to say ‘I do’ to actor David Cross in a low-key ceremony back in 2012.

Shenae Grimes:

90210 actress Shenae Grimes went for black dress from Vera Wang’s Fall 2012 bridal line to marry musician Josh Beech in 2013.

Feature image: Instagram / Kristen Bell

In Celebs

Inside Marilyn Monroe’s 3 marriages

May 14, 2020 No Comments

She is a screen icon, a legend and a mystery. Decades after her death, Marilyn Monroe is still much-loved and revered by many. Considering her legendary sex-symbol status, it seems fitting to take a look into her relationships.

The blonde bombshell had been married three times in her short life. Let’s take a walk down memory lane…

Husband 1: Jim Dougherty (1942)

A then-unknown 15-year-old Norma Jean Baker began dating Jim Dougherty, her 20-year-old neighbour in 1941. At the time, Monroe was living with Grace Goddard, a friend of her mother, Gladys, who was in and out of psychiatric facilities.

“They wanted to move back to [West] Virginia, and they couldn’t take Norma Jean,” Dougherty said in an interview. “She would have gone back to an orphanage or another foster home, so her foster mother suggested I marry her.

The pair married a few days after Monroe’s 16th birthday in 1942. Monroe wore a floor-length A-line dress with sheer long sleeves and a ruffled neckline. A few months into their marriage, Monroe was discovered while working at Radioplane Co when a photographer used her as a subject in a project of women working as part of the war effort.

She quickly became an in-demand model, causing a strain on her marriage as her career ambitions rose. The pair divorced in 1946.

Husband 2: Joe DiMaggio

Her career quickly escalating, Monroe met world-class baseball player Joe DiMaggio in 1952. DiMaggio had seen a photo of the actress and asked the photographer to set them up on a date.

They tied the knot on 14 January, 1954 in an informal wedding ceremony at the San Francisco courthouse. For their nuptials, Monroe wore a dark brown skirt suit with a white fur collar and carried a small bunch of orchids. Upon her death, the suit was auctioned off in 1998, fetching a price of $33,350.

This relatively short marriage was also a turbulent one. Monroe had to cut their honeymoon in Japan short to perform for troops in Korea. DiMaggio became controlling of Monroe’s career, becoming a part of all her contract negotiations and restricting the roles she may accept. The pair divorced a mere 274 days after saying I do. Monroe cited “mental cruelty” as the reason for the divorce.

Husband 3: Arthur Miller

Her third and final marriage was to famous playwright Arthur Miller, who she had met on set of the 1951 movie As Young As You Feel. Monroe wrote about the encounter in her diary, saying “Met a man tonight … It was, bam! It was like running into a tree. You know, like a cool drink when you’ve had a fever.” Monroe went on to marry DiMaggio, however, but they began a scandalous affair years later, while both were still finalising their divorces. At the time, the playwright was also under much scrutiny by the FBI under Joseph McCarthy for being an alleged communist sympathiser.

The pair wed on 29 June, 1956 at Westchester County Court in New York. They followed this up with a traditional Jewish ceremony on 1 July at the home of Millers’ Hollywood agent, Kay Brown, in which Monroe also converted to Judaism. Monroe wore a mid-length figure-hugging gown with ruched sleeves for the occasion.

Their marriage was one filled with ups and downs. Both were in the media for having highly publicised affairs, and Monroe suffered many miscarriages that took a toll on her physical and mental health. The pair quickly divorced after filming wrapped on The Misfits, the short story Miller wrote for Monroe.

Monroe passed away in 1962 at the young age of 36. She’s left behind an iconic legacy that will never be forgotten.

Feature image: Pinterest

In Celebs

Leigh-Anne Williams and Masterchef Australia star reportedly engaged

May 14, 2020 No Comments

South African radio and TV presenter Leigh-Anne Williams is reportedly engaged to Masterchef Australia star Ben Ungermann

Australian Woman’s Day magazine claims that Williams and Ungermann have been in a secret relationship for over a year. The pair met on William’s Good Hope FM afternoon show when Ungermann came to give a cooking demonstration.

“The chemistry between the two was instant when he appeared on Leigh-Anne’s afternoon show on Good Hope FM, where she told the father of three that he was ‘very easy on the eyes’, writes Australian Woman’s Day Magazine.

It is clear that Williams is in a relationship. On 19 March, she celebrated her one-year anniversary while on vacation in Indonesia, and shared an image of a male silhouette that looks much like Bens.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B96iycEBN7g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Leigh-Anne also took to Instagram to wish Ben a happy birthday last month, writing, “A whole birthday boy!!! Who loves ‘KAAPSTAD’! To one of the kindest, most beautiful and caring human beings I know. Happy Birthday @ben_ungermann!!! Wishing you an amazing and blessed day! May you receive all the love that you’ve always shown those around and may you always be blessed in everything you do. Sending you birthday hugs all the way from SA. Happy Happy Happy Birthday. Show him some SA love fam❤?????”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_o8q10habT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The pair were reportedly spotted together in Melbourne, Ben’s hometown, earlier this year and Williams was wearing an engagement ring.

If it is true, congrats to the happy couple!

Feature image: Instagram

In Celebs

Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown re-proposes after cancelled wedding

May 13, 2020 No Comments

The coronavirus pandemic may have paused nuptials over the globe, but it doesn’t stop love. Amid quarantine, Queer Eye host Karamo Brown has fallen in love with his partner all over again and decided to pop the question a second time.

Brown and fiancé Ian Jordan have been together for eight years. They first became engaged in May 2018 on Jordan’s 40th birthday and were meant to marry this year. However, their wedding had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

The couple have been quarantining together and throughout their time spent at home, Brown has fallen even more in love. So much so, that he proposed again on Jordan’s birthday.

In a sweet video shared to Instagram, Brown shows the special moment he went down on one knee.

“I’m Engaged… Again!” Brown captioned the video. “During this Quarantine I have fallen even deeper in love w/ my fiancé @theianjordan so on his bday / which is also our anniversary I proposed again. Our wedding has been canceled/postponed like so many other people but I still wanted to celebrate our love. I love you Sugah! ❤️❤️❤️

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGbi5RJ746/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Brown didn’t come empty handed. He proposed with a new engagement ring as Jordan had lost his original one.

Feature image: Instagram / Karamo

In Hair

Easy hair tutorials to follow for your at-home wedding

May 13, 2020 No Comments

Even though we can’t have formal weddings right now, doesn’t mean you can’t still have an at-home celebration!

Many couples have taken to livestreaming their big day via Zoom or social media to share their wedding with loved ones. If you plan on doing the same, you’ll want your bridal look to be on point.

Unfortunately, since you can’t have a professional hairstylist do your hair right now, you’ll have to do that part yourself. Luckily, there are tons of easy-to-follow Youtube tutorials that can help even the most uncoordinated person look sleek and stylish.

Here are a few different styles you might want to try out:

Feature image: Unsplash

In Planning

Get planning at SA’s first Virtual Bridal Fair

May 13, 2020 No Comments

Get ready to plan your wedding without leaving your home. SA Bridal Fairs is hosting the country’s first ever virtual bridal fair, allowing people to still plan their big day during lockdown.

Brides and grooms can attend this virtual fair to get expert help on everything wedding, from wedding cakes, dresses, photographers, catering, venues, wedding planners, and much more, all from the comfort of your couch.

How it works:

On the day of the event, you will use your Registration Username & Password to enter the Virtual Bridal Fair. Attendees will then work their way through each exhibitors page, interacting with those you wish to, entering the competitions and so on.

There are three ‘halls’ featuring approximately 30-50 suppliers depending on province. Exhibitors at the Virtual Bridal Fair will be available to chat to brides and grooms via Live Chat channels. There is also the Bridal & Bridesmaids Gowns Show, showcasing a number of designs from local bridal boutiques and dressmakers, as well as the Bridal Information Pack Area.

You will also find the Magazine zone and the Quick Quote System – On the last page you will be able to click on the exhibitor booth of any particular exhibitor to go back to ‘find out more’ etc.

The SA Virtual Bridal Fairs events will take place on the following dates:

Sunday 17th May – KZN

Sunday 24th May – Gauteng

Sunday 31st May – Western Cape

Sunday 14th June – Free State

Sunday 21st June – Mpumalanga

Sunday 28th June – Eastern Cape

To attend, simply register on the Bridal Fairs website and purchase your tickets. Each Registration Pass recipient will also receive a free Bridal Information Pack which includes the 75+ page Wedding Planning Template Bundle, the Wedding Planning Roadmap, the Weddings Suppliers Printable Directory, the SA Bridal Deals Ebook and more.

Purchase your tickets HERE. Early bird tickets cost as little as R25.

Visit the SA Bridal Fairs website for more information.

Feature image: Unsplash

In cake

Sweet treats to serve on your big day

May 12, 2020 No Comments

Your wedding cake may be the main event on the dessert table, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with some other sweet treats!

For those that aren’t cake people, having an alternative dessert options is really great and inclusive. We love smaller, individual treats because they’re easy to serve and look super cute too! Another bonus: they can double as a take-home wedding favour.

From macarons to donuts and crocombouche to churros, here are a few delectable dessert ideas your guests will absolutely love:

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Feature image: Unsplash

In cake

Purchase a wedding cake topper with Slash’s real hair

May 12, 2020 No Comments

A cake topper from Guns n Roses guitarist Slash’s wedding is currently for sale on eBay for $3000. The decoration reportedly features his actual hair.

The cake topper shows the figurines of a man and woman. The woman’s arms are outstretched seemingly pulling the man back toward her.

The decor has been certified by Julien’s Auctions to be from Slash’s 2001 wedding to Perla Ferrar. Upon the couple’s divorce in 2018, the cake topper was given to the auction house.

“Lot 112 is a sculpted plastic wedding cake topper custom fitted with top hat, veil and hair to represent Slash and Perla,” reads the text. “We are herein stating in writing that when Perla Hudson cosigned this property to Julien’s Auctions, she indeed told us that the hair on the cake topper belonged to Slash.”

If you’d like to purchase this topper, here’s the link to eBay.

Feature image: eBay