Not all couples want to have a classic white wedding. Some prefer to show their true colours, and one of the options for music lovers is to have a punk-themed wedding to reflect their anarchist tastes.
Punk is defined by the DIY zeitgeist, and materials associated with this include denim, leather and tartan. Think brides in Doc martins, visible tattoos and piercings, brightly-coloured hair and grooms in leather jackets. There is also a laizé faire attitude with those who love the punk lifestyle, so don’t expect the reception to be a prim and proper event.
See below for some certified punk wedding inspiration:
Steampunk is a subset of science fiction that successfully marries retro-future design sensibilities with the alternative. It poses an alternate reality where the history of the 19th century Victorian era has modern machines that are powered by steam.
These stories were often set in dystopian London, but can also be the setting of your dream wedding. Think rich gold, bronze metal work and lots of leather (or faux leather, if you are so inclined).
Take a look below for some steampunk wedding inspo:
The practice of carrying bouquets on a wedding day dates back to ancient times. Ancient Greeks, Romans and even Egyptians believed that carrying bunches of herbs and spices would ward off any bad luck during the wedding ceremony. Flowers were used to symbolise fidelity, happiness and new beginnings.
The modern wedding bouquet emerged during the Victorian age, and has become ornamental, as those marrying use specific flowers to communicate various romantic sentiments.
Here are some wedding bouquets that are made of unusual floral choices and other add-ons:
When you are part of a couple that falls somewhere on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, chances are, there are hardships you have had to deal with in expressing your love freely. As a result, most queer couples would like to incorporate one or more of the pride flags into their wedding decor, but how do you do this without it overwhelming the entire aesthetic of your big day?
There are a number of flags that can be incorporated, and each will depend on the couple getting married. These are the various flags:
The Gilbert Baker flag/original Pride flag:
In 1977, Harvey Milk challenged Gilbert Baker, a veteran who taught himself to sew, to come up with a symbol of pride for the gay community. This is how the original Pride flag was born, and it is inspired by Judy Garland’s Over the Rainbow.
The flag made its debut at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade celebration on June 25, 1978. Each colour symbolises the following:
Hot pink = Sex
Red = Life
Orange = Healing
Yellow = Sunlight
Green = Nature
Turquoise = Magic/Art
Indigo = Serenity
Violet = Spirit
The revised Pride flag:
After Harvey Milk was assassinated, many in the LGBTQIA+ community wanted the Pride flag to commemorate all the hard work he did to uplift and build the community. The demand for the flag, however, was greater than the fabric at hand. This is how the original flag evolved into the flag we know today – if you pay attention, you will notice that the hot pink strip is missing.
The Bisexual flag
The flag was designed by Michael Page, and shows the heteronormative colours for boys and girls, and their overlap.
The flag was inspired by an older symbol for bisexuality, which is two overlapping pink and dark blue triangles, often called “biangles”.
The pansexual flag:
This flag was created on the web in 2010, and this flag represents the pansexual love and acceptance of all genders in partners. The pink represents women, while the yellow represents all non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals. The blue at the bottom of the flag represents men.
The asexual flag/ace flag:
The asexual flag was also created in 2010, and was inspired by the logo of the Asexual Visibility and Education network. It represents the identity of asexual individuals, as well as those who are graysexual (individuals who find themselves in a fluid spot between sexual and asexual), and demisexuals (those who are only attracted to partners they share an emotional connection with).
The polysexual flag:
Polysexuality is the attraction to multiple genders but not all, and is often viewed as the middle ground between bisexuality and pansexuality. Polysexuality is widely believed to centre more around attractions to femininity and masculinity rather than gender itself. The pink represents attraction to females; the blue for males. The green is for an attraction to those who don’t conform to either gender.
Agender flag:
While genderqueer people bend the rules of gender, agender people reject a gender completely. For their flag, the black and white stripes represent the absence of gender, while green – the inverse of the gender-heavy purple – represents nonbinary genders.
The genderqueer flag:
Created in 2011 by Marilyn Roxie, the genderqueer flag highlights androgyny with lavender, agender identities with white, and nonbinary people with green. Some people refer to it as a nonbinary flag if they feel “queer” is a slur.
Here are some ideas on how the flag can be incorporated into you PROUD wedding:
The Flamingo Project helps make things easier for women diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving treatment in the public health sector. The project was started by Dr Liana Roodt, and is run from Groote Schuur Hospital.
Dr Firzana Araie is a regular anaesthetist for Project Flamingo and decided with her husband Phillip that they wanted to celebrate their union by having donations made in their name instead of creating a wedding registry. Through this, the couple raised R25 000 for Project Flamingo, which is enough to sponsor a full list of patients.
“Thank you so much to the newly married couple of Dr Firzana Araie and Phillip Sterne,” the Flamingo Project said via a Facebook post.
Project Flamingo raises funds to alleviate the waiting period. Thanks to Project Flamingo, the waiting time for surgery is now down to 2-4 weeks at Groote Schuur. Funds raised for the project go towards offering surgeries, paying for theatre time and nursing staff.
If you’re an LGBTQIA+ couple, there are certain destinations in the world that are beautiful and would make dreamy honeymoon destinations, but are not safe to express your queer love in, as homosexuality is still illegal.
Dreamy destinations such as Zanzibar and Jamaica are among the places where same-sex couples are barred from entering unless their love is kept under wraps, but fret not – here is a list of perfect honeymoon destinations where same-sex couples can enjoy their time together and express their love publically.
Island getaways are one of the most popular honeymoon types, and the Caribbean Islands fit this perfectly with their crystal-blue waters, pure white sand and endless cocktails. While the Caribbean is a tempting destination, queer and same-sex couples should be aware that not all islands are LGBTQIA+ friendly, and these include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Vincent, Dominica, the Grenadines, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Cayman Islands.
The islands of Puerto Rico, Saint Barts, Sint Maarten, the US Virgin Islands and Saint-Martin are suitable destinations for LGBTQIA+ couples to enjoy in peace and fresh matrimony.
Sin City is the perfect honeymoon destination for couples who are fun-loving, and love a bit of wilder time than a simple island getaway. There are countless activities to choose from, including gambling, clubbing and spending the daytime by the pool. There is a particular area of Vegas that has been called the ‘Fruit Loop’, where there are a number of venues and clubs aimed towards the queer community, and this can be found on Paradise Road near the Hard Rock Hotel.
A winelands honeymoon is the perfect way for some couples to bask in the wonders of being newly married. This part of northern California is known for its stunning views, and is also a wildly popular wedding venue. Stunning wineries are sprinkled throughout the valley, and the Mediterranean climate makes every day the perfect day for visiting wine farms and tasting award-winning wines.
Mexican cities that stand out to LGBTQIA+ honeymooners are Puerto Vallarta and Cancún. Puerto Vallarta is known for its old Spanish feel and lively gay scene. There are also countless hotels geared towards those of the community exclusively, so couples have the comfort of knowing they are in a safe space even away from home.
Known for its rain forests, volcanos, and wildlife, this beautiful gem makes for the perfect honeymoon destination. From tree houses to coastal casas, gay and lesbian travelers flock to Costa Rica to experience the simple and laid-back lifestyle. There are tons of LGBTQIA+ properties to choose from across the country. Eco tours, nature hikes, the flora and fauna, and activities will keep you busy for days.
Canada is a huge hit with members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Its friendly citizens and an overall clean atmosphere is a big attraction for those wanting to reset before going into married life properly. Two cities that are most popular include Toronto and Vancouver. Canadian liberal laws protect queer couples, and is hailed as one of the most progressive, gay-friendly tourist bureaus on the planet.
Jasmine and Aladdin will have their happy ending, not only on stage, but in real life as well. Matthew Pomeroy, who plays Aladdin in the production at De Montfort Hall in Leicester in the UK, asked Natasha Lamb, who plays Jasmine, to be his wife during the curtain call.
“The last four years you’ve changed my life. You are the kindest, most caring person,” he said on stage. “Tash, I love you with all my heart. You’re my best friend and if you’ll let me… I want to share my life with you.”
Matthew and Natasha have not yet set a wedding date (Source: Twitter)
Matthew, who is 30 years old, admitted that while he does not usually have stage fright, he was very nervous before this particular performance. He also made sure that both his and Natasha’s parents would be in the audience.
He told the BBC: “It was scary. I hadn’t worked out where to put the ring after my costume change for the finale as it didn’t have pockets – so when I bowed I thought it would fall out the belt.”
“I spend my life on stage – it’s my happy place. Proposing on there fits me perfectly,” he added.
Hillary Duff and Matthew Koma have officially tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony that took place at the couple’s home. The reception was hosted in the backyard, making for a perfectly intimate affair.
Duff and Koma are reported to have an on-again-off-again relationship, but Duff confirmed the pair to be on again in December 2017.
“I think that you have history and a past with someone and love, and just because it doesn’t work out the first time, the second time, as long as there’s not too much damage done then it can always work out again,” she said.
Duff confirmed the marriage Sunday with a gorgeous Instagram post, captioned simply, “This.”
In it, the happy couple appear ready to get into a classic Jeep “woody” decked with flowers and trailing tin cans and with “just married” written on the back window.
World-famous Italian tenor is known for his beautiful vocals and distinctive voice, and recently collaborated with pop singer Ellie Goulding to sing a breathtaking song called Return to Love. He dedicated a Christmas version of this song to his wife, and it will leave you in tears.
Bocelli was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma after a football accident, and went completely blind at the age of 12. Since he first launched his career in 1982, he has recorded 15 solo albums, along with three greatest hit albums and nine complete operas.
Bocelli has said that his success would be nothing without the support of his beautiful wife Veronica. He arranged this beautiful surprise to thank her for all her love and support throughout the years, and blindfolded Veronica before leading her into their house. When her blindfold was removed, she discovered her husband at the piano, along with a gospel choir to serenade her.
Located on Cape Town’s bustling Foreshore lies the tranquil oasis that is the Mangwanani Boutique Spa. This world-class spa is found within The Cullinan hotel, and is the perfect place to unwind for a quick lunchtime massage or an entire day of pampered bliss.
The Mangwanani Boutique Spa is located just by The Cullinan’s poolside (Source: Nidha Narrandes)
Mangwanani Spas are famous across the country for their reliably good service and peaceful experience that leaves the client feeling like they’re floating on a cloud.
Stepping into the spa’s reception area is already a pleasant experience in itself – the staff is friendly and the air smells of the unique oils Mangwanani masseuses use. The masseuse is ready for youe in no time, and you settle down into the soft white massage chair.
I experienced the head and shoulder massage, and it’s one I am eager to have again.
The welcoming area to the massage rooms of the beautiful spa (Source: Nidha Narrandes)
The massage parlour itself is beautiful and dimly-lit – the decor is simple yet tasteful, and the masseuse’s hands transport you to another world as the experience begins. A form you fill out in reception will determine which pressure you prefer during the massage, and Mangwanani Spa’s masseuse applies it perfectly.
The fragrant signature oils used will help you relax even more, and you’ll feel the tension begin to leave your body as the massage progresses.
The music selection is soft and ambient, and only adds to the tranquility of the experience. While you’ve been treated to the most luxurious and relaxing massage of your life for half an hour, it seems all too soon when the masseuse gives you a final pat on your shoulders.
The spa offers a variety of treatments, ranging from manicures and pedicures to full-body massages. Its convenient location makes it the perfect little day-cation spot as well, and the friendly staff will entice you to return again and again.
