Bridal Party Archives

In Bridal Party

How to throw a ‘Bridgerton’ themed bridal shower

May 10, 2022 No Comments

Similar to Lady Whistledown’s society papers, Bridgerton is all anyone has time to talk about these days. The Netflix period drama has spawned a plethora of Regencycore-inspired home decor and fashion pieces and has gone on to take over the world of weddings too.

Pinterest, the one-stop for all things wedding inspo, has been dishing the dirt on what brides-to-be have been searching on the platform, and it looks like Bridgerton-inspired bridal showers are all the rage right now.

If your very own ‘Simon’ has gone down on one knee, you may be thinking about your bridal shower. With so many wonderful ways to incorporate the Bridgerton theme into your bridal shower, here are a few of our favourites:

A Tea Party Worthy of The Queen

Is there anything more regal than a sophisticated tea party? According to Pinterest, search terms have soared in relation to tea parties as a Bridgerton bridal shower idea. Grab your most sophisticated tea cups, three-tier platters, colourful macarons, florals, and a variety of tea flavours to sample. Make things extra special by creating a Bridgerton-inspired cup/mug for your bridal crew to take home with them, PostNet can be a good spot to do this.

Bridgerton-themed bridal shower — Picture: Pinterest

Pearl Decor

Another aesthetic that ties in nicely with the Recencycore aesthetic, and which has been making waves on Pinterest, is pearl decor. Keep things simple by including pearls in your bridal shower through pearl hair clips, or pearl garland decor.

Puff Sleeves?

Take things up a notch and really get into the theme by incorporating puff sleeves. You can keep things subtle by simply asking guests to wear puffed blouses or dresses – a great way to add a modern twist to your period-themed bridal shower.

‘Bridgerton’ Inspired Hairstyles

No theme is complete without the quintessential hairstyle. Plenty of curls, puffy hair, and pearl hair clips seem to be theme when it comes to hairstyles associated with the regencycore aesthetic. If you’re feeling brave, go for something as daring as Queen Charlotte’s puffy hair-do or Daphne’s long flowing curls.

An abundance of floral

One thing that stands out when you watch the Bridgerton series is the bold colours, especially when it comes to floral. Now, adding flowers to any event can be quite pricey, so set a budget and stick to it. Grab a few of your favourite vases and add colourful roses (or your favourite bouquet of flowers) across the table. If you’re looking to keep things affordable and sustainable, try dried bouquets. You’ll be able to reuse it at your wedding ceremony.

Picture: Netflix

In Bridal Party

How to combine your bachelorette and kitchen tea

February 18, 2021 No Comments

Times have changed and so have traditions. It’s the year 2021 and most people have been greatly affected by the pandemic. Budgets are tight and health concerns are real. If you’re getting married but don’t feel you need to have both a bachelorette and a kitchen tea, there are several ways to combine them into one awesome bridal event.

There are loads of benefits of combining the two events into one. Weddings tend to happen in a shorter span of time between getting engaged and getting married due to ever-changing COVID-19 regulations. One bridal event will save time and energy, as well as money. It will also mean you get exposed to fewer people and environments, keeping your immediate bubble small and staying within that bubble instead of hanging out with different groups of people.

Here are some ideas of ways your bridal event can include everyone from your mom and aunt to your besties. Activities that everyone will enjoy and don’t break the bank is the way to go.

Private picnic

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Picnics never get old. It’s chic, low-fuss and absolutely yummy. You can choose a theme or let the theme be the food! Gather your closest ladies and avoid the crowds by finding a private spot. You can also book a picnic from a vendor so it can be all set up in a cosy little nook when you arrive, ready to dig in.

Day by the pool

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It’s summer! Sun’s out, which means bikinis and sarongs are on. Plan a fun day of leisurely lounging by the pool if you have access to one. Make cocktails together and get your dose of Vitamin D. Remember to wear adequate sunscreen, hats and seek out some shade every now and then.

Board and card games

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Who doesn’t love a good games night? Collect all your favourite board and card games and let your competitive side take over. You can even go as far as to place bets so there’s real incentive to win, or take it easy and just have a good laugh with your mates for the sake of it.

Cook or bake together

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Food, glorious food. Whether you’re an aspiring fine-dining chef or just a plain old sweet tooth, get everyone together for a day of creating a beautiful meal, dessert or even just snacks. You can go for a cooking class or go DIY, as long as you walk away with a full belly and happy heart. Oh, and don’t forget to open a bottle of wine.

Spa day

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Look, we’re not saying it’s never been done before. But honestly, who wouldn’t want to do it again (and again and again)? Book a day at your favourite spa for some serious relaxation. Plus, it will leave everyone looking and feeling refreshed and in top form for the big day!

Picture: Pexels

In Advice

Non-traditional bridal shower ideas for a memorable day

December 10, 2020 No Comments

Traditional bridal shower games can be quite overdone. We’ve put together our top 4 bridal shower ideas that will be super helpful for the bride-to-be and also something that she can cherish for a lifetime.

1. DATE-NIGHT JAR

Get a friend to hand out a strip of paper to each guest when they arrive. Ask each guest to write about the best date night they’ve ever had, or a date night idea on the paper. Each guest can drop their idea into a large mason jar and the married couple can pick one out whenever they want to plan a special evening.

2. RECIPE BOX

When you’re sending out the bridal shower invites, attach a blank card to it, for guests to write their favourite family recipe. To avoid duplicate recipes, give each guest a category (snacks, appetizers, mains and desserts). Each guest will bring their recipe card to the shower to compile them all in a cute box. Present it to the bride as a gift.

3. ADVICE/FAVOURITE MOMENT BOOK

Moms and grans will really appreciate this one. Get a scrapbook and ask all of the married women in the family to fill one page of the book with their best marriage advice for the bride; their favourite memory with the bride and groom and their wishes for the bridal couple. Don’t forget to reach out to the groom’s family as well!

4. ANNIVERSARY BOX

You’ll need envelopes and blank cards for this one. Number an envelope for each guest attending the shower. Each guest’s number will represent an anniversary. Ask them to write a happy anniversary note on their card for the bride and groom. Pop them all in a box and let the bride know that they can only open each envelope when they reach the anniversary number on the envelopes!

Image: Unsplash

In Bridal Party

Creative activities to do for your bachelorette party

November 6, 2020 No Comments

Bachelorette parties are traditionally all about painting the town red and going wild in celebration of your last night as an unmarried woman. While clubbing is fun, it’s not for everyone.

Brides who aren’t into the nightclub and stripper scene don’t need to feel any pressure to conform to tradition. Many modern brides are opting for alternative activities where they can enjoy their time with their best friends in a less chaotic way that is less likely to end with a hangover and regrets.

If you’re the artsy type, there are a host of creative activities to spend your time doing. Here are a few of our favourites.

Painting party

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A post shared by Pinot & Picasso Rouse Hill (@pinotandpicassorousehill) on Nov 4, 2020 at 12:20am PST

Channel your inner artist with a painting party! You can easily DIY this by purchasing canvases, brushes, and paints for all your guests. Set the canvases up against mini easels, and arrange them in a circular fashion around the specific item being painted. To add a raunchy spin, you can have a nude model to pose for the art.

Turn it into a painting and pinot party with a selection of your favourite wines to get the creative juices flowing. We promise a pretty hilarious outcome.

Dance Class

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Whether you have two left feet or you’re footloose, you can’t deny that dancing is a great way to loosen up and get the laughs going.

Gather your best girls and head out to a dance class to show off your moves. Any dance style would work, although those wanting to be daring should definitely try a pole dancing class. You could make it even more fun by dressing up in matching costumes and performing a sassy routine.

Cooking class

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Who doesn’t love good food? Hire a professional chef or visit a cooking school to learn some new dishes with your best friends. You’ll work in teams to prepare starters, mains, and desserts, and in the end, you can have a sit-down dinner party to feast on your creations.

Host a photoshoot

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You’ll (hopefully) want to remember your bachelorette for the rest of your life, so why not have it professionally immortalised? Hire a professional photographer to take some glamour shots of you and your girls looking your best. You can theme the shoot or have multiple locations, and of course, all the outfit changes.

In 20 years, you’ll look back at all those images and fondly remember your single days.

Picture: Pexels

In Bridal Party

Bridal shower vs bachelorette party: What’s the difference?

October 26, 2020 No Comments

Picture this. You’re surrounded by the women in your life: your mother, grandmother, and future mother-in-law are all smiling at you as you unwrap a gift from a friend. To your dismay, it’s a dainty piece of lacy lingerie that you now have to show everyone.

With so many different pre-wedding events, it’s easy to get confused. While they seem similar on the surface, a bridal shower and bachelorette party are designed for different audiences.

We’re here to help clear things up to avoid these awkward situations.

Bridal shower

This is the tamer party of the two. Normally a brunch or high tea, it’s a lovely gathering with yummy treats, delicious drinks, and good old-fashioned bonding. Back in the day, this was the event at which the bride was presented with all the things she would need for her kitchens, such as crockery and tea towels. Hence it’s also known as the kitchen tea. Now that times have changed, you can present the bride with whatever you want – just make sure the gift is PG!

This is the event your gran and niece will attend and is also a good opportunity to spend some time with your mother-in-law, away from all the wedding chaos. Get some advice from the married women in your life, enjoy delicious finger sandwiches, and sip on some bubbly. There are also a great number of family-friendly games you can play to break the ice and help both sides of the family mix and mingle ahead of the big day.

Bachelorette party

When the cucumber sandwiches are finished and the sun goes down, it’s time to gather your girlfriends and paint the town red. Some brides opt to have the bridal shower and bachelorette party on the same day as all the people you’re having at your wedding are all in one place, but it’s really up to you.

The bachelorette party (or hen night) is a chance for you to let your hair down and have some fun with your friends. This is usually the place where the naughty gifts – think toys for the bedroom – and craziness appear. For lots of people, a bachelorette party is just that – a party. But it doesn’t have to be. You can indulge in a spa day, cocktails, dress up, dress down, it doesn’t matter. As long as you have fun.

Picture: Pexels

In Advice

5 things to consider when planning your wedding registry

October 8, 2020 No Comments

It is very frustrating to receive three of the same thing from different people as a wedding gift. This is because people think in similar ways and they normally don’t know what to get you and so they resort to common gifting. As the bride, you can avoid this and the admin that comes with it. Here’s how:

Don’t wait until the last minute

Start planning and send out your registry ahead of time, you want your wedding registry to be one of the things you do at the beginning of your wedding planning.

Making and setting up a registry takes more time than you might expect it and deserves your attention because you won’t have time to redo it.

Be realistic and practical

In your wedding registry, you should already be thinking ‘home’ and because of that, your gifts should be practical items that will make the transition of starting a new life easy.

Make a list of things you want in your house but won’t be able to get soon, these should be the gifts your friends and family get you.

Also be mindful of the people buying, you don’t want to make them pay exorbitant amounts but you don’t want cheap gifts, so get a few quotations on each item.

Share your registry

Once you’ve created your wedding registry, make sure you share it with your guests.

This includes coming up with easy ways to access your registry. It could be online where a person can click and get it or share a link with your guests.

Make sure to have a checklist option available for you and the people buying gifts, this makes it easy to see what has been bought and what is left.

Make it a joint project

Put aside some quality couple time to contemplate your future life together and think about what kinds of gifts would make you happy.Your partner must have input on the registry because this is the beginning of your life together, you don’t want anyone feeling left out.

Look for great deals

Before choosing where to register, find out what kinds of perks and discounts you might get.Approach your desired shops for a registry, they usually give discounts for bulk registry purchases.This option helps get expert advice from someone who’s knowledgeable.

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

5 unusual bridal shower themes

September 22, 2020 No Comments

Throwing a bridal shower should be a fun and exciting event, but it’s a headache for many. It’s hard to be original and unique in a world where everything has been done.

We’ve put together some inspiration for fun, unusual themes for the unconventional bride and her ladies. From the deep blue sea to outer space, take a look at these interesting themes you never thought to turn into a bridal shower.

Bohemian

If you and your friends are not about the glitz and glam, consider a bohemian theme for the bridal shower. Think rustic, dreamy and earthy. Incorporate plants and flowers, wooden decor, feathers and beads. You can specify the dress code, for example everyone has to wear a headband, feathers or flat sandals.

Enchanted Forest

If you have always wanted to live in a fairy tale, this is your chance. Think everything magical. Candles, roses and of course, glitter. Colours that work well are gold and silver, and metallics like pink and purple.

Under the Sea

Mermaids, listen up! Go all out ocean vibes. Tranquil blues and greens, sea horse and star fish decor and faux-coral. Tropical-styled music will add well to the beach atmosphere, and make sure you have vibey cocktails.

Casino Royale

Get your poker face on for this one. Red, black and white are the colours of this glamorous evening. This is a great opportunity to dust off your high heels and show off your gambling skills. You can even watch the movie for the final touch.

Intergalactic

Interested in space? Glow in the dark is the way to go. The sun, moon and stars are the decor inspiration. Get space-themed food and drinks that will ensure a stellar party. Don’t be afraid to turn Star Wars-themed if the bride is a fan.

Images: Pinterest

Featured image: Unsplash

In Advice

Spring into the new season with these vibrant bridesmaid dresses

September 7, 2020 No Comments

Spring has officially begun in the Western Cape. All across the province, the floral kingdom is coming alive and bringing stunning scenery along with it.

This season is a beautiful time for weddings. Bridal parties should reflect the vibrant season and go bold with floral fabrics and fun hues.

Pinks, blues and greens are the perfect colours to complement this theme. Opting for mismatched bridesmaid dresses adds even more to the aesthetic, turning your beautiful bridesmaids into the flowers they are.

Here are some delightful dresses to inspire your own:

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

Feature image: Pexels

In Bridal Party

The origin of the flower girl

June 8, 2020 No Comments

Adding a touch of childlike wonder to weddings for as long as we can remember, the flower girl is not only adorable but is a well-loved wedding tradition too. The meaning and origin of the practice, however, is far from romantic.

There are two main things this tradition is connected to. According to Readers Digest, it signifies the bride losing her innocence and is based around fertility (like many other wedding traditions are).

In ancient Rome, most marriages were arranged and their purpose was more to ensure that the family name gets passed along to children, rather than for love and happiness. In those times, Readers Digest reports, only young people would attend to the bride.

A young girl would walk down the aisle before the bride in order to toss wheats and herbs on the walkway. This was done in order to bless the couple with fertility and prosperity, and of course, to chase away those pesky evil spirits. In the Medieval times, the tradition was roughly the same, however little girls scattered garlic rather than wheats and herbs.

From here, the tradition of little girls walking down the aisle with a bouquet of flowers became what it is today.

Readers Digest also reports that another point of having a little girl walk down the aisle first was to represent the transformation – showing the bride going from being a child to an adult. This is also why flower girls are often dressed similar to the bride.

Brides reports similar origins, however, they attribute the beginning of this tradition to the Greeks, in addition to the Romans.

As the tradition evolved, in the Elizabethan era, the flower girl (and all other children in the bridal party) were included to represent the idealisation of childhood, according to Brides. People during that time saw kids as a representation of hope and innocence.

Further along in history, in the Victorian Era, flower girls began to look more similar to those of today. They carried baskets of blooms and wore a floral loop on their heads, which represented everlasting, or unending, love.

Today, we still include children in our wedding parties. However, it’s unlikely that many people practicing the tradition believe it will bring them fertility, nor do they prescribe to the idea that by getting married a bride is giving away her “innocence”. The practice, these days, commonly revolves around the cute factor and the idea of having little nieces and nephews being part of such a special day.

Also read: The history of the ring bearer

Image: Unsplash

In Bridal Party

Bachelorette party squad photo inspiration

March 26, 2020 No Comments

As the last fling before the ring, your bachelorette party is a special time to celebrate with your nearest and dearest. Whether you’re going big with a destination trip or laying low with a casual day in the sun, you’re going to want to remember this day.

Regardless of your plans, there are so many fun group picture ideas that will show the ‘gram exactly why you all are squad goals. Don’t forget to cement those memories with one of these fun photo ideas:

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Feature image: Unsplash