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Bridal shower etiquette: Tips to remember

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Bridal showers are one of the most popular pre-wedding occassions. The event is a party in honour of the bride and a step towards preparing for married life. Brides look forward to spending quality time with their closest female friends and family, and having all the important people get to know each other before the big day.

This can be a heavy weight on the shoulders of those planning the bridal shower. There are quite a few things that need to be kept in mind. We’re quite certain that you want to make the day as amazing as possible.

Here are a few tips to help you ensure that things run smoothly and turn out perfectly:

– Who hosts and pays? 

Usually, bridesmaids are the ones who take control of the bridal shower. In fact, tradition (which has changed with the times) says that the brides family should not throw the shower. These days, however, the bride or grooms mother may be involved in organising too. The bride should barely be involved in the planning!

– When and where should it be? 

The bridal shower can be held from about 3 months before the wedding to a few weeks before.

The venue depends on the individual circumstances. If the host has a big enough space at home then it could be held there. It could also be at a family members home, or a restaurant.

– Who is invited? 

Most importantly, only people who are invited to the wedding should be considered for the bridal shower. Included in the guest list should be the bridal party, the bride and grooms mothers, female family members, and female friends. It is not necessary to invite every single woman in the brides life, just the most important ones.

– When to send out invites? 

You should aim to send out the invitations about a month before the time for the latest. This ensures that guests save the date well in advance. It also ensures that guests can plan gifts and travel (if they live far away).

Extra tip: on the invitation you should include the brides name, the hosts information, date, time, location, RSVP information and registry information. Your invite sets the tone for the event, so make sure it looks good too!

– What food do I serve? 

Since this is a celebration, it would be appropriate to have some cake and desserts. Finger foods such as sliders, savouries, and sandwiches are also a good addition.

Alcoholic beverages are acceptable, but make sure you keep it classy. Go with some champagne or cocktails. You can also serve tea and coffee towards the end of the event.

– Are there any traditions to follow? 

It is generally not necessary to follow tradition if you don’t want to. However, some traditions include having something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue handed over to the bride. Another one that is quite popular is creating a bouquet using the ribbons from gifts and using the bouquet at the rehearsal.

Tradition also says that the shower should include various games about the bride and grooms relationship and games that are a bit embarrassing for the bride. These have mostly faded away over time.

Gift specific tips: 

– How do I ask guests to come with gifts? 

Most guests will know that a gift is necessary for a bridal shower. However, simply adding the registry on the invitation is an indirect way of reminding guests about gifts. The bride can also request that nobody brings gifts if she so pleases.

– Does the bride open gifts at the shower? 

Another bridal shower tradition is one that suggests the bride should open all the gifts at the shower. This is not necessary at all. It could be used as an ice-breaker, but if the bride prefers to open gifts in private thats fine too!

If gifts are being opened at the shower, ensure that somebody is keeping track of who has given what. The bride will need to send thank you cards a few weeks after the shower. If she can’t remember who gave her what, that would be a disaster!

– Hostess gifts? 

This one is a bonus tip for the bride. Be sure to get the hostess a gift as a token of your gratitude. Throwing a bridal shower is no small task and we’re sure you want your hostess to know that you appreciate her efforts!

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In Announcements

Here’s your chance to propose at Mzanzi Super league final

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Imagine winning a chance to make a grand gesture at no cost to you. Now you can. This year’s Mzansi Super League tournament is well underway, and the tournament organisers want to make the final match memorable for a special couple. One lucky person will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to propose to his or her significant other at the final game on December 16, 2019.

Now in its second year, the Mzansi Super League aims to make cricket a truly national sport of winners. Cricket fans attending the Mzanzi Super league can witness some of the country’s top athletes in action while also enjoying numerous other activities such as colour tunnels, entertainment areas for kids, braai areas and cool-down pools, as well as chances to win spot prizes through the Lucky Bums competition.

The league is being held at six stadiums around the country, from Wanderers in Jozi, Supersport Park in Centurion and Boland Park in Paarl, to St George’s in Port Elizabeth, Kingsmead in Durban and Newlands in Cape Town.

Cricket lovers are encouraged to show their love by entering the Mzansi Super league competition. To stand a chance of being chosen to get down on bended knee, proposal hopefuls need to tell the story of how they met their significant other and why they want to propose at the Mzansi Super League final match.  The best submission will get to propose live at the final game and win a bottle of champagne and hamper to celebrate their good news.

So, if you’re a sport lover and want to harness the thrill of a cricket final in front of a packed stadium to declare you love to your partner, then this is your chance. All you need to do is email your heartfelt submission to [email protected] by December 11 and the judges will do the rest.

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In Accessories

Engagement ring trends for 2020

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A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl’s best friend. This saying still rings true today. Diamonds will never go out of style, but trends do. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when choosing an engagement ring. We’ve gathered advice from jewellery experts to help you ring in your engagement in style.

Here’s what will trend in 2020.

Coloured stones:

Modern brides have been leaning towards coloured stones and birthstones as of late. “I think today’s bride is more concerned with being unique, and while she still wants a three stone ring, she is looking for something that is one of a kind. Women today want to stand out!” Kendra Pariseault Jewelry told StyleCaster.

Coloured stones are an easy way to make a statement and express your personal style. Niel Lane says that morganite stones, the pink to orange-pink variety of the beryl mineral, have especially grow in popularity this year.

Take this trend further by using a birthstone for a personal touch to an engagement ring. Just be careful to speak to an expert beforehand, as not all birthstones are made equal. Some are not durable enough for every day wear.

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Unique shapes:

Square cut and pear shaped is so played out. For a unique take, brides have been loving star-shaped and floral-shaped engagement rings. We’ve seen Elizabeth Olsen, Katy Perry, and Irina Shayk all step out with floral-shaped rings in the past year.

This ring can be quite busy so the key is to keep the band simple. While typically centered with a coloured stone, you can simplify this style by going with a traditional diamond.

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Throwback designs:

The more traditional bride will be glad to hear that vintage and art-deco inspired rings are also back in style. Inspired by the past, vintage engagement rings are heirlooms in the making.

Art-deco is all about clean lines and geometric angles. We love how this hexagonal-shaped engagement ring still feels feminine with the array of smaller diamonds on the perimeter of the main stone. This halo effect is another big engagement ring trend, as it makes the main stone appear much larger. Two birds with one stone.

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Rose gold:

Rose gold has been in for years and is going nowhere. The popularity of this tone stems from the fact that it is universally flattering. It is a bold statement yet romantic and feminine at the same time.

“Brides will be looking more at alternative metals to white gold and platinum next year. The appeal of rose gold comes from its pale pink colour that not only pairs well with trending yellow gold fashion pieces but also looks great with every skin tone, ” said Alicia Davis, VP of Merchandising at Shane Co.

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Three-stone rings:

We can thank Meghan Markle for this one. The Duchess of Sussex’s three stone engagement ring sparked the trend a few years ago and it is only rising in popularity.

“We’ve seen a lot of couples eyeing three-stone engagement rings lately,” Lauren Addison of Lauren Addison Jewelry told StyleCaster. “The two side stones add extra sparkle to a simpler engagement ring style.”

The three stones are meant to represent the past, the present and the future, giving a beautiful symbolism. The centre diamond is typically hugged by two smaller, equally sized diamonds. For something different, use colourful stones and unique cuts.

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Stacking rings:

Sometimes, more is more. While not a new concept, jewellery stacking has taken the industry by storm. Brides have been loving stackable rings as of late.

Commonly, the engagement ring and wedding band are designed to pair up. Some brides are taking this a step further and adding more rings to the pile. Eternity rings or embellished bands add an extra style element and bling for glitz lovers. Pairing rings of different styles, like a vintage engagement ring with more contemporary cut embellished bands, is a playful way to create a dynamic and unique finish.

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In Advice

How love languages work

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Relationships are hard. They require give and take. At the end of the day, being in a relationship means making yourself and your partner feel love and happiness. However, love comes in many forms.

This is where love languages come in. A love language, coined by author and relationship counsellor Gary Chapman, is a way in which someone expresses their love and appreciation towards themselves and others.

In his book, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, Chapman explains that each person has a primary love language, but can express love in many of them. It can depend on our personality types, and we can also learn our love languages from experiences.

“My conclusion after thirty years of marriage counselling is that there are basically five emotional love languages—five ways that people speak and understand emotional love,” Chapman explains in this book. “The important thing is to speak the love language of your spouse.”

While Chapman focuses on romantic love, this concept also refers to familial and friendship love.

The five core love languages are:

– Words of affirmation – using words to encourage, appreciate and express love. For example, “You look incredible today”, or “Thank you for cooking dinner tonight, it was great.”

– Gifts – physical gift-giving and tokens of appreciation. Examples include buying someone flowers or leaving love notes for them to read.

– Acts of Service – providing an act of kindness for someone that you know they would appreciate. Examples include making them a cup of coffee or cooking a meal.

– Quality time – spending time with your spouse, even if it’s not doing anything specific. This includes taking them out on dates, or having a heart-to-heart talk.

– Physical touch – hand holding, kissing, hugs and all other forms of physical touch.

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Decades after the book was published, Chapman’s words still ring true. Many relationship experts today argue that the building blocks of a healthy relationship lie in understanding your partner’s love language.

Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK, relationship counsellor Gurpreet Singh said that, “There are two people in the relationship, their expectations are different, their needs are different, their way of communication is different. Everything about them is different. There are similarities of course, but opposites attract quite a lot. When you’re attracted to someone that’s different to you, it is almost necessary you will run into things about the person that grate on you.”

Your partner’s love language signals how they see love and how they would like to receive it. Once you know how you partner wants to be loved, you can start incorporating those actions into your daily life.

To identify your partner’s love language, you should take note of the small things they do. You can also simply ask them what makes them feel loved and cherished.

When you can identify and understand your partner’s love language, you can begin to see the ways they represent their love everyday. Their actions, which might have meant little to you before, now become significant. For example, your partner’s love language may be physical touch and they are therefore incredibly affectionate towards you, something you might have once thought of as a sign of insecurity. When you can identify that their physical affection is their main sign of love, you can begin to appreciate those small moments for what they are. You can also be a bit more physical with your affection to show that you acknowledge how they want to be loved. Of course, your partner should do the same.

Another important thing not to forget is to practice self-love. When you can love yourself and identify the ways in which you show love, you are in a much greater position to love others.

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The groomsmen’s duties

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Being a groomsman is a big honour. But with great honour comes great responsibility. As a groomsman, you’ll be expected to fulfil a number of duties to aid the groom in his wedding journey. Here is a rundown of the groomsmen’s duties:

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Pre-wedding prep:

Get fitted for wedding attire:

As a group, the groomsmen will be fitted with wedding attire to match the wedding’s theme. If a suit is being made, you might have to send your measurements through so make sure to have those on hand. Depending on the couple, you may be expected to purchase or rent the attire yourself. Make sure to set aside money for this.

 

Attend pre-wedding events:

Wedding festivities do not start and end with the big day. There are a host of pre-wedding events you will be expected to attend, including the engagement party, bachelor party, rehearsal dinner and of course, the wedding.

 

Help plan the bachelor party:

As one of the groom’s last nights as an unmarried man, the bachelor party is an important event in the pre-wedding schedule. While it is traditionally the best man’s responsibility to plan the event, groomsmen often provide a helping hand. Assist the best man in whatever he needs to pull off an epic bachelor party. You might also be expected to assist financially, so keep that in mind.

 

The Big Day:

Support the groom:

The Big Day is bound to be stressful for the groom. As a groomsman, you’ll be tasked with keeping him calm throughout the day. Ease his nerves, give him pep talks when needed and make sure his look is complete before he steps out. If need be, take the lead and make sure all arrangements are organised, such as transport and liaising with photographers and caterers. This way, the groom has less to stress him out, allowing him to enjoy his Big Day.

Give a great speech:

While it is typically the best man’s job to give a speech, groomsmen can also be asked to say a few winged words. Give yourself enough time ahead of the wedding to write out a strong speech that highlights what makes the newly betrothed couple special.

Give a great gift:

By virtue of being in the wedding party, you should be close to the couple. As such, your gift should be personal to them. If you’re out of ideas, have a look at their wedding registry for inspiration.

Have fun!

Now that all the big things are done, you can enjoy yourself at the reception. It’s important that guests have a good time, because that’s part of what makes weddings memorable. Dance with everybody, get people talking and play games as you celebrate love.

Image: Unsplash

 

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5 simple and unique ways to propose

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Proposing is a special and memorable event, but it doesn’t have to be over the top to make an impact.

Here are some unique and simple ways to propose that won’t leave you planning for days, cause you stress and will ensure an instant ‘yes!’

1. Include your fur-baby

If you share a pet, a great way to pop the question is to include them in the proposal.

 

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How could you refuse this proposal? . . . . #proposalideas #propose #engagement #hesaidyes #shesaidyes #labrador #petproposal

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2. Photo booth proposal

A fun way to propose that will also capture the moment.

3. Scrabble Tiles

Suggest a game of scrabble and use your tiles to spell out the proposal.

4. Incorporate food

Who wouldn’t want to be proposed to and get some yummy food at the same time?

5. Photo album

Create a photo album filled with memories and on the last page, ask your partner to marry you.

 

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It’s a pleasure to share one’s memories. Everything remembered is dear, endearing, touching, precious.

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In Advice

A quick guide to women popping the question

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Traditionally, it has always been that the man proposes to the woman. But in this day and age where gender roles are changing and same-sex relationships are legal and accepted, more and more women are bending the knee.

Just do it

Whether you’re a woman in a same-sex relationship or a straight relationship, you should disregard what is traditionally accepted and be able to propose to your partner. If you feel the time is right and that you and your partner are in a place to get married, there is no need to wait for them to propose; you can ask them to marry you.

The moment

The proposal should go the same as any traditional proposal in the sense that you plan the proposal. Look at creating a special moment that will become a beautiful memory in your relationship.

A symbol of love

If you are a woman proposing to a woman, then it is likely that you will present an engagement ring. If you’re a woman proposing to a man, you should consider presenting some sort of gift that they can keep forever and has sentiment to it. A great proposal gift for a man is a watch, and a great addition to that would be to get it engraved.

Despite the fact that a woman proposing is not the norm, it certainly should be. With the dismantling of gender roles, leaving proposals solely up to men should be dismantled too.

At the end of the day, it is a decision to get married and it should not matter who asked whom.

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Kitchen tea or bridal shower – what’s the difference?

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Along with the excitement of a wedding comes all the events and parties that lead up to the big day. One of the most popular pre-wedding celebrations is the bridal shower. Or is it the kitchen tea? They are similar, but there are a few differences.

Kitchen teas are more common in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, whereas the US, UK, Belgium, Netherlands and a few other countries in Europe tend to host bridal showers.

The kitchen tea is a time to celebrate the bride-to-be, and guests bring items that can be added to the newlyweds’ kitchen as gifts. It is typically hosted at the bride’s or her mother’s house. Female friends and family are invited – kitchen teas are typically attended only by the women in the bride’s life. It is usually quite a relaxed environment and can involve fun games.

The bridal shower is a party hosted for the bachelorette. Her guests ‘shower’ her with gifts of any kind, that can be for her personal use or for her and her future spouse’s home. Brides-to-be may create a gift registry for their guests to help with ideas. The bridal shower provides the perfect opportunity for both sides of the family to mingle!

There’s no need to keep things too traditional, though. You can mix it up a bit by having a theme. You can even customise the party according to what the bachelorette likes. For example, a bride-to-be who enjoys the outdoors might appreciate a hike or scenic route, or a bachelorette with a creative streak may love a cake-decorating party.

 

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PAMPAS and WINGS ? it’s a winning combination – another repost from The other side of the world … some serious wedding inspiration if you search #sydneywedding With huge thanks to #Repost @jewelphonflowers with @get_repost ・・・ How gorgeous does @nawalsaudi look with her floral and pampas wings for her Kitchen Tea! We can’t wait to create some more magic for your Wedding ? Wings @jewelphonflowers Table @prop_my_party Desserts @munchies_sydney Cake @sugarpot4me Cookie Ring @the.cookie.plate Brownies @nourasgoodies #jewelphonflowers #weddingflowers#weddingstylist #weddinginspiration#sydneywedding #sydneyflorist #bridalflowers #eventstyling #flowers #wedding #weddingreception #florist #sydneyflorist #weddingideas #stylist #weddinginspo #kitchentea #desserttable #flowerwings #pampas

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Remember to save all the ‘naughty’ things for the bachelorette party, though!

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