Engagements Archives | Page 13 of 45

In Destination

Enjoy a sky-high socially distanced wedding adventure on a private jet

November 5, 2020 No Comments

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the general public and couples had to change how they traditionally did things. How weddings are celebrated have also changed, forcing many to get creative with how they say ‘I do’.

If you are not scared of heights but also wants to maintain extreme social distancing, then saying your vows in the sky could be an idea.

Air Charter Service is offering a “Wedding in the Sky” package for couples who can afford to socially distance in the clouds. The two-hour sky-high experience takes place at 30 000 feet and includes an airport chauffeur to drive the newlyweds to and from their choice of airport.

The package will also include champagne, personalized wedding favours, canapés, a cabin crew member officiant, flower arrangements, and catered food and drink aboard a plane that seats up to 16 people.

One of the nicest things about this adventure is that your route can be planned and you can say “I do” while flying over your preferred route.

The whole thing will cost you $28,000 (R443 286) but if you have a smaller budget, there is an offer for you at $18,000 (R284 969) but you need to bear in mind that the perks will not be the same because its one is for a couple that wants to elope.

Picture: Unsplash

In Emotional

Couple change wedding plans, marry hours after lock-down announcement

November 3, 2020 No Comments

On Saturday, October 31 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that they will be going to another hard lockdown that will last four weeks in preparation for Christmas and to reduce the number of rapidly growing infections.

Couple Jo Loosemore, 33, and Matthew Goffin, 37 were meant to get married on November 14. Instead, they married 24 hours after the announcement.

Matthew said that they already had a set date, venue, and 200 guests as part of their plans for their wedding day. The ceremony was going to take place in Devon but because of the impromptu decision to get married a day after the announcement, they got married at Church of St Martin in Witcham, Cambridgeshire instead.

Initially, the venue in Devon was chosen because of the proximity to Jo’s parents but the change forced them to get married where they lived with their son.

Jo said: “I was having a shower on Saturday morning and I heard about the news coming out so I just thought, ‘Well I’ll see if we can get it done this weekend”

The couple ran around trying to get everything ready for their new wedding date, they posted an appeal on their village’s Facebook page, which led to offers from musicians, with friends and family also helping them and they had a beautiful ceremony.

Picture: Unsplash

In Celebs

Mampintsha and Babes Wodumo are engaged

November 2, 2020 No Comments

Controversial duo Mampintsha and Babes Wodumo got engaged last week Thursday during a live interview on Gagasi FM’s drive show.

They took too social media to let their fans in on their joy. In a video, Mampintsha can be heard saying in isiZulu, “I would like to say please make me man amongst man, we have been together for a very long time now.”

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A post shared by Mandla Maphumulo (@mampintsha_shimora) on Oct 29, 2020 at 10:36am PDT

The couple has a history of a violent past. There were allegations of Mampintsha physically abusing Babes, which was later shown in a video recording.

Despite this, the couple are still together and appear happy. As Babes said on her Instagram “Within a blink of an eye and now I’m left speechless, the journey wasn’t easy, but we stuck together through thick and thin”.

Pictures: Instagram

In Advice

A heavenly finish: The halo engagement ring setting

November 2, 2020 No Comments

With its angelic look, it’s easy to see why the halo setting is one of the most sought-after engagement ring styles. Classic yet glamorous, it flatters anyone who wears it.

Halo engagement rings are versatile and easily customisable, perfect for the bride who wants to add a personal touch to their jewelry.

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A post shared by Engagement Rings Vancouver (@luxurydiamondsvancouver) on Oct 29, 2020 at 10:39am PDT

The halo setting features a central diamond encircled by smaller, typically pavé or micro pavé set accent diamonds. With all the smaller diamonds, it adds a stunning flashing look that draws attention to the centre diamond.

The setting can be the same shape as the centre stone or a different one entirely like a cushion cut halo around a round diamond. However, symmetry is often the best option.

Halo settings can easily be personalised with different diamond shapes, metals, and setting styles for the accent diamonds.

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A post shared by Kristin Coffin Jewelry (@kristincoffinjewelry) on Oct 25, 2020 at 2:06pm PDT

An advantage of this setting is that it makes the centre diamond appear larger. It’s dazzling setting also helps enhance the appearance of a slightly flawed centre diamond.

The halo also helps hide the prongs that hold the centre stone in place, which is a plus for those that don’t like the look of prongs.

Another benefit is that the smaller pavé diamonds are often less expensive than purchasing one diamond of the same weight.

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On the other hand, however, wedding bands only work with some halo setting engagement rings so you will have to plan ahead. You would ideally need to have your wedding band made to fit around or under the engagement ring, otherwise, you run the risk of them rubbing against one another and wearing away over time.

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A post shared by Queensmith Master Jewellers (@queensmiths) on Oct 30, 2020 at 2:30am PDT

Picture: Pexels

In Advice

What not to do on your wedding day

October 28, 2020 No Comments

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Your wedding day is not the time to try new things, make new plans and additions or risky activities that may lead to any sort of disaster and drama, you are most likely to be already stressed. Do not do anything that will aggravate that feeling.

Facial beauty treatment

You want to look radiant on your big day but you don’t want to do it on the day you are supposed to get married. You might not know the reactions you will get from the treatment. Rather book the treatment a few days before the wedding to avoid funny things.

The lingerie

You’re most likely going to need to use the bathroom regularly on the wedding day, especially with all the drinks at the reception and it’s going to be hard enough to use the bathroom with your couture gown; don’t add extra difficulties by wearing complex lingerie that takes four assistants and science to remove.

Avoid over drinking

After months of stress and planning, you want to thank yourself by downing all the goodness of that champagne but… You probably shouldn’t. You do not want to be remembered as the bride that danced on top of tables on her wedding day. A few glasses of bubbly is fine, you can go ham on your honeymoon rather.

Being anti-social

Do not have your phone in your hand unless it is for emergencies ( something your maid honour should take care of) but take a break from social media for the day. The people you want to share that moment with are already seeing it live with you, your followers can wait 24 hours. Leave the photos and moments to the photographers.

Your wedding shoes

It is best to wear your shoes prior to the wedding, walk around the house with them so that you can be comfortable wearing them on the day. You do not want to look like a drunk bride trying to find balance. Also, if they are not comfortable then you still have time to return them and pick a more comfortable pair.

Packing in a rush

You should have a todo list and it should include your honeymoon and the dates. If you are leaving right after the ceremony then do not pack on the day of the wedding because you are most likely to forget a lot of things, your passports being the biggest possibility. Take your time with packing.

Packing

Wake up and eat, the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day is most important today. Weddings are generally stressful and skipping meals may be dangerous. You need all the energy you can get on the day.

Being a control freak

It is natural that you want to take care of everything on that day but just for the day, relax. You need to leave everything to everyone else to others and just enjoy your day. Try to go with the flow and delegate as much as possible, what will work out will and what doesn’t won’t, you did your best.

Picture: Unsplash

In Celebs

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are engaged

October 28, 2020 No Comments

The famous couple who met on the set of The Voice in April 2014 is engaged. Blake Shelton popped the question to girlfriend Gwen Stefani and she said yes.

The couple posted on Instagram a picture that shows Gwen wearing the ring. Blake proposed on October 27.

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@blakeshelton yes please! ??? gx

A post shared by Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) on Oct 27, 2020 at 10:09am PDT

Gwen was married for 13 years and Blake for four when they filed for divorce from their partners. They have not met then and only got romantically involved after.

In November 2014, Gwen posted a picture of them together, writing “him” and a heart emoji. Fans started suspecting romance between the two.

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?him @blakeshelton @nbcthevoice gx

A post shared by Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) on Nov 25, 2014 at 5:37pm PST

In 2016 Blake said at an interview with Rolling Stone: “If you had told me that that’s who I’m gonna end up with, I would have thought you were crazy. But she became my closest ally”. This is the same year they made their official debut as a couple at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party.

With their blooming romance, the pair gave us blended family goals captured on a day out in 2019. Fans cannot wait for the wedding of the two judges.

Picture: Instagram

In Weddings

India records the highest number of reception cancellations

October 27, 2020 No Comments

With lockdown, there has been a cancelation of many events, including weddings and their receptions. This was because of the regulations and the number of people allowed in one space. These were put in place to prevent a further spread of COVID-19.

In the midst of all that, people have been creating new ways to get married, such as holding virtual and drive-by weddings.

Some, however, have been canceling altogether. India was found to have the most reception cancelations in the world with 23% of couples only going ahead with the formal ceremony.

Indian weddings are known for their big beautiful celebrations with masses of guests.

When compiling the report, The Knot Worldwide found that three of four respondents in India said they would go ahead with the wedding ceremonies on dates planned before COVID-19 but they will not do the big, traditional celebrations they normally have in Indian weddings.

In addition, 23% of couples said they are not going ahead with a wedding reception while 48% are planning one but with health and safety measures. The report said a vast majority of couples (80%) said they would encourage social distancing, and invite-only immediate family and close friends.

The couples going ahead with their celebrations have to abide by the rules and make sure that their guests get checked, and the venues will have to be sanitised and they should ensure that everyone has a mask on at all times.

The data was compiled from a report among 9,767 couples who originally had weddings planned between October 2020 and February 2021. Another study by Knot Worldwide COVID-19 revealed that 96% of couples are not planning to cancel their weddings at this time. Instead, they are either keeping a close eye on recommendations from the CDC or postponing their dates.

To summarize the findings, 96% of couples are not canceling their weddings but postponing them until it is safe to do so, on that number, 65% of them are having a wedding ceremony but will have a wedding reception later.

Photo: Unsplash

In Advice

Supporting your partner’s pronouns during wedding planning

October 26, 2020 No Comments

There are many couples whose identities are outside of the heteronormative spectrum. They are always the minority and have to constantly fight for their place in society.

They normally use different pronouns and chances are that people will get them wrong, which can be frustrating for them. If your partner exists outside of this box, there are things you can do to make life easier when planning your wedding.

What are pronouns?

Some non-binary/genderqueer people prefer to use gender-neutral pronouns. Usage of the singular ‘they’, ‘their’, and ‘them’ is the most common.

These are words that refer to an individual in place of their name. They describe different gender identities other than just male or female.

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Don’t give in to traditional gender roles

The idea that women can only have female friends and men can only have male friends should not exist in your plan for the wedding.

Instead of traditions like the “Best Man Speech,” use gender-free labels like “Friends and Family Speeches.”

Everyone should have the same tasks unless it’s beyond their physical strength, do not give men certain tasks because of their gender and the belief that they are stronger.

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Specify in your wedding registry

Monitory donations are a great alternative to avoid receiving gender-specific gifts. You can even ask for donations to your favourite charity, preferably one fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights to help give back on your big day.

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Include correct pronouns on your invitation card and wedding day

Your guest list might include people they haven’t met before. To help initiate that conversation, use clear preferred pronouns. Use wedding planning tools as a way to introduce your guests to your partner’s pronouns, and ask for your guests’ pronouns when they RSVP.

If a person uses the incorrect pronouns when referring to your partner, address it respectfully.

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Hire LGBTQIA + accomodating vendors

Not only are you supporting the larger LGBTQIA+ community, but it will also make things easy to work with people that understand you. Your partner will be more relaxed and that will result in them feeling included and validated.

The work will be less because most of their tools will not need to be altered or change to suit your needs, as they are already set up like that.

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Pictures: Unsplash

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 Engagements

Perfectly elegant: The prong engagement ring setting

October 26, 2020 No Comments

A setting can make of break your engagement ring, so it is important to choose one wisely. One of the most popular choices in the wedding world is the prong setting.

Classic and elegant, the prong setting is one of the most famous diamond ring settings. This setting is perfect for the timeless bride.

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A prong setting typically features four to six thin metal claws that are placed on the diamond’s surface to secure its position. This setting is designed to perfectly highlight the diamond’s brilliance by giving maximum exposure to the stone.

This particular range of settings can be shaped in different ways – prongs can be rounded, squared, V-shaped, elongated or even pointed.

Ideally, the prongs should end on the diamond’s surface. If the claws extend too high, the diamond’s top portion will be less visible, thus reducing its brilliance.

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This setting has been in style for decades, and first grew in popularity in the 19th century as more dramatic and larger stones were being unearthed. Jewellers wanted to showcase these stones, and thus needed a setting that would allow it to shine.

The advantage of this setting is that it allows the diamond to take centre stage. It is also easy to clean and maintain. For those wanting to customise their ring, this setting is versatile enough to complement all diamond shapes, and is easy to adjust for different sizes of stones.

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On the other hand, because the diamond’s girdle is only partially covered, it is quite prone to chipping. The claws of the setting are also more prone to get caught on clothing.

Picture: Unsplash