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Engagements

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Biggest celebrity engagements of 2019

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The year of 2019 has been a wild ride. We’ve seen ‘Old Town Road’ claim the charts for far too many weeks, Game of Thrones finally came to an end (and ruined the entire show but we’re not talking about that), and a host of our favourite celebrities got engaged.

Before we usher in the new decade, let’s take a look back at some of the biggest, most exciting celebrity engagements of 2019.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez

Back in March, the baseball star proposed to Jenny from the Block with a whopping 16-carat diamond ring estimated to cost somewhere between $1 million and $4.5 million.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Buzz2LMg92D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom

The Pirates of the Carribbean actor proposed to his California Girl On Valentines Day, presenting her with a unique flower-shaped diamond ring.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt5gRBDHNZl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Tim Tebow and Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

South Africa’s very own Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters captured the heart of American footballer Tim Tebow, and they got engaged in January 2019. Zavion Khotze will be planning the wedding, so you know it’s going to be stunning.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsdzW9AB3Xx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Who doesn’t love a royal wedding? Back in September, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Princess Beatrice is engaged to property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The wedding will take place in 2020.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B23uLfvn8Y3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Cassie and Alex Fine

This couple has had a whirlwind romance. They began dating in late 2018, announced that they are expecting a child in June 2019, and got engaged in August. Their engagement, however, was short lived, and they wed in an intimate ceremony on September 25, a month and one day after they got engaged.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rHTYnJ6q9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams

The Modern Family actress and Bachelorette alum have been giving us ultimate #couplegoals ever since they got together back in 2017 through the power of social media. They became engaged in July, proving that there is indeed love after The Bachelorette.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz_tCLjlAM1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost

The traditionally private couple got engaged back in May when the Saturday Night Live writer and actor proposed to the Black Widow star with an 11-carat diamond engagement ring worth approximately $400,000.

https://www.instagram.com/p/By00y6TpVNn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma

She’ll always be Lizzie McGuire to us, but now she’s all grown up and getting married! Duff became engaged to her singer-songwriter boyfriend, Matthew Koma, in May. The pair became parents to their first child together (and Duff’s second) in October 2018.

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

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger

After just a few months of dating, one of Hollywood’s favourite Chris’s popped the question to Katherine, daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. Of course, she said yes. The couple surprised us yet again by getting married in June in an intimate ceremony in Montecito, California.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsmy0gUFIt7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Image: Instagram / Jennifer Lopez

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In Advice

Pros and cons of a public proposal

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A proposal should be well planned and deliberately thought out. We’re sure you’ve imagined yours before. Who hasn’t? Perhaps you saw the movie The Wedding Singer, which led you to crave a public display. Maybe you watched Leap Year, and the proposal on the ocean-side cliff led you to consider something more private.

It’s also possible that you’re not sure if you (or your partner) would prefer a public or private proposal. Consider the pros and cons of a public proposal to help you make the final decision.

Pros: 

– It will be an event to remember 

The public gesture will play like a movie in your partners head for years and years to come. It will likely be one of their fondest memories.

A public proposal also makes it easier for you to catch the moment on video or in a series of photographs. Arrange for a friend or family member to secretly record everything as it happens, and make it a moment that lasts forever.

– You can get other loved ones involved 

Sharing this special moment with people who care dearly about you (and your partner) can make it feel extremely special. You’ll get to celebrate your engagement with your loved ones as it happens. On top of that, you can share the planning and preparations for the proposal with everyone you’re inviting to relieve some of the pressure.

– It will be easier to spread the news 

If your proposal is public, everyone you care about will either be there when it happens or will find out very soon after. You won’t have to spend a day calling everyone with the good news.

Cons: 

– Might not go as planned 

If you’ve been together for a long time, and you’ve spoken about marriage, then this shouldn’t be too much of a worry. However, there is always the chance that your partner says no. In public, a “no” will feel so much worse.

On a similar note, you cannot control the environment around you. You could get caught in bad weather, your big question may be drowned out by noise, and other people may try to get involved unexpectedly.

– Unnecessary pressure

You could be putting unnecessary pressure on your partner to say yes, when they aren’t sure they’re ready to. They may feel more comfortable in a private setting to ask you to discuss the proposal and the way forward, but in public they can’t really do that.

You’ll also be putting a lot of pressure on yourself. A public proposal takes a lot of organizing and co-ordinating. If you’re not good under pressure, perhaps you should go for something more manageable.

– Expenses can pile up 

If you’re really going big, like writing “will you marry me” in the sky, you may have to spend quite a bit of money. You’ll have to decide if it’s worth it, because that money may be better spent on the wedding itself.

The most important thing to consider about a public proposal is what will be most comfortable for you and your significant other. If you don’t mind the attention and pressure, and the big gesture and fanfare has always been something you wanted, then go for it!

Image: Pexels 

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Woman about to immigrate, then meets the love of her life

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Oh, we love love! This couple completely stole our hearts. Capetonians Joey and Jane had been acquaintances for almost 10 years but nothing had come of it. In fact, Joey had actually invited her to coffee before, but she forgot to respond to his message and they never went!

Then, one day, Joey decided to go salsa dancing, and there she was. They got to chatting. Both being fitness professionals that used to work at the same gym, they had so much in common. She asked him to dance, and the rest, as they say, is history …

However, the couple faced a small problem: Jane was busy with immigration plans, adamant on relocating to the UK! Poor Joey was at his wit’s end. But with new love blooming, he managed to persuade her to stay a little while longer to see where it would lead. Knowing he had to change her mind while he had the chance, Joey took her hiking in Newlands forest to a spot they both loved to celebrate one year since they met at the dance. There he proposed and she said yes!

Credit: Joey Koffman
Credit: Joey Koffman

“Three weeks prior, I went on a two hour mission to find the exact same spot where we had our very first picnic,” Joey said on his Facebook post to the popular group #I’mstaying. He set it up with arrows pointing toward the spot and there he read Jane a story he wrote of the events of that first night they danced.

Being an interracial couple in a race-sensitive country, the two are not unaware of the challenges. “But I believe it’s up to us,” Joey said in an interview. When asked why they decided to stay in South Africa, he said that they both love the diversity and nature, and especially the kindness of South Africans.

“We are happy and feel eternally blessed,”  he added. “We love Cape Town. We love South Africa.”

They plan to get started on the wedding arrangements soon.

Picture: Supplied

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In Advice

How to keep your (soon-to-be) family-in-law happy

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So you’re engaged, and although it’s an exciting and thrilling time for both you and your significant other, conflict is bound to arise, often in the form of your soon-to-be family-in-law. Some cases may be worse than others, but we’d like to help you lessen the load. Read on for some practical tips and thoughts on how to keep them happy, and, appropriately involved.

Acceptance

First of all, you need to make peace with the fact that your wedding planning journey will come with a fair share of stress, drama and mishaps, but all of this could be managed easily by not stressing about the things you cannot change. That goes for the family you’re marrying into as well. If you’ve known the person you’re marrying for a good amount of time, you probably know their family too – including their habits and preferences. Just because you’re getting married doesn’t mean those things will change, so make it easier for yourself by making peace with it – you’d want your S.O to do the same for you.

You marry the family, too.

That said, your new spouse’s family is accepting a new member into theirs, as your family is too, so be mindful about including them in the planning process. Your wedding is a celebration of not only two people coming together, but two families uniting, so they need to feel that their opinions matter too. This doesn’t mean that you have to take every suggestion they make to heart, but they’ll feel much more included if you make an effort to hear them out and make some compromises.

Take a stand

Sometimes, keeping the peace means taking a stand. It’s extremely difficult to avoid hurting the feelings of someone who simply wants to help, but sometimes their need to help is greater than your need for it. Don’t allow yourself to get into a situation too deep before realising that you’re allowing things to happen that will ultimately make you unhappy. Say no when you need to, but explain your feelings and reasoning behind it so that a mutual understanding can be reached.

Same page

You and your S.O absolutely need to be on the same page when it comes to making the decisions in your planning process. This will allow you to adequately explain your reasoning to your families, without throwing anyone under the bus. However, if your parents are paying for some parts of the wedding, you need to be on the same page with them too. Be open about what you want, your visions and expectations to avoid unnecessary conflict, especially if you’re not the one paying for it.

Lessen the load

Just because it’s your wedding doesn’t mean you have to plan, take care of and do everything. Make your vision clear and allow your mother-in-law, father-in-law or whoever-in-law to help you out with making calls, DIY projects, collections or whatever it is you may need. This will allow them to feel involved, but not in an overwhelming way where they have the ability to make decisions for you. However, looking at the other side of the spectrum could be just as tricky. Maybe your father-in-law is great at building things with his hands, but up until now you haven’t been getting along that well. Take the plunge and ask him for help with your DIY projects – it might be the starting point for the relationship you’ve been looking for.

Image: Pexels

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In Advice

What to know before you get engaged

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Getting married is a big step. When you enter into a union with someone, you promise to be with them, for better of for worse, for the rest of your lives. Unfortunately, almost of half of marriages today end in divorce.

Marriage is hard, and many walk into it not understanding that reality. While you cannot always be 100% ready, there are many things you can do to prepare yourself for this new life you plan to enter. If you’re thinking of getting engaged, make sure you know these things about your partner beforehand.

Financial situation and spending habits:

Money is a major stress in relationships. Ideally, you need to have a general idea of your significant others financial situation before getting engaged. If someone is in debt or has bad credit, that could impact their partner in the future. You should ideally also know your partners spending habits, so that you’re on the same page about budgeting. This will particularly come in handy when you start planning your wedding.

How you feel about kids:

This is the all-important question. As much as many people dream of one day being a parent, there are others who don’t. Wanting or not wanting kids is an important conversation to have with your partner and can cause big problems in your marriage if you’re not on the same page. If you do want kids, also make sure to discuss how many you want, how you would want them to be raised and the kind of parent you want to be.

Religion/faith/belief systems:

The topic of religion can sometimes be tricky. Whether you’re Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, or Athiest, the important thing is that your partner knows about your belief system. Its not the particular faith system that is of importance, just how that will impact your relationship. For example, if you follow different faiths and want children, which faith will you raise them in? Will someone be expected to convert?

Their beliefs can also shape how they see things in the world and their stance on issues such as abortion, same-sex relationships, and gender roles. If these causes are important to you and your partner feels differently, that could cause big issues. While you don’t have to agree, you do have to be tolerant of each others beliefs.

Living habits:

If you don’t already live together, you might be in for a shock when you do join homes. It is important to know each others living habits beforehand to prevent future issues. What if your partner loves having people around all the time but you enjoy solitude? Or they’re neat and cannot leave the house in the morning if it’s in a mess while you’re more of a ‘I’ll clean it later’ type of person? Small issues like these can grow into massive arguments if you’re not aware of them beforehand and have established a middle ground.

Love languages:

Love is about more than just lust. It’s about making your partner feel seen. Your love language, or how you express love towards others, can cause issues if your partner cannot identify it. If your love is shown through physical affection but your partners is words of affirmation, they could feel overwhelmed by your constant PDA and long for you to use your words more than your body. When you understand each others love language, you understand the meaning behind each others actions, making your actions that much more impactful.

How to effectively communicate:

Communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship. If you cannot speak and listen to each other well, your relationship will be fraught with issues.  Fore example, If your partner bottles their feelings, that could cause them to build up resentment towards you because they cannot effectively communicate their needs. You, in turn, could end up feeling guilty about something you didn’t even know was an issue. You need to know how to discuss and resolve conflicts in a healthy way that won’t exacerbate issues.

Family and friend dynamics:

Hopefully, if you’re at the point of getting engaged, you’ve met your significant others’ family and friends. These people have known your partner longer than you, and can thus give you greater insights that you might not have known.

While you might be used to your specific family dynamic, your partner might have a completely different one. For example, if you’re family is the overbearing type, your partner needs to be prepared for them most likely having lots of opinions on your marriage. Understanding family dynamics will allow you to place boundaries on what is acceptable behaviour and what isn’t, making family gatherings much easier.

Your goals for the future:

While we can’t predict the future, we can be honest about our desires. If you have specific goals that could make considerable changes to your life, your partner needs to be aware of them. Popular grounds for divorce is that couples want different things. What if you’ve got dreams of relocating to the city while your partner wants a quiet life in the suburbs? Or you want to be a career woman but your partner expects you to become a stay-at-home mom? These differences in life goals can breed resentment if not discussed beforehand in a healthy manner.

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In Advice

Meet us at the Bridal Expo 2020

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It’s almost Christmas and then before you can say ‘Happy New Year,’ It will be January. We’re super excited for the Oakfield Farm’s Bridal Exhibition in Krugersdorp coming up soon. There will be exciting prizes to win (including a honeymoon in Mauritius!), a free fashion show and loads of advice, ideas and inspiration to make your dream wedding a reality.

The team from WeddingETC will also be there on January 25 and 26, 2020 at Stand BB B54. If you’re attending the event, come say hi!

 

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In Advice

Perfect proposal ideas

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Proposing to your partner can be a daunting task, and coming up with the perfect way can be stressful. Fret not, brave warrior. We have rounded up the most romantic ways to propose, complete with practical tips on how to avoid disaster. However, we strongly recommend weighing up our suggestions to your knowledge of your partner, as not everyone will appreciate the same things. At the end of the day, there is no substitution for the personal touch.

Include the furry friends

Who can resist the cuteness? Tie a card around your (or someone you know) dog or cat, and casually say you want your partner to check out something on their neck.

Holiday proposal

What’s more romantic than getting away together and proposing in an exotic destination?

Write a song

If you’re an avid musician, writing your loved one a song is the obvious choice. If not, you can hire a band to serenade them or play them a romantic song that conveys your feelings perfectly.

 

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Make a slide show

If your fiancé-to-be likes pictures, why not take them on a trip down memory lane? Create a collection of photos of the two of you, with a soundtrack to match an end off with the words popping the question.

Go to an aquarium

Not only is it beautiful and has a tranquil atmosphere, you can go one step further and ask the aquarium to send divers into the tank and hold up signs asking the big question through the window.

 

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Hire a skywriter

From under water to up in the air, this one’s an oldie but a goodie. Hire someone to write the question in the sky, and point towards the sky at just the right moment.

 

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Surprise dinner

If your almost-spouse is not into grand gestures, keep it simple and surprise them with a dinner. Opt for a home-cooked meal, picnic or their favourite restaurant.

 

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In Accessories

Alternative engagement ring stones

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An engagement ring holds a large amount of significance for a couple. For hundreds of years, the classic diamond has been a major trend for engagement rings, often honoured for their simple beauty, shine, and value.

But with more and more traditions evolving, the classic diamond engagement ring is slowly being replaced with other special stones, materials and designs that value originality, affordability and meaning.

Take a look at our top picks for alternative engagement rings:

1. TANZANITE

The next best thing to diamonds is the striking tanzanite. With its deep blue, this stone can complement a silver, rose gold or white gold band beautifully. As far as cut goes, tanzanite is popular in many shapes. This teardrop ring shows how tanzanite can pair with other jewels as well.

2. MORGANITE

With a light, dusty pink tint, morganite is an affordable and stunning stone which signifies unconditional love and compassion – two necessary traits in all marriages. This stone is equally as versatile due to its light shade and works well with all metals.

3. JEWEL BAND

If you want to have a more practical and simple engagement ring, then a plain band with a few jewels may be the one for you. Incorporate your favourite stone, or multiple to make a statement. If you opt for a brightly coloured stone such as the ruby or peridot, your band is bound to stand out.

4.  OPAL

Opals are a rare and highly sought after stone that adds a touch of glamour to a ring. They can give off a vintage appearance, but if you pair it with a simple silver band surrounded by smaller diamonds, it becomes a modern but still unique ring.

5. VINTAGE

Whether it’s an heirloom, has been bought in an antique store, or specially made to appear old-fashioned, vintage rings will always be breathtaking options for engagement rings. The metal is darker and has intricate detail, which is often accompanied by a large and neatly cut stone.

6. ONYX

Dare to make a bold statement with a dark and shimmery onyx centrepiece on your engagement ring. This black stone complements yellow gold in a unique and modern way, which has slowly started to pick up attraction on the market.

7. PEARL

Having a pearl on your engagement ring definitely adds a touch of vintage elegance. If you are a lover  of all things old-fashioned, opting for these lovely round jewels will bring your dream ring to life.

8. ROUGH CUT

The cut of the stone makes a big impact on the overall ring. Just simply using an uncut diamond instead of a neatly cut one can change the look and feel of your ring. A rough cut ring is more rustic and natural-looking, for a more organic finish. In this case, it’s better to seek a specialist for a hand-crafted option.

9. TURQUOISE

If you love to be different then this is the stone for you. Choosing a turquoise jewel for your engagement ring is a big step, as this particular stone has a very youthful appearance, especially when paired with a dainty band and smaller stones. But you will have a unique and special ring that you value, which is all that matters.

10. SMOKY QUARTZ

This earthy stone is a beautiful and affordable option for an exquisite natural-looking engagement ring and can be paired with silver or yellow gold for complementary tones. Marvel over its sparkle and changing colours when it catches the light.

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In Engagements

KFC couple to wed in December

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South Africa’s favourite couple have officially set a date for the wedding of the year. Hector Mkansi and Nonhlanhla Soldaat are officially getting married on December 31, 2019.

In a tweet, KFC South Africa officially announced that Hector and Nonhlanhla, who stole our hearts when they became engaged in a Vaal KFC in early November, will say ‘I Do’ on New Year’s Eve.

The couple are already married, but because of their financial situation, they could not have the wedding they truly wanted. This time, they’re doing it big and the nation is fully behind them.

Precious the Planner, one of the country’s top wedding planners, is already on board to plan the big day.

Other notable businesses that have offered support include Takealot, Capfin, Kulula, Sun City Resort, Koo Food.

Popular photographer Austin Malema has offered to be the official photographer, DJ Fresh has offered to donate a DJ set for the reception, and Zakes Bantwini has offered to perform at the wedding.

Drum magazine has offered a two-page spread on the couple, and it is rumoured that Mzanzi Magic’s Our Perfect Wedding will capture the wedding in all its glory.

It’s not only businesses feeling the love. People are offering to support in any way they can, from donating money to supplying cars, outfits, accessories, invites and drinks.

If you would also like to support the happy couple, all media queries, donations and pledges can be directed to [email protected].

Image: Twitter

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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.

Image: Unsplash

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