There are some brides that simply know what they want their wedding dress to look like. However, there are a few brides-to-be who need a little nudge towards inspiration, and there’s nothing more inspiring than the latest wedding gowns from Bridal Fashion Week.
The crème de la crème of the fashion world came together to grace us with the most fabulous and on-trend designs – the perfect way to find inspiration for your upcoming nuptials.
Here are a few of our favourite designs from Bridal Fashion Week’s Spring Collection:
One thing that we love the most about honeymooning in Africa is that there are so many incredible options to choose from. However, there’s nothing more idyllic than soaking up the glorious African sun, drinking cocktails poolside, and enjoying the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
As travel restrictions continue to ease, more and more newlyweds are looking across the waters to book their honeymoons. The Seychelles has continuously made the list of the top places to visit on your honeymoon, and with good reason.
It’s a breath-taking paradise just off the east coast of Africa and home to incredible culture, activities and sights. With its Insta-perfect beaches, luxurious accommodations and jam-packed itinerary, it’s not difficult to see why South African bridal couples are obsessed.
There’s no visa requirement
For South African citizens, travelling to the gorgeous islands of The Seychelles is a breeze. No visa is required for a maximum stay of 3 months, making it the perfect spot for a honeymoon – with a valid passport of course.
It’s nearby
Just off the coast of East Africa, roughly 1 600 km from Kenya, there won’t be any long and unbearable flights involved when travelling to The Seychelles, making it a quick and easy option. It will take you about 5 hours to get there, and flights leave regularly from Johannesburg or Durban through Air Seychelles.
They have a similar climate
Warm tropical weather covers the island year round, with temperatures rarely hitting extremely hot or cold levels. Being used to our own Mediterranean climate, South Africans migrate towards the warm and sunny island tropics for fun days in the sun and exciting water activities.
It’s a gorgeous island escape
Perhaps one of the most obvious attractions of The Seychelles is its absolute luxury. White sandy beaches and crystal blue waters create a breath-taking backdrop, while the weather conditions are perfectly suited for all sorts of activities. Besides the beaches, The Seychelles also has its own gorgeous mountainous terrains and tropical forests filled with beautiful wildlife to explore.
There’s plenty to do
With perfect day weather and a range of landscapes, there’s no shortage of creativity when it comes to activites and adventure. You can experience the incredible roaming creatures on wildlife tours, go bird-watching, snorkelling, or take part in adventurous endeavours with island hopping, skiing and kayaking.
While a couple were in the midst of a marriage proposal, a few seconds after the bride-to-be said ‘yes’, a lion stepped onto the scene to join in on the magic, and let out a roar (possibly of approval if this were a Disney movie) moments after the two became fianceés.
The moment took place in the Kgalagadi at the Cape Town couple’s campsite in Botswana.
According to John Peiser, he had heard a roar in the distance and decided it was the perfect moment to propose to his fiance, Sandy.
“Mr. Lion must have told a friend, as a lioness came into our camp the very next evening, more or less the same time!” John recalled speaking to Latest Sightings.
Footage was captured of the special moment, and it stands as just one of many magical moments in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
While saying “I do” is a magical experience that inherently symbolises love, sometimes bridal couples are looking to step away from tradition and personalise their wedding experience… spice things up, even.
If you’re looking to put a unique spin on your upcoming wedding ceremony, why not incorporate various rituals from around the world that embody the very meaning of marriage: unity.
Here are a few traditional and modern rituals that encompass this very word, and provide a foundation for couples looking to incorporate something a bit more unique when it comes to their nuptials.
Take what resonates and toss what doesn’t, here are six creative wedding rituals that are well about two partners in love:
Jump the broom
Jumping the broom has its roots in African American culture, but the meaning behind this ritual is universal. The ritual originated in the early 19th century when slaves were not formally allowed to get married.
Instead, couples looking to get married would place a broom on the ground and hop over it together. The tradition has now come to mean a “brushing away” of the parts and starting things on a clean slate.
Releasing butterflies
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Is there anything more romantic than rose petals and butterflies? Butterflies often represent change, hope, life and transformation, and there’s nothing more transformational than getting married.
Releasing butterflies at your wedding ceremony is meant to encompass all of these elements as you start your journey as newlyweds.
Light a candle
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This tradition is often associated with the Judeo-Christian faith and is a common practice that’s associated with “two becoming one.”
During the ceremony, the bride and groom each light a candle and combine their flame to ignite a third and larger one.
Handfasting
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This is a beautiful ritual that stems from an ancient Celtic tradition of the same name. Basically, it sees the bride and groom hold opposite hands, ensuring that their arms are tied together lie a figure eight before it is tied together with a ribbon – ultimately symbolising union.
The fabric is also great to keep and pass down to your children.
Plant a tree
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Watching something grow can be a beautiful experience. Similar to the love that is shared between two partners, the physical symbol of a tree growing from a sapling into a strong tree can represent growth and strength between partners.
A great way to include this ritual into your ceremony is by having the bridal couple scoop a handful of soil and add it to their planted tree.
Create a time capsule
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Time capsules are not just for keeping kids entertained. Add a bunch of meaningful items into a box – items that are specific to you and your spouse – and nail it shut together.
This new and different ritual is all about doing something together. You can open this in the next 10 years or on your one year anniversary.
We’re living in the Digital Age. While relying on robust binders dedicated to vendors, bridesmaids, and various wedding planning activities can be useful, sometimes it can get a bit confusing.
More than 5 billion smartphones are currently in use around the world, so why not lean on the convenient pleasures that come with technology by infusing it into your wedding planning.
Whether you’re just starting out or well on your way to wrapping things up, here are a few digital wedding planning tools you can use to your advantage:
Are you looking for an app that will save you time, money, and efficiently get things done? Joy wedding app and website is your one-stop-shop for a personalised wedding planning experience. You can manage guest lists and create a checklist of all the things that need to be done before your big day. In addition to the impressive features this app offers, you also have the option to create a wedding website directly from the app.
Speaking of creating a wedding website, Riley & Grey is the perfect place to whip up something fabulous for you guests to feast their eyes on. There is a range of wedding templates to pick and choose from that offer a user-friendly experience for those browsing your wedding site.
Trello – To-do list
Trello does more than just offer you the chance to create a work/life balance for yourself, but can help you get organised when it comes to your wedding party. Utilise the site’s virtual pinboard and add a “card” in a column for each category that you would like to create, drop a task and create various colour codes to ensure that everything well-maintained.
Google Drive – Photo organisation
Looking to grab all the incredible photos your guests managed to capture on your big day? As long as you have a Gmail account, Google Drive is an excellent way for guests to add all the beautiful moments and ensures that everything has a place.
Its sometimes difficult to picture just how your venue will accommodate your seating vision, but with Allseated, things are made easier. Send them a photo of the venue and they will create a 3D rendering of the space so that you can digitally organise tables, chairs, bars and all the wedding decor of your dreams.
Without a proper budgeting plan, your big day might leave you in a financial pickle. Goodbudget is a user-friendly app that allows you to allocate expenses for everything that you need. Once you have a budget set in place you can shift expenses around to ensure that you are not overspending in certain areas and neglecting others, maintaining a balance is key to success.
That period of bliss after getting engaged is a feeling that should be savoured because after that, it’s a lot of sheer panic due to being overwhelmed. Perhaps you’re the cool bride-to-be who lets things roll like water off a duck’s back. Or maybe your friends would describe you as a full-blown bridezilla. No matter the box you’ve nicely categorised yourself in, there’s no denying that planning a wedding will leave you with a few additional grey hairs.
Whether you’re newly engaged or starting to plan your nuptials after a year of engaged bliss, here are some tips to help you beat back the monster that is panic:
Set the date:
The first step is figuring out when you and your future spouse are going to say: “I do.” Experts all agree, planning a wedding can be stressful, so make sure that you give yourself a realistic timeline. Between 10 – 14 months is a good amount of time.
Get to know your budget:
The worst thing you can do is to start a marriage with the burden of debt. Be realistic about your budget and get to know the parameters you’re working with in order to distribute money appropriately. A great next step is to compile your guest list and figure out the kind of experience you’d like them to have. This will allow you to budget accordingly, but make sure you don’t go overboard! This day is all about the couple.
What to look out for:
Bridal couples often have their heart set on a specific venue, but when booking, they find that it’s booked out for the date they’ve chosen. It can be heartbreaking, but something that can be avoided if you land your venue before choosing your date. Justt make sure you do the proper research. While you may have a rough list of who you are inviting to the ceremony, it’s best to not commit to headcount until you’ve sorted out your budget.
A tip that the experts swear by
So, what is one tip that wedding planners around the world swear by? It’s this: leave it up to the professionals. Sometimes it can be difficult to let go of the reigns and let the professionals do their thing, but if you hire the right people and offer them some creative leeway, you’ll be able to sleep a bit better at night. Collaboration with quality vendors is the key to a happy couple.
No matter the season, you want members of your bridal party to feel elegant and stylish. Unless you have an unwavering vision for your bridesmaids, it’s quite easy to be swayed by the plethora of wedding trends out there.
Between wrap dresses, bold prints and jumpsuits we‘re helping you sift through the trends and providing you with killer ensembles that your bridesmaids will love wearing.
The elegant slip dress
Rust and champagne colours are all the rage right now and tying this phenomenal colour in with an elegant slip dress design will leave your bridesmaids feeling chic.
Wowing with bold prints
Adding bold prints to any dress, no matter the occasion can be a great way to elevate things. Whether it is summer or springtime, this floral design contrasted with navy hues is bound to make a statement.
Wrap dress for the win
We love a gorgeous wrap dress. Not only are these trendy designs comfortable, but they can be as chic as you would like. Add a few patterns or make it pop with a gorgeous colour like emerald green and you have a winner.
Jumping for joy
Jumpsuits don’t have to be the only thing on the bridal menu. Jumpsuits are uber comfortable and can add a little twist to your wedding party, the colour is also to die for!
Who says chiffon is outdated? This fabric is an extremely popular and versatile choice and can be incredibly affordable for bridal couples on a budget. There are so many possibilities that come with choosing this fabric, but make it’s always important to make it your own.
A sea of velvet dreams
When you think of bridesmaids dresses, velvet may not be the first thing that comes to mind. This fabric can be quite a departure from traditional fabrics such as chiffon, but it offers a unique look for brides looking to take the road less travelled. It will also leave your bridal babes feeling stylish and oh-so fierce.
There’s a new wedding destination for Gauteng brides and grooms to add to their wedding venue list. Emerald Resort & Casino are upping the ante by ensuring that you have the perfect wedding venue and allowing you to bring your Big Day to life.
“Emerald is the ultimate destination where the vision of your dream wedding will be brought to life.We can customize your wedding with the traditions of your heritage and cater for a small intimate affair or create your fairy-tale wedding of up to1500 guests, all without leaving our complex. We are only 45 min from Johannesburg International Airport, on a private estate on the lush banks of the Vaal River”, says Tanuja Gangabishun, Marketing Executive at Emerald Resort and Casino.
A 3 000 square meter Arena at Emerald offers the bridal couples a unique opportunity to host large weddings using round tables, while Kilimanjaro has a warm ambience for groups of up to 160 guests.
The Game Park Lapa is captivating and offers a gorgeous outdoor option, weather permitting. The other enchanting venue for an outdoor wedding is the Outdoor Chapel which can be set up in many different ways, catering for small or large groups.
The venues are versatile and the setting offers beautiful locations for dramatic and spectacular photographs right there on complex. Booking this premiere wedding destination means that the wedding party can enjoy all the before and after events on one complex. There is no need to travel to enjoy a bachelor party of bridal shower, or entertain the guests. The complex offers a wide variety of venues and entertainment.
Complementing the selection of venues, Emerald offers several accommodation options to suit every taste and every budget, from 3-star, 4-star and 5-star offerings. There are a wide variety of activities available on the complex to keep everyone entertained while the bride is pampered and treated like the queen she is.
Enjoy game drives, visit the Aquadome with its heated pools, or take a relaxing river cruise. The bride can even plan a magical floating wedding on the Vaal River with Emerald Resort and Casino.
“Weddings can be very complex and stressful for the happy couple, which is why we have put together several packages with a specialist in the industry, Farzana Mayet rom Panache International. It is a rare opportunity to be able to work with a professional like Farzana,” says Tanuja Gangabishun, Marketing Executive at Emerald Resort and Casino.
Tailor-made packages are available which can include arrangements for the bridal shower and bachelor party at Emerald, Mehndi night function, and the wedding day with an array of Halaal food and catering, entertainment, photographer and videographer etc.
Optional extras such as a Mehndi artist, Qawali singer, and make-up artist and wedding cakes can also be included.
Allow the team to tailor a wedding experience to meet your requirements.
Eeny meeny miney mo, if you want to propose, where’s the best place to go? Cape Town Tourism surveyed people on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to find the best places in Cape Town to pop the question. They also collected responses from users ofThe Perfect Proposal, wedding and proposal planners, and the most common answer was… The V&A Waterfront, followed closely by Table Mountain.
If there was anywhere in the world where love could blossom against a truly beautiful backdrop, it is the city of Cape Town. According to the online dating platform WeLoveDates.com, the Mother City ranked 21st among the most romantic cities in the world and was the second most romantic city on the continent after Marrakech.
With a plethora of landmarks that are perfectly suited for amorous encounters, it is easy to see how Cape Town can stir the cockles of one’s heart.
CEO of Cape Town Tourism Enver Duminy says, “It’s hard to think of a better city to find the freedom to declare your undying love in. Whether you are atop Table Mountain or on the beach, you won’t struggle to find the perfect venue to propose. Afterwards, you can mark the occasion at any one of the city’s world-class restaurants.”
Other popular Capetonian spots where lovers plighted their troth included: Hout Bay, the airport, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Signal Hill, Franschhoek, Boulders, the Aquila Nature Reserve and the Strand.
Here are sweet proposal stories from some of the city’s most special spots to bend the knee:
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Sometimes proposals are an intimate affair involving a small group of people or even just the couple getting engaged. Other times however, you’ve got to go big. Instagram’s @gemini_gerard went for the second option.
“I proposed to my wife at Kirstenbosch gardens after watching The Notebook at the @thegalileo. Before the screening I had arranged for them to play a personal video once the movie had finished. The video chronicled our journey over the last six years. Once it finished, I took her by the hand and led her to the front of the screen.
There, in front of 600+ people, I got down on one knee and asked if she would do me the honour of spending the rest of her life with me. She said yes which is when the last part of the surprise happened. I had hidden her friends and family in the back so when she said yes, they all jumped out.”
Kirstenbosch Gardens / Instagram
V&A Waterfront
Masego and Letlotlo came to Cape Town on holiday. Masego had wanted to pop the question to her partner of 10 years for a long time and this holiday was the perfect moment. She wanted something different, like an art studio or gallery. A place where they could paint and create.
With the help of The Perfect Proposal, they arranged a private session at the Art Jamming studio in the Waterfront. The studio designed and created a “marry me” sign, which was used as the grand gesture in the proposal. On arrival, the couple entered, and went into the “splash” room where an easel with a yellow and black art piece was waiting for them. Letlotlo was told to start peeling the flaps, which eventually revealed letters spelling out ‘marry me’?
She said yes.
Signal Hill
Not all proposals go according to plan but that doesn’t make them any less perfect as Janine Naicker explains:
“My proposal happened at Signal Hill. It didn’t go according to my husband’s plan – at all. Firstly, it was so full that we couldn’t find parking, so we had to park along the side. He then invited me to get out of the car to look at the view with him. My response – ‘It’s too windy!’ (It really was).
“After a few failed attempts, he got back into the car and pulled out a box with two cupcakes that he had gotten for us. He handed it to me and asked me to pass him one. When I opened the box, there was a ring placed in the icing of one of the cupcakes. I was speechless and turned to him, he then said ‘Janine Hendricks, will you marry me?’
lina.the.explorer / Instagram
Table Mountain
Instagram user @bestnomadsever’s husband proposed on top of South Africa’s most famous mountain.
“We hiked up hoping to catch the sunrise at the same spot as our first date (which was a hike up the mountain). We made it and then, just as the sun was rising, he got on bended knee and proposed to me. It was so perfect and romantic. Next month, we will be together 5 years.”
The Strand
Bianca Engelbrecht’s story goes like this:
“Our first date was at the Strand Beach. We agreed on the beach because it was convenient for both of us. It was amazing. We just sat on a bench listening to the waves crashing in the background and spoke for hours about everything and anything. Fast forward a few years. We had planned a night out with some friends. Little did I know what was about to happen.
“He pulled me aside and told me he wanted to take a quick detour and that we would meet up with our friends later. He explained that he just wanted a moment alone without the kids, which I thought was so sweet. So we went to the beach, to the exact bench we had had our first date on. We started talking, just as we had all those years ago and then he went down on one knee. I honestly couldn’t believe what was happening, but it was the most romantic thing ever. Afterwards, we met up with our friends and boy did we have a story to tell them. We’ve been married for a year now.”
jeanine_thehappyblog/ Instagram
Sidebar: ‘Secret’ spots to pop the big Q:
Here’s a list of some of Cape Town’s lesser-known locations that are perfect for proposals:
Majik Forest (Door de Kraal, Cape Town): Secreted in the northern suburbs, with soft green grass, trees, ducks, a dam and a mountain bike trail in the forest section, this pet-friendly park is the perfect place to propose to your significant other with your furry friend present.
Lichtenstein Castle (Hout Bay):The privately owned castle, located in Hout Bay, can be visited by appointment only. It’s the perfect place to propose in a fairy-tale setting.
Woodstock streets: Urban adventurers will find a perfect proposal setting amidst the gorgeous, gritty surrounds of Woodstock’s world-famous street art.
Tintswalo Atlantic (Hout Bay): Rumour has it a penguin gives its mate a pebble when courting. Pop your person a pebble on Tintswalo’s secluded stretch of beach, below Chapman’s Peak Drive.
Dias Beach (Cape Point): Wild and whimsical, this hidden coast offers unparalleled sea views. It’s the ideal backdrop for ‘I do’.
Secret Rock (Bantry Bay): Perched at the top of Nettleton Drive is a secret rock where many a couple has come for some special moments alone…
If you’re busy planning your wedding, there are probably a million things you’ve managed to scribble down on your to-do list. Nestled between dress fittings and chats with vendors is probably choosing the perfect colour palette for your wedding.
Now, we’re sure that we don’t have to tell you how important choosing colours for your big day can be. After all, it’s right at the top of your list. The colour palette of your choice will influence every aspect of your day – from the decor to the cake.
Of course, this can feel incredibly overwhelming. Thankfully, the experts are providing us with some direction. Here are a few of the most popping colours for 2022:
“Very Peri”
It’s only fitting that we start with Pantone’s Colour of the Year – Very Peri. A beautiful combination of blues and purples that offer a romantic and vibrant tone to your wedding celebration. This colour packs a punch and works well when paired with pink, vibrant purples, or even classic black.
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Stay in neutral
While sticking to neutral colours such as creams and whites may seem like the safe bet, experts say this is quite popular right now. However, opting for texture and adding floral to add a little pop can be a great way to take things to the next level.
This beautiful warm hue has been everywhere in 2021, and trust us, it’s not going anywhere. These colours are borrowed from Mother Nature and offer earthy tones that are perfect for any wedding – no matter the season.
Not every wedding couple likes to play it safe. Bold and vibrant colours such as deep purples and blues can feel like a massive departure from the traditional blush pinks or all-white decor, but this can be an amazing way to make a splash on your wedding day. If you’re feeling a little anxious about it, why not pair it with a tone that you feel a bit more comfortable with.
A breath of fresh air. These are the perfect tones for wedding couples looking to add a soft and relaxing feel to their decor. Deeper greens and blues work well with these colours, as well as gold.
