Planning Archives | Wedding ETC

In Planning

Seasonal Wedding Planning: Why Autumn 2026 Bookings Are Heating Up

August 13, 2025 No Comments

Wedding planning is exciting and South African couples are finding themselves enchanted by autumn. And for good reason. Between March and May, the country transforms into a painter’s palette of golden leaves, gentle breezes and soft, romantic light. For brides and grooms-to-be, it’s a season that offers charm without the sweltering heat of summer or the chill of winter.

But here’s the catch — word is out. With everyone hoping to take advantage of cooler temperatures, lower prices and shoulder season, Venues and photographers are already reporting a spike in 2026 autumn wedding bookings, with some prime dates disappearing faster than you can say “I do”.

With bookings filling up fast, you might feel a slightly overwhelmed planning your autumn wedding. Fear not though. We’ll guide you through every you need to know to sucessfully plan your whimsical autumn wedding.

The Romance of Autumn

Photo by Matthew Buchanan on Unsplash

Ask any couple who tied the knot in autumn and they’ll tell you — there’s something almost cinematic about it. The air is cooler but not cold, the sunlight takes on a dreamy golden hue, and the colours of the landscape seem made for wedding photos.

This is the kind of atmosphere that has made March to May the “it” season for South African weddings. From Stellenbosch wine farms to Mpumalanga’s highland lodges, autumn offers settings that feel straight out of a fairytale.

Why 2026 Autumn Dates are Going Fast

Traditionally, summer has been South Africa’s most popular wedding season. But in recent years, autumn has surged in popularity. The reasons are clear:

Perfect Weather Balance:

Let’s face it, no one wants to be sweating like mad in summer or freezing to death in winter on your wedding day. Autumn offers strikes the perfect balance between the two. Milder than summer, but warmer than winter, you can’t really go wrong.

Golden Hour Photography:

Photo by Ezra Jeffrey-Comeau on Unsplash

Everyone knows that golden hour is the best time to take photos. But what many people don’t know is that there’s a big difference between golden hour during summer and autumn.

Golden hour during summers brings about bright, warm rays that give you an instant glow and can take any picture from average to drop dead gorgeous. The downside is that there’s a limited time period to get those perfect golden hour photos.

Autumn’s golden hour on the other hand brings about unique opportunities. Autumn sunsets have a special softness, ideal for capturing portraits and landscapes. Lower shadows and rich colours create deeper contrasting back drops that are bound to leave anyone breathless once they see you’re wedding album.

Seasonal Menus:

Photo by Jennifer Schmidt on Unsplash

Having your wedding in Autumn presents you with a unique opportunity to play around with a seasonal menu. With slightly cooler temperatures creeping in, you can’t go wrong with some hearty comfort food.

Think rich butternut soup, roasted seasonal veg, and hearty main dishes. And for dessert, who doesn’t love a good malva or sticky toffee pudding?

Unique Seasonal Decorations:

Photo by Nicole Geri on Unsplash

One of the best things about having an Autumn wedding is the opportunity incorporate some of the seasons natural beauty into your wedding decor. A mix of red, oranges, yellows, and browns can create an extraordinary visual experience for you and your guests.

Cost Savings (Sometimes):

Shoulder seasons, usually mean fewer tourist crowds. This could mean better rates for venues and vendors. But, with shoulder season tourism beginning to take off, it’s best to not leave things too late so be sure to book your venue and everything else well in advance.

The Ups and Downs of Planning an Autumn Wedding

While we might have convinced you thus far to move your wedding date to Autumn, it’s worth remembering that the season comes with its own set of quirks:

Weather Can be Unpredictable:

Bad weather on your wedding day is pretty much everyone’s worst fear. In places like Cape Town where you can experience all four seasons in one day, having a back up plan in case the weather acts up – is crucial. So try and select an indoor venue, or a venue with a covered area.

Shorter Days:

As the sun starts setting earlier, this could potentially be a game changer during the planning stages of your wedding. Shorter day means that you’ll need to be strategic about ceremony times and

Public Holidays:

While you and your guests might not need to put in leave for your wedding day, public holidays can pose a problem. Easter, Freedom Day and other long weekends can affect guest and venue availability and travel costs. So, if you are planning on having your wedding on a public holiday, be sure to keep this in mind and book early.

An Autumn Wedding – Is it Worth it?

Autumn is a special time of the year. While the weather and other factors might play a big role in your decision to have your wedding in autumn or not, don’t write Autumn off completely.

With careful planning and contingency plans in place, Autumn might just be the season for your dream wedding. Many couples say the trade-off is worth it for the romantic atmosphere alone.

In Engagements

5 Incredible ways you can avoid wedding planning burnout

August 15, 2022 No Comments

We all know how stressful planning a wedding can be, making wedding planning burnout a very real possibility. Whether you’re trying not to pull out your hair as wedding costs skyrocket or you’re obsessing over every little detail to ensure that everything goes the way you’ve pictured it, feeling overwhelmed is guaranteed to happen if you’re not careful.

Thankfully, this isn’t something new and there are endless resources to help the modern bridal couple looking to keep costs and anxiety low.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when attempting to avoid wedding planning burnout:

Don’t rush

This may not always be possible but last-minute wedding planning is not fun for anyone, especially the soon-to-be bride and groom. While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to hop, skip, and jump right into the part where you say “I do,” making sure that you have enough time to plan your dream wedding is always advised as this will give you a spacious timeline to ensure things are handled well and that the process is smooth.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

The number one reason for wedding planning burning is not asking for help. While it’s not always easy to ask for help, it is a necessary practice if you’re looking to keep your bridal party or the partner you’re set to marry, make sure you delegate tasks to ensure everything on your list is ticked off and that you’re not Atlas attempting to carry the world on your shoulders.

Be normal!

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in planning that you may forget why you’re actually getting married – love. A great way to keep your mental health in tip-top shape is by making sure that you get out and spend some quality time with each other. Plan an epic date night with your partner with a strict “no wedding talk rule,” this will allow you to keep some sense of normality.

Have some fun

Can wedding planning be fun? Well, you’ll need to find out. A big reason for something being incredibly stressful is because it’s just not bringing you the joy you need, so why not endeavour to pull out the fun card? For example, if you’re deciding what you should serve at your wedding, why not turn it into an adventure by setting it up as a “culinary tour” that could also double as a date night?

Technology is your friend

There are countless wedding app s that are ready to lend a helping hand as you attempt to navigate the minefield that is wedding planning. Whether you’re looking to make your life easier by setting up a wedding website and forgoing physical invitations or looking for a nifty app to help you sort out your budget, there’s something for everyone in need.

Feature Image: Olguin Photography

In Advice

8 Romantic engagement ideas to help you pop the question!

August 3, 2022 No Comments

You’ve gathered all the necessary ingredients for the perfect proposal: a gorgeous engagement ring, a heart-tugging engagement speech, but oh, how to pop the question in a way that will make her heart flutter?

Going down on one knee and asking your soulmate to marry you is a stressful affair, and if all that stress has you feeling overwhelmed and confused about your perfect wedding proposal, try a few of these engagement ideas on for size.

Make sure to add your own personal and creative twist:

Loud and proud, for everyone to see:

These are for those brave souls out there who don’t care a hoot about who is watching!

Have a caricaturist at your side

It’s the stuff rom-coms are made of! There are a number of caricaturists and artists in South Africa that will make the perfect accomplice to your wedding proposal. Hire them on the day and have them sketch the words: “Will you marry me?” And voila!

A favourite landmark

This doesn’t have to be everyone’s favourite landmark, but just you and your soon-to-be betrothed. It can be anything from a mountain, fountain, hotel to shopping mall, as long as it’s a place that’s special to both of you!

Keep it close to home

Who needs to be amongst people? If you and your future bride are both homebodies, here are home wedding proposals.

Re-create your first date

This can be both out and about or at home – you decide. However, nothing is more romantic than re-enacting your first date before creating a beautiful new memory by popping the question.

A custom jigsaw puzzle

This is the perfect proposal idea if you both love board games or it’s a rainy day. Make sure to get a custom-made jigsaw puzzle with your picture and the words: “Will you marry me?” If you’ve completed the puzzle enough that you can clearly see your picture and the words, it’s time to go down on one knee.

Embrace Mother Nature

If you love the great outdoors then check out a few of these ideas.

Hot Air Balloon

There’s nothing like letting your love soar to new heights, and popping the question while doing just that is a fantastic idea! Well, as long as a fear of heights is not on the table.

Message in a bottle

If you’re looking for a unique beach proposal, then why not add a cute little message to a bottle? Write a heartwarming poem or letter on a piece of parchment and add it to the bottle with cork before burying it in a designated spot under the sand. Don’t forget them to find the bottle, but make sure you have the ring ready to go!

Adorable proposal ideas

You’re looking for fun. You’re looking for excitement. You’re looking for unique, here are a few ideas:

Escape Room

Escape rooms are all the rage right now, so why not add your own wedding proposal spin on things? Contact your favourite escape and try and work on a way that will allow you to incorporate your wedding proposal into the adventure of trying to escape the room!

Gift Delivery

You were looking for cute? Why not get a box that’s tall enough for you (a refrigerator box is a great start) and add a little note for your soon-to-be fiance that may allude to what’s really inside the box.

Feature Image: Adventure for Love

In Honeymoons

Are expensive weddings overrated?

June 8, 2022 No Comments

They say that money can’t buy everything (and certainly not love), but often when wedding plan talks are in the works, it’s easy to get caught up in the tale that “expensive is better.”

But is it, actually?

Recently, Reddit users decided to weigh in on the topic.

u/11sam111 kicked off the conversation with the concept that expanding one’s budget to focus money beyond the big day (ie: on honeymoons!) is a better way to go than cashing it all in for a day where “you miss everything because it’s so busy.”

Other Reddit users were quick to share their responses and shed light on what actually makes the day memorable that more often than not, doesn’t come with a price tag.

Here’s what people’s thoughts were:

Stick to what you can afford

“We had a $300 wedding and spent the $20k that would have gone to a bit wedding on a house down payment and medical bills for having our kid. On the other hand my friend had a $35k wedding that was two full days of having a blast with all of her loved ones and that’s okay too! No shame either way as long you stick to what you can afford and don’t hurt anyone.” – ThrowRA_SILspilled

There might be better uses for the budget

“I’ve talked with several people that did a similar thing, they all regret nothing. One took all the wedding money he was gonna spend and used it on a down payment for a house, and another used it to take a month off with his husband to travel.” – Jan_Itor_Md_

If you spend it, don’t regret it

“I have no regrets about spending money for an event that was meaningful to the people I love.” – the_lemon_lobster

Don’t let your wedding put you in debt

“One of my friends spent 30k on his wedding. Then was upset because he and his new wife couldn’t afford to get [an] apartment together because they were in debt for 25k cus they took a loan to pay for it. Just insanity” – keyboardstatic

It’s your money

“I mean honestly, it’s your money and people waste the majority of their money on frivolous stuff anyway so if that’s what you chose to spend your money on and it made you happy, then kudos to you. I’m not really knocking the people who do per se, I just don’t understand it. But I totally don’t need to.” –SonOfSet1

A little first-class travel couldn’t hurt

“I eloped with my now husband in feb of 2020 (pre lockdown) we used the money we save to fly to Thailand first class and spent two weeks travelling for only 8grand total! Waaaay better use of our time.” – MidnaMarbles

What are your thoughts? Are you team “as expensive as possible” or team “save it for something else meaningful”?

Picture: Netflix

In Advice

Nature-based proposal spots in Cape Town

April 27, 2022 No Comments

If you’re planning to propose to your partner in Cape Town, you are in luck thanks to the beautiful scenery that Cape Town is blessed with. If you want to propose out in nature there is no shortage of beautiful locations for you to do so. Whether you take a drive out to the winelands or stay within the city, you will be spoiled for choice.

Have a look at these 5 proposal spots that make use of nature to set the scene:

Cape Point

Take a drive out to Cape Point National Park to see where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, and become one with your partner.

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A post shared by Bernadine Jeffrey (@berniejeffrey) on Nov 24, 2019 at 12:42pm PST

Lion’s Head

Hike up lion’s head and take in the magical views from the top. You will certainly feel like you are on cloud 9 up there.

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A post shared by Lions Head (@lionsheadct) on Oct 23, 2019 at 8:46pm PDT

Kirstenbosch Gardens

Plan a picnic in these lush gardens and take a walk on the Boomslang tree canopy walkway for panoramic views of the gardens and mountains.

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A post shared by Jarat Tours (@jarattours) on Sep 3, 2019 at 10:08pm PDT

Boulders Beach

While there are plenty of beautiful beaches in Cape Town, Boulders beach, with its colony of African penguins, offers something a little extra to make the proposal that much more special.

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A post shared by عبدالله الجمعة Abdullah (@aaljumah) on Aug 26, 2017 at 1:33pm PDT

Vineyards

The abundance of beautiful vineyards and accompanying restaurants makes it easy to choose just one to propose. Enjoy the delicious local wines and views of the vineyards.

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A post shared by Carol Byrne (@cannalletto) on Nov 30, 2019 at 12:47pm PST

Feature image: Unsplash

Also read: Things to do in Cape Town

In Advice

6 Wedding planning apps and digital tools we can’t live without

March 2, 2022 No Comments

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:

Joy – Wedding App & Website

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.

Riley & Grey – Wedding websites

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.

Allseated – Venue layout

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.

GoodBudget – Budget Planner

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.

Picture: Pinterest

In Engagements

10 Instagram accounts to follow for bridal inspiration

September 27, 2021 No Comments

Inspiration is not hard to come by; you just need to know where to look. Social media plays a huge role in wedding planning these days, and while many brides-to-be turn to Pinterest for that much-needed inspiration, Instagram is a great resource too.

Here are a few of our favourite Instagram accounts that are serving looks and some serious inspo.

A forest filled with inspiration

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTuJ700qtOB/

Beautifully organic wedding and lifestyle inspiration we can’t get enough of

https://www.instagram.com/p/BszGUydFszp/

Inspiration straight from an event planner

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSBO9dvgRyV/

A global collaboration of wedding inspiration

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIloRbpg2RN/

A splash of colour

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMkRz21lN_s/

Inspiration and resources that are sure to celebrate love

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUC-gzGhQ29/

Pretty Pictures:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFjPtmKxYh/

Your floral inspiration

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ_UzDZnZtn/

A little venue decor inspiration

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3hmTw_hf7a/

Wedding wear for every bride

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFn_x3tscZ/

Picture: June Bug Weddings Instagram

In Advice

Safe ways to celebrate your recent engagement

February 24, 2021 No Comments

Just said ‘Yes’? Congratulations! What is typically an exciting moment is somewhat dampened by the global pandemic, as we cannot celebrate with one another as we used to.

If you still want to honour your big news, fear not. There are still ways to celebrate with your closest friends and family without putting them at risk amid the pandemic.

Here are a few ideas:

Hold a (virtual) celebration:

Just because you can’t be together physically does not mean you cannot celebrate! Host your festivities via online platforms like Facetime, Skype or Zoom.

You can still make it fun by decorating your home and having your ‘guests’ dress up. Planning a themed event makes it extra special and gives your friends and family something to dress up for. For an extra sweet touch, have small thank you gifts delivered to your guests’ homes after the celebration.

Drive-by party:

Your loved ones can attend your event from the safety of their cars, ensuring that all safety precautions are met while still giving you the feeling of their presence.

When choosing the location of the drive-by, ensure that it is a wide-open, public space. This will mean that everyone driving by will be able to clearly see you. You could even do it in your front yard if you have space and don’t have walls.

Set up a spot to show yourselves off, for example, you can decorate fancy chairs as thrones for you to sit on as your parade drives by. Assign a close relative or friend the role of head driver. This ensures that there is somebody leading the cars to your location, and allows for some sort of order for the drive-by.

Take engagement photos:

You’ll want to remember this moment for the rest of your life, so it makes sense to document your engagement. Photographers were hit hard by the pandemic, and hiring one is a great way to give back to small business.

Keep COVID-19 protocols in mind by having your photographer work from a safe distance with a mask on and have sanitiser on hand.

After you receive your pictures, have them printed and framed or emailed to your friends and family so that they can feel like they are a part of your special moment.

Picture: Pexels

In Advice

Engagement ideas that are sweet and memorable

February 12, 2021 No Comments

Just like wedding trends come and go, proposal trends are also always changing. Proposals have become more premeditated over the years, with couples deciding beforehand that they want to get engaged. This allows them to plan and co-ordinate, while still keeping some of the surprise.

You don’t have to go super big and elaborate to make a splash, however. Here are some unique and sentimental ideas that your partner will remember forever.

Secret photographer

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Plan a sweet photoshoot for your partner, but don’t let them know it’s actually an engagement shoot. This way, you can make sure you’re both looking camera-ready and your photographer can make up an excuse to have your partner looking away as you go down on one knee. We promise the candid photos will be priceless!

Spell it out

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A post shared by @beyondpicnicsco

Go big and have the phrase ‘Will you marry me’ lit up in marquee lights. Whether you place them on a beach or a backyard, they make the perfect backdrop for a ring selfie!

A pizza my heart

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A post shared by WEDDED WONDERLAND (@weddedwonderland)

Who doesn’t love pizza? Combine your favourite Italian meal with a sweet proposal by having the toppings spell out ‘Will you marry me’. Have the pizza made in a heart shape for an extra cheesy touch.

A pawsome proposal

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A post shared by ???????? ??? Wedding Pet Care (@fureverus)

Got a four-legged friend who is basically the third wheel of your relationship? Make sure to include your pet by having them pose with the ring and a sign that reads, ‘Will you marry me’.

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

How to include your blended family on your wedding

November 12, 2020 No Comments

Parenthood doesn’t require DNA and some people already have children, either from a previous relationship or before marriage. When they decide to marry other people and bring their families together, they create a blended family.

Bringing your families together and including them in your big day is a sweet way to honour them. Here are some ways to do it, and make sure no one feels neglected or left out.

Have a unity Ceremony

Unity ceremonies are meaningful rituals performed during your wedding to represent becoming a union and the joining of lives, families and communities. Being highly symbolic, there are multiple ways you can do this, which can be personalised to your new family. One idea is to write meaningful letters to each other and read them out during the ceremony, then put them in a jar to keep as a family symbol.

Give them roles

Another way you can include your blended family is by assigning them roles. From a ring bearer to a flower girl, the possibilities are endless. This is guaranteed to make them feel included in the ceremony and when you are all looking at the wedding album, they will be delighted to see themselves featured and having participated.

Give them gift

Gifting is one of the five universal love languages, it shows the next person that you have thought of them and value them enough to gift them. Give them the same or similar gifts to your biological kids, or get them something they have always wanted.

Presenting something special to your new child/children is a wonderful gesture to symbolise that they are an important part of this new family.

Include them in the planning

Kids love doing exciting things, to them everything is playtime and by including them in the planning process, you get the chance to bond with them. Let them participate in everything from cake tasting to licking invitation envelopes.

Encourage them to invite a few of their best friends and their family members to the wedding so that they have familiar faces apart from you.

Have a family dance

After the first dance, invite the kids to come out and join you on the dance floor to their favourite tune. It would be extra fun and special if you practiced a dance prior to the wedding. You can even give them the task of coming up with the steps to our dance routine as the kids of the family.

Picture: Unsplash