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    In the digital era, making announcements for any occasion is pretty common. You know your friend from high school has declared a certain breakfast spot ‘utterly ideal’, your co-worker’s announcement of their newest plant-child, and your younger sibling’s every move.

    However, there are some announcements that still remain somewhat sacred in the land of social media, and your wedding or engagement announcement sits at the top of the tree.

    So, how do you do it ‘right?’ As in, how do you not come off as obnoxious, or how do you meander coming across a little too nonchalant (to the point where people might wonder if you’re even excited?)

    Do you go for the flashy carousal post where everyone gets to see the entire story – from the spot you thought you were simply having dinner at to the ultimate star on your finger, or do you play it lowkey and post a snippet of the magic?

    Here are some tips to keep in your back pocket on how to announce your special news on social media: 

    1. Make sure those closest to your heart about it before you go live on socials:

    The last thing you want to rain on your engagement parade is an unhappy friend or family member. Before you break the internet, make sure you tell those closest to your heart first, and especially those who will certainly see it on social media first.

    2. Use photos that are meaningful to you, or do a shoot

    Not everyone grabs perfect photos from their engagement moment. Your nails might not be on point, your partner may be wearing the same outfit as in your last post, or all the photos are blurry. Now, you may be part of a pretty funky couple that sees these as part of their own chill aesthetic, and if that sounds like your relationship then go for it in posting. Instagram especially is long past its curated look, with photo-dumps showing more organic life ruling the roost. However, if you really want to go the full 9-yards and have a little shoot (either professionally or at the trust hands of your phone camera on timer) then that’s amazing too. The bottom line here is to use photos that are meaningful to your relationship – not glossy photos that aren’t you or your partner, or an obscure ring that isn’t even yours found on the Internet.

    3. Use a caption that speaks to your relationship and your audience simultaneously

    It’s a special announcement and so no matter which platform you’re using (par Twitter) a longer caption is more than allowed. However, you can also keep it short and sweet by using a quote from a song, film or book that says it all. You can even stick to the same emoji you have next to your partner’s name on your phone if you want, but the key focus here is using a caption that again, is special to your relationship and won’t be uncomfortable for your audience. Ie: Telling your audience that you’re better than everyone else because you won’t die alone is probably not a good way to announce your special news.

    4. Make a story highlight for the build-up to the big day, not necessarily separate posts

    We know you’re excited, and most of your close friends and followers will be too! However, that doesn’t mean that everyone expects or wants a daily update on what you’re doing for the wedding. If you do want to document the big build up, all the cake flavours you tried and wedding locations you scouted, put them on your stories (either Facebook or Instagram) and compile them in a highlight. The bonus of collecting all these moments is that you’ll have a whole trailer before the wedding, and it could also make an incredible TikTok.

    ALSO SEE: Everything You Need To Know About Planning An Engagement Party

    Everything You Need To Know About Planning An Engagement Party

    Feature image: Pexels

     

    While they may not always end in Happily Ever After, these wedding reality shows are guaranteed to keep you entertained in the run up to your big day. They might also make you feel happier about your own wedding plans when you see what a disaster these can be by comparison.

    Here are the best wedding reality TV shows we love to watch:

    – Love is Blind 

     

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    The recently released Netflix series follows a few single people as they enter the ‘experiment.’ In 10 days, they date a host of people from within ‘pods’ that only let them hear each others voices. By the end of the 10 days, six couples came out engaged without ever having seen each other. This might seem wild enough on it’s own but the series goes even further. The couples then move in together and meet each others families before walking down the aisle to be asked whether “love is truly blind” and they commit to the partner they have known for about a month. As expected, the drama is high as the couples find out who the other person really is.

    -Married at First Sight 

     

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    Married at First Sight has been around since 2014 and is still going strong on TLC. The premise of the show is that couples are chosen and paired up and meet for the first time at the end of the aisle. After getting married, the couple are filmed settling into their new life and after six to eight weeks, they decide whether to stay married or get divorced. Despite being criticised for being a westernised version of arranged marriage for entertainment purposes, it is addictive and keeps you hooked trying to guess who will make it.

    – The Wedding Bashers 

     

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    Wedding Bashers combines the voting fun of Idols with the high stakes pressure of a wedding. Four wedding experts go to different couples weddings and judge them on the entire event. They vote on the weddings, with their vote counting 50% with the South African audience voting from home. If you’re in the middle of planning your wedding, rewatching the first two seasons might be a great way to pick up some ideas, or realise what not to do.

    -Our Perfect Wedding 

     

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    Another South African wedding show, Our Perfect Wedding airs on Mzansi Magic and follows a couple planning their  “perfect wedding” as they check off the items on their wish list. It’s a simple show that follows all the drama going into planning a wedding, with the couple declaring at the end whether or not their wedding was truly perfect. On top of being entertaining, watching other couples go through the entire wedding process might help you realise that your wedding will always have some stumbling blocks but in the end can still be perfect.

    -Extreme Engagement

     

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    Unlike the others, this show doesn’t hop straight into marriage. An engaged couple travels the world to experience marriage customs from a variety of cultures. The main goal is to see whether these extremely differing styles of marriage will bring out the best or the worst in their relationship. While it has been criticised for its problematic depictions of other cultures, it is interesting to witness the ways marriage is different all over the world. It might just give you a little time to think what marriage means for you.

    – Kom ons trou, nou! (Let’s get married, now!) 

     

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    Although it’s in Afrikaans, this show has subtitles so you can follow on this wild ride. In every episode, a woman who is tired of waiting for her partner to propose secretly plans their wedding and then proposes to them in front of all their surprised guests. There really isn’t much to learn from this series, since you’ve already got the proposal and are planning the wedding but it’s pure reality TV entertainment.

    Feature image: Instagram / Love is Blind

    There’s nothing quite like the feeling of freedom from the open road – and there’s no one better to do it with than your new spouse. Just married, bound to adventure with great tunes and blissful conversation, we can’t think of anything better. If you’re choosing to take a roadtrip for your honeymoon, keep these few things in mind.

    Avoid break downs and break outs

    Before you embark, make sure your car is serviced – especially filters, fluid levels, and belts, and of course the oil and water. Check your tire pressure and the condition of your wiper blades, turn signals, brake lights, and high and low beams. Examine your tire treads and make sure your car is prepared for any kind of weather. Importantly, recharge the air conditioner – you don’t want the African sun to get the better of your trip.

    Clean up, stock up

    There’s no better way to start the journey than in a fresh, newly cleaned car. Have a fun car wash together before you leave. Stock up on padkos and lots of water, bearing in mind that it’ll be cheaper to buy from a grocery store than at convenience stops. Pile in blankets and pillows in case one of you needs to get some shut eye. Finally,  pack an emergency kit, including a battery-powered radio and extra batteries, flashlight, jumper cables, first aid kit, spare tire, tire repair kit and pump, and flares. TIA after all.

    If you’re renting

    If you are renting, agencies like Hertz, Avis, Budget and Thrifty have lots of locations. Look out for rental deals (often in conjunction with booking a hotel and flight).

    If you need to rent a car abroad, you’ll need to get an international driving permit (IDP) at your local AA. Click here to apply for your IDP. If you’re renting a car overseas, keep in mind that most models come with a manual transmission. If you’re used to automatic, call and book an automatic well in advance and be prepared to pay more. If you book online, print out a copy of your confirmation number and all the particulars.

    Are We There Yet?

    Planning for the time spent in the car together can be just as important as packing your essentials. The last thing you want is to ruin your romantic adventure with road trip boredom, so prepare some on-road entertainment. Include games and music, or even a few audio books. If you find yourself in a lull during your journey, here are some highway hints to keep the long drive interesting.

    1. Car games They’re not just for kids! No road trip is complete without a round of ‘I spy’ or ‘the license plate game.’
    2. Story time Instead of curling up in a corner and reading to yourself, share the story  and read aloud.
    3. Create an on-the-road scrapbook Take pictures of the funny sites you see from the car window.
    4. Tunes for the trail If you’re addicted to your iPod, buy an FM transmitter to play your collection through your car radio. The Griffins iTrip will ensure you won’t be without your favorite tunes.

    Adapted from The Knot