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In Weddings

A closer look at Jennifer Lopez’s two wedding dresses & its special meaning

July 21, 2022 No Comments

By now you’ve probably heard, seen, and drooled over Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s stunning wedding pictures.

But while many of us thought we’d have to wait weeks for details from their impromptu Vegas wedding to emerge, JLo has blessed us with a few more details from her big day, which has, literally, been decades in the making.

The Marry Me star revealed she wore two wedding dresses in her On the JLo newsletter, including one she saved for years for the occasion.

“I’ve had this dress for so many years, and I’ve just been saving it, saving it, saving it, and now I’m wearing it on my wedding day,” she said.

Lopez and Affleck married in Las Vegas over the weekend, with the couple grabbing their wedding attire straight from their own closets.

Reps for Alexander McQueen confirmed that JLo rocked one of the label’s pieces – a gorgeous sleeveless textured gown.

The dress features a textured floral jacquard gown, jewel neckline, a fitted bodice and is a polyamide/silk fabric.

But while the superstar looked absolutely stunning, it’s the significance behind the dress that truly has our inner-romantics screaming with joy.

According to Harper’s Bazaar, JLo donned the dreamy dress on the poster for Jersey Girl, a film that featured the actress and her now-husband, Affleck.

Her second dress was a lace piece from renowned designer, Zuhair Murad Couture and is reportedly from the fashion house’s 2023 bridal couture line.

Here’s a look at JLo before she said “I do”

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A post shared by Chris Appleton (@chrisappleton1)

Feature Image: On the JLo

In Advice

Honeymoon destinations inspired by TV shows

May 17, 2022 No Comments

It’s time to ring in your recent nuptials with a heavenly honeymoon. If you’re a super-fan of a particular show, why not make your getaway an extra special trip by visiting their filming locations? Even if you haven’t seen these shows, these destinations promise memorable moments with your love.

Dubrovnik, Croatia – Game of Thrones

While many Croatian cities doubled up as filming locations for the popular HBO series, Game of Thrones, none are more famous than Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik’s old town is home to the show’s Kings Landing, capital of the mythical Seven Kingdoms. There are multiple locations throughout old town that will be immediately recognisable to GOT fans. Most famously, Queen Cersei did her walk of shame right here at the Jesuit Staircase. Scenes were also filmed on the City Walls and the West Harbour, at the entrance of the old town, where the battle of Blackwater Bay was shot.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Sdmk3DSVh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Niagara Falls, Canada – The Office

Considering The Office is one of the most loved TV shows of all time, this is one destination many would be thrilled at. Fan favourites Jim and Pam famously got married under the falls. After growing incredibly stressed, Jim and Pam ditch their wedding plans the day of, instead hopping aboard a ferry and getting hitched in a private ceremony officiated by the ship’s captain.

Retrace their steps by taking a ferry to the falls and visit the Hornblower. Don’t forget to end the evening with a moonlit stroll along the brightly illuminated Falls.

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Paris – Sex and the City

You’ll need little encouragement to visit the city of love and lights, but we’ll give you one anyway. Sex and the City, the iconic early-2000s show detailing the lives of four New York women, is much-loved by fans. While Carrie and the girls call New York home, she found herself glamorously living in Paris in the final season. Channel your inner Carrie and Big with a romantic trip to Paris. Make sure to stop off at the Plaza Athénée where she stayed, and take a romantic stroll on Le Pont Des Arts, the Lovers Bridge, where Carrie and Big famously reunited.

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New York – Gossip Girl / Friends

The Big Apple is full of filming locations open to the public. Fan-favourite Gossip Girl had every viewer wishing they could live in the upper West Side. For most of us, our closest bet to living their glamorous lives is by is visiting the filming locations. From the Palace Hotel where it-girl Serena Van der Woodsen lived to the steps of the Met where the girls of Constance would congregate, you will love living it up in New York. Xoxo, Gossip Girl.

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California – American Horror Story

Take a trip to California for a spooky spin on your honeymoon. Los Angeles is home to an incredibly famous, and incredibly eerie, house. The Alfred Rosenheim Mansion, or Murder House as American Horror Story (AHS) fans know it, is actually a popular filming location, having appeared in Spider-Man and Seabiscuit. Other notable filming locations you can visit include Cecil Hotel, which appeared in season 5, and Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, home to Briarcliff Asylum in Season Two.

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England – Downton Abbey & The Crown

Fans or Downton Abbey and The Crown will have a royal time in England. Travellers can visit central filming location, Highclere Castle, which viewers will know as Downton manor, as well as a host of other beautiful buildings featured on the show.

Lovers of the British Monarchy-centred show, The Crown, can visit Lancaster House in Westminster, which serves as the filming location for Buckingham Palace’s recreated State Rooms. Or, if you want, you can visit the real place itself and pop down to Buckingham Palace to bask in royalty.

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Image: Unsplash

In Advice

All together now: The familymoon trend

January 26, 2021 No Comments

Honeymoons. That period of bliss after all the wedding chaos, when you and your new partner get to relax and enjoy each other’s company in an exotic location before settling into your new life together. But what if that new life includes kids?

Perhaps you had children before tying the knot. Maybe this is your second marriage and one or both of you have kids. Rather than go on a honeymoon alone, some couples with kids are opting to go on familymoons instead.

A familymoon is a family holiday straight after the wedding. Taking your kids on your honeymoon might seem a bit unusual, but it could be a wonderful experience for the entire family.

Remember, planning your wedding can also be stressful for your kids. Taking a familymoon will let them have some fun after all the excitement. Familymoons are also great bonding opportunities, something that is vital when integrating a family. You will also enjoy your vacation more, knowing that those you love most are enjoying themselves with you.

Some agents have capitalised on the trend and are offering many great packages that your whole family could enjoy. From beach getaways and cruises to city tours and outdoor adventures, there are plenty of options for a familymoon. Booking a family-friendly holiday means that there will definitely be activities the kids can do by themselves while you and your partner enjoy some alone time.

Picture: Pexels

In Honeymoons

A moment apart: The polarising solomoon trend

June 24, 2020 No Comments

Planning a wedding is stressful, which is what makes the honeymoon even sweeter. A few days away from reality with your love is the perfect escape to help rejuvenate your senses. But what if your partner is part of that stress?

The unimoon or solomoon is a new trend some modern couples have chosen to embark on. Instead of going on a honeymoon with their partner, they each go on their own separate holidays.

“It’s a very individualistic, modern practice of efficiency over everything else,” William Powers, a groom who had his own solomoon, told the New York Times. “I think that it’s tied with workaholism and being on the work-and-spend treadmill when you can’t even coordinate one of the most important times of your life together.”

There are many reasons why couples may opt for this unusual choice. It could be that their ideal honeymoon destinations don’t match, or that their work schedules don’t align. Or maybe, it’s just that you really need some alone time after months of being surrounded by wedding planners, vendors, family members and stressed out partner.

As with anything, this trend is dependent on you and your relationship. It may work for some and seem utterly strange to others.

“Neither of us wanted to be where the other one was,” one bride told the Times. “We each came back to Dublin full of stories, buzzing of our trips and truly delighted to see each other again to share the memories: It was the perfect imperfect honeymoon.”

The solomoon might be an example of how relationships and modern love is evolving. Online dating expert and a sociologist for the dating app Bumble Jessica Carbino tells the Times that the idea of marriage has changed for many.

“Given the recognition that for most couples today, marriage and partnership is considered all-consuming, with the partner needing to fulfill every role — physical, spiritual, emotional and sexual — perhaps separate vacations is a recognition among some couples that all expectations cannot be met by a single person.”

Feature image: Chen Mizrach on Unsplash

In Destination

World’s Most Instagrammable Honeymoon Destinations

February 25, 2020 No Comments

If you’re the type who enjoys sharing your experiences on Instagram, then you should read closely. Photography and videography experts, The Photo Team, did some research and found out which honeymoon destinations are the most insragrammable.

By searching the hashtag #honeymoondestinations, as one does when looking for honeymoon inspiration, the team complied a list of the top 26 locations.

The results are in and they are very interesting. Cape Town has ranked 8th on the list, being hashtagged 12 234 629 times!

Here are the top 10:

1. Paris

Number of searches: 120 351 166

https://www.instagram.com/p/B89yktloXt3/

2. Bali

Number of searches: 67 097 317

https://www.instagram.com/p/B80Mh–n14K/

Also read: Must-do honeymoon activities in Bali.

3. Tokyo

Number of searches: 50 531 831

https://www.instagram.com/p/B86OZN6J7rD/

4. Bangkok

Number of searches: 34 864 480

https://www.instagram.com/p/B84s93xhZCe/

5. Sicily

Number of searches: 18 338 616

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8-oQqUC74K/

6. Buenos Aires

Number of searches: 17 168 992

https://www.instagram.com/p/B89vtVUCLjf/

7. Venice

Number of searches: 16 382 292

https://www.instagram.com/p/B82SohCHOZK/

Also read: Heavenly Honeymooning:Italy

8. Cape Town

Number of searches: 12 234 629

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nBM9aAyrj/

9. Sri Lanka

Number of searches: 11 243 511

https://www.instagram.com/p/B85Yy7Znk27/

Also read: Romantic things to do in Sri Lanka

10. Cancun

Number of searches: 10 366 556

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5WFW6YJTTO/

The rest of the list is as follows:

Phuket, Maldives, Marrakech, Lombok, Maui, Santorini, Mauritius, Nairobi, Dubrovnik, Amalfi Coast, Bora Bora, Lapland, Napa Valley, Reykjavik, Seychelles, and São José do Campos.

Be sure to check them all out on Instagram before making your pick! You’ll find the best place for you, and have fun while doing it.

Featured image: Shutterstock-Phattana stock

In Advice

Honeymoon destinations for: Culture

August 16, 2019 No Comments

If you want to experience a different life from your everyday, immerse yourself and learn about other cultures, then these are the honeymoon destinations for you.

Singapore

Where East meets West – Singapore is a fusion of Asian, European and Middle Eastern cultures. With many different religions existing harmoniously, Singapore sees its diversity as a strength, and you will see it too.

Cambodia

Filled with ancient temples, rice paddies and a surprisingly sophisticated urban scene, Cambodia is where ancient and modern worlds collide.

Brazil

Brazil has a colourful culture with countless festivals across the country that celebrate its diversity, the most famous being the Carnaval. Music is a large part of Brazilian culture as it allows the people to express their joy of life.

Greece

Known as the birthplace of Western culture and democracy as Greek beliefs in democratic governments and equality influenced our modern democracies. Besides that, Greece is flush with ancient ruins, festivals and holidays.

Turkey

Thanks to the multi-ethnic and religious Ottoman empire, traditions of Mediterranean and Central Asian cultures were brought together. Turkey is also home to world-famous ruins and monuments.

Morocco

Having ties to Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Morocco has done very well in taking the best traditions and making them new. You will be able to see the cultural diversity in the many different architectural wonders.

Images: Pixabay

In Accessories

Honeymoon roadtripping

July 15, 2014 No Comments

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.

Car games They’re not just for kids! No road trip is complete without a round of ‘I spy’ or ‘the license plate game.’
Story time Instead of curling up in a corner and reading to yourself, share the story and read aloud.
Create an on-the-road scrapbook Take pictures of the funny sites you see from the car window.
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

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