• Coulpes have had to get extra creative in tying the knot amid the coronavirus pandemic. While weddings cannot go on as we know them, this South African wedding venue has created an excellent alternative.

    Collisheen Estate, one of the most sought-after private function facilities on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, is now offering drive-in wedding packages.

    A representative of the state explained to Wedding ETC that the drive-in wedding concept started off as a joke, but they grew more serious about it as lockdown continued to affect the wedding industry.

    Currently, wedding ceremonies are not allowed during Level 3 lockdown. People may only marry at Home Affairs or with a marriage officer. However, Collisheen Estate hopes that their latest offering will provide a new alternative to allow couples to still say ‘I do’ while following safe social distancing.

    The estate is awaiting further announcements from the government on when they may legally open the service to the public amid the nationwide lockdown. However, they have already had lots of interest from couples still hoping to say ‘I do’ this year.

    “Sunset Oval Drive in weddings are a site to behold! The most magnificent sunsets turn this unconventional day into a magical fairytale,” writes the company on their website.

    “Our very experienced venue coordinators are here to help you coordinate your special day and liaise between you, the venue operations team and coordinate any service providers to ensure a perfect day. Our Executive head chef and team will prepare delicious canape’s for you and we will serve it directly to your guests’ cars. Collisheen Estate adheres strictly to all of the health and safety precautions and we assure you of our best attention at all times.”

    There are two drive-in wedding packages: a standard and all-inclusive option. The standard package includes canapes and venue hire. Couples may choose their own service providers who will be guided by the Collisheen team.

    The all-inclusive package includes venue hire, catering and refreshments, photography and videography, a wedding cake, a bridal salon and much more. This option allows couples to just arrive on their big day, taking away the stress of planning and managing a wedding.

    Visit Collisheen Estate’s website HERE.

    For more info on the standard package, click here: COLLISHEEN-DRIVE-IN-WEDDING-PACKAGE-2020

    For more info on the all-inclusive package, click here: COLLISHEEN-DRIVE-IN-WEDDING-PACKAGE-WITH-SERVICE-PROVIDERS-LAUNCH-SPECIAL-2020

    Feature image: Instagram / Collisheen Estate

    Tradition says that brides carry bouquets on their wedding day to ward of vengeful spirits trying to thwart the newlywed’s happiness.

    Today, however, brides aren’t as superstitious when it comes to their bouquets, and often choose any flowers they like. Flowers have their own unique language, and convey unsaid meanings. When picking your bridal bouquet, you might want to keep these blooms out of it.

    Carnation
    Be careful when picking the colour of this flower. A white one says ‘you’re sweet and lovely’ and pink says ‘I’ll never forget you’, while two-tones carnations mean ‘I cannot be with you’. Steer clear of yellow ones entirely, as they signify disdain. Not the stuff of romance…
    Snapdragons
    Much like its name, this flower has a dark meaning. Snapdragons have three different meanings: strength, deviousness, and grace. In ancient times, people would send this flower to mistresses, and also to beg for forgiveness from a lover. With its deceptive connotation, you might want to avoid this bloom on your big day.
    Tansy
    Unless you’re trying to incite violence, you might want to stay away from this bloom. Tansies have historically symbolised formal declarations of war, and can even tell the recipient that they make the sender sick to their stomach. As such, this flower is associated with feelings of hatred and resistance.
    Buttercups

    Buttercup is a popular nickname among couples, but this flower has a meaning not that appropriate for loved ones. Buttercups are said to symbolise childishness because it is so closely associated with children, and thus gifting this flower insinuates you think the recipient is too.

    Cyclamen

    This flower is typically gifted to someone going through a process of separation or change where something in their life has ended. It is poisonous, and commonly seen at funerals. It connotes that all good things come to an end. A nice meaning, but not fitting for your big day.

     

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    The cutest little 2” cyclamen! Softest pink blush, red and a couple bicolored. • • • #petalswest #cyclamen

    A post shared by Petals West (@petalswest) on

    Orange Lilies

    Lillies are much-loved by many but you might want to avoid the orange variation. This flower shade is said to symbolise hatred, pride and disdain.

     

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    Happy Sunday Funday! (Beautiful flowers thanks to @emjviola!)

    A post shared by ???? (@purse__onality) on

    Winter is upon us and the cold has crept in to our lives, causing most of us to stay indoors. What better way to stay warm than with a good dose of love and happiness?

    Many assume that winter weddings are not ideal. The rain may ruin your perfect pictures and make it inconvenient to travel to the venue and the cold may leave your guests feeling a bit fidgety. But there are ways around all of this!

    Let’s not forget, according to folklore, rain on your wedding day is a sign of a good luck to come! Who wouldn’t want to ensure some of that on such a special day?

    Apart from the good luck you’ll receive at your winter wedding, there are some other advantages of celebrating your nuptials in the frosty season. Here’s why you should consider it:

    – Availability

    Since its extremely common to want a summer or spring wedding, venues, vendors, and everything else you’ll need for your wedding will be much more readily available in winter. You’ll get to take your pick and have everything be absolutely perfect on your big day.

    – Affordability

    Similar to the point above, you’ll get better rates for almost everything since you’re getting married outside of peak wedding season. Rates drop as demand drops, so you won’t break the bank with your winter wedding.

    – Guests who are not tired of weddings

    If you’re getting married in peak wedding season, it is guaranteed that your guests have been to at least one or two other weddings around the same time as yours. While we all love a good wedding, attending many, one after the other, week after week, gets tiring (and a bit repetitive – or boring even).

    A winter wedding almost ensures that this is not the case. Your guests are likely not invited to any other weddings at the time, which means they’ll celebrate yours with full force!

    – Romance-filled photo shoot 

    Look, we’re not saying a sunny forest photo shoot isn’t romantic. However, a kiss in the rain makes for one of the most perfect photos for your wedding album. Don’t miss the opportunity!

    – Fun with food 

    A winter menu is usually more diverse than a summer one. You don’t have to worry about spicy food that makes you uncomfortable in the heat, cold or creamy food that melts or gets soft in the heat, and the list goes on. You’ll have many more options for food in winter.

    – Comfort is key 

    No sweating in your dress or suit and no worries about melting makeup. Do we really need to say any more?

    Image: Unsplash

    Some might say that love is a revolutionary act. One North Carolina couple seem to believe so, as they made it official in the midst of the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests happening in the United States.

    Across America, images of protestors fighting for their rights have been captured, some as they face terrible brutality as they make a statement for equality.

    In between all of the anger, fear, and heartache shown at the protests, one photographer, Charles Crouch, caught a sweet, soft moment between a loving couple who were fighting for change side-by-side.

    He posted his images on Instagram alongside the caption: “Went downtown to the protest against police brutality. I was blessed to capture this proposal in the midst of what would become chaos.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1fFAaDJ3B/

    The man proposing, Xavier Young, spoke to E! News about this special moment. He told them that it had almost not happened as it was pictured.

    According to Young, the pair were considering whether they should participate in the protest at all, since his now fiancée, Marjorie Alston, is pregnant and he had obligations elsewhere.

    Despite these complications, the couple managed to make their way to the protest, before which Young packed a bag of essentials, including the ring!

    They made their way to Raleigh, where the protests were taking place, and when the opportunity struck he requested that Alston and one of their friends stop on a sidewalk so he could have a sip of water.

    The next thing Alston knew, Young was down on one knee. Luckily for them, a photographer was nearby!

    Crouch told E! News that he had brought his camera along to document the protest for the company he works for. “I just happened to be standing right there when he went down on his knee. I began taking pictures,” he said.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1alp1FOgT/

    The loved-up pair hope to wed in 2021. Congrats to the happy couple!

    Image: Instagram / Marjorie Alston (@sweet.mj_)