• Lockdown restrictions in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak began, are being relaxed after 76 days and allowing its citizens more access to facilities and services. One of the first things people want to do now? Get married, apparently.

    According to Chinese tech platform Alipay, there was a 300% increase in traffic on the local marriage application system they run, which caused a temporary logjam that has since been fixed.

    Applications on the site have been suspended throughout February and March as residents observed the government-sanctioned lockdown.

    With restrictions now being eased, Wuhan can expect a marriage boom in the upcoming months.

    This rush stands in strict contract to the high rates of divorce Wuhan experienced during the lockdown. The lockdown has revealed cracks in relationships of many couples who were forced to spend too much time together or were separated during quarantine, leading to many opting to split up

    One good thing about the lockdown is it really made people realise who they want to, or don’t want to, be with.

    Feature image: Unsplash

     

    Just because weddings have been put on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, doesn’t mean you have to stop planning for the future. Keeping your eye out for the wedding venue of your dreams is important!

    If you’re considering a seaside wedding, then you’re lucky that you live in South Africa. Our country is overflowing with magnificent beach wedding venues.

    Here are some of out favourites:

    Tintswalo Atlantic 

    Within the Greater Table Mountain National Park, at the base of Chapman’s Peak, you’ll find Tintswalo Atlantic. You’ll have unmatchable views of the bay and the mountains on your special day. The lodge includes their luxurious suites in their wedding package too. This venue is best for an intimate wedding, as it seats about 25 guests.

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    The Oyster Box Hotel 

    This Umhlanga wedding venue is truly like no other, offering you a a stunning backdrop which includes a lighthouse for your nuptials. The hotel overlooking the ocean offers a variety of venues to accomodate almost any size wedding.

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    Birkenhead House 

    On the cliffs of Hermanus overlooking Walker Bay, lies Birkenhead House. The coastal setting is perfect for a beach wedding. The venue caters for weddings of up to 50 guests.

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    Strandkombuis 

    For a more laidback beach wedding, head to Strandbombuis in Yzerfontein. You’ll have your reception on the deck only a few steps from the untouched beach. With a capacity of up to 200 guests, you can fit everyone in.

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    Twelve Apostles Hotel 

    If a luxury seaside wedding is what you’re looking for, then the Twelve Apostles Hotel is where you need to be. Situated between the Twelve Apostles Mountain range, the setting is perfect for anyone looking for a dramatic backdrop. This hotel is suitable for a wide range of wedding options.

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    Blue Bay Lodge 

    Undisturbed beaches, quiet surroundings and Saldanha Bay in the background. What could be more perfect? Blue Bay Lodge offers wedding co-ordination, seating for 150 guests, and a wooden deck at the end of a walkway on the beach where your ceremony can be performed.

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    Image: Unsplash

    We’ve made it past halfway through the nationwide lockdown in South Africa, and fingers crossed things will slowly but surely start returning to normal.

    If your wedding is coming up later this year or next, don’t forget about all the planning (and dreaming!) you can do while stuck at home. While you can’t go out cake tasting, dress shopping or venue scouting in person, cuddle up and feast your eyes on these amazing photo ideas.

    Think magic and celebration meets soft romance. We’re seeing a lot of nature backdrops, playing with sunlight and wind and incorporating flowers.

    When you next meet up with your photographer, discuss some of the looks you and your partner want to go for, and some poses, colour schemes and backdrops you like to give them an idea of what you want.

    Here’s some inspiration to get you going:

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    Image: Unsplash

    As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, weddings as we know them are being forcibly put on hold. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t tie the knot at all. Across the globe, lovers are getting creative and turning to technology to allow their closest friends and family to still bear witness to their big day from the comfort of their own homes.

    Weddings have now become online affairs, with many couples choosing video conferencing app Zoom as their online service of choice. Zoom has now partnered up with online wedding planner Wedfuly to help couples virtually tie the knot with ease. This service allows for an interactive online wedding experience.

    “Wedfuly always provides creative approaches for our couples so the collaboration with Zoom was ideal for couples who wanted to keep their wedding date on schedule during these challenging times,” founder and CEO of Wedfuly, Caroline Creidenberg said to Brides.

    Essentially, the service handles all the technical gruntwork. They create a timeline for the couple and virtual guests and control the entire virtual experience. Guests are muted and unmuted throughout the ceremony and given cues to applaud when needed.

    Couples, however, still need to consider their own in-state laws and secure an in-person wedding officiant and physical witnesses for the marriage to be legally binding.

    While having a virtual wedding may seem unconventional, it is a product of our current time. This service also allows families and friends far apart to connect again and share in a special moment. It’s fair to say that moments of happiness and positivity are necessary as we struggle with the uncertainty of life at the moment.

    Feature image: Pexels