Planning a wedding with a baby on the way is difficult enough with the pregnancy hormones getting in the way of a clear mind. Finding your dream dress during this time may be stressing you out even more. You’re probably wondering if the baby bump will be in the way.
Not to worry! A baby bump is beautiful and all you need is know the best way to shop for it. Here are some tips to ensure your shopping experience is as pleasant as possible:
– Consider flowy styles (if you want to lessen the appearance of the bump)
Of course it’s not necessary to hide your baby bump, you’re pregnant and proud! However, if it makes you more comfortable then an empire waist dress with lace or tulle is a great choice. Since they’re fitted at the bust, they leave a lot of room for your growing baby belly. It also will require less alterations and guessing about extra room in the dress.
– Remember that you’ll grow
An important consideration in choosing a dress is how far along you’ll be on your wedding day. Experts have recommended that going two sizes up is best. This is because it’s easier to take a dress in, than to expand the width later.
– Choose your fabrics wisely
Lighter fabrics will ensure you’re more comfortable. Never rule out comfort, it’s one of the most important things!
– Shoes are part of your outfit too
Remember that just as your baby is growing, so are your feet. Consider the implications of choosing stilettos while carrying a baby, it may not be the smartest idea. Also remember that your shoe size may get bigger as you’re further along your pregnancy.
– Don’t confine yourself to pregnancy options
You don’t have to shop in the maternity section if you don’t want to. It’s totally possible to still have that form fitting dress you’ve always dreamed of! You could even get creative and go for a two-piece or jumpsuit and forget the dress entirely, the options are endless and the choice is all yours.
– Final fitting
Try to have your final fitting appointment as late as possible, maybe even in the week of the wedding. This allows for last minute adjustments, and your body is unlikely to change very much in the few days after the appointment until the wedding.
– Embrace the extras
If you get to your final appointment and your dress doesn’t fit, don’t panic! Panels and corsets are easy solutions to this problem.
Image: Unsplash
Fruitcake. It’s a confection that seems to generate a lot of debate; people either love it or hate it. The royals, however, seem to be dedicated to these…
One year ago, Hollywood’s favourite couple Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez got engaged in the Bahamas. Now, Rodriguez is making a tribute to his future bride to honour their one-year engagement.
Taking to social media, Rodriguez shared a highlight reel showcasing the best moments from their relationship, including the moment he went down on one knee to pop the big question.
“One year ago on a beach in the Bahamas…. I was a nervous wreck, more nervous than my entire playing career, I got down on one knee and asked you a question… you said yes ❤️ ” the former pro baseball player wrote on Instagram. “Jennifer, every moment with you is a blessing. You are my best friend, my inspiration, an amazing mother, and a role model to all. Macha, I am so lucky to be with you. Thank you for making my life better. I can’t wait to make more memories with you. . I love you. #HappyAnniversary ❤️”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9ia8bMHTLA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The couple plan to marry sometime this year. In a Youtube video, Lopez has spoken about her desire to have a big, traditional church wedding. Considering they share a blended family, the couple plan on involving their four kids in their big day. Lopez’s son Max will reportedly walk her down the aisle.
However, the couple are in no rush to tie the knot. Speaking to Oprah earlier this month, Lopez said, “It’s so funny because when we first got engaged, I was like, ‘Oh, we’re going to get married in a couple of months,’ ” she told Winfrey. “Like your old thinking comes right back, like all that hopeless romantic that made me get married three times.”
“I said, ‘If we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives, what is the rush?’ If that’s what we’re really going to do, if we’re really going to be partners, if we’re really going to try to build something together that we both never had or never felt like we had, which is a family with a husband and a wife, and a mother and father, and we embrace all our children. We show them it’s something that we didn’t have,” she said.
Feature image: Instagram / Arod
Maryam Keyhani, a Toronto and Berlin based artist and milliner, is diversifying her creations by now including bridal hats or headpieces. For any bride who is looking to…
Planning your honeymoon is an exciting time for any soon-to-be married couple. It can, however, be difficult to decide on a destination that meets all your expectations. A major trend in travel currently is eco-conscious tourism.
Making as little impact on the environment as possible is something people are aiming to include in their travels. If you want to jump on the proverbial bandwagon, here are some eco-friendly resorts and destinations to consider for your honeymoon.
Wolwekrans Eco Lodge
Located on 120 hectares of bushveld in Mpumalanga on Schoemanskloof escarpment, there are two private self-catering cabins that make for the perfect honeymoon scape. Each cabin has two bedrooms, offering ample space. The views will keep you entranced as you gaze over the forest landscapes. Natural springs make for the perfect place to cool off in the summer sun. With three hiking trails to embark on, there are lots of ways for you to appreciate the surrounds. Pets are welcomed guests too.
Fynbos Suites on Farm 215
For ultimate peace and tranquility, the suites on Farm 215 offer a blissful break for your honeymoon. The reserve is a protected area situated in the Uilkraal Valley between Stanford and Cape Agulhas. Abundant with fynbos from the Cape Floral Kingdom, the suites blend seamlessly into their surrounds. With panoramic views overlooking the Agulhas Plains to the ocean, it doesn’t get more romantic than this.
Sea Shack, Cape Columbine Nature Reserve
Just outside of Paternoster is where you’ll find the Sea Shack. Situated a literal stone-throw away from the sea, this eco-getaway is a rustic honeymoon destination. The beach huts are all solar-powered and designed in a way that you can keep your door open and listen to the sound of the ocean as you drift off to sleep. The bathrooms are equipped with gas-powered showers and eco-toilets that are serviced daily. Come rain or shine, this seaside escape is a dreamy honeymoon destination.
Teniqua TreeTops, Garden Route
This modern yet unassuming treetop accommodation along the Garden Route is eco-friendly, private, luxurious and gorgeous. The cabins are nestled in the trees, allowing you to fully immerse yourselves in nature. Wake up to the sound of singing birds and spend your days exploring this special part of South Africa. The forest lodge is a haven for relaxing and unwinding after the wedding stress, allowing you to create special memories as a newlywed couple.
Graceland Eco Retreat, Limpopo
Delicious food, glorious sunsets and a break within nature is all included in your visit to Graceland Eco Retreat. This mountainside lodge will allow you to decompress from the wedding stress. Bordering on the forests and plantations of Magoebaskloof and the Woodbush Forest Reserve, you’ll get the best of both a mountainside escape and a safari experience. Solar power is used throughout the lodge, allowing you to indulge in the creature comforts of home, without the on-the-grid guilt.
Feature image: Instagram/ Sea Shack
Simple yet oh so good, no one turns down a cookie. This childhood favourite can easily be transformed into a wedding wonder with some creative planning. Wedding cookies…
So you’ve been given the title of Maid of Honour and it’s such an important role in the wedding, it comes with several duties. With great power comes great responsibility.
Hopefully you aren’t too stressed out about the part you have to play in the wedding. More than anything else, you’re the rock that needs to support the bride.
If you’re a bit worried about what else you’ll need to do, here is a checklist to help you remember your duties.
– Head of Bridesmaids
The maid of honour should be the go-to for the rest of the bridesmaids. If there are conflicts, tasks, or pre-wedding events that the bridesmaids are involved in, the maid of honour should organise them and ensure that everything is running smoothly.
– Party planner
From the bridal shower to the bachelorette party, and any other pre-wedding celebrations in between, the maid of honour should have a heavy hand in the planning process.
– Shopping assistant
Wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, decor, and much more. Shopping for all the things a bride needs can become very tiring. The maid of honour should be by the brides side as much as possible for this, providing opinions, support, and helping to carry those heavy shopping bags!
– Speech maker
Often, the maid of honour is expected to give a toast at either the wedding or the rehearsal dinner. Be prepared!
– Right hand to the bride
On the day of the wedding, the bride will need you for lots of small things. Lipstick checks, bathroom breaks, holding the bouquet when she walks down the aisle, providing water and snacks, and personal social media manager are all tasks the maid of honour can be expected to do on the big day. It may sound like a lot, but many of these things come naturally as the day passes by, you’ll see!
– Point person for guests
The last thing a bride wants to do is answer endless questions about the registry, the location of the wedding, and other logistical issues. Guests should be directed to the maid of honour for all of these queries.
– Time and record keeper
You need to ensure that the bride is staying on track, she won’t be able to do it herself.
Additionally, for any gifts and cards that are received, the maid of honour should do her best to keep a record of who gave what – this will be a huge help to the bride and will save her much stress after the wedding.
Image: Pexels