With the lockdown in full effect, it seems like everyone is dreaming of the day we may once again step outside and enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors.
Why spend another second inside when you don’t have to? Once things have returned to normal in the world, we predict outdoor weddings will see a big boom as couples and guests revel in the freedom of their movement.
While you’re stuck at home, there is no better time to plan your perfect day. Here are some tips to make your outdoor wedding a day to remember.
Location, location, location:
South Africans are blessed with beautiful scenery around every corner. It is especially important, now more than ever, to support local and choose a wedding venue in the country.
Our top pick is Monate Game Lodge. Located in Modimolle in the Waterberg district of Limpopo, Monate is a 4-star luxury bushveld accommodation and wedding venue where you can truly live out your African dream. Whether your wedding is big or small, the team at this 3000 hectare private game reserve will strive to add that personal touch and tailor each event to every unique pair.
Bridal couples can take their pick from the famous Rock Fig, a majestic Marula tree in a natural cave, the unique bush boma or the traditional Chapel to say ‘I do.’
Experience your dream come true in the gem of the bushveld. Monate Game Lodge is a venue where love falls in love again! For more info contact 014 718 7000 or [email protected]
Light ‘em up:
Both functional and fashionable, good lighting is a major key for your big day. Since you’ll be outdoors, you’ll have natural light to brighten the day. However, as the sun sets you’ll need a few additions. Use varying candle sizes, hanging lamps and tons of fairy lights to create a romantic atmosphere that is perfectly suited for a wedding day.
Remember to take advantage of your space so that your décor complements instead of detracts from what you already have. String fairy lights around tree stumps, line steps with outdoor candles or create a sky full of stars by hanging glass orbs filled with tea lights from the ceiling.
Get comfy:
If you’re planning a summer wedding, don’t forget to take the weather into account. There are tons of small ways to make the summer days a little more manageable. Let your guests stay calm, cool and collected with an ice-cream station or fabulous fan favours. If it gets a little chilly once the evening hits, have some blankets or shawls on hand to pass around.
If your wedding venue space allows, consider setting up a shaded cool-down lounge area for your guests to sit back, relax and take in the views. Conveniently place the bar nearby and the spot will be a hit, especially as the sun goes down.
Let’s play a game:
After being cooped up in the house for so long, your guests will be dying to have a little fun in the sun. Entertain them with some games designed to bring out their inner child. Think giant Jenga, ring toss, limbo or noughts and crosses.
Another bonus? Many of the items you’ll need for these games are easy DIY projects. You can get creative, fill up your time while in quarantine AND save money because you won’t have to outsource another service. Winner, winner.
Feature image: supplied
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If you were planning on getting married in the next few months, you’ve most likely decided to postpone your wedding on account of the coronavirus pandemic. This can be an overwhelming task, and it’s easy to forget simple things like asking your vendors the correct questions.
If you’re not sure where to start with the postponing process, then we suggest you start with your vendors. Make enquiries with them to find out everything you need to know. From there, it’ll be a much simpler task.
Additionally, starting with your vendors could lead to some refunds if you’re lucky. Not all of them offer refunds, it often depends on individual circumstances. However, it is commonly said that the earlier you cancel, the better your chances of getting a refund.
Here are some questions you should ask your vendors:
– Wedding Planner
What are our options if we decide to postpone?
Are you able to coordinate with our other vendors on our decision?
If we reschedule, will you be available in the coming months?
– Florist
What happens if we cancel or postpone our wedding?
Is it possible to use the deposit for a new wedding date?
Will there be an issue with sourcing the chosen flowers and if so will you be available to assist with choosing new ones?
– Caterer
Are there any cancellation fees, and are they applicable for postponing too?
Will postponing mean we have to redo the menu?
If the number of guests decreases, will we pay the original amount or an adjusted amount?
Will you handle food and serving of food differently as a result of coronavirus?
– Photographer
Are there fees related to cancelling or rescheduling?
Are we able to apply the deposit to the new date?
Are you available in coming months if we do postpone?
If you’re having a destination wedding, enquire whether vendors such as the photographer are still comfortable to travel.
Image: Unsplash
So while it looks like the coronavirus will be meddling in our plans a while longer, you may find yourself having to postpone your wedding. If you could…
Like many others, Alex Buckwell, 26, and David Collie, 36, were forced to cancel their wedding on account of the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily for them, they recently moved into the friendliest of neighbourhoods and were treated to a surprise wedding by the other residents.
The couple from Eastbourne, East Sussex, postponed their ceremony which was supposed take place in a Scottish priory. Of course, they were heart broken by this. Instead of their big wedding, they planned to eat fancy steaks in their new garden on March 23, since they had just moved in.
That evening, they heard the sound of bagpipes and a knock on their door. To their surprise they found that their new neighbours put together an impromptu wedding with champagne, bagpipes, flowers, and a bubble machine.
“It was the most touching surprise,” said Alex, who works in HR for the NHS in Eastbourne, to the Daily Mail. “To know that this was all organised by strangers made it even more incredible. I couldn’t stop crying.”
“We’d moved into the house on the last day possible before house moves were banned and then we were in lockdown so we hadn’t met any of the neighbours.”
She said she only briefly mentioned what would have been her wedding day because the woman who lives across the road had asked her if they could swap parking spaces.
The couple danced to ABBA’s Dancing Queen as the neighbours applauded their first dance in the middle of the road.
Congrats to the happy couple!
Images: Unsplash
Thanking your guests with a take-home wedding favour adds an extra special touch to your big day. However, there is no need to outsource this service. There are…
You may think that with a world wide health crisis going on, now is not the best time to get engaged. However, it seems many would disagree as there have been quite a few engagements during the time of coronavirus.
Of course, there is no single reason for this trend, but there are a few which are common. The most common reason is that these couples planned to get engaged before the coronavirus pandemic took over everyone’s lives and forced us all to change our plans. Like rapper Jeezy, who propososed to Jeannie Mai on a “quarantine date”, many are simply following through with plans they had already made but had reworked to cater for self-isolation. After all, we wouldn’t want to put our lives on hold for an undisclosed, or unknown amount of time.
Many people are rushing engagements of marriages at this time for more logistical and technical reasons. Getting engaged and married means that you may have more authority to advocate for each other in medical emergencies, which is important at a time like this. It may also be on account of visa requirements, or to avoid conflicts about wills or estates.
Then, there is the obvious reason. The one we hope is the strongest, most convincing reason for all those couples getting engaged. Love. Perhaps the health crisis has shown people how precious life is and how time is fleeting and that they have to seize the moment.
For those who are religious, or at least more conservative in their beliefs, an engagement or marriage makes it more “acceptable” to stay together during the lockdown. If people don’t want to get separated from each other during this time, they simply get engaged and married to be together while keeping their families happy.
No matter the reason though, we hope that all the couples getting engaged during this time are as happy as can be!
Image: Unsplash