Lighting plays a big role in the atmosphere at your wedding. In an era where load shedding is real, alternative light sources are becoming more popular and we’re not complaining. Why not get on board with the latest trend? Lanterns are not new but can be used in a variety of different ways and are perfect for late afternoon and evening weddings. Take a look at these uber romantic lantern ideas.
Remember to play it safe by not releasing lanterns into the air that could cause fires.
Combine fairy lights and candles
A touch of Middle Eastern madness
Mix it up with paper lanterns and flowers
Splash out with whimsical water features
Riveting red from the far East
Old-fashioned is the way to go
Image: Instagram/flaggshiprentals
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…
The big trend for bridesmaid dresses is simple: individuality. Allow your best girls to wear styles that flatter them. However, giving too much leeway with fashion can leave your bridal party looking disjointed. The solution? Multiway bridesmaid dresses.
Multiway dresses are simple dresses with elongated fabric on the top to allow you to change up the upper half of your dress. Halterneck, strapless, one shoulder…it’s all possible with this one-hit wonder. These dresses are incredibly versatile, allowing you to change up your style depending on the day.
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If you’re on the hunt for the perfect one, Kameo’s versatile multiway dresses is the solution for your formal wardrobe needs. Perfect for a romantic date night or formal occasion, these dresses can be worn in over 15 different ways. They make an ideal bridesmaids’ dress too, allowing each member of your bridal party to wear a personalised style in the same fabric and colour. These dresses suit any body type and will have you feeling confident and elegant at any occasion.
The multiway dresses come in a range of shades, including teal, almond, wine and mauve.
Check out their website for more information.
Feature image: supplied
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…
Perfume is expensive. How you smell is priceless. What most don’t know is that there is a right and wrong way of using a fragrance. You need to get your money’s worth out of each bottle and we are here to tell you how…
Apply to hotspots:
Don’t spray your neck. Let your body work its natural magic and apply perfume to certain heat points. Your belly-button, the small of your back, inside your elbows and the back of your knees and neck are places that work best. Heat points create a sillage that will develop your fragrance as you go about your day.
Oscar de la Renta’s Bella Blanca (exclusively available at Dis-Chem Pharmacies) is a scintillating floral fragrance with notes of fresh jasmine, tuberose and freesia – and further develops to grounding sandalwood and musk as it warms.
Spray, don’t rub:
Ever notice how your scent changes throughout the day? Don’t interrupt the natural process by rubbing your skin. Rather let it simmer to maximise results. Heat-activated enzymes from rubbing prevents your scent from developing properly within each note stage.
Keep it shady:
This is important. Don’t expose the bottle to heat. While your fragrance looks beautiful perched on your bathroom cabinet, it won’t last very long. Fragrance is sensitive to light and heat.
Spray wisely:
Concentrated fragrances, like Eau de Parfum are slightly more intense than lighter Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette solutions. Choose something a little more potent and save on the sprays. Less is more when your fragrance is beautiful and bold.
A good kind of clingy:
Spraying perfume onto dry skin or clothing is pointless. Fragrance needs moisture to hold onto, so apply your scent to clean, well-moisturised skin to give it maximum staying power.
Written by: Robyn Simpson
Feature image: supplied
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…
For a first-time property buyer, when you don’t yet have a solid understanding of the ins-and-outs of the property industry, taking that first step towards home ownership can be daunting.
There’s a lot to consider before stepping onto the property ladder. And it isn’t as simple as going from the bottom to the top. You have to climb one ring at a time: do your research, ask questions and put yourself in the hands of people with in-depth industry knowledge.
One concern that comes up for most potential property buyers is the issue of affordability. Carl Coetzee, CEO of BetterBond, says that it might be wise to consider co-ownership ‒ an accessible and certainly a more cost-effective way for people to enter the property market.
“Assessing affordability is the first rung on the ladder to qualifying for a bond. One way to make it more affordable is to purchase property with a friend, partner or parent,” says Coetzee.
The bond originator encourages people to apply for pre-qualification as the very first step to securing a bond. Pre-qualification is the process whereby the size of the bond the individual qualifies for is determined. A pre-qualification certificate can be issued within 24 hours and is typically valid for three months, assuming your financial position remains the same in those three months.
Coetzee adds that a key benefit of pre-qualification is that it demonstrates to sellers that you are a serious buyer as you have already gone through the process of thoroughly assessing how much you qualify for.
BetterBond handles clients’ home loan applications (at no charge), submitting to multiple banks to find the best deal available. They also offer free services online, including an affordability calculator which calculates the size of bond you could potentially qualify for based on your current income and expenses.
So, what are the pros, cons and considerations of property co-ownership?
According to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2018, around 35% of South African households own their property (with 18.3% owned by an individual and 17% owned jointly).
Coetzee explains that there are obvious benefits such as sharing the costs and maintenance of a property, but it is very important for applicants to know exactly what they are getting into.
“There are certain things you should consider when deciding if co-ownership is for you. For example, is the person you are looking to purchase property with someone you are willing to enter into a financial agreement with? Trust is very important,” he says.
“You have to ask the right questions and ensure you are well informed before going into this kind of partnership. Once you have decided to go ahead, a written agreement must be drawn up at the outset outlining every detail of the arrangement,” Coetzee explains.
“All terms must be agreed upon in this legally binding contract to avoid any potential issues or confusion down the line, especially if all partners are equal in the contract as no one party then has the authority to make decisions unless all are in agreement.”
The co-ownership agreement should entail who will live on the property; who will pay or contribute towards deposits and initial payments for the property; how ownership will be shared (it is automatically equal if not stated otherwise); who will be allowed to draw funds from the bond; what will happen in the event of the death or incapacitation of one of the co-owners; what will happen if one or more parties in the contract wish to part ways or sell the property; how profits or losses on the property will be split; and anything else that might result in potential disputes.
“Co-ownership makes it significantly easier to enter the property market, especially in light of the current economy where money is tight for most. But before entering into such an agreement, you have to consider all factors of the arrangement carefully and in great detail,” says Coetzee.
“Clarity is key to a successful co-ownership agreement. All co-owners must agree on how things will work upfront, leaving no room for ambiguity.”
Feature image: Pexels