• Couples value experiences over material items. Gone are the days of over-the-top, grandiose weddings that are more about the pomp and flash than the couple. As we become more aware of our impact on the environment, couples are making responsible choices when tying the knot.

    A wedding is about love and commitment. What better way to celebrate your love and the environment than in nature itself? One South African establishment, Monate Game Lodge, offers it all. Located in Modimolle in the Waterberg district of Limpopo, Monate is a 4-star luxury bushveld accommodation, conference and wedding venue where you can truly live out your African dream.

    Monate allows couples to fall in love with each other and their surroundings, without the distraction of excess. Whether your wedding is big or small, the team at this 3000 hectare private game reserve will strive to add that personal touch, tailoring each event to every unique pair. Couples can say their ‘I do’s’ underneath their Rock Fig, a majestic Marula tree in a natural cave or in the unique bush boma. If you like traditional, the chapel is at your disposal too.

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    The main lodge offers 38 spacious and comfortable modern double rooms and two luxury villas. For extra privacy, the exclusive Shingwedzi and Skukuza Lodges offer a deluxe upgrade.

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    Credit: supplied

    Naturally, a trip to a game reserve is not complete without a game drive! Unwind after your big day with a guided journey through the bushveld area, taking in the sights of buffalo, giraffe, hippopotamus, zebra, a large variety of antelope, and close to 50% of the bird species found in South Africa.

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    Experience a dream bushveld wedding come true at Monate Game Lodge. A venue where love falls in love again! For their wedding packages, contact 014 718 7000 or [email protected]

    Also read: Now trending: Bushveld weddings

    Image: supplied

    Inviting your friends and family to your wedding day should not be taxing on the environment. The idea of posting your wedding invites is a thing of the past (or it should be) purely based on the carbon emissions that it takes to get your invite to each individual guest. Save costs and save the planet with these eco-friendly wedding invites.

     

    E-vites

    Inviting your guests to your wedding by way of email is a sure-fire way to protect the planet. Not only does it eliminate the risk of the invite getting “lost in the mail” but it gives your guest an effortless response mechanism. You can detail your invite as elaborately or minimalist as you please. It also allows you to keep track of who is and isn’t able to attend. Voila, planet saved.

     

    Seed paper invites

    If you’re old-school and want to send physical invites, fine, but be sure to use plantable seed paper. This can be sourced online. The paper is customisable and durable. Seed paper gives back to the planet by growing new plant life, in return for your carbon emission – unless you hand-delivered the invites in an electric car, of course.

    Make your own invites

    Again, if you want to keep things traditional, add an eco-spin. Make your own invites using compostable or seed paper, use environmentally-friendly ink and ensure no glue, wax, glitter or plastic is used in the process. Request that your guests RSVP electronically to you over email so that nothing gets lost along the way. By doing this you’ll have a digital record of attendees that can be used to send thank-you mailers out after the wedding. A win-win.

     

    Tips to remember:

    – Delivering invites means carbon emissions are offset into the atmosphere.

    – Glitter is a micro-plastic and is harmful to the natural world so avoid it at all costs.

    – Use seeded paper for all your wedding stationery, it helps the planet and small local businesses to thrive

    – An e-vite really is the most eco-friendly option available if you’re looking to keep your wedding as clean as possible.

     

    Image: Unsplash

     

     

    As time passes, superstitions surrounding weddings tend to fade away. Today, couple’s are keen to have the ‘first look photoshoot’, but in the past seeing each other before the ceremony was considered to be bad luck.

    While people have become less superstitious, some beliefs still persist. If you’re one of the people who would rather be safe than sorry, then this is your chance to clue yourself up on what to avoid and what to be weary of.

    – The grooms tie

    It is said that if a groom’s tie is crooked as he enters the wedding ceremony, he will be unfaithful to his bride-to-be. You might want to send your bridesmaids on a tie straightening mission before the wedding, just to be safe!

    – Nuns and Monks 

    Some have said that a curse of a barren life is in store for brides who see nuns and monks on the way to their wedding. The superstition says that the couple will forever be dependent on the charity of others. For those who are religious, this one may be a bit difficult to avoid.

    – Knives as gifts

    Folklore states that a knife set as a wedding gift signifies a future with a broken relationship. Even if you’re big on cooking, you may want to take that knife set off of your wedding registry!

    – Ringing bells 

    This Irish tradition is a way to ward off those pesky evil spirits. The superstition goes that if you ring some bells before your wedding, you’ll chase away the bad and ensure that you and your partner have a harmonious life together. Some brides even add little bells to their bouquettes, to keep them ringing as they make their way down the aisle.

    – A clock as a gift 

    In China, the people believe that receiving a clock as a wedding gift is terrible luck. The word for ‘clock’ in Mandarin also means ‘the end’. For this reason, Chinese people tend to stay away from clocks as gifts.

    Image: Unsplash 

    Meet the hot new trend in the wedding cake industry: the deckle-edge. ‘Deckle” refers to a paper-making process, in which something is left with a rough edge. The result? An unexpected twist.

    While it may seem unconventional, deckle-edging can appear quite refined when done right. Add gold leaf to the tips to give it a sophisticated twist and keep the rest of the cake simple and clean to avoid overdoing the final look.

    Here are some sweet treats to inspire you:

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    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6aEiwklZFT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Feature image: Unsplash