• You’d think it would be difficult to make a mistake with an occasion like this. It’s one of the biggest events in your life, so of course you’d ensure that nothing could go wrong.

    But planning the perfect proposal can be stressful. This stress could cause you to make some silly mistakes.

    To be one-hundred percent sure that things run smoothly as you pop the big question, have a look at these common mistakes you should avoid:

    – Asking for too much advice 

    If you get too many opinions, your plan will be a bit of a mess and you’ll get confused about the right thing to do. Remember that you know your partner better than most people, which means that you know what they would like and what they wouldn’t. Trust your gut!

    – Overcomplicating things 

    If your plan consists of too many twists and turns, there is a much larger chance that silly slip ups can be made. Keep it simple and meaningful.

    Additionally, your nerves may stop you from being on top of your game. A complicated plan will only aggravate the nerves.

    – Planing a public proposal without being 100% sure of the answer 

    If you’re a little uncertain about your partner’s answer, but you’re risking it anyway then a public proposal is probably not the best route to take. Since there is a slight chance, however small, of a negative answer you should save yourself some discomfort and plan a more intimate proposal.

    – Proposing without having spoken about marriage before 

    You should never just assume your partner wants to get married. If you have never discussed marriage as a couple, it is a very bad idea to propose. You never know what their feelings on marriage could be.

    – Hiding the ring too well 

    If you want your partner to stumble upon the ring, then be sure to hide it strategically. Don’t put it in a place they will never find it, it’ll ruin your plan completely.

    Image: Unsplash 

    Cape Town is a romantic honeymoon destination for all kinds of couples. Whether you’re looking for sea, culture or city life, Cape Town is your one-stop-shop. If you’re planning a honeymoon in the Mother City, you’ll definitely want to lay your head at one of these beautiful local hotels.

    The Silo Hotel

    This 5-star hotel sets a new standard for luxury Cape Town accommodation. Built in the grain elevator portion of the historic grain silo complex occupying six floors above Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) which houses Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art, the Silo Hotel is an architectural masterpiece to be marvelled at.

    The hotel has 28 rooms featuring colourful and eclectic pieces to juxtapose the modern, industrial architecture. Each room also comes with a private balcony with amazing views of the Cape Town harbour or mountain.

    Credit: Instagram / The Silo Hotel
    Credit: Instagram / The Silo Hotel

    12 Apostles

    Romantically nestled between the breathtaking Twelve Apostles Mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean, the 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa is heaven on earth. Their facilities include fine dining spot Azure Restaurant, cocktail joint The Leopard Bar, and a holistic spa.

    Choose between their luxury and deluxe honeymoon packages that include personalized embroidered towels, a bottle of bubbly, and spa services.

    Credit: Instagram / 12 Apostles
    Credit: Instagram / 12 Apostles

    Cape View Clifton

    This luxurious Cape Town beach house boasts seven elegant, expansive suites that open out onto uninterrupted views of Cape Town’s iconic Clifton and Camps Bay coast line. Take a short walk down to the famous beaches, work out in the fitness centre or consult your personal concierge on how to spend your day.

    Credit: Instagram / Cape View Clifton
    Credit: Instagram / Cape View Clifton

    Belmond Mount Nelson

    This stunning baby pink building offers more than just unique photo opportunities. Their rooms offer exquisitely restored interiors with quirky modern touches.

    Whether you’re celebrating a honeymoon, marriage vow renewal or simply escaping for a weekend à deux, romance is in the air at this serene getaway. Three-night minimum packages include daily buffet breakfast, three-course dinner and couples massages.

    Credit: Instagram / Belmond Mount Nelson
    Credit: Instagram / Belmond Mount Nelson

    Ellerman House:

    Situated in the picturesque Bantry Bay, Ellerman House is a Cape Edwardian mansion sure to blow you away. This exclusive residence boasts a stunning collection of  South African art that spans original works from the turn of the last century to current contemporary art.

    The hotel offers 13 individually-styled rooms, as well as two modern, minimalist private villas. Included in your stay is a continental breakfast, daily wine tastings, and art tours presented by their very own in-house art guide.

    Credit: Instagram / Ellerman house
    Credit: Instagram / Ellerman house

    Feature image: Instagram / Cape View Clifton

    Once you receive your precious engagement ring, it’s understandable that you’d never want to take it off. The ring shows your partners love, affection, and commitment to you, which makes it extremely special. For this reason, it needs to be protected!

    The best way to protect your engagement ring is to know when you shouldn’t wear it. This way you won’t lose or damage it.

    Here’s when to remove the bling:

    – When you’re doing housework

    While you’re cleaning you may knock the ring. This is more common an occurrence than you’d expect. To ensure that your ring remains unscratched and unharmed, remove it before you start cleaning.

    Additionally, cleaning products like bleach and ammonia damages both the metal and the stone of your ring.

    – In the shower 

    The scrubbing and soaking you do in the shower will take a toll on your band. It may even end up scratched.

    – Working out

    First off, the ring may fall off and you’ll lose it.  That’s the last thing you’d want. Second, the ring could get damaged by weights you use – the pressure on the ring could bend the band and result in the stone falling out of its setting.

    – During your beauty routine 

    Soaps, creams, perfumes and other such products all result in damage to your ring. If you keep your ring on every time you apply these products, it will build up and collect. This will result in a build up of grease and over time will result in deterioration.  If the products get under the stone, it way loosen it from its setting too.

    – Travelling 

    Travelling is tiring and keeps you busy, you could get lost in the activities and end up losing your ring.

    – Cooking 

    This is a recipe for disaster. The oils, fats, and flours will result in long term damage to your engagement ring. In fact, cooking is one of the biggest reasons people’s rings get ruined! So ensure that you take it off when preparing that romantic meal.

    Image: Unsplash 

    As we all know, Hollywood relationships have a reputation of being rocky. While some may be true stories of everlasting love, many have proven to be quite the opposite.

    From Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries to Jennifer Lopez and Chris Judd, here are some of the shortest celebrity marriages.

    Britney Spears and Jason Alexander

    In 2004, the songstress wed her childhood friend after a wild night out in Las Vegas. As they say, ‘what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’, because the pair had their nuptials annulled only 55 hours later.

    Credit: Facebook / NerdWire

    Cher and Greg Allman

    In 1975, Cher married the rock star, Allman. The two made it official in Las Vegas only a few days after Cher finalised her divorce from previous husband, Sonny Bono. After spending 9 days as a married couple, Cher and Allman called it quits. Apparently, Cher is the one who filed for divorce; during the nine days she discovered some of Allman’s drug and drinking issues which she decided were too much for her to handle.

    Credit: Facebook / Groovy History

    Mario Lopez and Ali Landry

    This marriage lasted only two weeks, and the bachelor party was the cause of the split. After they wed on April 24, 2004, Landry found some compromising photos of Lopez at his bachelor party. On making this discovery, she immediately filed for an annulment. Lopez admitted that he was unfaithful only a few days before the wedding at his bachelor party in Mexico. The pair split on May 8, 2004.

    Credit: Facebook /My Publicist

    Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries 

    This is one of the most infamous short-lived marriages of all time. The popular reality TV star married Humphries, a basketball player, in 2011. The wedding was an extravagant affair, costing the couple over ten million dollars; they even aired a two-day reality TV special titled “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding”. Unfortunately, the couple called it quits only 72 days later.

    Credit: Facebook /Cosmopolitan Hungary

    Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock

    While the two may seem like a great fit, unfortunately their marriage didn’t last. Anderson and Kid Rock got married in July 2006. Their wedding was exactly what you’d expect from the pair – on a yacht wearing swimsuits. In November 2006, the couple filed for divorce. The marriage lasted only 122 days.

    Credit: Facebook / iDiva

    Jennifer Lopez and Cris Judd

    The Latina superstar married dancer, Cris Judd, in September 2001. They met after J-Lo hired him to appear in her “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” video. Just as quickly as they wedded, they called it off getting divorced in June 2002. This marriage lasted 218 days.

    Credit: Facebook / Yahoo Canada

    Image: Facebook / My Publicist