In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Robben Island annually hosts a mass wedding on the island. This year marks the 20th time loved-up couples said ‘I do’. This year, 19 couples tied the knot, one of which was the first visually impaired couple to get married there. They also received the first marriage certificate in South Africa issued in Braille.
The keynote speaker, Minister of Home Affairs’ Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said he was so happy to see these couples become a part of history.
Many brides, grooms and their entourages sported red and white in keeping with the Valentine’s theme. Others opted for matching traditional ethnic wear and one bride wore champagne coloured evening wear. Another couple chose to keep things casual with less formal fashion. The atmosphere was lively, the air abuzz with excitement and tangible emotion.
Take a look at the special day:
Pictures: Cape Town Etc
Best friend’s are there for each other through thick and thin. Having Adele as a best friend seems like it comes with all of that and more! The…
Megan Dean, who got married in October 2019, recently told TODAY the heart wrenching story of how she used her wedding dress to honour her deceased sister Rylie. In a Facebook post, on January 3 – which would have been Rylie’s 19th birthday – Dean detailed her tribute further.
Dean was only 4-years-old when her little sister passed away due to a heart condition. Despite having only known her for 8 days and despite having three living sisters, the now 23-year old Dean could not let her special day go by without including Rylie in some way.
Her plan was to integrate her sister’s baby blanket into her wedding gown. For this she employed the help of her mother, Rebecca.
“Getting her blanket required my mom and I to open up a box filled with Rylie’s things that we hadn’t looked at for years”, Dean told TODAY.
“Getting to talk with my mom about her experience and the memories she had was something quite special”, she added.
The bride-to-be at the time had her tailor create a patch in the shape of a heart using the blanket which had her sisters name embroidered on it. The patch was then sewed to the inside of Deans wedding gown.
In her Facebook post dedicated to Rylie she wrote, “This is the blanket you were swaddled in the moment you left our mother’s womb. It is what wrapped around you as our mom and dad held you for the first time…This is the blanket you wore during my last memory of you, kissing your forehead for one final time and not wanting to leave your side. I could not fathom celebrating a new beginning without you right there alongside me.”
If this wasn’t enough to tug at your heart strings, Dean had another idea. She requested that an identical patch be made, also using the baby blanket as fabric. The second patch would be a gift from her to her father; he would wear it as a pocket square as he walked her down the aisle.
“I was so excited to show my dad our tribute to Rylie. When I showed him the heart, I remember him saying through tears, ‘It’s her blanket,’ and we both began sobbing”, she told TODAY.
Dean also surprised all her sisters with the tribute to Rylie. We’re sure this made the day extra special.
Images: Facebook / Megan Dean
Nothing is set in stone, least of all what colour your wedding dress should be. We’re all about taking fashion risks and if black is your thing, we…
Planning your big day can easily become overwhelming. With so many moving parts, it’s easy to forget certain things. Protect yourself against these unexpected problems by doing your research and fact-checking these important details with your wedding vendors.
– Their payment structure
The majority of vendors will require a deposit and then the remainder of the balance in instalments. Make sure you know exactly when certain amounts are due so that you can plan your finances ahead.
– What is included in the price
This goes without saying, but you need to be exact on what you’ll be receiving with each service. Some venues, for example, might not include cleaning in their fee which would then be an extra expense you have to cover.
– Whether they have liability insurance
Liability insurance protects a company’s assets and pays for obligations such as medical costs and damage to property, giving you peace of mind should something serious go wrong.
– If they have decor restrictions
Your vision of floral chandeliers and (eco-friendly) glitter sparkling all over might be unattainable if your wedding venue is strict with what decor is allowed on site.
– If they’re accessible for handicapped guests
It’s incredibly important to cater to your wedding guests, and if any of them require wheelchair ramps, railings or any other services, your wedding venue should ideally provide them for you.
If you may you pick your own vendors
Some wedding venues have approved lists of vendors that can be used, so it’s important to check if you can bring in your own.
– Their cancellation policy
If for any reason, you need to cancel this service, it’s best to know how far in advance you have to do it to get your money (or at least some of it) back.
– If they have on-site parking
This one’s a biggie. If your guests are travelling far in cars, they’re going to need somewhere to park.
– Their backup plan in the event of last-minute change
Rain, extra guests, food shortages…Accidents happen and it’s always best to have a backup plan. Ideally, your wedding vendor has a plan in place for this last-minute occurrences.
– Overtime fees
Sometimes the party is too good to end. In the event of going overtime, you don’t want to be surprised with an exorbitant bill from your wedding vendors. Make sure to check their rates before the big day so that you’re prepared come wedding day.
– Whether they cater to LGBTQI+ couples
Many vendors are quite traditional and do not offer their services to those who belong to the LGBTQI+ community. If this does not fall in line with your beliefs, it’s best to know before you agree to work with a specific wedding vendor.
– Ask for references!
It’s a great idea to check in with other couples who have worked with these vendors about their experiences to get a more realistic view of the service you can expect.
Also read: Hidden costs to consider when wedding planning
Feature image: Pexels
Millennials are known for doing things their own way. Getting married is no exception. A quirky new trend has emerged in recent years and has become quite popular.…
In today’s times, you have to be creative with your proposal. This guy decided to go over-the-top, literally, with his proposal and sent an engagement ring to space.
Capt. Stuart Shippee of the 393rd Bomb Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, popped the big question to his girlfriend Marie Lisman in a very creative way by launching a weather balloon into space with a decoy engagement ring attached to it. Lisman thought they were sending a military challenge coin up with the balloon, but Shippee swopped it for a ring at the last moment.
The ring travelled a far distance, reaching a height of over 90 000 feet, about three times the cruising altitude of a 747, before bursting and plummeting back to Earth. The balloon landed in a nearby cornfield and once the group found the ring, Shippee went down on one knee with the real ring. Of course, Lisman said yes!
“When I first picked up the balloon payload, I did not see the imitation ring until I looked down and [Shippee] was on his knee,” Lisman told Military.com. “I was speechless! After the long day and difficult search for the payload I was very happy to have the ending be so special.”
Watch the video of this amazing proposal below:
Feature image: Youtube