If you’re looking for a dreamy honeymoon destination, try taking a peek in your own backyard.
The glittering sands of the South of France, or the azure-blue waters of Mexico may hold a certain kind of magic for newlyweds, but the continent of Africa offers its own bit of adventurous magic just waiting to be explored.
Here are five unbelievable honeymoon destinations, right here in Africa, that will leave you mesmerised by the abundance of natural beauty:
Morocco
Relax on the white sandy beaches of Casablanca or meander through the bustling streets of Marrakech, the North African country of Morocco is bursting with incredible destinations to suit every honeymooner’s palette.
Kenya
Adventure awaits when choosing Kenya as your honeymoon destination. This African country has a little something for everyone, including the skyscrapers of Nairobi, the famous Masai Mara for a safari, and the dazzling beach of Mombasa. What’s better than enjoying a safari in the AM and a swim in the ocean in the PM.
Tanzania
Tanzania is another versatile honeymoon destination that newlyweds can’t seem to get enough of. Get your hearts pumping with a hike to the edge of the vast Ngorongoro Crater or explore the historic Stone Town.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe often gets a bad rep, but there’s endless beauty to be explored when visiting our neighbour. It’s considered a wildly romantic wilderness adventure for all, with bungee jumping at Victoria Falls, discovering the Big 5 at one of its many game reserves, and cruising the Zambezi River – magical!
Mauritius
You can’t really spell tropical island without honeymoon… well, you can, but the two go together like peanut butter and jam. Mauritius is a favourite for bridal couples looking to soak up the sun, spend the day snorkelling in warm waters, explore the island’s rugged terrain, and enjoy its unique culture. Make sure you take a peek at the 33-metre Mangal Mahadev statue on the island!
Feature Image: The Blonde Abroad
Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Tebow and her husband Tim Tebow have us green with envy as they took to socials to share their recent trip to the Turks…
We may not all have our finger on the pulse of pop culture, but celebrity red carpet and wedding looks are a great form of inspiration. With your bridal glam look located on an already long list of to-dos, why not simplify things by allowing your favourite celebrity to be your muse.
We’ve rounded up 6 celebrities that have left us giddy with inspiration:
Dakota Johnson
The 50 shades of grey actress left us mesmerised with this romantic look. Keep things casual with a half-up, half-down hairstyle, while sporting a neutral makeup palette, rosy blush, a few subtle pink hues, and a beautiful bold lip.
Demi Lavato
You’re not looking for subtle, you’re looking for wow! If bold is what you’re after, then opt for darker tones to help you get that beautiful vintage look. Select a bold smokey eye or let your lips be the star of the show and grab a softer shade for your eyes. Pair this glam look with old Hollywood waves and you’ll have a look that’s gorgeous for brides planning a winter wedding.
Adele
Who doesn’t want their makeup to look as gorgeous as Adeles? The songstress is famous for her winged eyeliner, a winner for many brides these days, but blend and layer your eyeshadow for a more glamorous look. Darker brows add a pop of colour while false eyelashes will have your soon-to-be husband swooning.
Leslie Rose
The Game of Thrones star looked like an angel on her wedding day, opting for natural makeup that let her gorgeous face do all the talking. A flower crown for that extra bit of magic and shades of pink for her cheeks and lips were the perfect combination.
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra may have had multiple outfit changes during her three-day wedding to Nick Jonas, but the actress looked absolutely stunning in this bold and beautiful outfit at her Mumbai wedding reception. She paired her dark red lip with neutral eyeshadow for a bit of sultry romance. She finished the look with her locks flowing over her shoulders, but this look can be paired with an up-do.
Meghan Markle
She may not be the future queen of England, but Meghan Markle looked like an absolute queen on her wedding day. The royal rocked a natural look with a low chignon which was parted down the middle. Rosy lips, dewy skin and a headband fit for… well, a royal.
Feature Image: Pinterest
‘Natural’ and ‘glam’ are two words that are seemingly opposites, yet an entire makeup style is dedicated to bringing these two styles together. This makeup style is perfect…
Most brides wouldn’t mind spending a few R10 000 or more on a gorgeous new wedding dress, but for some cash-strapped brides, that’s simply not an option.
Heading to your local thrifting store is a great way to unearth some fashionable gems, including a gorgeous wedding dress as one young bride found out.
The blushing bride took to TikTok to share her experience of purchasing her wedding dress at a thrift shop as she was determined to keep spending to a minimum.
As prices continue to soar throughout various industries, many young couples are attempting to keep things more affordable. Thrifting and smaller, more intimate settings are just a few ways bridal couples are attempting to cut costs.
Jullian Lynch, who hails from Ohia in the United States, explained that she initially spent around R60 ($3.75) on the dress, but forked out a few more bucks for alternations, costing an extra R1700 ($110).
That’s still not a bad price tag for such a gorgeous dress, a thought many TikTok users had as they gawked at her budget-friendly wedding experience.
@jilly_lynch♬ Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka
According to Lynch, the dress was brand new as it still had its tags and social media users couldn’t seem to get enough:
“Still $115 compared to $5,000,” one user stated. “Such an amazing dress and shoes. Very classy look.”
“Gorgeous,” another user noted.
Gorgeous, and oh-so-clever!
Feature Image: Jillian Lynch / TikTok
When the cravings hit, there’s nothing you can do as one bridal couple recently found out. After all, walking down the aisle and saying “I do” can certainly…
We have all seen the standard French manicure one too many times. While the classics are still great, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on new trends that the season has to offer. We detail just a few that have caught our attention.
Double French Manicure
For the simple, yet classic bride, the double French manicure uses precision and negative spaces to achieve the desired look. Using a fine tip brush, paint white, or any colour for that matter, along the top of your nail and along the part of your nail that starts growing over your finger.
50 Shade of nude
Gradient nudes are quite on trend at the moment, with an array of shades available. Solid colours for each nail is all the look requires, so there isn’t any detail to be concerned about. As long as the colours have a similar undertone (such as a cool or warm shade), they can work well together. Browns, taupes, light pinks and beiges are perfect nude options for all skin tones.
Painted Cuticles
The half-moon shape at the bottom of our nails is actually called a lunula. Not everyone’s lunula can be seen on their nails, however, this wedding nail trend exaggerates them in the most beautiful way possible. Start with a solid nude shade across the whole nail. Once dry, use white nail polish to form the half-moon across the base of the nail. This wedding nail trend keeps your nails neutral yet chic.
Say it with a heart
Subtle nail art speaks louder than over-the-top gestures in some cases, and this is definitely one of those times. A simple heart decal or even one done free-hand adds that romantic touch to a light pink manicured nail.
Golden Edges
Gold always adds that something extra to a nail design and draws your attention in. This look simply uses gold nail polish along the edges of the nail, from the base to the tips. Each nail is done differently to create variety within a look but still keep it cohesive.
Mother Pearl
Pearls are a wedding staple, and this look is no exception. Keep it subtle by only including pearl details on one of the fingers from each hand. Be sure to include the pearls while your polish is still wet so the pearls are held in place.
Vertical Manicure
Turn the standard manicure on its side with this vertical French manicure. To create sharp line edges, use tape to block out the sections you wouldn’t want paint to get onto. To keep this look even more trendy, ensure the index finger is the only one with the manicure running the standard, horizontal way. Finish the look with a clear gel top coat and you’re good to go.
Monograms
Monograms are a personal touch to add on your special day. You are also able to include them on any nail colour, from darks to nudes. Including the monograms on your ring finger just emphasizes your wedding ring that much more. If you don’t have a steady hand to free-hand the letters, use vinyl stickers and ensure it’s sealed with a top coat to avoid any nicks and chips.
Subtle Bubbles
With these nails, you might hear the bride shout ‘bubbly, please!’. A simple look, yet a stunning effect with just two colours. Begin with white nail polish and a dotting tool, creating larger white circles closer to the top of the nail and smaller circles around the middle, keep the bottom of the nail remaining clear. These dots can then be outlined using a gold fine brush and the entire nail look sealed off with a clear top coat.
By Yashna Balwanth
Image: Unsplash