• Now, as with any other event, you can go super small, low key and toned down, or splurge and go way over the top for your wedding. It really is up to you (and your bank account).

    Wedding costs vary greatly, from one couple who tied the knot for a mere R6 000 to the infamous Gupta wedding at Sun City, topping the charts with an elaborate wedding of R30 million. Where that money came from is another story altogether. Let’s not dwell on it.

    Those are two extreme cases, and most South African couples end up dishing out something between R70 000 and R80 000, according to IOL. There are a number of things to budget for, with the venue, dress and photography being among the most expensive.

    Catering does not come cheap, either. Some couples are wonderfully happy with a small get together, maybe at their own or a friend’s home. A savvy aunt might pitch in to make the dress, and the mother-in-law knows someone who bakes.  What matters to them is being together, celebrating their choice to journey on together, surrounded by laughter and sunshine.

     

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    However, some will raise an amused eyebrow at the picture painted above. If the bride or groom is rolling in cash, they might have a completely different take on weddings. Think landing in helicopters and photoshoots with tame leopards. Entertainment for guests including classical ballerinas and acrobats. One such lavish wedding took place at Polo Estate, Val de Vie.

     

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    Remember, though, that spending crazy amounts of money on one event could lead to haunting debt for you and your loved one. Rather be realistic about your budget, get creative (and eco-friendly) so you can focus on the other person more than on the material things. There are countless ways of saving money and still have a gorgeous wedding you will remember for the rest of your life. 

    Picture: Will Cadena Photography

    A Pretoria couple couldn’t believe their luck when their friends and family got together and arranged a surprise wedding for them.

    Nompumelelo Somdaka-Ndesi (28) and Nkosiphendulo Ndesi (32) got engaged in 2018.

    “When she said ‘yes’ I was over the moon. We had built a solid friendship over the years. We were able to sit down and talk about real-life issues and I would have done anything to be with her. But the challenge is that I was broke at the time,” Nkosiphendulo told W24.

    The church they both regularly attended decided to take matters in their own hands. This is how it all went down:

    One morning after the church service, Nompumelelo went to her friend’s place for a visit.

    “When I got there, I was surprised to see a wedding dress, shoes, a wig and a make-artist. I was shocked when my friend told me that it was all for me and the church had been planning the surprise wedding for a while. Everything fit and the wig was beautiful,” exclaimed Nompumelelo.

    Meanwhile, Nkosiphendulo was surprised by another fellow church member with a suit and shoes. They were asked for their sizes separately before the day and had not picked up any hints at the time. The couple was then driven back to church separately and arrived to find a beautifully decorated church hall.

    Poor Nkosiphendulo’s first thought was wondering how he was ever going to pay for it all.

    Nompumelelo, in turn, was afraid of how her family would react to the suprise. “But, when they saw me in that white dress, I could see happiness in their faces.” Both the couple’s parents were invited.

    The couple said that they had the time of their life, and are forever thankful to their church community who made this dream come true for them.

    Picture: W24

    Your wedding day is a wonderful moment to celebrate love, one you want to go off without a hitch.  According to many, every aspect of the wedding process will affect your Big Day, even the date you choose to celebrate it on.

    Setting the date is often the first big step in the wedding process which will frame every consequent decision you make. Religion, superstition, astrology and culture argue that there are certain days, dates and months more auspicious for weddings, while others are no-goes if you want good luck on your Big Day. If you are particularly superstitious, you might want to avoid some of these wedding days.

    Lucky wedding days

    Judaism:

    In various religions, certain days are favoured as lucky. Those that practice Judaism are likely to consider Tuesdays to be particularly good days for weddings, because the Book of Genesis says “And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10 and 12) twice in the verse about the creation of the third day.

    Jewish couples also favour the beginning of the month for weddings, as their religion’s calendar is lunar and believes that the moon renews itself every month.

    Astrology:

    Astrology believers should look to the moon for guidance. According to astrologers, the position and look of the moon and planets can have a deep impact on our lives. Changes in its shape and appearance are said to affect our inner beings. A waxing moon is considered lucky, while a waning moon is seen as unlucky.

    A full moon is considered highly lucky on your wedding day. Astrologers believe that a full moon brings harmony, as the lunar yin energy is perfectly balanced with the solar yang energy.  As the forms of the moon is said to influence our feelings, a full moon encourages people to express their inner feelings fully. The full moon also brings seeds of intention to fruition.

    The new moon is the first lunar phase, representing the resetting of the lunar cycle and letting go of restrictions or fears holding you back. This allows you to move forward with clarity. Couples looking to follow astrology should plan their wedding at least 12 hours after the new moon for optimal results.

    Astrology lovers should consult the their zodiac signs before setting a date, as dates for auspicious marriages range in luck depending on personal star signs. Auspicious dates are said to bless the couple with a good and prosperous marriage while unlucky dates will curse them.

    Roman mythology:

    April and June seem to be the most auspicious months to get married according to Roman mythology. April is closely linked with Venus, the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility, while June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and commitment. Juno was the wife of Zeus and lorded for her unwavering commitment to him. She also was the one that paired soulmates, making her the mastermind behind ancient marriages, according to Roman mythology.

    Chinese culture:

    Chinese culture considers August 8 a particularly auspicious date because the word for the number eight sounds similar to their word for wealth or fortune. As a result, the eighth day of the eighth month is a highly symbolic date to get married.

    Unlucky wedding days:

    Judaism:

    Jewish couples are less likely to marry on a Friday because in their religion Friday is the day of rest, also known as Shabbat.

    Folklore:

    An ancient Celtic folk rhyme suggests that Saturdays are unlucky days to wed. The rhyme goes: “Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, and Saturday no luck at all.”

    According to folklore, July is an unlucky month for weddings. An old rhyme from the 1800s lamenting the fates of married couples based on their wedding dates predicted July marriages would curse newlyweds.

    “Marry when June roses blow, Over land and sea you’ll go,” the rhyme goes, “Those who in July do wed Must labour [sic] for their daily bread”.

    American folklore records from the 1930s echo this sentiment, saying that marriages from this month “are apt to be crisscrossed with sunshine and shadow”.

    Roman mythology:

    July also contained many mourning days for the ancient Romans, where they commemorated battles and no religious practices were followed, making many parts of the month off-limits for weddings.

    Another unlucky month is May, according to Roman mythology. This month is said to be unlucky because it is between April and June, the two months closely associated with Roman goddesses Venus and Juno. Marrying in May could thus be seen as an insult to the two goddesses. This month was also traditionally when Romans celebrated Lemuria, a festival of the dead.

    Chinese culture:

    Chinese culture views April 4 as a bad day for a wedding as their word for the number four is similar to their word for death, thus symbolising bad luck for the fourth day of the fourth month. Many Chinese buildings and apartments even omit the fourth floor completely because of this superstition.

    Unlucky number 13:

    The number 13 is considered unlucky across various cultures in the world, and as a result, the 13th of any month is often seen as bad. Friday the 13th is considered particularly unlucky as it is closely associated with the horror film franchise of the same name.

    Some Italians are superstitious of Friday the 17th, as the roman numeral form of the date, XVII, can be rearranged into “VIXI”, which translates from Latin into the meaning “my life is over”.

     

    Picture: Unsplash

    Neon wedding signs are having a moment. These trendy lights make for great decor pieces for your reception, as well as cool backdrop focal points. Here is how to include neon signs into your wedding day:

    Minimalism is key:

    Neon signs are already very eye-catching, so there is no need to go overboard with the design. A simple, easy to read script works best and will help to keep the decor timeless in the years to come. Another benefit is that you can keep the sign after the wedding and use for decor in you own home!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BuaIgFMD3Ty/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

     

    Show your love:

    Let everyone know how much you are in love with a romantic neon sign.

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

    Put a name on it:

    If you are changing your name, it could be a cute idea to have your surname emblazoned on a sign.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3HsJ56HN_P/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Boss up your backdrop:

    A great element to add into your photo backdrops is a neon sign as it instantly adds lighting and a unique focal point.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CUUJPhmmd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Lead your guests:

    Got a food and drink station? Let your guests know with a bright neon sign to guide the way.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3RgpDoB55P/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Make your vows:

    You make some deep promises during your ceremony, so why not include it in your reception?

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjzj2LLDPGw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Get simple:

    Not one for words? A cute heart has just as much impact.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt4AzuRHU_f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Fairytale fun:

    This couple added a fairy tale inspired sign to their wedding decor. If you believe in the magic of fairytales, a cute neon sign announcing ‘happily ever after’ will be perfect for you.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3WaIonAQTO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

         Get sappy:

    This couples love was written in the stars, and now in a neon sign.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3tdvNrgvro/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Have some fun:

    Weddings are fun! Get punny with your neon sign with a play on your wedding vows.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3i2brHA4YJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Picture: Unsplash