Valentine’s Day calls for a solid lineup of romantic movies.
Here’s a list of ten romantic movies you need on your watchlist:
1. The Notebook (2004)
No Valentine’s list is complete without it. Noah and Allie’s love story is emotional, dramatic, and impossible to watch without tissues. Big feelings, big declarations, and a reminder that some loves never fade.
2. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
A modern romantic movie that blends glamour with real emotional stakes. Between the luxury, family pressure, and cultural expectations, this is a love story about choosing yourself as much as choosing your partner.
3. Before Sunrise (1995)
Two strangers meet on a train and decide to spend the night talking instead of saying goodbye. It’s dialogue-driven, intimate, and proof that connection doesn’t need grand gestures to feel meaningful.
4. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Sharp, funny, and endlessly quotable. This rom-com balances sarcasm with sincerity, giving us one of the most memorable love stories of the late ’90s — and a soundtrack to match.
5. La La Land (2016)
A romantic movie that leans into ambition and reality. It’s visually striking, emotionally layered, and asks the tough question: what happens when love and dreams don’t line up?
6. Pretty Woman (1990)
A modern fairytale with staying power. Julia Roberts brings warmth and humour to a love story that’s playful, charming, and unapologetically iconic.
7. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Set over one unforgettable summer, this film mixes first love, rebellion, and unforgettable dance scenes. Romantic, bold, and still as satisfying decades later.
8. Notting Hill (1999)
A bookstore owner, a famous actress, and a romance that feels awkward in the best way. Funny, self-aware, and quietly heartfelt, it’s a classic for a reason.
9. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Fast-paced, ridiculous, and full of chemistry. This is a rom-com that knows exactly what it is — fun, chaotic, and perfect for a lighthearted Valentine’s watch.
10. Me Before You (2016)
A romantic movie that doesn’t play it safe. Emotional, thought-provoking, and guaranteed to leave you wrecked, it explores love, choice, and what it means to live fully.
11. Titanic (1997)
Jack and Rose. Epic, tragic, unforgettable. Enough said.
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For brides who refuse to sacrifice comfort for style, this collaboration might just be the wedding shoe moment of the year. Birkenstock has teamed up with New York-based…
Singer, businesswoman and media personality Amor Vittone is engaged. The star shared the happy news on social media on 28 January, posting a photo of her elegant engagement ring alongside the simple, heartfelt caption: “I said yes.”
The announcement was met with an outpouring of love, as fans and friends celebrated a new chapter for the multi-talented performer, who has long been a familiar and much-loved face in South African media. She is also widely known as the former wife of late Springbok rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen
A love story that began in pretoria
Amor Vittone’s fiancé is Marius van Biljon, a businessman, radio presenter and MC. The couple first crossed paths at Captain’s Island, Van Biljon’s family restaurant in Pretoria.
Their connection began professionally when Vittone performed at the restaurant, but it didn’t end there. She later returned for a Women’s Day celebration, and it was during these encounters that something more meaningful started to take shape.
Finding love after loss
For Van Biljon, this engagement marks a deeply significant new beginning. He was previously married to Shannon van Biljon, the late Mrs Pretoria Tshwane 2023, who passed away in July 2025 following a brief illness related to early-stage kidney failure.
The couple recently spoke about their story in an interview on Jacaranda FM, offering listeners a glimpse into how their relationship grew organically.
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Feature image: Amor Vittone/Facebook
Valentine’s Day in the Cape Winelands falls at the height of summer, when harvest season brings energy to the vineyards and evenings are made for lingering over good…
Calling the family and posting on the Gram? Duh! But what else should you do after he’s popped the question?
1 CELEBRATE!
This doesn’t have to be a full-on engagement party just yet. In the days after you announce your impending nuptials, your phone will be buzzing off the hook with well-wishers hoping to see you as soon as possible and hear all about how he got down on one knee. So plan a little get-together to pop bottles with your nearest and dearest and tell them everything. Or, if you are a more low-key kind of couple, simply have a special night for two to revel in all the butterflies you’re feeling at the moment. Being engaged is a wonderful time. Enjoy it to the fullest.
2 GET YOUR RING INSURED (AND SIZED!)
The months leading up to your wedding are going to be split between days of pure joy and days of pure admin… So. Much. Admin. First up: You now have a small fortune on your finger, so be sure to protect your new asset and get it insured. Your guy should’ve been supplied with a valuation certificate upon purchase, but if not, take it to any reputable jeweller to get a value estimate. Send this to your insurance company to get it covered in case it gets lost or stolen. And while you’re at it, have it sized perfectly for your finger to make losing it less likely.
3 SET A (VAGUE) DATE
After “Let me see the ring!” and “How did he propose?”, the next most asked question you’ll get at this stage is “When’s the wedding?”. Unless you know exactly how it’s going to go down to the very last detail on a sunny day in February, you probably haven’t even thought about a date. Chat to your hubby-to-be and come up with a ‘thereabouts’ answer. Whether it’s “next summer” or “in three years’ time”, giving people some sort of timeline will ease the bombardment while also letting your guests mentally save the date.
4 DETERMINE THE TYPE OF WEDDING
Small getaway wedding or the do of the year at an exclusive wine farm? Figuring this out with your man is the best starting point of the planning to come, as it will help you determine everything from what venues to look at, to your all-important budget and guest list size.
5 GATHER INSPIRATION
Real talk time. Everyone from Chatty Cathy at the office to your mom and well-meaning-but-pushy friends are going to start pressuring you to begin planning. There’s so much to do, after all. Yes, Cathy, there is… but there’s no need to jump into contacting vendors and venues now if you don’t have the basics decided yet. You’ll cut down on a lot of wasted time if you know what you want before getting stuck in. Get on Pinterest and flip through wedding magazines. This is the fun part! Make a mood board with the images you love and you’ll soon start to see your dream day to come to life. Once you know what you want, seeking out the right vendors for you will be that much easier.
BOOK AN ENGAGEMENT SHOOT
Photographers get snapped up way in advance, so if this is a route you want to go down – book it now! Otherwise, call on your creative friends to help set up a photoshoot of the two of you on the beach, in a forest, or even at home just being yourselves. Smartphone cameras are more than enough to get some amazing shots (don’t forget the dreamy filters!).
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Written by Andrea Robertson for Summer 2019 print edition.
Feature image: Pexels
Since 2026 is basically 2016! If you been scrolling on social media, you heard this before and if the same applies for fashion and beauty, then 2026 is…
Everyone loves a rose, a hydrangea, stargazer lilies or orchids in their wedding bouquets. These exquisite flowers are staples in many a flower arrangement but dare we say, they’re outdated?
If you’re looking to bring some flair to your flowers, make your bouquet out of these gorgeous indigenous flowers:
The King Protea
Yes, yes this is not a revelation and has been popular in many a bouquet. It’s easy to see why, though. The National Flower of South Africa is a seriously beautiful plant that deserves a spot in your flower arrangements.
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Impala lily
St Joseph’s and stargazers are spectacular, we can’t deny it. The pollen, while fragrant, will leave a whole mess on your white dress. Switch it out for some beautiful impala lilies, which will bring the best of the white and pink to your bunch.
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Yellow arum lily
If you really want to make a statement, pop a few yellow arrum lilies into your bouquet. These beautiful plants look otherworldly and the colour is captivating.
Watsonia
If you want to splash some pink into the mix, the elegant and dainty watsonia is your plant. These flowers are subtle yet sophisticated and will tie your flower arrangement together.
Barberton daisy
These robust beauties come in many different colours, so the choice is yours. In the South African context though, this specific flower is bright red, giving your bouquet an edge.
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Agapanthus or lily of the Nile
While not only found in South Africa, the lily of the Nile is common in many gardens across the country. These flowers bloom in purple and white, so if you want to tone your bouquet up or down, this is your flower.
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Sunflowers
Cute and quirky, sunflowers are a marvellous plant. Again they are not endemic to South Africa (we know) but they beloved by us. A bouquet of sunflowers could be a simple yet bold move.
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Dried English lavender
Dried bouquets are a massive wedding trend. If you’re looking to keep things neutral and want to add a hint of colour to your flowers, opt for some dried English lavender. It still retains some of the deep purple but without being over the top.
Pampas grass
This versatile, South American plant can be used in so many ways throughout your wedding. They can be shaped, twisted and dyed to suit your wedding colour theme. They will also add an effortless elegance and feathery femininity to your bouquet.
Tip: Consult with your florist as to when these flowers are in season and what their availability is. Some may not bloom en masse, making it tricky to hero it for the entire flower ensemble.
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Feature image: Instagram