Louis Ducruet, grandson of legendary Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, wed Marie Chevallier in an elaborate ceremony this weekend. The happy couple had a two-day wedding celebration that starting on July 26 in Monaco. The first day involved a civil ceremony and the matrimonial occasion was conducted by Mayor of Monaco, Georges Marsan. The couple celebrated in the gardens at the Prince’s Palace.


The lovebirds paid tribute to his royal grandparents by having their religious ceremony at the same cathedral in which they were married. They had their second nuptials at The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate. Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and Grace Kelly wed there 60 years prior. They also visited the graves of his famous ancestors and placed flowers.


Louis and Marie met at university and were engaged on February 12, 2018. Marie had three special outfits for her wedding weekend. She opted for an ivory jumpsuit designed by Rosa Clará for the civil ceremony. The jumpsuit comprised of a silk crepe culotte and the waist was embroidered with lace.

 

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Breathtaking Royal Wedding! First of all we would like to congratulate Marie Chevallier and Louis Ducruet, a charming and beautiful couple, we wish you all the best! Our designer Rosa Clará designed Marie Chevallier’s wedding dress for her civil ceremony with Louis Ducruet, in Monaco. She chose a sophisticated, weightless silk crepe culotte jumpsuit with embroidered lace at the waist. The sleeveless design features a discrete V-neckline and an exquisite open back, to marry her love, Louis Ducruet! We can’t feel any prouder of taking part in this memorable day, thank you so much for trusting in us and for believing in our values. You looked outstanding! __ ¡Espectacular boda real! Nos gustaría felicitar a Marie Chevallier y Louis Ducruet, una pareja preciosa y encantadora, por su matrimonio. ¡Os deseamos todo lo mejor! Nuestra diseñadora, Rosa Clará ha diseñado el vestido de Marie Chevallier para su boda civil con Louis Ducruet, en Mónaco. Escogió un sofisticado y ligero vestido pantalón elaborado en crepe de seda y bordado con encaje en la zona de la cintura. El diseño, sin mangas, presenta un sutil escote en forma de V y una delicada espalda abierta. No podemos sentirnos más orgullosos de formar parte de un día tan memorable y de una boda tan emocionante. Muchas gracias por confiar en nosotros y en nuestros valores, ¡ha sido un placer! __ Special thank you to Bruno Bebert for this beautiful picture! __ #RosaClara #RosaClaraCouture #RoyalWedding #Monaco #BridalFashion

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Her religious ceremony outfit was designed by Atelier Boisanger. She wore a silk zagar wedding dress embroidered with delicate chantilly lace. The dress took a total of 300 hours of embroidering to be completed.


After the religious ceremony, the bride changed into her third outfit. She opted for another Rosa Clará design. This time a lace dress with a deep neckline and a short hemline under an embroidered overskirt. The outfit was a short but sophisticated.

 

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It’s celebration time! Impressive Marie Chevallier wore one of our unique designs as her second wedding dress for her church ceremony. She selected an amazing lace dress with a beautiful deep neckline, subtle beaded appliqués and a bold short hemline under a spectacular extra-soft tulle and embroidered overskirt – the perfect blend of striking statement, elegance and sophistication! A marvelous wedding full of love, charm and happiness. We have enjoyed so much the design of both dresses, it’s been a pleasure. Congratulations once again! __ ¡Hora de celebrar! Rosa Clará ha diseñado el segundo vestido de la boda religiosa de Marie Chevallier. Hablamos de un vestido “two looks in one”; es un atrevido diseño corto y de pronunciado escote confeccionado con encaje y sutiles apliques de pedrería con una espectacular sobrefalda de tul extra suave y encaje bordado. ¡La combinación perfecta para arriesgar de forma elegante y sofisticada! Hemos disfrutado muchísimo de la creación de ambos vestidos para la preciosa boda real de Marie Chevallier y Louis Ducruet. ¡Enhorabuena nuevamente! __ Thank you Bruno Bebert for this special picture! #RosaClara #RoyalWedding #BridalFashion #Monaco

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Picture: Instagram/ Louis Ducruet

By Keenan Martin

It’s become an unspoken rule for the groom to take a peripheral role at weddings. So while you may not steal the attention of those attending your wedding, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a little effort into looking your best on the big day.

Shoe vs Suit

Probably the most important factor when it comes to selecting a shoe is how it will complement your suit style and colour. Traditional black suits should always be paired with black shoes, and stay away from lengthy white socks if your pants are going to be cropped above the ankle. Brown shoes tend to pair well with darker colours such as midnight blue, navy or maroon.

Suit styles are often overlooked, so knowing more about your suit will help make choosing a shoe so much easier. Brogues tend to be the best choice for tuxedos, while Oxfords are more suited to your formal suits. Loafers are a popular stylistic choice these days but should be used with caution, these shoes are best worn when the pants have been cropped above the ankle.

Comfort is key

Comfort should always be of the utmost importance since weddings are long and you’ll most likely be on your feet for most of the day. Do not compromise on comfort! Your bride-to-be will not appreciate blistered feet on the honeymoon, and neither will you. Make sure you have the appropriate socks, preferably with non-slip grips to avoid them sliding down your foot. If your shoes are brand new, wear them around the house for a few days before to see if you’ll need any additional support, like heel grips or insoles.

Consider where you’re getting married

Another thing to consider is location – if you’re planning to be wed on a beach in the sand, perhaps the shiny brogues aren’t the best choice. Consider your environment, and particularly, the surface you’ll be strutting your stuff on for the ceremony all the way through pictures, then onto the dancefloor.

A last thought…

Of course not every couple prefers the traditional wedding with the traditional attire, every couple is unique and should allow for self expression. One thing is for sure, sneakers are trendy and more men are incorporating them for a touch of ‘cool’. If you are going to opt for the more casual footwear, nothing is more regal or clean than an all white Nike Air Force 1, just saying.

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Getting engaged is an incredible moment that both you and your partner will never forget and will want to share with the world. In the digital age, social media is the way to go for engagement announcements but don’t rely on a basic post, get creative with it!

1. Plain and simple

A straightforward way to announce your engagement is to show off the star of the show: your sparkling engagement ring! Have your soon-to-be husband pose in the background for an extra detail.

2. Picture pawfect

Including your furry friends in your engagement post could deliver an adorable result. Dress them up and include them in your engagement shoot to have them share their humans’ exciting news. After all, dogs are a (wo)man’s best friend!

3. Include the family

 

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Read till the End❤️? “The day after I gave birth to our son Seamus, the nurses told me they had to take him for a test (totally believable after delivery!), but instead, they were helping Alex put Seamus in a onesie that read “Mommy, will you marry my Daddy?” When they brought him back in, I immediately noticed he was wearing something different. It was the first real outfit I had seen Seamus in, and I was confused because I hadn’t asked them to put anything on him yet. Alex told me to read the onesie, and I *immediately* started crying. Alex got down on one knee, said the sweetest things about how he always knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and asked me to marry him…” Tag who you would Love to share this with ??❤️? … Our congratulations to @lwhit1009 & @hazer92 Follow?? #she_saidyes & @she_saidyes for nore? … : : : … #ruffledblog #justengaged #wanderingweddings #heproposed #justsaidyes #uniquewedding #engagementphotographer #boda #marryingmybestfriend #marryme #weddingbands #finejewellery #ringshot #marrymerings #imengaged #bestfriend #ourrelationship #wereengaged #soontobemrs #futuremrs #newlyengaged #gettinghitched #weddedbliss #weddingbliss

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If you and your partner have kids include them in your engagement post to make it a special family affair. Have them share the news by posing with your ring or props, or even wearing clothing items that sport sayings such as ‘Mom and Dad are getting married!’

4. Share it

 

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Such a Wonderful Moment?❄️?? “At the top of the hike, Alex suggested we take some photos of the view, so i whipped out my camera and tried to get a great panoramic shot. When I turned around to show him, he was walking toward me with a beautiful, hand-carved wooden box and a sweatshirt that read “ I’ll LOVE YOU TO THE MOUNTAINS & BACK”❤️? … Tag your Loved ones to share the Inspiration with them & Tag us to your Proposal Story for a chance to be Featured #She_Saidyes ❤️? … : : : … #gettingmarried #weddingphotos #truelove #weddingphotographer #ilovethis #reallove #photooftheday #excitement #proposal #yes #engagement #loved #engagementphotos #engaged #inlove #soulmate #weddings #winterlove #iloveyouforever #brides #loving #iloveyou #excited #ringselfie #supriseproposal #weddingseason #suprise #happysaturday

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Get personal with your engagement post by adding in details about you and your partner. Do you have a favorite movie? Why not make a movie poster as your engagement post. Are you or your significant other artistic? Why not make a doodle depicting the proposal to share on social media. You could also make a collage of all your treasured moments together. For example a movie ticket from your first date and all the mementos you have collected throughout your time together.

Instagram’s Story feature is also a creative way to announce your engagement. You could make a series of stories depicting you and your partner’s love journey that led to the engagement or have fun with the Boomerang feature or some filters on your Instagram Story.

5. Hold a shoot

You can never go wrong with a traditional, timeless engagement shoot. These photos will never go out of style and will be a moment in time captured that you can cherish forever. You could have the engagement shoot at a place which is special for you and your partner, like the restaurant where you had your first date, or if you both love the outdoors, the beach or forest. You can also try to hire a photographer or even set up a hidden camera yourself to capture the exact moment you or your partner proposes. These photos will depict the shock, joy and excitement you felt during the proposal and take you back to the special moment when you look at them later.

6. Have a party

If you prefer to not share your exciting news on social media, why not have an engagement party with your family and close friends to make your special announcement. Sharing your happiness and excitement with your family and friends while being surrounded by good food, wine and loads of love is a joyous occasion. If you have a date set for your wedding you can also send out save-the-dates to announce your engagement if you want to avoid a social media post. It will be a lovely surprise for your friends and family to receive a save-the-date!

In the end it is not about the engagement post or the amount of likes you receive on said post, but rather about you and your partner, the two lovebirds. Have fun and get creative with your engagement posts but let the main focus remain on the love you and your partner share.

 

By: Larissa Vermeulen

Picture: Unsplash

As much as we love hashtags and Pinterest, it’s not always the best place to find unique ideas. If everyone is looking at Pinterest or searching hashtags, that means everyone is doing it and it’s not so special after all. Some wedding trends need the boot – they are overdone and border on being corny.

We’ve put together a list of some wedding trends you should steer clear off:

1. Monogram everything

It’s cute to have the couples’ initials on various wedding items to add that personal special touch. But… when it’s on everything, it is a bit too much. Less is more. If you really want to go this route, select a few special items to mark.

 

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Sometimes all you need is a chic monogram, a classic typeface, and some yummy food courses to make your menu card dreams come true. ?? Stay tuned to see how these beauties are styled this Sunday! ? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #laceandbelle #njweddinginvitations #weddingstationery #bespokeweddinginvitations #customweddinginvitations #customweddingstationery #ceremonyprograms #njwedding #newjerseywedding #njbride #newjerseybride #engaged? #njweddingvendors #hobokenbride #princetonbride #menucards #weddingmenu #weddingmenus #handlettered #moderncalligraphy #weddingcalligraphy #receptiondetails #2019weddings #2020weddings #sneakpeek #chaunceyweddingexpo #monogramwedding

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2. Naked Cakes and unusual flavours

They are beautiful cakes but remember it’s not different when everyone is doing it. Let’s be honest, we’re all missing that extra icing that a naked cake lacks. Give the people what they want. It’s time to bring back cake stunners – with the icing please.

Once you’ve discussed the amount of icing on your cake, keep the flavours simple. People really don’t want to be tasting ‘daring’ flavours. Chocolate, vanilla and red velvet are crowd pleasers. Keep the apple and pear naked cake for your birthday.


3. Rose gold and vintage themes

No doubt, it is a beautiful colour – but so overdone. Your wedding should be a timeless affair. It should be personal and planned to represent you and your partner. Go for something completely unusual, pick colours you don’t see often. If you really like the colour incorporate it as an accent.

Let’s talk about vintage themed weddings. It’s pretty and simple. It seems different and maybe once a upon a time it was, but not anymore. Brown string tied to everything, beverages served in mason jars and doily like finishes, not sure if you’re getting the picture.


4. The central table

As traditional as it is, it’s time for this wedding trend to end. Go for more of an inclusive wedding. The point is to celebrate and enjoy the evening with your partner and guests. Don’t section yourself off from the crowd. The bridal couple should be on display but don’t need to be propped on a pedestal like ornaments on a shelf.


5. Too much signage

We get that you want to help your guests as much as possible but over signage is a thing. You don’t have to mark and explain every aspect of your wedding. People can figure most things out for themselves. A few signs are cute and creative but when they’re all over the place with hard to read fonts, they serve no purpose.


6. Dance entrances

In 2009 a video of a bride, groom and their wedding party busting a move while making their way down the aisle went viral on YouTube. This idea quickly grew into a trend. But, unless you were an extra in Step Up or Take the Lead, no one really wants to see your awkward dance entrance. It is fun and cool when done by the professionals but if you can’t dance, it becomes a little laughable.

Source: Unsplash

7. Useful wedding favours

You want to thank your guests for joining you on your special day. Let’s be honest, no one wants to collect useless things. It would be better to gift your guests something practical rather than a dust collector. Think outside the box. Customise the gift based on your wedding. Depending on your guests, mini plants such as cacti or spekboom are practical. These plants don’t require a lot of maintenance which is great because you don’t want to create work for your guests. Mini alcohol bottles or chocolate is a lovely idea too, keep it simple.


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