Amanda Knox, who was acquitted of killing her roommate Meredith Kercher in 2007, is getting married. Knox and her fiancé Christopher Robinson are planning a space themed wedding and have even created a website to ask family and friends for funding in the hope of raising $10,000 (R140,000). On the website, people are requested to donate money to various sections including venue, decor, photography, etc.
The couple received backlash for their crowdfunding exercise. People on social media questioned the need and real reason for it. Accusations allude to it being another publicity stunt. The couple have denied claims of wanting to crowdfund their wedding. In a tweet, Knox called out those hating on them saying the wedding will be barebones if it needs to be.
To those hating on us all day, you’ve been duped by the outrage machine. You gave ad $ to tabloids that profit by making you angry about things that don’t matter. Our wedding will be crazy & fun & barebones if it needs to be, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter.
— Amanda Knox (@amandaknox) July 23, 2019
They said the reason for donation is because they ‘don’t need anymore stuff’. Unlike a normal gift registry, where the couple request kitchen appliances, homeware items, their gift registry consists of wedding sections like venue, decor, special effects, live band, photography, dinner and open bar. Under each section is a ‘donate’ option. When clicking donate, it links to a PayPal page where you can pay. There is no option for your own desired amount, there are set prices for each section ranging from $25 (R350) to $2000 (R28,000).
Knox was accused of murdering her flatmate Meredith Kercher when they were both exchange students and roommates living in Perugia, Italy. They shared a flat with Filomena Romanelli and Laura Mezzetti. On November 2, 2007 Meredith’s lifeless body was found on her bedroom floor covered with a duvet.
Knox and her boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito, were tried and found guilty of murder. They were convicted and sentenced to prison in Italy. The couple spent almost four years in jail before her sentence was overturned by an appeals court in October 2011 – after it was found that there was not enough evidence against them.
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…
You should also read: Best wedding planning APP’s and tools for more guidance. Get your wedding makeup artist booked and secured seamlessly with these fool-proof guidelines:
1. Do your homework
Unless you have a make-up artist on speed dial or a trusted MUA friend, it’s best you do some proper research on who to book. Gather a list of makeup artists in your region and go to their websites or social media pages to see examples of their work. This isn’t only to see the quality of the final product, but to get an idea of their style and general aesthetic. It’s best to opt for someone who specialises in weddings as they will be more likely to provide you with makeup that will last the longest. Once you’ve seen one or two that you like, request a quote.
2. Book early
If your wedding date is set in stone, there’s no reason not to tick one more booking off your checklist. Most makeup artists are booked far in advance, especially in wedding season, so try to make the booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
3. Always book a trial
You might think everything will work out perfectly on the day, but to be extra sure, book a trial so that your MUA can be aware of exactly what you want. This way you can also see how quickly he/she works and what you’ll look like on the day. Make changes if necessary and see how long it lasts. Go out for dinner with your bridesmaids after your trial so they can give their opinions and so you can see how the makeup wears in between drinking and eating.
4. Communicate
At your trial, it’s essential to bring along photos of what you want to give your makeup artist a clear view of what you expect. It’s also ideal to show him/her photos of yourself where you really liked your makeup. Be very clear about what you don’t want and what you would like to stay away from. That said, don’t let your MUA try to convince you to do something you wouldn’t normally do. The same goes for on the day – communicate and be clear about your feelings.
5. Be prepared
Wear something in a similar colour to your wedding dress for your trial, and also try to wear something with a similar neckline. Although your MUA should inform you of the specifics beforehand, it’s best to try and have everything done as you would for your wedding – your hair, your spray tan, your lashes and eyebrows. Also, don’t forget your veil or hair accessories if you’re having a hair trial too.
6. Get all the details beforehand
Ask your prospective MUA for any specific terms and conditions, payment details, travel arrangements etc, to make sure no unwanted surprises pop up on the day. If there’s a contract involved, even better – this just makes things so much easier for both parties. They also need to provide you with a timeline of when certain people need to be ready to have their makeup done (if you book for more than one person).
Image: 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…
Love is definitely in the air! These celebs recently got engaged. You may have missed them because some big names prefer to keep things on the down low. Have a look at who popped the question.
1. Riverdale’s Vanessa Morgan shared a beautiful picture on her Instagram, with fiancé, Michael Kopech. The two got engaged on July 4, 2019.
2. Joker actor, Joaquin Phoenix, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo actress, Rooney Mara are officially engaged. The couple started dating in 2016. They have starred together in Her (2013), Mary Magdalene (2018), and Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018).
3. Rob Schneider’s daughter Elle King received the best birthday present. Her boyfriend, who goes by the name Jim proposed.
4. Scarlet Johansson’s publicist confirmed that the Black Widow star and SNL writer, Colin Jost are engaged. The couple have been dating since December 2017.
5. Lizzie McGuire’s Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma have also tied the knot. The love birds welcomed their daughter in October 2018 and she shared a picture of her beautiful engagement ring on June 4, 2019.
6. On April 22 2019, Elizabeth Henstridge posted a cute snap announcing her engagement to fiancé
Zachary Burr Abel. The English actress is known for her work in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
7. Good Luck Charlie star, Bridgit Mendler got engaged to Griffin Cleverly. She shared a picture on Instagram of her and future hubby on April 21 2019. The two posed for a selfie on a beach while showing off the new shiny ring.
8. Survivor: Worlds Apart alumni, Joe Anglim got down on one knee, and popped the question to fellow contestant Sierra Dawn Thomas. She shared a beautiful picture of her new addition.
Picture: Pixabay
By Amy-Lee Steenkamp There are very few hard and fast rules when it comes to planning a wedding but there might be a very important one that cannot…
Weddings are a huge expense which grows together with your guest list. Inviting colleagues is a frequent topic of discussion – you see them every day but after inviting family and friends, there might not be much space left on your guest list.
Technically, you don’t have to invite anyone you don’t want to/don’t have space for, but it’s never that simple when it comes to colleagues. After all, you do spend a lot of time with them and not inviting them could turn awkward.
With colleagues you have three options.
1. You can either invite no-one from work and easily explain that you are just having family and friends
2. You can invite the few colleagues that you really get on with
3. Or you can invite your whole team which will obviously be easier if you work in a small group
First make your guest list which includes including family and friends is accounted for, then save your colleagues for the end of your list. If you have enough open spaces to invite all of them and that’s what you would like to do, then do that. If you only have a few open spaces then you will need to think about who you would really like to be there.
Are you friends with your colleagues outside of work?
If you see colleagues in your free time then they should be treated the same as your non-work friends and definitely be invited. If you handle the situation correctly, this shouldn’t cause any tension in the office. Let your colleagues that are invited know you are not able to invite everyone from the office, so your wedding should not be a topic of discussion at work.
If you still feel awkward about the situation, explain to those colleagues who aren’t invited that your guest list is tight and as much as you would like to, unfortunately you can’t invite everyone. Most people will understand and if they don’t, well, it pretty much justifies them not making the guest list.
If you have limited numbers, a good rule of thumb is to save your invites for friends and family. Colleagues are colleagues and if your friendship is limited to your work place, you should not feel bad about not inviting them to one of the most intimate days of your life.