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.
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.
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.
Picture: Unsplash
Your wedding is fast-approaching and you love wearing black. Why not opt for an unconventional wedding dress? It’s no secret that wearing black makes you feel confident. …
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 be overlooked – wait until you buy or finalise your wedding dress before you decide on your veil.
Deciding on a veil to pair your dream dress with plays a major role in creating your overall wedding look. Traditionally they are passed down through generations, in which case you might not have a choice but it is pretty special to adorn your mother’s or grandmother’s veil.
The veil has the ability to highlight your appearance and enhance the detail on your dress.
There are tons of veil styles to choose from and the most common material used is tulle. Always consider which you would be most comfortable wearing. Comfort is key.
For a vintage inspired feel, a birdcage veil with trench netting that covers your eyes and stops right above your chin is for you. This can be enhanced with an off white or ivory coloured veil.
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The most common is the blusher veil which covers the face and usually stops on the shoulders. It can be worn alone or with a longer veil underneath.
Veils come in different lengths too. There are shoulder length ones, elbow length and fingertip length ones to choose from.
Blusher veils:
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Others styles include the Waltz veil – which is long but does not touch the floor. The chapel veil on the other hand does touch the floor. The most dramatic is the cathedral veil with a super long train ready to make a statement.
Waltz Veil:
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Chapel Veils:
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Cathedral Veils:
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A Mantilla veil ensures a soft and dainty feel to the wedding look as it is pinned to the brides hair with a comb and wrapped alongside her shoulders.
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Get creative with your veil by attaching it to a hat and just having it flow backwards. Alternatively, you can attached the veil to the new trendy pearl slide clips for a modern feel. Consider your hairstyle first as this is key for the placement of the veil.
Picture: Pixabay
Age ain’t nothing but a number. An American bride proved this theory true when she asked her 83-year-old grandmother to be the flower girl at her wedding. Grandma…
When you find the person who you want to spend forever with, you are aware of the different personality traits you each possess.
We spoke to Helen Searra, a qualified life coach about wedding planning and here is what she had to say about grooms who have no interest in wedding-planning.
“While planning a wedding may be of interest to you, he may not share the same feeling. This does not mean he isn’t interested in the wedding.
“Having different interests and hobbies make a relationship interesting. You can learn from one another. Find out if something you’re interested in might be something he’s interested in but has never had the opportunity to explore, and vice versa.
F”ocus on each others strengths. Some people have no idea or desire to party plan. Don’t take this personally!
Find a group of friends or family who love party planning.
“Share the fun of planning with people who are interested, that is the best way to generate fabulous, creative ideas.
“Have fun putting the event together and sharing the progress with your partner rather than setting him up to fail.
“The couples attitude and behaviour during the wedding planning can set up a repetitive dance in the marriage going forward, should they come from overly invested expectations of each other.” concluded Searra.
Image: Unsplash
Helen Searra is a Cape Town-based life coach. She has been practicing for 10 years in her field. She offers individual counseling sessions and couples counseling both in person or remotely over Skype. She offers package deals of either 4, 6 or 8 sessions. To enquire for a rates card, contact Helen on [email protected].
So you’ve just tied the knot! Before you head to the wedding reception, you and your partner need to capture some memories. Perhaps the venue itself offers a…
It’s your big day! All eyes are on you, and that dress! The wedding gown may be one of the most important elements of this occasion of love. Well, to the bride at least. It’s something that every girl imagines herself in and it’s absolutely vital to many a bride-to-be that the dress leaves jaws dropped and heads turned.
We’ve gathered a few of the most flattering wedding dress silhouettes for your body shape.
1. A’s for days! For all the gorgeous ladies with beautiful curves, the A-line silhouette may appeal to you. It’s usually fitted at the top to emphasise the waist and then flares out at the skirt. It’s a very flattering shape not just for curvaceous brides but all body shapes.
2. Wanting to highlight your curves a bit more? The trumpet silhouette is what you’re looking for. It hugs your curves, and flares out from the knee down. As body-hugging as it is, it still allows for a lot of movement.
3. The sheath shape. If you’re petite or slender, this is very flattering. It’s tight-fitting and elongates the body.
4. Looking to make an even bigger statement? Have a look at the mermaid style. It’s similar to the Trumpet shape mentioned earlier but a bit more dramatic. It’s also a bit more constricting, however.
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Wedding gowns & bridesmaid dresses, we do it all! ✨?? @morileeofficial style no. 8177
5. Off to the ball! The classic ball gown silhouette emphasises your waist. The fullness of the skirt means this dress compliments various body types. If you have a ‘plank’ shape, it creates the illusion of bigger curves. For women who are a bit more busty, this dress can create a nice balance.
6. Dropped waist. This gorgeous silhouette flares out a little bit below the waistline. It compliments taller brides, as it can elongate the torso area.
At the end of the day though, it’s about the dress you feel the most beautiful and confident in and your opinion matters most. There are no actual rules – just go for it.
Picture: Pixabay