• Counselling is an imperative part of getting married. Couples can get swept away in the planning of a wedding, losing sight of the reasons why they are getting married. Speaking to a counsellor is essential for a couple as it will assist in mediating and fine-tuning the individual needs of each person’s expectations of marriage.
    Helen Searra, Cape Town-based life coach, says it is imperative to start off such a huge commitment on a positive note.

    “By getting a professional involved, it will allow both parties to be heard, without interruption, so that clear communication can be made. It offers a safe environment for couples to access their emotions and concerns thereby addressing issues that may otherwise lay dormant for years,” said Searra.

    Her other advice is: Marriage is about being real and counseling allows you to get real with each other, without losing your identity while you are in the “contracting” stage of your relationship.
    “When we meet our life partner we not only bring 2 people into the contract, we bring our families, friends, childhoods, different belief systems, cultures and life experiences. Investing in emotional support in building the best foundations for your relationship from the beginning  is  vitally important.”
    With the help of a counsellor, there is no worry to small or obstacle too big for a couple to overcome before getting married.
    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]

    Image: Pexels

    Corey Newman often watched his girlfriend, Marlowe Epstein, do the Washington Post crossword puzzle, so he worked with the Post’s crossword creator to write a puzzle with answers related to Epstein. The clue for 51 across was “Words with a certain ring to them,” and the answer was “Will You Marry Me.” The puzzle was published in the paper, and an unsuspecting Epstein completed it with the help of Newman. Slide 3: Coffee Cup Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons asks customers to “roll up the rims” of the cups to see if they won a prize. So Jeff Chapman snuck a tiny note that read “Will you marry me?” under the rim of his cup and gave it to girlfriend Jaimie Baisley to unroll.

    By Mariska van Zyl

    There’s no denying that planning your wedding can be exciting, overwhelming and very expensive. So establishing a budget and planing ahead is crucial. There are a few hidden costs when it comes to your wedding day, tipping vendors being one of them.

     

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    Photographers & Videographers:
    It’s not necessary to tip the photographer and videographer if they own their own business as all the costs will usually be included in the contract. If you feel that they went the extra mile you can add an additional amount to the agreed price or you can send a thank you gift after the wedding.

    Catering staff and Bartenders:
    If your contract doesn’t include tip, you should tip 10 to 20 percent of the total catering bill. If you have an open bar, bartenders do expect to receive a tip from guests as they serve the drinks but it isn’t necessary as they’ll already receive a fixed amount from the venue.

    Hair & Makeup artist:
    When you hire a hair and makeup artist that owns their own business, you aren’t obligated to tip them. However, if you go to a salon you are expected to tip as you would going for a normal appointment.

     

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    This forest ceremony area is just mind blowing at @beloftebos_wedding_venue What do you guys think?

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    Officiant:
    While it isn’t customary to tip religious officiants, however if you want to thank them for their service, you can send them a thoughtful gift or better, make a donation to their place of worship.

    Musicians and DJs:
    If you are hiring an independent band or DJ, you aren’t obligated to tip, however when the band or DJ is being booked through an agency, tipping each member is standard.

    Tips are meant to to be given to vendors who go above and beyond their contracted duties, so remember to have a look at the vendors’ contracts to see if any gratuity is added in the costs. If your budget is tight, there are other ways of giving “tips”. You can give your vendors excellent reviews or refer them to other friends that are getting married.

    Picture: Unsplash

    When it comes to hairstyles for your wedding day, you need to take account for the type of hair that you have. This will help to determine what kind of style will work best.

    You also need to consider what comes with each style in terms of needed products and up-keep/touch ups. If you don’t want to worry about what your hair looks like, then choose a style that is quite structured. These generally come with little maintenance.

    For styles that are less structured, as you will either have to have a touch up at some point or accept the fact that your hair will look different to how it was when the wedding started.

    So let’s take a look at each classic hairstyle and you can decide which one will work best for you.

    Bun

    You can choose a high bun or a low bun, both are elegant looks. A bun keeps your hair in place for the whole event. It is also a great option if you don’t like having your hair in your face. It’s also great for those who get hot easily as having the back of the neck open helps one to keep cool. The bun style also allows for you to add hair accessories or clip your veil into the bun.

    Half up/half down

     

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    This is hairstyle is for those who want to keep their hair out of their face but still want the flowing look. It is, however, difficult to keep the hair in place throughout the wedding. If you do decide on this style, you should be okay with your hair being a little messier towards the end of the event. This style works for most hair lengths and textures.

    Ponytail

     

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    You can do a high ponytail or a low one for a more romantic look. This style allows you to keep your hair out of your face and works for short and long, thick and thin hair. It also shapes your face.

    Loose, flowing curls

    This is an effortless and laid-back look. It works for most hair lengths and textures. Those with thicker hair might need a touch up as the weight of the hair will cause the curls to drop. Also, those with difficult hair will have to be weary of the weather because frizz is a real thing.

    Braids

    Braids are great for creating a styled look but still making sure that your hair is structured. If you have unruly hair, then a braid would be a good option for you. The only issue that comes with braids is that for them to work best, you can’t have any layering in your hair.

    Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, so of course you want to look your best but you also want to be comfortable and enjoy the day or night without constantly worrying about your hair.

    Image source: Unsplash