• Looking to have a trendy vibe and capture some beautiful memories at your wedding? Incorporating technology into your wedding is sure to make it a unique experience that you will be able to look back on and cherish forever.

    Here are five easy ideas that are worth the extra cost.

    1. GO-PRO CAM

    Go-Pro cameras are a big trend at the moment and are intended to be used in creative ways. If you want to get some interesting videography or photographs, you can attach a Go-Pro to your flower bouquet to capture some hidden moments, or strap it your dog’s collar and let them wander around to all of your guests. You’ll be able to look back and laugh at some incredible moments you wouldn’t have captured otherwise.

    2. SELFIE STATION

    Instead of a simple photo booth, set up a selfie stand kitted out with a themed background, selfie sticks, phone chargers and props that your guests can use to take pictures they will cherish. You can also include a personalised hashtag to use in social media posts, making it easier to get all the wonderful photographs together.

    3. LIVE STREAMING

    If you have guests who are unable to attend the big day, an option is to live stream the event on social media or on a website where your loved ones can watch at home or wherever they are. This way they won’t miss out on any of the incredible moments at your wedding.

    4. DRONE FOOTAGE

    Drones are able to cover a wide range, which is what makes them so suitable for big events. However, they also work well to add a creative aspect to small spaces. You’ll be able to get up close to your guests and catch them all having a great time on the dancefloor from afar. This works well with a Go-Pro.

    5. SATTELITE BAR

    Want to impress your guests? Get a portable and automatic cocktail machine to serve a signature cocktail at your wedding. The robotic machine can be programmed to make a specific drink, and then serve it to your guests. This will be in addition to your cash-bar for other drinks.

    Picture: Unsplash

    Traditional bridal shower games can be quite overdone. We’ve put together our top 4 bridal shower ideas that will be super helpful for the bride-to-be and also something that she can cherish for a lifetime.

    1. DATE-NIGHT JAR

    Get a friend to hand out a strip of paper to each guest when they arrive. Ask each guest to write about the best date night they’ve ever had, or a date night idea on the paper. Each guest can drop their idea into a large mason jar and the married couple can pick one out whenever they want to plan a special evening.

    2. RECIPE BOX

    When you’re sending out the bridal shower invites, attach a blank card to it, for guests to write their favourite family recipe. To avoid duplicate recipes, give each guest a category (snacks, appetizers, mains and desserts). Each guest will bring their recipe card to the shower to compile them all in a cute box. Present it to the bride as a gift.

    3. ADVICE/FAVOURITE MOMENT BOOK

    Moms and grans will really appreciate this one. Get a scrapbook and ask all of the married women in the family to fill one page of the book with their best marriage advice for the bride;  their favourite memory with the bride and groom and their wishes for the bridal couple. Don’t forget to reach out to the groom’s family as well!

    4. ANNIVERSARY BOX

    You’ll need envelopes and blank cards for this one. Number an envelope for each guest attending the shower. Each guest’s number will represent an anniversary. Ask them to write a happy anniversary note on their card for the bride and groom. Pop them all in a box and let the bride know that they can only open each envelope when they reach the anniversary number on the envelopes!

    Image: Unsplash

    Power-couple Connie and Shona Ferguson recently celebrated a whopping 19 years of marriage. The actors, who run production company Ferguson Films together, have had a beautiful romance over the nearly two decades of their relationship and are always keen to share it with their fans.
    Naturally, the social media-loving couple took to Instagram to express their love for one another on their special day.
    “I have no idea what you were saying here, but the fact that 19 years later you still manage to make me laugh is everything I’ve prayed for and more! Happy Anniversary my skeem!????? I love you more each day, and thank God for you!” Connie wrote on Instagram.

     

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    A post shared by Connie Ferguson (@connie_ferguson)

    “We are 19. Happy anniversary my love. This life journey is super easy with you by my side. There is nothing we can’t take on together. I love you melaiti,” Shona wrote.

     

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    A post shared by SHONA FERGUSON (@ferguson_films)

    Shona, real name Aaron, met Connie at her Johannesburg home in 2001. At the time, she was already a household name thanks to her iconic role as Karabo Moroka in Generations. Shona was there to drop off mutual friends meeting Connie’s sister Lorato. As he sipped on a glass of water, Connie came out out of her room to greet him and their love story began.

    It was a whirlwind romance for the pair. After only two months of dating, they tied the knot in a traditional wedding. Their white wedding was held soon after and appeared on the December 2001 cover of Drum.

     

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    A post shared by Connie Ferguson (@connie_ferguson)

    In 2011, the pair renewed their vows in a lavish ceremony in front of 70 guests at top Johannesburg wedding destination Avianto.

    For the big day, Connie wore an ivory sheath gown designed by Biji, who also designed her first wedding dress back in 2001. The gown’s corset-style top featured Swarovski crystals, pearls, silver beads and lace.

     

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    A post shared by Connie Ferguson (@connie_ferguson)

    Throughout their marriage, the pair have built an empire that has brought much luxury to their lives. Aside from their production company, Connie also owns a beauty line called Koni Multinational Brands. She is also among the highest-paid actors in the country.

    Picture: Instagram / Connie Ferguson

    For centuries, it has been an enduring wedding tradition that a father walks his daughter down the aisle on her big day. As the first moment guests (and the bride’s partner) sees the bride, this is a pretty big deal.

    While usually a sweet and sentimental moment, it comes from less than heartwarming origins. According to wedding historian Susan Waggoner, this tradition comes from the days when arranged marriage was a normal custom in society.

    Speaking to Brides, she explains: “this custom stems from the days of arranged marriages when a father’s looming presence was a good way to prevent the groom from backing out.”

    In many societies, a bride was considered a form of financial liability who could be transferred from her father’s household to her eventual husband’s home.

    With marriage being more of an economic choice than a romantic one, some grooms got spooked at the thought of getting hitched. This is where dads came in. Fathers would act as a physical reminder (and threat) of the deal, making grooms more likely to go through with the wedding.

    Over the years, as with virtually every other wedding tradition, the origins of this custom has become sanitised and romanticised. Today, its a special moment for brides to walk arm in arm with their father on such a special occasion.

    As the times have changed, however, so has the tradition. Some brides don’t have fathers and have alternative family members walk them down the aisle. Some share strained relationships with their dads, and choose to not partake in this tradition at all. In the case of some same-sex couples, it might be a groom walking down the aisle instead of a bride.

    The beauty of weddings nowadays is that couples have choices. Some traditions, while sentimental for some, are outdated or hurtful to others. There is no one way to get married. Traditions are not required, and rules don’t always have to be followed.

    Picture: Pexels