In Ancient Rome, brides would carry flowers as they were believed to signify new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility. Today, bouquets largely act as an extra accessory…
The love of your life has finally popped the question. You’re happier than you can imagine and you can’t wait for your wedding day where you can share your love in front of friends and family. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the wedding world, meaning you can’t follow tradition as easily.
Even without the pandemic. planning a wedding can be stressful with all the decisions you need to make. Venues, colour schemes, food, guests, the list is endless! How will you and your partner make the right choices so your guests are comfortable on the day? Where will you buy your dress from? Heck, you’ll need to start saving for that dress now.
Why not avoid the stress, scale down on the admin and do something a little spontaneous instead? Think pop-up store meets surprise party and you’ll know where we’re headed with this – a pop-up wedding! Sound interesting? Here are our top tips to help you plan the perfect one – with zero stress and all the chill.
The venue
While they’re fun and spontaneous, pop-up weddings are more than just eloping. You still need to do some planning. A lot of pop-up weddings happen in public spaces such as parks, carnivals and at events – there really are no limits! You can have it at the end of a marathon you ran together, at a festival you’re attending, or on an intimate little camping trip with your friends.
Think about a place that you and your significant other love, somewhere that has meaning for both of you and that will create an incredible memory or make for epic images. If you’re going to have it at a business like a restaurant, store or tourist attraction, make sure they know what you’re planning so the surprise goes smoothly.
The look and feel
Once you know where your wedding will be, you can decide what you want it to look like. If you’re going to have it in a park or on the beach, you can keep it casual. If you’re opting for something more quirky like a festival or party, why not dress up in crazy costumes or have props on standby? In some instances, all you need is a veil, bow tie and some flowers to seals the deal. You can do whatever you want – that’s the beauty of the pop-up wedding.
Vendors
A pop-up wedding is as intimate as you can get. You only need a handful of guests and if you want to have a little celebration afterwards, all you need to do is head to your favourite restaurant or bar (call ahead to make a reservation so you don’t end up waiting in a long line). Let them know that you’ll be celebrating your union but with a small number of people so you don’t get saddled with a bill for 20 when it’s just you, your bae and two mates. You can also get creative with who you choose to use for your special day. Depending on your venue, you can get food trucks, picnic baskets and great novelty items that will look cute in pics.
Keep it a secret
The loose nature of a pop-up wedding allows you total freedom for your ceremony. You can decide on which traditions you want to keep (such as a bouquet, a veil or throwing confetti) and completely disregard the rest. But one thing you definitely need to stick to is keeping it a secret – imagine the look on your guests’ faces when they realise they’re actually at your wedding! Come up with a great cover for the day, something that will get your guests excited enough to attend and in the right attire without giving too much away. It may be a good idea to let one person in on the surprise, so they can help you execute your plan.
Get the royal look with a blue sapphire engagement ring. Once belonging to Princess Diana, Kate Middleton’s sapphire sparkler caused sapphire sales to skyrocket in 2010 following the…
There is no celebrity wedding dress more iconic than that of Princess Diana. With its puffy sleeves and insanely long train, it has gone down in history as possibly the most famous wedding dress to ever be made.
A little known fact is that Princess Diana had a secret backup dress made in case of emergencies. Wildly enough, this dress, which has never been seen by the public, is missing in action.
David and Elizabeth Emanuel designed the famous dress, as well as a second one in case anything were to happen to the original. This is a common practice for royal brides, especially when there is so much media attention around them.
However, the location of this second dress, which was only three-quarters of the way done, remains unknown almost 40 years later. Elizabeth Emanuel says she cannot remember what they did with the backup.
“I don’t know if we sold it or put it into storage,” the designer, Elizabeth Emanuel, told the Daily Mail in 2017. “It was such a busy time. I’m sure it’ll turn up in a bag one day!”
Picture: Pinterest
Micro weddings will continue to dominate in 2021. While COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out across the world, we are not quite out of the woods yet and…
Looking for a truly unique wedding experience? In today’s society, there are no rules so anything goes. Your wildest dreams can come true with just a little bit of planning.
If a church wedding or a backyard celebration isn’t for you, fear not. There are many alternative options across the country that allow you to celebrate your nuptials in style. Here are some of South Africa’s more unusual venues.
For adventure seekers: Hot air ballooning
What could be more romantic than exchanging vows high up in the clouds with views of the Cradle of Humankind or the Magaliesberg below? For those unafraid of heights, a ceremony in a hot air balloon is a unique choice – and guarantees breathtaking wedding photos.
The baskets can accommodate between two and eight people and flights take off at sunrise, lasting about one hour. The hot air balloons take off from land at a luxury lodge which can arrange a Champagne breakfast for you and your guests after your flight.
Best for luxury seekers: Stanley Island
You don’t have to be an A-list celebrity to hire your own private island for your wedding day. Stanley Island on the banks of the Keurbooms Lagoon in Plettenberg Bay is the only private island in South Africa and boasts an indigenous milkwood forest, private beaches and stunning views of the lagoon for a truly special celebration.
With the waterside wedding and function venue only able to accommodate 40 guests, this is best suited to more intimate weddings. The island itself can also sleep up to 20 people.
Best for travel enthusiasts: Rovos Rail
Venture back in time with a vintage-themed wedding at Rovos Rail wedding venue in Capital Park Station in Pretoria. For couples looking for something a little different, a wedding at Rovos Rail offers romance of a bygone era and can accommodate up to 120 people.
Say your promises on the platform with the old steam train as the backdrop after which you can take your wedding photographs in the picturesque grounds and the vintage carriages. You will then join your guests on the train itself for a glamorous 1920s-inspired reception – think the Great Gatsby – and a three-hour journey. Expect five-star food and service.
Picture: Instagram / Air Ventures