If you love the sound of crashing waves and the feeling of sand between your toes, you should consider having a beach wedding. It’s important to spend your special day in a place that makes you and your partner happy. So, with summer fast approaching, why not celebrate your nuptials tropical-style?
Tropical beaches are specific to certain geographic areas throughout the world that are near the equator. The hot, sunny and humid climate in these regions make for splendid tropical fruits and flowers. For a wedding in this vein, think bright colours, large flowers and leaves and fresh, juicy fruits. Oh, and coconuts, of course.
This theme will fit a laid-back couple perfectly as it allows for a more casual setting. However, it is easy to spice up if you would like it to be more formal.
Here are some key components to keep in mind:
Decor
The decor should rely on the natural surroundings. White sand, blue water and green palm trees or other vegetation are likely to already be part of the setting. Add some bold extras that tie in with the theme such as yellow and pink by using fruits and flowers.
Dress
Typically, comfortable attire will blend in well with the beach. Opt for a short dress or a two-piece in light, flowing fabric to avoid the heat. However, if you are keen on rocking that perfect diamond-studded princess dress, don’t let anyone stop you!
Shoes
Consider where you will be walking. If there is a pathway to the altar and the reception is indoors, high heels will work. But if you plan on getting onto the sand, grass or rocks, release your inner child and go bare foot! You can also go with flats or pumps.
Bouquet
Tropical beaches are teeming with brilliant flowers. Use a professional florist to help you choose your selection of flora, and refrain from picking them straight from the environment as it might be illegal. Some beautiful tropical flowers to consider are:
– African Violet
– Blanket Flower
– Blood Lily
– Blue Passion Flower
– Bougainvillea Glabra
Invitations
Here you get to go wild! Make sure you have your colour scheme figured out first, then select stationery that complement it. Two or three of your main colours are enough to use, as more might seem overwhelming.
Reception
Keep things beachy with the reception and have it on the sand too if the weather is good. Try not to use small decor items that may fall from the tables and get lost in the sand. If it’s very warm, host the reception under trees or a tent, or set up umbrellas to provide shade.
Drinks
No tropical island is complete without the necessary drinks. Beautifully crafted cocktails are a must. Serve drinks in hollow coconuts, pineapples or watermelons and add some frozen fruit pieces like berries that can serve as ice.
Image: Pixabay
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It’s been months since Netflix original Love is Blind blew viewers away as it posed the question, ‘Can people really fall in love without seeing each other?’
This science experiment saw couples connect while separated by a wall, never getting to see each other face to face. Six couples seemingly fell in love and got engaged. After their engagement, they met in person and began their relationship.
Here’s who is still together in 2020 and who has found new love after the reality TV show.
Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed:
As Cameron and Lauren fell in love, so did we. This couple’s story touched many as they grappled with being an interracial couple and how their families and the public would react to their love.
Their love is legit, as the pair are still together today. They appear as loved up as ever, and even adopted a puppy together. Fans can follow their journey on their Youtube channel, Hanging With The Hamiltons.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CChbcaWlcXT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Amber Pike and Matt Barnett:
Many fans doubted this couple would actually tie the knot, as Amber’s confession of financial troubles and her lack of stability seemed to trouble Matt during the show. However, the pair ended up saying ‘I do’ and are still married.
Since their wedding, Amber has admitted that they butted heads a lot but have now found a good flow.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDr2n5JloBz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Kenny Barnes and Kelly Chase:
Soon after meeting in person, this couple’s engagement began to disintegrate on the show. Kelly was quite straightforward about not having a sexual attraction to Kenny. In the show’s finale, she said “I don’t” and left Barnes at the altar. The pair have since admitted that they had both agreed that they were not going to get married.
Since then, Kenny Barnes has found love again. The Love is Blind star recently popped the question to girlfriend Alexandra Garrison. Barnes and Garrison have been dating a little over a year, and they met after he appeared on the Netflix dating series. His younger sister Anna introduced the pair.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEDBevFBpZF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Kelly is currently single, although she did date a close friend soon after the show’s filming wrapped. Both Kelly and Kenny have grown a lot from their experience of being on the show, and they appear to be on good terms.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC2KKitB7Uw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Jessica Batten and Mark Cuevas:
From the get-go, this couple was destined to fail. Jessica accepted Mark’s proposal after her main interest Matt Barnett displayed stronger feelings for future wife Amber. With Mark as her second choice, she struggled with leftover feelings for Barnett throughout her engagement, as well as a lack of sexual chemistry with Mark. This, coupled with their ten year age gap brought an end to their relationship. Mark said ‘I do’ but Jessica could not follow through.
Jessica has since found a new man. She is dating a doctor who, interestingly enough, looks a lot like Mark. She has also apologised to both Amber and Matt for interfering in their relationship during filming.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCOwqvfJfEF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Mark has also moved on. He recently went Instagram official with a blonde beauty.
Giannina Gibelli and Damian Powers
Damian Powers and Giannina Gibelli were another fan favourite, although their explosive relationship was often on rocky ground. The pair argued a lot during filming, and it appeared that Giannina would be the one to end things. However, fans were shocked when she said ‘I do’ and Damian said ‘I don’t’.
With their dramatic ending, it was even more surprising to find out that the pair are back together. During the reunion episode, they revealed that they got back together hours after their wedding, and they are still together today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDUobs7poCL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Carlton Morton and Diamond Jack
This couple didn’t make it very far after their engagement. Soon after meeting in person and spending real time together, Carlton admitted to Diamond that he is bisexual. This lead to a massive fight because Diamond felt Carlton was keeping secrets while he felt that she didn’t accept him for who he is. Their fight ended with them breaking things off and Diamond tossing her engagement ring in the pool.
Since then, they patched things over and are on good terms. Carlton is spending time on himself, and Diamond is working towards her PhD.
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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the world, people have learned the importance of lending a helping hand. This couple really wanted to make a difference, and donated their wedding food to a shelter. Not only that, they also spent their wedding day serving the food to those in need.
A bit disappointed but not surprised, the couple decided to put their money to good use.
“Since we’d prepaid for the food, we could have had the wedding somewhere else and still invited everyone, but it didn’t make sense,” Melanie tells the Washington Post. “I turned to Tyler and said, ‘What would you think of donating the food instead?’ ”
The couple got in contact with Laura’s Home, a shelter in Cleveland for single women and mothers with children, and organised to have food worth $2000 (R33 751) delivered to serve 135 people.
Their only request was that, following their small ceremony, they could serve the food at the home themselves.
Melanie and Tyler tied the knot on August 15 in the bride’s grandparents’ backyard, with a dozen family members present. After the ceremony and still in their wedding attire, they made their way down to the shelter to serve their wedding meal, provide by food truck Betty’s Bomb-A** Burgers.
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Maintaining social distancing and hygiene measures, the pair spent their wedding day serving food to those in need. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Elton Jantjies has been named one of South Africa’s best rugby players and is known for his speed on the field, but not much is known about his life off the field. The fly-half from Gauteng has played for a host of teams from the Lions to the Stormers and of course, the Springboks when they won the Rugby World Cup.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9YOU80n04D/
Jantjies met his fiance, model Iva Ristic online in 2011 and felt an immediate connection, but due to their careers involving a lot of travel, they only met in person in 2014.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCf9MCXJFvz/
According to Ristic, it was love at first sight. The two soon began dating, and welcomed three children into the world before Jantjies finally decided to pop the big question in 2019.
According to Huisgenoot, he took her to a fancy restaurant and sneakily put the ring in her Cosmopolitan cocktail. “I was so busy taking pictures of the beautiful drink that I didn’t even see the ring!” Ristic said. Only when Jantjies actually went on his knee did she realise what was happening. Of course, she said yes!
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The two tied the knot shortly before the World Cup kicked off in 2019. On Ristic’s Instagram it seems the two had an engagement party with friends and family, but not a large wedding. According to Magzter, they had a small, intimate ceremony with close family, but are considering having a large celebration later on.
Image: Instagram