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Everyday items you can repurpose for a unique wedding seating chart

October 23, 2020 No Comments

Weddings are special days, and it’s natural one would want it to be absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, perfect can be quite expensive.

With all the moving parts of a wedding, it’s easy to go over budget. It’s important to get creative and think of ways to limit your spending while still delivering an epic day.

One way to do that is to use the things around you. Items like chopping boards, leaves, wine bottles and mismatched photo frames are easily accessible as we’re likely to already have them in our homes. You could even ask close friends and family to donate a few items to increase your supply.

Here are a few ordinary items that can be given new life and act as a truly unique wedding seating chart:

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In Advice

How couples really feel about marrying during the pandemic

October 23, 2020 No Comments

Shopping, meetings, and social events have all moved online since the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. Even weddings have changed. Couples that had planned to have big ceremonies to celebrate their big day were forced to downsize or put the ceremony on hold until the pandemic subsides.

Upon seeing different reactions and frustration from social media, a study was conducted to understand how couples really feel about marrying during the lockdown.

One poll on behalf of custom menswear brand INDOCHINO found that 48% of people planning a wedding would rather shrink their guest list than postpone it. A survey was sent out to 2000 people and based on responses, and it revelaed that 22% considered holding a virtual wedding instead of postponing.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) also did research on how couples around the world dealing with the sudden changes in the world and how that will affect their plans.

Most weddings have been canceled or postponed in the UK, with the country under lockdown restrictions limiting gatherings.

For some couples in India, the usual throng of wedding guests has been replaced by an audience of mobile phones and tablets streaming live wedding ceremonies to distant family and relatives.

In South Africa, couples were posting their small ceremonies on social media, for a country that is known for big celebrations, this was interestingly welcomed in a positive light.

Drive through nuptials, virtual ceremonies, and only having few people attend the ceremony might be the new normal for the longest time.

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In Advice

Carnival-themed wedding decor ideas for a fun-filled evening

October 22, 2020 No Comments

A night at the carnival is guaranteed to be a memorable experience, filled with tons of colours, delicious food and exciting rides. Capture the spirit with a carnival-themed wedding. From your decor to your outfit and food, there are so many ways to bring the fun.

A canival theme is all about being over the top. Go big with a variety of colours and textures, they don’t even have to complement each other.

Of course, you need to have food stands offering sweet treats. From popcorn and donuts to lemonade and hot dogs, you could incorporate any of your favourite foods.

Here are some festive ways to fill up your space:

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In Advice

Wine and dine: How to use alcohol as wedding decor

October 20, 2020 No Comments

Who doesn’t enjoy a good glass of wine? From gin to beer, champagne to whiskey, alcohol is a mainstay at any wedding.

Beyond just drinking it, why not incorporate alcohol into your decor? Bottles can be used in in a variety of ways for many purposes. Use empty bottles as a DIY seating chart, or pour some glasses of champagne to use as an escort card.

Here are a few boozy ideas to inspire you:

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In Advice

What to consider when attending a virtual wedding

October 16, 2020 No Comments

When the president announced a complete lockdown in March, everything was shut down, plans were on hold and people had to make do with the “new normal”.

Couples that had planned to get married had to think of alternative ways to tie the knot as the different levels of lockdown were introduced.

Like everything else, weddings were also starting to be virtual. That did/does not give wedding guests the reason or right to look sloppy, as it is still an important day, and pictures will be most likely taken too.

Here are some different options for what you can wear to a virtual wedding.

What to wear

Attending a virtual wedding will naturally feel relaxed because you are in the comfort of your own house, but this does not give you the right to not dress up. You don’t have to wear a floor-length gown or a tuxedo and dancing shoes, but please don’t wear an oversized sleeping t-shirt with undone hair. Most people associate Zoom meetings with working from home, but a virtual wedding is not the place to wear your office attire.

Dress up. Chances are that the couple has a theme, so honour that. Otherwise, a dressy blouse, a dress with some detail at the top, or a button-down shirt and tie will work. Make sure that your hair is neat and tidy as well.

Set the scene

Mind your background. Make sure it’s well lit so that your face can be seen clearly in the live stream.

Create a wedding feel in your home, you don’t have to go all out and decorate but avoid the bedroom to attend the wedding. Look for a location with lots of natural light and try to face the light source. Make sure you’re fully visible to other guests. Make sure you tidy up your space a bit!

Be on time

On the day of the wedding, make sure you set up and you are early to avoid technical difficulties. Mute yourself quickly after signing in so you don’t delay the start of the ceremony. The couple should not have to stress about timekeeping.

Gifts are still important

Monitory gifts are convenient for virtual weddings. You can send gifts prior to the wedding so they can be part of the ceremony. There is still a wedding registry for a reason.

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In Advice

Yellow wedding cakes to bring cheer to your big day

October 16, 2020 No Comments

What colour is more summery than yellow? Symbolic of the cheerful sun, yellow is a happy colour that signifies better days.

If you’re planning a summer wedding, we suggest injecting vibrant colour into your festivities. Yellow can be an intimidating colour but it doesn’t need to be.

Whether you want to go full out or subtle, there are many ways to incorporate this shade into your wedding day. Go bold by fully coating your cake in yellow icing, or use small touches like sunflowers or detail work to bring life to your dessert. The finish will be absolutely stunning and will make you feel like you’re eating happiness.

Here are a few cakes to inspire you:

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In Advice

Spook-tacular Halloween-themed wedding cakes

October 13, 2020 No Comments

It’s the most spooky season of the year. Being Halloween month, October is filled with freaks and frights, making it a horror-lover’s dream.

For those that are big fans of the holiday, why not incorporate it into your wedding day? From decor to your dress and cake, anything can be given a creepy twist.

Halloween-themed wedding cakes are easy to pull off, but it depends on how far you want to go with it. You could go subtle and use classic Halloween colours like black and red, or edge it up even further with skulls, bats, webs or other weird and wonderful decor pieces.

Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

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Who loves this spooky Halloween wedding cake?! ??? • @weddingwire @heatherkimblerphoto @noraleep @hllovely • #catersource #weddingcake #weddingdessert #cake #happyhalloween #halloween #halloweenweddingcake #halloweenwedding #weddingplanner #weddingplannerlife #weddinginspiration #weddingfun #events #eventplanner #eventplannerlife #foodie #halloweenfood #halloweenfoodie #instafoodie #chefstagram #chefsofinstagram #cheflife

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In Advice

Should you have a live band or a DJ at your wedding?

October 13, 2020 No Comments

Music is one of the important parts of your wedding reception, because people come together on the dance floor. It’s the music that truly has the power to make or break the wedding reception so choosing what should be played at your wedding is a big decision to make.

At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference and costs, so here’s a look at the pros and cons of a live wedding band or DJ.

A live band

In South Africa, a live band at a private function like a wedding costs roughly R 12 000 to R30 000. Prices vary based on your location and other factors, like the size of the band.

Pros

– Live song requests – people and the couple can ask the band to play their favourite songs

– It is more personal than a DJ

– It appeals to younger and older guests

– You and your guests will experience the pleasure of a live performance

Cons

– The big disadvantage of hiring a band is that they tend to be a tad expensive

– Bands also take up more space than a DJ

– The travelling cost and accommodation might be your responsibility if the band is not local

– A band might have one genre of music throughout

A DJ

Private function DJs can cost anywhere between R6500 to R12 000, while celebrity DJ prices range from R20 000 to R45 000. Plenty of couples hire a wedding DJ and prefer the diversity of music over a live band.

Pros

– A DJ can play different genres of music to appeal to a larger crowd

– They don’t require much space to set up

– They are usually local unless you want a celeb DJ

Cons

– Your wedding reception lives and dies depending on the DJ

– Since DJ equipment is usually a bit more “techy” it comes with a lot of wires – and sometimes it can look a little messy

– The equipment could crash and that would be the end of music and the vibe it brings

Some people prefer to have both, a DJ and a live band, to cater to everyone. The band is usually reserved for the romantic first dance. If this is the kind of vibe you want, then you should look into the cost of it all.

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In Advice

Cotton gift ideas for your second anniversary

October 13, 2020 No Comments

While big anniversaries like the first, five, and tenth year tend to be celebrated the most, every year of marriage is special in itself and deserves to be honoured.

Every year of your marriage holds new significance, with a particular symbol to represent it. The traditional wedding gift for the second year of marriage is cotton, meant to symbolise the strength and flexibility of your union. The modern-day wedding gift is often centred on fragile china. Fragile and easily broke, fine china symbolises the delicate nature of marriage and the importance of caring for it carefully.

While there is no need to go big on your wedding anniversary, there are many ways to incorporate the symbols into a wedding gift. Regardless of your budget, these cotton-related ideas are perfect to match the symbolism of the second year.

– Matching bathrobes

– Luxurious bed sheets

– A printed canvas of your written wedding vows

– Cotton pajamas

– Cotton chef’s apron

– Monogrammed throw blanket

– A hammock for two

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In Advice

Cute ways to serve ice cream at your wedding

October 13, 2020 No Comments

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. On a hot summer’s day, nothing is better than the refreshing coolness of an icy lolly.

With the hot season approaching, it’s best to plan ahead and think of creative ways to keep your guests cool during a summer wedding. Ice cream may seem casual, but it is also fun and nostalgic. A major trend for modern weddings is personalisation, so why not incorporate a childhood favourite into your big day?

Here are some ways to include ice cream into your wedding:

Escort cards:

Use the stick of the ice cream to display your guest’s name, and arrange them in groupings that match with your seating chart. Your guests can simply grab a lolly and head to their table!

Match the colour of the ice cream to your wedding day, and incorporate fruits that are popular in the season like strawberries and watermelon.

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Wedding favours:

Give your guests something to nibble on when they leave your wedding. Simply arrange ice cream lollies on a table, and your guests can help themselves.

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Ice cream carts:

Food trucks are super popular for weddings, so why not have a dessert truck? Load it up with a variety of ice cream flavours and toppings, like fruit, chocolates, nuts and sauces. Your guests can mix and match to create their own unique concoctions.

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