Advice Archives | Page 31 of 55

In Advice

Pros and cons of writing your own wedding vows

January 30, 2020 No Comments

So your wedding day planning is coming together. You’ve got your vendors sorted out and your decor and attire is turning out perfectly. Now, you’re focusing on the finer details. Included in these details are the wedding vows.

Many couples find pleasure in writing their own wedding vows. They believe it’s more special, more personal, and a way to fully express what their partner means to them. For others, writing wedding vows is a nightmare. You’re concerned about what other people will think, if you’ll bore your guests, if you’ll speak for too long, the list of worries are endless.

If you’re still uncertain about which way you’ll go, perhaps considering the pros and cons of both will help you make your final decision.

Pros

– Your guests will be interested

The traditional wedding vows have been heard a million times before. Since you will be presenting some fresh material, your guest are likely to listen more intently and hang on your every word.

– The vows will be more personal

If you write your own wedding vows, they’ll come from your heart, from your experiences with your partner, and they’ll be based on your life together thus far. You could also talk about your hopes for the future, and paint a picture that the traditional wedding vows don’t allow.

– You can add anecdotes to make it more special

This is probably the best part about writing your own wedding vows. You’re able to tell stories. These personal anecdotes add a uniqueness to your vows, as no couple has the same stories as you.

Cons

– Public speaking is already difficult as it is

It’s likely you’ll be nervous on the day. You’ll stand in front of all your friends and family, on one of the biggest days of your life, and you’ll have to remember all those things you wrote down. It’s tougher than it looks!

But if you stick with the traditional wedding vows, theres no chance of you stumbling on your words, forgetting what you wrote or losing your place on the page in front of you.

– There is quite a bit of stress that comes with it

While writing you own wedding vows is a very special task to take on, it’s also quite stressful. You want to say all the right things, keep you audience interested, keep it short, be articulate, and the list goes on and on. This can be a lot of pressure.

If it feels too much, opt for the traditional wedding vows.

– You and your partner may have different styles

You and your partner may have vert different styles, and thus your vows may come across as a bit incompatible. Maybe you write a two page long set of vows, and your partner only writes a paragraph. This could be a bit awkward.

Image: Pixabay

In Advice

Colourful cakes for your something blue

January 29, 2020 No Comments

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”. For decades, couples have been following this age old tradition to usher in their nuptials. When it comes to ‘something blue’ why not get creative and incorporate it into your cake?

Blue is said to represent purity, love and fidelity, and as such has become a highly symbolic colour for weddings. It also has the bonus of warding off the Evil Eye, according to legend. Incorporating blue into your wedding thus acts as a means of protection and good luck.

Beyond tradition, blue is super on trend at the minute. The 2020 Pantone Colour of the Year is PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue.

“A timeless and enduring blue hue, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is elegant in its simplicity,” explains the company. “Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”

With all this in mind, it seems a natural choice to use the blue hue in your big day. Here are some ideas to use it in your confectionary treat.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4VnE8jnfX6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B35X_fsA42B/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6WQzDjH9CR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf5hNBIBlAF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B70QY_7AX_3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7HvNp0jjLx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7c0SjfIrGF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7jOSN7BnMY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7nngFwHnYV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B66KCUXFJcs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Hidden costs to consider when wedding planning

January 29, 2020 No Comments

Before you finalise your budget, it’s a good idea to look for costs you may have overlooked. The last thing you want is to overspend or to budget incorrectly and as a result sacrifice something you want!

There are some fees that can sneak up on you and some that you forget to consider. Other times, you may not even realise that certain things have a cost attached to them.

Here are some hidden costs you should consider when wedding planning:

– Marriage Certificate Fee

It is free to get married at Home Affairs and they usually provide you with a hand written, abridged marriage certificate. However, if you require an unabridged marriage certificate, it’ll cost you about R75.

While this is a small fee, it should not be dismissed as insignificant. Remember that every little thing adds up in the end!

– Postage

This is necessary for before and after the wedding. You’ll have to send out save the dates and invitations before and thank you notes after. (Unless, of course, you’re going digital).

Stamps and mailing fees can result in a relatively large fee. This is especially true if cards are oddly shaped or quite large.

– Overtime Fees

Wedding’s are a lot of fun. As a result, it’s common for the party to carry on even after the agreed upon ending time. The venue, DJ or Band, and catering company (which includes waiters and kitchen staff) will charge you extra if your big day goes over schedule.

– Vendor Trials

If you’re testing out floral combinations, this could cost you more than you expect. Sometimes you’ll get the first trial free. Thereafter, however, you’ll have to start paying for the vendors time and efforts. Especially if you change your mind a lot or are having trouble finding exactly what you want.

Often, hair and make-up trials also have fees attached to them. After all, the artists are using their time and equipment.

– Clean-up Costs

We often forget about the post-wedding costs because we’re so caught up in the whirlwind of things that need to be done and paid for before the special day arrives.

Don’t forget that there are clean-up costs involved, and often you’ll have to pay for the taking down of your decorations too.

– Non-exclusive Companies

Some venues come with their own caterers, designers and the like. Other venues work exclusively with specifically chosen vendors. Usually, if a venue has either of these policies and you prefer to choose your own vendors, you’ll have to pay an extra fee.

– Cake Cutting and Corkage

Similar to the point above, many venues have their own chefs or they have an agreement with a cake company. If you bring your own cake along, you’ll be charged extra for the cake to be cut and served to your guests. For this, you usually pay a certain amount per guest.

The same goes for bringing your own wine! If you bring you’re own, you’ll be charged extra for it to be served.

Image: Pixabay

In Advice

Paw-some ways to involve your pets in your wedding

January 28, 2020 No Comments

We all know that pets are part of the family! Perhaps you have adopted your furry friend as a couple, or maybe you’ve had them since you were a kid. However your fur baby came into your life, it’s likely you wouldn’t want to spend your special day without them.

While you may want to dress the little guy up in a miniature suit fitted to your pet of choice and have him be the ring bearer, this may not always be possible, or comfortable for the animal. But fret not, there are other ways you can involve your pet in your wedding day.

– Have a family photoshoot

https://www.instagram.com/p/B64nR-lhqTd/

– Include them in a squad photo

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7HaOOmA4bY/

– Let them keep you company at the altar

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gMNrzFfzA/

– Spend some quality time with them

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2sKaglluFO/

– They can keep you company while you get ready

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4wubwMg1AD/

– Represent them on your cake / in your decor

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6_CFwbFDiJ/

– Let them bring you comfort and cuddles

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7sfegSB0jG/

– Get them some comfy wedding attire (suits may be unpleasant for some animals due to heat and other things)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1oYfgGF4RD/

– Give them a front seat in the audience

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ZEh6gFEkV/

– Use their faces for some photobooth fun

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7tp6nfFjVQ/

– Let them add some humour

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NIpwFB13F/

Image: Unsplash

In Advice

Top 10 wedding destinations for 2020

January 28, 2020 No Comments

If you’ve been considering a destination wedding but you’re not sure where to head to then you’re in luck. Flowercard, a UK based company specialising in floral giftcards, has compiled a list of the best places to go.

Flowercard’s list, “The 2020 Destination Wedding Index” compiles data of all things wedding. They conducted a study into the best places to get married, and their methodology was quite thorough! First, they selected destinations from a variety of sources including theknot.com, junebugweddings.com, hitched.co.uk, and brides.com. They then took into consideration the best times for wedding ceremonies in each destination. Weather was included in this consideration, of course.

Another consideration they took into account included LGBTQ+ friendliness, with their information coming from ilga.org. Instagram hashtags and searches also featured in their method. Finally, with the use of Google Keyword Planner, they figured out how many monthly searches there were for each place in relation to weddings by searching “Getting married in X”.

After gathering all the information, they ranked destinations using a weighted ranking system. They broke elements down into four categories including weather, cost, LGBTQ+ and online popularity. Each factor was weighted equally.

It is important to remember that much of the data they collected was UK specific (such as monthly google searches). This means the results may have been slightly different had the research been done in other countries. Nevertheless, the information is still very useful!

Here are their top 10 destinations and their overall scores (x/100):

1. Las Vegas, Nevada, US

Score: 70.1

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5hYD9CBQCu/

2. Sydney, Australia

Score: 68.67

https://www.instagram.com/p/B62MhYXHCli/

3. Majorca, Spain

Score: 67.47

https://www.instagram.com/p/B16oF7BihaN/

4. Perth, Australia

67.45

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6anaLijM_B/

5. Brisbane, Australia

Score: 67.00

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM5tlnvA-Ha/

6. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Score: 64.81

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7216kHhS0N/

7. Loire Valley, France

Score: 64.14

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7fuFrBIRV_/

8. Valencia, Spain

Score: 63.80

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zJWKfoiBN/

9. Cannes, France

Score: 62.10

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rSaT-A608/

10. Madrid, Spain

Score: 62.01

https://www.instagram.com/p/B71k7kEIHX8/

Find their full list with all details here.

Image: Instagram / Sydney

In Advice

Wedding processional songs to walk down the aisle to

January 28, 2020 No Comments

The bridal march is a classic, but sometimes you want to be different. Opting for a unique, contemporary song to act as the backtrack for your walk down the aisle makes for a more a memorable moment. To set the tone for the rest of your day, be sure to pick a song that fits you and your partner.

Here are some alternative options to the traditional ‘Here comes the bride”.

– 10 000 Hours – Dan and Shay

– Marry You – Bruno Mars

– Kiss Me – Sixpence None the Richer

– Songbird – Fleetwood Mac

– A Thousand Years – Christina Perry

– Lucky – Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait

– The First Time Ever I saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

– Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

– Stuck on You – Lionel Richie

– Crazy Thing Called Love – Queen

– Love of My Life – Queen

– (They Long to Be) Close to You – The Carpenters

– My Girl – The Temptations

– Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

– Beyond – Leon Bridges

Feature image: Unsplash

In Accessories

How to choose the right diamond for you

January 24, 2020 No Comments

If you’re recently, or about to get engaged, and choosing your own ring, it’s important to know what to look for. Of course, not all engagement or wedding rings have diamonds. You can choose any stone, crystal or gem you want!

If, however, if you’re leaning towards a girl’s best friend, we share some advice from experts on how to make sure your diamond is of good quality, suits your style and band, and is the best value for its price.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has created a universally used system called the Four Cs of Diamond Quality. These categories are your go-to method for assessing your sparkly rock.

Cut

The shape of your diamond is a personal choice, and refers to the way a stone is hand- chiselled to reveal its proportions, symmetry and polish. In fact, the cut is the only way a jeweller can make a diamond unique and stand out. Cutting diamonds is a great skill, and the quality of the cut determines how the stone’s facets will interact with light and ultimately how much it sparkles. Choose a cut that catches your eye. Trends come and go, so don’t just go with the current most fashionable shape. Go for the one that shimmers its way into your heart.

Here are the most common options:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Friedlander (@diamondsbylauren) on Nov 21, 2019 at 2:41pm PST

Clarity

All diamonds bear ‘birthmarks’ – small imperfections inside the diamond, called inclusions. The number of these imperfections determine a diamond’s clarity and more flaws mean a less brilliant stone.

The GIA’s 11 point diamond clarity scale ranges from flawless to heavily included. Stones that are flawless or very slightly included are virtually perfect to the naked eye. However, diamonds with inclusions can be just as radiant, beautiful and perfect for you.

Here’s a spectrum on which you can find the clarity of your diamond:

Colour

Diamonds naturally occur in various different colours. However, in the traditional white diamond, white is highly sought after. The presence of other hues, especially yellow, lowers a white diamond’s value.

The GIA grades white diamonds on a scale of D (colourless) to Z (darkest). All D-Z diamonds are considered white, even though they contain varying degrees of colour, while coloured diamonds are graded on a separate scale. Do bear in mind that the colour of the band can also influence the stone’s appearance. If you’re going for the ‘pure’ look, choose the whitest rock you can find (budget allowing). However, don’t shy away from yellow diamonds, as they posses a beauty of their own.

Take a look at the scale for colour grading:

View this post on Instagram

Working On Some New White Diamond Rings Collection❄️? Thoughts?? @vechler & @gemma_finejewelry The #finestdiamondsoutthere . . . #jewelry #whitediamonds #rings #ringsofinstagram #vechlerway #engagementring #diamondcollection #jewels #2020 #diamonds #ringbling #thecaratclub #whitediamondring

A post shared by Ori Vechler 万家明 (@vechler) on Jan 6, 2020 at 6:18am PST

Carat

Most people think of carat as a stone’s size, but it actually refers to weight, with a metric carat equalling 0.2 grams. Diamonds are measured meticulously using 100 ‘points’. Very large stones are incredibly rare, as fewer than one in a million mined rough stones are large enough to produce a finished 1 carat diamond. As the weight of a stone increases, its value therefore increases exponentially, with a 3 carat stone potentially costing 9 times as much as a 1 carat equal stone.

Take a look here:

When going ring shopping, bear in mind that no one factor can determine a diamond’s value and that more expensive isn’t necessarily more you.

Source: Shiny Rock Polished

Image: Instagram/Weddingplannermontreal

In Advice

Beautiful bouquets perfect for summer

January 24, 2020 No Comments

What’s a bride without a beautiful bouquet? A well-picked bunch of flowers does wonders in completing your wedding look. Every bouquet is different, and needs to be tailored to the bride and the wedding.

A summer-inspired bridal bouquet is perfect for a hot December wedding. Think big, beautiful blooms bursting with colour and vibrancy. Whatever flower is in season at that time is ideal. Mixing and matching sizes, shapes and colours gives a sense of dynamism, like the flowers are just springing to action all on their own. Here are some bunches to inspire you.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7aCcChhT4C/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2uPXKBljc_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlxFL6gHjbv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1_hEA9i8li/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0OxVLDBmHO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxPda6vjwur/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlTPg7wnEAR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsoImURHC1o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image: Unsplash

In Advice

A wedding hashtag: What it is and how to create one

January 24, 2020 No Comments

If you’re keen on social media and love sharing your cool pictures online, then this one is for you. Wedding hashtags are getting more and more popular as time goes by. They’re a great way to get guests to be more interactive at your wedding and they’re pretty convenient too.

The wedding hashtag is simple. It’s a way to collect all the pictures from your big day. All your guests pictures can be available to you, in one place, at the click of a button. It’s a perfect organisational tool and it’s a way to share the day with your guests who couldn’t make it.

So how do you create one? It’s not very complicated at all!

There are many generators online such as Shutterfly’s Wedding Hashtag Generator, which requests that you fill in your full name, your partners full name, your nicknames, and your wedding date. With this information, it creates a wedding hashtag for you. Other online hashtag generators include those found on PastBook and Random Word Generator.

While a generator is probably the simplest way to go about the task, you may end up with something a little generic. If you want your wedding hashtag to be unique, you’ll likely have to come up with one on your own.

Thinking up your own hashtag doesn’t need to be a tedious task though. Here are a few steps to follow to ensure you come up with something great:

– Gather information

Jot down all the relevant information related to your wedding, so you know what you’re working with. Include things like your full names, the location of your wedding, the year, the venue’s name, the country or city your wedding is in and the style of your wedding. These are always a good place to start.

– Include some puns or pop-culture

Get punny with your names! If your surname is Adams, you could go for #HappilyEverAdams. If your surname is Bell, you may go for #SavedByTheBell. The options are endless.

– Review what you have

Once you have a short list of wedding hashtag options, give them a look again and compare them. Ask yourself: Is it original? Is it too long? Are the words easy to spell? Is it clear?

You want to keep it original to ensure that no other couple uses it too. If that happens, you’ll get another weddings photos in your hashtag. If it’s too long or the words are easy to misspell then you’re likely to miss some of the uploads due to many variations of your hashtag. Ensure that you capitalise each word for clarity.

– Let the guests know

Now that you’ve chosen or created your perfect hashtag, you need to let people know! Include it on the invitation, ceremony programs, menus and put up some signs at your wedding.

Here are some fun examples of wedding hashtags and how couples have spread the word about them at their weddings:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7bom2GpL8S/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6qGzbQH42F/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6lQCN2lbdV/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4SuhRpBJwC/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7EInUbBmkW/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6M6eVfApgS/

Image: Unsplash

In Advice

Stunning vineyard wedding venues in South Africa

January 24, 2020 No Comments

South Africa has an abundance of extraordinary wedding venues to choose from. From hotels to vineyards, the country is anything but lacking.

Vineyards are some of the best venues as they can add an extra fairy-tale feel to your special day. Most have amazing indoor and outdoor facilities and come with special wedding packages. If you’re looking to go the vineyard route for your venue, you’re spoilt for choice.

Here are some of our favourite vineyard wedding venues in South Africa:

– The Conservatory, Franschhoek

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4xCE70Jb0U/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5AkgpVJR0B/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3t-vxVJ4YC/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2gQ_kfJlg1/

The Conservatory is surrounded by vineyards and ancient oaks. The venue is largely made of glass, which means you’ll get some great lighting if you opt for an indoor ceremony or reception. You have the option to have your festivities outside in the vineyards too.

On their website, The Conservatory says “Our philosophy is simple yet stylish, inspiring but versatile, catering to all who require a blank canvas to create a unique event that transforms a space into a true reflection of themselves.”

– Zorgvliet Wine Estate, Stellenbosch

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSsZWfahWld/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0lQ26qnaFe/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSg5E4Kgc9h/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6unoCkJisF/

In the Banghoek Valley near Stellenbosch, at Zorgvliet wines, you’ll have the stunning Simonsberg Mountains as the backdrop for your wedding. The estate offers several different facilities for your special day. The Oak room is the venue for receptions, but they also have a chapel and a room for pre-reception drinks.

– Highberry Farm, Somerset West

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpU1LPhl9E1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2cDGq9JGjx/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp9GnyDHeuv/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4f4vbEH1Tj/

This relatively new venue was completed in 2018. If you’re looking for a venue that hasn’t been seen hundreds of times, then this is the one for you. Views of vineyards, dams, the surrounding mountain range and horse paddocks will be the backdrop of your special day.

The venue sits 120 people, includes a dance floor and comes with facilities including a fully equipped kitchen, a licensed bar, as well as a spacious lawn on which a marquee could be erected or canapés and live music can be held. It also contains a more intimate utility area upstairs that may be used as a chapel.

– Leipzig Country House, Worcester

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4hApehpWus/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnDg5swFpLh/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRlByiil9mV/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmKxaCKF6PX/

At the Leipzig Country House you’ll be sure to have your fairytale dreams come true. For your ceremony’s venue you can choose from the century-old brandy cellar overlooking the vineyards or a tranquil garden with towering oaks. The wedding reception will be held in the wine cellar which seats 130 guests.

“The endless vistas, surrounding vineyards, rolling lawns of the amphitheater and rural charm of the historic buildings provide a stunning canvas to capture lasting memories,” says the Leipzig Country House.

– Marlenique Estate, Simondium area of the Winelands district

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7LBBErJL0q/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5fwnCwJJDe/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1qfzV9pXlg/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0yZg9jpm6Z/

The venue is central to Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. It can hold 350 guests with dancing and 400 without a dance floor. With mountains and orchards as your backdrop, you’re sure to have a dreamy day.

Open air weddings on the lawns beside the fruit orchards or on their private stretch of the Berg River are an option.

– Bakenhof Winelands Venue, Wellington

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7WCLaTJqn1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4y_bhHF-sJ/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaBPMRohMLO/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3EQCxAgYmO/

About an hour away from Cape Town, the venue is situated on a hill of a private grape farm. The incredible views are out of this world and are sure to make you day even more special than it already is.

Bakenhof says, “We focus on a unique, personalised and unhurried experience. Our philosophy is that your day is as important to us as it is to you, with our mission to exceed your expectations – be it day or night, formal or informal, summer or winter, sunshine or rain.”

Image: Instagram /Bakenhof Winelands Venue