Bridal Shower Archives | Page 2 of 6

In Advice

5 things to consider when planning your wedding registry

October 8, 2020 No Comments

It is very frustrating to receive three of the same thing from different people as a wedding gift. This is because people think in similar ways and they normally don’t know what to get you and so they resort to common gifting. As the bride, you can avoid this and the admin that comes with it. Here’s how:

Don’t wait until the last minute

Start planning and send out your registry ahead of time, you want your wedding registry to be one of the things you do at the beginning of your wedding planning.

Making and setting up a registry takes more time than you might expect it and deserves your attention because you won’t have time to redo it.

Be realistic and practical

In your wedding registry, you should already be thinking ‘home’ and because of that, your gifts should be practical items that will make the transition of starting a new life easy.

Make a list of things you want in your house but won’t be able to get soon, these should be the gifts your friends and family get you.

Also be mindful of the people buying, you don’t want to make them pay exorbitant amounts but you don’t want cheap gifts, so get a few quotations on each item.

Share your registry

Once you’ve created your wedding registry, make sure you share it with your guests.

This includes coming up with easy ways to access your registry. It could be online where a person can click and get it or share a link with your guests.

Make sure to have a checklist option available for you and the people buying gifts, this makes it easy to see what has been bought and what is left.

Make it a joint project

Put aside some quality couple time to contemplate your future life together and think about what kinds of gifts would make you happy.Your partner must have input on the registry because this is the beginning of your life together, you don’t want anyone feeling left out.

Look for great deals

Before choosing where to register, find out what kinds of perks and discounts you might get.Approach your desired shops for a registry, they usually give discounts for bulk registry purchases.This option helps get expert advice from someone who’s knowledgeable.

Picture: Unsplash

In Advice

A pawsome posy: Puppy bouquets

August 31, 2020 No Comments

Flowers are stunning, but they’re also a bit expected for a wedding day. Why not swop them out for some adorable puppies instead?

Puppy bouquets are a great alternative that offers more than just a few extra cute wedding guests. Couples work with animal shelters and rescues to showcase the sweet pups at their weddings in the hopes that someone in the crowd will adopt them. This way, you help dogs in need find their forever home.

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If you love this idea and would like to include it in your big day, there are a few things to keep in mind. The health and safety of the dogs must be a top priority, so it is important you have structures in place to protect them.

Before bringing the dogs, make sure a welfare check has been conducted. Things to consider are whether they are old enough to be taken away from their mother, whether they have been vaccinated, and whether any of them have any injuries or anxieties that may affect them being outside.

These puppies are not toys, and not meant to be held throughout the ceremony. Instead of carrying them down the aisle, the bridal party can simply swop out their floral bouquets for the pups during the official wedding photoshoot. This limits the time they have to be held down.

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For the photoshoot, make sure to brief your party on the proper way to hold a dog as those without pets may to be familiar how to do it.

It’s also important to be considerate of loud noises. If you plan on having dogs present, a fireworks display is a really bad idea as it can make them very nervous and scared. Loud music, horns or just the general traffic of a busy wedding can all contribute to their anxiety.

Having a safe space where the pups can rest, away from the guests will also be really helpful.

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Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Colourful bridal parties to inject life into your big day

August 19, 2020 No Comments

Spring is fast approaching in South Africa, bringing with it vibrant colours and sunshine. It is a time of rebirth and to celebrate new beginnings.

If you’re planning a spring wedding, why not lean into the theme? Spring is all about colour and life. Give your bridal party that extra shine by opting for fun, lively shades like yellows, pinks, greens and blues to represent the season.

Take inspiration from the West Coast, which is currently blooming as Flower Season reaches its peak. From pastel shades to vibrant hues, any bright colours will match this theme.

You could go on-the-nose with floral print dresses, or simply incorporate the colours. We also love mismatched bridesmaid dresses for this theme, it will make your best girls look like the blooming beauties they are.

Here are some beautiful bridal parties giving us major goals with their outfits:

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Feature image: Unsplash

In Advice

Tips for writing a wedding toast

May 8, 2020 No Comments

Since you’ve been given the honour of speaking at a loved ones wedding, you probably don’t want to dissapoint them. However, as much as a wedding toast is privilage it can also be a daunting challenge.

“There are so many things that could go wrong,” is likely along the lines of what you’re thinking. It seems that wedding toasts commonly take one of two paths. On the one hand they are either extremely memorable and everyone is in tears (of laughter or emotion), or on the other they are disastrous, inappropriate and downright cringe-worthy.

Of course, you’ll be trying your hardest to be the former, rather than the latter. To ensure you’re giving the best toast possible, here are some tips:

– Open with how you know the newly weds

It will give context to your speech for those who are not aware of who you are, and is generally considered to be more a police gesture.

– Address both partners

Just because only one of them have been through thick and thin with you, doesn’t mean you get to completely ignore the other! They are sharing this special day and you have been asked to share it with them. It would be rude to make it about only one of them.

– Be sure to add personal touches

Weddings are very personal occasions. The couple and the audience will love hearing your anecdotes and emotions and they will repond better than if you used a generic speech that could have been taken staight of of the internet.

– Things you shouldn’t include

There are some serious no-go’s when it comes to wedding toasts. These are: crude language, inappropriate or explicit stories, and anything about the exes of those getting married. No matter what. Do not include these in your speech.

– Be aware of time

We all know that nobody really wants to listen to a long, dragged out speech at a wedding. People will get bored. Be sure to stick to a reaonable time frame, maybe 3 to 6 minutes long. Don’t make it too short either though, it will seem as though you were uninterested and didn’t take the job seriously!

– No inside jokes

Most of the audience wouldn’t understand the joke, and the reaction will not be what you want it to be… I can assure you. Don’t add it, it’s not worth it.

Image: Unsplash

In Bridal Shower

Gracious grooms and their famous groomsmen

April 29, 2020 No Comments

A gracious groom knows that the attention is not only on him. He has to share it with his glowing bride, of course! However, would the groom be happy to share more of the spotlight with his famous groomsman?

Yes, apparently. At least in the instances we’ve seen, grooms are quite happy to share their special day with their famous friends! If you’re struggling to believe it, then we’re here to ensure you’re convinced.

Here are some of our favourite famous groomsmen:

David and Brooklyn Beckham

The father-son pair are perfect for the role of groomsmen. Their fun and positive personalities surely brought a lightness to Victorica’s brother Christian Adams and his partner Emma Strafford’s wedding in 2017.

Joe and Kevin Jonas

While all three brothers are famous (for the same thing), Nick ensured his brothers Joe and Kevin (and Frankie) were by his side on his big day when he married actress Priyanka Chopra. Their nuptials included a Christian ceremony and a Hindu ceremony.

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Prince Harry and Prince William

Each brother played the role of groomsman when the other got married. The Duke of Cambridge provided the utmost support for Prince Harry on his royal wedding day in 2018. Harry took on the same role 7 years earlier, when Prince William wed Kate Middleton.

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Ed Westwick

Best known for his role as Chuck Bass, from the popular teen drama Gossip Girl, Ed Westwick looked dapper as he stood as a groomsman at his friends wedding in 2016.

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Joe Manganiello

Magic Mike actor Joe Manganiello was the groomsman at a wedding in Malibu in June 2017.

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Derek Hough

Professional dancer popular for Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) was the best man for his friend, Mark Ballas who also appears on DWTS. He joined a fairly large group of groomsman at the 2016 wedding.

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Nsync

When Nysnc member Chris Kirkpatrick said his “I do’s” in 2013, his band members (Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, and JC Chasez) stood by his side, despite the fact that the boyband was no longer going. The group looked happy as ever being by the grooms side.

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Image: Instagram / Nick Jonas

In Bridal Shower

Celebs on the side: Famous bridesmaids

April 24, 2020 No Comments

You’d assume that a bride and groom would want to be the centre of attention on their wedding day. It would be difficult for this to be the case if you have a celebrity in your bridal party, right?

Maybe not. Throughout the years, quite a few celebrities have been bridesmaids for the special people in their lives (both famous and not). They seem to always understand that the day should not revolve around them!

Whether you’re shocked by this or not, you’re probably curious to see some celebs who have been happy on the sidelines. Here are some of our favourites:

– Beyonce

BEYONCE?! Yes, the extremely popular singer, Beyonce Gisslle Knowles-Carter, stood up next to her little sister, Solange, on her special day. Of course, Beyonce would never steal the show at her own sister’s wedding, because as we all know… Solange can fight!

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– Rihanna

RiRi is something else! The ‘Love on the Brain’ singer’s assistant, Jennifer Morales got married in Honolulu in 2015. Naturally, Rihanna was a bridesmaid in the wedding.

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– Sofia Vergara

Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara wore a yellow bridesmaid dress for her friend Chi’s wedding, in 2015. She was escorted to the wedding by her fiancée Joe Manganiello.

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– Rachel Bilson

Not the first time Bilson has been a bridesmaid, the actress played the role again for her Hart of Dixie costumer Gelareh Khalioun.

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– Taylor Swift

For her childhood friend, she would do anything. The award-winning singer stood beside her friend Britany Maack as she said her vows. Swift was the maid of honour at this wedding, performing all duties from train carrying to posing for photos.

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– Margot Robbie

Robbie was a bridesmaid at her friend Juilia Koenig’s wedding in Kauai, Hawaii. At the time she was a newly-wed herself.

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– Victoria Beckham

Victorial Beckham does it all! No we’re not talking about in her personal life. For her friend actress Eva Longoria’s wedding, she was not only the bridesmaid, but also designed the wedding gown and assisted the bride with her shoes.

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– Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The twins were bridesmaids in New Zealand in their friends wedding. The all-black attire devotees seem to have gotten their way for their outfits too!

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– Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts was a bridesmaid in the wedding of her friends Kara Elkin, a designer, and Nick Walker, a photographer.

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– Kelly Rowland and Lala Anthony

Ciara’s wedding was star studded, not only in its guestlist, but in the bridal party too. The two most famous bridesmaids are songstress and Destiny’s Child legend, Kelly Rowland, and actress Lala Anthony. The bridesmaids also included a well-known choreographer, and a celebrity make-up artist.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTHVqPTD_B5/

Image: Instagram / Ciara

In Advice

How to have a fun online bachelorette party

March 30, 2020 No Comments

We know, we know. It’s not exactly what you had in mind. But hey, sometimes doing things a little different can be tons of fun! So, if you were planning to host your own or someone else’s bachelorette party soon and you don’t feel like postponing, don’t worry. You can easily move it online. Here’s how:

Choose your platform

If you’re tech-savvy, you will be spoiled for choice. There are loads of different group communication platforms, including Skype, WhatsApp video call, Zoom, Google Hangouts and more. Choose the one you and your mates are most comfortable with and go for it.

Invite everyone and make sure they can access it

Of course, you and everyone attending will need reliable and strong internet access. It might be smart to do a test run a few days before to make sure everyone can access it and that it will work well. If not, you might consider trying a different platform. Then, the fun part starts. Make some awesome e-vites and get everyone to pin down the date (they’ve got no excuse not to be there!).

Go all out with the dress code

The most important part of the event is (arguably) the theme. If you have a theme or a dress-code, don’t leave it behind! You will still be able to see each other, and you will feel all the vibes if you dress the part.

Have plenty of games on hand

No bachelorette is complete without a bunch of games. Granted, this might not be the wild night out you planned, but it doesn’t have to be any less fun. Games like Heads Up, charades and Never have I ever will have you crying with laughter!

Don’t forget the drinks

This is can be combined with the games for best results. You can even all make cocktails together during the party (assuming you have all the ingredients already, since no alcohol will be for sale during lockdown). If not, get that steaming cup of coffee or heavenly tea ready!

Image: Pixabay

In Bridal Shower

Dramatic wedding entrances you won’t believe

March 27, 2020 No Comments

Simply walking down the aisle on your wedding day is so expected. Some brides and grooms feel the need to really set themselves apart on their big day, and opt for grand entrances.

From a skydiving groom to a flying bride, here are a few OTT moments you need to see.

A bride and her balloons

Ballerina beauties

Let the sky fall

Light ’em up

The greatest show

Feature image: Screenshot

In Advice

What to wear to your bridal shower

March 25, 2020 No Comments

As part of your wedding festivities, the bridal shower offers a perfect moment for you to celebrate your upcoming nuptials with your nearest and dearest.

As the bride, you definitely want to look the part. Remember, this is your day! To tease your walk down the aisle, it seems fitting to wear white to your bridal shower. Naturally, this outfit would be more daytime appropriate than a wedding dress.

Here are some fashionable ideas for you to put your best foot forward:

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Bride hosts drive-through wedding shower

March 25, 2020 No Comments

As the coronavirus pandemic continues throughout the world, couples are forced to be creative in maintaining some sense of normalcy.

Ellie Morgan in Chattanooga realised she’d have to think out of the box if she wanted her wedding festivities to go ahead safely. Her May wedding had already been postponed to limit large social gatherings.

“You have this picture of the perfect wedding and all that stuff and then it all comes crashing down,” Morgan told Channel 3.

Her wedding shower was ready to go, but could not continue the way it was planned. Instead, her bridal party threw her a drive-through shower. Guests drove up to the driveway and, while maintaining a safe distance, presented Morgan with gifts.

“They would just drive up and hand us our gift out of their window,” laughed Morgan. “We would open the gift in front of them, take a quick picture beside their car, hand them a cookie and a squirt of sanitizer and send them on their way!”

Despite all the amazing gifts she received, Morgan says the best one was seeing her loved ones again.

“We were just excited to see each other because we have been at home for the last week,” Morgan told Channel 3.

Feature image: Unsplash