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In Decor

Top trending wedding decor for 2019

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For 2019, brides all around the globe are setting some new trends when it comes to decor by simply going back to the basics. Instead of lavish and expensive decor, they’re settling for a more chic, elegant and stunning look and feel for their big day.

1. CANDLES

Although candles may seem like a cliché decor element to add to your wedding day, they are definitely trending this year. Candles give off an amazing vibe and setting to any wedding venue. With many styles, scents and looks to choose from, they fit just about any theme and setting. But of all the types out there, taper candles are winning this year.

Even though they may seem a bit old school, taper candles have the power to elevate your wedding setting without any effort, and their elegance speaks for itself. They’ll make your table setting feel expensive and luxurious without you actually having to break the bank.

2. LUXURIOUS FABRICS

Fabulous fabrics and linen are in! Couples have found a way to add a rich sense of both dimension and texture to their wedding decor. They’re throwing out the traditional fabrics and bringing in more luxurious options, such as velvet, cashmere and corduroy to name a few. Use faux versions for table runners, tablecloths, ribbons on invitations to instantly upgrade your look and feel.

3. PASTELS MAKE WAY FOR BRIGHT COLOURS

Out with the muted pastel shades and in with bright vibrant colours. Brides have boldly moved away from light colour schemes to more bold and beautiful shades. Top trending decor colours for 2019 are predicted to be yellow, blue and sea green.

4. ALL ABOUT ACRYLIC

This is one medium that will gain much-deserved popularity this year. Use it to make long-lasting, durable invitations, hire acrylic reception furniture perfect for an outdoor affair and make the most of it for all your signage and stationery.

5. FLORAL CREATIONS ARE GOING GREEN

In 2018 floral hoops and oversized wreaths trended in wedding decor concepts. This year unique and abstract floral decor is set to take over. Colourful floral arrangements are making way for greenery. Brides are opting for simple, chic and elegant arrangements. Brides are taking more care in selecting wedding venues where the beauty of the location speaks for itself and doesn’t have to be supplemented with too many flowers and extra decor elements. But for your bouquets and wedding arches, go for greenery!

6. BALLOONS ARE BACK! 

Confetti and sparklers as the bridal couple leave the ceremony is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Although many look forward to the old-school send-off by showering the couple with confetti, rice or rose petals, brides are finding new and unique ways to make that moment memorable. With plenty of colours to choose from, brides are now opting to use balloons, not only as cost-effective wedding decor, but also as the bridal couple walk down the aisle after the wedding ceremony.

7. STATEMENT LIGHTING

Every bride loves some amazing lighting. From a thousand fairy lights to bolder statements lights, which include neon lights and stunning chandeliers, brides are allocating more of their wedding budget to their lighting options.

Images: Pinterest

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In Decor

Which of these 8 bouquet styles will be yours?

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A key element of any traditional wedding, your bridal bouquet styles should not only be one that you love, but should also effortlessly match your colour palette, your decor style and your dress.

1. Nosegay – A compact cluster of flowers wrapped tight and cut to one uniform length

2. Pompander – A flower-covered ball shape, tied with a ribbon (a great option for flower girls)

3. Posy – One of the more popular options, it’s a small, round bouquet tied with ribbon

4. Hand-tied – A classic choice, it’s simply a dense bunch of flowers loosely tied together

5. Composite – Made up of different petals or buds wired together on a single stem

6. Pageant – Similar to the cascade, but more compact and pulled together

7. Cascade – A waterfall-like spill of blooms, either anchored in a holder or hand-tied

8. Round – The more buttoned-up version of a hand-tied bouquet, tied with ribbon

Illustrations: Robyn-Lee Baatjies
Header image: Unsplash

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In Decor

Wedding decor you can DIY

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Let’s face it, putting together a wedding can get pretty pricey! But not everything has to be a custom creation that breaks the bank. You can easily save on all your planning by incorporating some DIY ideas into your wedding decor. Don’t get us wrong, there are certain aspects of your big day you just simply can’t skimp on, but when it comes to these five, you can get everyone involved in making stunning DIY decor.

1. THE INVITATIONS

Avoid spending on expensive printers and stationery costs for your wedding invites, and make them yourself instead! You can get the family or your bridesmaids to help out and make a fun day of it. Plus, it will give your wedding stationery a personal touch.
Try it: Make your own printed stationery

2. THE SEATING CHART

With so many ideas available online, creating a beautiful and affordable seating chart is a breeze! This is where you can truly let your artistic flair shine through and bring your theme to life.
Try it: Make one of these creative seating charts

3. THE CENTREPIECES

It may seem tempting to dress your tables in extravagant centrepieces with a luxurious feel, but there is just as much elegance in simple and minimal decor styles. Design your own centrepieces for a beautiful and practical setting your guests will love.
Try it: DIY candle table runner

4. THE FAVOURS

Nothing says ‘I appreciate you’ more than a hand-made gift. Treat your guests to thoughtful favours they can take home and cherish from your big day.
Try it: Find 6 affordable favours here

5. THE TABLE SETTINGS

Apart from hired cutlery and crockery, you can personalise each guest’s table setting with DIY decor including greenery, ribbon or placemats to suit your theme.
Try it: Paper and painted placemats

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In Decor

4 important things to think about when choosing wedding flowers

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Romantic, symbolic and a key part of any wedding, take your time when you are choosing wedding flowers and consider these 4 important factors.

1. THE FLORAL FORECAST

The time of year you choose to wed will play a role in your flower selection, but keeping an eye on the trends is equally important. According to Tangerine Moolman from Pink Energy Floral Design in Joburg, brides are taking their cue from nature, opting for more foliage. ‘A big trend on the rise is the use of lush greenery and plants, combined with either neutral colours or bright pops of colour.’

Josie van Aswegen from Fabulous Flowers in Cape Town agrees. ‘Brides are now opting for more ethereal arrangements in soft colours that create a botanical look, which is particularly beautiful for summer weddings,’ she says.

And don’t be afraid to buck tradition. While pastels and brighter colours have always been go-tos, there is a refreshing move towards cooler colours, with shades of blue making an impact – a great choice for seaside celebrations.

2. ARRANGED!

Once you have decided on your flowers for the day, pay attention to the design. Centrepieces are no longer the primary focus, with brides opting for more low-key table arrangements in favour of lavish bouquets.

Speaking of bouquets: Don’t think that yours needs to match the rest of the flowers on the day. In fact, bouquets are very personal and should reflect the spirit of the bride, says Josie. ‘The bride should carry the bouquet that she wants to carry on the day – without having to worry too much about the theme, as this can be worked into the bridesmaids’ bouquets.’

Tangerine agrees that the bride’s bouquet should be special, but cautions against making it too different. ‘While the bridal bouquet needs to stand out, it shouldn’t look like it belongs to another wedding,’ she says. An easy way to differentiate your bouquet from the rest of the flowers is in design, not necessarily colour.

If you want to make a statement with your bouquet, keep the floral arrangements and centrepieces  at the ceremony and reception simpler. For those whose flowers are a big part of the decor, opt for understated, smaller bouquets or single stems.

3. BLOOMS ON A BUDGET

Choosing flowers that are in season is always a cost-saving solution. ‘Flowers that come in a great variety of colours and are available year-round include chrysanthemums, carnations, gerbera daisies, spray roses (usually smaller than a standard rose) and standard roses (not speciality roses),’ says Tangerine.

If you have your heart set on more exotic (and therefore more expensive) blooms, you can still stick to your budget with smart design choices. For instance, opt for bigger flowers such as orchids as opposed to peonies – it will take fewer of them to fill your space.

With greenery being a popular trend, consider incorporating more of it into your centrepieces and even bridal bouquet.

As a pocket-friendly centrepiece idea, Josie suggests using fewer stems in glass bottles interspersed with an abundance of greenery.

4. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

As with most things wedding-related, it’s best to order more flowers so that you don’t come up short on the day. You may find yourself with an abundance of blooms left over, but they needn’t go to waste. ‘A nice idea is to put stickers underneath certain guests’ seats, and anyone with a sticker gets to take home a bunch of flowers,’ suggests Josie.

And bridesmaids’ bouquets are often forgotten about and left at the venue, so Tangerine recommends having a few vases placed near the head table where the bridesmaids can leave their bouquets, and hopefully remember to take them at the end of the evening. Find a way to make sure the flowers will be enjoyed the next day.

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In Advice

Lookbook: A midsummer night’s dream

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As night falls, the forest becomes a scene of drama and mystery, complemented by plush fabrics and rustic details. Scroll through our magical lookbook for all your forest-themed wedding inspiration.

From left: Brass candleholders (to hire), Propeller Props; silver candleholders (to hire), Plush Props; tall candleholders, @home; small jug, flask and medium jug (to hire), all Plush Props; tapas bowl and cutlery, both Check My China; dinner plate, side plate, wine glass, tall glass with short stem and short glass with short stem, all Woolworths; linen, Fabric City; velvet runner, Fabric Centre

Rolled menus, Secret Diary; feathers, Epanouir Flower Studio

Cake from, Kanya Hunt from The Hunt House Kitchen; cake stand (to hire), Check My China; velvet fabric, Fabric Centre; crystal wine glass, Woolworths

Plate and spoon (to hire), both Check My China; blueberries, Pick n Pay; bottle, Merrypak; thank-you tag, Secret Diary; glass, Woolworths

Chairs (to hire), Propeller Props; fairy lights and ping-pong balls, both Game

Menu, Secret Diary; feathers, Epanouir Flower Studio

Decor styling: Francoise Jeanne de Villiers
Food styling: Chiara Turilli
Photography: Gareth van Nelson
Venue: D’Aria, Cape Town

*Products all subject to availability

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In Decor

Look book: A modern art themed wedding

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Inspired by artists from Kandinsky to Mondrian, give your food, tableware and stationery an expressive update. Take inspiration from our modern art themed wedding shoot today. 

Menu and name tag, both Secret Diary; plates stylist’s own; red-wine glass, Sauvignon Blanc glass (set of 2) and Pinot Noir glass (set of 2), all Wine Essentials; white-and-gold cutlery to hire, Check My China; napkin, Mr Price Home

Malva pudding with naartjie jelly, chocolate caramel sauce and a caramelised red cardamom sugar crisp, Cakes by Wade

Save the date, invitation and name tag, all Secret Diary

Table number, Secret Diary

Orange pound cake with chocolate filling, Cakes by Wade

Sign, Secret Diary; favour box, @home

Mobile stylist’s own; chairs to hire, Urban Tonic; candles each, Sobeit Studio; candle-holders, Indigenous; menu and name tags, all Secret Diary; white-and-gold cutlery to hire, Check My China; napkins, Mr Price Home; plates stylist’s own; red-wine glass, Sauvignon Blanc glass (set of 2) and Pinot Noir glass (set of 2), all Wine Essentials

Styling: Francoise Jeanne de Villiers
Photography: Andreas Eiselen
*Products subject to availability

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In Decor

How to fold a linen napkin into a bow tie

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If you don’t already know how, we’re teaching you how to fold a linen napkin this week. With minimal effort and maximum style, these bow ties make for perfect modern table decor.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Square napkins
Napkin rings

STEP 1

Iron out a square napkin.

STEP 2

Fold the napkin in half once from opposite corners. Turn it so the longest side is at the top and the point faces down.

STEP 3

Fold up the bottom point about 2–3 cm.

STEP 4

Fold over the top towards the point twice.

STEP 5

Turn the bottom half up and over the top, then turn the napkin over.

STEP 6

Fold the napkin at the two diagonal folds in the middle then fold in each end. Make sure that the folded section lies parallel to the diagonal fold line.

STEP 7

Pinch the napkin into a rough bow shape with your fingers and slide it into a napkin ring. Neaten, then repeat with the rest of your napkins.

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In Decor

5 tips to pull off the perfect outdoor wedding

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Here in SA, we’re spoilt with beautiful landscapes that make for breathtaking bridal photos. But, with unpredictable weather in many places, it takes solid planning to pull off the perfect outdoor wedding. Use these tips to make sure yours is an affair to remember.

1. SOUND THE BELLS!

Whether you decide on a dreamy beach wedding or to say your vows at the edge of a dramatic cliff, get the audio right. The last thing you want is your voice getting lost in the sound of crashing waves or a gentle breeze, leaving your audience (or even your beau!) trying to make out what you’re saying. If you’re using a videographer, bear in mind the quality of the audio during playback. Get a microphone system hooked up to the closest power source, and if you’re using wireless microphones, make sure the batteries are fully charged. The same goes for the music, entertainment and speeches at the reception.

2. A MONKEY’S WEDDING

As the saying goes, if the sun is shining and it’s raining, a monkey’s about to get married. So take notes and don’t greenlight your Plan B if it pours on the morning of your big day but your outdoor ceremony or reception is only later in the afternoon. While we agree it’s only practical to let your guests know the venue has changed, the rain may stop in time. Instead, use a canopy or arrange umbrellas if you’re expecting a light drizzle. For longer ceremonies or the chance of heavier rainfall, ensure you have spoken to your venue about a contingency plan. Remember: rain is said to bring good luck to a couple on their wedding day, and can make for some memorable candid photos too.

3. LIGHT IT UP

You’ve browsed Pinterest, ogled at different photographers’ sites, and may even be sold on the idea of an outdoor wedding solely because of the beautiful lighting opportunities it lends. Whether you are after a magical enchanted forest look with thousands of fairy lights hanging from trees or a beachy do with strings of Consol jars hung from beams and paper lanterns lodged in the sand, keep it all well lit and as hazard-free as possible. If your ceremony is around twilight, max out on the amazing golden light two hours before sunset. The flattering natural light + your own beautiful additions = mesmerising photo perfection.

4. EVERYONE’S INVITED!

Everyone should feel welcome, including your pregnant cousin or frail uncle, so try to make your wedding as accessible as possible. The key here is structure and practicality, and you don’t have to forfeit aesthetics in favour of this. You may be working with an open space, but use lighting and decor to contain it and make sure everyone has a great time. Think about wheelchair access (smooth walkways), steady ground (mats and rugs on the beach, for example) and close proximity to amenities.

5. SITTING PRETTY

Make sure there’s enough comfortable seating and mingling space for everyone. This is especially important for a more casual affair. Think couches, benches and swing chairs in neutral colours that you can customise with the textures and colours of the wedding.

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In Decor

DIY skyline candle cut-outs

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With a nod to this fashion capital, this project is quick and easy for the busy bride. Give a romantic air to a city wedding with these London skyline candle cut-outs.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Printout of London skyline
Scissors
Cutting board
NT cutter
Craft glue
Tea lights

METHOD

1. Cut out your picture around the top of the buildings to create the shape of the skyline.

2. Place your picture on the cutting board and use the NT cutter to cut out any windows, doors or other details.

3. Glue one end of your skyline to the other to complete the candle shade. Place it around a tea light candle.

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