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.

Say your I-dos under this fresh, fun balloon wedding arch. Prepare the wire structure and balloons the day before, then just add greenery in the morning.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

6 m chicken wire
Florist’s wire
Wooden rods or fishing line
Florist’s foam
Balloons
Flowers and leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Roll your chicken wire lengthways into a tube and bend in the centre to create an arch. Keep the arch together by tying florist’s wire at intervals along it.

Step 2

If the arch is going outside, use sturdy wooden rods or poles to stand it upright. Insert one end of each rod into the ground at least 20 cm deep. Place the bottom ends of the arch over the rods and secure with florist’s wire. If the arch will be placed indoors, suspend it from the ceiling with fishing line.

Step 3

Insert bits of damp florist’s foam into the arch, ensuring they are hidden.

Step 4

Blow up as many balloons as you like (we used 150) and attach to the arch using florist’s wire.

Step 5

Insert your flowers and leaves into the foam, using florist’s wire to hold them in place.

Step 6

Cover any exposed florist’s foam with balloons or flowers.

Soft and tousled, straight-cut, crinkled or dyed, let these paper craft ideas in their myriad forms be a part of your wedding story. 

1. A message notebook as a striking centrepiece

Paper flowers, Love Paper Sew

2. Add paper flowers to your stationery

Menu, invitation with envelope and RSVP card, table number, name tags, and paper flowers, all Chrystalace Wedding Stationery

3. Paper cones with confetti

4. Sweet treats adorned with paper flowers

Nougat, MaMère Confections; paper flower, Chrystalace Wedding Stationery

5. A paper bouquet

Paper flowers, Love Paper Sew; laser-cut leaves, stylist’s own

6. A paper garland

Paper garland, stylist’s own; paper flowers, Love Paper Sew

7. Cupcakes with windmills

Cupcakes each, Florentines Cakes; paper windmills, stylist’s own

8. Chinese lanterns

Paper Chinese lanterns, The In Thing

9. A paper cake topper

Cake, Florentines Cakes; cake topper, Chrystalace Wedding Stationery

10. Hand-written thank you notes for your guests

Thank-you tag, Chrystalace Wedding Stationery; pencil crayons, The Deckle Edge; lined napkin, stylist’s own

Decor: Rochelle Malherbe
Photography: Gareth van Nelson/hsmimages.co.za

Create a striking focal point with an elegant DIY candle table runner. From there you can soften the candle base with a spray of greenery.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED
4 cm × 4 cm pine strips, cut to the desired length
Drill with 10 mm drill bit
Whitewash
Paintbrush
Dinner candles
Glue gun

METHOD
1. Drill holes 2 cm deep and 7 cm apart along the length of each piece of wood.
2. Whitewash the wood (or leave natural if preferred).
3. Insert the candles and secure with a glue gun.

Simple things such as table runners, crockery and cutlery can cost a fortune once you add them together. With these two DIYs, you can reduce the cost of your table settings without skimping on style.

PAPER PLACEMATS

What you’ll need

• Ruler
• Pencil
• 120g craft paper
• Scissors
• Fine paintbrush
• White acrylic paint

How to do it

1 Using the ruler and pencil, measure and mark the size you want your placemat to be on the craft paper. Ensure there is enough room for an underplate, a large dinner plate and cutlery. Once you’re happy, cut out the placemat.

2 Measure 2 cm from the top and sides of the placemat to create a border where you will write the name of your guest.

3 Draw the border and write out the name of the guest in pencil, then paint over it with the white paint until the pencil is no longer visible. Allow to dry and repeat for as many placemats as required.

PAINTED PLACEMATS

What you’ll need

• Plain fabric placemats
• Paintbrush
• Black fabric paint

How to do it

1 Lay out the fabric placemat completely flat.

2 Dip the paintbrush into the paint then splatter it onto the placemat. Allow to dry and repeat for as many placemats as required.

Find this DIY and more in Issue 1-2017, on sale now. 

Text Robyn Lane
Styling Francoise Jeanne de Villiers
Photography Kendall-Leigh Nash/HMimages.co.za

We may think of it as out of date but there’s a reason the older generation enjoyed a macramé piece or two – they’re decorative without being overwhelming. And, in today’s modern age, they add a touch of nostalgia to a rustic wedding theme. If you like the idea of a macramé touch, try your hand at this chair drape that adds a subtle yet quaint feel to a summertime wedding.

What you’ll need

• Rod or stick
• 15 strands of 2m string
• Scissors

How to do it

1 Suspend your rod in a horizontal position. Take one strand of string and attach it to both ends of the rod to create a hanging base loop. Starting at the far left, take one strand of string and hang it over the suspended string. Pull both ends through the resulting eyelet. Repeat this with the remainder of the strands, leaving a distance of 1.5 cm between each set.

2 Again starting at the left, take the first set of strands in your left hand and the second set in your right. Spread the strands of each set between your fingers with the centre strand of each set touching.

3 Taking the strand at the far right, move it between the two centre strands and bring it forward between the strands of the set on the left.

4 Bring the strand across the front of the centre strands and back between the loop formed by the set of strands on the right. Then pull the strand tightly towards the top.

5 Taking the strand at the far right, move it behind the centre strands and push it through the loop formed by the set of strands on the right. It should form a second loop.

6 Take this loop across the centre strands and push it through the left loop of the set of strands on the far left.

7 Pull tightly and let go.

8 Repeat this process (steps 2–6) with each of the next sets until the first row is complete.

9 For the second row, start at the second and third sets of strands and repeat steps 2–6 until the row is complete.

10 For the third row, start with the two sets of strands at the far left and repeat steps 2–6 until the row is complete.

11 Continue using two sets of adjacent strands to form diamonds until you reach your desired length.

12 Once you’ve reached your desired length, cross two sets of strands at the far left. Take one set over and backwards in-between the two sets. Pull tightly to form a knot.

13 Make multiple knots using the same set of strands until you reach your desired length of knot.

14 Repeat steps 12-13 with the rest of the adjacent sets of strands to create knots. Then use the scissors to cut the ends of the strands to your desired length.

15 Untie the horizontal base from the rod and attach it to the sides of a chair so the macrame falls across the chair back. Repeat for as many chairs as required.

Find this DIY and more in Issue 1-2017, on sale now. 

Text & styling Francoise Jeanne de Villiers
Photography Kendall-Leigh Nash/HMimages.co.za