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    As everyone knows, detail counts when it comes to your wedding look. The dress and hair might be the main focus but trust us, it is possible to ruin a whole look with something as simple as jewellery. So, since we’ve come full circle and and are now back to the roaring 20s, we take some inspiration from a bygone era for dramatic yet feminine earrings that will complete the look to perfection.

    Think bold, heavy, and dark, but always sophisticated and sleek. Stay away from cheap or imitation earrings as this could give a “fake” look you don’t want. Here, take the time to carefully consider the earrings that will match your style and give you rocker flair without overpowering the rest of your outfit.







    Image: Pexels 

    Ever loved something so much you made it your wedding theme? This couple did. Their love of the musical The Greatest Showman was so great, they just knew they had to incorporate it into their big day.

    Julia and Kurtis Moellmann from Orlando, Florida are both huge fans of the circus. So much so that the pair, both of whom work at Ripley Entertainment Inc. knew it had to be a part of their wedding

    “Kurtis and I grew up loving the circus,” Julia told Business Insider. “I used to take my mother — who had recently passed away suddenly due to brain cancer — to the circus every Mother’s Day.”

    “It describes our lives, our current jobs, and what we both love,” she explains their love of the circus. “When we’re not at work, we’re at a local circus or searching for oddities that might be found in a circus sideshow.”

    A year before their wedding, the couple watched The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya. They fell in love with the musical, rewatching it over and over again. The film’s aesthetic matched perfectly with their personalities, so they decided to recreate it for their big day.

    Their barn-like wedding venue was transformed into a circus tent with draping red and white fabrics hung from the ceiling.

    Credit: Instagram / _love2laugh_
    Credit: Instagram / _love2laugh_
    Credit: Instagram / _love2laugh_

    Both Julia and Kurtis wore circus-inspired outfits, with Kurtis dressing like a ringleader.

    Credit: Instagram / Nick and Lauren Photography

    To go with the theme, carnival snacks like popcorn and snow cones were on offer, as well as food stands featuring burgers, pizza, chicken, fries, and funnel cake.

    “We had freak-show posters, circus photo ops, and everyone was given a clown nose at their place setting,” Julia adds. The pair even had a miniature horse to pose with them for photos.

    Their guests loved this unique take on a wedding.

    Credit: Instagram / Nick and Lauren Photography

    “Kurtis and I aren’t your average white dress, church wedding people, so it was a nice break for everyone overall,” Julia explains. “You can only eat so many badly cooked steaks and watch couples frolic down a church aisle so many times without falling asleep,” she said of traditional weddings.

    Check out more of their work on their website.

    Feature image: Unsplash

    Accessories finish off your look, so why not go bold with a bridal hat? Bridal hats are definitely having a moment. From the runway to the royal family, we’ve seen this trend be rocked to perfection.

    These hats are typically worn pre- or post reception, the best time to truly experiment and have fun with your look. Bridal hats are perfect for summer weddings to shield your face from the sun and hopefully protect your makeup from melting.

    Beyond this, bridal hats can be effortlessly chic and classy. Regardless of your wedding theme, theres a style for you. A simple and clean wide-brimmed hat will give you old-school glamour, while a straw-hat adorned with flowers will scream boho luxe.

    Take some inspiration from these fashion-forward brides:

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    Feature image: Unsplash

    Celebrities are known to lead a lavish life of excess, and it’s no surprise they would splash out big bucks on their big day. For many, the focal point of a wedding is the wedding dress, which can cost quite a bit of money.

    Of course, money is no issue for celebrities, with many spending millions on their dream dress. These are the most expensive celebrity wedding dresses of all time.

    Grace Kelly – $65,000 (over R960 00)

    Grace Kelly exemplifies class, and her wedding dress was no different. The iconic film star turned royal stunned in a long-sleeve, high-necked victorian-style gown with lace detailing for her 1956 wedding to Monaco’s Prince Rainier III. The dress, which featured hand-sewn pearls and 125-year-old lace from Brussels, reportedly retails for over R960 00.

    Jessica Biel – $100,000 (R1 477 290)

    Jessica Biel opted against tradition by wearing a blush-coloured gown for her 2012 wedding to Justin Timberlake. The Giambattista Valli Haute Couture number featured delicate ruffles and is estimated to be worth R1 477 290.

    Victoria Beckham – $100,000 (R1 477 290)

    Posh Spice never disappoints when it comes to fashion. For her 1999 wedding to David Beckham, she wore a champagne-coloured Vera Wang number complete with a 6-metre train, estimated to be worth R1 477 290. She still owns the dress and plans to pass it down to her daughter Harper.

    Princess Diana – $115,000 (R1 698 883)

    Princess Diana’s wedding dress has gone down in history as the most iconic gown to ever exist. The Alexander McQueen ivory taffeta gown was adorned with sequins, frilled lace and 10 000 pearls. It’s thus no surprise that it would fetch a pretty penny, with an estimated cost of R1 698 883.

    Elizabeth Taylor – $187,931 (R2 776 285)

    This iconic actress has said ‘I do’ a record 8 times, but her most famous one was her very first back in 1950. At the tender age of 18, the starlet married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton (great-uncle to Paris and Nicky and heir to the Hilton hotel empire) in a gorgeous princess-cut satin gown featuring pearl embroidery. In 2013, the dress went up for auction and sold for R2 776 285.

    Mariah Carey – $250,000 (R3 693 225)

    It was a stunningly expensive dress never-to-be-worn. Mariah Carey was set to marry  billionaire businessman James Packer back in 2018 but their engagement was unfortunately called off. Fans did, however, catch a glimpse of her custom Valentino wedding dress in her music video for her song, ‘I Don’t’. The dress was worth a reported R3 693 225.

    Amal Clooney – $380,000 (R5 613 702)

    The beautiful human-rights lawyer tied the knot with George Clooney in a stunning Italian ceremony.  She chose Oscar de la Renta to design her perfect dress, which would be the last one this iconic designer would create before his passing in 2014. The off-the-shoulder wedding dress was appliquéd with fourteen yards of Chantilly lace and was hand-embroidered with  pearls and diamante stones, and reportedly retails for R5 613 702.

    Kate Middleton – $434,000 (R6 411 438)

    Another royal to inspire countless copycat wedding dresses, Kate Middleton’s gown is still much loved today. Created by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the Victorian-inspired dress featured lace appliqué , hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace, 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops and a two-metre long train. All of this was achieved for the price of R6 411 438.

    Kim Kardashian – $500,000 (R7 386 450)

    Would it be a list about excess if it didn’t include Kim Kardashian? The reality star turned businesswoman wowed the crowd in a custom Ricardo Tisci for Givenchy Haute Couture design for her 2014 wedding to Kanye West. The long-sleeved dress featured sheer paneling and cutouts, and is said to be worth R7 386 450.

    Victoria Swarovski – $1 million (R14 772 900)

     

    She may not be a household name but her surname is. Heiress to the Swarovski fortune, Victoria Swarovski, shook the world when she wed Munich-based entrepreneur Werner Mürz in an over-the-top, three-day extravaganza back in 2017. Of course, the dress was adorned with, you guessed it, Swarovski crystals. 50o 000, to be exact. The custom-made gown was designed by Michael Cinco, weighed about 45 kg and is worth more than R14 772 900.

    Feature image: Instagram

     

    If you’re planning a glamorous affair, you’ll want your bridesmaids to look the part. Complete the look with bridesmaid dresses full of wow-factor.

    Regardless of your colour scheme, some well placed sequins and fancy fabrics will provide the ultimate sophistication. Your best girls will be feeling fancy with full-length gowns made of luxurious fabric like silk, satin and velvet. Or go full-glitz with sequins, embellishment or tulle.

    Here are some ideas to inspire you:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6JHicqHYRg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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    Feature image: Unsplash

    This is one wedding theme that’s sure to charm you. Carissa Rumps of Wild Rumpus Photography worked with a host of talented photographers and vendors to create a styled wedding photoshoot bringing the magical world of Harry Potter to life. From a real-life Hedwig to a Butterbeer cocktail, we solemnly swear that you will love it.

    The whimsical shoot is an ode to a childhood favourite much loved by many. Potter-heads will recognise various references like a look-alike Hogwarts Express train, a sorting hat-esque cake, a live owl and of course, a Griffindor inspired colour scheme of reds and golds. Take a look at these stunning shots.


       

    Images from vendors: Wild Rumpus Collective, Crystal Vision Events, Liza Spurlock Photography, Write This Way Calligraphy.

    Feature image: Instagram / Crystal Vision events

    Over the years, many brides have forgone the traditional white wedding gown for alternatives. Popular trends have seen black and even multi-coloured dresses. One non-white dress colour we still adore is off-white in all its lovely variations. Cream, beige, ivory and champagne are all excellent substitutes if you’re not in the mood for crisp white. Here are some dazzling off-white dresses to inspire you.

     





     

    Image: Pixabay

    Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week is in full swing, showcasing the best and brightest of Parisian designs. Mainstream fashion trends are born from the runway, so where better to look for some inspiration? From Givenchy to Elie Saab, stunning bridal looks ended the fashion shows in style.

    All of these bridal looks, while unique, seem to follow a pattern of big and bold. Designers are offering up full skirts and textured detail.

    Here are some of the standout gowns from the runway.

    Givenchy
    Elie Saab
    Georges Chakra
    Nicholas Jebran
    Tony Ward
    Chanel
    Georges Hobeika
    Ralph and Russo
    Dior
    Antonio Grimaldi

    Feature image: Instagram / Fashion to Max

    Elegant and regal, the kimono has been a long-standing tradition in Japanese culture. One of the most recognisable pieces of Japanese clothing, the kimono is traditionally worn for special occasions. And what’s more special than a wedding? The kimono has been given a modern twist as brides opt for avante garde gowns that blend tradition with contemporary edge.

    Watabe Wedding, a Kyoto-based brand, has been at the forefront of this trend. Their collection, Shoen, features five strapless dresses made out of authentic, antique furisode kimonos. Each dress has its own name:  The Tsurumomiji (“crane maple”), The Fujiageha (“wisteria and swallowtail butterfly”), The Ranbu (“orchid dance”), The Kanazuru (“gold crane”), and The Botangiku (“peony and chrysanthemum”).

    From left to right: The Tsurumomiji,  The Fujiageha, The Ranbu, The Kanazuru, The Botangiku. Credit: Facebook

    The line is open for the public to rent on their website, and prices range from 50,000 yen (R6 519) to 150,000 yen (R19 559).

    Feature image: Facebook / Watabe Wedding

    Dubai based designer, Michael Cinco, took to Instagram on Monday to show off his latest creation. The dress, which is embedded with crystals from top to bottom and has a three-metre long train, is the picture of extravagance.

    “The bride specifically asked me to create her dream wedding a 50’s inspired Dior gown… So I made her dream wedding gown with a couture M5 touch on it,” Cinco said,

    The train is designed with intricate petal layers and holds about 200 000 Swarovski crystals. The Filipino designer said the out-of-this-world dress “takes a village to transport”. The dress is said to be for a bride in Abu Dhabi.

    Cinco has dressed several celebrities including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, and more. Just a quick scroll through his Instagram shows that he isn’t afraid to be bold and make risky fashion choices. His designs are truly something to behold. He definitely was the correct designer to approach for the task of a three-metre long train!

    Have a look at the Swarovski covered wedding dress here:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7gcPSslxYp/

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7dK6EnlVGL/

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    Image: Instagram / khaleejiweddings