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    You’ve had the big engagement and decided on a date – now it’s time to get down to the planning but your partner doesn’t seem keen on contributing. Wedding planning can be stressful enough without having a partner who is not interested in helping out, so we’ve put together these five tips to get your partner involved in planning your big day together.

    1. FROM THE GET-GO

    Make sure you are both discussing wedding options from the start. You don’t want to get ahead without your partner and leave them behind, only to want their input later on.

    2. BE OPEN MINDED

    Your partner may have some strange ideas, but try not to brush them off harshly, as you want them to continue making contributions. If you don’t like something, be gentle and explain why.

    3. GET HANDS-ON

    If there are certain areas that you know your partner will be interested in, such as the music, food or transport, then hand over those tasks, making sure you are both on the same page when it comes to what you want.

    4. ASK FOR HELP

    If you’re struggling to juggle all of the invitations, nagging family members and bookings, ask your partner if they can take on some of the tasks, or that you work on them together to ease the pressure.

    5. JUST BE HONEST

    Tell your partner that you want their input, after all, you both decided to have a wedding. Having open communication will help you to express how you feel as well as finding out what your partner wants.

    Image: Unsplash

    A bold suit, bright shirts and graphic accessories combine for wedding attire that’s anything but boring.

    Shirt, Zara; jacket, CSquared; tie, Topman; tie pin, Robert Daniel

    Shirt and trousers, both CSquared; jacket with lapel pin, River Island

    Shirt, Robert Daniel; jacket and trousers, both CSquared; boutonnière, Fabulous Flowers; shoes, stylist’s own

    Leo wears: Shirt, River Island; jacket, H&M; shorts, Zara; bow tie, Robert Daniel; lapel pin, CSquared; shoes, Call it Spring
    Samuel wears: Shirt and shorts, both Zara; jacket, H&Mbow tie, River Island; lapel pin, CSquared; shoes, Tread+Miller

    Leo wears: Shirt, H&M; jacket, CSquared; trousers, Topman; tie, River Island
    Samuel wears: Shirt and trousers, both Topman, vest, CSquaredjacket, River Island; tie, stylist’s own; pocket square, Robert Daniel

    Trousers, Zara; shoes, Tread+Miller

    Fashion: Kim Mitha-Coe
    Photography: Gareth van Nelson

    *Products subject to availability

    Guys, want to look like a million bucks in an off-the-rack suit? Theo Ngobeni, the founder of Mr Slimfit, a styling service that caters to some of SA’s biggest stars, gives his six top tips on how to pick a suit off the rack and ensure it’s tailored to your exact specifications.

    1. The suit jacket should always fit well on your shoulders as it is very difficult for a tailor to alter this part.

    2. There are three kinds of hems you could opt for. The first is the no-break, where your trousers end just under the ankle bone. The second is the half-break, which is usually a half-inch hem. The full-break is an inch hem. If you’ve got a slim-fit suit, opt for the no- or half-break.

    3. Most stylish guys want their jackets to have that flattering ‘V’ shape. A common mistake tailors make in trying to create this is to take in the jacket at the middle seam at the back. Instead, ask your tailor to take in the seams that run above the vents of a double-vent jacket.

    4. The length of your jacket is critical. If it’s too long, the shape of the jacket can be compromised if it’s shortened. If it’s too short, it can look altered if it’s extended. To get this right, stand up with your arms stretched out at your sides and make a fist. Your jacket should end at the base of your fist.

    5. If your jacket is slim-fit, your trousers need to be too. Ask your tailor to taper them using the inside seam.

    6. Make sure the trousers fit well at the waist. If the waist fits comfortably but the trousers are too tight around your thighs, rather choose a waist size up. It’s much easier for a tailor to bring in the waist than to give you more breathing room around your thighs.

    Fashion & styling: Kim Coe
    Photography: 
    Gareth van Nelson/hsmimages.co.za

    Considering that your wedding band should last a lifetime, it’s no easy task finding your perfect fit – especially if you’re a guy, or shopping for your beau’s ring. Here, our best advice to ensure you buy a ring to cherish forever.

    1 It’s all about lifestyle and personality…

    Before you even step into a store, ask yourself:
    • Does your husband-to-be wear jewellery?
    • What type of career does he have – is he a creative or a nine-to-five businessman?
    • Is he flashy or does he prefer to stay under the radar?
    The answers to these questions will help you determine the type of ring you should choose. If your guy frequents an office every day, chances are he already owns a number of other jewellery items so you can easily suss out his style, while if he works with his hands a lot, he might not want something that feels bulky on his hand or that looks overly complicated.

    2 and value

    So we all know that when it comes to a woman’s engagement ring and wedding band, no expense is spared. From the simple band bearing only a diamond to the ornately carved band encrusted with stones, the value can reach crazy heights. But for a men’s band, it’s all about practicality – something that’s durable and easy to wear – such as these three metals:
    • Gold – the lower the karat, the more durable a gold band is. It seems so wrong but it’s actually true.
    • Silver – the most common metal for grooms’ bands, silver looks masculine but isn’t as durable as gold.
    • Titanium – Affordable and durable, titanium offers the best of both worlds and looks great too.

    Afrogem 1

    A special day deserves a special memento and his wedding band should tell a ton about who he is. If you’re still unsure, head to a high-end retailer or jeweller who can show you options depending on your guy’s personality and preferences.

    TRY, main image: 9ct hand-made organic wedding band R12 000 (for white-gold), R11 000 (for rose gold), R11 500 (for yellow gold), all Afrogem; second image: 9ct white- and rose-gold Hand-hammered set with 0.10ct diamond R 27 900, Afrogem

    Text Kim Mitha-Coe
    Photography 
    Afrogem