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    Cody Williams, the youngest child of the late and great Robin Williams, honoured his father by getting married on Robin’s birthday, July 21. The beloved comedian and actor would have been 68. Cody married his long-time sweetheart Maria Flores at his childhood home.

    Yellow roses were held before a lit candle in remembrance of Robin and other late loved ones.

    Cody’s sister Zelda shared the news over Instagram in a post in which she explained why July 21 is such a meaningful date for her. She stated that this date was also the last time she saw her dad before his passing. It became a tough day to remember but with the nuptials of her younger brother, it has brought a new, joyous meaning.

     

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    The 21st of July has meant many things to me over the years. It’s the birthday of one of my favorite souls still on this earth, @junotemple. It’s the day Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon (as a space nerd, that’s pretty damn important). And it was the day my Dad was born, and the last day I got to see him. That last one had begun to usurp the joy of the first two in recent years… that is, until two days ago, when it became something new. On the 21st of July, 2019, it became the day I officially gained a new sister! To @mariaaafloresssswilliams and Cody, you are a light in all of our lives. I’m so grateful to have paid witness to your love over the years, to have watched you grow and care for each other in ways we should all be so lucky to experience. You were already part of the family in my eyes, but now there’s an official slip of paper somewhere that agrees! Zak, Mom and I love you both dearly, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM!!! ?????? ♥️ Photos by @cassievalentephoto

    A post shared by Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) on


    Robin Williams took his own life on August 11, 2014. The actor was known for his roles in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Aladdin (1992), and Mrs Doubtfire (1993).

    He is survived by his children Zachary Pym Williams, Zelda Rae Williams and Cody Alan Williams. Zachary and his fiancé Olivia June recently welcomed a baby boy and named him Mclaurin Clement Williams. Mclaurin was Robin’s second name.

    Picture: Instagram/Zelda Williams

    Amit Shah and Aditya Madiraju recently wed on July 19, in a traditional wedding ceremony at a Hindu temple. The two grooms shared their magnificent wedding pictures on social media and these quickly went viral, with people amazed at the fact that the two grooms had gotten married in a traditional temple.

     

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    Love is meant to be celebrated. Outfits | @anitadongre #l Photography | @charmipena

    A post shared by Amit Shah – Creative Director (@amit_aatma) on


    Both grooms, originally from India and now living in New Jersey, come from conservative and traditional backgrounds, and so wanted a religious ceremony where they could say their Hindu prayers. The lovebirds had actually been legally married earlier in the month at a city hall.


    On September 6, 2018 homosexuality was decriminalised by the Supreme Court of India when it declared Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code unconstitutional. This change being so recent, many LGBTQ people still live in fear of their families disowning them as it is often viewed by many as ‘shameful’.

     

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    We are all born to love – just live your truth. Outfits | @anitadongre Photograph | @charmipena

    A post shared by Amit Shah – Creative Director (@amit_aatma) on


    After Amit and Aditya posted their magical moments over social media comments flooded in, many saying that couple brought hope to them. The pair are extremely happy that their love has evoked such happiness and spread hope to others.

    Picture: Instagram/Amit Shah

    Louis Ducruet, grandson of legendary Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, wed Marie Chevallier in an elaborate ceremony this weekend. The happy couple had a two-day wedding celebration that starting on July 26 in Monaco. The first day involved a civil ceremony and the matrimonial occasion was conducted by Mayor of Monaco, Georges Marsan. The couple celebrated in the gardens at the Prince’s Palace.


    The lovebirds paid tribute to his royal grandparents by having their religious ceremony at the same cathedral in which they were married. They had their second nuptials at The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate. Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and Grace Kelly wed there 60 years prior. They also visited the graves of his famous ancestors and placed flowers.


    Louis and Marie met at university and were engaged on February 12, 2018. Marie had three special outfits for her wedding weekend. She opted for an ivory jumpsuit designed by Rosa Clará for the civil ceremony. The jumpsuit comprised of a silk crepe culotte and the waist was embroidered with lace.

     

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    Breathtaking Royal Wedding! First of all we would like to congratulate Marie Chevallier and Louis Ducruet, a charming and beautiful couple, we wish you all the best! Our designer Rosa Clará designed Marie Chevallier’s wedding dress for her civil ceremony with Louis Ducruet, in Monaco. She chose a sophisticated, weightless silk crepe culotte jumpsuit with embroidered lace at the waist. The sleeveless design features a discrete V-neckline and an exquisite open back, to marry her love, Louis Ducruet! We can’t feel any prouder of taking part in this memorable day, thank you so much for trusting in us and for believing in our values. You looked outstanding! __ ¡Espectacular boda real! Nos gustaría felicitar a Marie Chevallier y Louis Ducruet, una pareja preciosa y encantadora, por su matrimonio. ¡Os deseamos todo lo mejor! Nuestra diseñadora, Rosa Clará ha diseñado el vestido de Marie Chevallier para su boda civil con Louis Ducruet, en Mónaco. Escogió un sofisticado y ligero vestido pantalón elaborado en crepe de seda y bordado con encaje en la zona de la cintura. El diseño, sin mangas, presenta un sutil escote en forma de V y una delicada espalda abierta. No podemos sentirnos más orgullosos de formar parte de un día tan memorable y de una boda tan emocionante. Muchas gracias por confiar en nosotros y en nuestros valores, ¡ha sido un placer! __ Special thank you to Bruno Bebert for this beautiful picture! __ #RosaClara #RosaClaraCouture #RoyalWedding #Monaco #BridalFashion

    A post shared by Rosa Clará (@rosa_clara) on


    Her religious ceremony outfit was designed by Atelier Boisanger. She wore a silk zagar wedding dress embroidered with delicate chantilly lace. The dress took a total of 300 hours of embroidering to be completed.


    After the religious ceremony, the bride changed into her third outfit. She opted for another Rosa Clará design. This time a lace dress with a deep neckline and a short hemline under an embroidered overskirt. The outfit was a short but sophisticated.

     

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    It’s celebration time! Impressive Marie Chevallier wore one of our unique designs as her second wedding dress for her church ceremony. She selected an amazing lace dress with a beautiful deep neckline, subtle beaded appliqués and a bold short hemline under a spectacular extra-soft tulle and embroidered overskirt – the perfect blend of striking statement, elegance and sophistication! A marvelous wedding full of love, charm and happiness. We have enjoyed so much the design of both dresses, it’s been a pleasure. Congratulations once again! __ ¡Hora de celebrar! Rosa Clará ha diseñado el segundo vestido de la boda religiosa de Marie Chevallier. Hablamos de un vestido “two looks in one”; es un atrevido diseño corto y de pronunciado escote confeccionado con encaje y sutiles apliques de pedrería con una espectacular sobrefalda de tul extra suave y encaje bordado. ¡La combinación perfecta para arriesgar de forma elegante y sofisticada! Hemos disfrutado muchísimo de la creación de ambos vestidos para la preciosa boda real de Marie Chevallier y Louis Ducruet. ¡Enhorabuena nuevamente! __ Thank you Bruno Bebert for this special picture! #RosaClara #RoyalWedding #BridalFashion #Monaco

    A post shared by Rosa Clará (@rosa_clara) on

    Picture: Instagram/ Louis Ducruet

    The Wedding Expo is making its way to Durban on August 3 and 4. The event will be held at Sibaya Sun Park in Durban North. The Expo has been providing advice and great ideas to engaged couples since 2002. Old Mutual has added their voice as a sponsor and will be providing financial advice to help couples achieve their lifetime goals.

    The event will showcase various ideas and inspirations for bridal couples. The best part is the amazing competitions and giveaways. A couple stand the chance of winning a wedding that includes a venue, honeymoon and photography. The wedding expo also provides opportunities to meet with various suppliers. Vendors include catering companies, dress designers, photographers and more. There will also be discounted rates so you and your partner can score a few great deals.

    The Wedding Expo will also have a cake tasting station where you can try various cake flavours. The highlight is always the fashion show displaying designer dresses and advice from the designers themselves.

    Pop in for a mini-makeover and take valuable notes for your big day. After all the wedding rush you may need a minute relax and grab a bite to eat, the expo offers plenty of food choices.

    Tickets are available on www.wedding-expo.co.za or on sale at door.

    Dates: August 3 and 4
    Venue: Sibaya Sun Park
    Tickets: R100 per adult and R 30 per child (2 -12 years)
    Time: 9am-5pm

    Picture: The Wedding Expo

    Amanda Knox, who was acquitted of  killing her roommate Meredith Kercher in 2007, is getting married. Knox and her fiancé Christopher Robinson are planning a space themed wedding and have even created a website to ask family and friends for funding in the hope of raising $10,000 (R140,000). On the website, people are requested to donate money to various sections including venue, decor, photography, etc.

    The couple received backlash for their crowdfunding exercise. People on social media questioned the need and real reason for it. Accusations allude to it being another publicity stunt. The couple have denied claims of wanting to crowdfund their wedding. In a tweet, Knox called out those hating on them saying the wedding will be barebones if it needs to be.


    They said the reason for donation is because they ‘don’t need anymore stuff’. Unlike a normal gift registry, where the couple request kitchen appliances, homeware items, their gift registry consists of wedding sections like venue, decor, special effects, live band, photography, dinner and open bar. Under each section is a ‘donate’ option. When clicking donate, it links to a PayPal page where you can pay. There is no option for your own desired amount, there are set prices for each section ranging from $25 (R350) to $2000 (R28,000).

     

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    Last car on the ferry face!

    A post shared by Amanda Knox (@amamaknox) on

    Knox was accused of murdering her flatmate Meredith Kercher when they were both exchange students and roommates living in Perugia, Italy. They shared a flat with Filomena Romanelli and Laura Mezzetti. On November 2, 2007 Meredith’s lifeless body was found on her bedroom floor covered with a duvet.

    Knox and her boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito, were tried and found guilty of murder. They were convicted and sentenced to prison in Italy. The couple spent almost four years in jail before her sentence was overturned by an appeals court in October 2011 – after it was found that there was not enough evidence against them.

    Age ain’t nothing but a number. An American bride proved this theory true when she asked her 83-year-old grandmother to be the flower girl at her wedding. Grandma delightfully accepted and immediately started her research to be the best flower girl possible.


    The bride is a registered nurse in an intensive care unit and when she heard one of her patients was a flower girl in her granddaughter’s wedding she decided to ask her grandmother.

    Growing up close to her gran, she always admired her grandparents relationship. She stated that their marriage is filled with happiness, trust and love. The elderly couple have been married for 63 years. The love birds enjoyed dancing together, sadly they can’t anymore but the grandfather still watches his girl from the sidelines.

     

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    Hooray for the holiday weekend!

    A post shared by Nicole Wagner (@custombynicole) on


    After her grandfather got sick, his wife stuck by his side. The bride believes it was her grandmother’s positive attitude that uplifts him constantly.

    After the picture of her grandmother went viral, she was reminded that people don’t need to stick to traditional rules. The wedding photographer shared the image to encourage others to reach out to those who matter to them.


    As the gorgeous granny walked down the aisle, family and friends cheered her on. As more petals were thrown, the cheers got louder.

    It’s safe to say that the 83-year-old grandmother stole the show!

    Picture: Pexels

    Whether you want animals as a backdrop for your wedding photos or using them for your grand entrance, live creatures aren’t for your wedding decoration. It may seem ‘stunning’ or produce that extra ‘wow’ factor, but at the end of the day, it’s cruel and not fair on the animals.

    Recently, a bride thought it would be a great idea to use goldfish in her centerpieces. She thought it would be a lovely idea to have a pair of goldfish in a bowl on each table, which symbolised her nuptials. The bride expected guests to take the goldfish home, as a ‘sort of’ wedding favour.

    Sounds foolproof right? Wrong.

    The maid of honour tried her best to discourage the bride from this idea, but sadly, she would not budge.  As hard as it may seem, not everyone wants to go home with an unexpected new pet. As the wedding reception commenced, she was left with having to keep an eye on the fish centerpieces. A few goldfish checked out a little early, but the newly married couple had ‘spares in the back’.

    By the end of the night, as the maid of honour predicted, guests left without their special ‘wedding favours’. The maid of honour was saddled with 100 goldfish. She rushed to the pet shop to get a bigger tank but many had died by the time she got home.

    In the end, only one out of the 100 goldfish survived. The fish named Sun lived for five years, a duration longer than her friendship with the bride and even longer than the marriage.

    The use of animals as wedding props doesn’t end there. Elephants have been used in wedding ceremonies for decades. These majestic creatures are kept captive, and live in fear of being forced into submission by abuse. The elephants are used to make an entrance or exit by the couple, for the wedding photoshoot and sometimes just as decoration.

    Taking them out of their natural habitat and subjecting them to the needs and desires of your wedding day is not okay.

    Picture: Pixabay

    Live painting at wedding receptions is a growing trend for both the couple and guests. It is a fun and creative way to keep guests entertained, as well as create a truly lasting memory for the couple to treasure.

     

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    “You have peace,” the old woman said, “when you make it with yourself. ~Mitch Albom

    A post shared by Mary Paints Weddings (@marypaintsweddings) on

    Mary Paints Weddings (@marypaintsweddings) specialises in live wedding painting in South Africa which leaves the bridal couple with a tangible forever memory – a painting. Mary also creates painted jackets for the couple which can be kept and reused long after the wedding and honeymoon has ended.

    Another fun way to incorporate art into your wedding reception is to hire a caricature artist, inviting guests to take something home as well. Martinus Van Tee (@martinus_caricatures)  is a caricature artist based in the Western Cape who offers these services for both wedding and corporate events.

    A picture is worth a thousand words but what about a painting? This fun addition to your big day will have your reliving one of the happiest moments of your life, hanging right there in your home.

    Picture: Supplied

    People have been tying the knot for centuries. And, over the years, ceremonies and the attire worn to them have undergone a lot of changes – but some still remain as ‘tradition’. Why though? We’ve gone back in time to find out exactly why wearing white is so significant, amongst other clothing practices we take for granted.

    1 Say ‘yes’ to the dress

    In the Middle Ages, weddings were more a matter of politics than love; unions occurred between families, businesses and even countries. As a result, brides dressed in a manner that cast their families in the most favourable light. Rich colours and exclusive fabrics that represented their social status were important hence the dramatic and often excessive use of material in bridal garments of that time.

    2 White wedding

    Most people know that wearing white symbolises the bride’s virtue but that’s not the only reason. Wearing this hue was also a representation of wealth, sometimes more than purity, as not all families could afford white clothing. The white dress was also popularised by Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert in 1840 when she ditched the traditional silver gown for one in white satin. The impact of this can still be felt today as, even now, white is the most popular choice for brides.

    3 Behind the veil

    Not only is a veil a stunning addition to your dress but it also represents a layer of protection. In previous centuries where the belief in witchcraft was rife, veils were worn to guard the bride against demons and other spirits. The veil covered the bride’s entire face with the idea that if unholy spirits couldn’t see her, they couldn’t curse her.

    4 With the band

    The custom of the groom removing the garter from the bride’s leg and tossing it to the single men in attendance wasn’t always a ‘thing’. In the past, the garter was prized as a token of love that also held magical properties. As such, men who attended the wedding would attempt to remove the garter and attach it to their hats for good luck.

    What are some of the other clothing traditions you’ve heard of? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter

    Photography Alvin Mahmudov/Unsplash