The Hollywood marriages of old times seem to hold unparalleled nostalgia and romance, a far cry from the trivial pursuits of attention modern reality TV relationships portray.
The year is 1944. He, an iconic actor and Broadway star. She, a 19-year old model and aspiring actress. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall met on the set of To Have and Have Not. Like all notable Hollywood romances, their relationship was a scandalous affair.
Credit: Pinterest
Bogart was married to his third wife, actress Mayo Methot, at the time (not to mention being 25 years Bacall’s senior). But there was no stopping the attraction between them. In her book Be Myself, Bacall wrote about the first time he came to her trailer one night after filming. “Suddenly he leaned over, put his hand under my chin, and kissed me. It was impulsive—he was a bit shy—no lunging wolf tactics. He took a worn package of matches out of his pocket and asked me to put my phone number on the back. I did,” she writes.
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Soon after, Bogart divorced his wife. The star-crossed lovers tied the knot on May 21, 1945 at a ceremony on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield’s farm in Ohio.
Their wedding day. Credit: Pinterest
They had two children together, staying married until Bogart’s death in 1957. “No one has ever written a romance better than we lived,” Bacall wrote in her memoir.
A wedding registry is to help newlyweds start of their new life together. From travel-lovers to foodies, homebodies the eco-friendly, gifts are always tailored to the specific couple.
However, there are a few essential items that every couple needs, regardless of their likes and dislikes. If you’re making your own registry, here are some key items to include.
Celebrities are often expected to have big lavish weddings, but those who don’t like mixing the spotlight with their personal lives know that keeping their nuptials private in a grand church or great hotel is pretty hard. That’s why some opt to keep it very intimate and have the ceremony in the privacy of their own home.
Here are some of the famous couples who got married at home.
Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma had a simple garden wedding at the end of 2019. They married in the garden of their home which they share with their two children, surrounded by loved ones, with the reception in a marquee that had been decorated for the occasion.
The couple had a secret wedding at their Nashville ranch in an intimate Christmas-time ceremony. Their home was filled with flowers for the occasion and friends and family attended the intimate nuptials.
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Zoe Kravitz and Karl Glusman got married in her dad, Lenny Kravitz’s, Parisian home. While not quite a down-to-earth affair seeing as how the home is an 18th- century mansion and the couple were surrounded by their A-list celebrity friends who flew out for the occasion, it still had a homey, simple feel.
Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith also took their wedding to their back garden. The two married in Moore’s back garden in 2018 which was transformed with rugs and flowers matching her bohemian style wedding dress.
This wasn’t just a wedding at their home, but a surprise for everyone involved. It wasn’t only because the guests thought they were going to a Fourth of July party, the couple weren’t even engaged before the wedding. Daniel Modor waited until midnight to propose to Julia and they decided to just get married on the spot! Seriously romantic.
Another surprise wedding! Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux didn’t tell their guests they were attending a wedding until they arrived. They thought they were coming over to Justin’s home for a birthday party but were asked to hand over their phones as they went to the back garden for the ceremony.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi were married in their lavish Beverley Hills home in 2008. While the occasion was small and intimate, it was beautifully decked out with the couple saying their vows underneath a white tent.
This wedding was one the whole world seemed to have been waiting for. Brangelina, who had been notoriously secretive about their relationship, did not surprise when they said their I do’s in an intimate ceremony in their French estate Chateau Miraval in 2014. The ceremony is best remembered for Angelina’s touching veil which included pictures drawn by their children.
What is with weddings being at-home and surprises? Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden had a surprise wedding they hid from guests as a pre-Golden Globes party in 2015. The guests arrived at Cameron’s Beverly Hills home to find a tented garden where the ceremony took place, followed by a reception with a performance by Ryan Adams and Lionel Richie.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth tied the knot in 2011 on a ranch estate in Ojai, California. The ranch is private and far from the hustle of Los Angeles. Reese’s children were involved in the ceremony and the guest list was full of A-list celebrities.
If you can accurately sort people into houses soon after meeting them, you might just be a Potter head. Harry Potter fans are diehards and have supported this much-loved franchise since the first book came out in 1997.
Whether you’re a Griffindor with a heart of gold or a Slitherin with a cunning personality, this theme is perfect for you. Add a dose of magical realism to your big day by incorporating some special references to your favourite franchise.
Here are some ideas that will have you spellbound:
The late, legendary rocker David Bowie would have celebrated his 28th wedding anniversary with now widow, Somalian-born supermodel and actress Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid on Saturday, June 6. To pay tribute on this special day, Iman shared a heartwarming video.
In a recent Instagram Live post, Iman shared a slideshow of images from their wedding day, with the caption “June 6th, Wedding Anniversary” accompanied by the hashtags #BowieForever and #EternalLove. As the photos switch from one to the next, Bowies song, Wild is the Wind, plays.
The photos show true love and romance between this iconic pair.
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It seems some of these images have never been seen before as Oscar James, Emmy Award-winning hair stylist commented, “Wow!! I’ve known you a very long time, and I’ve never seen some of these photos before. Thank you for sharing. ❤️”
Of course, comments sending love came pouring in from many people, including fellow supermodels Niomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford.
The iconic couple met at a dinner party in 1990, just after Iman had retired from her modelling career, according to E! News. Many have reported that Bowie, in that instant, knew he would love her forever. He once said that he was already naming the children they would have together on the night they met.
Iman, however, was not keen on being with a rockstar. She once said to The Gaurdian: “I did not want to get involved with a rock star. No way. It is not a sane thing to do.”
Thereafter, Bowie pursued her endlessly and he eventually changed her mind. “He wooed me,” she reminised.
In 1992, they said their “I-do’s” in a civil ceremony in Switzerland. They celebrated again with a bigger wedding in Florence. 8 years later, in 2000, they welcomed their daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, into the world.
According to E! News, Bowie once said, “You would think that a rock star being married to a supermodel would be one of the greatest things in the world. It is.”
South African TV personality Minki van der Westhuizen and former rugby player Ernst Joubert recently celebrated their eight-year wedding anniversary.
The couple reportedly met in Stellenbosch in 2010 and married on June 8, 2012 at the Kleinevalleij Estate in Wellington. Fast forward to today, and they are as loved up as ever.
Van der Westhuizen took to Instagram to express her love for her husband. Her sweet Afrikaans message translates to, “This is by far the happiest and best season of my life. Eight years of marriage today. I am absolutely crazy about you.”
Local musician and producer Zakes Bantwini and singer, actress, model and television presenter Nandi Madida celebrate their 4-year wedding anniversary today, June 8.
Taking to Instagram, Bantwini wrote a sweet message dedicated to his wife on their special day.
“I am the luckiest of husbands, because I get to call you my wife, each and every day of my life. Happy wedding anniversary to us my love @nandi_madida ?, 4 years married today & 7 years together ? #happyanniversary.” he wrote.
Madida shared the same image, writing, “Singing* Do you know what today is? It’s our anniversary.. our anniversary! Happy anniversary to us! 7 years together, 4 years married! We’re NOT goals, just two imperfect humans who love each other so much and enjoy doing this life thing together ❤️. You’re such a gift in my life @Zakesbantwini.”
Esteemed Vogue editor Anna Wintour is often considered a trailblazing visionary. While this is often in reference to her mark on the fashion world, it also refers to her wedding day.
According to famed American fashion journalist and former American editor-at-large of Vogue magazine, Wintour included her exes in her intimate, 40-person wedding to David Shaffer back in 1984.
In his memoir, The Chiffon Trenches, Talley wrote, “I wore my best gray Dior suit and left straight from the office, arriving at Anna’s Sullivan Street home at twelve-thirty p.m. … The banquet table was filled with family and, strangely, her ex-boyfriends. They all came over from England for her wedding. I guess it was some kind of English custom.”
Maybe it is a British thing. Various members of the royal family have also extended invitations to former lovers. Prince Harry famously invited exes Cressida Bonas, Chelsy Davy, and Ellie Goulding to his 2018 wedding to Megan Markle. The New York Times reports that Prince William invited four of his exes to witness his 2011 nuptials to Kate Middleton. And, of course, Prince Charles had ex (and future wife) Camilla Parker-Bowles front and centre when he wed Princess Diana in 1981.
Inviting your ex to your big day seems pretty awkward, unless you have continued to have a non-romantic relationship with them post break-up. Or, maybe it’s an elaborate power move to prove to them that you could do better. Either way, it’s a pretty polarising decision that one has to make for themselves.
Bride-to-be’s have dozens of nightmares leading up to their wedding day, but your hair doesn’t have to be one of them! A bad hair day on your big day can be avoided by following these 5 easy steps.
Step 1: Plan Ahead
When booking your appointment with a hair salon, make sure to mention if the appointment is for a specific occasion, so that the hair salon can make sure they have adequate time for the perfect consultation. A perfect consultation will help your hairdresser select the best suitable hair colour and hairstyle for your big day. Your eye colour, skin tone, hair history, current hair condition and facial shape plays an important role in this decision.
Find a Wella Professionals hair salon near you HERE.
Step 2: Prepare your hair at home
Moisture and hair condition is critical! So you should invest in a professional home care treatment range, such as the Wella Professional Fusion Range, which is an instant and long-lasting hair care recovery regimen. It contains Silksteel Technology that provides 95% more resilience against breakage. Creating a soft as silk and strong as steel hair texture. Also, give your hair a break from heat styling for a while, before your appointment.
Dark to light – This can be a tricky process. It is important to be honest about your hair history with your hairdresser and make sure to have realistic expectations, because the end result might not be achieved at the first appointment.
Wella Professionals Color Renew is a zero-damage colour reducer that optimises and prepares your hair for a new colour, by removing the current colour from your hair, without affecting your natural hair colour. This service can be performed more than once on the same day, depending on the colour build up in the hair.
Wella Professionals WellaPlex is another great treatment option to use when going from dark to light. It works as a bond multiplier, which links the bonds inside the hair, reducing damage during the lightening process.
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Ask your hairdresser about Color Renew and WellaPlex, should you want to change your hair colour.
Light to Dark – This desired result is far more achievable with your first appointment. Wella Professionals KPME+ will provide you with even, pure colour results with natural depth and shine and it requires very little prep and salon time.
Image: Supplied
It is also important to invest in a good professional home care range to ensure your colour stays true to tone and does not go brassy. The Wella Professionals Brilliance Range is pH optimised, which means that the low pH formula helps to de-swell the cuticles after colouration, ensuring up to 7 weeks colour protection.
Shop the Wella Professionals Brilliance Range HERE.
Remember, having a visual reference with you is another great tool for the hairdresser to use, because everyone sees colour differently!
Step 4: Know your stylist
Certain colour changes, such as removal of unwanted tones, are more difficult and should be handled by a true colour expert. Stick to one hairdresser for the duration of your wedding journey and make sure you understand each other.
Image: Unsplash
Step 6: Book a post-colour appointment
Schedule another appointment 1 week after your colour change for a Wella Professionals Illumina Glossing Service. This will add an extra glow and shine to your locks, before you say ‘I DO’! This is a quick and super easy service to add shine and refresh colour all in one.
The time leading up to your big day can be very emotional and stressful. Be sure not to leave everything for the last minute.
Find a Wella Professionals hair salon near you HERE.
Coulpes have had to get extra creative in tying the knot amid the coronavirus pandemic. While weddings cannot go on as we know them, this South African wedding venue has created an excellent alternative.
Collisheen Estate, one of the most sought-after private function facilities on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, is now offering drive-in wedding packages.
A representative of the state explained to Wedding ETC that the drive-in wedding concept started off as a joke, but they grew more serious about it as lockdown continued to affect the wedding industry.
Currently, wedding ceremonies are not allowed during Level 3 lockdown. People may only marry at Home Affairs or with a marriage officer. However, Collisheen Estate hopes that their latest offering will provide a new alternative to allow couples to still say ‘I do’ while following safe social distancing.
The estate is awaiting further announcements from the government on when they may legally open the service to the public amid the nationwide lockdown. However, they have already had lots of interest from couples still hoping to say ‘I do’ this year.
“Sunset Oval Drive in weddings are a site to behold! The most magnificent sunsets turn this unconventional day into a magical fairytale,” writes the company on their website.
“Our very experienced venue coordinators are here to help you coordinate your special day and liaise between you, the venue operations team and coordinate any service providers to ensure a perfect day. Our Executive head chef and team will prepare delicious canape’s for you and we will serve it directly to your guests’ cars. Collisheen Estate adheres strictly to all of the health and safety precautions and we assure you of our best attention at all times.”
There are two drive-in wedding packages: a standard and all-inclusive option. The standard package includes canapes and venue hire. Couples may choose their own service providers who will be guided by the Collisheen team.
The all-inclusive package includes venue hire, catering and refreshments, photography and videography, a wedding cake, a bridal salon and much more. This option allows couples to just arrive on their big day, taking away the stress of planning and managing a wedding.
