We’ve made it past halfway through the nationwide lockdown in South Africa, and fingers crossed things will slowly but surely start returning to normal.
If your wedding is coming up later this year or next, don’t forget about all the planning (and dreaming!) you can do while stuck at home. While you can’t go out cake tasting, dress shopping or venue scouting in person, cuddle up and feast your eyes on these amazing photo ideas.
Think magic and celebration meets soft romance. We’re seeing a lot of nature backdrops, playing with sunlight and wind and incorporating flowers.
When you next meet up with your photographer, discuss some of the looks you and your partner want to go for, and some poses, colour schemes and backdrops you like to give them an idea of what you want.
The national lockdown has truly forced us all to readjust to a new way of life for the time being. All plans that were made previously are on hold or cancelled and other plans are having to be rethought. While all of this happens, time still ticks on.
If your anniversary is one of the events coming up during quarantine, you should probably think of a way to celebrate it indoors! There’s no need to worry if you made plans that require leaving home, an at-home anniversary can easily be planned too.
Here are some ideas:
Recreate a special meal together
Perhaps you had a fancy meal on your first date, or you’re still dreaming of the delicious meal served at your wedding reception. You could take to the kitchen and try to recreate these meals together. We all know cooking together can be tremendously romantic… and the eating part is great too. After you cook the meal, indulge in the delicious food by candle light.
Wedding reminiscing
Pull out your wedding album and video and spend some time remembering the special day. It’ll bring back many amazing memories and will show you how far you’ve come. Tell each other stories about your individual experiences of the wedding day, about how you were feeling, who you interacted with, and anything else you can recall. You’re sure to have some funny and interesting tales to tell.
Symbolic vow renewal
Plan to have a vow renewal ceremony for just the two of you. Write new vows, decorate the room, and go all out. It’ll be quite intimate and special, definitely something you’ll never forget.
Learn to dance
Search YouTube for some couples dance tutorials and try to learn a new dance together. Salsa is a great option!
How I met your mother
If you have kids and you want them to be involved too then this one’s for you. Draw up a quiz about your relationship with questions like “how did mom and dad meet?” or “how old were we when we got married?” and have your kids participate in a competitive quiz night. It’s a great way to celebrate your anniversary and it’ll be an evening filled with laughs too.
In earlier centuries, these disc-shaped beads were made from shiny metals. Today, sequins are most often made from plastic. They look just as glamorous as ever, though!
We love the sparkle they give, and since we’re back in the 20s, why not reimagine sequins? Especially for evening weddings, sequins can create a beautiful and striking effect.
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, weddings as we know them are being forcibly put on hold. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t tie the knot at all. Across the globe, lovers are getting creative and turning to technology to allow their closest friends and family to still bear witness to their big day from the comfort of their own homes.
Weddings have now become online affairs, with many couples choosing video conferencing app Zoom as their online service of choice. Zoom has now partnered up with online wedding planner Wedfuly to help couples virtually tie the knot with ease. This service allows for an interactive online wedding experience.
“Wedfuly always provides creative approaches for our couples so the collaboration with Zoom was ideal for couples who wanted to keep their wedding date on schedule during these challenging times,” founder and CEO of Wedfuly, Caroline Creidenberg said to Brides.
Essentially, the service handles all the technical gruntwork. They create a timeline for the couple and virtual guests and control the entire virtual experience. Guests are muted and unmuted throughout the ceremony and given cues to applaud when needed.
Couples, however, still need to consider their own in-state laws and secure an in-person wedding officiant and physical witnesses for the marriage to be legally binding.
While having a virtual wedding may seem unconventional, it is a product of our current time. This service also allows families and friends far apart to connect again and share in a special moment. It’s fair to say that moments of happiness and positivity are necessary as we struggle with the uncertainty of life at the moment.
Sometimes, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. This couple learned this fact in an interesting way when they met…at the woman’s wedding to her first husband.
Natalie Perry, 37, met waiter Fred Kasa, 36, during her wedding reception in Crete. Kasa was one of the waiters at the restaurant, and there are are even pictures of them dancing the traditional Zorba dance side by side!
Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
Flash forward five years, Perry returned to the same restaurant after splitting from her husband. It was here that she and Kasa connected again.
“That night the Greek dancer was watching me – I could feel his eyes,” she told Metro UK. “I went to the toilet to wash my hands and he came up to me and we started chatting. He asked me out for a coffee the next day. We just had this connection and we clicked right away. I recognised him immediately from before, I knew it was him.”
They soon began a long-distance relationship. In 2017, Kasa moved to the UK so they could be together and they became engaged within 6 months.
The pair tied the knot in February, and plan on honeymooning in Crete when travel is allowed again.
“I cant believe still that my husband danced with me at both my weddings!” Natalie told Metro UK. “It’s funny how life can turn out – you just don’t know what’ll pan out.”
“I knew she was the one I wanted to marry,” said Kasa. “The feeling was crazy. I had never been so in love with anyone. Every day I missed her more. Now she is my wife, I am just so happy and we are so happy together. To think I danced with her at her first wedding and then we had a dance at our own wedding is crazy!”
Mixing cologne, body spray, deodorant and aftershave can become a messy affair. Here is our gentlemen’s guide to understanding these different products and how to use them:
Cologne is the strongest form of fragrance and generally lasts the longest. It’s ideal for nights out, a special date, or more formal functions. Dunhill Icon is an example of a cologne we love. This bold fragrance is perfect for a classy night out!
Image: supplied
Body sprays are the second strongest. These nifty, portable sprays are great for daytime or after gym wear. Sprays last a few hours and can be easily re-applied to keep you smelling fresh.
Aftershave and deodorant serve dual functions. These products don’t just smell good, they also serve a purpose. We suggest using neutral-smelling aftershaves and deodorants to avoid scents clashing and becoming muddied, while still benefitting from their practical usage.
Aftershave contains soothing and anti-bacterial agents. It prevents irritations, itching, burning and rashes, all while hydrating your skin too. It usually contains a type of astringent, an ingredient that seals up pores to prevent bacteria infecting the skin after shaving.
Image: Pexels
Deodorant, the most subdued of all scents, is mostly functional. It’s important to note that not all deodorants are antiperspirants. Antiperspirants close or block the pores under your pits, working against your natural odour, while a deodorant masks the smell of sweat while still allowing skin to breathe. Antiperspirants not only reduce sweating, but also regulate your skin’s pH level, preventing stinky pits.
Image: Pexels
To strike a perfect balance, we suggest choosing one fragrance (cologne or body spray) according to the occasion and combining it with a neutral aftershave and deodorant.
With the current lockdown in place in South Africa to stop the spread of coronavirus, weddings aren’t the big events we know them to be. As large gatherings are banned, Cape Town film-maker Dan Mace got crafty to make sure the seats at their backyard wedding were still filled without breaking any lockdown rules.
Mace and his fiancée, Gabrielle Esterhuizen, had planned on tying the knot but their wedding was unfortunately cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Shortly after, Mace contracted COVID-19, meaning the pair had to stay shut inside for weeks as he battled the symptoms. After making a full recovery, Dan still wanted to go through with their wedding, albeit it on a much smaller scale.
He devised a sweet plan to surprise Esterhuizen with an impromptu wedding in their backyard. He made rings out of guitar strings, built an altar and spent all night creating cardboard cutouts of “guests” to witness their wedding. In the morning, he surprised his love.
We spoke to the couple about their wedding that was cancelled and how the ingenious backyard celebration came about.
“Our wedding was planned for 21st March, the same day we found out Dans test result. We were looking forward to our afternoon wedding in Stellenbosch. I think the most special thing was having a day we could share just the 2 of us, we know the bride and groom are usually busy the night so to be able to share this day was incredible. Just to celebrate with all our family and friends in one space,” said Esterhuizen.
Mace explained to us how his idea came about.
“I think the idea came from something that I probably would have chosen to keep more personal between Gabs and I.
“But the reason I decided to create a film about is because the world needs positivity right now and I really wanted to share a positive story about two people in love. It’s something that is relatable.
“With the right idea you can still create the same sensation as a big wedding with lots of people all around. With some creativity and thinking outside the box you can do something that is even more special than a generic wedding. Through utilising creativity and restriction you can make something really awesome.”
Mace continued, “I wanted to showcase ways to be creative during lockdown and I think it combined itself with the question I asked Gabs on camera about how she felt about postponing the wedding. I hadn’t asked her that before and had assumed that it made her bummed. Once I heard her say it though I knew I had to do something about it.”
Across the globe, healthcare workers are working tirelessly to help contain the spread of coronavirus. With all the hard work they are putting in, Spanish luxury bridal group Pronovias wanted to do something to say thank you.
In an effort to recognise all that they do, Pronovias is offering engaged healthcare workers the world over the chance to wear a Pronovias gown, free of charge. Any hospital-employed bride-to-be, from doctor to nurse to janitor, is eligible. This forms part of their Heroes Collection, which is dedicated to all the healthcare workers.
Pronovias Group Artistic Director Alessandra Rinaudo curated the collection, saying, “It is an honor to show my support and raise awareness for all of these women doing their best to overcome this pandemic. Love will conquer all.”
“We would like to show our support to all heroes around the world on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Pronovias. “To celebrate their extraordinary and selfless dedication, Pronovias Group is offering wedding dresses to hospital-employed brides-to-be. The Heroes Collection will be available until 31st August 2020 at selected flagships. ? Tag a hero in the comments. #LoveConquersAll *Our stores reopening dates will be in line with local authorities recommendations.”
Participating stores include those in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid -Velázquez, Sevilla), Italy (Rome, Milan), France (Paris, Lyon, Marseille) Portugal (Lisbon), United Kingdom (London), United States (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston), and Mexico (Mexico City).
While you’re at home observing safe social distancing, you’ve probably got a lot of time on your hands. Why not learn some tips and tricks for your future big day from some professionals?
Since you probably won’t have access to a makeup artist anytime soon, let some of Youtube’s best beauty guru’s guide you on how to perfect your bridal makeup. Whether you’ll be having your makeup done professionally or doing it yourself come wedding day, these videos are great for inspiration and advice.
Many couples are facing the disappointment of having to cancel or postpone their weddings due to the coronavirus pandemic. While some are planning to simply wait until the health crisis blows over, others are finding creative ways around the problem.
With the forced cancellation of their wedding, Sharmin Asha and Nazmul Ahmed had to get past the disappointment. They decided they would start playing the popular Nintendo game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While they played, Ahmed had an idea.
He put together a surprise in-game wedding for his wife-to-be. “Nazmul invited me over to collect resources [on his island] since he had been playing longer than me. As soon as I got there, he was at the airport and there were arrows on the ground. He told me there was some special in-game event, so we followed them,” said Asha to The Washington Post.
As they followed the arrows, Asha collected virtual flowers that Ahmed left for her. At the end of the path she found a beach, where her friends waited with their own Animal Crossing characters.
Ahmed told The Washington Post that the entire thing took him four to five hours to set up. He said that their friends were happy to get on board with his plan, since they already played the game.
Of course, this is not a replacement for the New Jersey couple’s wedding but it has served as a great way to celebrate what would have been their wedding date.
Ahmed and Asha are not the only ones to have celebrated their nuptials this way. A host of other couples have made their way to Animal Crossing too as it serves as a proxy for real-world social interaction.
