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    If you’re a lover of the moon and stars, why not incorporate them into your big day? Hair accessories are chic, modern and add a fun touch to your bridal look.

    Celestial-inspired jewellery has been trending for quite a while now, and we love how hairstylists incorporate the look in unique ways. Whether it’s a crown or some interestingly-placed clips, this trend will have you over the moon.

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    Feature image: Pexels

    It’s a stressful time for the world right now. As the days progress, we become more and more uncertain of what’s happening. In times like these, it’s even more important to take care of yourself.

    Having a pamper day may seem unimportant and unnecessary, but doing small things for yourself can help improve your mood and mindset. To relax and unwind, here’s how you can spoil yourself from the comfort of your own home.

    Get rid of electronic distractions:

    The constant ping of your cellphone will detract from your “treat yo’self” day, so best switch it off for now. By switching off your phone, you also allow your mind to switch off. The news can be quite heavy nowadays, and the constant barrage of bad news in particular can unknowingly add anxiety to your day. Give your mind a little holiday.

    Make sure to let your people know that you’ll be switching your phone off for the day so that no one is worried about your lack of replies. If necessary, set up an ‘out of office’ automation so that your work contacts know you cannot be reached.

    Set the scene:

    Sometimes the right vibe is all you need. Before getting to the good stuff, the quickest way to brighten. mood is by cleaning the room you plan on relaxing in. The act of cleaning in itself relaxes some, but the key part of this is the result. With a clean, organised space, your mind will feel more at ease and less distracted.

    Now that the chores are done, let’s have some fun! Throw on your favourite album or playlist, get into your comfiest sweats and maybe even light some candles.

    A luxurious bubble bath:

    Baths are truly magical. If you’re lucky enough to have a bath, make sure to dedicate an hour of your time to soak in it. Pour in some bubble bath or a bath bomb for extra luxury, and settle down with a good book or magazine. Throw in some rose petals for an extra special touch.

    No bubble bath or bath bomb? Make your own! Mix a cup of liquid body wash, 1/4 cup pure vegetable glycerin, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and essential oils of your choice to get the bubbles going.

    Homemade facemask:

    If you were too distracted panic buying toilet paper to buy face masks, don’t worry. There are so many easy and natural masks you can quickly whip up at home.

    Typical homemade face mask ingredients include greek yoghurt, banana, honey, olive oil and avocados as bases, which you probably already have at home anyway. Customise with other ingredients like coffee, cinnamon, pumpkin or aloe vera or sugar to create masks for whatever finish you desire.

    Feature image: Unsplash

    50 years of marriage is a huge milestone, one that is worthy of a big celebration. However, when this couple’s plans were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their family stepped up to make sure their day was memorable while still maintaining a safe social distance.

    Dan and Janice Kauffman from Ohio had planned an anniversary dinner to honour their relationship with all their family and friends. However, the elderly couple were forced to give up their plans as the coronavirus spread worsened in America.

    The couple had to self-quarantine to avoid contracting the virus, meaning physical contact with their family was cut off.

    This couple’s family could not let the anniversary pass by without doing anything. They decided to make a beautiful tribute to Dan and Janice. Standing in small family groupings, they held hand-made signs and cheered on the patriarch and matriarch of the family while performing for them. One family member serenaded the couple with a guitar performance and one child played the violin for his grandparents.

    Watch the sweet video below:

    Feature image: video screenshot

    Julia Luckett and Nick Pierce wanted their best friend to be part of their special day. Zhivago (their dog) has been part of their little family for three years, and they weren’t about to get married without him.

    So they made him the photographer! “We knew we wanted to incorporate him into the wedding somehow, but he’s definitely a very adventurous and spirited dog,” Luckett told Insider.  “It just seemed like an amazing idea that’s really quirky.” They tied a GoPro to his collar, so all Zhivago had to do was be around them.

    “For the whole portion that has cocktail hour, he’s just running from person to person and getting snacks and treats from everyone,” Luckett added. “There’s 10 minutes of footage where he’s just hanging out with one person who’s feeding him cheese off of the appetizer table.”

    Watch the special event here:

    What a clever idea, especially if you’re getting married at home during lockdown and can’t get a photographer.

    Image: Jacquelyn Potter

     

    As governments across the globe install lockdown rules to curb the spread of the coronavirus, many are stuck at home with little to do. Just because you can’t leave your house, however, doesn’t mean you can’t still plan your wedding.

    Virtual wedding dress shopping has been in existence for years now, but we think this trend might really take off given the current climate.

    Essentially, virtual wedding dress shopping takes online shopping to the next level by allowing you to “try-on” the items you have your eye on. Users upload a forward-facing full body image of themselves, and then the dresses are superimposed onto their body.

    This virtual try-on tool helps to envision the general look and colour of a dress against your body. However, brides still need to be cautious and consider the measurements and the fabric type.

    Wedding lines like Amsale, as well as Amazon in partnership with Israeli startup Zeekit, offer this service.

    While Amsale’s virtual try-on service is currently only available for bridesmaid dresses and the ‘little white dress’, the company plan to expand the service across their full site. They take it even further and offer a Zoom conference call, where one of their bridal experts helps you “try on” dresses and find your perfect fit.

    Of course, virtual wedding dress shopping is no replacement for the real thing. The service is mainly offered as a jumping-off point to allow brides-to-be to envision what they want their dress to look like and get a general idea of how it would look on. This is especially helpful if you plan on buying a dress from a specific store that you would have to travel far to visit. Brides are still encouraged to come in-store (when it is safe to do so) and get a real feel for their dream dress.

    Want to buy a wedding dress online? Make sure to read our tips first.

    Feature image: Pexels

    While we’re under lockdown, we’ve got nothing but time. So, if your wedding is coming up and you are (or want to be) a creative soul, why not make your own wedding jewellery? Depending on your style, you can make almost anything under the sun. It will be a special keepsake you can even pass on to future generations.

    Granted, traditional jewellery might be a little harder and need more time, but the challenge will make it that much more rewarding. Other styles like boho does not need as much detail, and can work out cheaper as you do not necessarily need jewels like diamonds or other precious stones.

    Here’s how to get crafty:

    1. The first thing you will  need is to gather ideas and decide what you want to wear. Earrings are simpler to make, but a necklace or arm band are just as doable. Head over to Pinterest for some ideas and settle on one. Remember that yours will not look exactly the same, but that’s the idea! We love these pieces:

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    2. Get what you need. This step is a bit tricky seeing as arts and crafts stores will be closed, but some online delivery services might still deliver. You may even already have beads and jewels at home if you’ve done it before, or know someone who does. If not, make a list of what you need so you can go buy it as soon as it is safe to do so.

    Some basics you will need (but might vary depending on what you make) are pliers, soft gold or silver wire or chain, clasps or fastening rings and of course, the beads, jewels, stones or whatever your piece will consist of.

    3. Watch a tutorial (or three). If you’re new to this, better get some expert advice. There are loads of online videos with advice and instructions ranging for all levels of skill. Check out these ones we love:

    Image:  Pixabay

     

    After their wedding was cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this bride and groom decided to do something good. They donated their entire reception meal to 400 healthcare workers.

    Fiona and Adam Gordon had planned their wedding day for 120 guests. However, with the COVID-19 outbreak, they instead had a much smaller day with only two witnesses. Since their big day had already been fully planned and paid for, they were left with a lot of food.

    Their caterer asked the couple if they would be willing to donate it, and of course the couple said yes.

    The food was served to 400 healthcare staff by charity group, Hull4Heroes.

    “We’re just happy to help bring a bit of light in the middle of all this. It is times such as these when you realize what’s important,” Fiona told The Birmingham Mail. “The fact that we managed to help in some way because of this is a silver lining.”

    “The reaction we have had for doing this is absolutely amazing, but of course the real heroes here are the charity workers,” she added.

    Feature image: Pexels

    Self-isolating has gotten to us all, even celebrities. While at home, John Legend and Chrissy Tiegen are finding inventive ways to keep their two children entertained. They hosted a wedding for daughter Luna’s stuffed animals, Chloe and Nosh.

    Chloe and Nosh said ‘I do’ in a beautiful beachside ceremony. Luna walked the pair down the aisle and naturally, Tiegen officiated the ceremony. Luckily for us, the wedding was livestreamed on Instagram Live so we could all virtually attend.

    “Thank you for gathering here today on this very special day,” Teigen said as she officiated the ceremony. “It’s a beautiful day. Well deserved in what has become 26 weeks of an incredible relationship.”

    “It was unexpected at first, as there were many different animals in the house,” she continued. “But who knew that Chloe and Nosh would get along so well. They’ve loved each other since the first second they laid eyes one another and they’ve never spent a night apart.”

    John Legend serenaded the newlyweds during their first dance with Selena Gomez’s “Hands to Myself”.

    Watch the heartwaming ceremony here:

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    Feature image: Instagram / Chrissy Tiegen

    Online shopping can be risky business. There’s always a chance, no matter how small, that you end up with something that’s not quite what you were expecting. If you’re considering switching from window shopping to (Microsoft) Windows shopping, then read on!

    We’re absolutely certain that you don’t want to be the bride who buys her dress online and, on delivery, instantly regrets it. As with everything, there are pros and cons of online wedding dress shopping. However, there is something to be said for the convenience, savings, and options that come with the online experience.

    Whether you’re sick of making your way through racks and racks of dresses, or you’re simply not keen on the idea of hunting for dresses in store, online wedding dress shopping could be a great option.

    If this is the route you’re taking, then keep these tips in mind:

    – Measurements 

    You need to know the measurements of your bust, waist, and hips. If you don’t know these, your dress will not be the best fit it can be. Brides who have undertaken the online shopping experiment report that a great way to find your fit is to go in store (oh no!) and fit on some dresses there, with the sole purpose of finding what fits you. Once you’re clued up on your measurements, pop back online and get searching. Of course, you could just use the trusted measuring tape.

    – Fabrics 

    Be familiar with fabrics and how they look and feel. You wouldn’t want a detail like this to ruin what you expected to be your perfect dress.

    – Policies 

    Look, we’ve said it once and we’ll say it again. There are always risks with online shopping. Before you make this very important purchase, find out what the online store’s policies are. Imagine you’re unable to return a dress that has turned out to be a Halloween costume! The horror!

    – Social media 

    Check across all social media platforms for brides wearing a similar dress to the one you’ve chosen. It’ll give you a good idea of how the dress looks in real life!

    – Read reviews 

    Be sure to check the online reviews of the stores you’re shopping at. You’ll either see many angry customers or tons of happy brides. This will help you decided whether to keep shopping there.

    – Read carefully 

    Be aware of common terms like “fully lined” and “partially lined”. The latter will have you in a see-through dress on your special day. Pull out those comprehension skills and read the dress descriptions carefully.

    Image: Unsplash 

    Escort cards are designed to guide your guests to their seats in style, so why not have some fun with them? Using simple items you can easily acquire, you can add a personal touch to your big day while also saving some coin.

    While you’re at home practicing safe social distancing, you’ve probably got a lot of time on your hands. Spend your time wisely by getting creative with one of these easy escort card DIY projects.

    Origami birds:

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    Wood blocks:

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    Ribbon:

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    Tiles:

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    Cactus clippings:

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    Seashells:

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    Fruit:

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    Leaves:

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    Feature image: Unsplash