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Weddings

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In Planning

Ideas to make receptions fun for everyone

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A great reception will make for lasting memories, but will take some careful planning. Here are some top tips to ensure your wedding party will be the celebration of the century.

Have a lounge area

Not everyone can keep dancing for hours on end, even if you can. Why not have a lounge area where those with tired feet can sit back and recharge? Have a corner with two or three couches. It’s more comfortable than dining chairs, and dance-weary legs and feet can have a break.

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Child-care area

If there are kiddies at your wedding, they’ll soon get bored and tired at the reception. Hire a professional child-minder and set up a separate area where they can play and rest. They’ll be happy and entertained, and their parents can rest assured that the children are safe and looked after while they dance the night away.

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Build-a-bouquet

If you have a little leeway in your budget, a fun idea to entertain guests and beautify the venue at the same time is to have a table with pots of different flowers in where guests can pick their own and create unique bouquets. They can either put it on their tables, gift them to each other or take them home as a reminder of the special day.

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Create-a-cocktail station

Nothing says “good times” like a drinks station. Cater for every taste with an array of different ingredients for making DIY cocktails. You can have a section for this at the bar so everyone can pay for their own cocktails, or have a separate station and let the guests go wild. Remember the nitty-gritty essentials like easy recipes, tot measures, enough ice and stirrers.

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Image: Pexels

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In Advice

Weddings in the time of coronavirus

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The coronavirus pandemic has swept the world, affecting more than just our health. From travel to the economy, the outbreak has affected almost every industry around the world. Even the wedding industry cannot remain unscathed. Here’s what you need to consider in our new reality.

Destination weddings:

If you’ve planned a destination wedding, you might have to rethink it. The disease has reached over 100 countries, with the worst affected being in Europe and Asia. Wuhan, China, the centre of the outbreak, as well as the entire country of Italy have been quarantined.

If you’ve planned a destination wedding in any of the coronavirus-affected countries listed by the World Health Organisation, you’ll have to research any government advice, travel bans or restrictions to determine whether you’ll even be able to make it to your wedding. Stay in contact with your vendors to discuss your options. Importantly, make sure you have wedding insurance to cover any last minute changes. Instead of cancelling, postponing your wedding for a year might be a good plan.

Wedding dresses:

Some brides might be without their dream dress come wedding day. James Marcum, CEO of the largest seller of wedding gowns in the United States, David’s Bridal, told CNN that the situation in China will most likely cause a great disruption to the production of wedding dresses as well as bridesmaid dresses. With the coronavirus outbreak, many factories have temporarily closed their doors to help curb the spread of the disease. Some factories are slowly reopening, but the loss in work has created a production delay which will slow-down the already intricate, time-consuming process of making a wedding dress.

To ensure your dress is done on time, consider having your dress made local and don’t have any fabrics imported. Make use of the fabrics already available.

International guests:

If you have friends and family living abroad in areas that have confirmed coronavirus cases, you could put your own guests at risk. Remember: a wedding gathers a large amount of people in one confined location, and there’s a lot of hugging and kissing happening.

Make sure to stipulate that if your guests have been experiencing flu-like symptoms or have come in contact with anyone who has recently travelled to China or Italy then its advisable that they do not attend the wedding.

Honeymoon:

Your international honeymoon might have to wait a bit longer. With the travel bans / restrictions being put in place in various countries, many newlyweds are ringing in their honeymoon in quarantine. Mauritius, a popular honeymoon destinations, has placed travel bans for anyone coming from South Korea or the three northern Italian provinces most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. 34 South Korean newly-weds were recently placed in isolation by authorities due to fears over the coronavirus, according to Seoul officials.

If you’ve planned an international honeymoon, do your research into their travel restrictions. However, many governments have advised against non-essential travel, so realistically you might have to postpone your honeymoon.

Feature image: Unsplash

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In News

Man enters wedding like basketball star

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There are men who are casual sports fans, then there are men who live and breathe sports. Those men always find a way to incorporate their love of the game into their lives, whether it’s using sports terms regularly or wearing sports jersey’s with every outfit.

This man took his passion for basketball (and his favourite team – the Chicago Bulls) several steps further. We’re not sure how he convinced his bride to agree!

Instead of walking in with his suit and tie, the man sported a warmup jumpsuit. Rather than a soft, romantic wedding song for his entrance, he opted for the Chicago Bulls entrance song (Sirius/Eye In The Sky).

As he made his way to the altar, he hi-fived guests sitting in the crowd and when he reached the alter he rips off his jumpsuit (very dramatically may we add) to reveal his tuxedo.

Barstool Chicago posted a video to Twitter, showing how everything went down. “Is this the greatest wedding entrance ever or is this the greatest wedding entrance ever,” they said.

If you’re interested in hearing the song in better quality, listen here:

Some may say the wedding is more about the bride’s personality than the grooms. We’re glad to see grooms starting to incorporate their interests into their big day!

Congrats to the happy couple!

Image: Twitter / Barstool Chicago 

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In News

Giraffe photobombs wedding shoot

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Animals can be pretty pesky, but also make some amazing moments happen. During this couple’s wedding photoshoot, one giraffe decided to get in on the fun and steal the groom’s turban.

The hilarious moment took place at the Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California. While posing for pictures, the bride and groom were surprised when the animal reached down and plucked the grooms turban off his head. The giraffe’s name is Stanley, and he is an internet-famous member of the ranch. Celebrities such as the Kardashian/Jenner clan and comedienne Whitney Cummings are all huge fans of the beautiful creature.

Luckily, the bridal couple saw the humour in the situation.

Watch the video below:

Image: Screenshot

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In Decor

Now trending in decor: Lanterns

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Lighting plays a big role in the atmosphere at your wedding. In an era where load shedding is real, alternative light sources are becoming more popular and we’re not complaining. Why not get on board with the latest trend? Lanterns are not new but can be used in a variety of different ways and are perfect for late afternoon and evening weddings. Take a look at these uber romantic lantern ideas.

Remember to play it safe by not releasing lanterns into the air that could cause fires.

Combine fairy lights and candles

A touch of Middle Eastern madness

Mix it up with paper lanterns and flowers 

Splash out with whimsical water features

Go big or go home

Riveting red from the far East

Old-fashioned is the way to go

Get beachy with bamboo

Image: Instagram/flaggshiprentals

 

 

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In Fashion

How to shop for a wedding dress while pregnant

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Planning a wedding with a baby on the way is difficult enough with the pregnancy hormones getting in the way of a clear mind. Finding your dream dress during this time may be stressing you out even more. You’re probably wondering if the baby bump will be in the way.

Not to worry! A baby bump is beautiful and all you need is know the best way to shop for it. Here are some tips to ensure your shopping experience is as pleasant as possible:

– Consider flowy styles (if you want to lessen the appearance of the bump) 

Of course it’s not necessary to hide your baby bump, you’re pregnant and proud! However, if it makes you more comfortable then an empire waist dress with lace or tulle is a great choice. Since they’re fitted at the bust, they leave a lot of room for your growing baby belly. It also will require less alterations and guessing about extra room in the dress.

– Remember that you’ll grow 

An important consideration in choosing a dress is how far along you’ll be on your wedding day. Experts have recommended that going two sizes up is best. This is because it’s easier to take a dress in, than to expand the width later.

– Choose your fabrics wisely 

Lighter fabrics will ensure you’re more comfortable. Never rule out comfort, it’s one of the most important things!

– Shoes are part of your outfit too 

Remember that just as your baby is growing, so are your feet. Consider the implications of choosing stilettos while carrying a baby, it may not be the smartest idea. Also remember that your shoe size may get bigger as you’re further along your pregnancy.

– Don’t confine yourself to pregnancy options 

You don’t have to shop in the maternity section if you don’t want to. It’s totally possible to still have that form fitting dress you’ve always dreamed of! You could even get creative and go for a two-piece or jumpsuit and forget the dress entirely, the options are endless and the choice is all yours.

– Final fitting 

Try to have your final fitting appointment as late as possible, maybe even in the week of the wedding. This allows for last minute adjustments, and your body is unlikely to change very much in the few days after the appointment until the wedding.

– Embrace the extras 

If you get to your final appointment and your dress doesn’t fit, don’t panic! Panels and corsets are easy solutions to this problem.

Image: Unsplash 

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In cake

Why fruitcake is the traditional choice for royals

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Fruitcake. It’s a confection that seems to generate a lot of debate; people either love it or hate it. The royals, however, seem to be dedicated to these fragrantly spiced, fruit infused cakes.

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle broke tradition in 2018 with their Amalfi lemon and English elderflower cake, they broke a fruitcake tradition that has spanned over centuries. This royal custom dates back to the Middle Ages.

Chris Dodd, a London based pastry chef, explain to Vogue that the traditional English wedding fruitcake is, “an elaborate mixture of re-constituted dried fruits, which have been soaked in fruit juices and an alcoholic beverage such as port, sherry, rum, or even whiskey. To these, a dark brown sugar is added, together with a mix of fragrant spices, butter, and flour. The final product is then coated in a marzipan layer, followed by royal icing, to create a smooth and elegant finish.”

Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Price Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and Prince William and Kate Middleton all stuck to the age-old tradition. But where does this convention come from?

Fruitcakes were served at medieval feasts, and thereafter was served at all important celebrations such as Easter, Christmas, weddings, and christenings. First and foremost, the cake rose in popularity because it remained in good condition for a long time (since there were no refrigerators).

There are, however, some more superficial reasons for the persistence of the ancient cake flavour through time. Apparently, the fruitcake was a symbol of wealth and prosperity because of the ingredients used to make it. Similarly, the cake was said to be a representation of the British empire – it comprised of  ingredients (spices for example) that came from all over the world.

One other, huge reason is that a fruitcake allows the confectioners much more time to elaborately adorn the cake. We’re all aware that the royals are known for their massive, multi-tiered, over-the-top cakes. Creating those masterpieces takes time! The sugar-paste flowers which were used to decorate Prince William and Kate Middleton’s cake took five weeks to make. If they used a cake that goes off quickly, it wouldn’t have been edible by the time the wedding day arrived.

Finally, the royals have a tendency to stick to tradition. Once it starts, it’s pretty difficult to break.

Also read: Royal wedding cakes throughout history 

Image: Pixabay 

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In Advice

The magic of multiway bridesmaid dresses

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The big trend for bridesmaid dresses is simple: individuality. Allow your best girls to wear styles that flatter them. However, giving too much leeway with fashion can leave your bridal party looking disjointed. The solution? Multiway bridesmaid dresses.

Multiway dresses are simple dresses with elongated fabric on the top to allow you to change up the upper half of your dress.  Halterneck, strapless, one shoulder…it’s all possible with this one-hit wonder. These dresses are incredibly versatile, allowing you to change up your style depending on the day.

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If you’re on the hunt for the perfect one, Kameo’s versatile multiway dresses is the solution for your formal wardrobe needs. Perfect for a romantic date night or formal occasion, these dresses can be worn in over 15 different ways. They make an ideal bridesmaids’ dress too, allowing each member of your bridal party to wear a personalised style in the same fabric and colour. These dresses suit any body type and will have you feeling confident and elegant at any occasion.

The multiway dresses come in a range of shades, including teal, almond, wine and mauve.

Check out their website for more information.

Feature image: supplied

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In Fashion

Maryam Keyhani launches new line of bridal hats

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Maryam Keyhani, a Toronto and Berlin based artist and milliner, is diversifying her creations by now including bridal hats or headpieces. For any bride who is looking to stand out and make a statement, Keyhani’s peices will provide a shock of inspiration.

In a 2018 interview with Vogue, Keyhani explained her love for hats by saying, “When I wear hats, I feel safe.” She described her use of hats as a shield between herself and the rest of the world. She is now stretching this love of hats all the way into the bridal industry in 2020.

According to Vogue, the event that inspired the creation of this bridal line was an appointment with a soon-to-be-married client who came in to fit on an ostrich feather crown. Keyhani was taken by the shift in her client’s attitude and outward emotions as she put the crown atop her head.

“You put on something extraordinary and you feel extraordinary. Isn’t that amazing to feel on your wedding day?,” she said to Vogue on March 10, 2020 .

About the headpiece line she said, “I spend a lot of time on the other side of reality, so fantasy is very much where these pieces exist.” And fantasy chic is exactly what you see when you lay your eyes on the look book.

Keyhani said she loves the classic, romantic bride but she also loves massively over-the-top dresses with elegant headpieces. “Whatever the dress a Keyhani creation is worn with, it’s meant to be an invitation to play, and gives a woman the chance to be the bride and the cake,” she said.

Have a look at her fairy-tale style head wear:

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Image: Instagram / maryamkeyhani 

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In Advice

5 ways to get more spray for your pay

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Perfume is expensive. How you smell is priceless. What most don’t know is that there is a right and wrong way of using a fragrance. You need to get your money’s worth out of each bottle and we are here to tell you how…

Apply to hotspots:

Don’t spray your neck. Let your body work its natural magic and apply perfume to certain heat points. Your belly-button, the small of your back, inside your elbows and the back of your knees and neck are places that work best. Heat points create a sillage that will develop your fragrance as you go about your day.

Oscar de la Renta’s Bella Blanca (exclusively available at Dis-Chem Pharmacies) is a scintillating floral fragrance with notes of fresh jasmine, tuberose and freesia – and further develops to grounding sandalwood and musk as it warms.

Spray, don’t rub:

Ever notice how your scent changes throughout the day? Don’t interrupt the natural process by rubbing your skin. Rather let it simmer to maximise results. Heat-activated enzymes from rubbing prevents your scent from developing properly within each note stage.

Keep it shady:

This is important. Don’t expose the bottle to heat. While your fragrance looks beautiful perched on your bathroom cabinet, it won’t last very long. Fragrance is sensitive to light and heat.

Spray wisely:

Concentrated fragrances, like Eau de Parfum are slightly more intense than lighter Eau de Cologne or Eau de Toilette solutions. Choose something a little more potent and save on the sprays. Less is more when your fragrance is beautiful and bold.

A good kind of clingy:

Spraying perfume onto dry skin or clothing is pointless. Fragrance needs moisture to hold onto, so apply your scent to clean, well-moisturised skin to give it maximum staying power.

Written by: Robyn Simpson

Feature image: supplied

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