Weddings Archives | Page 107 of 188

In cake

Wedding-themed cookies your guests will love

March 10, 2020 No Comments

Simple yet oh so good, no one turns down a cookie. This childhood favourite can easily be transformed into a wedding wonder with some creative planning.

Wedding cookies have been trending for a few years now, and it’s easy to see why. Using icing and unique piping detail, a plain cookie can make quite the statement. Using your wedding style and colours when designing the cookies will also help extend your theme even further. These sweet treats can be served as dessert, used as decor or even presented as a take-home wedding favour! Regardless of how you use them, we’re sure your guests will love them.

Here are some sweet ideas to inspire you.

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Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Advice for buying your first property together

March 10, 2020 No Comments

For a first-time property buyer, when you don’t yet have a solid understanding of the ins-and-outs of the property industry, taking that first step towards home ownership can be daunting.

There’s a lot to consider before stepping onto the property ladder. And it isn’t as simple as going from the bottom to the top. You have to climb one ring at a time: do your research, ask questions and put yourself in the hands of people with in-depth industry knowledge.

One concern that comes up for most potential property buyers is the issue of affordability. Carl Coetzee, CEO of BetterBond, says that it might be wise to consider co-ownership ‒ an accessible and certainly a more cost-effective way for people to enter the property market.

“Assessing affordability is the first rung on the ladder to qualifying for a bond. One way to make it more affordable is to purchase property with a friend, partner or parent,” says Coetzee.

The bond originator encourages people to apply for pre-qualification as the very first step to securing a bond. Pre-qualification is the process whereby the size of the bond the individual qualifies for is determined. A pre-qualification certificate can be issued within 24 hours and is typically valid for three months, assuming your financial position remains the same in those three months.

Coetzee adds that a key benefit of pre-qualification is that it demonstrates to sellers that you are a serious buyer as you have already gone through the process of thoroughly assessing how much you qualify for.

BetterBond handles clients’ home loan applications (at no charge), submitting to multiple banks to find the best deal available. They also offer free services online, including an affordability calculator which calculates the size of bond you could potentially qualify for based on your current income and expenses.

So, what are the pros, cons and considerations of property co-ownership?

According to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2018, around 35% of South African households own their property (with 18.3% owned by an individual and 17% owned jointly).

Coetzee explains that there are obvious benefits such as sharing the costs and maintenance of a property, but it is very important for applicants to know exactly what they are getting into.

“There are certain things you should consider when deciding if co-ownership is for you. For example, is the person you are looking to purchase property with someone you are willing to enter into a financial agreement with? Trust is very important,” he says.

“You have to ask the right questions and ensure you are well informed before going into this kind of partnership. Once you have decided to go ahead, a written agreement must be drawn up at the outset outlining every detail of the arrangement,” Coetzee explains.

“All terms must be agreed upon in this legally binding contract to avoid any potential issues or confusion down the line, especially if all partners are equal in the contract as no one party then has the authority to make decisions unless all are in agreement.”

The co-ownership agreement should entail who will live on the property; who will pay or contribute towards deposits and initial payments for the property; how ownership will be shared (it is automatically equal if not stated otherwise); who will be allowed to draw funds from the bond; what will happen in the event of the death or incapacitation of one of the co-owners; what will happen if one or more parties in the contract wish to part ways or sell the property; how profits or losses on the property will be split; and anything else that might result in potential disputes.

“Co-ownership makes it significantly easier to enter the property market, especially in light of the current economy where money is tight for most. But before entering into such an agreement, you have to consider all factors of the arrangement carefully and in great detail,” says Coetzee.

“Clarity is key to a successful co-ownership agreement. All co-owners must agree on how things will work upfront, leaving no room for ambiguity.”

Feature image: Pexels

In Bridal Party

Duties a Maid of Honour should never forget

March 10, 2020 No Comments

So you’ve been given the title of Maid of Honour and it’s such an important role in the wedding, it comes with several duties. With great power comes great responsibility.

Hopefully you aren’t too stressed out about the part you have to play in the wedding. More than anything else, you’re the rock that needs to support the bride.

If you’re a bit worried about what else you’ll need to do, here is a checklist to help you remember your duties.

– Head of Bridesmaids

The maid of honour should be the go-to for the rest of the bridesmaids. If there are conflicts, tasks, or pre-wedding events that the bridesmaids are involved in, the maid of honour should organise them and ensure that everything is running smoothly.

– Party planner

From the bridal shower to the bachelorette party, and any other pre-wedding celebrations in between, the maid of honour should have a heavy hand in the planning process.

– Shopping assistant

Wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, decor, and much more. Shopping for all the things a bride needs can become very tiring. The maid of honour should be by the brides side as much as possible for this, providing opinions, support, and helping to carry those heavy shopping bags!

– Speech maker

Often, the maid of honour is expected to give a toast at either the wedding or the rehearsal dinner. Be prepared!

– Right hand to the bride

On the day of the wedding, the bride will need you for lots of small things. Lipstick checks, bathroom breaks, holding the bouquet when she walks down the aisle, providing water and snacks, and personal social media manager are all tasks the maid of honour can be expected to do on the big day. It may sound like a lot, but many of these things come naturally as the day passes by, you’ll see!

– Point person for guests

The last thing a bride wants to do is answer endless questions about the registry, the location of the wedding, and other logistical issues. Guests should be directed to the maid of honour for all of these queries.

– Time and record keeper

You need to ensure that the bride is staying on track, she won’t be able to do it herself.

Additionally, for any gifts and cards that are received, the maid of honour should do her best to keep a record of who gave what – this will be a huge help to the bride and will save her much stress after the wedding.

Image: Pexels

In Advice

Wedding plus-one etiquette: Rules for the couple

March 10, 2020 No Comments

You’re sitting with your fiancé, on the couch with a glass of wine, and chatting about your upcoming wedding. The two of you have compiled lists of people who are to be invited and it’s time for you to combine your lists. Shock and horror ensues as you realise how large your guest list really is!

You quickly try to find ways to shorten the list. Now you’re wondering (about the age-old question), “who really needs a plus one?”.

Here are some quick rules to help you decide:

– Married, engaged, or living together

If your friend – whose partner is unknown to you – is married, engaged, or living with their significant other, then they traditionally receive a plus-one on their invitation.

– The bridal party

The previous rule does not apply to those who are in your bridal party. They should always receive a plus one, no matter what their relationship status is.

– Be clear about plus-ones

Make sure that it is explicitly clear whether your guests are allowed plus-ones. You should indicate this information on the invitation. If you can, add the name of the person you expect that they will bring on the invitation.

– Seating

If you’re being strict about plus-ones, you have to ensure that everyone will be comfortable where they are seated. Don’t seat one individual with only couples. It’s best to have a table or two dedicated to those people who have not be given the privilege of bringing a plus-one. This will make things much less uncomfortable.

– People who don’t need plus-ones

There are certain people who never need a plus one, no matter what the rules are about being married, being engaged or whatever the case may be. Coworkers never need plus ones, guests who are close to you and will know other guests do not need plus ones, and those guests who have a partner who they are only casually dating do not need plus ones. You don’t have to feel bad it!

– Consider people who do need plus ones

This is another one where the previous rules may not apply. If a guest requires assistance, perhaps they are disabled and need physical assistance for example, then they should be given a plus one. You have to be considerate of your guests, you wouldn’t want them to have a horrible time at your wedding.

Image: Unsplash

In Flowers

Bridal bouquet shapes

March 10, 2020 No Comments

Choosing your bridal bouquet may seem like one of the simplest things to do for your wedding but it may not be. Flower types, matching with your dress, and arrangements are all things you have to consider.

Another thing you should keep in mind is the shape you’d prefer. If you’re not sure what shapes are available, then this may be of some help to you.

Here are some shape options for your bridal bouquet:

– Composite Bouquet

Constructed using hundreds of single petals all wired together, this bouquet is made to look like one extra large flower. This can end up being quite and expensive option, but it adds a unique touch of elegance that you don’t often see.

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– Cascade bouquet

Also known as a shower bouquet, this one is quite traditional and very stylish. The flowers are arranged in such a way that they seem as though they’re flowing over the bride’s hands. Often, these bouquets are quite large, and so may be a little inconvenient to lug around on your wedding day. They are, however, great for photos.

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– Fan bouquet

Adding a vintage-feel, this bouquet is simply a plastic fan intertwined with flowers and leaves. This one will stand out from the rest, as it is a very uncommon choice.

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– Basket Bouquet

If you’re having a garden wedding, this one is perfect for you. Flowers are arranged in a basket of whatever shape you prefer. Not only does it add a touch of rustic-vibes, it also generally ensures that your bridal flowers don’t wild and thus last longer.

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– Presentation Bouquet

This one is perfect for the glamorous bride. Otherwise known as the sheath bouquet, this one is striking because of the long stemmed flowers used to create it. A bride carries a presentation bouquet in a specific way – cradled in her arms like a beauty queen who just received her prize.

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– Pomander bouquet

While this one is quite uncommon for brides, it could add a touch of originality to your outfit. The pomander is a ball of flowers carried by a loop of ribbon.

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– Biedermeier Bouquet

Named after a European style of interior design, the biedermeier bouquet is all about symmetry and drama. Flowers are organised in tight, concentric circles of contrasting coloured blooms.

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– Nosegay Bouquet

One of the more structured shapes of bouquets, this one is smaller and easy to carry. Flowers are cut to the same length, tightly packed together, and wrapped in ribbon or lace.

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– Hand-tied bouquets

Also known as a posy, this bouquet is exactly as it’s name suggests – a bunch of flowers, grouped together in an unstructured manner, and tied.

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Image: Unsplash

In Advice

The beginners guide to eyelash extensions

March 10, 2020 No Comments

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, so why not give them some beautiful drapes? Eyelash extensions have been trending in the beauty world for years ever since they first came on the market. Eyelash extensions can give you a flirty, effortless look to your face and majorly cuts down on your prep time in the morning. If you’re considering adding some drama with these flirty fancies, make sure you know what you’re in for.

Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent false lashes glued on top of your own natural ones by a trained technician. Lashes can be made of mink, sable, faux mink, silk, cashmere or synthetic acrylic. The lashes are applied to individual hairs, making every set fully customisable depending on the clients requirements. A typical appointment takes between 1.5-3 hours to complete.

Extension styles are typically broken down into two main categories: classic and volume. Classic is when an individual false lash is applied to an individual natural lash, leaving the most realistic final look. Volume curls offer much more drama as 2-6 lashes bonded together are applied to an individual natural lash. You’ll also have to consider what type of curl you’d like your lashes to have. You can choose between a J curl, B curl, C curl or D curl. The curl you choose should mimic the curl of your natural lashes. Lashes vary in length from 8-14mm, and multiple lengths can be used per set.

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Eyelash extensions typically cost between R350 – R800 depending on the salon / technician you use. Refills are cheaper, typically coming in at R200-R450 per fill.

Eyelash extensions typically last 5-6 weeks, but you can get refills from as early as 2 weeks after your initial appointment to main fullness. As your own lashes naturally shed, your extensions with fall out along with them.

There are some that believe that lash extensions cause traction alopecia as the lashes can put weight on your own, but the chance is very slim. This would typically only happen after years of consistent lash extensions and bad aftercare.

Pre-appointment:

Pre appointment, make sure to remove any makeup in your eye area.
Ask your technician what ingredients are in the lash adhesive they will be using. Glues that contain formaldehyde will irritate your eye, so best steer clear of that! Instead, look out for ingredients like butyl cyanoacrylate and octyl cyanoacrylate, which are much more gentle on the eye.

Post appointment:

Make sure to avoid getting water on your eyes for the first 12-24 hours after your appointment to allow the glue enough time to set.
Use oil-free cleansers to clean your eye area.
Gently brush your lashes with a spoolie brush twice daily
Don’t apply mascara to your extensions

Feature image: Pexels

In News

Woman preserves wrong wedding dress for 30 years

March 10, 2020 No Comments

After her 1989 wedding, Dayton native Beth Griswold had her wedding dress preserved in the hopes that future generations would wear it after her. For years, the dress stayed in a box for safekeeping. However, when she finally opened the box three decades later, she found the wrong one.

The wedding dress, a traditional satin gown, had been professionally preserved and sent back to Griswold shortly after her wedding.

“We were told not to open up the dress. If you open up the dress, it will void the warranty. So for 30 years, I didn’t open up the dress,” Beth tells wdtn.com.

Griswold’s wedding dress was a family heirloom. It once belonged to Griswold’s mother, and the plan was for Griswold’s daughter Jessica to also wear the dress when she was ready to marry. The time had finally come for Jessica to be the third generation to wear this dress when she got engaged to her college sweetheart.

“My grandma had worn the same dress that my mom did, and it was beautiful and I loved it. And so, since I’ve been little, I’ve just anticipated I would wear that dress,” says bride-to-be Jessica Griswold.

Finally, the mother and daughter duo opened the box together, but what they found was unexpected. Griswold had been sent someone else’s wedding dress.

“As we’re opening it, I looked and there was all this glitter, and I was like I don’t remember having glitter on my dress,” says Beth. “As we opened it more, and took it out of the box, we realized that it wasn’t my dress.”

Devastated, Griswold contacted the preservers for help but they were no longer in business.

“They have no records. We don’t know if it got mixed up– It could be anywhere in the country,” says Beth. “The person’s dress who we have probably doesn’t even know that they don’t have their dress.”

The mother and daughter are now searching for the original dress, and continue to hold hopes it will come back to them.

Feature image: Pexels

In News

Impromptu cruise ship wedding amid coronavirus fears

March 10, 2020 No Comments

This San Antonio couple found out that even the best laid plans often go awry. While on a cruise ship, their plans to marry on the Jamaican shore were ruined when their ship was unable to dock. Luckily for them, the cruise liner decided to throw them a surprise wedding.

San Antonio couple Liza Garcia and Theodore Herrera discovered that their wedding plans were unable to go through as a result of coronavirus fears. Jamaican officials are currently reviewing their policies amid the coronavirus outbreak, meaning that the cruise ship was unable to dock on their shores. Their plan of a Jamaican wedding dashed, Carnival Cruise Line decided to throw the couple an impromptu wedding aboard the ship, with Captain Francesco La Farina presiding over the ceremony.

“All of us on board were heartbroken when we learned that Liza and Theodore weren’t able to go ashore for their wedding. We got together as a team and promised to deliver the dream wedding that they deserve,” said Nikhil Khanna, hotel director on the Carnival Freedom. “At Carnival, we want to make sure our guests are provided the vacation of a lifetime and when these types of unforeseen circumstances come up, we take great pride in creating these surprises and delightful moments that our guests will remember forever.”

The bride was given complimentary spa and makeup appointments to prepare her for the big day. After the nuptials, the crew treated the guests and newlyweds to a buffet, three-tiered wedding cake, an ice-sculpture and a DJ.

As if throwing them a wedding free of charge wasn’t enough, Carnival Cruise Line also reimbursed the couple for the funds for their cancelled wedding.

Congrats to the happy couple!

Feature image: Carnival Cruise Line

In Decor

Adorable wedding signs your guests will love

March 9, 2020 No Comments

Add a sweet message to your wedding with a simple sign to greet your guests.Whether its reminding your guests about your unplugged wedding or just reinforcing your love, signs are a sweet way to add a personal touch to your big day. Bonus: these signs are easy to DIY!

Take inspiration from these messages.

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Feature image: Pexels

In Engagements

Six of the best wedding reality shows

March 9, 2020 No Comments

While they may not always end in Happily Ever After, these wedding reality shows are guaranteed to keep you entertained in the run up to your big day. They might also make you feel happier about your own wedding plans when you see what a disaster these can be by comparison.

Here are the best wedding reality TV shows we love to watch:

– Love is Blind

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The recently released Netflix series follows a few single people as they enter the ‘experiment.’ In 10 days, they date a host of people from within ‘pods’ that only let them hear each others voices. By the end of the 10 days, six couples came out engaged without ever having seen each other. This might seem wild enough on it’s own but the series goes even further. The couples then move in together and meet each others families before walking down the aisle to be asked whether “love is truly blind” and they commit to the partner they have known for about a month. As expected, the drama is high as the couples find out who the other person really is.

-Married at First Sight

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A post shared by Married At First Sight (@mafs) on Feb 17, 2020 at 12:38am PST

Married at First Sight has been around since 2014 and is still going strong on TLC. The premise of the show is that couples are chosen and paired up and meet for the first time at the end of the aisle. After getting married, the couple are filmed settling into their new life and after six to eight weeks, they decide whether to stay married or get divorced. Despite being criticised for being a westernised version of arranged marriage for entertainment purposes, it is addictive and keeps you hooked trying to guess who will make it.

– The Wedding Bashers

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A post shared by Lush Occasions (@lushoccasions) on Feb 26, 2017 at 11:34am PST

Wedding Bashers combines the voting fun of Idols with the high stakes pressure of a wedding. Four wedding experts go to different couples weddings and judge them on the entire event. They vote on the weddings, with their vote counting 50% with the South African audience voting from home. If you’re in the middle of planning your wedding, rewatching the first two seasons might be a great way to pick up some ideas, or realise what not to do.

-Our Perfect Wedding

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Another South African wedding show, Our Perfect Wedding airs on Mzansi Magic and follows a couple planning their “perfect wedding” as they check off the items on their wish list. It’s a simple show that follows all the drama going into planning a wedding, with the couple declaring at the end whether or not their wedding was truly perfect. On top of being entertaining, watching other couples go through the entire wedding process might help you realise that your wedding will always have some stumbling blocks but in the end can still be perfect.

-Extreme Engagement

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A post shared by Extreme Engagement | Netflix (@extremeengagement) on Jul 31, 2019 at 11:50am PDT

Unlike the others, this show doesn’t hop straight into marriage. An engaged couple travels the world to experience marriage customs from a variety of cultures. The main goal is to see whether these extremely differing styles of marriage will bring out the best or the worst in their relationship. While it has been criticised for its problematic depictions of other cultures, it is interesting to witness the ways marriage is different all over the world. It might just give you a little time to think what marriage means for you.

– Kom ons trou, nou! (Let’s get married, now!)

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A post shared by Oopsie Daisy Flowers (@oopsiedaisyflowers) on Nov 4, 2019 at 12:34pm PST

Although it’s in Afrikaans, this show has subtitles so you can follow on this wild ride. In every episode, a woman who is tired of waiting for her partner to propose secretly plans their wedding and then proposes to them in front of all their surprised guests. There really isn’t much to learn from this series, since you’ve already got the proposal and are planning the wedding but it’s pure reality TV entertainment.

Feature image: Instagram / Love is Blind