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Weddings

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It definitely makes things esier when your parents and parents-in-law get along, but what if they’re a bit too close? Unfortunately, one couple learnt the bad side of this when they had to postpone their wedding after their parents ran off together.

A young couple from Gujarat, India had to postpone their wedding a month before their big day because the groom’s father and bride’s mother disappeared, and its seems they did so together. The father was reportedly last seen leaving his home in the Katargam area of Surat city, while the mother was last seen leaving her house in Navsari.

According to a relative, the father of the groom and mother of the bride once dated when they were younger. They believe that the pair must have rekindled their romance and eloped.

Well, they do say true love never dies…

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From the top of your head to the tip of your toes, accessories can make or break a look. Have some fun with a few well-placed pins to take your hair from drab to fab.

Here are some ideas to make sure your hair game is on point on your big day.

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For all its faults and fears, social media gets one thing right: it brings us together. Yes, the internet is vast and scary but it can also be the site of true love and happiness. We’ve seen couples from different parts of the globe meet and fall in love all from behind a tiny phonescreen. It’s a truly modern world we live in, and Sandhya and Dylan’s love story exemplifies that.

Credit: Margaux Cronje Photography

Sandhya and Dylan’s worlds were brought together through online dating app Bumble. At the time, Sandhya was living in Australia but had come to South Africa to visit family. They met at the Fire and Ice bar in Melrose Arch for milkshakes and haven’t gone a day without speaking since. Living in different countries, Sandhya and Dylan agreed to remain friends but that didn’t last long.

“It was a spark like none I had previously experienced… it was a romance with a strong emotional and intellectual connection. We always felt like we were learning things from one another and it almost didn’t matter that we were physically apart.”

In August 2018, Sandhya and Dylan decided to close the gap when Sandhya moved to South Africa. It was a difficult decision: in Australia she was an ambitious career woman in a high-paced corporate field, one that was still in its infancy stages in South Africa. Meaningful advice from her mother, however, remedied her torn mind.

“If you miss out on your dream job, you’ll regret it for a couple of years… but if you miss out on your true love, you’ll regret it forever. Find your courage and go see.”

The move was worth it. The couple soon became engaged at Nambiti Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal whilst on a romantic private game drive at sunset.

“The ranger said Dylan had booked a romantic package that included private sunset drinks and photos in a romantic location. We hopped out and another ranger picked us up and drove us to a viewpoint overlooking the entire Nambiti reserve and valley. It was stunning… we could see elephants wandering below us and the Drakensburg mountain range in the distance… Our ranger started to take photos of us, and while I was busy posing, I turned around to find Dylan on one knee with a ring box in his hand!”

The engagement ring was in the shape of a Protea flower, so that Sandhya will always have a piece of Africa with her wherever they go next.

In December 2019, Sandhya and Dylan said ‘I do’ in a stunning ceremony fusing South African, Indian and Irish Catholic traditions, held at the Inanda Polo Club in Sandton.

With an an ‘enchanted garden’ feel, their decor was more focused on understated elegance over the traditional colourful Indian decor. Even the traditional Pandal, a canopy under which the ceremony is held, was draped in white chiffon fabric with rustic white flowers and greenery instead of the usual gold decor.

Credit: Margaux Cronje Photography

For their nuptials, Sandhya wore a beautiful bridal sari in burnt orange made from raw silk and embellished with gold thread, gifted to her from her aunt who had recently travelled to India. The sari even had to be draped by a professional dresser to ensure it was pleated correctly. She accessorised with ‘jimki’ earrings, a heavy choker and necklace, as well as a belt – all of which were gold with touches of cerise. Her hair was styled in a traditional South Indian plait decorated with jewels and lots of white flowers. She had a waist-length plait attached to her hair, and it was so heavy she has to take painkillers to offset the pain! Dylan impressed in a traditional cream military-style suit jacket and burgundy pants.

Credit: Margaux Cronje Photography

 

The wedding, however, did not go as smoothly as expected. First, the driver was late to pick Sandhya and her sister up due to a flat tire then when he did arrive, the car wouldn’t start! As the car was being fixed, Sandhya’s father called to say he had left the thali, a small golden necklace that the groom ties around the bride’s neck to conclude the wedding, at home. The tying of the thali is the most important and sacred part of a South Indian wedding, and without it there could be no wedding. Luckily the car was still stuck and Sandhya was able to get it.

In another crisis, Sandhya’s written vows, a tradition to honour Dylan’s Irish Catholic heritage, was literally gone with the wind.

“The priest announced “the bride and groom have written vows which they will read”, and I looked to my sister to pass them to me. She looked back at me wide-eyed and motioned to the very empty chair she was sitting on, before mouthing “the vows have flown away”. They unfortunately had to cut this part of the ceremony out, but everyone was able to laugh about it later.

Sandhya’s top advice for couples planning their wedding is to not sweat the small stuff, and that there is no need to break the bank. “At the end of it all, people come to your wedding to celebrate the love you have for each other, not to ogle the décor or to comment on the colour choice of your flowers. ”

Her final words of wisdom are “less stress, more champagne! If you are stressed, your guests will be stressed, and if you are worrying about things on your wedding day, your guests will also get that negative vibe. Have fun, drink some wine, dance a lot, and don’t get wound up about small things going wrong…Laugh it off and enjoy it! You’ll wake up the next day and it will seem like a dream.”

Credit: Margaux Cronje Photography

All images were amazingly captured by Margaux Cronje. You can view her website HERE.

Feature image: Margaux Cronje

Many couples are unsure about when to have their official wedding photoshoot. Some hold fast to the tradition of seeing each other for the first time when entering the ceremony venue and walking down the aisle. All pictures of the couple then usually follow after the ceremony and before the reception. Others love the idea of the “first look” trend where the see each other privately beforehand, and some then choose to have the entire shoot before the actual wedding.

We take a look at the pros and cons of both to help you decide which is right for you.

Before the ceremony

 

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Don’t mind us while we just sob over here, this grooms face is EVERYTHING. ✨ . . . PHOTO: @macyfrances VENUE: @thestvrain FLORAL: @freshbloomsfloraldesign CATERING: @sugarpinecatering DESSERT: @sweetcowicecream @downrightsweettreats BEAUTY: @bellohavenhairextensions @antoniadg @glam__gall PLANNING: @rootandgatherevents . #rockymountainbride #rockymountainbridemagazine #rmbcolorado #coloradowedding #coloradoweddings #stvrain #firstlookwedding #firstlook #groom #coloradobride #coloradogroom #groomsface #ido #tohaveandtohold #couplesgoals #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #thefeels #feels #howsweet #sweetness #shesbeautiful #weddinginspiration #wedspo #weddinginspo

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Pros:
-It will ease up the nerves

Your wedding day can have you feeling very nervous, especially in the moments before you head to the ceremony. If you decide to see each other beforehand, it might make you loosen up and have some fun together, before you take the final step.

-It’s a special, private moment

Because the day is very emotional for both of you, spending the moment in private together will be extra special. This way, the groom can let his guard down and expose his vulnerable side when he sees you for the first time on the day, which is more intimate than in front of a crowd.

Cons:

-It changes tradition

The longstanding tradition in Western weddings is that the bride and groom don’t see each other before the wedding, with the first time they lay eyes on each other being when the bride walks down the aisle. However, some feel like it might be time to let go of certain rituals and embrace new trends.

-It influences your timeline

If you want to incorporate the “first look” and do the photoshoot before the ceremony, you will have to keep in mind that it takes time. Your schedule might have to move up to accommodate a few extra hours.

After the ceremony

Pros:

-You get the best lighting

If you have the traditional late afternoon ceremony with an evening reception, doing the photoshoot after the ceremony will mean you get that golden hour hue. Of course, you can still split it so you do a first look before the ceremony and then do the rest of the shoot after, so you get the best of both worlds.

-You capture a different kind of moment

The groom’s expression when he sees the bride walking down the aisle might not be as private as the first look, but it can be just as special. It captures a special moment of a different kind, and the wonder in his eyes will be just as beautiful.

Cons:

-You don’t have privacy

Depending on how many guests you have, it might be nerve racking to see your partner for the first time in front of all those people. It might make you both feel slightly exposed, but then again, you might want to share the moment with the people you love.

-You don’t spend time before the ceremony

If you see each other at the ceremony for the first time, you don’t have the chance to spend some alone time together. The day will probably be busy and you won’t get to take a breath until after the whole wedding.

In the end, both ways can be wonderful and solely depends on your personal preference. There is no wrong way to do it.

 

Image: Instagram/Thewoodsweddings

 

Congratulations are in order for Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and Tim Tebow! The beautiful couple tied the knot in a stunning sunset ceremony in Franschhoek, South Africa.

 

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Forever and Always @timtebow

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Following an exciting few days of pre-wedding activities, Demi-Leigh and Tim finally said ‘I do’ at the La Paris Estate. According to PEOPLE, their ceremony lasted 30 minutes and was attended by 260 guests. The couple wrote their own vows.

Speaking to PEOPLE the night before the wedding, Tim said, “I want the vows to be perfect. I’m leaving in the traditional things like ’till death do us part,’ but I’m also adding some of my own things to it.”

Demi-Leigh wore a beautiful custom gown by Davids Bridal and Tim wore a tuxedo by Antar Levar.

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The wedding blended South African and American wedding traditions, because their cultures are very important to the couple.

“We’re both very traditional,” Nel-Peters told PEOPLE. “We wanted to look back at the wedding and see that it was intimate, elegant, and traditional. We definitely wanted it to be something that we could look back on and know that nothing was dated. We want to remember this day for the rest of our lives.”

The day could not have come soon enough for this loved-up pair.

“I’ve been looking forward to three things,” said Tebow to PEOPLE. “The first moment I see her in her wedding dress, the first kiss, and the first dance together as man and wife. It’s such a special night.”

He continued, “I’ve been waiting my entire life for someone special, who I can spend the rest of my life with. I was waiting for the right person to come along. And now I’m marrying Demi. I can’t wait to see what our future holds. All of my dreams have come true. It was 100 percent worth the wait.”

Also read: Inside Demi-Leigh and Tim Tebow’s pre-wedding weekend

Feature image: Instagram / Tim Tebow

People get married all the time, so you want to make sure your wedding stands out from the crowd. Adding a personal touch to parts of your wedding makes the day memorable not only for the betrothed couple but also for the guests. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Small touches can make a big difference if done well.

There are a multitude of ways to add personal touches to your big day. Here are a few ideas:

Signature drinks

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Quirky wedding favours

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Unique cake topper

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Choreograph a dance routine

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A paw-some ring bearer

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Special embroidery

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Set up a wedding hashtag

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Write your own meaningful vows

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Get punny

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Play some games

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Forget Western traditional white weddings. It’s no secret that Hindu weddings are a magical display of colour in celebration of love and union. This pair strayed from the Hindu tradition of bright red, however, to go with a soft pink and we absolutely adore it.

Amar Jandoo and Hiren Gondhia got married in Essex, UK, and their story is a fairytale.

“We met just over four years ago in a bar after seeing each other at the train station on our commute to work a number of times that same week,” Jandoo told Insider. “We got engaged in September 2018 in Cappadocia, Turkey, under hot air balloons,” she added.

 

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Fiancé has a ring to it ? ?

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Their wedding took place a year later.

“Given our wedding venue is in the middle of a deer park with lots of greenery, I wanted a subtle, pastel color that would stand out and complement the flowers and decor at the same time,” Jandoo said. “Both of our outfits were purchased from a boutique in Delhi, India, called Frontier Raas,” Jandoo said. Zohaib Ali Photography captured the stunning couple.

Image: Instagram

The pre-wedding festivities have been thriving this past week for former Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and Tim Tebow. The couple gathered their closest friends and family for a weekend of celebrations in Cape Town.

Their weekend started with a ‘Welcome to Africa’ cocktail dinner in the winelands to introduce Tebow to South African culture. Nel-Peters wore a stunning white dress by Gert Johan-Coetzee featuring a criss-cross neckline and cut-out detail, while Tebow wore a blush-toned suit.

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The following day, the couple held a stunning rehearsal dinner. The couple went for a sophisticated colour scheme, opting for rich purples, reds and black. Nel-Peters stunned in a strapless wine-coloured dress with beading by Anel Botha. The couple’s weekend events are all planned by celebrity planner Zavion Khotze.

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The way these events have gone, we cannot wait to see the wedding! It is sure to be a spectacular day.

Feature image: Instagram / Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

Removing all or some of your body hair is a personal choice, and we’re firm believers in doing whatever works for you. Many men and women do choose to wax, though, especially before the big day and long-awaited honeymoon. However, it’s not a very pleasant thought when making that waxing appointment. Often accompanied by pain, discomfort and even skin conditions like rashes or in-grown hair have made many skeptical of this procedure.

We take a look at the other options out there, which may just make things slightly easier and prevent you from getting in a sticky situation.

Sugaring

This method makes use of a sugar mixture which is applied at body temperature. That already means there is no chance of burning as is sometimes the case with wax. The sugar paste does not stick to live skin cells, only to hair and dead cells – giving the best exfoliation and leaving your skin smooth when the dry paste is removed. Although not completely painless, sugaring is considerably less painful than waxing.

Laser

Laser treatment’s biggest perk is the fact that it leads to permanent hairlessness over a long time if that’s what your goal is. However, it is quite expensive and you might still have to go for up to six treatments per year, depending on your hair growth and other factors like the quality of the laser machinery. Also, not completely pain-free, but most women say that it is definitely less painful than waxing.

Electrolysis

Different to laser treatments but working on the same basic principle, a probe emitting shortwave radio frequencies is applied to hair follicles to stop new hair from growing. This damages your hair follicles to prevent growth. Unlike laser technology, electrolysis is able to treat even blonde, white and grey hair.

Dry shave

It’s not groundbreaking, but it has proven to be an effective -and cheaper- alternative. Easy to do at home, a waterless electric shaver is quick and easy, with the bonus that it won’t cause in-grown hair like shaving does.

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If there’s any time at which you need the ease and conveniences of the internet the most, it’s during your engagement. Planning the big day is stressful enough so it only makes sense that when putting together your gift registry, you’d want to get the job done in the least laborious and time-consuming manner possible. These nine sites offer you the convenience of picking out wedding gifts without having to leave home.

1 Bespoke Wedding Registry

Registry Websites

Launched by a Londoner, Bespoke Wedding Registry aims to fill the gap in the South African market for customised gifting. With a selection of homeware and kitchenware sourced from prestigious brands, including the namesake collection of world-renowned chef Jamie Oliver and local ranges Ardmore and Kikoi, you’re bound to find unique pieces that speak to your style. Plus, they offer a service where a group of guests can club together to purchase larger items such as furniture. You also score two free deliveries if you live in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.

Contact +27 21 448 7155, [email protected]bespokeregistry.co.za

2 Wrapistry

Registry Websites

Featuring products from a whopping 90 brands, Wrapistry’s offering include items to stock in your home as well as experiences. A variety of memory-making activities from a couple’s cooking class to wine tasting tours is available to add to your wishlist. If you ever feel like changing your mind, that’s no problem – you can do so as often as you like. To save you from the task of guessing who gave you a gift (and which one!), Wrapistry also mails you a list of guests and their purchases. Now, all you need to do is grab that mouse and start picking your favourites.

Contact +27 10 500 7503, [email protected]wrapistry.co.za

3 Banks Kitchen Boutique

Registry Websites

What began as a lively shop in a close-knit community has now expanded to two boutiques and an online store. Apart from displaying their cutting-edge goods, the online store allows you to access their blog where you can discover recipes and browse product reviews. Once your guests have bought your presents, Banks Kitchen Boutique will happily wrap the goods, add a note from the gift-giver and deliver it to your door – all on the house. Customers have raved about this convenient outlet and we’re sure you’ll love it too.

Contact +27 21 461 3190, bankskitchenboutique.co.za

4 Yuppiechef

Registry Websites

Voted South Africa’s best online store, you can rest assured their registry service is effortless. Not sure where to start? Navigate to the ‘Starter Collection’ tab to get an idea of what you’ll need to fill your first nest. Given our demanding, modern lifestyles, we could all spare a few bucks here and there, and Yuppiechef gives you the option of sending discount vouchers to three loved ones. However, if you do spot a pricey item you love, you can make it yours by swapping a few less expensive pieces for it.

Contact +27 861 702 4969, [email protected], yuppiechef.com

5 Carrol Boyes 

Registry Websites

Named after its internationally esteemed owner, this lifestyle brand specialises in premium homeware products. When creating your registry with Carrol Boyes, you have the option of selecting your goods online or enjoying a personal consultation with an assistant in a brick-and-mortar store. Once you’ve done so, your choices will be listed and placed online for your guests to seamlessly purchase what they please. If you want to return any duplicates, be sure to check that they are in the original packaging and in tip-top condition.

Contact +27 21 424 8263, carrolboyes.com

6 Granny Goose

Registry Websites

With your mattress covered in fluffy pillows and duvets from Granny Goose, a producer of top-quality bed linen, you can luxuriate in deep, peaceful slumbers night after night. Apart from their bedding products, you can find Le Creuset cookware and Riedel Glassware items at their stores. To easily inform your guests about your registry, Granny Goose will provide you with little cards to insert into your wedding invitations. If anything wasn’t bought, you can get it at 10% off. What’s more, they’ll hand you a special thank-you gift for choosing them as your vendor.

Contact +27 860 388387, [email protected]grannygoose.com

7 @home

Registry Websites

As South Africa’s prime shopping location for sophisticated homeware, you simply can’t afford not to enlist the registry service of @home. Head to the ‘Customer Favourites’ page to make sure you don’t forget to add any must-buys. In addition to a selection of top-notch products, you’ll receive a gift card worth 10% of the value of all your guests’ purchases. To keep this value updated and to record the buyer of each present in-store, remind your guests to notify the @home sales assistant that they are purchasing an item for your registry.

Contact +27 860 576 576, [email protected]home.co.za

8 Boardmans

Registry Websites

Couple’s who have an Edcon Group Thank U loyalty card will enjoy all the benefits of the programme when they create a registry at Boardmans as you’ll gain 10 times the amount of Thank U points for all the gifts bought at the store. Given that there;s no limit on how many items are added, you could gain an enormous amount of points! These points can then be used to buy anything from Boardmans, or to shop at Edgars, Red Square, Jet, Legit and CNA. Talk about a shopping spree!

Contact +27 860 236 289, [email protected], boardmans.co.za

MRP Home

Registry Websites

For home decor that’s uber stylish and pocket-friendly, there couldn’t be a better place to shop than MRP Home.Scroll through their ‘Inspiration’ section to view a variety of themes for your home along with a list of products to fit each theme. Although MRP Home offers online and in-store registries, they aren’t interchangeable so let your guest know which kind it is as guests wanting to purchase online for an in-store registry will not be able to do so and vice versa.

Contact +27 800 212 535, mrphome.com

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