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Weddings

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Every year of marriage is one worthy of celebration, but the ones that land on multiples of five are always extra special. Every year that passes takes your marriage to a new level and holds new significance, with a particular symbol to represent it.

Traditionally, the 15th year of marriage is symbolised by crystal to represent beauty and investment. Highly revered and quite costly, crystal is an extravagant item reserved for the finer pieces in life.

There are many examples of crystals like diamonds, salt, quartz, and various gemstones. This makes the gifting process so much easier, as you have more variety.

Here are some crystal gift ideas to stick to tradition:

Nachtmann Lead-Free Crystal Harlekin Glass Vase – R990 from YuppieChef

Bohemia Crystal – Empery Candlestick – R699 from Makro

Shift Smoky Quartz Crystal Elixir Water Bottle – R1090 from Faithful to Nature

Spiegelau Lead-Free Crystal Style White Wine Glasses, Set of 4 – R499 from Yuppiechef

Brillante Whisky Decanter – R549 on Kitchenique

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Comedian Amy Schumer is opening up and giving fans an inside look at her secret 2018 wedding to Chris Fischer in honour of their third wedding anniversary.

The pair tied the knot in a secret ceremony at a private mansion in Malibu on February 13, 2018.

Taking to Instagram, Schumer shared a video recapping moments from their special day. The video revealed that her bridesmaids wore pink lace gowns and flower crowns.

Watch her recap here:

 

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Schumer told Howard Stern that she had planned their impromptu wedding in a mere four days, and invited her guests via a text that read: “I’m getting married on Tuesday. I hope you can come.”

Celebrity pals Jennifer Aniton and Jennifer Lawrence were among the guests at this short notice soiree.

Schumer and award-winning chef Fischer met through her assistant Molly, who is Fischer’s sister. The pair welcomed their first child together, a son named Gene David, in May 2019.

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For decades the rose has held the privileged position as the most romantic flower. As such, it’s rare to come across a wedding venue that hasn’t been decorated with at least a few of these sweetly scented flowers.

The rose has been a symbol of love since the beginning of time: the birth of Venus was marked with white roses and the text of the Medieval poem, ‘The Romance of the Rose’, lured the suitor to a rose garden.

The flower represents the phases of romantic bonds, from the initial butterflies that you feel in your tummy to the twilight years of unwinding on the porch at sunset.

It’s the perfect flower for a wedding day. Go for a mix of red, white and pink for a sweet yet romantic look, or go monochromatic for a bolder finish. Of course, you can stick strictly to roses but they also pair beautifully with other blooms like orchids and carnations.

From your wedding arch to your reception table, here are some stunning setups that are coming up roses:

 

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With the wealth of jaw-droppingly beautiful blooms available, choosing the correct ones for your big day can be a challenge. Of course, you’d want your wedding flowers to look spectacular, but have you thought about what they actually mean?

Thinking about the special messages attached to your flowers when you select them will allow them to serve a greater purpose than simply ornamenting your venue. So, we’ve decoded the meanings of five well-loved bridal blossoms to help make your big day even more meaningful.

Roses

Aah, the oh-so-pretty rose. It’s rare to come across a wedding venue that hasn’t been decorated with at least a few of these sweetly scented flowers, and understandably so.

The rose has been a symbol of love since the beginning of time: the birth of Venus was marked with white roses and the text of the Medieval poem, ‘The Romance of the Rose’, lured the suitor to a rose garden.

The flower represents the phases of romantic bonds, from the initial butterflies that you feel in your tummy to the twilight years of unwinding on the porch at sunset. Add it to your bouquet as a reminder of everlasting love.

Lavender

With its healing qualities and intense, euphoric aroma, lavender has the power to transform your wedding into an occasion of restoration and refreshment.

During bygone eras, young ladies would slide lavender sachets between the garments of their bridal trousseau and just beneath their corsets, to infuse their clothing with its scent.

Follow in their footsteps by sewing a few stems to the lining of your dress or mixing them with an assortment of other blooms in your wedding bouquet. For the ultimate experience of revival, spritz on lavender perfume just before taking your first steps down the aisle.

Daffodil

Just as the uplifting daffodil signals the end of winter and the start of spring, so too can it signal your new beginning as a wife.

Dubbed ‘Butter and Eggs’ by the Victorians as a nod to its vivid hues, it’s reminiscent of carefree childhood days and is the ideal bloom to help you create a relaxed, joyous ambiance.

It’s said to be a simplistic and natural flower, which will perfectly blend into the decor of a minimalistic, farm-themed wedding.

Ranunculi

 

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This flower, consisting of layers of pretty petals, was historically given to women to let them know how alluring they were.

Persian legend has it that a prince was transformed into ranunculi after singing to an enchanting nymph that he fell in love with. Whether your groom is musically gifted or not, a bunch of ranunculus from him is a foolproof sign that you’ve bewitched him with your beauty.

It’s no wonder that this flower has made its way into many a wedding tablescape. Decorate your venue to look just as beguiling as you do by using them to fashion trendy table runners.

Lily of the Valley

 

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Lily of the Valley is a flower of celebration, consisting of tiny bell-shaped buds surrounded by a collection of vibrant, green foliage.

On the British holiday of Whit Monday, families and friends came together to have a ‘lily picnic’ where they picked several lilies before indulging in tasty fare and dancing to jolly ol’ tunes.

Copy their festive rituals or for a more romantic take, follow the French custom of exchanging Lily of the Valley with your love: he can add a sprig to your bouquet while you pin him with a boutonniere made with the bloom.

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Netflix continues its foray into the wedding world and has just launched a new show delving into India’s extravagant multi-billion dollar wedding industry.

The Big Day follows six engaged couples as they plan their perfect day, showing readers what it takes to pull off a truly lavish Indian wedding with no expenses spared. Of course, readers will also learn more about Indian culture and tradition, and fall in love with the couples.

“A dash of crazy and an overdose of love, that’s what all shaadis are meant to be, right? The Big Day takes a deep dive into the multibillion-dollar Indian wedding industry, through six extravagant Indian weddings, across the globe. It takes us on an insider’s journey, giving us a glimpse into what goes behind crafting every happily ever after. Catch the madness unfold in The Big Day, on 14th February, only on Netflix,” the streaming service writes.

The first three episodes of Collection 1 premiered on Valentine’s Day, February 14, and another collection is expected soon.

Watch the trailer here:

The show comes off the success of shows like Love is Blind, Indian Matchmaking and Say ‘I Do’, all of which premiered in 2020 and were internationally lauded.

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Fascinators aren’t just for British royalty. This eye-catching accessory is classic and regal, perfect for the vintage bride.

This trend first began in 17th-century Europe, when women would wrap lacy scarves around their heads to give off a sense of mystery. It fell out of fashion for a period of time but came back to life in the 1960s thanks to a New York milliner named John P. John, who rebranded the headpiece into a half-hat. 

Whether you go big or small, this look works well for a variety of looks. Complete with netting to cover your eyes and nose and you are ready for your big day.

Here are some fancy fascinators we are loving:

 

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An animal shelter in South Carolina in the US live-streamed a special canine wedding between two of their pups to encourage donations and the importance of adopting dogs from shelters.

Greenville County Animal Care hosted the special day between dogs Sassy and Spero on Thursday, February 10 in honour of their new Have a Heart Heartworm Treatment Fund. Every heartworm positive dog will have their treatment covered in full through this fund, making it easier than ever to adopt a heartworm-positive dog.

According to the shelter, Sassy and Spero are both heartworm survivors and have been together since Sassy began treatment for heartworm. They walked down the aisle on Thursday and said ‘woof woof’ in their wedding finery before enjoying a special wedding cake.

Watch the sweet ceremony here:

The shelter is no stranger to doggy weddings. This has become a yearly tradition, and adopting are free during the week of the wedding.

Consider making a donation (http://bit.ly/2N4iEmR) to the Have a Heart fund in lieu of gifts for this pawsome couple.

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No, we aren’t talking about superheroes or cats. But hey, if that’s your thing, go for it! Your themed wedding is used to showcase what is important to you and your partner, through all aspects of your wedding.

A theme is a style which is incorporated in everything including stationery, decor, table settings, and invitations. Whether this is a colour, a symbol, or a popular movie genre, it’s totally your call, and you can be as creative as you like.

Here’s what you need to consider:

Pick a theme that’s meaningful to you

Your wedding theme needs to be something that you absolutely love. Maybe purple is your favourite colour and you love the smell of lavender, or the ocean is you and your partner’s favourite place. Whatever it is, the theme should be of interest to both you and your partner, as it is a celebration of your love.

Research, research, research

You have now chosen your theme and need to incorporate it into all the wedding planning details (Hello Pinterest!). If you can afford to hire a wedding planner this will help immensely, but it’s not impossible to create the wedding of your dreams on your own. You will need to do research on where to get all the materials to put your theme together, such as fabrics, flowers, stationery, etc. Once you have done this, the work really begins!

Subtle but sweet

A beach themed wedding does not have to be as on-the-nose as hosting your wedding right there on the shore. Instead, you can opt for smaller and subtler ways to allude to the theme in your decor. No matter your theme, there are fun ways to bring it to life, like using shells as escort cards. The key is to not go overboard so that your wedding doesn’t read as themed but rather inspired by a theme.

Get your family and friends involved

Putting together your ideas and crafting everything for the big day will most probably take months of planning (and asking mother dear for help), but nothing is better than seeing your vision come to life. Don’t be afraid to get your partner and other family members in on the fun, but remember to be stern about what you want and what is expected. You can even hold a fun family day where you spend time together creating the beautiful stationery and decor items that will fit with your theme.

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Your wedding album is the best way to look back on your special day. Make sure to have it captured in style with an expert wedding photographer

While you probably want most of your photos to have that beautifully candid effect, it’s important to sit down with your photographer and plan out a few must-have wedding photos.

Here are some moments you won’t want to miss:

The process of getting ready

The day is finally here! Remember to take a moment and have your photographer capture you enjoying a cuppa with your besties, or all of you listening to your mom talking about old romantic stories as you get ready for the special day. Sweet shots of you staring in the mirror, or your maid of honour zipping your dress up will remind you of your excitement. 

The shoes

 

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Your wedding shoes are often hidden beneath the long dress, not affording them the attention they deserve. Make sure to get a snap of your shoes in all their glory, before you kick them off to dance the night away.

The invitations

These guys usually take months of planning, yet they’re sometimes easily forgotten about. Take a snap for posterity’s sake so that you can always remember the details of your big day, from the time it started to the dress code.

Details, details, details

 

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It’s easy to get caught up in taking general pictures of the bridal couple and the reception, but make sure to take a moment to hone in on the finer details. The bouquet and groom’s boutonnière play a pivotal role in your wedding attire. Also consider taking close up shots of your ring, the food, and decor so you won’t forget a thing. 

An aerial shot

Everything happens so quickly during your wedding. Have images taken of the entire space so you can go back and appreciate what you and your partner planned together and see things from a different angle.

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You don’t have to wear a dress on your big day. If you’re more comfortable in pants, do with your heart and rock a suit. Menswear-inspired outfits have been a massive trend in fashion for the last few years, and it seems like it’s not going to go away any time soon.

If you want to add some flair to your suit, consider adding a train or even a cape. Using a lightweight fabric like tulle or chiffon will soften the look. Of course, you can also rock a long-length tuxedo jacket as a dress, which is perfect for a more informal or small wedding. The possibilities are endless.

Here are some brides giving us suit style inspo:

 

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