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Weddings

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Black is the new black. Symbolic of sophistication and power, black is a bold colour perfect for the couple wanting to make a statement. While black may seem morbid to some, there are so many ways to incorporate this rich hue into your big day that don’t appear gothic.

Take inspiration from these dark treats:

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Feature image: Pexels

A semi-formal dress code is just above cocktail and below formal. The time and location of the wedding should help guide your outfit. If the wedding is in the evening, you should wear more structured clothing in darker shades, if it is in the day, wear light colours and fabrics.

Men

Wear a suit and tie or a smart blazer with a button down shirt. Pair your clothing with a smart pair of leather shoes.

 

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Women

Wear a smart, knee-length dress, jumpsuit, or smart pants or a pencil skirt with a nice blouse. Semi-formal outfits should be form fitting, especially for an evening wedding.

 

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Featured image: Unsplash

A sign of good fortune, catching the bridal bouquet or garter predicts that the recipient will be the next person to get married. But have you ever wondered where this tradition comes from? Turns out, they have an incredibly odd origin story…

You know the scene: the emcee calls all the single ladies to the dance floor for the traditional bouquet toss. Bridesmaids and guests jostle each other in preparation of the momentous occasion. The bride turns her back on her guests and hurls the bouquet, causing eager women to leap into a frenzy to catch the floral arrangement. It’s a fun, lighthearted moment during ones big day. However, it wasn’t always that way.

Back in the day – medieval England to be exact – wedding guests were desperate to have a piece of the bride, literally. Wedding dresses were seen as positive signs of fertility and good luck, so obviously everyone wanted to get their hands on one. After the wedding, guests would clamour around the bride and rip pieces of her gown off her body as a keepsake. Guests in those days were pretty intense and would even follow the newlyweds into their bridal chamber and egg them on as they prepared to consummate the marriage. Yes, really. Understandably, newlyweds weren’t really into this.  To ward them off, the bride would hurl her bouquet into the crowd as a distraction before she made a quick exit with the groom.

The garter was a popular piece guests aimed to grab from the bride. After the newlyweds consummated the marriage, the groom would toss the garter to the waiting crowd as proof that the deed was done. This piece of lingerie thus came to symbolise fertility and good fortune.

In the 1919 book, “Wedding Customs Then and Now”, Carl Holliday writes, “The bridesmaids start with the weary bride to the wedding chamber when suddenly the cry arises, ‘Get her garter’… If the woman has been thoughtful, she has fastened it loosely to the bottom of her dress so that it drags in plain view of the scrambling ruffians; if she has not been a wise virgin, she may find her clothes in rags after the struggle.”

Luckily, times have changed. Although I don’t know if a groom lunging underneath a skirt to retrieve the garter with his teeth makes this tradition any better. Think of the children…

Image: Pexels

Wedding season is upon us and unfortunately so is the scorching summer. Sweat drenched outfits and melting makeup are not ideal on your wedding day. While you can’t get rid of the sun, there are a number of ways you can make the day more manageable for you and your guests.

Here are some key tips to beat the heat this wedding season:

Pack an emergency kit

Sweat is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Pack an emergency kit filled with products designed to keep you looking fresh throughout the day. In your kit, make sure to include deodorant, perfume, baby wipes, powder to mattify your makeup and extra makeup for touch-ups.

Avoid too much alcohol

The heat and alcohol are not friends. Consuming alcohol while sitting under the beating sun can leave you feeling drunk way sooner that you expected. Your body will struggle to regulate its internal temperature, putting you at a higher risk of heat stroke. Alcohol is also a diuretic, meaning you will urinate more frequently and thus lose more body fluid. This can led to dehydration if you’re not careful. Stay safe and sip on some refreshing H2O for every alcoholic drink you consume.

Cool favours

If you’re planning on having an outdoor summer wedding, keep your guests in mind with some cooling favours. Whether they are made of paper, wood or miniature motorised ones, a handheld fan will do wonders to create a slight breeze. You could also offer sunglasses or parasols in your wedding theme. Make sure to monogram them with a sweet message to make these favours extra memorable.

SPF!!

We know, we know. We sound like a mom telling their 5-year-old to lather up with some sunscreen before heading out to the beach. However naggy it may seem, we will always campaign for the use of SPF because it is crucial to protecting your skin from the suns harmful rays, especially if you’ll be outdoors. Make sure to use a good facial SPF and lotion up with a body sunscreen. Most dermatologists recommend using a SPF 15 or SPF 30 sunscreen.

Wear lighter fabrics:

It might not be your biggest concern, but the fabric of your wedding attire will have a large effect on your day. When choosing your wedding dress/suit, make sure to go for lighter, more breathable fabrics that won’t trap in the heat. Think linen, chiffon, crepe, tulle and organza.  Fabrics you will definitely want to steer clear from include velvet, leather and silk.

 

Image: Pexels

For a modern day fairytale dress, look no further than the princess gown. With a full and flowing skirt, this dress style is wonderfully whimsical and romantic.

Princess gowns are the most traditional of the silhouettes, often considered the most romantic and feminine due to its fairytale-esque shape. Join the ranks of famous brides like Mariah Carey, Serena Williams and Diana, Princess of Wales by choosing this style.

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Fans of The Bachelor will be ecstatic to know that the venue where the famous reality show is set is now also available for hire as a wedding venue. To top it off, you can even ask celebrity host of the series, Chris Harrison, to officiate the marriage.

Credit: Instagram/Chris Harrison

Having been ordained as a minister, Harrison has since wed many a lucky couple who hit it off on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette.

The famous Villa de la Vina in Malibu, US, is a 200-years-old Mediterranean-style building with a range of luxury features that will make for the perfect wedding venue. The venue, that can host 350 people, has an infinity pool and picturesque views of the surrounding canyons.

If you want to have an extravagant wedding at this lavish venue, you’ll have to contact them for official quotes, but according to Wetpaint, you can rent it out for an icy $2,100 (R17 745) a night for personal use so we can only imagine what a wedding might set you back.

Picture: Instagram

Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, got engaged to professional football player and former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow on January 9, 2019. Since then, the couple have been very secretive about the details of their wedding.

The top questions on everyone’s mind are where the wedding will be and what the dress will look like. Both questions are yet to be answered.

They have, however, shared a few small details here and there in interviews and on their social media accounts. Here is what we know so far:

– Demi is completely in control 

Tebow mentioned in an interview that the planning is being done mostly by Nel-Peters. He said that all he wants is to be surrounded by the people he loves, and whatever his fiancé plans will be perfect.

– Zavion Kotze will be planning the wedding

Nel-Peters chose the highly regarded and popular Zavion Kotze to design and coordinate their wedding. Kotze launched his events company in 2010 and specialises in event management, wedding planning and floral design.

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– Demi has six bridesmaids 

In an interview with David’s Bridal, Demi divulged some information about the bridal party. She said that she has six bridesmaids; all of whom are women she holds dear and whom she hopes will be in her life forever. With regards to her bridesmaids she said, “I don’t think it would have been as fun without them”.

– We have an idea of their wedding dance 

Tebow posted a video to his Instagram captioned, “Cha-cha slide is pretty tough”. The video shows the couple practicing the Cuban dance, with Tim sweating through his shirt. Demi posted a picture on the same day captioned, “Our first ‘first dance’ lesson”. We’re sure they’ll nail it on the big day!

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– The guest list may include some of Nel-Peters’ fellow beauty queens 

Nel-Peters told Channel24 in August, that she had invited some of her pageant sisters to attend her wedding. The wedding is sure to have heads turning with both the decor and the guests.

– We will see the wedding photos  

The couple took to Instagram to ask their followers for help. They wanted some suggestions on a wedding hashtag. Surely this means they’re intending to post the wedding photos for us all to marvel at.

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– A potential wedding song 

In an interview with Jacaranda FM, Nel-Peters said that the Matthew Mole track, “The Wedding Song” is very special to the couple. She said that the song is being considered as a potential wedding song.

– They’re preparing for marriage, not just a wedding 

Demi mentioned in an interview that she and Tebow have been reading books about marriage and attending pre-marriage counselling. This additional piece of preparation is sure to make their wedding day and life together even more special.

– The wedding should be soon

Nel-Peters has already had her bachelorette party and bridal shower. This is a sign that the wedding date may be soon.

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Image: Instagram/Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

Many brides go for a neutral nail look on their wedding day. We’ve had the French manicure, then we had the plain white or cream. Some even went as far as subtle pinks. Other brides who were not sold on the idea of subtle went for over-the-top glitzy nail art or bright colours. But what about the in-between? Fret not! There are loads of other options that are truly gorgeous, not too extra and far away from boring.

Two-toned matt

Pearl colours

Metallic flecks

Galactic splendour

Dark (k)night

Boho chic

Glossy shine

Textured finish

Picture: Instagram/Lolaliner

 

 

Give good face with the new makeup trend sweeping the beauty industry: soft glam. Romantic yet sultry, this makeup look is perfect for the bride wanting to make a subtle statement.

Soft glam gives you the drama of a bold look that is paired down to appear more relaxed. Healthy looking and dewy skin, warm-toned eyeshadow, arched eyebrows and glossy, nude lips are key characteristics to this trend. Celebrity makeup artists Hung Vann Go, Patrick Ta and Mary Phillips are experts in this makeup trend.

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The eyes are the key to this look. Think warm-toned browns, bold wined liner and a natural bushy brow. Use a matte brown in the crease and make sure to buff the shadow out towards your temples for a blown out, catlike effect. A gold-toned shimmer shade in the centre of your lid will highlight your eye to perfection.

Our pick: Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow Palette in Original R179.

A natural yet full set of lashes is easily obtained with a stunning set of falsies. This will give you a flirty finish without being too overwhelming on the eye.

Our pick: Sorbet’s All Of A Flutter false eyelashes in the style ‘Loaded Lashes’ R60.

For bold and bushy brows, use a fine-tipped brow pencil with a waxy finish to create hairlike strokes. Remember to brush your hair upwards before filling them in for even greater fullness and fluffiness.

Our pick: Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil R375. 

 

For lips, your best nude lipstick will work perfectly. Give your lips a pretty pout with a clear gloss over top.

Our pick: NYX Lip Lingerie Gloss in the shade Clear R169.90.

Feature image: Unsplash

 

South Africa’s very own Zozibini Tunzi has just been crowned Miss Universe for 2019. Her beauty, strength and intellect have inspired us all to be a little bit like her. Take some style tips from our reigning queen this upcoming wedding season by taking a page from her fashion diaries.

Wedding dress:

Zozibini strutted down the Miss Universe stage wearing a stunning white caped gown representing her Xhosa heritage, designed by Biji – La Maison de Couture. Modern and structured, this dress makes a powerful statement.

Bridal capes are a great option for brides that are looking for a little something extra and for those that are looking to break away from the norm. If you’re not into the super modern look, you can soften the cape by going for lighter fabrics to give an airy finish.

Credit: Instagram / vera_kayy
Credit: Instagram / lovestoryfilms
Credit: Instagram / oksana_mukha_official

If you’re daring, why not go for an illusion gown wedding dress? Zozibini wore this Biji – La Maison de Couture to the Fairlady Santam Woman of the Future Awards earlier this year and gave us major #outfitgoals.

This lace applique gown is delicate yet sexy, perfect for the bride wanting to strike a balance. If you’re scared of the full illusion look you can always line certain parts.

Credit: Instagram / Pnina Tornai
Credit: Instagram / Berta Bridal
Credit: Instagram / Miss Hailey Paige

Crowns:

Zozibini’s ornate crown, named ‘The Power of Unity’, celebrates the complexity, diversity, unapologetic ambition and strength of women. With more than 1,770 diamonds set in 18-karat gold, the crown features interconnected leaves and flowers. A 62.83 carat golden canary diamond is the stunning centrepiece.

While you might not have the budget to replicate this specific crown, there are so many ways to get the look. Give off regal romance with these stunning crowns.

Credit: Instagram / Minas Florals
Credit: Instagram / Elizabeths Events
Credit: Instagram / Mark Jay Photography

 

Feature image: Instagram / Zozibini Tunzi