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Weddings

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In Fashion

Wedding Attire: Smart Casual

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You’ve been invited to a wedding and the dress code says ‘smart casual’, so what can you wear? If this is the dress code then you can assume that the wedding will be relatively informal.

Keep your outfit laid-back but add a touch of elegance, it is a wedding after all! Dress smart but don’t go overly dressy.

Men

Wear a blazer with a button-down shirt and smart suit pants or chinos. Jacket and tie are optional. Shoe wise, wear loafers, brogues or boat shoes.

 

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Women

Wear a stylish mini dress or skirt or smart trousers with a blouse. You can add a tailored blazer if you’re up for it. Stick to sandals, wedges or low heels.

 

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In Fashion

Dresses we love: Halter neck gowns

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As fashion trends evolve, so do wedding gowns. One that has been relived many times and has experienced a resurgence since Meghan Markle stepped out in one on her wedding day is the halter neck. This design has a very elegant look to it, and we love the different ways you can play around with it.

Romantic

This lovely look is feminine and soft, with a dash of sparkle.

 

Low-cut

If you prefer a more sultry look, this sexy neckline plunges down but comes together at the top for a finished look.

Applique

Patterns are eye candy. These designs sewn onto transparent netting gives the image of the dress gently caressing the skin.

X-shape

If you want to flaunt some shoulder, rock this design.

 

 

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In Advice

Professional bridesmaids: A trend of the future?

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Choosing your bridesmaids can be tough. It comes with all kinds of complications like having to choose between friends, having the friend you chose be unavailable for the wedding, or not having enough people to complete your bridal party. Professional bridesmaids, it seems, are on the rise as the best solution to these complications and more.

Kerstyn Walsh, a professional bridesmaid who has been part of more than 150 weddings, operates her very successful business (Hire a Bridesmaid) in Sydney. She explains to the Daily Mail that “Brides often need someone who is willing to do all the jobs.” Depending on the tasks required of her, Walsh’s fees range between $1000 (R101 59) and $8000 (R812 74).

The jobs Walsh listed in her repertoire include taking on administrative tasks like consulting with vendors, helping with various chores throughout the special day so that family and friends can give their full attention to the wedding and the couple, and sometimes simply to bring the number of bridesmaids up to equal the number of groomsmen.

This list is already attractive enough to get us interested in professional bridesmaids. When we consider the lengths Tifanny Wright, a UK-based professional bridesmaid, goes to for her clients, the option seems almost too good to be true. Wright has changed her hair colour for a bride who wanted all her bridesmaids to be brunettes. She also convinced an entire bridal party to do a bootcamp instead of the classic bachelorette party. She has even spied on a groom at his bachelor party (not that we suggest you request this service). Wright does a consultation for £25 (R475). Thereafter, her services fees could go as high as £5000 (R95 153).

It’s clear then that a bride can ask way more of a professional bridesmaid than a regular bridesmaid. Asking too much of your best friend who is also your bridesmaid can get a bit awkward. But if you’re paying for a professional bridesmaid, you can ask her to do (just about) anything. A professional bridesmaid can’t object to the dresses you want either.

The benefits of a professional bridesmaid seemingly starts to pile up when you consider that a “normal” bridesmaid has much less experience (if any at all) in the type of planning required for this job than a professional bridesmaid would have.

With all of this acknowledged, we must say that the idea of a professional bridesmaid does seem much less personal than having a friend or family member as a bridesmaid. Having somebody who knows you, your story, and the in’s and out’s of how you got to your big day by your side is part of what makes things special.

At any rate, you may struggle to find a professional bridesmaid in South Africa. So this may not be a choice you have to make any time soon. But with the professional bridesmaid market on the rise in Australia, the UK, and USA, you never know.

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In Accessories

Wedding dress shopping timeline

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One of the most important aspects of a wedding is the bride’s dress. The marriage too, but let’s be honest, all eyes will be on the woman of the moment when she makes her triumphant walk down the aisle. With all this attention, you’ll definitely want your look to be picture perfect.

Wedding dress shopping is an experience. Making a dress or even just having one altered takes time. To make sure you stay on schedule, follow our wedding dress timeline.

12 months before the wedding:

– Research: Before you begin wedding dress shopping, you have to know what you want. Having a general idea of how you want to look will make the shopping experience that much easier. Scour Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration. It also helps to make a Pinterest board so that your bridal party and shopping assistants at bridal stores can greater understand your vision.

– Budget: Before you enter a store, you need to have a budget. If you don’t have a budget, you risk spending way beyond your means. When setting up your budget, make sure to include all the extra expenses such as alterations, shipping and accessories so that you have a ballpark figure that you cannot go over.

10 months before the wedding:

– Start wedding dress shopping: If you thought finding the One was tough, you haven’t gone wedding dress shopping yet. With so many silhouettes and styles available, it is easy to become overwhelmed.

Take your time and visit a few wedding dress stores to see what they have to offer. During this time, you can also start to get a feel of the the styles that look best on you, which will make your final decision much easier.

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8 months before the wedding:

– Say yes to the dress: After months of visiting bridal stores, now is the time to make your choice. By 8 months, you should have your wedding dress locked down and ordered. It may seem early, but choosing your dress this early leaves enough time for alterations and fittings which can often take months to complete.

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5 months before the wedding:

–  Accessorise: remember the saying, “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”? Now is the time to incorporate it into your wedding attire.

Whether it be an extravagant veil or a bridal hair piece, there are so many ways to top off your bridal look. The 5-month mark is the perfect time to go shopping for shoes, jewellery and other other accessories to compliment your dress.

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3 months before the wedding:

– First fitting: Chances are, you’ll have two to three fittings to make sure your dress is the perfect. At your first fitting, you will cover all the alterations that need to be made, whether it be a shorter hemline or extra beading.

It is crucial to have this fitting months ahead of the wedding to allow your seamstress enough time to make all the necessary changes. Make sure to bring your shoes and accessories along so that you can see the final look a little more clearly and make the necessary adjustments.

6-8 weeks before the wedding:

– Second fitting: The second dress fitting is for minor revisions. You will be fitting on your dress to see how the alterations at your first fitting came out and if any other changes need to be made. Once again, make sure to bring along your shoes and accessories. If possible, have your hair styled and your bridal makeup done so that you can see every component of your look together.

2-3 weeks before the wedding:

– Final fitting: All the alterations should be complete at this point, so the final fitting is simply to ensure that everything is perfect. This is the time when your entire look will come together. It is advised that you come prepared with your shoes and accessories, and have your hair and makeup done to get the big picture of your bridal attire.

the week before the wedding:

– pick up your wedding dress: it’s finally done! Your next task is to pick up your wedding dress and leave it somewhere safe. If you are following tradition, you’ll want to keep your dress out of your partner’s sight, so you will need to be strategic about where you will store it.

the day of:

Enjoy your wedding day: this one is pretty self-explanatory. The day has finally arrived, and now is the time to bask in your happiness while wearing your dream dress.

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In Advice

Groomsmen gift ideas

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This might not be something men think about a lot, but the fact is, your groomsmen give just as much time, energy and money towards your wedding as any loyal bridesmaid. The least you can do is say thank you, and show them that you really appreciate them sharing your journey to the altar with you. Depending on your budget, you can go big or small.

Of course, men are notoriously difficult to give gifts to. Here are some cool ideas to help you out:

Personalized beer case
We love this wooden case, and carving their name on it adds a personal touch.

 

Braai kit
You can’t go wrong with this one. Always handy!

 

Travel mug
For all the campers, travellers and always-on-the-go dudes.

 

Bluetooth speaker
With a small speaker that’s easy to carry, your boys will always be the life of the party.

 

Liqueuer
Not only is liqueur super classy, it actually tastes better than you think!

 

 

 

 

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In Fashion

Bridal crocs are here

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Let’s face it, it was always going to happen at some point. If you’re one of those people who wears crocs proudly and confidently, now is your time to shine! If you think about about, bridal crocs make sense. You’re on your feet the whole day and dancing all night. You’ll be the last to laugh when you wake up the next morning without a day-old.

Ranging from R599 to around R1 470, they’re actually pretty affordable as far as wedding shoes go. And people seem to love them:

And if you do prefer heels, they’ve got you covered too.

What do you think? Will you be captivating in crocs on your wedding day?

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In Fashion

Pop that tulle and say ‘I do’!

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Designers call it the modern-day ‘frothy dress’. Known for its dramatised aesthetic, tulle dresses are now taking over the runways and have made its way into the top list of wedding fabrics with a modern design. It is referred to as an aesthetic that you wear not to only look good, but also to feel good. The layering of tulle creates a fairytale-like design, encouraging the bride to feel like a little girl playing dress-up. And isn’t that exactly what it is though?

Tulle and organza are fabrics associated with haute couture, which leads to the end result being, what we call, ‘OTT’ – a look perfect for your big day. Tulle has been used in bridal gowns for decades but now designers are taking looks straight from the runway and creating a more wearable style for brides and their bridal party. Below are some of our favourite tulle gowns, ready to hit the aisle:

 

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By Rojaun Devos

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In Engagements

Bride helps brother propose at her wedding

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Proposing or announcing big news at someone else’s wedding is mostly frowned upon. Then again, it really does depend on the couple getting married, as some take delight in having others celebrate their own special life events on their big day.

A Texan man proposed to his girlfriend at his sister’s wedding, and the bride was in on the whole thing.

Sierra Mcginty-Rush spent months planning the moment with her brother Solomon McGinty II. At the customary bouquet throwing during the reception, Sierra pretended to get ready to throw the flowers over her head, then turned around and gave her flowers to her brother’s girlfriend, Baylee Gillmore, instead of throwing her bouquet into the crowd.

And there Solomon was, waiting on one knee with a ring to pop the big question. The woman in question looks stunned, then a few words are exchanged and she happily says yes. They even got their cousin in on it to film the whole thing. Watch how it unfolded:

In a Facebook post, Sierra wrote: ‘Doing it at MY reception that MY coins paid for was MY idea. If you know me and my brothers relationship then you would understand why I was more excited then they were! I was nervous and trying not to cry,’ she added. ‘Sharing Saturday with him just gave us more memories,’ she said.

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In Food

Edible wedding favours

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Food, glorious food. It is one of the few things that can bring us all together. At the end of the night, sometimes all someone wants is a midnight snack.

When planning your wedding favours, why not go for something edible? Edible wedding favours are great because they can be affordable and easily diy’ed. Another added bonus is that your guests can reuse the containers the gifts come in or simply keep them as mementos.

Treat your guests with something to nibble on with one of these favourites.

Bubbly:

 

A takeaway:

Honey:

Whiskey:

Tea:

Vodka:

Popcorn:

Jam:

Donuts:

Nuts:

 

 

 

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In Advice

The pros and cons of hiring a wedding planner

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Planning a wedding can be tough. With all the moving parts, you’re bound to feel overwhelmed. So why not rely on a professional to do it for you? Wedding planners are experts in all things wedding.

Hiring a wedding planner, however, doesn’t work for everyone. If you’re struggling to figure out if a wedding planner is right for you then check out our list of pros and cons.

Pros:

– Less stressful: Having a wedding planner takes all of the planning and scheduling off your hands. All you really need to do is say yes or no to the plan and sign the cheques.  If you are someone who gets overwhelmed quickly, a wedding planner will be amazing for you. You can breathe a sigh of relief knowing someone else will put in the time and effort to bring your vision to life.

– Discounts: Since they have worked in the business for so long, wedding planners have connections and can often score discounts or deals with vendors. This way, you can actually save money on a service.

– New ideas: Let’s face it, you’re probably scouring Pinterest for wedding inspiration, which could lead to your big day being quite cookie-cutter. Wedding planners have seen and done it all, and often come with fresh ideas to create a unique spin on a classic. They can even show you ideas you would never have thought of. You can rely on them to make your wedding day special and memorable for the right reasons.

– They think of everything: A lot can go wrong on your wedding day. if you’re not a professional event planner you might not consider the smaller details that can all affect the day. Being professionals, wedding planners would have already factored all variables in and set a Plan B in place.

Cons:

– Less control: A wedding planner is both a blessing and a curse. After discussing your vision, you will have to relinquish control to the expert. If you are someone that likes to be in control and know every detail, then hiring a wedding planner might not be right for you.

– Costly: You’re paying for the wedding planner’s expertise and that can often come at a high cost. If you’ve got a tight budget then a wedding planner will probably not fit into it.

 

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