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    Bow ties are a classic option that will add the finishing touch to your wedding day outfit. As dashing as they are, the sophisticated embellishment is a bit tricky to pull off. If you’re unsure and want to pull off the tasteful look yourself, here’s how to tie a bow tie on your wedding day, or any other day you want to look extra dapper:

     

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    Step by step

    Choose a great bow tie 

    Black is a classic colour to choose but if your wedding vibe allows for it, consider opting for a funky colour, pattern or material.

    Sizing 

    To ensure you get that dashing and sophisticated look, adjust the bow tie according to your neck size. Ask a sales assistant to measure your neck when purchasing a bow tie. There should be an adjustable slider or a hook and holes that will allow you to make the bow tie bigger or smaller.

     

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    How to tie 

    The most popular choice is the butterfly bow tie.

    First place your bow tie around your neck facing up. Make sure that the right side is shorter than the left. Your left end is A and the right end is B.

    Move A over to the right. It will be across from B. It should form an X shape.

    Move A under B and bring it up through the neck loop.

    You can now fold B towards the right and finally to the left, which will then create the bow shape.

    The A side can now move straight down over the middle section (the bow shape)

    A can be folded towards the chest.

    Pinch the fold.

    You need to push A through the loop behind B.

    Finally, pull on the folded parts which will tighten it. Adjust the bow tie to be balanced on both sides.

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    Wedding dresses are one of the most spoken about elements of any wedding. After having such a big role in your big day, preserving the dress may be your decision. If you decide to store your dress, it may need a polish after a couple of years. Here’s how to clean your wedding dress after the big day, to keep it beautifully preserved and in tip-top condition.

    Ask your sales consultant 

    When you purchase your wedding dress from a boutique, be sure to inquire about the cleaning. Your sales consultant should be able to advise on how to properly clean it. There may also be special instructions that come with the gown on how to clean it.

    Sooner the better 

    If you do decide to store the dress, it’s very important to clean it before packing it away.

    Dry cleaners 

    If you’d rather not chance it or perhaps don’t have the time, you could always look for a special dry cleaner. They should know how to clean the wedding gown and the specific materials used correctly.

     

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    Simple dresses 

    If your gown is made from simple materials and fabrics, you could clean it yourself – just be sure to do some research before attempting it.

    Light

    When your gown is drying, keep it away from natural and artificial light.

    Know your fabric 

    If you decide to wash it yourself, know what type of fabric the dress is made of. Be aware of what type of embellishments are on the gown. Odds are, you can probably gently wash it by hand. Also, be aware that some fabrics can stretch when hung up, and because a wedding gown is particularly heavy, it’s best to let it dry while flat.

     

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    Spot clean 

    If your wedding gown is very detailed and large, you may have to opt for spot cleaning. This would involve pinpointing the stains and just cleaning those instead of the whole dress.

    Whatever option you choose, just make sure you know what your wedding dress consists of and what it’s made of. Lastly, be gentle with your gown, especially if it’s big and consists of lots of detail (for example beads).

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    New criminal laws have been proposed in Indonesia, and means that citizens and tourists may face jail time or receive fines for engaging in pre-marital sex. The densely populated Islamic country believes that they must protect their citizens from behavior that ‘contradicts God’s word’.

    If passed, the law states that sex may not take place outside of marriage which includes same-sex couples. It will also prohibit couples from living together before marriage and adultery will also become a criminal offense. The criminal code also includes jail time for women who have an abortion. The only time abortion is deemed permissible is if there was a medical emergency or the pregnant woman has been raped. Fines will be given to those promoting contraception to minors.

    Parents, a child or a spouse can inform officials of the criminal offense. Jail time may range from six months to one year.

    Blasphemy laws will also be tightened and insulting the president or vice president will be criminalised.

    Same-sex marriage is not recognised in Indonesia. This means that the LGBTQIA+ community would be heavily affected if the law is passed. Even though homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, it is frowned upon. Their law does not protect the LGBTQIA+ community from discrimination and hate crimes.

    The proposed criminal code has caused uproar among many. More than 300 000 people have signed a petition urging president Joko Widodo to not pass the law.

    Australia has already updated their Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website to warn their citizens about the possibility of the laws being passed. They have warned citizens and possible travelers of the new laws that may be passed.

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    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. Bridal capes are elegant and very stylish plus they’re trending! Gain some inspiration from these tasteful bridal capes.

     

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    As you can see bridal capes can come in various styles, lengths and materials. It’s your day to shine, so choose to embellish your bridal look with a fashion forward cape.

    Feature image: Unsplash

    Former Miss Universe, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and her fiancé Tim Tebow have reached out to their followers for help. They’re struggling to come up with a wedding hashtag, so on September 17, 2019 the couple took to Instagram to explain their predicament:

     

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    They explained that they haven’t come up with any wedding hashtags and sarcastically joked that the search is going really well. “Please guys, don’t you have any ideas,” said Demi-Leigh.

     

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    The pair have been together since her reign as Miss Universe in 2017. During her farewell at the 2018 Miss Universe, she thanked Tim for all his support. Tim got down on one knee on January 9, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida.

     

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    Their followers have come up with some creative hashtags so far. One follower suggested #TyingTheTebow, while another said #YouHadMeAtTebow.

     

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    Demi-Leigh celebrated her bachelorette party over the September 13-15, 2019 weekend. The bachelorette fun took place in New York.

     

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    She shared her bridal shower pictures on Instagram on August 15, 2019 as well:

     

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    The happy couple have not released their big day’s date, but with all the wedding festivities in full swing, it may be soon!

    We wish Demi-Leigh and Tim all the best for their future!

    Feature image: Facebook/Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

    A cute and fun DIY idea for wedding decor – create origami hearts that you can place on tables or arrange them on a photo frame for a focal piece.

     

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    Supplies (find them at your nearest craft shop):

    • origami paper R78/24 sheets
    • glue R50/100ml
    • photo frame R190/300 x 500mm
    • double-sided tape R30/18mm

    Steps:

    1. Fold the origami paper up and down, left and right.
    2. Open the paper again and fold left and right into the centre. Keep it there.

    3. Fold the top and bottom into the middle and fold the top down.

    4. Fold the bottom up in the same way.

    5. Fold the bottom part to the left and right according to the crease.

    6. Similarly, fold the upper part to the left and right according to the crease.

    7. Fold in the top and bottom corners

    8. Fold the upper right and the lower left so that they widen.

    9. Fold the top and bottom so that the front is a solid.

    10. Push in the left and right corners and the centre of the 3D part

    11. To complete the 3D heart, tuck in the folds at the bottom so that they fold over one another and stay in place.

    12. Then glue the open sides of the heart. If you’d like to scatter the hearts around, then this is the last step.

    13. If you’d like to arrange the hearts on a photo frame then take the empty frame with a backing and use double-sided tape to attach the hearts to the frame in an arrangement of your choice.
    14. There you have it!

    Feature image: Pixabay

    Wedding dresses are a huge part of the big day. So much effort and money goes into the wedding gown to ensure that the blushing bride looks her best. After making your way down the aisle and turning heads, what can you do with your gown? Get creative with your wedding dress after the big day.

    Donate it 

    Your wedding dress holds a special meaning, but more often than not, it just becomes an ornament hanging in the back of your cupboard. Donating your dress will give someone else the opportunity to feel just as beautiful and glamorous as you did on your big day.

    Get crafty 

    Wedding dresses tend to have much more fabric than others, which can be cut and crafted in new and creative ways. You can cut the dress down and use strips of material for making various home decor items or clothing. Satin and lace work well for this. Or separate the skirt and bodice to wear as stylish separates paired with more casual items.

    Family heirloom 

    If you feel sentimental and would like to keep your dress, turning it into a Christening dress or princess-style dress for your daughter or younger family member is a meaningful way of re-using your dress.

    Dye it

    Along the lines of crafting, dying your dress will instantly change its look and make it an elegant evening gown which you can wear out to events or formal functions.

    Special occasion

    Love Halloween or any kind of dress-up for that matter? You can get seriously creative with your wedding dress for a themed party. Think zombie bride or fairytale princess! Another option is to keep your wedding dress for anniversaries or if you decide to renew your vows.

    Sell it 

    Putting your wedding dress up for sale will at least reimburse you to a certain extent. Receiving some money is a lot better than your bridal gown gathering dust.

    Images: Unsplash

    Gone are the days when monetary gifts are seen as rude and unthoughtful. Nowadays most people live together before marriage so they often don’t need the traditional gifts. Giving money is an easy option but how much should you give as a cash wedding gift?

     

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    There are many reasons why a couple might request a cash gift. Many couples prefer receiving money because it can contribute to the honeymoon or big purchases. Maybe the couple would prefer to buy their own things from various places and therefor one registry wouldn’t work.

    But as a guest, how much money should you give? You don’t want to give too little but at the same time you don’t want to be bankrupt.

     

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    Things to consider

    Firstly, your final amount depends on your relationship with the soon-to-wed pair. If you’re an intimate family member or a very close friend, you would obviously be expected to give more.

    If you’re a distant relative and you don’t really see the couple often or if you’re a co-worker then you wouldn’t give as much.

    Ask yourself, how much would you spend on a gift? The amount you gift should be similar.

    Base your figure on your own budget. What can you afford to give? If you’d like to give a large amount then you could perhaps save a little money each month.

     

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    Drum roll please..

    An acceptable amount for a wedding gift can range anywhere from R300-R1000.

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    Trends are ever-changing in the wedding world. If you’re looking for inspiration or maybe want to avoid what’s been overdone, then have a look at what’s trending in the wedding world of fashion accessories. Whatever the reason, these trends are great additions to your wedding look.

    Barrettes

    Complete your hair style with a bridal barrette. These pretty embellishments add a little pop to a minimal look especially if you’re not wanting to go too over the top. Opt for a bridal barrette if you’re looking for a sleek and trending look. 

     

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    Gloves

    What’s more ‘royal’ than bridal gloves? This graceful embellishment is trending and will give you that extra ‘princess’ touch.

     

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    Bold earrings

    Gone are the times of delicate diamond studs. Make a statement with your earrings. Go big or go home they say.

     

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    Headbands

    Forget the flower crown and opt for a bridal headband if you’re looking for something a bit different. Think of it as a fashion forward tiara.

     

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    Belts

    Tying a bridal belt around your wedding gown gives you an edgy yet elegant look. The belt also accentuates the waist and gives you that sought after cinched-in look.

     

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    Hats

    If flower crowns, tiaras and headbands aren’t your thing, bridal hats are trending and gorgeous. Oversized bridal hats make for a graceful and stylish statement.

     

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    Whether it’s been five, 10 or 20 years, renewing your wedding vows is a great excuse for a ‘second wedding’. Let all those around you know, that your love is just as strong as it was when you first said ‘I do’. If you’re looking to reignite the love here’s how to renew your wedding vows.

     

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    Renewing your wedding vows is a great way to celebrate a marriage milestone like an anniversary. Many couples start renewing as soon as one year after marriage. Usually you host your own vow renewal ceremony but sometimes the couple’s children plan and host the party for their parents.

     

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    The main focus is your vows. Put a lot of effort in to it and speak from the heart. You should have new and different things to say compared to your wedding day vows, since you’ve grown as a married couple.

    Since it is a more ‘relaxed’ commitment, the event can be hosted anywhere. From a place of worship to your house. If a place means something to you and your partner then that’s all that matters. Any person of your choice can ‘officiate’ your wedding.

     

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    This is a very special occasion and it’s best to be surrounded by loved ones and those closest to you. However if you want a huge soiree then the more the merrier.

    The attire is completely your choice. If you and your partner want to go super fancy then so be it. This is your time to do whatever you want, especially if you had to do what others wanted on your big day.

     

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    Have fun! Think of it as a big party with the focus on you and your partner. A part of the night is dedicated to declaring your love for one another (again) but a lot of it is a celebration.

     

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    Feature image: Pixabay