Weddings Archives | Page 191 of 194

In Decor

10 paper craft ideas for your wedding

November 7, 2017 No Comments

Soft and tousled, straight-cut, crinkled or dyed, let these paper craft ideas in their myriad forms be a part of your wedding story.

1. A message notebook as a striking centrepiece

Paper flowers, Love Paper Sew

2. Add paper flowers to your stationery

Menu, invitation with envelope and RSVP card, table number, name tags, and paper flowers, all Chrystalace Wedding Stationery

3. Paper cones with confetti

4. Sweet treats adorned with paper flowers

Nougat, MaMère Confections; paper flower, Chrystalace Wedding Stationery

5. A paper bouquet

Paper flowers, Love Paper Sew; laser-cut leaves, stylist’s own

6. A paper garland

Paper garland, stylist’s own; paper flowers, Love Paper Sew

7. Cupcakes with windmills

Cupcakes each, Florentines Cakes; paper windmills, stylist’s own

8. Chinese lanterns

Paper Chinese lanterns, The In Thing

9. A paper cake topper

Cake, Florentines Cakes; cake topper, Chrystalace Wedding Stationery

10. Hand-written thank you notes for your guests

Thank-you tag, Chrystalace Wedding Stationery; pencil crayons, The Deckle Edge; lined napkin, stylist’s own

Decor: Rochelle Malherbe
Photography: Gareth van Nelson/hsmimages.co.za

In Planning

4 ways to up your wedding entertainment

November 3, 2017 No Comments

In the market for something a little less ordinary for your wedding entertainment? Read on…

1. BELLY DANCER

Q. How can I make sure the belly dancer I hire will put on an age-appropriate performance, keeping in mind there will be grandparents and children in attendance?
A. Do your research before booking anyone. Look at their website for photos to make sure you approve of their costumes, and if you have access to any videos of their performances, watch those for an idea of what to expect.

Q. Will I pay more for a group performance?
A. The cost of a performance depends entirely on the company, but don’t expect a discount rate for group bookings.

Q. Is it better to hire more than one dancer?
A. For a wedding, especially a large celebration, you’ll make more impact hiring a group of belly dancers. More dancers mean more interaction with guests, as they can spread out and encourage audience participation.

Q. How long is a belly dancing show?
A. You can expect a belly dancer to perform for around 20–30 minutes.

2. FIRE JUGGLER

Q. Can I request a specially choreographed show for my wedding?
A. Every company is different, but most will offer you the choice of booking a group performance or a solo act, with the option of tailoring the show to suit your event.

Q. Do companies take care of insurance in the event something goes wrong or is it my responsibility?
A. Most companies should have insurance, but always check when booking, as you don’t want to have to pay for any damage to a venue should the unexpected happen.

Q. Do I need to get clearance from my wedding venue to hire a fire juggler?
A. It is advisable to check if the venue is happy to accommodate fire performers and if there are any restrictions on where they can perform

Q. Should I book the performance for the end of the night or during cocktail hour?
A. A fire show is a great way to end an evening, finishing the night’s celebrations with a bang. Keep in mind where the performance will take place, though. If you need more space or are required by the venue to be outdoors for the show, you may prefer to do it during the pre-reception drinks, rather than asking guests to leave the reception hall to watch the performance.

3. CARICATURIST

Q. How many guests can a caricature artist draw in an hour?
A. An experienced caricaturist may be able to draw as many as 20 guests in an hour.

Q. Where is the best place for the artist to work?
A. Most caricaturists are accustomed to drawing almost anywhere, but keep in mind that they will need good lighting. Seat them somewhere quiet so they can concentrate better.

Q. Do I need to provide the supplies?
A. Caricaturists will bring their own supplies, which will be included in their costing. For a little extra, you can ask them to personalise the paper.

Q. Can the caricature artist draw groups too?
A. Absolutely! In fact, it may be more fun drawing groups of people than individuals, plus it’s a nice way for guests to mingle with each other.

PHOTO BOOTH

Q. Do I provide the props?
A. Props are normally included in the price of the photo booth, but you can always bring a few of your own if you have something unique in mind.

Q. Do I pay by the hour or for the number of photos taken?
A. Most companies will offer different packages, and the price is often based on both the number of hours and the number of photos printed.

Q. Will there be dedicated staff manning the booth or do I need to provide someone?
A. There should be a staff member managing the photo booth, so you don’t have to worry about props going missing or packing up at the end of the evening.

Q. Do photo booths require electricity?
A. Yes, they do, so discuss with your venue prior to the wedding and arrange an appropriate position to set it up.

In Decor

DIY thank you shortbread biscuits

October 31, 2017 No Comments

Your guests will make short work of these scrumptious thank you shortbread biscuits. We love the idea of adding a personal touch to your wedding, and this is one of the easiest ways to do this.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED
250g butter, at room temperature
½ cup caster sugar, plus extra to dust
1 vanilla pod, seeds only
2 cups flour
½ cup cornflour
Custom-made rubber stamps
Biscuit cutters

METHOD
1. Have your rubber stamps made with the greetings of your choice (you can order stamps from rubberstampsa.co.za).
2. Preheat oven to 160°C and grease a 20 cm baking tray.
3. Beat the butter until soft, then beat in the caster sugar and vanilla seeds until light and fluffy. Mix in the rest of the ingredients to form a stiff dough.
4. Roll the dough out on the baking tray so you don’t have to move it afterwards and cut them with your cookie cutters. Stamp each one with your rubber stamp.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the oven and immediately dust with caster sugar.
6. Carefully remove the shortbread fingers from the tray and transfer to a wire rack to cool before serving.
7. Once they’ve cooled completely, you can put your biscuits in gift boxes or tie them up with cellophane and a pretty ribbon.

In Decor

Inspiration: A night sky themed wedding

October 17, 2017 No Comments

Celebrate in the warm glow of candlelight and seal your love with a kiss beneath a star-studded sky by taking inspiration from our night sky themed wedding.

THE STATIONERY

Rose-gold plate to hire, Plush Props; card and laser-cut engraved envelope, Secret Diary

Laser-cut engraved envelopes and silver perspex place cards, all Secret Diary; flowers, Fleur le Cordeur

ON THE TABLE

Flowers, Fleur le Cordeur; copper goblet, stylist’s own; purple goblet, glass carafe and copper votive holder, all to hire, Check My China; whisky glass and vintage gold underplate, both to hire, Exclusive Hire; rose-gold plate, crystal wine glass, rose-gold side plate, jug and rose-gold bowl, all to hire, Plush Props

Flowers, Fleur le Cordeur; Champagne glasses to hire, Plush Props and Exclusive Hire; brass mirror tray to hire, Check My China

Floral arrangement, Fleur le Cordeur; gold cutlery to hire and purple napkin, all Check My China; navy speckled plates to hire, Plush Props; silver perspex place card, Secret Diary; glasses from to hire, Exclusive Hire and Check My China

Purple goblet to hire, Check My China; crystal wine glass to hire, Plush Props; copper goblet, stylist’s own; black plate and navy embossed saucer both to hire, Plush Props; gold spoon to hire, Check My China; crystal sugar bowl, Exclusive Hire; cherry sorbet, Sorbetière

LIGHTING

Hanging flowers, Fleur le Cordeur; LED strings, The In Thing; bulbs, all Hoi P’loy; glass pendants, Weylandt

THE CAKE

Cake, Roxanne Floquet Cake Design; cake stand, supplier’s own; flowers, Fleur le Cordeu

FLOWERS

Floral arrangement, Fleur le Cordeur; chair, @home

Fashion: Rochelle Malherbe
Photography: Gareth Van Nelson/HSMimages.co.za

*Extracted from Wedding Album 2016-1; Products are subject to change

In Decor

DIY candle table runner

October 3, 2017 No Comments

Create a striking focal point with an elegant DIY candle table runner. From there you can soften the candle base with a spray of greenery.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED
4 cm × 4 cm pine strips, cut to the desired length
Drill with 10 mm drill bit
Whitewash
Paintbrush
Dinner candles
Glue gun

METHOD
1. Drill holes 2 cm deep and 7 cm apart along the length of each piece of wood.
2. Whitewash the wood (or leave natural if preferred).
3. Insert the candles and secure with a glue gun.

In Wedding Flowers & Bouquets

How to choose your wedding roses

September 26, 2017 No Comments

The perennially classic rose will always have a place in wedding florals. But with more than a hundred species of locally grown and imported blooms available, how do you know which ones to choose? Read on to find out how to choose your wedding roses.

By Jessica Baxter

COLOUR, SIZE AND FRAGRANCE

Perhaps the easiest way to narrow your search is to decide on your colour scheme, says Heike le Cordeur from Fleur le Cordeur Floral Designs in Cape Town. ‘Identify different shades of a colour that you love and use different types of roses within that colour scheme,’ she advises. ‘Once you have chosen a colour scheme, you can then look at the flower itself,’ says Heike, suggesting you focus on size and fragrance. ‘As far as possible, I work with fragrant varieties, as very little beats walking into a venue and smelling the flowers.’

Locally, the summer months see the blooming of beautifully fragrant garden roses, but these tend not to be sold commercially and are therefore more difficult to get hold of. This is a better option for those looking to use fewer flowers, as you’re rarely able to order large quantities of these. If you want to fill your venue with roses, then Heike recommends looking at the varieties imported from neighbouring African countries. ‘Kenya, Zimbabwe and Nigeria all grow the most incredible large-head roses.’ And size does matter. A smaller, more open flower head will lend an arrangement a softer, more romantic feel, while a larger bloom is a modern choice.

VARIETY SHOW

While you can rely on your florist to suggest which roses are best to use, familiarising yourself with a few of the popular wedding varieties will make the process that much easier. Some names to add to your list are the iceberg, a pristine white rose that flowers most of the year in South Africa; hybrid tea roses, which are easily recognised by their large, structured blooms; and the Royal Baccara, known for their deep red hue.

DON’T SKIMP ON QUALITY

Whichever variety you choose, always pay more for quality – you don’t want your roses wilting after a few hours. High-quality roses are reliable in hotter venues, where the florist may not have control over the temperature,’ says Heike.

GOOD TO KNOW

1. For the table arrangements, combine roses with other fragrant flowers, such as hyacinths, to give your guests a rich sensory experience.
2. If you decide on a traditional rose bouquet, play with different hues to add interest.
3. If you’re using rose petals instead of confetti after the ceremony, go for fragrant varieties and let their perfume fill the air.
4. Choose bigger blooms for the altarpieces and aisle arrangements, as they make more of a visual impact, especially if you have a large space to fill.

In Decor

DIY: Paper and painted placemats

August 3, 2017 No Comments

Simple things such as table runners, crockery and cutlery can cost a fortune once you add them together. With these two DIYs, you can reduce the cost of your table settings without skimping on style.

PAPER PLACEMATS

What you’ll need

• Ruler
• Pencil
• 120g craft paper
• Scissors
• Fine paintbrush
• White acrylic paint

How to do it

1 Using the ruler and pencil, measure and mark the size you want your placemat to be on the craft paper. Ensure there is enough room for an underplate, a large dinner plate and cutlery. Once you’re happy, cut out the placemat.

2 Measure 2 cm from the top and sides of the placemat to create a border where you will write the name of your guest.

3 Draw the border and write out the name of the guest in pencil, then paint over it with the white paint until the pencil is no longer visible. Allow to dry and repeat for as many placemats as required.

PAINTED PLACEMATS

What you’ll need

• Plain fabric placemats
• Paintbrush
• Black fabric paint

How to do it

1 Lay out the fabric placemat completely flat.

2 Dip the paintbrush into the paint then splatter it onto the placemat. Allow to dry and repeat for as many placemats as required.

Find this DIY and more in Issue 1-2017, on sale now.

Text Robyn Lane
Styling Francoise Jeanne de Villiers
Photography Kendall-Leigh Nash/HMimages.co.za

In Decor

DIY + printable: Hot cocoa wedding favours

June 26, 2017 No Comments

Having a winter wedding? Give your guests a warm gift to take home with these cute – and totally easy to make! – hot cocoa favours. Plus, we’ve even created the perfect labels so you have one less thing to do – click here to download them now.

What you’ll need

• Sheet of paper
• Test tubes with corks or lids
• Hot chocolate or cocoa
• Chocolate nibs
• Mini marshmallows
• Labels printed on self-adhesive paper

How to do it
1 Roll the sheet of paper so it fits inside a test tube. Then scoop two teaspoons of hot chocolate or cocoa into the tube and add a few chocolate nibs.

2 Remove the paper and top off the tube with mini marshmallows. Close with a cork or lid.

3 Stick the printed label on the tube. Repeat for as many favours as you require.

Find this DIY and more in Issue 1-2017, on sale now.

Text Robyn Lane
Styling Francoise Jeanne de Villiers
Photography Kendall-Leigh Nash/HMimages.co.za

In Food

3 Tips to cut your catering costs by half

June 21, 2017 No Comments

Don’t let a strict budget conquer your big day – with a little elbow grease and some planning, your perfect wedding menu needn’t be just a dream. Follow these handy tips that don’t skimp on delicious food but will definitely score you big savings!

1 Keep it simple

At cocktail hour, your reception area will be buzzing. Not only will guests be excited to see you, but they’ll also want to get some light treats in while they wait. Avoid appetisers such as shrimp cocktail or scampi as they’re easily double the price tag of alternative seafood such as calamari or mussels. Don’t be shy to ask your caterer for a list of less costly appetisers or try these snacks for your guests to enjoy during cocktail hour!

2 Do it yourself

As time-consuming as it may sound, preparing your own appetisers is quite simple and will save on costs. Choose foods that can be made ahead of time, frozen and warmed up right before they need to be served. A simple, delicious home-made recipe will do wonders – and your guests don’t even have to know! Most caterers heavily inflate the cost of easy-to-make appetisers, which could cost you way more than if you made them yourself. You could even turn the preparation into a cooking evening as apart of your bachelorette celebrations – don’t forget the champagne!

3 Self-service

Most venues include servers in the hiring cost but if you don’t want to spend a lot on the venue or are using your home, skip hiring servers. Serve your food buffet style and invite your guests to help themselves when meal time comes around – they’ll love having the freedom to choose what they want to eat. Plus, seocnds will be easily accessible too.

Photography Jay Wennington/Raw Pixel/Clem Onojeghuo/Lucas Alexander/Adrien Sala/Unsplash

In News

Where white wedding traditions really came from

June 19, 2017 No Comments

People have been tying the knot for centuries. And, over the years, ceremonies and the attire worn to them have undergone a lot of changes – but some still remain as ‘tradition’. Why though? We’ve gone back in time to find out exactly why wearing white is so significant, amongst other clothing practices we take for granted.

1 Say ‘yes’ to the dress

In the Middle Ages, weddings were more a matter of politics than love; unions occurred between families, businesses and even countries. As a result, brides dressed in a manner that cast their families in the most favourable light. Rich colours and exclusive fabrics that represented their social status were important hence the dramatic and often excessive use of material in bridal garments of that time.

2 White wedding

Most people know that wearing white symbolises the bride’s virtue but that’s not the only reason. Wearing this hue was also a representation of wealth, sometimes more than purity, as not all families could afford white clothing. The white dress was also popularised by Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert in 1840 when she ditched the traditional silver gown for one in white satin. The impact of this can still be felt today as, even now, white is the most popular choice for brides.

3 Behind the veil

Not only is a veil a stunning addition to your dress but it also represents a layer of protection. In previous centuries where the belief in witchcraft was rife, veils were worn to guard the bride against demons and other spirits. The veil covered the bride’s entire face with the idea that if unholy spirits couldn’t see her, they couldn’t curse her.

4 With the band

The custom of the groom removing the garter from the bride’s leg and tossing it to the single men in attendance wasn’t always a ‘thing’. In the past, the garter was prized as a token of love that also held magical properties. As such, men who attended the wedding would attempt to remove the garter and attach it to their hats for good luck.

What are some of the other clothing traditions you’ve heard of? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Photography Alvin Mahmudov/Unsplash