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In Advice

Celebrity wedding mishaps over the years

July 14, 2020 No Comments

Even those who seem most perfect are still able to make mistakes. Similarly, while celebrity weddings always seem to go off without a hitch, there are often unexpected disasters and surprises.

Celebrities are not immune to mishaps. Bad weather doesn’t avoid the rich and famous, and neither does nerves.

If you’re wondering how this could be possible, we promise it is. We have proof. Here are some celebrity wedding disasters, to show you that these things happen!

Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson

At their 2014 wedding, nerves ran high. Simpson was so overwhelmed with the nerves, that she said the wrong name during their wedding ceremony! Instead of pledging her everlasting love to love to her husband, she said her own name. The singer merely brushed it off, laughed at her mistake, and began again.

Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie

Have you ever had the stress-induced dream where your teeth fall out? Well, Hilary Duff experienced something similar just hours before her 2010 wedding to Mike Comrie.

On the morning of the wedding, Duff ate a bagel. A normal thing to do. The next thing she knew, her tooth fell out!

“I started laughing at myself and then I really burst into tears,” Duff said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. As luck would have it, Duff’s wedding planner managed to get an emergency appointment with a dentist.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

The Gossip Girl actress experienced something no bride ever wants to, at her 2012 wedding to Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds. Lively’s gown caught on fire!

Speaking to Vogue, Lively said, “Florence Welch was singing at the reception, and they brought out these sparklers, and I’m watching her sing, I look down and my wedding dress has a big burn mark from one of the sparklers. Right on the front! And it was just so heartbreaking to me.”

According to Martha Stewart Weddings, Reynolds made the unfortunate turn of events into something sweet for Lively, when he said “Isn’t that beautiful? You’ll always remember that moment with Florence singing and the sparklers. You have that forever, right there, preserved.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.

At their 2002 wedding in Mexico, the popular 90s couple were hit with a real disaster. A hurricane (Hurricane Hernan) forced the couple to rethink their outdoor wedding, and as their guests left Mexico after the wedding, an earthquake hit too!

The talent manager who represented the pair at the time told People that it’s a great way to start their lives together. “All of those bigger-than-life natural events can only bode well for the marriage,” he said.

Nicky Hilton and James Rothschild

Another mishap where the wedding gown is the casualty. At their 2015 wedding, the train of Hilton’s wedding gown got stuck under the wheels of a car.

Image: Unsplash

In Celebs

Shaggy and wife celebrate 6th anniversary

July 14, 2020 No Comments

Reggae musician Shaggy and his wife, Rebecca Packer Burrell, celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary on Sunday, July 12. To commemorate the occasion, the singer shared a loving message on Instagram.

Alongside a photo of himself and his wife with their children, all dressed in white, Shaggy wrote: “Happy Anniversary to my wife and best friend’ love of my life, partner in crime and all-around great gal’ @rebeccapackerburrell … what a ride!!! Hold on cus it gets better!”

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The pair got to know each other toward the end of the 1990s, after Rebecca, an art director, worked on a few of Shaggy’s music videos. They have been a couple since the early 2000s. They spent 16 years together, before getting married in 2014.

Not much is known about their wedding, as they kept it tightly under wraps. However, it is reported that they married under almond trees at Goldeneye in Oracabessa, Jamaica, on July 12, 2014.

Over the years, Shaggy has said many sweet things about his wife.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Shaggy described their relationship. “We have had our fair share of arguments, but I think the best way to put it is that we are two stones, and the edges are rough, and they beat on each other until eventually, they are smooth. That’s the best way I can say it. She constantly impresses me as we go along, and that keeps my interest there. And our love is the basic thing that keeps us together” he said.

The couple share three daughters together, and the singer also has two sons from a previous relationship.

Image: Instagram / direalshaggy

In News

‘The Princess and the Frog’ proposal goes viral

July 14, 2020 No Comments

Everyone deserves a fairytale happy ending. A bride-to-be in Boise, Idaho, had the surprise of her life when she was given just that. She even had a story written about the turn of events.

Denise Amouzougan dresses up as Princess Tiana, the main character from fairytale The Princess and The Frog, as a role she plays for her party company. On July 9, she was working at a birthday party.

As she read a book to the children, she found a hand-written letter. “Every princess needs a prince – will you be mine forever?” it read.

She turns around to find her love, Blaze Montgomery, behind her, dressed up as Prince Charming. He got down on one knee and asked her for her hand in marriage. Montgomery had even perfectly timed the proposal to line up with the water fountain in the background, which comes on every hour.

As Michael Buble played in the background, she said yes!

All of their family and friends were present to watch the fairytale unfold.

Amouzougan’s friend Celine Daily captured it all on camera and even wrote a little story to go with it, and she shared it all on Facebook. The pair share a close friendship, as can be seen from Amouzougan’s comment on her friends post.

“Omg!???CONGRATULATIONS SIS. WE DID IT!! WERE ENGAGED AND I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER FOR US. Your the absolute best adventure buddy. So glad I have an amazing friend like you to share all this with. I LOVE YOU DEARLY!!!????,: said Amouzougan.

See it happen, and read the story below:

Image: Unsplash

In Advice

8 unique South African wedding venues

July 13, 2020 No Comments

South Africa is a top wedding destination, with many beautiful venues to choose from. From outdoor wine farm weddings to beautiful hotels with big banquet halls, there is no shortage of traditional options. For the couple with a sense of adventure, there are unique options as well.

Here is our list of unique wedding venues to make your day stand out.

De Hoop Nature Reserve

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Getting married outside may be cliché but there is nothing boring about having your wedding in one of the country’s most spectacular nature reserves. This is an especially good choice for nature lovers, who would welcome the singing of the area’s birds and rippling of the water alongside their ceremony.

There are options as to where exactly in the reserve you’d like to have your wedding, so it can be tailored to your taste. Choose to say “I do” under a beautiful Fig Tree, alongside the Reserve’s 19km vlei or an indoor wedding in a rustic “shed” venue.

The area’s pristine white sand dunes also make for a great backdrop for those important wedding photos.

Backsberg Wine Estate

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Wine estates are not usually a particularly unique option but Backsberg offers something unlike most others, the option to get married in a cellar among the massive wine barrels. Wine lovers, this one is for you.

Walk down the aisle as guests sit on either side as the huge old oak barrels tower over the ceremony and chandeliers give the scene a warm glow. Although pretty big, the set-up of this cellar makes for a cozier feel and more intimate ceremony.

The Zeitz MOCAA

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Arguably the most striking building in Cape Town, the Zeitz MOCAA is a great museum wedding venue option for art and architecture lovers alike. You can have your ceremony on the roof with Table Mountain framed by the polygon windows behind you while your guests sit on the glass ceiling of the museum’s main chamber.

Hold your reception in the dining room of the hotel’s restaurant and dine on world-class food by their chef.

Greater Kruger National Park

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A post shared by Kings Camp Private Reserve (@kings_camp) on Jan 25, 2020 at 12:04am PST

Bush weddings, while available across the country, are a truly South African choice. While many offer a wedding venue in their lodge which is beautiful, getting married right in the bush is truly unique.

Some game reserves outside of Kruger National Park, such as Timbavati, offer the unique experience of having the ceremony outdoors in a dry riverbed on the reserve. These kind of venues get you right into the bushveld and offer the opportunity for some local wildlife to pass as you say your vows.

Table Mountain

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This is for the venue for a true Capetonian couple as nothing is closer to the city’s heart than its mountain. The mountain boasts six different wedding venue options, both outside and inside, that look over the city from this magnificent peak.

Guests and the wedding party will make their way up to this incredible spot on the cable car, taking in the view as they prepare to celebrate your big day. The Table Mountain function team will have whichever location you choose set up for you as well.

Centre for the Book

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The Centre for the Book in Cape Town is an old Edwardian building which is impressive on the outside and inside. Originally built for the University of the Cape of Good Hope, it now houses the South African Library’s special collections. This makes it perfect for all those book nerds out there!

You can host your reception here, on the lower floor surrounded by stacked, old wooden bookshelves above. This provides a very antique aesthetic feel and makes for beautiful photographs.

It is a public space so renting it out is a bit more complicated than somewhere already geared for events.

uShaka Marine World

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Marine lovers, this one’s for you, uShaka Marine World lets your special day take place among the sounds of the ocean. With the cool blues of the water dancing off the table and your dress, it has the ambiance built right in.

Couples can hold their ceremony in the park’s Shipwreck Aquarium where your guests and the fish can share in your big day.

Rovos Rail

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This venue is for those who love a bit of old-world charm and find something romantic in the idea of a train journey. Rovos Rail’s Events Train can be hired as a wedding venue replete with all the luxury you would expect.

You can choose to hold the ceremony at the private Edwardian station after the bride makes her entrance in the private cab of a steam locomotive. The reception is then held on board the train as it makes a three-hour roundtrip journey.

This charming option will also make you feel like you’ve had a destination wedding, without even leaving the country.

Image:@zeitzmocaaevenets/Instagram

In Decor

Fun and unique escort card ideas to impress your guests

July 13, 2020 No Comments

Escort cards are an adorable way to continue your wedding theme and personalise your wedding seating. They are the informal sister of place cards, and direct guests to a table rather than a seat.

The joy of escort cards is that in many cases, they can easily be DIY’ed and can also double as a wedding favour, depending what you go with. Either way, your guests can take them home and will always remember your big day.

This fun design element allows brides and grooms to get creative and expand their theme. For example, Christmas ornaments work perfectly for December weddings, while mini marble tiles are elegant and sophisticated.

We’ve gathered some fun, unique ideas for escort cards that fit a variety of themes, from quirky to botanical to glam. Take a look below:

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Feature image: Pixabay

In Accessories

The royal accessory: Tiaras throughout the ages

July 13, 2020 No Comments

Tiaras have long been associated with royalty. From the ancient Egyptians to the Ancient Romans, tiaras or diadems as they are also known, came in many forms.

Today, brides – royal and non-royal – the world over love this accessory to top of their wedding look. The wearing of a tiara is an ancient custom created as a symbol of nobility. Centuries ago, tiaras were popular amongst ancient Kings. While it is difficult to trace their exact line of development, we can see how different cultures appreciated this beautiful accessory.

According to British jewellery specialist Geoffrey Munn, the word ‘tiara’ “is actually Persian in origin—the name first denoted the high-peaked head-dresses of Persian kings, which were encircled by ‘diadems’ (bands of purple and white decoration). Now, it is used to describe almost every form of decorative head ornament.”

In classic times, a simple band of cloth tied around the head with a knot acted as a diadem. Over the years, this evolved to the ornate and heavy crowns worn by Eastern Kings.

The Egyptians in particular were fans of the rich gold headdresses encrusted with jewels and decorated with tassels. When King Tutankhamun’s tomb was excavated, his mummy was found wearing a gold diadem featuring a detachable gold ornament with the head of a vulture and the body of a cobra.

The earliest Greek diadems consisted of gold or silver sheet decorated with simple patterns of dots embossed from the back.

Ancient Romans also favoured gold headdresses with precious stones. The earliest diadem in Roman history can be traced back to C.E. 245-313 and belonged to Roman Emperor Gaius Valerius Diocletianus, also known as Diocletian. Champions and decorated generals in Roman history were gifted golden wreaths to honour their bravery in battle. For Roman brides, a simple wreath made of flowers and leaves were perfect symbols of purity.

Tiaras or diadems fell out of popularity when the Roman empire began to decline and Christianity grew across the world. During medieval times, women followed more demure fashion and wore cone-shaped hats with veils.

Napoleon and his wife Josephine are often considered to have started the trend of luxurious headwear. In fact, Napoleon had the famed Cameo tiara, worn by Swedish royal brides today, made for his wife.

Tiara’s saw a resurgence in the late 18th century during the Renaissance period and again following the Neoclassicism movement of the early 19th century.

It was in the 19th century that tiaras first became important wedding symbols for the British royal family. Queen Victoria began a collection of priceless tiaras that still belongs to the family today.

There are a number of famed royal tiaras such as the Queen Mary Fringe Tiara worn by Queen Elizabeth on her 1947 wedding day, and the Diamond Bandeau Tiara, worn by Megan Markle on her wedding day in 2018.

Royal families across the globe have their own special tiaras. Queen Elizabeth II is believed to have the largest, most valuable collection of tiaras in the world. Most of them are inherited heirlooms from Queen Alexandra.

In the 1930s, tiaras gained mainstream popularity as silver-screen stars like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly donned the iconic accessory. Designers like Vivienne Westwood, Gianna Versace, and Philip Treacy have all made their own unique spin on the trend too, bringing tiaras to the catwalk.

Today, anyone can wear a tiara. Its exclusive symbolism has worn off over the years, although many still idolise the famous tiaras of yesteryear.

Feature image: Unsplash

In Legal

SA wedding industry takes government to court

July 13, 2020 No Comments

The South African wedding industry has taken a hard knock amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Most vendors are unable to perform their services, meaning they don’t earn any money.

Current regulations stipulate that social gatherings and events, such as weddings are not allowed. People may marry at Home Affairs but cannot have a wedding in the traditional sense.

The Association of Wedding Professionals in South Africa is now taking government to court to reopen the industry.

“The amount of employment lost at the moment, the amount of businesses closing at the moment in the wedding industry is astronomical,” Jurie Smit of the Association said in an interview with eNCA. “We just can’t keep going on as it is at the moment.”

The Wedding industry wants to get back to work. The Association of Wedding Professionals in South Africa is taking the Government to court. @MasegoRahlaga talks to Jurie Smit from the Association. #COVID19 #Level #eNCA Courtesy #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/a08tav0gud

— eNCA (@eNCA) July 11, 2020

Smit argues that wedding venues with chapels can fall under the category of a religious institution, and venues that serve food can technically be considered restaurants, both of which are open to the public under Level 3 regulations.

He further argues that people are having their own intimate weddings at home, regardless of regulations banning social gatherings, and that in many cases people do not follow safety and health regulations.

He says that if they were to reopen the industry, vendors would follow social distancing and health measures.

Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

WedWise: The premier wedding planning app in SA

July 13, 2020 No Comments

Wedding planning can be tough, and sometimes you need some help. The Wedwise app is a new service designed to help South African brides and grooms with every aspect of their big day.

“WedWise is an advanced SA wedding app offering geolocation, live chat and useful functionality for brides to conveniently locate and connect with wedding vendors to plan their day,” it reads on the WedWise App.

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The geolocation allows couples to find vendors closest to them. Couples can even share their photos and ideas onto the app, which will help vendors hone in on their specific visions and allow them to provide an even greater service.

The app can assist with the proposal, the ceremony, entertainment, food, photography and the honeymoon.

Wedding suppliers can easily register to join the app, and get a free monthly subscription until lockdown ends, which means all the exposure at no cost.

The app is currently only available on Google Play. Visit their website for more information: www.wedwise.co.za.

Feature image: Pexels

In Celebs

Survivor couples: Castaways who found love in the jungle

July 13, 2020 No Comments

Survivor is a game of trickery, deception, and lies. As their slogan says, competitors have to “outwit, outlast, outplay” each other. Participants join the competition in the hopes of becoming the sole survivor and winning a million dollars, but some have come out of the game having won love.

Castaways, as the game calls its participants, are sent to an island to partake in various challenges while they fend for themselves in the wild. Each episode, a player gets voted off the island by other tribe members.

One might think this is not a situation that is friendly to a blooming love since everybody is fighting to be the last one standing through manipulating and outwitting their competitors. However, love has blossomed several times on the popular show.

Here are some of the couples who fell in love in the jungle:

Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich

Probably the most well-known survivor couple, Rob Mariano (better known as Boston Rob) and Amber Brkich met in 2003 on Survivor: All-Stars. Their love was apparent on the show, and only a year later, in 2004, they got engaged. In 2005 the pair married and have been together ever since. They now have 4 daughters together. Their love for each other, and for Survivor, was so strong that they both returned for another season of Survivor (season 40).

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Rachel Foulger and Tyson Apostol

The pair met on Survivor: Blood vs. Water, which Apostol actually won, meaning he outwitted and outlasted his future wife. The couple tied the knot in 2015 and now have two daughters together.

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Erik Huffman and Jaime Dugan-Huffman

These two competed on Survivor: China. They met on the show in 2007, and two years later were married. They now share a son together.

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Joe Anglim and Sierra Dawn Thomas

Meeting in 2014 on Survivor: Worlds Apart, it wasn’t love at first sight for this couple. It was only a few years later that they started dating, and announced their engagement on April 9, 2019. They tied the knot in the same year.

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Whitney Duncan and Keith Tollefson

It was an instant love connection for Whitney and Keith, who met on Survivor: South Pacific in 2011. After their Survivor adventure, the pair took on The Amazing Race, another reality game show, and tied the knot in 2014.

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Image: Instagram / Rob Mariano

In News

25 test COVID-19 positive in KwaZulu-Natal after attending wedding

July 13, 2020 No Comments

While many lockdown regulations were eased as we entered Level 3, there are many things that are still not allowed. Despite this, citizens seem to be losing patience and are breaking rules to participate in social gatherings, including weddings.

According to a report, 25 guests who attended a wedding in KwaZulu-Natal last weekend have now tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement on Sunday [July 12], The Premier of KwaZulu Natal, Sihle Zikalala, said: “Over the last seven days, we have noted with concern the number of infections that have been reported after people have attended gatherings such as ceremonies and funerals. In most of these engagements, measures like social distancing and wearing of masks have been disregarded.”

“In the past week, we have been made aware that a sizeable group was reported to have attended a wedding last weekend. In the end, a number of people from the wedding fell sick, and 25 from the group who attended a wedding tested positive. Today, some of them are occupying COVID – 19 beds in the health care facilities.” he added.

According to the government’s Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster most gatherings are still not allowed under lockdown level 3.

“All gatherings are prohibited except for a gathering at faith-based institution, which is limited to 50 persons or less, depending on the size of the place of worship: provided that all health protocols and social distancing measures are being adhered to as provided for in directions that have been issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs,” they said in a statement.

This may have led to some confusion as a wedding may take place in a religious institution, and thus may technically be performed. However, some have completely disregarded the regulations and have celebrated weddings fully, with no thought towards safety precautions.

The premier reminded citizens that the virus spreads faster than gatherings. “No one is immune or can be a ‘starring’ or the invincible main actor, on COVID-19 as there is no cure,” he said.

He urged everyone to stick to the regulations, because staying safe now will result in a safer, and healthier future. “By being safe today, we can be safe and together tomorrow. Ubumnandi, or fun, never ends. It has always been there. It will be there in future, when COVID – 19 is no longer a problem. But, if we disregard precautions we may compromise our lives and those we love,” he said.

KwaZulu-Natal recorded 23 751 infections, 280 deaths and 6,021 recoveries on Saturday. The numbers are increasing rapidly by the day, and regulations must be adhered to for the safety of everyone.

Feature image: Unsplash