Weddings Archives | Page 68 of 199

In Celebs

Mafikizolo singer Theo Kgosinkwe ties the knot

August 24, 2020 No Comments

Wedding bells are ringing for Mafikizolo singer Theo Kgosinkwe and Vourné Williams, who recently said ‘I do’! The coronavirus pandemic put a halt to their original wedding plans, but could not stop them from tying the knot.

The pair were meant to marry earlier this year but postponed their big day to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they decided to have a small ceremony so they could still become husband and wife this year. They married on August 22, but their bigger wedding to include their family and friends will only be in 2021.

“Due to covid-19 Vourne and I had to postpone our wedding celebrations for next year 2021
But we couldn’t wait to be husband and wife ?. Yesterday I married my bestie ?,Proverbs 18:22
We can’t wait to celebrate with family and friends next year ,we just have to wait a little longer,” Theo explains on Instagram.

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Theo and Vourné began dating in 2017, and got engaged in 2019 on Vourné’s 26th birthday in front of all their family and friends. Before his proposal, Theo serenaded Vourné with a song.

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Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Feature image: Instagram / Theo Kgosinkwe

In Celebs

You’re my world: Demi-Leigh and Tim Tebow’s love story

August 21, 2020 No Comments

What do you get when you cross a Miss Universe stunner and a former pro-footballer? A match made in heaven.

South African stunner Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (now Tebow) and husband Tim Tebow have had a whilwind romance. Here is where it all began.

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The pair met through an event Tebow was hosting for his non-profit, the Tim Tebow Foundation.

“Her sister has special needs, so we invited them to Night to Shine in South Africa,” Tebow said during an interview with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. “We kind of met and started talking through that and haven’t stopped.”

Their relationship moved pretty quickly, and they confirmed their relationship in July 2018.

“She is a really special girl and I am very lucky and blessed for her coming into my life,” Tebow said in an ESPN interview. “I am usually very private with these things but I am very thankful.”

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In January 2019 after less than a year of dating, Tim popped the question with an elaborate and sentimental proposal. Tebow had flown family members from across America and South Africa to Jacksonville, Florida to be a part of the proposal. Demi-Leigh was told they were attending a late Tebow family Christmas dinner at their family farm and was surprised when it ended in a proposal.

“Ever since I first saw you, you gave me so much hope. When I first heard your voice, you gave me so much belief. When I first met you, I knew you were the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And I will spend the rest of my life fighting for you and fighting for us,” said Tebow before going down on one knee to propose.

Tebow also flew Demi-Leigh’s favourite South African performer Matthew Mole to Florida to serenade them post-proposal. Watch their proposal here:

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They came to Demi-Leigh’s home country, South Africa, to tie the knot. Their pre-wedding festivities kicked off with a ‘Welcome to Africa’ cocktail dinner in the Cape winelands to introduce Tebow to South African culture. The bride wore a stunning white dress by Gert Johan-Coetzee featuring a criss-cross neckline and cut-out detail, while Tebow wore a blush-toned suit.

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The following day, the couple held a stunning rehearsal dinner. They went for a sophisticated colour scheme, opting for rich purples, reds and black. Demi-Leigh stunned in a strapless wine-coloured dress with beading by Anel Botha. The couple’s weekend events are all planned by celebrity planner Zavion Khotze.

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The pair got married at the La Paris Estate in Franschhoek on January 20, 2020. South African celebrity wedding planner Zavion Khotze organised the day. The former Miss Universe wore an off-the-shoulder cowl-neck dress by Davids Bridal and Tim wore a tuxedo by Antar Levar.

According to PEOPLE, their ceremony lasted 30 minutes and was attended by 260 guests. The couple wrote their own vows.

The wedding blended South African and American wedding traditions, because their cultures are very important to the couple.

“We’re both very traditional,” Nel-Peters told PEOPLE. “We wanted to look back at the wedding and see that it was intimate, elegant, and traditional. We definitely wanted it to be something that we could look back on and know that nothing was dated. We want to remember this day for the rest of our lives.”

Demi-Leigh’s favourite performer, Matthew Mole, performed his original song ‘Pennsylvania’ for their first dance.

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Feature image: Instagram / Demi Tebow

In Legal & Administration

‘Love is Not Tourism’ movement grows in SA

August 21, 2020 No Comments

As the pandemic continues, long-distance couples are kept apart even longer. For many, it has been at least five months since they’ve physically seen their partner. A new movement is growing across the world to reunite these lovers.

Called the ‘Love is Not Tourism‘ movement, they are speaking out against rules in various countries preventing international travel and keeping them apart.

“The closure of international borders in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic was – and still is – sensible and even necessary. It is obvious that we must halt tourism to protect us and others,” the movement explains on their website. “But love is not tourism. This is not just about a summer holiday, it is about mental health and the future of people all around the world.

“We as international lovers and families, urge governments of all states to amend their travel restrictions. Allow the un-bureaucratic and safe reunion of partners in long distance relationships as well as family members.”

They also say they are willing to submit to appropriate safety regulations, self-pay for a test upon arrival and quarantine until a negative result is received or a 14-day strict quarantine, as long as unmarried couples and families can visit their most important people.

Countries like Denmark, Iceland, Germany, France and Spain have already introduced measures to allow couples and families to meet up. The movement is calling for other countries in the world to follow suit.

Most regulations protect married couples, but engaged or unmarried couples are not included. Kana Ishii from Toyo and Jarran Muse from New Jersey were meant to marry this year, but COVID-19 halted their plans. In an interview with NBC New York, they explain their separation has left them drained. They are heartbroken that government will not recognise their love just because they are not married yet.

In South Africa, the Facebook page ‘Love is Not Tourism SA’ is quickly gaining traction. Couples separated by borders come to share their stories, as well as any resources they have in their fight to be reunited with their loved one.

Feature image: Pexels

In Advice

Delicious dessert towers to treat your guests

August 20, 2020 No Comments

Dessert stands are growing in popularity among modern couples. These stands offer a variety of sweet treats for your guests to pick and choose from.

A unique way to display your desserts is in tower form. It adds a unique and dramatic finish, and also provides height and variety to your dessert table from a visual standpoint.

These towers are also easily accessible for your guests, as it is made up of individual treats. They can simply reach out and grab whichever dessert takes their fancy. This also helps move lines along, as people won’t be taking forever to cut a piece of cake or dish out some mousse.

Your options are endless with dessert towers. You can layer donuts, cupcakes and even cheese to create stunning stacks of treats.

Here are some ideas to feast your eyes on:

Donuts:

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Macarons:

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Fruit:

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Cupcakes:

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A post shared by Lelí’s Cupcakes (@leliscupcakes) on Jul 5, 2020 at 8:05am PDT

Crocombouche:

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A post shared by shir cohen – בפייסבוק (@shir_baker) on May 28, 2020 at 6:11am PDT

Cheese:

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A post shared by saltpigdeli (@saltpigdeli) on May 30, 2020 at 12:11am PDT

Feature image: Unsplash

In Advice

How to stack your cheese cake tower

August 20, 2020 No Comments

Cake is a wedding tradition, but that doesn’t make it a requirement. For those lacking a sweet tooth, a cake won’t make sense. An excellent alternative is a cheese tower!

Alternatives like cookies, pancake stacks and fruit cakes have grown in popularity over the years as couples desire something more unique and memorable than a traditional cake. These options are great, but a cheese tower is perfect for those not wanting another sweet dessert.

If you’re already offering a dessert table with a variety of sweet treats on your big day and don’t want a massive wedding cake, then a cheese tower is a great replacement.

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Stack your favourite cheese rounds on top of each other to create a unique and delicious tiered cake. From brie to blue, camembert to stilton, there are so many tasty cheeses to choose from.

Of course, you can still go wild with decorations. Place fruits like figs and grapes on the sides of the tower, and don’t forget about the delicious freshly-baked bread and crackers to accompany. Have jams, honey and more fresh fruit on hand to pair with your cheeses.

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When stacking the cake, think logically. The heaviest, firmer cheeses should go at the bottom to hold everything else up. Softer cheeses like brie or goats cheese should be saved for the top tier.

To make things easier when serving the ‘cake’, you could simply cut the tiers into smaller cheese blocks. Or you could incorporate it into your harvest table and let your guests go crazy!

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Feature image: Unsplash

In News

Mauritian wedding drone photographers help oil spill relief efforts

August 20, 2020 No Comments

Wedding drone photographers in Mauritius are mobilising to help do their part to reduce the massive oil spill off the coast of the island country.

On July 25, a Japanese ship crashed into a coral reef and began leaking oil into Mauritian waters from its cracked hull after it ran aground. The ship was carrying nearly 4000 tonnes of fuel, which is now threatening the island’s marine habitat and coastal ecosystem, according to Al Jazeera. It is the country’s worst ecological disaster in history.

Many residents quickly sprung to action to help, creating makeshift oil spill barriers out of fabric sacks filled with sugar cane leaves.

Wedding drone photographers have also been a massive help. Being a popular wedding and honeymoon destination, Mauritius has a big wedding industry. Many amateur drone pilots form part of the commercial drone market, and are now using their talents to assist in cleanup operations.

Mauritus does not have a Navy or Air Force, which means they could not get effective hyper-local aerial footage of the scene, reports Forbes.

Drone pilots are now filling the gap by flying their drones over the area to identify where the oil spill may be heading, thus helping co-ordinate where the team of volunteers on the ground need to focus on.

With less international business coming in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mauritian wedding drone photographers have found a way to still use their skills and make a difference.

Feature image: Unsplash

In Celebs

2 Chainz and Kesha Ward celebrate 2-year anniversary

August 20, 2020 No Comments

Rapper 2 Chainz and wife Kesha Ward are celebrating their two-year wedding anniversary.

In a sweet Instagram post, the hip-hop veteran shared throwback images of the pair on their wedding day.

“2 years ago I married the most beautiful, pure, caring, spiritual, loving person on earth … Kesha you my rock , you my best friend , YOU DA 1 baby HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KEE,” he captioned the slideshow.

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2 Chains, real name Tauheed Epps, proposed to Ward on the red carpet at the 2018 Met Gala. This was not his first proposal, however. The rapper first went down on one knee back in 2013 while at the Bet Awards.

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The pair tied the knot on August 19, 2018 in a star-studded Miami wedding. Their wedding venue was the Villa Casa Casuarina, also known as the Versace mansion as it is the former home of late designer Gianna Versace.

Some notable names attending the wedding include Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Lil Wayne.

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They have three children together: daughters Heaven and Harmony, and son Halo, all of whom were present for their parents big day.

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Feature image: Instagram / 2 Chainz

In Planning

Should you consider a wedding venue’s history?

August 19, 2020 No Comments

In the United States, recent uproar over former plantations hosting weddings has resulted in their removal from major wedding sites. South Africa has an equally dark past when it comes to slavery, so should you also consider your wedding venues history before booking?

Plantation weddings have been huge in the US for years. Despite being the site of slavery for hundreds of years, many love the old grand houses and large open gardens for their wedding. Ignoring the brutal history of the slavery in favour of a grand staircase in an Antebellum estate is quite a difficult pill to swallow, especially when it is likely there will be persons of colour, whose ancestors were slaves, attending or working at your wedding.

Even big wedding planning sites like Pinterest are removing the references to a plantation aesthetic from their site. According to CNN, Pinterest will limit the distribution of plantation wedding content across its platform.

In South Africa, wine farms and old historical sites are equally beloved as wedding venues for their antique and classic feel. Big open lawns, old Dutch colonial buildings and vineyards do make for pretty pictures, but it is a bit uncomfortable when you realise that “quaint” bell in the corner of your group shot was built to regulate the slaves who worked on the farms every day.

In addition, many wine farms are further tainted by the history of oppression of workers under apartheid. Unfair labour practices and cruel payment systems like the “dop” system have resulted in years of trauma, addiction and degradation of communities as a result of your wedding venue’s previous choices.

So does this mean you should strictly search for wedding venues that have not been tainted by slavery? Well that’s a bit difficult as much of South Africa, especially in the Western Cape, was built by slaves and so the history is everywhere.

Rather when choosing a location which does have a clear connection to slavery, it should be important to consider how the venue is run now, ask questions regarding their treatment of staff, consider finding out if they are contributing to initiatives to uplift the community that supports them and how they reconcile their slave and apartheid past with their current ethos.

In addition you can also consider how you can contribute to the community where you are holding your wedding, either through donations or volunteering your time. While not a solution to the thousands of years of oppression, it at least would go a way to acknowledging the past and recognising how your lovely wedding venue came to be.

Image: Unsplash

In Advice

Colourful bridal parties to inject life into your big day

August 19, 2020 No Comments

Spring is fast approaching in South Africa, bringing with it vibrant colours and sunshine. It is a time of rebirth and to celebrate new beginnings.

If you’re planning a spring wedding, why not lean into the theme? Spring is all about colour and life. Give your bridal party that extra shine by opting for fun, lively shades like yellows, pinks, greens and blues to represent the season.

Take inspiration from the West Coast, which is currently blooming as Flower Season reaches its peak. From pastel shades to vibrant hues, any bright colours will match this theme.

You could go on-the-nose with floral print dresses, or simply incorporate the colours. We also love mismatched bridesmaid dresses for this theme, it will make your best girls look like the blooming beauties they are.

Here are some beautiful bridal parties giving us major goals with their outfits:

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Feature image: Unsplash

In Accessories

What makes the man: Must-have accessories for your big day

August 19, 2020 No Comments

There are a handful of days you’ll always want to remember. Your 21st birthday, a graduation and the birth of your first child are likely high up on the list. While these are all exciting moments, your outfit is not really that crucial to them. A wedding day, however, is the biggest, most important day for you to truly look and feel your best.

Grooms typically have less options to make a statement with their wedding day looks given the traditional suit-and-tie attire that most tend to go for. Luckily, this can easily be jazzed up to add extra style and personality. Here are some must-haves to upgrade your wedding look:

Watch:

What makes the man: Must-have accessories for your big day — Credit: supplied

A watch will definitely come in handy, not just to make sure you’re on time for your big day. This accessory does more than just tell time: it tells about its wearer. Bold, simple, luxurious, sporty – a watch has a personality of its own, much like a man.

A watch is an investment piece. It truly stands the test of time, and can be passed down from generation to generation. That’s why it’s crucial to opt for a reliable, quality brand. We love Tomato because this iconic brand constantly pushes boundaries. It perfectly blends fashion trends with timeless style, while still celebrating individualism. At the end of the day, we all want to feel special and that’s what Tomato is all about.

Neckwear:

Grooms have quite a bit of variety in the neckwear department, each offering its own unique vibe. You could go classic with a tie, debonair with a bowtie or get inspired by the wild, wild west with a bolo tie. Each one of these choices can be customized to match your personality or the theme of your wedding.

Many grooms opt to incorporate their wedding colours into their neckwear. You could also go with a fun pattern or even a graphic option that references your favourite movie or book. If you have a sentimental piece of clothing, you could repurpose a piece of it into neckwear to act as your ‘something old’.

Boutonnière / pocket square:

Your chest is looking a bit bare, so why not dress it up? A boutonnière and pocket square add stunning visual interest to an otherwise simple suit. If you’re not one for big detail, this is how to have some fun without dramatic detail.

Fresh flowers are always a classic choice when it comes to boutonnière’s, but truly anything goes with this accessory. Pin a mini-figurine to your lapel to show off your love for your favourite franchise, or a unique rope knot to reference your boy Scout days. Opting for a fabric like velvet, lace or suede for your pocket square will add texture and dimension to your final look.

Shoes:

Shoes are a necessity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with them. Considering you will be doing quite a bit of standing on your wedding day, make sure to pick a shoe that is comfortable and break them in beforehand so that you aren’t left with any unfortunate pains the day after.

The colour of your shoes will largely depend on your suit. We love a rich brown shoe paired with a black suit for a subtle pop without being too loud. Bolder grooms can add even more flair and opt for an embellished shoe, a velvet loafer or even sneakers. There are no hard and fast rules here, the right choice is whichever shoe speaks to you.

Feature image: Unsplash