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Weddings

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A rustic wedding theme perfectly honours nature, while still providing an intimate feel. Some may picture a farmhouse vibe, while others envision a botanical-inspired beauty.

However you classify rustic, one thing is for sure. This theme uses nature and simple design elements to bring out the beauty of the venue and environment, not overwhelm it. Using stunning lighting, masses of greenery, fruits, and vegetables and candles, you can easily bring the rustic wedding of your dreams to life.

Here are a few ideas on how to decorate your rustic wedding table:

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Feature image: Unsplash

Royal weddings are often the stuff of fairytales, so it seems fitting that a curse would somehow be involved. A real-life curse may be true for one Royal family. According to legend, The Grimaldi Royal Family of Monaco is cursed and will never have a true happily-ever-after.

How the curse came to be is a bit of a mystery. One report of a 13th-century legend tells the tale of a Flemish woman who was raped by Prince Rainier I. In retaliation, she cursed the House, saying that “never will a Grimaldi find true happiness in marriage”.

Another tale says that a witch being burnt at the stake said those immortal words preventing a true happily-ever-after.

Over the course of the family’s 700-year-long rule, they have experienced much heartbreak and tragedy. Here are just a few of the ways the family has been unlucky in love:

Grace Kelly’s death

The Grimaldi family rose to international fame in 1952 when Prince Rainier III married Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly. However, their marriage was not the stuff of fairytales. Kelly reportedly struggled with the intense demand and expectation that comes with being a royal.

In 1982, the superstar actress tragically died in a car accident at the age of 52. She had reportedly suffered a stroke while driving with her daughter Stephanie. Dr. Jean Chatelain, chief surgeon at the hospital where she was treated, says she might have survived had she been at home and not in the car.

Credit: Pinterest
Princess Caroline

Grace Kelly and Prince Renier’s eldest daughter Caroline had a short-lived marriage to French banker Philippe Junot, and also lost her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi, in a tragic accident. Casiraghi, a professional speedboat racer, died in a powerboat crash off the coast of Monaco in 1990 while he was competing in his last race before retiring from the sport. Only weeks earlier, the racer had survived an incident in which his boat exploded.

Her third marriage to Prince Ernst August V of Hanover has had its ups and downs. The Prince is said to have a terrible temper and has faced assault charges in the past. The couple are now estranged.

Credit: Pinterest
Princess Stephanie

Grace Kelly’s other daughter, Princess Stephanie was long considered the wild child of the family and brought even more scandal when she married her bodyguard, Daniel Ducruet after having children with him. The relationship ended when his affair with Miss Topless Belgium went public. She was also briefly married to a Portuguese acrobat 10 years her junior.

Prince Albert

Grace Kelly’s son Prince Albert II and wife Charlene Wittstock have also reportedly been unlucky in love. The Prince fathered two illegitimate children, one with a flight attendant from Togo and another with a US estate agent before he married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock. Reports that he fathered a third love child while he was in a relationship with Wittstock were highly publicised in the lead up to their 2011 wedding.

Credit: Pinterest

Whether it’s the result of a curse or sheer bad luck, one thing is for sure. The House of Grimaldi has been anything but lucky in love.

Feature image: Pinterest

A bride reportedly demanded a refund from her wedding photographer after they publically supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, but her actions ended up backfiring.

Shakira Rochelle of Shakira Rochelle Photography is just one of many business owners who voiced their support for the movement, which has gained renewed traction in the wake of George Floyd’s death. On June 6, she took to Instagram and posted this image, captioning it “Shakira Rochelle Photography stands in solidarity with the black community. The black lives matter movement has my endless support.”

 

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Shakira Rochelle Photography stands in solidarity with the black community. The black lives matter movement has my endless support ✊?.

A post shared by Shakira Rochelle? (@shakirarochellephotographyy) on

This image reportedly did not sit well with one of her clients. A bride-to-be messaged Rochelle asking for a refund back and to be relieved of their contract. In her message, the client explained that they cannot support someone who does not support their beliefs.

“We have done a lot of talking and we cannot bring ourselves to support anyone who is so outspoken on matters that simply do not concern them as well as someone that does not believe that ALL lives matter.”

“We would be truly embarrassed to have you at our event and feel that you aren’t stable enough to complete the job we need from you.”
In response, Rochelle said that their contract is non-refundable, and that it would instead be donated to the BLM movement.
“Unfortunately the contract you signed states that your deposit is non-refundable. I will email you a cancellation agreement shortly that will require your signature to forfeit your date. I wish you a lifetime of growth and I would like to thank you for your donation to Black Lives Matter.”
Rochelle’s friend shared screenshots of the exchange to Twitter, where it quickly went viral. To date, the post has over 1-million likes, 192.4k retweets and 3.7k responses.

Rochelle has since been flooded with positive support. However, she recently posted to warn that there is a photoshopped screenshot claiming that this was a business tactic to make a profit on the BLM movement.

“This is the most incredibly absurd thing I have ever heard. The original post started out private until a friend asked if she could share it. I never had the intentions or the desire to go viral for this or anything else,” Rochelle explained on her Facebook post. “Prior to this I am already booked until winter. I am not in need for clients or business as I already don’t have enough availability as it is.”

“I considered deleting the original post but it is viral on multiple platforms from other people and deleting it would go against everything I stand for. I have always stood up for human rights and will continue to do so. I have marched with my loved ones as well as alone. My intentions are pure.”

Feature image: Unsplash

A fairytale wedding. Many of us have dreamed of ours before! You’ve pictured the stunning setting, with your dream dress and the magical way it makes you feel. Now, Allure Bridals is making one of these possible. They have debuted their Disney-inspired wedding dress collection, and it’s everything you’d want and more.

In February they announced that they would be teaming up with Disney to create this unique bridal collection. The Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Collection and Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Platinum collections are comprised of 16 gowns, all of which have been inspired by Disney princesses like Cinderella, Ariel, Pocahontas and more.

Nine of the dresses from the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Collection will be available to brides from about 81 stores across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. They will go for  $1,200 – $2,600 each.

The remaining 7 from the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Platinum collection will go for $3,500 – $9,500 and will be exclusive to Kleinfeld Bridal in New York and Toronto, according to ABC News. The dresses in this collection are specifically based on Belle, Jasmine, Tiana, Ariel, Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella.

On June 17, Allure Bridal showcased some of the dresses on Good Morning America.

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Watch the unveiling here:

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“Growing up, you imagined a princess gown and dreamed of the day your special someone would step into your story. Now that day has arrived, and you’re getting ready to begin your own real-life happily ever after. Start the next chapter of your life in a dress beyond your imagination – one with magic in every thread,” say Allure Bridals.

See more of the collection here.

Feature image: Instagram / Disney Weddings

 

A little bit of sparkle never hurt anyone. Glamorous brides who aren’t afraid of a little over-the-top design will love a sparkly wedding gown that shines like the star they are.

Sparkly wedding dresses are perfect for winter weddings or glamorous themes. Go opulent with intricate beading, sequins or rhinestones to elevate your look. Depending on the detailing, these shiny additions can give a vintage effect or go full-on modern day princess.

If you love a bit of glitz and glam, try out one of these gowns.

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Feature image: Pexels

Despite being the recipient of multiple awards, including three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards, George Clooney’s reputation for being a bachelor is what drew the attention of many. For years he was famed for being “the eternal bachelor”, until he finally met his match: Amal Alamuddin.

Before he was lovestruck by the human rights lawyer who he now shares twins with, Clooney saw a flurry of girlfriends come and go.

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Many might not be aware of this, but in the early ’90s Clooney was married. His wife at the time was actress Talia Balsam.  The pair dated in the ’80s and made it official in ’89 in Las Vegas. Not long after, in 1992, they split up. According to GQ Magazine, Clooney once said that he “probably – definitely – wasn’t someone who should have been married at that point.”

Thereafter, Clooney became a serial dater. Here are some of the women he found himself spending time with:

– Celine Balitran: Clooney met the French law student and waitress while filming The Peacemaker. After dating for 3 years from 1996 to 1998, the pair called it quits.

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– Lisa Snowden: Clooney had a five-year-long on-again-off-again relationship with this British model. They were together from 2000 to 2005.

– Renee Zellweger: According to Clooney, they were together only for a short while. They are still friends now.

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– Elisabetta Canalis: Clooney and the Italian actress were together from 2009 to 2011.

– Stacy Keibler: Clooney remains friends with retired professional wrestler Kiebler after the two dated between 2011 and 2013.

These are only some of the women who were reported to have had relationships with Clooney. Due to such a wide variety of relationships following one after the other, with none ending in marriage, the actor built up quite a reputation for “playing the field”.

Clooney said more than a few times that he would never get married. According to Entertainment Tonight, Clooney, in 2014 said to Express UK that people’s fascination with his love life always shocked him. “I keep saying I’ll never get married again or have children but people just don’t want to believe me,” he said.

Not long before he met his now-wife he was reported to have said, “I haven’t had aspirations in that way, ever. I was married in 1989. I wasn’t very good at it.” In July 2013, however, things changed when Clooney met human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin.

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They met at a dinner party in Lake Como, Italy. In October of the same year, they had their first date, where George invited Alamuddin to Abbey Road Studios in London. Things quickly progressed from there.

They spent Christmas together, then went on a safari in Kenya, and finally in February 2014, when he was back in Los Angeles, he decided he would propose.

He popped the question over a dinner which he made. She said yes, and that was the end of Clooney’s eternal bachelor-dom.

The loved-up couple married in Venice in September 2014, and now six years later they are as happy as ever, with their twins Alexander and Ella.

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Image: Instagram / classjournal

Iconic musician Rod Stewart and English model, photographer and TV personality Penny Lancaster have reached a new milestone. The couple recently celebrated their 13-year wedding anniversary, and they seem happier than ever.

Despite lockdown, the pair still honoured their special day. Lancaster shared an image to Instagram, revealing that the pair went to Hyde Park in London and had a take-out lunch to celebrate.

“Celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary with a trip into London for a take out in Hyde park, cheers everyone ? good health!” she captioned the image.

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Stewart also took to Instagram to express his love for his long-time partner.

“Cheers to my beautiful wife, 13-in-a-row #weddinganniversary,” he wrote.

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The couple began dating in 1999 and married in 2007. Stewart explains that Lancaster changed him for the better and helped him realise the importance of a long-lasting, healthy marriage.

Stewart still seems to be head-over-heels for his wife. Earlier this year, he told The Mirror that, “They have not invented the words for how I feel about her. She is everything”.

They have two children together: 12-year-old Alastair Wallace Stewart and 9-year-old Aiden Patrick Stewart.

Feature image: Instagram / Penny Lancaster

On Friday, June 12, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Daniel Westling, celebrated a decade of marriage. To mark this momentous occasion, the pair had a photoshoot at Gustav III’s pavilion.

Shot by photographer Elisabeth Toll, the series of enchanting photos were posted to their official Instagram account. Showing off various elegant outfit changes, the images were accompanied with a caption explaining the reason for the photoshoot.

“On Friday, the Crown Princess and Prince Daniel celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary. Ahead of the wedding day, photographer Elisabeth Toll has taken new official portrait pictures of the Crown Princess couple. The photographs are taken in Gustav III’s pavilion at Haga.”

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Princess Victoria met her future husband in 2001 when she moved back to Sweden after completing her studies at Yale University in the United States. She had just broken up with a long-term boyfriend at the time.

When she moved home, she tried to get settled into a new routine and as such, she joined a small gym in Stockholm. As it happened, the gym was co-founded by her now-husband, Daniel Westling.

He then became her personal trainer, and it is reported that it took a while for their friendship to turn to love.

They faced many challenges together, as Westling was unaccustomed to the fame that came with being with a royal and the King and Queen were unsure of whether he would be able to handle the role of being a prince. It has also been reported that the King did not want his daughter marrying a “commoner”, even though he had married one.

The pair pushed through all the trials and tribulations and proved everyone wrong. They tied the knot in 2010 and celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this year.

They now have two children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, and are truly living happily ever after. Their love story is one straight from the loveliest of fairytales.

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Image: Instagram / kungahuset

The British Royal family are sticklers for tradition. The many Royal brides who have walked down the aisle over the decades are all connected in a number of ways. From the wedding rings made from the same nugget of welsh gold to brides incorporating orange blossom into their dress design, these royal brides are bonded together forever.

Another thing British Royal brides have in common are their wedding bouquets. While they look different, each royal bride since 1858 has had a spring of myrtle in her bouquet. What’s even more interesting is that the sprigs all come from Queen Victoria‘s 170-year-old garden.

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Myrtle is said to represent love, fertility and innocence. The flower has been growing at Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s holiday home in the Isle of Wight, for about 170 years and its descendants still bloom today. The plant was gifted to Queen Victoria in 1845 by Prince Albert’s grandmother. Queen Victoria planted the myrtle at her home, and her daughter carried a spring from that myrtle bush when she married in 1858.

Since then, myrtle has appeared in the bouquets of iconic royal brides like Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Megan Markle.

In 1923, Queen Elizabeth built on this tradition when she placed her bouquet in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in a gesture of remembrance for her late brother, who died at the Battle of Loos in 1915. She also did this to honour the millions of others killed and injured in World War I. She then continued to walk down the aisle sans bouquet.

Since this day, many other royal brides have followed in her footsteps. The only difference is that they lay their bouquets down after the ceremony, not before. Most recently, Duchess of Sussex Meghan laid her flowers on the tomb as she left the church.

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Western wedding ceremonies come with a number of traditions, from the presence of a ring bearer to the garter toss and even saving the top tier of the wedding cake for a year later. Similarly, different cultures across the world have their own interesting wedding traditions.

Being aware of different cultures and their traditions helps us be more accepting of others and saves you from the embarrassment of attending a wedding of a different culture and having no clue what’s going on!

To help you enlighten yourself, here are a few traditions and customs of Chinese weddings:

Collecting the Bride 

Prior to the wedding, the groom decorates the car and collects his bride in a lively procession. As the groom begins his journey to the bride, firecrackers are set off, and drums and gongs are banged. A young child often leads the procession, along with the groom. This symbolises future children for the couple.

The procession walks with lanterns and banners and musical instruments are payed too.

Wedding Dress 

It is tradition for a Chinese Bride to wear a red dress, known as a ‘qipao’, and to hide her face with a red veil. Red is a symbol of happiness, good luck, and a prosperous future.

Many brides today have both a white bridal gown and a red wedding dress.

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The banquet 

The banquet is a lavish affair. At the beginning of the dinner, the bride commonly changes into her traditional wedding dress. In the past, both sets of parents throw separate feasts however these days the feasts are commonly combined. The feast comes with about six courses each. The bride and groom both change clothing between the 3rd and 6th courses.

At the banquet, guests sign their names in a book or on a scroll when they present their gifts.

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Arriving home

Once again, firecrackers are set off as the newly married couple arrives at their new home. A red mat is laid out so that the bride’s feet do not touch the floor as she makes her way into the house.

Chinese Tea Ceremony 

The couple’s families are formally introduced during the Tea Ceremony, at which they commonly drink Tsao Chün, a Chinese Tea. After everyone’s cups are empty, the couple is given a red envelope which is considered to be lucky and is filled with money and at times jewellery too.

Tea is served by the newlyweds, as this ceremony takes place either immediately after the wedding or the next day.

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Image: Instagram /oliviabuckleyinternational