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    In Advice

    Ways to add childlike wonder to your big day

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    If you still feel like a child at heart, a stuffy wedding just won’t do. There are so many fun ways to bring the excitement of childhood into your big day, without it seeming like a massive playground.

    Here are some fun ideas to bring childhood nostalgia into your wedding in a (mostly) mature way.

    Get married in a treehouse:

    Remember the childhood excitement of playing in a treehouse? The adventures and possibilities were endless. If you’re a nature-lover, a treehouse might just be the perfect wedding venue for you. This brings together the beauty of the outdoors and the whimsical nostalgia of yesteryear.

    Also read:Treehouse wedding venues from around the world

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-f6XCyjNH-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Simplify your wedding menu:

    Take a trip down memory lane by incorporating childhood favourites into your wedding menu. Rather than stuffy hors d’oeuvres your guests can barely identify, serve what you love. Today’s couples are creating unique twists on old faithfuls like grilled cheese, sliders and fries. You could even rent a food truck to serve up some delicious foods all night long for that carnival feel.

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    Bring the playground to you:
    Just because you’re a grown-up, does not mean you can’t have some silly fun! Get inspired by childhood birthday parties and hire a jumping castle, a blow up slide or even a mechanical bull for your big day. We promise this will put a massive smile on your guests’ faces.

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    Play lawn games:

    Wedding games are slowly growing in popularity, and understandably so. There is no better way to get the giggles going than with some simple games that will bring out the child in everyone. The key is to offer quick-round games that will have many involved and captivated at once. Think Jenga, Limbo, Noughts and Crosses and Ring Toss.

    Also read:Outdoor wedding games

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9tcwR2HLhX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Get creative with your photo station:

    One of the best ways to commemorate your wedding day is through capturing tons of photos. Many couples have taken to setting up photo stations to allow guests to make some fun memories. Add some fun decor and quirky props to take your images to the next level.

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    Feature image: Pexels

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    In Decor

    Get fresh with graceful green wedding decor

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    Earthy wedding decor will give your special day a fresh feel. We love green for its endless potential, as it can pair beautifully with almost any other colour, or be gorgeous on its own.

    Remember not to mix and match too many different tones of green. Choose one or two varieties for a sophisticated yet fun look. Green can be whatever you want it: Vibrant and bright or calm and tranquil.

    Take a look at these stunning green pieces to get inspired:

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    Image: Unsplash

     

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    In Accessories

    Marvelously modern wedding arches

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    The moment you exchange your vows with your partner is a special one you’ll want to remember forever. Say ‘I do’ in style under a stunningly modern wedding arch to fit with the times.

    It’s easy to decorate your arch with flowers and call it a day, but that’s also expected. If you love a modern design that highlights unique shapes, show that off with your arch.

    Here are some arches that have absolutely bowled us over:

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    Feature image: Unsplash

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    In Celebs

    Our favourite LGBT celebrity couples

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    Whether they are international movie stars or local heroes, these LGBTQIA+ couples make us believe in true love.

    Caster Semenya and Violet Raseboya

    Semenya and Rawboya married in 2015 but have been together for years before this. They support each other and show us what it really means to be there for the great and hard times. If Caster’s social media hints are anything to go by, they couple are expecting their first child soon!

    Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor 

     

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    A post shared by Sarah Paulson (@mssarahcatharinepaulson) on

    These two amazing actresses officially announced their relationship in 2015 and everyone immediately fell in love with them. They met in 2005, but only began dating a decade later in 2015 after Taylor slid into Paulson’s Twitter DMs. Their 32-year age difference caused a media stir but the couple are still going strong and love gushing about each other.

    Wanda and Alex Sykes 

     

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    A post shared by WS (@iamwandasykes) on

    Wanda and Alex’s story is right out of a rom-com. Wanda first saw Alex on a ferry and then later was introduced to her by a friend. The two married in 2006, a month before Wanda officially came out and Alex gave birth to their twins, Olivia and Lucas, in 2009.

    Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita

     

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    A post shared by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) on

    The Modern Family star tied the knot with his lawyer husband in 2013, after two years of dating. The two are expecting the birth of their first child in July 2020.

    Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli

     

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    A post shared by Samira Wiley (@whododatlikedat) on

    It was love before first sight. Wiley said she was enamoured with her now wife when she first read the script Morelli wrote for the show Orange is the New Black, which Wiley starred in. The two grew their romantic love from a deep friendship and married in 2017.

    Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Motaung

     

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    A post shared by Somizi (@somizi) on

    Idols SA judge Somizi Mhlongo and partner Mohale Motaung met in 2017 and got engaged a year later.These two love each other so much and are so extravagant that they planned and had multiple weddings. Their first was a traditional wedding extravaganza of epic proportions, followed by a lavish white wedding. They had planned a third wedding in Italy, but cancelled it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

     George and Brad Takei

     

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    A post shared by George Takei (@georgehtakei) on

    George and Brad did not just get married but made sure that they represent their community as the first same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license in West Hollywood. They got hitched in 2008 at the Democracy Forum of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.

     Tan and Rob France

     

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    A post shared by T A N . F R A N C E (@tanfrance) on

    The Queer Eye fashion guru has revealed snippets of his relationship on the show. Audiences were captivated by the story their nonchalant engagement, where they just decided to get married without any fuss. The two have been married ten years and are ever the well put together pair.

    Marc Lottering and Anwar McKay

     

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    A post shared by Marc Lottering (@marc_lottering) on

    The comedian and his husband celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary this year, though they had been together for 12 years before they officially took their vows. There is nothing more inspiring than those who have already made the long haul and show no signs of slowing down.

    Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka

     

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    A post shared by Neil Patrick Harris (@nph) on

    Neil and David might be the most famous same-sex couple in Hollywood, or at least the best on social media. The two have been together since 2004.  David first proposed to Neil in 2007 and Neil proposed right back a year later. However, the two only announced their engagement in 2011 after already having their two adorable twins. They eventually walked down the aisle in 2014.

    Image: Sarah Paulson/Instagram

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    In Celebs

    Jamie Oliver prepares sweet picnic for wife on 20th anniversary

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    Being married to one of the world’s most famous chefs definitely comes with its perks. Jamie Oliver proved just that, when he prepared a sweet picnic for his wife Juliette Norton (better known as Jools) on their 20th wedding anniversary on June 24.

    First, Oliver shared a touching video on his Instagram page, showing pictures from their wedding album.

    He captioned the video, “Today is my 20th wedding anniversary!! I had a great day today with my best mate @joolsoliver celebrating 20 years of marriage!! Where has that time gone it’s crazy! What a ride! Anyway here’s some precious memories from that private day what a joy it was ….. here’s to another 20 jools love you. X x. X x”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CB1N3D-j50V/

    Jools did the same, posting a touching tribute to their marriage in the form of a video on her Instagram page.

    “20 years married Today !!❤️❤️20 exciting, happy, fun wonderful years married to my best friend ❤️ we were due to renew our wedding vows this summer but that can wait! 20 years married but together 27 years my first true love ❤️ Yes I drive you Bonkers and you probably deserve a medal etc..but being with you feels like home (and you know much I love to be at home)!!” she said.

    “I treasure the daily texts you send, you are romantic and constantly positive funny and a dedicated brilliant dad ❤️ we have created 5 wonderful children and lost our 5 little stars in the sky. Thank you for loving me the way you do ❤️ we did it, on to the next chapter x Was devastated to have lost out real wedding video in one of our house moves so this is cobbled together from home videos. Truly the happiest day with the most wonderful memories. Still 20 years later my dance moves need updating ? better sort that out for our next wedding ?? xxx,” she added.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CB0HnZnpvKh/

    Later in the day, Oliver surprised his wife with a specially prepared picnic.

    Jools on the way to the picnic

    He carefully planned the menu, as is to be expected from a top chef, and wrote it up with a “JJ” letterhead. It featured a hand-drawn picnic basket full of food between their initials.

    The menu sounded delicious, and included items such as Italian summer fruit, chocolate mousse and crème fraiche, and a blackcurrant leaf cordial.

    According to Hello Magazine, the special anniversary surprise came just after the pair were forced to cancel their vow renewal.

    This clearly didn’t get them down, as they seem to have made the best of it. They even received flowers for their special day.

    Pictures: Instagram / Jamie Oliver

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    In uncategorized

    How bridesmaids dresses have evolved through the years

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    The perfect bridesmaids’ dresses are usually tough to nail down. You’ve got a group of people with differing personalities and styles, and you have to cater to all of them, while still going for a style you like personally.

    These days, pretty much anything goes for the bridesmaids’ dresses. Over the years, the styles have evolved a lot. Many suggest that the idea of a bridal party stems from Ancient Roman times when 10 witnesses were needed to make a marriage legal. As you may imagine, the “bridesmaids” in Ancient Rome probably were dressed much differently to bridesmaids of today.

    According to Elle, in the 15th century, the bridal party would dress exactly like the bride and groom. The purpose of this was to confuse evil spirits about who the newlyweds really were, thus protecting the couple and their marriage. This means that the bridesmaids would all dress the same as the bride.

    Later on, in the 17th-century bridesmaids were dressed according to their age. Those in their teens would wear green, those in their 20s would wear brown, and older bridesmaids would be dressed in black.

    In the 20th century, the attire for bridesmaids went through multiple changes, according to Canadian Living. From 1901 to 1910, bridesmaids wore dresses with long sleeves, high necklines, full skirts, and also wore plumed hats.

    Thereafter, in the 1930s and 1940s during World War II, a more simple style was preferred. The simple design was brought on as a way to save money since it required less material. The 50s and 60s brought a more experimental feeling with it, giving bridesmaids hoop skirts, cocktail looks, and colours galore.

    From the 70s to the 90s, the identical bridesmaid trend set in. Every bridesmaid wore a dress of the same colour and style and the dresses were often made using unflattering subjects. Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay’s Jessica Mulrony told Canadian Living that bridesmaids dresses during this time were purposefully made unflattering.

    “I think it was always such a big fear that the bride should never be upstaged by her bridesmaids,” says Mulroney, “so everything had to be very plain and in a million different colours.”

    Luckily for bridesmaids across the world, things have changed since then. Today, we don’t stick to a one size fits all idea, nor do we want our bridesmaids to look unappealing. Styles vary quite widely these days. Instead of one defining trend, brides and their bridesmaids incorporate different colours, patterns, and styles to fit their preferences best.

     

    Image: Unsplash

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    In Advice

    Gesture cakes – The affordable alternative

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    A wedding cake is the sweet cherry on top of an exciting day. Newlyweds slice into the cake, symbolic of the first action they take together as partners.

    The wedding cake has a centuries-long history, and started as a tradition that was said to ensure fertility. Today, however, while many still choose elaborate wedding cakes, some have opted for a more paired-down experience.

    A new trend has emerged for those not wanting to go big on price and drama with their wedding cake. Instead of a tiered creation, they have a gesture cake. Gesture cakes are mini, affordable cakes that still hold the essence of tradition but won’t create a massive hole in your bank account.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ttCxfjo_w/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Of course, this cake won’t feed an army either. It’s generally the size of a normal cake one may have at a birthday party. For those having micro-weddings, this option is perfect. You won’t have a ton of cake go to waste, and get to save some money in the process.

    Just because it’s a smaller cake does not mean it has to be boring. Take a look at these stunning treats:

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    Feature image: Unsplash

     

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    In Weddings

    Include everyone with a gender-neutral wedding party

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    As weddings continue to modernise and couples begin to care less about what their older relatives might think, new ideas for the wedding as a whole are being implemented. One of these,  the gender-neutral wedding party, aims to make weddings more inclusive of everyone.

    For many, the idea that the wedding party should be gendered (i.e. males have only male friends in the wedding party and females have only female friends in the wedding party), is a bit old school.

    Firstly, people have friends of all genders. It seems odd to only include those who identify as the same gender as you do. Secondly, the idea that wedding parties should be gendered is exclusionary for those who do not fall into the gender binary.

    By going for a gender-neutral wedding party, you can include those who you have the closest relationships with, without being held back by the idea of gender categorisation.

    Anything from terminology to logistics is also easy to work around. There is no need to worry about what you will call the members of the bridal party. Is that really important? However, if you’re set on labelling them, you can go for fun alternatives like “bridesmate”, “bridesman”, “groomsmaid”, or anything that you’d like.

    Similarly, you might think that they still need to walk down the aisle in opposite-sex pairs. Why not have some same-sex pairs, or have them walk down the aisle individually?

    Further, the gender-neutral wedding party could take some strain off of you when it comes to organising. For example, instead of finding the perfect outfit for each member of the party, you can assign them a colour and they can each go out and find something that they would be comfortable to wear.

    The gender-neutral wedding party is perfect for inclusivity and makes all your loved ones feel welcome and comfortable. Who wouldn’t want that?

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    Feature image: Unsplash

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    In Advice

    Outstanding wedding cakes inspired by the ocean

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    The sea is a great place to be, especially on a wedding day. If you’re planning a beach wedding or just love the ocean, you can easily extend that theme into your wedding cake.

    We aren’t talking about slapping some shells on and calling it a day. Use texture and detail in unique ways to honour the stunning seas. This allows you to make a subtle statement without going full-on theme.

    Here are some amazing designs to inspire you:

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    Feature image: Unsplash

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    In Accessories

    The origin story of the Swedish Cameo tiara

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    A princess’s look is not complete without a tiara. Swedish royal brides, interestingly, seem to gravitate towards a specific one.

    The Cameo is a famed tiara in the Swedish royal family and is believed to be one of the oldest tiaras still in use. The unusual tiara has a long, romantic history and has been worn by both Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria on their wedding days.

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    The crown is believed to have first belonged to empress Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon, and the first empress of the French after he proclaimed himself Emperor. The crown was reportedly made for her in the early 1800s during the final years of her marriage to Napoleon.

    The crown features 7 cameos, or oval pieces of jewellery that consist of a portrait in profile carved into it. The cameos were individually made and not intended to go together, which is why they vary in size and appearance. The largest cameo at the centre of the crown depicts a scene from the famous story of Cupid and Psyche. A base of gold and seed pearls frame the cameos.

     

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    The #cameotiara The gorgeous bridal tiara of the Bernadottes had its start not in Sweden but at the imperial court of Napoléon. 1804: In France, Napoléon Bonaparte is crowned emperor at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. At his side is his wife, Joséphine. Born in Martinique as the daughter of a wealthy Creole planter, Joséphine had previously been married to Alexandre de Beauharnais, a French aristocrat who was guillotined during the Reign of Terror. She is crowned empress by her husband at his coronation, and she needs a vast collection of jewelry to help her fit the part. Among these is a set of cameo jewels, apparently made for her during this period by her husband’s court jeweler, Marie-Étienne Nitot. The set includes a grand tiara in gold set with pearls and large cameos depicting the story of Cupid and Psyche. It also includes a necklace, a bracelet, and a pair of earrings. Although Joséphine had two children, Eugène and Hortense, with Alexandre, she is not able to provide Napoléon with a much-needed biological heir to the French throne. He divorces her and marries Marie Louise of Austria, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor. Joséphine relocates to the Château de Malmaison near Paris, taking her jewelry along with her. Joséphine loans the cameos to her daughter, Hortense, who had briefly been Queen of Holland during the first decade of the nineteenth century. Hortense wears the cameos in a portrait painted by Anne-Louis Girodet. The painting is the first known representation of the cameos. Josephine’s granddaughter received the #cameo as a wedding gift when she married #crownprinceoscar of #Sweden passing the tiara into the #Swedishroyalfamily where it has become the traditional #wedding tiara. #napoleonandjosephine #crownprincessvictoria #royaljewels #royalhistory

    A post shared by Vintage Vantage (@the_vintage_vantage) on

    The crown ended up in Sweden via empress Josephine’s granddaughter, also named Josephine, when she married the country’s first King Oscar in 1823. The queen passed the tiars on to daughter Eugenie. Since Eugenie had no children, the crown travelled throughout the family houses until it was presented to Princess Sybilla. It was from here that the crown began to feature atop the heads of Swedish brides.
    Two of Princess Sybilla’s daughters, Princess Birgitta and Princess Desiree wore the tiara on their big days. In 1972, the tiara was passed on to Princess Sybilla’s son (who became King the following year) after her passing, and his bride Silvia wore it on their wedding day as she became Queen of Sweden. Queen Silvia wearing the tiara on her big day added even deeper royal significance to this prized diadem. Their eldest child and heir to the throne, Princess Victoria followed tradition and proudly wore the crown during her 2010 royal nuptials.

     

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    ♕ Tнe Caмeo Parυre Tιara ⋆⋆⋆ In 1809, Empress Joséphine (see photo2️⃣), first wife of French Emperor Napoléon I Bonaparte, likely received the cameos as a gift from her husband. The seven cameos used in the tiara were made first and were not intended to go together. Each is framed in pearls and sit on a base of gold and seed pearls. The tiara is part of a set including a pair of earrings, a brooch, a necklace, and a bracelet. ⋆ In 1814, Former Empress Joséphine died. The cameos was eventually inherited by her granddaughter, future Queen Josephine (see photos3️⃣), who married the future Oscar I, King of Sweden and Norway in 1923. Since then the cameos resided in the Swedish royal vaults. ⋆ In 1876, Queen Joséphine died. The cameos was inherited by her only daughter, Princess Eugénie (see photo4️⃣). Eugénie never married, but instead devoted her life to artistic pursuits and charitable causes. Upon her death in 1889, the cameos were inherited by her nephew, Prince Eugen, Duke of Närke (see photo5️⃣). Eugen was also a gifted artist and never married. ⋆ In 1947, The Duke of Närke died. Before his death, he loaned the cameos to his niece-in-law, Crown Princess Margaret (see photo5️⃣.1️⃣), and eventually gave the cameos as a wedding gift to Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (see photo5️⃣.2️⃣) when she married Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten in 1932. Sibylla also loaned the cameos to her sister-in-law, the future Queen Ingrid of Denmark (see photo5️⃣.3️⃣). ⋆ In 1961, Princess Sibylla’s second daughter Princess Birgitta (see photo6️⃣.1️⃣) married Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern. Three years later, Sibylla’s third daughter Princess Désirée (see photo6️⃣.2️⃣) married Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld. ⋆ In 1972, Princess Sibylla died. The cameos was inherited by her only son, current King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Four years later, the King married Silvia Renate Sommerlath (see photos7️⃣to9️⃣). Thirty-four years later, their eldest child and heir Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Västergötland (see photos?) married Olof Daniel Westling. ⋆⋆⋆ #TheEuropeanRoyalty #CameoTiara #QueenJosephine #PrincessSibylla #QueenSilvia #CrownPrincessVictoria #Sweden

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    Feature image: Instagram / kungahuset
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